Important Questions Class 6 Social Science The Earth Our Habitat Chapter 3

Important Questions Class 6 Social Science the Earth Our Habitat Chapter 3 – Motions of the Earth

Geography is a significant subject that students study in school. This subject describes the earth’s surface and the variation in different physical and cultural phenomena.

Chapter 3 of Class 6 Geography is about ‘Motions of the Earth’. We know the earth is not at all stationary  in this universe. It moves around itself as well as around the sun. Thus, the earth has two motions- the former called rotation and the latter called revolution. The chapter is comparatively shorter but the concepts discussed here are essential. Students need to practice answering questions to understand the chapter clearly.

Extramarks is one of the leading educational platforms that guides teachers and students across the country. Our faculty experts recognize the benefits of solving questions. For this purpose, they have prepared the Important Questions Class 6 Social Science the Earth Our Habitat Chapter 3 to help students. It covers all the possible questions from this chapter. Students should go through these questions to develop their concepts.

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Important Questions Class 6 Social Science the Earth Our Habitat Chapter 3 – With Solutions

Our experts have collected these questions from several sources like NCERT textbooks, CBSE sample papers, CBSE past years’ questions and essential reference books. Students must practice these questions to build ideas regarding the question pattern and better answer writing techniques. The Important Questions Class 6 Social Science the Earth Our Habitat Chapter 3 will also boost their confidence level in exams.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. The movement of the earth around the sun is known as

(a) Rotation 

(b) Revolution 

(c) Inclination

Answer 1: (b) Revolution 

Explanation: The movement of the earth around the sun in a fixed path is called the revolution. On the other hand, the earth’s motion on its axis is called rotation. So, the correct answer is option (b).

Question 2.  The cycle of the seasons is caused due to

 (a) Rotation 

(b) Revolution 

(c) Gravitation

Answer 2: (b) Revolution 

Explanation: The earth moves around the sun in a fixed elliptical path. This motion is called the revolution. Due to the elliptical shape of the earth’s orbit, the earth remains at different places due to changes of position around the sun while revolving. So, the earth receives a different amount of heat depending upon whether the sun’s rays are slanting or straight while revolving, resulting in different seasons throughout the year. So, the correct option is (b).

Question 3.  Leap year comes in every

(a) 3 years

(b) 4 years

 (c) 5 years

Answer 3: (b) 4 years

Explanation: The earth revolves around the sun in 365 ¼ days. For convenience, we take 365 days to be one year. So, 6 hours are left uncounted each year. That’s why in every 4th year, these extra 6 hours are added to make one day, and this extra day is added to February. So, in every 4th year, February consists of 29 days instead of 28 days, and the year becomes 366 days. Such a year is called a leap year. So, the correct answer is (b).

Question 4. Direct rays of the sun fall on the equator on 

(a) 21 March

(b) 21 June 

(c) 22 December

Answer 4: (a) 21st March

Explanation: 21st March is an equinox. It means the sun’s rays directly fall on the earth’s Equator and the length of day and night become equal everywhere on the earth’s surface. So, the correct answer is (a).

Question 5.  A leap year has _______________ number of days.

Answer 5: A leap year has 366  days.

Question 6.  Days are shorter during ___________ season.

Answer 6: Days are shorter during the winter season.

Question 7.  What is the angle of inclination of the earth’s axis with its orbital plane?

Answer 7: The earth’s axis makes an angle of 66 ½ ° with the orbital plane.

Question 8.  What does the earth’s orbit look like?

Answer 8: The earth’s orbit is elliptical or slightly oval in shape.

Question 9.  What is the orbital plane?

Answer 9: The earth moves around the sun in a fixed elliptical route. This route is called the orbit. The orbital plane is the plane created by the orbit in space. The earth’s axis makes an angle of 66 ½ ⁰ with the orbital plane.

Question 10.  What is a leap year?

Answer 10:  A year which has 366 days is called a leap year. In a leap year, February month has  29 days instead of 28 days. Leap year occurs every 4th year as the extra 6 hours of each year are added to one day, in the month of February.

Question 11.  What is the circle of illumination?

Answer 11: The earth is almost spherical in shape. So, at a time, only one side of it receives heat from the sun. The side of the earth, which faces the sun, experiences daytime. In contrast, the opposite side of it experiences night. The circular line which distinguishes between the sides of day and night on the earth’s surface is called the circle of illumination.

Question 12.  What is an equinox?

