UNIT 1OUR WORLD

CHAPTER
1 Earth As a Planet
Proof that the Earth is Spherical
Syllabus in shape
Earth as a Planet: Shape of the earth. Earth (i) Sighting of a ship: While standing at
as the home of humankind and the conditions seashore, watching an approaching ship,
that exist.
we first see only its mast. Then, as it comes
closer, we can see the deck in the middle, then
Earth, our home planet, is the third planet from its funnel, and finally the hull comes into full
the sun and the fifth-largest planet in the solar view. This can happen only when the earth's
system. It is the only planet which supports surface is curved (Fig. 1.1). If the earth were flat,
life. From space, the earth looks blue because the entireship would have been visible at once.
70 per cent of its total area is covered by water. (ii) The Bedford Level Experiment: An
Hence, it is also called the watery planet. The experiment was carried out in the Bedford Level
family of the sun is called the Solar System. The canal area in England. Three poles of equal
members of the solar system are at a certain length were fixed at intervals of 5 km. It was
distance from the sun. The chief members of the ensured that the poles had the same height
solar system are the planets, the satellites that above the water in the canal. When the poles
revolve around the planets and other celestial were viewed from one end of the canal, the
bodies called asteroids, comets and meteorites.
The planets in order of their distance from the
sun are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars,Jupiter,
Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
THE SHAPE OF THE EARTH
The earth is not a perfect sphere. It bulges
slightly at the centre and is flattened at the poles.
Flat Earth
In the olden days, the earth was considered to be
a flat disc with steep edges. Aryabhatta, the 5th
Century Indian astronomer and mathematician,
believed in the round shape of the earth. He
said that the earth was spherical in shape and
rotated on its axis. In the 6th century, Greek
phlosopher Pythagoras said the same thing.
Today, we have convincing evidence to prove Spherical Earth

that the earth is spherical in shape. Fig, 1.1. Sighting of a ship

Earth As a Planet 7
mddle pole looked shghtly higher. It could not
have happcned if the carth had a flat surface
(Fig 12) A similar experinent was repeated
at diflernt places with the same result. This
experimnent demonstrated that the surface of
the carth was cuved.

-5 km+ -5 km

Flat Earth Fig. 1.4. A satellite picture of the Earth

(v) Lunar Eclipse: The shadow of

surface of the moon is clearly visibleearth on
from eamthe
during lunar eclipse. It appears as an arc of a
circle. Since the earth is bigger than the monn
it is rarely oriented in the
same
moon but the shadow is always position
circular.
as the

Spherical Earth (vi) Circular Horizon: The view of the

Fig. 1.2. Bedford level experiment surface as seen from a height is circular.earth' s
increase in altitude the circular horizon With
(iii) Pole Star: The Pole star can be seen at widens. Had the earth's surface been flat also the
an angle of 90° at the North Pole. It lies in line
with the axis of the earth, and its angle decreases
towards the Equator. At the Equator, the angle
is 0°.This can happen only in an arc of a circle.
(Fig. 1.3). If the earth were flat, the Pole Star
would have the same height for all latitudes.
Light from Pole Star
Light from Pole Star A
90: NP Horizon

Horizoa
67.5°N
Fig. 1.5<a). Spherical Earth: The higher the
45°N the wider the circular horizon. The circular altitude,AB
45

5 horizon
widens to CD as you move up from Yto X.
Fig. 1.3. Position of the Pole Star.
(iv) Satellite Pictures: Jean Baptiste
Delambre (1749-1822), the French
discovered the flattening of the earth astronomer,
at the poles.
In the 20th century, Horizon
when satellite pictures of
earth were fed into computers, its A B

with the flattened poles spherical shape

was confirmed (Fig. 1.4)
The conclusive evidence for
the
earth's spherical shape is obtained proof the
from the
photographs taken from space. Fig. 1.5(b). Flat Earth: Irrespective of the altitude,
the visible horizon is the same.

