10th Science Important Difference Questions | Distinguish Between Class 10

Perfect your board exam presentation with our master collection of 10th Science Important Difference Questions. "Distinguish between" or comparison questions are among the highest-yielding areas in the Class 10 Science exam, offering an easy way to lock in full marks if written in a clear, tabular format. This comprehensive guide compiles all critical contrasting topics across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Whether you are revising the differences between concave and convex lenses, roasting and calcination, or aerobic and anaerobic respiration, this page provides precise, point-by-point comparisons designed to match the exact keys evaluators look for.

DIFFERENTIATE QUESTIONS

Standard 10 • Science (English Medium)

1. Differentiate mass and weight.

Mass	Weight
Quantity of matter	Gravitational force exerted
Scalar quantity	Vector quantity
SI unit is kg	SI unit is N
Measured using a physical balance	Measured using a spring balance

2. Differentiate convex lens and concave lens.

Convex lens	Concave lens
Thicker in the middle than at edge	Thinner in the middle than at edge.
Converging lens	Diverging lens
It is used to treat Hypermetropia	It is used to treat myopia
Produces mostly real images	Produces virtual images

3. Differentiate the eye defects: Myopia and Hypermetropia

Myopia	Hypermetropia
Short sightedness	Long sightedness.
Lengthening of eye ball	Shortening of eye ball.
Nearby objects can be seen clearly	Distant objects can be seen clearly
The image formed before retina.	The image formed behind retina.
Corrected by using concave lens.	Corrected by using convex lens.

4. Distinguish between ideal gas and real gas.

Ideal gas	Real gas
If the atoms or molecules of a gas do not interact with each other	If the molecule or atom of a gas interact with each other
There is no force of attraction	Force of attraction is very weak

5. Distinguish between the resistivity and conductivity of a conductor.

Resistivity	Conductivity
The resistance of a conductor of unit length and unit of cross section.	The reciprocal of electrical resistivity
Its unit is ohm metre (Ω m)	Its unit is mho metre^-1

6. Write any three features of natural and artificial radioactivity.

Natural radioactivity	Artificial radioactivity
It cannot be controlled	It can be controlled
Spontaneous process	Induced process
Alpha, beta and gamma	Elementary particles - neutron, Positron
Z > 83	Z < 83

7. Compare the properties of alpha, beta and gamma radiations.

PROPERTIES	α rays	β rays	γ rays
Definition	Helium nucleus	electrons	Photons.
Charge	Positively charged	Negatively charged	Neutral particles.
Ionising power	greater than β rays and γ rays.	Comparatively low	Very less ionization power
Penetrating power	Low penetrating power	Greater than that of α rays.	High penetrating power
Effect of electric and magnetic field	Deflected by both fields	Deflected by both fields	Not deflected by both fields
Speed	1/10 to 1/20 times the speed of light	9/10 times the speed of light.	They travel with the speed of light.

8. Compare Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.

Nuclear Fission	Nuclear Fusion
The process of breaking up of a heavy nucleus into two smaller nuclei	Combination of two lighter nuclei to form a heavier nucleus.
Can be performed at room temperature.	Extremely high temperature and pressure is needed.
Alpha, beta and gamma radiations are emitted.	Alpha rays, positrons, and neutrinos are emitted.
Fission leads to emission of gamma radiation.	Only light and heat energy is emitted.

9. Difference between Atom and Molecule.

Atom	Molecule
Smallest particle of an element	Smallest particle of an element or compound.
Does not exist in free state except in noble gas	Exists in a free state
Highly reactive	Less reactive
Does not have a chemical bond	Atoms in a molecule are held by chemical bonds

10. In what way hygroscopic substances differ from deliquescent substances.

Hygroscopic substances	Deliquescent substances
1. They absorb moisture and do not dissolve.	1. They absorb moisture and dissolve.
2. Do not change its physical state	2. Change its physical state
3. Amorphous solids or liquids.	3. Substance are crystalline solids.
Ex: Silica gel	Ex: NaOH

11. Differentiate reversible and irreversible reactions

Reversible Reaction	Irreversible reaction
i) It can be reversed under suitable conditions	It cannot be reversed
ii) Both forward and backward reactions take place simultaneously	It proceeds only in forward direction
iii) It attains equilibrium	Equilibrium is not attained
iv) It is relatively slow	It is fast

12. Differentiate soaps and detergents.

Soap	Detergent
Sodium salt of long chain fatty acids.	Sodium salt of sulphonic acids.
It is prepared from animal fats or vegetable oils.	It is prepared from crude oil.
Its effectiveness is reduced when used in hard water.	It is effective even in hard water.
It forms a scum in hard water.	Does not form a scum in hard water.
Poor foaming capacity	Rich foaming capacity.
Biodegradable.	Non-biodegradable.

