NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Social Science Geography Chapter 3 Motions of the Earth

1. Answer the following questions briefly.

(a) What is the angle of inclination of the earth’s axis with its orbital plane?
(b) Define rotation and revolution.
(c) What is a leap year?
(d) Differentiate between the summer solstice and winter solstice.
(e) What is an equinox?
(f) Why does the Southern Hemisphere experience winter and summer solstice in different times than that of the Northern Hemisphere?
(g) Why do the poles experience about six months’ day and six months’ night?
Answers:
(a) The angle of inclination of the earth’s axis with its orbital plane is 66 1/2.

(b) The movement of the earth on its axis is known as rotation.
‘ Revolution. The movement of the earth around the sun in a fixed path or orbit is known as revolution.

(c) The year in which February is of 29 days instead of 28 days is called a leap year. Thus a leap year is of 366 days instead of 365 days.

(d) Difference between the summer solstice and winter solstice

(e) Equinox is the position of the Earth on 21st March and 23rd September. Both the hemispheres experience equal days and nights.

On 21st March in the Northern hemisphere, this position is the spring equinox. Autumn equinox is in the Southern hemisphere.
In the Northern hemisphere on 23rd September the position of the Earth is Autumn equinox and in the Southern hemisphere, it is the Spring equinox.

(f) The Southern hemisphere experiences winter and summer solstice in different times than, that of the Northern hemisphere because of the following reasons:

The southern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun on 22nd December, hence summer solstice is there in the Southern hemisphere. At that time winter solstice is in the Northern hemisphere when it is away from the Sun.
On the contrary, on 21 June the Northern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun.
Hence summer solstice is in the Northern hemisphere and winter solstice is in the Southern hemisphere.

(g) The poles experience six months’ day and six months’ night because of the following reasons:

When the Northern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, the North Pole remains in the light for the whole of the day (24 hours). This position remains for six months (from 21st March to 23rd September).
On the contrary in the Southern hemisphere, the South Pole does not get light during these six months. Hence it experiences night for six months (from 23rd September to 21st March).
When the Southern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, the South Pole remains in light for 24 hours for six months from 23rd September to 21st March. The reverse is the conditions at the North Pole-six months’ night.

2. Tick the correct answer.

(a) The movement of the earth around the sun is known as
(i) Rotation (ii) Revolution (iii) Inclination.

(b) Direct rays of the sun fall on the equator on
(i) 21 March (ii) 21 June (iii) 22 December.

(d) The cycle of the seasons is caused due to
(i) Rotation (ii)Revolution (iii)Gravitation

Answers: (a)—(ii), (b)—(i), (c)—(iii), (d)—(ii).

3. Fill in the blanks.

A leap year has ………… a number of days.
The daily motion of the earth is ……… ……
The earth travels around the sun in…………….
The sun’s rays fall vertically on the Tropic of…………….. on 21st June.
Days are shorter during …………

Answer:

366
rotation
elliptical
cancer
winter

I. Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct option to complete the sentences given below:

(i) The axis of the earth is a/an……………..
(a) imaginary line (b) straight line
(c) curved line (d) real line.

(ii) The earth receives light from the ……………
(a) Moon (b) Stars
(c) Meteors (d) Sun.

(iii) The time taken by the earth to complete one rotation around its axis is…………………
(a) 24 hours (b) 12 hours
(c) 36 hours (d) 18 hours.

(iv) The earth completes one revolution in ……………
(a) 366 days (b) 370 days
(c) 365 1/4 days (d) 366 1/4 days.

(v) It is spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere on ………………………….
(a) 23rd September (b) 21st March
(c) 22nd December (d) 21st June.

Answer: (i)—(a), (ii)—(d), (iii)—(a), (iv)—(c), (v)—(b).

II. Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence:

Days and nights occur due to …………… of the earth.
Only half of the earth gets light from the sun at a time due to its……………. shape.
The period of rotation is known as the ……………..
The sun’s rays fall vertically at the Tropic of…………….. on 22nd December.
On ………… it is autumn season in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere.

Answer:

rotation
spherical
earth day
Capricorn
23rd September.

III. True/False
Stale whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F).

The axis of the earth makes an angle of 23V& with its orbital plane.
Every five years, February is of 29 days instead of 28 days.
Season changes due to the change in the position of the earth around the sun.
When there is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it is spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
Life is not possible in extreme conditions.

Answer:

False
False
True
False
True.

IV. Matching Skill

Match the items in column A correctly with those given in column B.

Motions of the Earth Class 6 Geography Chapter 3 Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. Define the circle of illumination.
Answer: The circle that divides the day from night on the globe is known as the circle of illumination.

2. Which motion of the earth is associated with the changes in season?
Answer: Revolution.

3. Why do seasons change? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Seasons change due to the change in the position of the earth around the sun.

4. Why do the areas near the poles receive less heat?
Answer: It is because the rays of the sun are slanting on the poles.

5. When do the longest day and the shortest night occur in the Northern Hemisphere?
Answer: On 21st June.

6. In which Hemisphere does Australia lie?
Answer: Australia lies in the Southern Hemisphere.

Class 6 Geography Chapter 3 NCERT Solutions Short Answer Type Questions

1. What would happen if the earth did not rotate? Imp.]
Answer: In such a condition the portion of the earth facing the sun would always experience day, and thus there would be continuous warmth in the region. At the same time, the other half would always remain dark and be freezing cold all the time. These are extreme conditions which are not suitable for life. Thus, we can say that if the earth did not rotate life would not have been possible.

2. How does leap year occur? [V. Imp.]
Answer: The earth takes 36514 days Le. one year to complete one revolution around the sun. We consider a year as consisting of 365 days only and ignore six hours for our convenience. Six hours saved every year are added to make one day Le. 24 hours over a span of four years. This surplus day is added to the month of February. Thus every fourth year, February of 29 days instead of 28 days. Such a year with 366 days is called a leap year.

3. Explain the following with a diagram:
(a) Summer solstice (b) Winter solstice (c) Equinox.

Answer: (a) Summer solstice. The Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun on 21st June. As the rays of the sun fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer, these areas receive more heat. But the size of the area to the poles receives less heat due to the slanting rays of the sun. The North Pole is inclined towards the sun the places beyond the Arctic Circle experience continuous daylight for about six months.

Since a large area of the Northern Hemisphere is getting light from the sun, it is summer in the regions north of the equator. The longest day and the shortest night at these places occur on 21st June. These conditions are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere at this time. It is winter season there having longer nights and shorter days. This position of the earth is known as the summer solstice.

(b) Winter solstice. On 22nd December, the Tropic of Capricorn receives direct rays of the sun as the South Pole tilts towards it. As the sun’s rays fall vertically at the Tropic of Capricorn, a larger portion of the Southern Hemisphere gets light. Hence, the Southern Hemisphere enjoys summer having longer days and shorter nights. This position of the earth is called the winter solstice.

(c) On 21st March and 23rd September direct rays of the sun fall on the equator. At this position, neither of the poles is tilted towards the sun. As a result, the entire earth experiences equal days and equal nights. This phenomenon is known as an equinox.