Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) How does a planet differ from a star?
(b) What is meant by the ‘Solar System’?
(c) Name all the planets according to their distance from the sun.
(d) Why is the Earth called a unique planet?
(e) Why do we see only one side of the moon always?
(f) What is the Universe?
(a)
Star | Planet |
Stars have their own heat and light. It is very big and hot ball of fire made up of gases. They twinkle because they give a large amount of heat and light. Stars are countless. Example: Vega, Sirius etc. |
Planets do not have their own heat and light. They receive Example: Earth, Jupiter etc. |
(b) The sun, eight planets, satellite and some celestial bodies (asteroids and meteoroids) are bounded together by gravitational energy in a pattern to form solar system. There are four inner planets and four outer planets in the solar system. Inner planets are closer to the sun and are small. They are Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. They are separated from the outer planets by the Asteroid belt. The outer planets are far away from sun and huge in size. They are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The smallest planet in our solar system Is Mercury and the largest one is Jupiter. Our solar system comes in Milky Way galaxy.
(c) There are 8 planets. The planets according to their distance from the sun are as follows:
1. Mercury: It is the closest planet to the sun and as well as the smallest planet. Its distance from the sun is about 57.9 million km.
2. Venus: It is the second closest planet to the sun. Its distance from the sun is about 108 million km away.
3. Earth: It is the third closest planet to the sun. Its distance from the sun is about 150 million km away.
4. Mars: It is the fourth closest planet to the sun. Its distance from the sun is about 228 million km away.
5. Jupiter: It is the fifth closest planet to the sun. Its distance from the sun is about 778.3 million km away.
6. Saturn: It is the third farthest planet from the sun. Its distance from the sun is about 1429.4 million km.
7. Uranus: It is the second farthest planet from the sun. Its distance from the sun is about 2871 million km.
8. Neptune: It is the farthest planet from the sun. Its distance from the sun is about 4504.3 million km away.
(d) Earth is called a unique planet because of following reasons:
1. It is the only planet where life exists. The air contains some life supporting gases like O 2 .
2. The temperature of the earth is neither too hot nor too cold. Conditions favorable to support life are probably found only on earth.
3. There is water present in the earth which is very essential for the survival. There are so many geographical features on Earth like volcanoes, islands, mountains, oceans, deserts, grasslands, forests etc.
4. Abundance of water makes the Earth which is also known as ‘blue planet’. The Earth is also the densest planet in the solar system.
(e) We only see one side of the moon because the moon takes 27 days to complete one orbit around the earth. It takes some time to spin once on its axis. The side of moon that faces the Earth is called ‘near side’ and the opposite one is known as ‘far side’.
(f) The vast expanse of space or the largest unit in which life exists is called Universe. It is infinite in volume. The three most common elements in universe are Hydrogen (H 2 ), Helium (He) and Oxygen (O 2 ). The universe is so dark that it is invisible and is also called as ‘dark matter’.
Tick the correct answer.
(a) The planet known as the “Earth’s Twin” is
(i) Jupiter (ii) Saturn (iii) Venus
(b) Which is the third nearest planet to the sun ?
(i) Venus (ii) Earth (iii) Mercury
(c) All the planets move around the sun in a
(i) Circular path (ii) Rectangular path (iii) Elongated path
(d) The Pole Star indicates the direction to the
(i) South (ii) North (iii) East
(e) Asteroids are found between the orbits of
(i) Saturn and Jupiter (ii) Mars and Jupiter (iii) The Earth and Mars
Fill in the blanks.
(a) A group of ________ forming various patterns is called a ________.
(b) A huge system of stars is called________.
(c) ________is the closest celestial body to our earth.
(d) ________is the third nearest planet to the sun.
(e) Planets do not have their own________ and ___________________.
Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) What is the true shape of the earth?
(b) What is a globe?
(c) What is the latitudinal value of the Tropic of Cancer?
(d) What are the three heat zones of the Earth?
(e) What are parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude?
(f) Why does the torrid zone receive maximum amount of heat?
(g) Why is it 5.30 p.m. in India and 12.00 noon in London?
Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) What is the angle of inclination of the earth’s axis with its orbital plane?
(b) Define rotation and revolution.
(c) What is a leap year?
(d) Differentiate between the Summer and Winter Solstice.
(e) What is an equinox?
(f) Why does the Southern Hemisphere experience Winter and Summer Solstice in different times than that of the Northern Hemisphere?
(g) Why do the poles experience about six months day and six months night?
Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) What are the three components of a map?
(b) What are the four cardinal directions?
(c) What do you mean by the term ‘the scale of the map’?
(d) How are maps more helpful than a globe?
(e) Distinguish between a map and a plan.
(f) Which map provides detailed information?
(g) How do symbols help in reading maps?
Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) What are the four major domains of the earth?
(b) Name the major continents of the earth.
(c) Name the two continents that lie entirely in the Southern Hemisphere.
(d) Name the different layers of atmosphere.
(e) Why is the earth called the ‘blue planet’?
(f) Why is the Northern Hemisphere called the Land Hemisphere?
(g) Why is the Biosphere important for living organisms?
Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) What are the major landforms?
(b) What is the difference between a mountain and a plateau?
(c) What are the different types of mountains?
(d) How are mountains useful to man?
(e) How are plains formed?
(f) Why are the river plains thickly populated?
(g) Why are mountains thinly populated?
Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) Name the major physical divisions of India.
(b) India shares its land boundaries with seven countries. Name them.
(c) Which two major rivers fall into the Arabian Sea?