Answer 12:  On 21st March and 23rd September, the sun’s rays fall directly on the Equator. As a result, the length of day and night becomes equal everywhere on the earth’s surface. This  is called the equinox.

Question 13.  What is earth day?

Answer 13: The earth moves on its own axis, which is called rotation. The earth takes 24 hours to complete one spin around its axis. It is called earth day.

Question 14.  Why does Australia celebrate summer Christmas?

Answer 14: Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere. . As a result, in December, when it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s summer in the Southern Hemisphere, including Australia. So, it celebrates Christmas in the summer season.

Question 15.  Define rotation and revolution.

Answer 15: Rotation is the circular motion of the earth on its own axis. It takes 24 hours to complete one spin around itself. On the other hand, revolution is the movement of the earth around the sun in a fixed elliptical path. The earth finishes one orbital movement around the sun in 365 ½ days.

Question 16.  What did Aryabhatta state about the earth’s rotation?

Answer 16:  Aryabhatta was one of the pioneering mathematicians from Ancient India. He had a great interest in astronomy too. He stated that the earth is round in shape, and it rotates on its own axis.

Question 17.  Differentiate between the Summer and Winter Solstice.

Answer 17:  On 21st June, the sun’s rays fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer. The North Pole remains inclined towards the sun. The Northern Hemisphere receives maximum heat on this day and experiences the longest day whereas the areas near the poles receive less heat. . It is summer in the Northern Hemisphere. At the same time, in the Southern Hemisphere, the conditions are reversed. The South Pole remains inclined in the opposite direction from the sun. Thus it receives less heat and experiences  shorter days and longer nights. . The Winter season prevails in the Southern Hemisphere. This position is called Summer Solstice.

On 22nd December, the sun’s rays fall directly on the Tropic of Capricorn. It is winter in the Northern hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere. The South Pole tilting towards the sun receives the maximum heat;  with longer days and shorter nights here. On the other hand, the North Pole tilts on the opposite side. The Northern Hemisphere receives less heat and experiences shorter days and longer nights. This phenomenon is called Winter Solstice.

Question 18.  What will happen if the earth doesn’t rotate?

Answer 18: The earth’s movement on its own axis is called rotation. It almost takes 24 hours to complete a rotation. Due to the rotation, every place on the earth’s surface experiences the cycle of day and night. Now, the consequences will be dangerous if the earth doesn’t rotate. One part of the earth’s surface will face the sun, while another will be in darkness. The portion that faces the sun will continuously gain heat and experience 24 hours of daytime. If the situation continues, the temperature of this area will keep increasing, and at one point, it will become unbearable for living beings. The other part will gain no sunlight and will remain in darkness. As a result, this area will experience only nights and freezing cold.  So, if the earth stops rotating,  the extreme temperature will be unsuitable for living beings and life on the earth won’t be possible. 

Question 19.  Why does the Southern Hemisphere experience the Winter and Summer Solstice at different times than that of the Northern Hemisphere?

Answer 19: The earth’s orbit makes an angle of 66 ½ ⁰ with the orbital plane. As a result, the poles of the earth are tilted in opposite directions. When one pole inclines towards the sun, the other pole remains tilted in the opposite direction. When the North Pole is tilted towards the sun, the Northern Hemisphere receives the maximum heat, and summer in the Northern Hemisphere. . On the other hand, the South Pole is tilted in the opposite direction from the sun. So, the southern hemisphere receives less heat, and winter in the Southern Hemisphere. . So, when the summer solstice occurs in the Northern hemisphere on the 21st of June, it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere and becomes the winter solstice. . Similarly, the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere on the 22nd of December. It is summer at this time in the Southern Hemisphere. So, it becomes the Summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere.

Question 20.  Why do the poles experience about six months day and six months night?

Answer 20: Due to the earth’s inclined axis, the circle of illumination doesn’t coincide with the axis. From 22nd December to 21st June, the North Pole remains inclined towards the sun. As a result, the North Pole receives maximum heat and cuts the other half which stays out of the circle of illumination. So, it never experiences night for six months. At the same time, the South Pole is tilted in the opposite direction from the sun. So, it never receives any sunlight and experiences six months of nights. From 21st June to 22nd December, the South Pole is tilted towards the sun. So, it receives maximum heat and six months of day. On the other hand, the North Pole receives no sunlight and experiences six months of night.

