Explanation
- A
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that absorbs infrared radiation. It is not the principal agent named for the diffusion/scattering of visible sunlight in this item.
- B
Dust particles
Dust particles (aerosols) in the air scatter and diffuse sunlight—the Tyndall-type effect that makes beams and much of the sky’s brightness. That is the official key.
- C
Helium
Helium is a trace noble gas, chemically inert and not the scatterer of visible light in the lower atmosphere.
- D
Water vapours
Water vapour matters for infrared absorption and cloud formation. The keyed cause of atmospheric diffusion of light in this list is dust particles, not water vapour.
Summary. Official key is (b) dust particles. Fine aerosols scatter shorter wavelengths and diffuse daylight; the same idea appears in NCERT-style optics and atmosphere chapters. CO2 and water vapour are radiation-budget gases, helium a rare gas. Do not answer ‘water vapour’ by greenhouse intuition. Honour the stored letter (b).
Same topic · past papers
UPPSC has asked this before
These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.
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2023 · Q29 · UPPGS
With reference to the Puranas, which of the following statement(s) is/are correct? (1) Information about the Mauryan dynasty is found in the Vishnu Purana. (2) Vayu Purana throws light on the Gupta governance system. Select the correct answer from the code given below: -
2019 · Q125 · UPPGS
The phenomenon used in optical fibre for transmission of light energy is -
2018 · Q55 · UPPGS
Ultra-violet radiation from sun light causes the reaction that produce which of the following?