Rotation and Revolution
Chapter - 3
I Short Answer Questions
1. What is meant by the inclination of earth's axis? At what angle is the earth's axis inclined?
Answer
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 23½°with the vertical or 66½ ° with the plane of
the earth's orbit.
2. Name the two chief motions of the earth.
Answer
The two chief motions of the earth are rotation and revolution.
3. Describe two characteristics of rotation.
Answer
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.
4. State two effects of the rotation of the earth.
Answer
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. Sunrise and Sunset are caused by the rotation of the earth from west to east.
3. Rotation causes difference in time over various places on the earth.
5. Mention any two possible consequences if the axis of the earth was vertical instead of
inclined.
Answer
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.
6. State one reason why we do not feel the motions of the earth.
Answer
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.
7. What is an elliptic?
Answer
The path of the earth around the sun is known as elliptic.
8. Define 'revolution'.
Answer
The motion of the earth around the sun in an elliptical orbit is called revolution.
9. State two chief characteristics of the revolution of the earth.
Answer
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.
10. Mention two effects of revolution. Mention two effects of revolution.
Answer
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.
11. What do you understand by perihelion and aphelion?
Answer.
When the earth is closest to the sun the position is called perihelion and when it is farthest the
position is called aphelion.
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?
Answer
The days and nights are equal all over the world on March 2 1st 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.
13. Which is the longest and which is the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere and why?
Answer
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 the sun.
14. On which dates does the sun shine vertically overhead at:
(a) Equator
{b) Tropic of Cancer
(c) Tropic of Capricorn
Answer
The sun shines vertically overhead at the:
{a) Equator on 2 1st March and 23rd September
{b) Tropic of Cancer on 21st June
Tropic of Capricorn on 22nd December
15. Why is noon hotter than morning?
Answer
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.
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?
Answer
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 autumn season in the Northern hemisphere and spring season in the Southern
hemisphere.
17. What is meant by Summer Solstice? When do we have Summer Solstice in the Northern
Hemisphere?
Answer
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 Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere on June 21st.
18. What is meant by Equinox?
Answer
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.
19. What will be the duration of daylight on March 21st at 23°30'N and 66°30'S latitudes?
Give reason.
Answer.
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.
20. What is the relationship of seasons between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?
Answer
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.
21. Briefly describe the cycle of seasons with the change in inclination of the sun’s rays? Which
temperature zone receives almost vertical rays of the sun and which zones receive slanting rates?
Answer
Earth's tilted axis causes the seasons. Throughout the year, different parts of Earth receive
the Sun's most direct rays. So, when the North Pole tilts toward the Sun, it's summer in the
Northern Hemisphere. And when the South Pole tilts toward the Sun, it's winter in the
Northern Hemisphere.
The Torrid Zone receives the vertical rays of the sun. The Temperate zones get the slanting
rays of the sun. Near the Polar Regions the sun never shines above the horizon.
22. How is the duration of twilight influenced by seasons?
Answer
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.
23. How has the phenomenon of the 'Midnight Sun' come about?
Answer
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 ½° N and further to 24 hrs at 66 ½° N. Beyond the Arctic Circle, the regions
experience 24 hours daylight. This phenomena is called the ‘Midnight Sun’ and it only takes
place at the poles.
24. Mention one effect of seasons in low and high latitudes.
Answer
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.
25. Draw a well labelled diagram to show changes in the altitude of the midday sun at different
times of the year.
Answer
Refer to figure 3.4 in the text book.
II Distinguish between the Following:
Answer
Rotation Revolution
It is the spinning of the earth on its axis. It is the motion of the earth around the
sun in an elliptical orbit.
The time taken for one rotation is 23 The time taken for one revolution is
hrs 56 mnts 4.09 seconds. 365 days, 6hrs.
It causes day and night. It causes seasonal changes.
Answer
Vertical Rays Slanting Rays
The rays of the sun fall perpendicularly The rays of the sun fall at an angle on
on the earth. the earth.
Travel less distance. Travel larger distance.
Heat a relatively small area and are Heat a larger area and are less hot.
hotter than slanting rays.
Equinox and Solstice
Answer
Refer to textbook page no 30 - 2, 3 and 4 points.
Question 1(a)
What is meant by rotation of the earth? State three effects of the rotation of the earth.
Answer
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 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.
Question1 (b)
What is the effect of the inclined axis of the earth on day and night?
Answer
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.
Question1(c)
Give a geographical reason for each of the following:
{i) Kuala Lumpur rotates faster on the earth's axis than London.
(ii) We always see the sun rising in the east.
(iii) Norway is called the Land of the Midnight Sun.
Answer
{i) 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 because the earth rotates from
west to east.
(iii) 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 1(d)
Draw a well labelled diagram to show inclination of the earth on its axis.
Answer
Refer to figure 3.3 in the text book.
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.
Answer
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.
Answer
Due to the tilted axis of the earth, the Northern Hemisphere gets maximum
sunlight from March to September and Southern Hemisphere from
September to March. So, the seasons are also reversed e.g. the summer
season in Northern Hemisphere correspond by winter in Southern
Hemisphere and the spring is exchanged with autumn season.
Question 2(c)
Give a geographical reason for each of the following:
(i) The length of day and night is not equal at all places on the earth.
{ii) The period of twilight and dawn increases polewards.
(iii) 25th of December in New Zealand may be one of the hottest days of the
year.
Answer
{i) 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 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 equator and 50 days at the poles.
{iii) 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.
Question 2(d)
Draw a well labelled diagram to show the tilt of the earth's axis and how the
revolution causes seasons and variation in the length of day and night.
Answer
Refer to figure 3.4 in the text book.