Benefits of Solving Important Questions Class 6 Social Science the Earth Our Habitat Chapter 3 

Students must practice answer writing more often to improve their preparation and give them thorough revision. Sometimes, the exercises in the textbook are not enough. So, students must follow other references to solve more questions. The Social Science subject experts of Extramarks understand this problem. So, they have prepared the Important Questions Class 6 Social Science the Earth Our Habitat Chapter 3 to help students.  They will be benefited in several ways, such as

  • Our faculty experts have accumulated these questions from sources like NCERT textbooks, CBSE sample questions, CBSE past years’ question papers, and important reference books. Students don’t have to find the questions individually and find them systematically organised in our important questions. Apart from this, the experts have answered the questions in a simple and easy manner. Students can improve their answer writing skills after going through the answers. The Important Questions Class 6 Social Science the Earth Our Habitat Chapter 3 will help students find questions and will be able to answer tricky questions..
  • Experts have included all the possible questions from this chapter. Every vital topic has been included in the question series. In other words, questions are taken from almost every section  of the chapter. After solving these questions, the student will understand the type of questions they can expect in exams. If they solve Important Questions Class 6 Social Science the Earth Our Habitat Chapter 3, they will also find common questions in the exams.
  • The questions follow the CBSE exam pattern. Apart from this, several long answer-type questions are included here too. These important questions will enhance the clarity of concepts which in turn becomes useful when it comes to answering the most difficult questions. Chapter 3 Class 6 Social Science the Earth Our Habitat Important Questions consist of such questions which will help students prepare for higher classes.

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Q.1 Read the source given below and answer the questions:
Earth is always moving. The Earth completes one rotation on its axis each day. The axis is the imaginary line through the earth that extends from the North Pole to the South Pole.
As Earth rotates, it seems like the sun is moving across the sky, but it?s the Earth that is spinning. It takes 24 hours to complete one rotation, which is why there are 24 hours in one day.
In other words, if the sun is visible in the morning starting around 6:00 AM, the Earth will spin completely around by the next morning at 6:00 AM, and you will see the sun in about the same place.
In the passage, what evidence is given to prove the rotation of the earth?

1. What is meant by the earth?s axis?
2. Why there are only 24 hours in one day?
3. In the passage, what evidence is given to prove the rotation of the earth?

Marks:3

Ans

1. The earth’s axis is an imaginary line that passes inside the earth and joins two poles. The earth spins on this imaginary line.

2. There are 24 hours in one day because the earth completes its one rotation in this period.

3. As per the passage, the coming of the sun about the same place in the sky after 24 hours proves that earth rotates. If it does not rotate, the sun would not come to the almost same place in the sky after 24 hours.

Q.2 How rotation is different from the revolution?

Marks:3

Ans

The differences between rotation and revolution are as follows:

Rotation Revolution
In rotation, the earth moves in its place. In revolution, the earth moves around the sun and does not remain in its place.
Due to rotation, changes occur on the earth in terms of day and night. Due to revolution, seasonal changes occur on the earth.
Earth rotates in about 24 hours. Earth revolves in 365 and ¼ days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q.3 What is rotation? What are the effects of the rotation of the earth?

Marks:3

Ans

Rotation:

  • Rotation refers to the spinning of a planet or satellite on its axis.

Effects of rotation of the earth:

  • The day and night on the earth are caused by its rotation. While rotating, half part of the earth faces the sun and gets sunlight and half remain in dark. The side facing the sun has day, and the side experiencing dark has night.
  • The rotation of the earth affects the direction of winds and ocean currents.

Q.4 How does the rotation of the earth impact life on the planet?

Marks:5

Ans

Rotation of the earth impacts the life on the earth in the following ways:

  • Rotation causes day and night on the earth. It affects the life of plants and animals.
  • Plants during the day use sunlight to make their food and emit oxygen. During the night, a complete reversal in their activity takes place. At the night, they do not make food and emit oxygen but release carbon dioxide.
  • Most of the animals do their activities such as finding and eating food in the daytime and taking rest by sleeping in the night.
  • Some animals, which have eyes working better in the dark, roam in search of food.
  • Thus, the rotation of the earth creates a balance between work and rest in the life of all living beings.
  • Rotation is also responsible for tides, which occur twice a day. Tides are important for humans for fishing, navigation, generating power, etc.

Q.5 Read the source given below and answer the questions:

As an inhabitant of the earth, it’s easy to believe that we’re standing still. In any case, we don’t feel like we’re hurtling through space. But it is not true.