(d) Name the delta formed by the Ganga and the Brahmaputra.
(e) How many States and Union Territories are there in India? Which states have a common capital?
(f) Why do a large number of people live in the Northern plains?
(g) Why is Lakshadweep known as a coral island?
Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) Which winds bring rainfall in India? Why is it so important?
(b) Name the different seasons in India.
(c) What is natural vegetation?
Tick the correct answers.
(a) The value of the prime meridian is
(i) 90° (ii) 0° (iii) 60°
(b) The frigid zone lies near
(i) the Poles (ii) the Equator (iii) the Tropic of Cancer
(c) The total number of longitudes are
(i) 360 (ii) 180 (iii) 90
(d) The Antarctic circle is located in
(i) the Northern hemisphere
(ii) the Southern hemisphere
(iii) the Eastern hemisphere
(e) Grid is a network of
(i) parallels of latitudes and merdians of longitudes
(ii) the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn
(iii) the North Pole and the South Pole
Tick the correct answers.
(a) The movement of the earth around the sun is known as
(i) Rotation (ii) Revolution (iii) Inclination
(b) Direct rays of the sun fall on the equator on
(i) 21 March (ii) 21 June (iii) 22 December
(c) Christmas is celebrated in summer in
(i) Japan (ii) India (iii) Australia
(d) Cycle of the seasons is caused due to
(i) Rotation (ii) Revolution (iii) Gravitation
Tick the correct answers.
(a) Maps showing distribution of forests are
(i) Physical map (ii) Thematic Map (iii) Political map
(b) The blue colour is used for showing
(i) Water bodies (ii) Mountains (iii) Plains
(c) A compass is used –
(i) To show symbols (ii) To find the main direction (iii) To measure distance
(d) A scale is necessary
(i) For a map (ii) For a sketch (iii) For symbols
Fill in the blanks.
(a) India has an area of about ________________.
(b) The Greater Himalayas are also known as_________________.
(c) The largest state in India in terms of area is__________________.
(d) The river Narmada falls into the __________________ sea.
(e) The latitude that runs almost halfway through India is ___________.
Fill in the blanks.
(a) Hot and dry winds known as ________________ blow during the day in the summers.
(b) The states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu receive a great amount of rainfall during the season of________________.
(c) ________________ forest in Gujarat is the home of ________________.
Tick the correct answers.
(a) The southernmost Himalayas are known as
(i) Shiwaliks (ii) Himadri (iii) Himachal
(b) Sahyadris is also known as
(i) Aravali (ii) Western Ghats (iii) Himadri
(c) The Palk Strait lies between the countries
(i) Sri Lanka and Maldives
(ii) India and Sri Lanka
(iii) India and Maldives
(d) The Indian islands in the Arabian Sea are known as
(i) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(ii) Lakshadweep Islands
(iii) Maldives
(e) The oldest mountain range in India is the
(i) Aravali hills (ii) Western ghats (iii) Himalayas
Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) What are the major landforms?
(b) What is the difference between a mountain and a plateau?
(c) What are the different types of mountains?
(d) How are mountains useful to man?
(e) How are plains formed?
(f) Why are the river plains thickly populated?
(g) Why are mountains thinly populated?
Tick the correct answers.
(a) Maps showing distribution of forests are
(i) Physical map (ii) Thematic Map (iii) Political map
(b) The blue colour is used for showing
(i) Water bodies (ii) Mountains (iii) Plains
(c) A compass is used –
(i) To show symbols (ii) To find the main direction (iii) To measure distance
(d) A scale is necessary
(i) For a map (ii) For a sketch (iii) For symbols
(a) The mountain range that separates Europe from Asia is
(i) the Andes (ii) the Himalayas (iii) the Urals
Tick the correct answers.
(b) The continent of North America is linked to South America by
(i) an Isthmus (ii) a Strait (iii) a Canal
(c) The major constituent of atmosphere by per cent is
(i) Nitrogen (ii) Oxygen (iii) Carbon dioxide
(d) The domain of the earth consisting of solid rocks is
(i) the Atmosphere (ii) the Hydrosphere (iii) the Lithosphere
(e) Which is the largest continent?
(i) Africa (ii) Asia (iii) Australia
Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) Which winds bring rainfall in India? Why is it so important?
(b) Name the different seasons in India.
(c) What is natural vegetation?
Tick the correct answers.
(a) The movement of the earth around the sun is known as
(i) Rotation (ii) Revolution (iii) Inclination
(b) Direct rays of the sun fall on the equator on
(i) 21 March (ii) 21 June (iii) 22 December
(c) Christmas is celebrated in summer in
(i) Japan (ii) India (iii) Australia
(d) Cycle of the seasons is caused due to
(i) Rotation (ii) Revolution (iii) Gravitation
Tick the correct answers.
(a) The world’s highest rainfall occurs in
(i) Mumbai (ii) Asansol (iii) Mawsynram
(b) Wild goats and snow leopards are found in
(i) Himalayan region
(ii) Peninsular region
(iii) Gir forests
(c) During the south west monsoon period, the moisture laden winds blow from
(i) land to sea (ii) sea to land (iii) plateau to plains
Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) What is the angle of inclination of the earth’s axis with its orbital plane?
(b) Define rotation and revolution.
(c) What is a leap year?
(d) Differentiate between the Summer and Winter Solstice.
(e) What is an equinox?
(f) Why does the Southern Hemisphere experience Winter and Summer Solstice in different times than that of the Northern Hemisphere?
(g) Why do the poles experience about six months day and six months night?