Lesson 3

Rotation and Revolution of the Earth

Question.1

Define the following:-

1. Rotation: The turning of the earth on its axis from west to east is called rotation.
2. Revolution: The movement of the earth around the sun along the orbit is called
revolution.
3. Coriolis Effect : All the moving bodies like ocean currents and winds in the northern
hemisphere are deflected towards the right and towards the left in the southern
hemisphere. It is due to centrifugal force.
4. Axis: An imaginary line on which earth rotates.
5. Solstice: The time when the ray of the sun fall vertically on either of the tropics. The
length of the day and night varies.
6. Equinox: the time when the ray of the sun fall vertically on equator passing through
the poles. The day and night are equal.
7. Summer Solstice: When Tropic of Cancer is inclined towards the sun. The days are
longer and nights are shorter in the northern hemisphere and vice versa in the
southern hemisphere.
8. Winter Solstice: When Tropic of Capricorn is inclined towards the sun and Tropic of
Cancer is away. The days are shorter and nights are longer in northern hemisphere
and vice versa in the southern hemisphere.
9. Orbit: The path of the earth around the sun is called its orbit. The orbit of the earth is
elliptical in shape.
10. Perihelion: The earth is said to be perihelion when its distance from the sun is
minimum.
11. Aphelion: The earth is said to be aphelion when its distance from the sun is
maximum.
12. Midnight Sun: The midnight sun is the natural phenomenon occurring in the summer
month at latitudes north and nearby to the south of the Arctic Circle, and south and
nearby to the north of the Antarctic Circle where the sun remain visible at the local
midnight.
13. Sidereal day: The period of rotation or the time required for the Earth to turn around
through 360 degree is 23hr56min 4.09sec. This period is termed as sidereal day and is
determined by the stars.
14. Ferrell`s Law: The deflection of moving bodies towards the right in the northern
hemisphere and left in the southern hemisphere respectively due to coriolis effect
created by the rotation of the earth is called Ferrell`s Law.
15. Twilight: The faint light which illuminates the various parts of the earth before
sunrise and sunset is called twilight.
 16. Circle of Illumination: The travelling boundary which divides the daylight and
darkness is called circle of illumination.

Question: 2

Give Reasons for the Following:

1. Altitude of the sun varies at a place according to season.

Ans. The earth`s axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degree. This has the effect of making
the low on the horizon during winter and higher during the summer.
2. Seasons are reversed in the northern and southern hemisphere.
Ans. Because the earth`s axis is tilted, when there is summers in the northern
hemisphere that part is closer to the sun. When the earth is on the other side of the
sun, the southern hemisphere is closer. This exposure alternates as the earth revolves
on its orbit.
3. Days and nights are equal at all places on the earth on March 21.
Ans. Days and nights are equal at all the places on the earth on March 21 as the circle
of illumination passes through the poles and thus divide the earth into equal halves.
4. Winds get deflected from their normal path.
Ans. Winds get deflected from their normal path due to Coriolis force which is caused
by rotation.
5. Noon is hotter than morning.
Ans. Because at noon earth is closer to the sun and is inclined more towards it.
6. The sun is never overhead beyond the Tropics.
Ans. As tropic means turning point, when the sun has reached its northern and
southern most limits on June21 and December22 respectively, it appears to turn
southwards and northwards.
7. The region beyond the Arctic Circle is known as the `Land of Midnight Sun`.
Ans. Because at the Arctic Circle ( 66.5 degree)during summer on June 21, the sun never
sets in mid summers and there is daylight for 24 hours as the north pole is inclined
towards the sun.
8. Why the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
Ans. The earth rotates from west to east so the sun rises in the east and sets in the
west.
9. The speed of rotation at Singapore is much faster than that at Tokyo or Russia.
Ans. The speed of rotation decreases from equator to poles.
10. Difference between days and nights increases when one moves away from equator
towards the poles.
Ans. This is the result of the inclination of the axis of the earth.
11. The distance of the earth from the sun changes constantly during its revolution.
Ans. The distance of the earth from the sun changes constantly during its revolution
because of its elliptical orbit of the earth around the sun.
 Question 3:-
Very Short Answers:-
Q.1. Mention the two primary motions of the earth.
Ans. The two primary motions of the earth are rotation and revolution.
Q.2. At what angle the axis of the earth is tilted from a perpendicular to the orbital
plane?
Ans. 23.5 degree
Q.3. What is the mean velocity of the speed of the earth?
Ans. 107000 km/sec
Q.4. Name the country where the sun will be overhead on December.
Ans. Brazil, Australia
Q.5. On which latitude the sun be overhead on 21 June.
Ans. The sun will be overhead on 21 June on Tropic of Cancer.
Q.6. Name the two countries where the sun will be overhead on 21 June.
Ans. India and Egypt
Q.7. Explain how the earth undergoes both the motions simultaneously.
Ans. The earth rotates on its own axis as well as it completes its movement around the
sun every year.
Q.8. Name the area which experience maximum variation in the seasons.
Ans. Polar region experiences the maximum variation of the seasons.
Q.9. What is dawn?
Ans. Short transition period before sun rise is called dawn.
Q.10. When does the northern hemisphere have equal day and night?
Ans. The northern hemisphere has equal day night on 21st March and 23RD September.
Q.11. When there is summer in India what season is in Australia?
Ans. When there is summer in India, there is winter in Australia.
Q.12. Name the area which is experiencing practically no variation of seasons
Ans. Equatorial region.

