Ancient Scientists — Set 5
Inventions · प्राचीन वैज्ञानिक · Questions 41–50 of 50
Who is known as the 'Father of Plastic Surgery' in ancient India?
Correct Answer: C. Sushruta
Sushruta practiced surgery in the ancient city of Varanasi more than 2,500 years ago. He is famous for pioneering the technique of rhinoplasty, or nose reconstruction. His methods and instruments are described in detail in the Sushruta Samhita.
Which ancient Indian scientist first explained the cause of solar and lunar eclipses scientifically?
Correct Answer: D. Aryabhata
Aryabhata correctly identified that eclipses occur when the Earth's shadow falls on the Moon or when the Moon blocks the Sun. He dismissed the popular mythological belief that Rahu and Ketu swallowed the celestial bodies. He was one of the greatest astronomers of ancient India.
The ancient mathematical concept of 'Meru Prastara', described by Pingala, is known today as?
Correct Answer: C. Pascal's triangle
Pingala used Meru Prastara to calculate combinations of short and long syllables in Sanskrit poetry. This mathematical arrangement is identical to the triangle named after the French mathematician Blaise Pascal. It shows that ancient Indians understood combinatorial mathematics very early.
Who is the author of 'Brahmasphutasiddhanta', the text that first introduced rules for calculating with zero?
Correct Answer: C. Brahmagupta
Brahmagupta was the first mathematician to provide formal rules for operations with zero and negative numbers. His work was later translated into Arabic and played a crucial role in spreading Indian mathematics to the world. He was the head of the observatory at Ujjain.
Acharya Kanada, an ancient Indian philosopher, is famous for proposing which of the following theories?
Correct Answer: D. Atomic theory
Acharya Kanada founded the Vaisheshika school of philosophy and proposed that all matter is made of tiny, indivisible particles called 'Paramanu'. He explained that these atoms combine to form larger molecules. This theory predates similar Western concepts by several centuries.
Who is the author of the ancient Sanskrit play 'Abhigyan Shakuntalam' and mentioned various astronomical phenomena in his works?
Correct Answer: A. Kalidasa
Kalidasa was a great poet and dramatist who lived during the Gupta period. His literary works show a deep knowledge of contemporary science and astronomy. He is considered one of the 'nine jewels' of the court of King Vikramaditya.
Which ancient Indian text is considered the 'Encyclopedia of Science' covering subjects like astronomy, geography, and botany?
Correct Answer: B. Brihat Samhita
Brihat Samhita was written by Varahamihira and covers a vast range of topics including weather, planetary movements, and architecture. It is one of the most important reference works for understanding ancient Indian knowledge. Varahamihira was a famous astronomer and mathematician.
The ancient mathematical text 'Lilavati', which contains problems on arithmetic and geometry, was written by?
Correct Answer: C. Bhaskara II
Bhaskara II, also known as Bhaskaracharya, was a 12th-century mathematician who wrote Lilavati for his daughter. The book is famous for its poetic style and explains complex mathematical concepts through interesting stories. He also wrote Siddhanta Shiromani, a major work on astronomy.
Which ancient Indian scholar is known as the 'Father of Ayurveda' for his contribution to medicine?
Correct Answer: C. Charaka
Charaka compiled the Charaka Samhita, which is the foundational text of the Ayurvedic system of medicine. He focused on holistic healing and the importance of diet and lifestyle for health. His work is still studied and practiced by Ayurveda doctors today.
Who was the first Indian mathematician to provide the correct formula for the value of Pi (π) up to four decimal places?
Correct Answer: B. Aryabhata
Aryabhata calculated the value of Pi as 3.1416 in his work 'Aryabhatiya'. He noted that this value is only an approximation, showing his advanced understanding of irrational numbers. He also developed several other mathematical and astronomical theories that were ahead of his time.