8
Total Geography-9
 SUN

SUN

DAY

NIGHT

le
h Spherical Earth
Flat Earth
a
Fig. 1.6. Sunrise and Sunset occurs at
different times at different places

horizon would have been the same irrespective light from it. The planets do not have light of
of altitude.
their own. They move around their stars in fixed
In modern days, all radio waves that travel paths called orbits.
Over the earth's surface, can be heard only
within a certain horizon. Beyond this, the signal Earth an Oblate Spheroid
is not received. This is because of the spherical The earth is said to be spherical; but it is not
shape of the earth. a perfect sphere. Its diameter varies at the
(vii) Sunrise and Sunset: The sun rises from Equator and at the Poles. It diameter at the
the east and sets in the west. Sunrise and Equator is 12,756 km while its Polar diameter
sunset occurs at different times at different is 12,714 km. This difference in diameter is due
places. This is because the earth rotates from to the centrifugal force of earth's rotation at a
west to east and therefore, people in the east great speed which forms a bulge at the Equator
can see the sun earlier than those in the west. and a compression at the Poles. Thus, the earth
Had the earth been flat, the sunrise and sunset is said to be an Oblate Spheroid. The shape
would have occurred at the same time all over of the earth is also described as Geoid, which
the world. (Fig. 1.6) means earth shaped.
(viii) Circumnavigation: Magellan's ship
Victoria completed a round-the-world voyage in
1522. His ship returned to the same place from
where it had started (Spain). It proved beyond
doubt that theearth's surface is round (Fig. 1.7).
(ix) The Earth as a Heavenly Body: The earth
belongs to the Solar system. All planets in this
system are spherical in shape. It is because of
their continuous rotation. So the earth being
the member of the Solar system cannot be an
exception.
THE EARTH AS A PLANET
Fig. 1.7. Circumnavigation-the route
Earth,as a planet, is a spherical object in space taken by Magellan.
that moves around the Sun (a star) and receives

Earth As a Planet 9
 EARTH AS THE HOME OF HUMANKIND Greenhouse effect on the
Our Eaith s the only planet that supports Thus, the temperature
remains very high. The earth's
surface i
lite Unlike other plancts, it is covered with contains a very small
LICen vegetation, enormous blue-green Oceans dioxide. quantity
contaning over a million islands, a large
number of streams and rivers, huge land Atmosphere
masses called continents with mountains, ice
caps and deserts. Somne form of life thrives
Atmosphere is the layer of air around.
earth. It is a mixture of gases
virtually in every part of the earth - from the
coldest part of the Poles to the warmest part
1ike
(78%), oxygen (21%a), carbon dioxide. nitrOgg
of the Equator. Earth has certain features that
and argon (less than 1%).
The atmosphere receives heat from the
helur.
make it habitable and thus, a unique planet. by solar radiation and loses heat
Some of these feature are given below. radiation. In this way a balance is by earths
Distance fromn the Sun The earth's atmosphere is made up of ke maintained
The earth is at an optimum distance from supporting gases like nitrogen, Oxygen and
carbon dioxide. Other gases include Heli
the sun. Hence, it is neither too hot nor too
and Argon.
cold. Ozone present in the earth's
The distance between the earth and the sun
absorbs the harmful ultraviolet atmosphere
rays of the
makes life possible on the earth. If it was Sun.
closer to the sun, any life present would get The atmosphere also prevents loss of heat
burnt from too much heat of the sun. If it
was farther from the sun life would freeze
from the earth's surface and helps to keen
the earth warm.
because of lack of heat.
Water
Temperature
The earth is the third planet from the sun. Earth is a watery planet with 70 per cent oi
the earth's surface being covered by water.
It has an average temperature of 17°C which
is suitable for life to exist. Distribution of water is responsible for
moderating the climate and surface condition
If the average temperature on the earth's
of the earth.
surface changes by only a few degrees, many
species would perish due to
extremne heat or cold.
The other two terrestrial
planets, Mercury and Venus Condensation
are very hot with maximum
temperatures of more than
400 °C. The remaining
planets in the Solar system Transpiration
from Plants Evaporation from
are very cold with surface
temperature below 0°C. Wate_bodjes

