Purwanchal Vidyamandir

Session 2021-2022
Class – IX
Subject- Geography
Study Material -1
Topic – Rotation and Revolution

Rotation –The spinning of the earth on its axis from west to east once in 24 hours. It is the daily
movement causing day and night .The speed of the earth’s rotation is maximum at the equator
and decreases polewards.

Revolution- The movement of the earth around the sun in an elliptical orbit. It is the annual
movement of the earth completed in 365 days and 6 hours, causing seasons.

Why we do not feel the motions of the Earth?

The force of gravity keeps everything attached to the earth. This keeps all objects at rest with
reference to the motions of the Earth.

Circle of illumination- The imaginary line that demarcates light from darkness, day and night.
The rotation of the earth in a tilted position on its axis has the following advantages:

 The short rotational period makes the variation of temperature between day and
night moderate.
 Rotation in combination with revolution causes seasons and variations in the
length of day and night over different places on earth.

As the path of the earth i.e the orbit is elliptical so the distance between the earth and the sun
varies to cause aphelion and perihelion. The Earth moves more quickly in its orbit when it is in
perihelion than it does when the Earth is in aphelion due to the gravitational pull of the sun.

Aphelion Perihelion
The earth is farthest from the sun(ap-away The earth is closest to the sun(per- near,
from, hellion-sun) helion-sun)
It takes place on 4th July. It takes place on 3rd January.
The distance between the earth and the sun is The distance between the earth and the sun is
152 million km. 147million km.
The revolution of the Earth around the sun causes solstice and equinox.
Solstice
Solstice refers to the time when the sun
reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky
at noon, resulting in the shortest and longest
days of the year
The word solstice is derived from the Latin
words ‘sol’ meaning sun and ‘sistere’ meaning
to stand still.
It happens twice a year on June 21(summer
solstice) and December 22(winter solstice).
Equinox
Equinox refers to time when the sun crosses
the plane of the earth’s Equator , making night
and day of equal length.
The word equinox is derived from the Latin
words ‘aequus’ meaning ‘equal’and ‘nox’
meaning ‘night’.
It happens twice a year, around March
21(spring or vernal equinox) and September
23(autumnal equinox).
Summer solstice- On June 21, the earth is in the position where the North pole is tilted towards
the sun. On this day the sun is overhead at the tropic of cancer. This day is known as the
summer solstice. The southern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun and experiences winter.

Winter solstice – On December 22, the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, while
the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun. This day is known as the winter solstice. It
is summer in the southern hemisphere and winter in the northern hemisphere.

Spring Equinox- On March 21, the sun shines vertically over the equator at an angle of 90⁰.This
angle decreases as one moves away from the equator. On this day all places on the earth have
equal days and nights. It is spring in the northern hemisphere and autumn in the southern
hemisphere.

Autumnal equinox– On September 23, the sun shines vertically over the equator at an angle of
90⁰. On this day all places on the earth have equal days and nights. It is autumn in the northern
hemisphere and spring in the southern hemisphere.

The region beyond the Arctic Circle, especially Norway is known as the land of the Midnight Sun
because there the sun does not rise or set on 21 June.
 Assignment

1) Give reasons for the following:

a. We always see the sun rising in the east.

b. Norway is called the land of the Midnight Sun.
c. The speed of the rotation of the earth is greater at the equator than at the Arctic circle.
d. 25th of December in New Zealand may be one of the hottest days of the year.
e. The length of day and night is not equal at all places on the earth.
f. Noon is hotter than morning.
g. Days and nights are equal at all places on earth on March 21.

2) Define the following terms:

a. Solstice
b. Equinox
c. Perihelion
d. Aphelion
e. Circle of illumination
f. Orbit

3) Answer the following questions:

a. What is meant by rotation? State two characteristics.

b. Which is the longest and shortest day in the northern hemisphere?
c. How have the phenomena of the ‘Midnight Sun come about?
d. What is the effect of the inclination of the earth’s axis?
e. State two effects of revolution.