Rotation and Revolution

Short Answer Questions

Question 1. What is meant by the inclination of the earth's axis? At what

angle is the earth's axis inclined?

Ans. The earth is always tilted in the same direction as it moves round
the sun. The angle at which the earth is tilted is known as the inclination
of the earth's axis.

The axis of the earth makes an angle of 23 1/2° with the vertical or 66
1/2° with the plane of the earth's orbit.

Question 2. Name the two chief motions of the earth.

Ans. The two chief motions of the earth are rotation and revolution.

Question 3. Describe two characteristics of rotation.

Ans.Two characteristics of rotation are-

1. Direction- The earth completes one rotation from west to east on its
axis in 23 hours, 56 minutes, 4.09 seconds.
2. Inclination of axis- The earth is always tilted in the same direction
as it moves round the sun. The angle at which the earth is tilted is
known as the inclination of the earth's axis.

Question 4. State two effects of the rotation of the earth.

Ans. Two effects of the rotation of the earth are-

1. Day and night are caused by the rotation of the earth on its axis.
2. Rotation causes a difference in time over various places on the
earth.
Question 5. Mention any two possible consequences if the axis of the
earth was vertical instead of inclined.
Ans. Two possible consequences if the axis of the earth was vertical
instead of inclined are-

1. The length of day and night would have been equal at all places on
the earth.
2. All the places on the earth would have had the same temperature
throughout the year. There would be no seasons.

Question 6. State one reason why we do not feel the motions of the earth.
Ans. We do not feel the motions of the earth because the force of gravity
keeps everything attached to the earth. This keeps all objects at rest with
reference to the motions of the earth.

Question 7. What is an elliptic?

Ans. The path of the earth around the sun is known as elliptic.

Question 8. Define 'revolution'.

Ans. The motion of the earth around the sun in an elliptical orbit is called
revolution.

Question 9. State two chief characteristics of the revolution of the earth.

Ans. Two chief characteristics of the revolution of the earth are-

1. The earth moves round the sun in an elliptical orbit at an average

speed of 29.8 km per second.
2. When the earth is closer to the sun, the gravitational pull makes
the earth move faster than when it is away from the sun. Thus, the
speed of revolution is not uniform.

Question 10. Mention two effects of revolution.

 Ans.Two effects of revolution are-

1. Revolution causes different seasons on earth due to differences in

the heating of the earth.
2. The spherical shape of the earth along with revolution of the earth
causes difference in the distribution of heat on the earth's surface
and results in the creation of heat zones.

Question 11. What do you understand by perihelion and aphelion?

Ans. Due to the elliptical orbit of the earth, the distance between the
earth and the sun varies. When the earth is closest to the sun, the
position is called perihelion and when the earth is farthest from the sun,
the position is called aphelion.

Question 12. On which two days are the days and nights equal all over the
world and why? What name do you give to these days?
Ans. The days and nights are equal all over the world on March 21st
and September 23rd because the sun crosses the plane of the earth's
equator making day and night of equal length.

March 21st is known as Spring or Vernal Equinox and September 23rd is

known as Autumnal equinox.

Question 13. Which is the longest and which is the shortest day in the
Northern Hemisphere and why?
Ans. The longest day in the Northern Hemisphere is June 21st as the
sun's rays fall vertically at the Tropic of Cancer and the North Pole is
tilted towards the sun.

The shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere is December 22nd as the

sun's rays fall vertically at the Tropic of Capricorn and the North Pole is
tilted away from the sun.

Question 14. On which dates does the sun shine vertically overhead at:
 (a) Equator
(b) Tropic of Cancer
(c) Tropic of Capricorn

And.The sun shines vertically overhead at the:

(a) Equator on 21st March and 23rd September

(b) Tropic of Cancer on 21st June
(c) Tropic of Capricorn on 22nd December

Question 15. Why is noon hotter than morning?

Ans.Noon is hotter than morning because at noon, the sun is overhead.
So, vertical rays of the sun fall at noon making the place hotter than the
morning when slanting rays of the sun fall at a place.

Question 16. Why are days and nights equal at all places on earth on
September 23? What are the seasons in the Northern and the Southern
Hemispheres on this date?
Ans. Days and nights are equal at all places on earth on September 23
because on this date, the sun shines vertically over the equator, making
day and night of equal length.

It is the autumn season in the northern hemisphere and spring season in

the southern hemisphere.

Question 17. What is meant by the Summer Solstice? When do we have

the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere?
Ans. On June 21, the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun and
the sun is overhead at the Tropic of Cancer. So, the northern
hemisphere enjoys the longest day. This day is called Summer Solstice.

We have the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere on June

21st.
Question 18. What is meant by Equinox?
Ans. Equinox refers to the time when the sun shines vertically over the
equator. At the equinoxes, the days and nights are of equal length
throughout the world.

Question 19. What will be the duration of daylight on March 21st at

23°30'N and 66°30'S latitudes? Give a reason.
Ans. The duration of daylight on March 21st at 23°30'N and 66°30'S
latitudes will be 12 hours because on March 21st, the sun shines
vertically over the equator and so the length of day and night is equal all
over the world.

Question 20. What is the relationship of seasons between the Northern

and Southern Hemispheres?
Ans. The northern and southern hemispheres always experience
opposite seasons. This is because due to the tilted axis of the earth, the
north pole remains inclined towards the sun for a part of the year while
the south pole is tilted away. For the remaining part of the year, the
situation is reversed.

Question 21. How is the duration of twilight influenced by seasons?

Ans. The duration of twilight is influenced by seasons because it is
related to the angle at which the Earth's axis tilts towards the Sun, which
changes as the Earth orbits around the Sun throughout the year.