Venus is the second planet River

from the sun but it is
hotter than Mercury. This
is because the atmosphere
around Venus is mainly
Ground Water moves towards Ocean Ocean

composed of carbon dioxide. between the Atmosphelt

Fig. 1.8. Water cycle the movement of water
The carbon dioxide produces Hydrosphere and Lithosphere
 Atmosphere

Birds in the air

Ecosystem. This system

depends upon the sun for
its energy. Apond, a lake
desert. grassland, meadow. Animals

forests arecommon examples Vegetation

of ecosystems.
Sea Animals
There is an exchange creatures in the ground
of materials and energy
within the ecosystem as Hydrosphere
well as between adjoining Lithosphere
ecosystems. They are all Marine living
organisms Dead plants
interconnected and hence, Microscopic and anímals
organisms
interrelated The vast
network of all interconnected Fig. 1.9. (b) Biosphere: The Life Zone
ecosystems constitute the
Water can absorb enormous amount of
biosphere. Thus, biosphere is that part of heat without causing much change in its
the earth's terrestrial system incuding air,
temperature. During the day, waterbodies
land and water in which life develops and
rapidly absorb enormous amount of heat:
where life processes in turn get transformed. thus, the earth remains fairly cool. At night
It is the life zone of the earth. the waterbodies release vast amounts of heat
Water from seas, rivers and lakes evaporates that they absorbed during the day, which
into the atmosphere where it condenses along with other atmospheric effects, keep
and falls back as precipitation. Most of the most of the surface from freezing at night.
water on land flows back to the Oceans. But for the tremendous amount of water
Thus, water moves in a continuous cycle on the earth, far greater day and night
temperature variations would exist.
the hydrological cycle, as shown in
Fig. 1.8. There is a proper balance between
evaporation,condensation and precipitation Solid Crust (Lithosphere)
without which life would not be possible. Earth has a solid crust (Lithosphere). Due to
the weathering of the rocks, the surface of the
earth has been formed, which provides soil
layer essential for supporting plant life. Soil
Lithosphere
also provides various nutrients necessary for
the growth of plants, which in turn support all
forms of animal life directly or indirectly.

Biosphere
Biosphere is the narrow realm of contact
Bio and interaction between the atmosphere,
sphere
lithosphere and hydrosphere.
Hydrosphere Biosphere provides all the necessities for all
Atmosphere the species living on earth, i.e., light, heat,
water, food and habitats.
Biosphere is a thin layer of approximately
15 km from the deepest ocean trench to the
Fig. 1.9. (a) Biosphere

Earth As a Planet
11
 highest mountan peak. At the ground level, It operates through the food chain
processes like photosynthesis,
l extends to adepth of just 3 m below and
in occan waters about 200 m deep,
marine and freshwater life is found.
where respiration etc. The livingthings
producers, consumers and transdipviiTde2Pa
are
ir
the

decomposers.
pro
are the producers of food the
With1n the biosphere, life is found chiefly in
two forms-theplant kingdom and the animal of photosynthesis. Energy hasthrough
its
throu
kingdom. here. Then there are categories of orig1n irtg deati

Life-Giving Cycles
(herbivores and carnivores) who
producers. At the top of all is manlive on te
who
Consurntx in th
food
plan
Various life-giving cycles operate in nature, modify his own environment and und
create
balancing the factors necessary for life.
Nutrition Cycle: The nutrition cycle represents
at the bottom or in the middle
level
chain. AIl living beings undergo of the foo,
charge resu

huge
by the action of decomposii
a relationship between living and non-living saprotrophs or
things in our environment (Fig. 1.10). It shows
the interdependence of all living things on earth.
Carbon Cycle: Carbon is the decompoSers.
material of all life (Fig. 1.11). All basic ra
hum
carb

contain carbon. Atmospheric carbon living things inburr

Sun
is used by plants in the
presence dioxide
of sunlighy
and chlorophyll to make their own
heterotrophs
food hy from
(consumers) is r
Carbon ioxide resp
(Atmosphere) of f
Oxygen
autotrophs
herbivores
(plant eaters)
decay Oxygen the
(producers) org
Respiration Photosynthesis

abiotics
Li
carnivores Sa
(flesh eaters)
saprotrophs
(Living Organisms) Ci
(decomposers) At
Fig. 1.10. Nutrition Cycle P}
Fig. 1.11. Carbon Cycle