Question 4
Short answer type question

Q.1. What causes the slight flattening of the earth at the two poles and the bulge at the
equator?

Ans. The rotation of the earth has resulted in the flattening of the poles and the bulging at
the equator as well. This the because the earth rotates at different speeds at different
latitudes, the force is maximum at the equator. At the time of formation, the earth was in a
fluid states, the force of cohesion was small and could not centrifugal force; so its bulge at
the equator.
Q.2. Mention two effect of the tilting of the earth on its axis.

Ans. (a) Due to the inclination, when it is summers in the northern hemisphere, it is winter in
the southern hemisphere and vice versa.

(b) The duration of day and night is not equal at all places.

Q.3. What is the effects of the rotation of the speed of the earth`s rotation?

Ans. Following are the effects of the speed of the earth`s rotation:

(a) The winds and ocean currents are deflected to the right in the northern hemisphere
and towards left in the southern hemisphere.
(b) Affects the movement of water in the oceans, so tides are deflected.
(c) Creates a centrifugal force resulting in bulge in the middle portion of the earth and
flattened at the poles
(d) The spinning of the earth on its axis causes day and night..

Q.4. What is Leap Year?

Ans. Earth completes its one revolution in 365days and 6 hours. These 6 hours are ignored
and added as one day to the fourth year. The fourth year is called leap year.

Q.5. Give important features of the revolution

Ans. Important features of the revolution are:

1. The earth revolves around the sun west to east and takes 365days and 6 hours.
2. The earth revolves round the sun at a speed of 29.8km/sec or 107.2000km/h.
3. The earth`s orbit round the sun covers a distance of about 965million km.

Q.6. What is the diurnal motion of the earth?

Ans. The earth rotates from west to east because of which rising of the sun in the east and
then setting in the west occurs daily. This repeated movement of the earth on daily basis is
known as diurnal motion of the earth.

Q.7. Explain the characteristics of rotation.

Ans. Following are the characteristics of the rotation of the earth:

1. The earth completes one spin from west to east on its axis in 24 hours.
2. The earth is always tilted in the same direction (towards the pole star) as it moves
round the sun.
3. The speed of the movement at the equator is 1660km/h. The speed decreases
towards the poles.
 Q.8 What is twilight? How does it occurs?

Ans. The faint light which illuminates the various Part of the earth before sun rise and sunset
is called twilight.

Twilight occurs due to the reflection of the sun`s light from the upper layer of the
atmosphere on the earth, while the sun itself is below the horizon. The duration of the
twilight at a place depends on the path of the sun in the sky.

Question 5

Distinguish the following:-

1. Aphelion and Perihelion

Aphelion
1.The earth is said to be aphelion when it is
away from the sun
2.The distance between the earth and the
sun is maximum152 million km
approximately.
3 . The aphelion occurs on July 4th
Perihelion
1.The earth is said to be perihelion when it is
closer to the sun
2. The distance between the earth and the
sun is minimum147 million km
approximately.
3 The perihelion occurs on 3rd January.

2. Vernal Equinox and Autumnal Equinox

Vernal Equinox
1. The sun appears to stand on
tropic of Capricorn and then
appears to move northwards
towards the equator.
2. It occurs on March 21st.
Autumnal Equinox
1. The sun appears to move
southwards and crosses the
equator.
2 it occurs on 23rd of September.

3. Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice

Summer Solstice
1 The north pole is inclined towards the
sun and the south pole is away from it.
2 The rays of the sun fall vertically on
Tropic of Cancer.
3 The days are longer and the nights are
shorter in northern hemisphere and vice
versa.
Winter Solstice
1 South pole is inclined towards the sun
and the north pole is away from it.
2 The rays of the sun fall vertically on
Tropic of Capricorn.
3 The days are shorter and nights are
longer in the northern hemisphere and
vice versa.

Question 6

Diagram based questions:-

1. Draw a diagram to show the length of day and night when the axis is vertical.
Ans. The length of the day and night would be equal at all the places on the earth if the
earth`s axis is vertical.

2. With the help of the diagram show the inclination of the earth`s axis

Ans.

3. Draw a neat, well labelled diagram of Aphelion and Perihelion.

4. Draw neat, well labelled diagram of summer and winter solstice.

Ans.

Lesson 4
Structure of the Earth

Question 1:-
Define the following:
1. Lithosphere: The solid crust of rock forming the surface of the earth.
2. The crust: The crust is the uppermost layer of the of the earth.
3. The mantle: The mantle is the intermediate layer between the crust and the core.
4. The core: The innermost and the densest layer of the earth.
5. Sima: The lower part of the earth crust made of silicon and magnesium.
6. Sial: The outer lighter part of the upper crust made of silicon and aluminium.
7. Asthenosphere: The top layer of the upper mantle, 100 to 200km below the
surface of the earth.
8. Seismic waves: The shock wave sent through the planet by an earthquake or
underground nuclear test.
9. Tectonic plate: Tectonic activity which describe the interaction of the huge slabs
of earth`s lithosphere is called tectonic plate

Question 2:-

Give reasons for the following:

1. In spite of the high temperature, the earth is in a solid form in the centre.

Ans. The temperature in the centre is quite high but pressure of the overlaying
layers keeps both the mantle and the lower parts of the crust in a solid state.

2. The core explain the cause of the earth`s Magnetism.

Ans. The core explain the cause of the earth`s magnetism because of the
presences of heavy metals like iron and nickel in plenty.

3. The rocks in the interior of the earth tend to convert into liquid.

Ans. The rocks in the interior of the earth tend to be converted into liquid because
of the high temperature in this part.

4. The core of the earth is also known as ‘Nife’.

Ans. The core of the earth is also known as nife because it is mainly constituted
with iron and nickel.

5. The lithosphere is called as mineral skin?

Ans. Because it is thin, average in 17km in thickness.

Question 3:-

Very Short Answer Type Question:

1. Name the two layers of the lithosphere.

Ans. The two layers of the lithosphere continental layer and oceanic layer.

2. What is the lower and upper part of the crust known as?

Ans. The lower part of the crust is known as sima zone and the upper part of the
crust is known as sial zone

3. Name the important layers of the earth.

Ans. Crust, mantle and core are the important layer of the earth.

4. Which two types of rocks does the crust mainly consist of?

Ans. Granite and basalt

5. At what rate does the temperature go on increasing as we go down below the

surface of the earth.

Ans. At the rate of 1 degree Celsius for every 32 metres of descent.

6. Name the constituent minerals of sial.

Ans. The constituent minerals of sial are silicon and aluminium.

7. Name the constituent minerals of sima.

Ans. The constituent minerals of sima are silicon and magnesium.

8. Why is core known as the centrosphere?

Ans. The core is also known as centrosphere because it is the innermost part of
the earth.

9. Name the theory which provides a framework for interpreting the

composition, structure and internal process of the earth.

Ans. Plate tectonics provides a framework for interpreting the composition,

structure and internal process of the earth.

Question 4:-

Short Answers type Questions:

 1. What are tectonic plates? Into how many major tectonic plates is the
lithosphere divided? Name any five.

Ans. Tectonic activity describes the interaction of the huge slabs of lithosphere
called as tectonic plates. The lithosphere is divided into 15 major tectonic plates.
Five of them are North American, South American, Caribbean, Antarctic, African .

2. Name the sources of information that enable the scientist to know about the
internal structure of the earth.

Ans. The study of seismic waves, materials thrown up by the volcanoes, evidences
from the theories of the origin of the earth are the sources of information that enables the
scientists to known about the inside structure of earth.

