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Q45 (IAS/2015) Science & Technology › Basic Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) › Astronomy and astrophysics Official Key

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

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

The "Goldilocks Zone," also known as the habitable zone, is the area around a star where it is not too hot and not too cold for liquid water to exist [1]on the surface of surrounding planets.[2] The term emerged in the 1970s, referencing specifically a region around a star whose temperature is "just right" for water to be present in the liquid phase.[3] This concept is fundamentally applied in the search for Earth-like exoplanets in outer space, as scientists look for planets orbiting other stars within their respective habitable zones where conditions might support life. The term does not relate to zones above Earth's surface (option A), shale gas regions within Earth (option B), or meteorite searches (option D). The Goldilocks Zone is a key criterion in astrobiology and exoplanet research for identifying potentially habitable worlds beyond our solar system.

Sources
  1. [1] https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanets/what-is-the-habitable-zone-or-goldilocks-zone/
  2. [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitable_zone
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Q. The term 'Goldilocks Zone' is often seen in the news in the context of [A] the limits of habitable zone above the surface of the Earth …
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2.5/10 · 7.5/10
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While this appeared as a 'Current Affairs' question in 2015 (peak of the Kepler Mission), it has since migrated directly into Class VIII NCERT Science. This proves that today's headlines are tomorrow's basic textbooks. Do not ignore 'Science in News' glossaries; they often define the static syllabus for the next decade.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Does the term "Goldilocks Zone" refer to the limits of a habitable zone above the surface of the Earth?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"The habitable zone is the area around a star where it is not too hot and not too cold for liquid water to exist on the surface of surrounding planets."
Why this source?
  • Defines the habitable/Goldilocks zone as an area around a star, not something measured above Earth's surface.
  • Specifically ties the zone to conditions that allow liquid water on the surface of surrounding planets.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Just right in this case is distances from a star that could allow stable liquid water on the surface of a planet."
Why this source?
  • Explains Goldilocks zone in terms of distance from a star that could allow stable liquid water on a planet's surface.
  • Emphasizes 'too close' or 'too far' from the star as the determining factor, not altitude above Earth.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"the term "Goldilocks zone" emerged in the 1970s, referencing specifically a region around a star whose temperature is "just right" for water to be present in the liquid phase."
Why this source?
  • States the term 'Goldilocks zone' references a region around a star with temperature 'just right' for liquid water.
  • Frames the concept as circumstellar (around a star), not as a vertical zone above Earth's surface.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 13: Our Home: Earth, a Unique Life Sustaining Planet > Snapshots > p. 225
Strength: 5/5
“• Our Earth is a unique planet in the solar system as it supports life.• Earth orbits the Sun at a distance where the temperature is neither too hot nor too cold, which allows water to exist in liquid form. This region is called the habitable zone or Goldilocks zone.• Further, the Earth orbits the Sun in a nearly circular orbit ensuring that the Earth is not too hot or too cold during any part of the year.• The Earth's gravity is just enough to not let atmosphere escape into space.”
Why relevant

Directly states the Goldilocks zone (habitable zone) is the region of Earth's orbit where temperature allows liquid water to exist—i.e., a distance from the Sun.

How to extend

A student could extend this to note that 'distance from the Sun' is an orbital/radial concept, not a vertical altitude above Earth's surface, suggesting the term is about orbital position rather than atmospheric/altitudinal limits.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 13: Our Home: Earth, a Unique Life Sustaining Planet > Chapter 13 — Our Home: Earth, a Unique Life Sustaining Planet 215 > p. 215
Strength: 5/5
“bacteria, can survive in frozen environments, from what we know so far, liquid water is essential for life to evolve. Earth's distance from the Sun allows water to remain mostly in liquid form, which is essential for the development and sustenance of life in all its form. The range of distances from the Sun (or another star) over which water remains liquid is called the habitable zone, or sometimes also called the 'Goldilocks zone' (Fig. 13.4). As you have also studied in Social Science, most of Earth's surface is covered with water. Thus, when seen from space, the Earth looks blue because of the vast amount of water—hence the name Blue Planet (Fig.”
Why relevant

Defines the habitable/Goldilocks zone as the range of distances from the Sun (or another star) over which water remains liquid.

How to extend

Combine with the idea of 'distance from the star' to conclude the Goldilocks concept applies to star–planet separation, not to how high above a planet's surface life can exist.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 1: BASIC CONCEPTS OF ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY > Biosphere > p. 10
Strength: 4/5
“Te zone, incorporating elements of the hydrosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere, in which life occurs on Earth is the biosphere. Te intricate, interconnected web that links all organisms with their physical environment is known as biosphere (ecosphere). Te biosphere extends from the bottom of ocean trenches to about 8 km above the sea level. Te term is occasionally used to refer only to the living component alone, although it is more commonly conceived as a zone of interaction between the other 'spheres'. Tis is appropriate, because life is dependent upon energy, processes and materials which are located in all three of the Earth's other conceptual spheres, to the extent that the scheme is often represented as a series of overlapping hexagons with the biosphere in the nodal position.”
Why relevant

Defines the biosphere as a vertical zone where life occurs, giving explicit altitudinal limits (from deep ocean trenches up to about 8 km above sea level).

How to extend

A student could use this to distinguish 'vertical/altitudinal limits of habitability' (biosphere) from the orbital habitable zone (Goldilocks), helping reject the statement that Goldilocks refers to altitude above Earth.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 1: Ecology > r.3.6. Biosphere > p. 10
Strength: 4/5
“Biosphere is a part of the earth where life can exist. Biosphere represents a highly integrated and interacting zone comprising of atmosphere (air), hydrosphere and lithosphere (land). It is a narrow layer around the surface of the earth. If we visualise the earth to be the size of an apple, the biosphere would be as thick as its skin. Life in the biosphere is abundant between 2oo metres (66o feet) below the surface of the ocean and about 6,o00 metres (zo,ooo feet) above sea level. Biosphere is absent at extremes of the North and South poles, the highest mountains and the deepest oceans, since existing hostile conditions there do not support life.”
Why relevant

Describes the biosphere as a narrow layer around Earth's surface with approximate altitude/depth bounds for life.

How to extend

Use these bounds as an example of how 'habitable limits above the surface' are typically discussed (biosphere), implying Goldilocks is a different, orbital concept.

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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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