Geodesy is the science of accurately measuring and

three fundamental properties of the Earth: its understanding
orientation in space, and its gravity field as well geometric shape, 1s
of these properties with time. By using GPS, as the changes
movement of a site continuously (24x7). geodesists monitor the
Geodesy is used to map shorelines, determine land
and navigation safety. To measure points on the boundaries, and improve transportato
using space-based tools like the Global Earth's surface. geodesists assign coordinalco
To measure the Earth, Positioning System (GPS) to points all over the pa
geodesists have
Earth. But the ellipsoid is based on a adopted the ellipsoid as the most basic modelearth'sof the
very simple mathematical model, it assumes the
surface is smooth like the oceanic surface
When additional detail of the Earth is and does not include any
needed, geodesists use the geoid- mountains O ts
over the whole globe. a shape uiat

12
the process of photosynthesis. During this carbon cycle. The carbon cycle helps in
Drocess CO is fhxed as starch by plants. From maintaining carbon balance in nature.
the plants, carbOn moves along the food chain
Any imbalance of carbon in the atrnosphere
through consumers at different levels. After the heats up the earth and leads to Global Warming.
death of plants and animals, the carbon present Excessive use of gases that produce undue
in their bodies is decomposed and absorbed as
heat and global warming has to be avoided to
food by saprophytic bacteria and fungi. When
plants die and get buried in the soil, they maintain a healthy atmosphere.
undergo slow degradation and compaction. This Nitrogen Cycle: Atmosphere is the largest
results in the formation of fossil fuels containing reservoir (78% approximately) of free nitrogen.
huge amounts of carbon. Plants take nitrogen in the form of nitrates from
During respiration, plants, animals and the soil and it moves through the food chain to
humans, use atmospheric oxygen and release animals. Nitrogen is returned to the soil through
carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. The manure, excreta and earthly remains of plants
and animals, and micro-organisms.
burning of carbon containing fuels also results
in the release of CO, in the atmosphere. Oxygen Cycle: Living things take in oxygen
from the atmosphere. They use it to release
Thus, carbon from CO, taken by green plants energy from the food they eat. Oxygen is also
from the environment through photosynthesis used together with carbon, hydrogen and
is returned to the environment through nitrogen to build new molecules in their bodies.
respiration, decomposition and through burning Oxygen is released back into the atmosphere
of fuels. by green plants during photosynthesis and by
This cyclic movement of carbon from plants and animals as part of carbon dioxide.
the atmosphere to the organisms and from These cycles are nature's mechanism to
organisms to the atmosphere is known as maintain balance in the ecosystem.

Terms to Remember

Lithosphere The layer of rocks on the surface of the earth.

Satellite A body that revolves around a planet.
Circumnavigation Navigation around the globe.
Atmosphere : The blanket of air surrounding the earth.
Photosynthesis The process by which green plants make their own food using sunlight,
carbon dioxide and water.
Greenhouse Effect The trapping of the sun's radiation by gases present in the lower atmosphere.

EXERCISES

I. Choose the correct option:

1. At the Bedford level canal area a famous experiment was carried out. How many poles were
used and at what distance apart?
(a) 3 poles, 5km (b) 2 poles, 10km
(c) 4 poles, 5km (d) 3 poles, 10km
2. The view of the earth's surface as seen from a height is
(a) square (b) rectangular
(c) circular (d) triangular

Earth As a Planet 13
 3. At what angle can the Pole Star be seen at the Poles and at the Equator?
(a) 60. 30 (b) 90°, 0° (c) 45°, 45° (d) 0°, 90
4 Magellan's ship Victoria after completing a round-the-world voyage in 1522
country?
returned
(a) France (b) Spain
(c) London (d) United States of America

5. Earth's diameter at the Equator is and at the poles is

(a) 12,750 km, 12,715 km (b) 12,752 km, 12,726 km
(c) 12,714 km, 12,755 km (d) 12,756 km, 12,714 km