3. State the characteristics of the earth.

Ans. The characteristics of the crust are:

(1) The upper continental layer is lighter than the oceanic crust having an average
density of 2.7. This layer consist of silicates and aluminium.
(2) The oceanic layer is denser consisting of magnesium and silicate and other
metals.
(3) It is the topmost layer of the earth.
4. What is the composition of the core?

Ans. The core is made of iron and nickel.

5. What forms the basis of Wegener`s Continental Drift Theory?

Ans. Though the sial and the sima are in the solid state, the lighter sial floats on
the denser sima layer. This arrangement of the sial floating on the sima forms the
basis of Wegener`s Continental Drift Theory.

Question 5:-

Answer the following in detail:

1. Mention the four features of the core of the earth.

Ans. (1) the is the innermost layer of the earth.

(2) It is mainly composed of iron and nickel, it is the densest layer of the earth.
Due to heavy metal the core acts like a magnet and is the major source of earth`s
magnetic field.

(3) The entire core is about 7000km in diameter.

(4)The temperature at the core may be more than 5000 degree Celsius, the high
temperature in the interior tends to convert a rock into a liquid.

2. Mention any four features of the mantle.

The four features of the mantle are:

(1). This the intermediate layer of the earth between crust and the core.

(2) Its thickness is about 2840 to 2900km. The mantle is divided into two parts upper
mantle which extends up to 700km in depth, the lower mantle extends from700-
2900 km.

(3) It consist of ultra- basic rocks rich in iron and magnesium. The density of this layer
varies from 3.10 to about 5.0.

(4)Temperature is quite high but the overlying layer keeps both the mantle and the
lower part of the crust in solid state.

3. Mention the features of the lithosphere.

Ans. The features of the lithosphere are:

(1) This layer includes the crust and the upper most portion of the mantle.
(2) This layer is about 100 km thick and has the ability to glide over the rest of the
mantle.
(3) Because of the increasing temperature and pressure, deeper portion of the
lithosphere are capable of plastic flow over geological time.
(4) Lithosphere is the zone of earthquakes, mountain building, volcanoes and
continental drifting.

Question 6:-

Distinguish the following:

1. Crust and mantle

Crust
1. It is the uppermost layer of the
earth.
2. The thickness of the crust varies
from 6 to 48km
3. The crust is consist of rocks
which have predominance
of minerals like silicate,
Mantle
1. It is the intermediate layer of
the earth.
2. The depth of the mantle
varies from 35km to
2900km
3 The mantle is composed of
dense rocks which have
predominance of iron and
 aluminium and magnesium. magnesium.

2 Mantle and Core

Mantle
1. It is the intermediate layer of the
earth.
2. The depth of the mantle varies
from 35km to 2900km
3. The mantle is composed of dense
rocks which have predominance
of iron and magnesium.
3 Sial and Sima
Sial
1. The outer lighter part of the
earth`s crust.
2. Its density is 2.7g/cm.sq.
3. It consist of silicon and
aluminium.
Core
1. It is the innermost layer of the
earth.
2. The core is approximately 7,000
km in diameter.
3. The major constituents of this
layer are the metallic minerals
iron and nickel.
Sima
1. The lower part of the earth`s
crust.
2. Its density is 3.0g/cmsq.
3. It is made of silicon and
magnesium.

Question 7:-

Answer the following questions through diagram:

1. With the help of the diagram explain the structure of the earth.

Ans. The earth is composed of several concentric layers. Three main layers are: (a) crust,
(b) Mantle, (c) Core

(a) Core: It is the outer most layer of the earth and consists of two zones sial zone and
sima zone. Sial is the thicker layer but sima is thinner layer.
The sial layer is thicker over the continents and sima is thin or absent on the ocean
floor, specially the Pacific Ocean. Though these two layers are in solid state, the
lighter sial is considered floating on the denser sima layer. The arrangement of sial
floating on sima forms the basis of the Continental Drift Theory.
(b) The mantle is the immediate layer of the earth and lies between the crust and the
core of the earth. The temperature of this layer is quite high. The hot rocks rising
from the interior of the earth often melt in the lowest depth forming molten magma.
(c) Core: It is the innermost layer of the earth which explains the causes of earth`s
magnetism because of the abundance of the metallic minerals like iron.
Q.2. With help of the diagram only show the rocks of the sial are lighter than that of sima.

Ans. Rocks of sial are much lighter than those of the sima. The continents are regarded as
floating on the denser sea.