Chapter 3

Rotation and Revolution

Short Answer Questions

Question 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 23 1/2° with the vertical or 66 1/2° with the plane of the
earth's orbit.

Question 2

Name the two chief motions of the earth.

Answer

The two chief motions of the earth are rotation and revolution.

Question 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.

Question 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. Rotation causes difference in time over various places on the earth.

Question 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.

Question 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.

Question 7

Define 'revolution'.

Answer

The motion of the earth around the sun in an elliptical orbit is called revolution.

Question 8

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.

Question 9

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.

Question 10

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 21st 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.

Question 11

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.

Question 12

On which dates does the sun shine vertically overhead at:

(a) Equator

(b) Tropic of Cancer

Answer

The sun shines vertically overhead at the:

(a) Equator on 21st March and 23rd September

(b) Tropic of Cancer on 21st June

(c) Tropic of Capricorn on 22nd December

Question 13

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.

Question 14

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.

Question 15

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.

Question 16

What is meant by Equinox?

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.

Question 17

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.

Question 18

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.

Question 19

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 1/2° N and further to 24 hrs at 66 1/2° 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.

Question 20

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.

Question 21

Draw a well labelled diagram to show changes in the altitude of the midday sun at different times of
the year.

Answer Draw the diagram of page number 27 fig 3.4

Distinguish between the following

Question 1

Rotation and Revolution

Answer

Rotation Revolution

It is the spinning of the earth on its It is the motion of the earth around the sun in an
axis. elliptical orbit.

The time taken for one rotation is 23 The time taken for one revolution is 365 days, 5 hrs
hrs 56 min. and 48 min.

It causes day and night. It causes seasonal changes.

Question 2

Vertical and Slanting Rays

Answer

Vertical Rays Slanting Rays

Vertical rays travel over a shorter distance and thus Slanting rays travel over a larger
loose less heat. distance and loose more heat.
 Vertical Rays of the sun fall within its migration belt i.e. Slanting Rays of the sun fall in
between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. temperate and Polar regions.

Question 3

Equinox and Solstice

Answer

Equinox Solstice

It refers to the time when the sun crosses It refers to the time when the sun reaches its
the plane of the earth's equator, making highest or lowest point in the sky at noon,
night and day of equal length. resulting in the shortest and longest days of the
year.

It happens on March 21st and September It happens on June 21st and December 22nd.
23rd.

It happens at the start of spring and It happens during summer and winter.
autumn.

Structured Questions

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.

Question 1(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.

Question 1(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

Draw the diagram of page number 24 fig 3.1

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
Project/Activity
Draw a diagram to show the winter solstice and answer the following questions.

Question 1

Name the correct date depicted in your diagram.

Answer

December 22nd

Question 2

Name the latitude where the sun is shining vertically overhead.

Answer

23 1/2° S

Question 2

Name the part of the globe where there is night on this date.

Answer

The places lying beyond the arctic circle have night on this date.

Question 4

Name the latitude on which length of the day will be 24 hours.

Answer

66 1/2° S

Question 5

Give the date when the earth will be directly opposite to the above position.

Answer
 June 21st

Question 6

What will be the vertical position of the sun on that date?

Answer

Sun will shine vertically on Tropic of Cancer (23 1/2° N).

Question 7

What is the effect of the inclination of the earth upon the length of day and night?

Answer

Due to the inclination of the earth, all places on earth have different length of day and night.

Question 8

What will be the probable length of day and night on that date?

Answer

The duration of day at the equator will be 12 hours at the equator and increase to 13.5 hours at 23
1/2° N and become 24 hours at 66 1/2° N. The remaining hours are night.