Question 70 from UPSC CSE 2015 - Science and Technology

Question

The term 'Goldilocks Zone' is often seen in the news in the context of

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. search for the Earth-like planets in outer space

Strategy: Identify the core definition of the 'Goldilocks Zone' as the habitable area around a star. Eliminate options that describe locations on Earth, within Earth, or related to meteorites, as they fall outside this astronomical context.

Key Info: The **Goldilocks Zone**, also known as the **Circumstellar Habitable Zone (CHZ)**, is the orbital region around a star where conditions are **just right** for a planet to have liquid water on its surface. This is considered critical for supporting life as we know it. The term originates from the fairy tale 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears,' signifying a state that is neither too hot nor too cold.

This concept is fundamental to astrobiology and the search for habitable exoplanets. Organizations like NASA apply it when identifying candidate planets using telescopes such as Kepler and TESS. The specific location of a habitable zone depends on the star's characteristics; for instance, the zone around a cooler red dwarf is much closer to the star than the one in our solar system.

The term 'Goldilocks Zone' is not used in astronomy to refer to regions inside Earth, meteorite locations, or zones above Earth's surface. Its definition is strictly tied to the potential for liquid water on planets orbiting other stars.

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Option A: the limits of habitable zone above the surface of the Earth

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Option B: regions inside the Earth where shale gas is available

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Option D: search for meteorites containing precious metals