13. Differentiate the following: a) Monocot root and Dicot root

Feature	Dicot Root	Monocot Root
No. of Xylem	Tetrarch	Polyarch
Cambium	Present	Absent
Secondary Growth	Present	Absent
Pith	Absent	Present

14. Aerobic and Anaerobic respiration:

Aerobic respiration	Anaerobic respiration
Presence of oxygen.	Absence of oxygen.
It occurs in most plants and animals	It occurs in some bacteria
Glucose is converted into carbon dioxide.	Glucose is converted into ethanol
Products: CO₂, H₂O and energy	Products: C₂H₅OH and energy

15. How does the light dependent reaction differ from the light independent reaction?

Light dependent Reaction	Light independent Reaction
It needs sunlight	It does not need sunlight
The end products are ATP, NADPH₂ and O₂	End product is carbohydrate, ADP and NADP
The reactants are chlorophyll, sunlight and water	The reactants are CO₂, ATP and NADPH₂
It occurs in thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast.	It occurs in the stroma of the chloroplast

16. How are arteries and veins structurally different from one another?

Artery	Vein
Distributing vessel	Collecting vessel
Red in colour	Pink in colour
Deep location	Superficial in location
Blood flow with high pressure	Blood flow with low pressure
Internal valves are absent	Internal valves are present

17. Medullated and non-medullated nerve fibre.

Medullated (Myelinated) Nerve Fibres	Non-medullated (Non-myelinated) Nerve Fibres
Myelin sheath is present.	Myelin sheath is absent.
White matter of brain.	Grey matter of brain.
Nodes of Ranvier are present	Nodes of Ranvier are absent.
They carry impulses faster.	They carry impulses slower.

18. Write the differences between endocrine and exocrine gland.

Endocrine gland	Exocrine gland
They secrete hormones	They secrete enzymes, saliva and milk
They are ductless gland	They may have or may not have ducts
They are transported through blood stream	They are transported through ducts or tubes

19. How does binary fission differ from multiple fission?

Binary fission	Multiple fission
A single parent cell divides into two daughter cells	A single parent cell divides into many daughter cells
It occurs during favourable conditions (eg: Amoeba)	It occurs during unfavourable conditions (eg: Plasmodium)

20. How do you differentiate homologous organs from analogous organs?

Homologous organs	Analogous organs
They have inherited from common ancestors with similar developmental pattern in embryos	They have different origin with different development pattern
Homologous organs look dissimilar and adapted for different functions.	The analogous organs look similar and perform similar functions.

21. Distinguish between somatic gene therapy and germ line gene therapy

Somatic Gene Therapy	Germ line Gene Therapy
It is the replacement of defective gene in somatic cell.	It is the replacement of defective gene in germ cell (sperm and egg)
Correction of genetic defects is beneficial to patient. It may not be carried to next generation	It will be inherited by next generation and will be beneficial to next generation.

22. Undifferentiated cells and differentiated cells

Undifferentiated cells	Differentiated cells
They are unspecialized mass of cells.	They become specialized cells for doing certain jobs
Example: Cells in early embryos are undifferentiated.	Example: These cells become a liver cell, a blood cell, or a neuron, muscle cells, skin cells, etc.

23. Differentiate between outbreeding and inbreeding.

Out breeding	In breeding
It is the breeding of unrelated animals.	It is the breeding of closely related animals.
Cross between two different species with desirable features of economic value are mated.	Superior males and superior females of the same breed are identified and mated in pairs.

24. How is a cancer cell different from a normal cell?

Cancer cell	Normal cell
The size of the nucleus is large.	Normal, small size of nucleus is present.
Multiply indefinitely.	The cells divide normally.
They are less differentiated.	They are well differentiated.

25. Differentiate between Type-I and Type-II Diabetes mellitus.

Factors	Type I - Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)	Type II - Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)
Prevalence	10-20%	80-90%
Age of Onset	Juvenile onset (< 20 years)	Maturity onset (> 30 years)
Body weight	Normal or Underweight	Obese
Defect	Insulin deficiency due to destruction of β-cells	Target cells do not respond to insulin
Treatment	Insulin administration is necessary	Can be controlled by diet, exercise and medicine.