Chapter- 3

Motions of the Earth

I. Choose the correct answer:

1. The orbital plane makes an angle of __________
a. 90o b. 661/2o
c. 180o d. 55o

2. The period of rotation is known as ______________

a. Earth day b. Leap year
c. Solar year d. Full day

3. The Earth’s orbit is _________________

a. Circular b. Rectangular
c. Elliptical d. Spherical

4. The time taken by the Earth to go around its axis once is

a. 24 hours b. 25 hours
c. 28 hours d. 365 hours
5. Christmas is celebrated in Australia in _____________
a. Spring b. Winter
c. Autumn d. Summer

6. Autumn Equinox is observed on ___________

a. 21st March b. 22nd December
c. 23rd September d. 21st June

7. Direct rays of the sun fall on the Tropic of Capricorn on ___

a. Summer Solstice b. Autumn Equinox
c. Winter Solstice d. Spring Equinox

8. On 21st March_____________________________
a. The sun’s rays fall directly on Equator
b. The Northern Hemisphere has the longest day
c. It is winter in the Southern Hemisphere
d. All the above are true

9. Places on the tropic of Cancer have the longest day on

a. 21 June b. 22 December
c. 21 March d. 23 September
10. The period of diffused of light before sunrise is called?
a. morning b. dusk
c. dawn d. evening

11. On 21 June,
a. The sun’s rays fall vertically on the Tropic of Cancer at noon
b. The Northern Hemisphere has the longest day
c. It is winter in the Southern Hemisphere
d. All the above are true
12. Spring Equinox is observed on
a. 21st March b. 22nd December
c. 21st June d. 23rd September

II. Define the following terms:

a. Solstice: It occurs on 21st June and 22nd Dec when day and night are of unequal duration all over
the world.

b. Equinox: – It occurs on 21st June and 22nd Dec when day and night are of unequal duration all
over the world.
c. Orbital plane: The axis of the earth which is an imaginary line, makes an angle of 66° with its

orbital plane. The plane formed by the orbit is known as the orbital plane.

d. Circle of illumination: Due to the spherical shape of the earth, only half of it gets light from the
sun at a time. The portion facing the sun experiences day while the other half away from the sun
experiences night. The circle that divides the day from night on the globe is called the circle of
illumination.

e. Rotation: Rotation is the movement of the earth on its axis.

f. Revolution: The movement of the earth around the sun in a fixed path or orbit is called
Revolution. It takes 365 days (one year) to revolve around the sun.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

Q1. When does northern hemisphere have winters and why?
Ans.1 The northern hemisphere has winter in the month of December and January because during
this period the northern hemisphere is away from the sun. The southern hemisphere faces the sun
and sun rays fall on the tropic of Capricorn and reverse is in the Northern Hemisphere.
Q2. Why do poles experience six months days and six months night?
Ans.2 Poles experience 6 months day and 6 months night due to the tilted position of the
Earth.When the Earth revolves around thesun only one pole receives the sunlight and the other
remains in darkness.
Q3. What are the two things responsible for the change of seasons?
Ans.3 Changes of seasons happensdue to –
a) Tilted position of the earth.
b) Revolution of the earth.
Q4. Define earth day?
Ans.4 The Earth takes about 24 hours to complete one rotation around its axis. The period of rotation
is known as the earth day.
Q5. On which dates does the duration of day and night become equal at all the places in the
world?
Ans.5 23rd September and 21st March
Q6. Rotation on its axis and revolution around the sun at the same time, what value of earth
does this depict?
Ans.6 Coordination, regularity and punctuality.
Q7. Compare Summer Solstice with Winter Solstice:
Ans.7
FEATURES SUMMER SOLISTICE WINTER SOLSTICE
Date June 21 22 December
Tilt of the North Pole Towards the sun Away from the sun
Tilt of the South Pole Away from the sun Towards the sun
Direct rays of the sun Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Capricorn
at
Season in the Northern Summer Winter
Hemisphere
Seasons in the Winter Summer
Southern Hemisphere
Length of day/ night Longer days and short nights in Shorter days and long nights in
Northern Hemisphere Northern Hemisphere

Q8. What would happen if the Earth stops rotating?

Ans.8 The position of the Earth facing the sun would always experience day and other side would
experience night.
Q9. What would happen if the axis of the Earth becomes vertical?
Ans.9 If the axis of the Earth becomes vertical, the poles would have normal day and night.

Q10. Differentiate between rotation and revolution?

Ans.
Rotation Revolution
It is the movement of the earth on its own axis It is the movement of the earth around the sun.
Earth takes 24 hours to complete one rotation Earth takes 365 days and 6 hours to complete
one revolution
It causes day and night It causes seasons

Q11. How does a leap year occur and explain why leap year comes after every four year?
Ans. a) The Earth takes 365 days and 6 hours to revolve around the sun.
b) Six hours saved every year are added to make one day (24 hours) over a span of four years.
c)This surplus day is added to the month of February. Thus, every fourth year, February has 29 days
instead of 28 days.
Q12. Distinguish between calendar year and leap year?
Ans.
Calendar year Leap year
It has 365 days. The earth takes 365 days to It has 366 days because 6 hours are added 4
complete one revolution but for our times to make 24 hours
convenience we consider only 365 days (365+1= 366 days)
February has 28 days February has 29 days