6. What is the shape of the earth?

(a) Sphere (b) Oblate (c) Oval (d) Oblate Spheroid
7 What is the shape of earth called?
(a) Oblate (b) Spherical (c) Geoid (d) Spheroid
8. The atmosphere of Venus has maximum concentration of which gas?
(a) Oxygen (b) Carbon dioxide (c) Nitrogen (d) Helium
9. Name the gas that absorbs the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.
(a) Ozone (b) Oxygen (c) Carbon dioxide (d) Nitrogen
10. What is the thickness of the Biosphere?
(a) 20 km (b) 19 km (c) 15 km (d) 25 km
11. What term refers to a self-regulating and self-sustaining unit of the biosphere?
(a) Ecosystem (b) Food cycle (c) Biome (d) Ecology
12. Name the cycle through which solar energy moves from non-living to living organisms and bad:
(a) Carbon cycle (b) Nitrogen cycle (c) Nutrition cycle (d) Energy cycle
13. Name the basic raw material for life
(a) Nitrogen (b) Carbon (c) Oxygen (d) solar energy
14. Name the genius mathematician astronomer from the ancient world who was the first proponer
of the round shape of the earth.
(a) Pythagoras (b) Aryabhatta (c) Brahmagupta (d) Bhaskara
15. You are standing at a beach looking towards the horizon. You hear the horn of a ship. Wncd
part of the ship will you see first?
(a) Hull (b) Deck (c) Mast (d) Allof them.

16. Where was the Bedford LevelExperiment carried out?

(a) England (b) France (c) India (d) Canada

II. Short Answer Questions

1. How can you prove that the earth is a sphere by looking at the horizon?
2. Briefly describe the shape of the earth.
3. What is the earth's mean temperature? State its one advantage.
4. Why is the earth called a watery planet?
5. What is biosphere"?
6. Name the conditions necessary for life on earth.
7. Give any two features of the earth that make it a Unique Planet'.

14 Total Geography - 9
 8. What would happen if the average temperature of the earth increased by half a degree?
9. Trace the cyclical movement of carbon in the three
realms of the earth.
I11. Structured Questions
1. (a)
How does the sighting of a ship from the seashore prove about that the earth its round in
shape?
(b) Use a 1m long table to replicate the Bedford Level Experiment. Briefly mention how aid
you carry out the experiment to prove the shape of the earth.
(c) Give a geographical reason for each of the following:
(1) The sunrise and sunset occur at different times at different places.
(i) The earth is not a perfect sphere.
(iüi) Venus is hotter than mercury
(d) Draw a well labelled diagram to show that the horizon of the earth is circular in shape.
2. Describe the role of each of the following in making earth a habitable planet.
(a) Atmosphere (b) Water
(C) Temperature (d) Distance from the Sun
3. (a) How does each of the following prove the circular shape of the earth:
(i) Lunar Eclipse; (ii) Pole Star
(b) What is an ecosystem? Give an example.
(c) Give a geographical reason for each of the following:
(i) Earth is a habitable planet.
(11) From space Earth looks blue.
(iii) Water bodies reduce the day-night temperature variations.
(d) Draw a well labelled diagram to show the cyclic circulation of water between the three
realms of the earth.

IV. Thinking Skills

1. You have gone from Delhi to Arunachal Pradesh on a study tour with your school
during the winter vacation. As you woke up in the morning at 6 o'clock, you
noticed the sun has risen whereas at Delhi sun rise is around 7.30 a.m. Similarly
around 4.30 it was sunset while sunset is around 6 p.m. in Delhi. What do you
Which
think could be the reason for the sun rising and setting earlier than Delhi?
feature of the earth can you relate to from this?
when the sun would
2. The earth depends upon the sun for its energy. Imagine a day, inhabitants.
Write down the consequences for the earth and its
not rise.

V. Project/Activity
State the conditions essential for the
Prepare a project on Natural Creation and Destruction.
species have evolved and of how
maintenance of life on our planet. Give a description of how new
extinct. Look around your environment. Describe
many species of plants and animals have become
are active all the time.
natural forces of creation and destruction that

Earth As a Planet
15