Some people and astronomers of the past proposed that we live in a geocentric universe in which Earth lies at the centre of everything. According to them, the sun rotated around us. They proved their theories by sunrises and sunsets, the movements of the moon and the planets. But even then, there were certain facts that they could not explain and didn’t line up with these theories.

Earth’s spin is constant; however, the speed of the rotation depends on the latitude you are living on. According to NASA, the circumference of the largest part of the Earth is about 24,898 miles or 40,070 kilometres. This area is the equator. For calculation of the speed of the earth?s rotation, at the equator, we divide the circumference by the length of the day, which is 24 hours. This produces a speed at the equator of about 1,037 mph or 1,670 km/h.

If we move halfway up the globe to 45 degrees in latitude either north or south, the spin speed is roughly 0.707 x 1037 = 733 mph or 1,180 km/h. Thus, speed decreases as we go farther north or south.

At the North or South poles, the spin is very slow. It takes an entire day to spin in place.

Name the places where the earth?s rotation speed is fastest and slowest.

Marks:1

Ans

  • The place where the earth’s rotation speed is fastest – the equator.
  • The place where the earth’s rotation speed is slowest – the North and South poles.

Q.6 Consider the following statements:
i. Solstices are opposite on either side of the equator.
ii. The winter solstice occurs in December in the northern hemisphere.
iii. The Winter Solstice marks the longest night of the year.
iv. There are five solstices and three equinoxes in a tropical year.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

i and ii only

ii and iii only

i, ii and iv only

i, ii and iii only

Marks:1

Ans

Solstices are opposite on either side of the equator. The winter solstice occurs in December in the northern hemisphere. The Winter Solstice marks the longest night of the year. There are two solstices and two equinoxes in a tropical year.

Q.7 What is the condition that describes the latitude of the Earth where the sun is directly overhead at noon called?

Solar eclipse

Solar declination

Solar radiation

Solar insolation

Marks:1

Ans

Solar declination describes the latitude of the Earth where the sun is directly overhead at noon.

Q.8 Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R). Select your answer from the codes given below-
Assertion (A): Only half of the earth gets light from the sun at a time.
Reason (R): The shape of the earth is the geoid, and it is much similar to a sphere.

Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

(A) is true, and (R) is false.

(A) is false, and (R) is true.

Marks:1

Ans

Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

The shape of the earth is the geoid, a shape much similar to the sphere. That?s why only half of it receives the sunlight at a time and experiences day. The half part remains in the night till the earth receives the sunlight.

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Chapter 3 of class 6 Geography is comparatively  shorter. But, the concepts discussed here are new and pretty complex factual information. The subject teaches about the motions of the earth. The earth’s motions play an essential role in the formation of day-night and different seasons. Students need to understand the chapter deeply. The concepts will be required in higher classes as well. Primarily students should follow the NCERT textbook. For further help, they can study our Social Science the Earth Our Habitat Class 6 Chapter 3 Important Questions to develop and clarify their concepts.

The earth is not stationary in our universe. It is moving on its own axis, which is called rotation.  The days and nights occur due to the rotation and revolution of the earth. If the earth is constant, we will not experience any change from day to night. On the other hand, the earth also moves around the sun in a fixed path. This motion is called revolution. Due to revolution, seasons change on the earth’s surface. Apart from this, the position of stars and constellations also change in the night sky. All these indicate the earth moves around the sun. To understand and clarify your doubts, you can study our Class 6 Social Science the Earth Our Habitat Chapter 3 Important Questions prepared by our subject experts. 

Due to the earth’s tilted axis, both hemispheres experience different seasons at a particular time. For example, when it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa. When it is autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, it is spring in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa. This is why we Indians celebrate Christmas in winter, but Australians celebrate it in summer because Australia is in the Southern hemisphere.

The experienced subject matter experts of Extramarks understand and take their role of helping students with the need to provide solved questions seriously as it may impact their academic record. It not only helps students clear their doubts but also boosts their confidence level. Overall, solving questions improves students’ preparation for exams as it provides answers to all the questions and helps them in answering the most difficult ones. So, our experts have prepared the Important Questions Class 6 Social Science the Earth Our Habitat Chapter 3 to support and assist students in every way possible.  They have collated the questions from the NCERT textbook, CBSE sample papers, CBSE past years’ questions and essential reference books. They have written the answers in easily understandable language. . If students follow these answers and revise thoroughly, they will indeed perform well in exams.