In summer, the Sun sets at a shallower angle, causing longer periods of

twilight. The twilight period is defined as the time between sunset and
when the Sun is 18° below the horizon. Since the angle of the Sun's
descent is more gradual in summer, it takes longer for it to reach the 18°
mark, resulting in longer periods of twilight.

In winter, the Sun sets at a steeper angle, causing it to reach the 18°
mark more quickly, resulting in shorter periods of twilight.
Question 22. How has the phenomenon of the 'Midnight Sun' come about?
Ans. During the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the rays
of the sun fall vertically on the Tropic of Cancer. The duration of sunlight
increases from 12 hours at the equator to 13 hrs 27 minutes at 23 1/2° N
and further to 24 hrs at 66 1/2° N. Beyond the Arctic Circle, the regions
experience 24 hours daylight. This phenomenon is called the ‘Midnight
Sun’ and it only takes place at the poles.

Question 23. Mention one effect of seasons in low and high latitudes.
Ans. The effect of seasons in low and high latitudes is distinct through
various phases of different seasons. Low latitude areas experience high
temperature and get ample rainfall while the high latitude areas are cold
and receive less rainfall.

Tropical regions are always warm with heavy rainfall season, the
temperate regions are cold with scanty rainfall and the polar regions are
covered with snow throughout the year due to extremely low
temperature.

Distinguish between the following

Question 1. Rotation and Revolution

Ans.

Rotation Revolution

It is the spinning of the earth It is the motion of the earth around

on its axis. the sun in an elliptical orbit.

The time taken for one The time taken for one revolution is
rotation is 23 hrs 56 min. 365 days, 5 hrs and 48 min.
 It causes day and night. It causes seasonal changes.

Question 2. Vertical and Slanting Rays

Ans.

Vertical Rays Slanting Rays

Vertical rays travel over a shorter Slanting rays travel over

distance and thus lose less heat. a larger distance and lose
more heat.

Vertical Rays of the sun fall within its Slanting Rays of the sun
migration belt i.e. between the Tropics fall in temperate and
of Cancer and Capricorn. Polar regions.

Question 3.Equinox and Solstice

Ans.

Equinox Solstice

It refers to the time when the It refers to the time when the sun
sun crosses the plane of the reaches its highest or lowest point in
earth's equator, making night the sky at noon, resulting in the
and day of equal length. shortest and longest days of the
year.

It happens on March 21st and It happens on June 21st and

September 23rd. December 22nd.

It happens at the start of It happens during summer and

 spring and autumn. winter.

Structured Questions

Question 1(a) What is meant by rotation of the earth? State three effects
of the rotation of the earth.
Ans. The spinning of the earth on its axis from west to east once in 24
hours is called rotation of the earth.

Three effects of the rotation of the earth are:

1. Day and night are caused by the rotation of the earth on its axis.
2. Rotation causes a difference in time over various places on the
earth.
3. Sunrise and sunset are caused by the rotation of the earth from
west to east.

Question 1(b) What is the effect of the inclined axis of the earth on day
and night?
Ans. Due to the inclined axis of the earth, the duration of day and night
is different at different places of the earth. The time of day at any place is
determined by the height of the sun in the sky.

Question 1(c) Give a geographical reason for each of the following:

(i) Kuala Lumpur rotates faster on the earth's axis than London.

Ans) Kuala Lumpur rotates faster on the earth's axis than London
because Kuala Lumpur is closer to the equator while London is away
from the equator and the speed of rotation is greater at the equator and
decreases towards the poles.

(ii) We always see the sun rising in the east.

 Ans) We always see the sun rising in the east because the earth rotates
from west to east.

(iii) Norway is called the Land of the Midnight Sun.

Ans) Norway is called the Land of the Midnight Sun as Norway lies
beyond the Arctic circle and hence, the sun is visible just above the
horizon continuously for almost three months.

Question 2(a) Describe how the duration of sunlight changes from the
Equator to the Poles with respect to the angle of incidence during the
solstices.

Ans. As the angle of incidence changes from 0° to 90° from Poles

towards the Equator, the duration of sunlight also changes.

On June 21st, the equator receives 12 hours of sunlight which increases

to 24 hours at the North pole and decreases to 0 hours at the South
pole.

Similarly, on December 22nd, the equator receives 12 hours of sunlight

which decreases to 0 hours at the North pole and increases to 24 hours
at the South pole.

Question 2(b) Describe how seasons are made and reversed between the
Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Ans. Due to the tilted axis of the earth, the Northern Hemisphere gets
maximum sunlight from March to September and the Southern
Hemisphere from September to March. So, the seasons are also
reversed e.g. the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere
corresponds to winter in the Southern Hemisphere and the spring is
exchanged with Autumn season.

Question 2(c) Give a geographical reason for each of the following:

Ans. (i) The length of day and night is not equal at all places on the
earth.
Ans. The length of day and night is not equal at all places on the earth
due to the tilted axis of the earth and the migration belt of the sun
between Tropics of Cancer and. Capricorn.

(ii) The period of twilight and dawn increases polewards.

Ans. The period of twilight and dawn increases polewards because of

the oblique path of the sun rays towards the poles than the vertical path
along the equator. Thus, the length of dawn and twilight is greater, as it
is nearly one hour near the equator and 50 days at the poles.

(iii) 25th of December in New Zealand may be one of the hottest days of
the year.

Ans. On December 22, the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the

Sun. The sun shines directly overhead the Tropic of Capricorn. The
places in the southern hemisphere experience the summer season.
Therefore, 25th of December in New Zealand may be one of the hottest
days of the year.