Chapter 3 -Notes

Chapter 3 MOTIONS OF THE EARTH
1. Answer the following questions briefly.

(a) What is the angle of inclination of the earth’s axis with its orbital
plane?
The angle of inclination of the Earth’s axis with its orbital plane is about 23.5
degrees.
(b) Define rotation and revolution.
Rotation is when the Earth spins around its own axis, causing day and night.
Revolution is when the Earth moves in an orbit around the Sun, causing changes
in seasons.
(c) What is a leap year?
A leap year is a year that has an extra day, February 29, to keep our calendar in
sync with the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. It happens every four years.
(d) Differentiate between the Summer and Winter Solstice.
Summer Solstice Winter Solstice

1. It is the position of the Earth when 1. It is the position of the Earth when
the rays of the Sun fall directly on the the rays of the Sun fall directly on the
Tropic of Cancer. Tropic of Capricorn.
2. A large portion of the northern 2. A large portion of the Southern
hemisphere experiences more heat and Hemisphere gets light from the Sun.
light. Hence, it is summer in the Hence, it is winter in the Northern
Northern Hemisphere. Hemisphere.
3. In this position, the North Pole 3. In this position, the North Pole
is tilted towards the Sun. is tilted away from the Sun.
4. During this period, days are longer
4. During this period, nights are longer
than nights in the Northern
than days in the Northern Hemisphere.
Hemisphere.
5. It occurs on 21st June in the Northern 5. It occurs on 22nd December in the
Hemisphere. Northern Hemisphere.
(e) What is an equinox?
Equinox happens on 21st March and 23rd September, when both the
hemispheres have the same length of day and night.
 During 21st March in the Northern hemisphere, it’s called spring

equinox. But in the Southern hemisphere, it’s the autumn equinox.
 On 23rd September, in the Northern hemisphere, it’s the autumn
equinox, while in the Southern hemisphere, it’s the spring equinox.
(f) Why does the Southern Hemisphere experience Winter and Summer
Solstice in different times than that of the Northern Hemisphere?
The Southern hemisphere has its summer and winter solstices at different
times compared to the Northern hemisphere due to these reasons:
 On December 22nd, the Southern hemisphere tilts toward the Sun,

causing its summer solstice. Meanwhile, the Northern hemisphere
experiences winter solstice as it lean away from the Sun during that
time.
 Conversely, on June 21st, the Northern hemisphere tilts toward the
Sun, resulting in its summer solstice, while the Southern hemisphere
has its winter solstice because it tilts away from the Sun during this
period.
(g) Why do the poles experience about six months day and six months
night?
The poles experience about six months of day and six months of night because
of the Earth’s tilt. When one pole is tilted towards the Sun, it experiences
continuous daylight, while the other pole is in darkness. As the Earth revolves
around the Sun, this condition reverses.
Summer Solstice
 Summer Solstice begins on 21st June in the Northern
Hemisphere.
 On this day, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the
Sun.
 Sunrays fall on the Tropic of Cancer.
 The North Pole is inclined towards the Sun, and areas beyond
the Arctic Circle experience continuous daylight for about six
months.
 The longest day and shortest night occur on 21st June, the
Summer Solstice.
 The conditions in the Southern Hemisphere are reversed, and
it is winter season there.
Winter Solstice
 The Winter Solstice occurs on the 22nd of December in the
Northern Hemisphere.
 The Southern Hemisphere at this time is tilted towards the
Sun.
 The Sunrays fall on the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern
Hemisphere.
 The Southern Hemisphere has longer days during this period
and shorter nights.
 The conditions are reversed in the Northern Hemisphere.
Equinox
 The direct rays of the Sun fall on the equator on 21st March
and 23rd September.
 The whole Earth experiences equal days and equal nights
because neither of the poles is tilted towards the Sun.
 On 23rd September, it is autumn in the Northern Hemisphere
and spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
 It is the opposite on 21st March when it is spring in the
Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern
Hemisphere.
2. 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
Answer 2.
a-(ii) Revolution
b- (i) 21 March
c- (iii) Australia
d- (ii) Revolution
3. Fill in the blanks.

(a) A leap year has 366 days.
(b) The daily motion of the Earth is rotation.
(c) The Earth travels around the Sun in an elliptical orbit.
(d) The Sun’s rays fall vertically on the Tropic of Cancer on 21st June.
(e) Days are shorter during the winter season.
Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct option to complete the sentences given below:
(i) The axis of the earth is a/an……………..
(a) imaginary line (b) straight line(c) curved line (d) real line.
(ii) The earth receives light from the ……………
(a) Moon (b) Stars(c) Meteors (d) Sun.
(iii) The time taken by the earth to complete one rotation around its axis
is…………………
(a) 24 hours (b) 12 hours(c) 36 hours (d) 18 hours.
(iv) The earth completes one revolution in ……………
(a) 366 days (b) 370 days(c) 365 1/4 days (d) 366 1/4 days.
(v) It is spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern

Hemisphere on ………………………….
(a) 23rd September (b) 21st March(c) 22nd December (d) 21st June.
Answer: (i)—(a), (ii)—(d), (iii)—(a), (iv)—(c), (v)—(b).
Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete

each sentence:
1. Days and nights occur due to …………… of the earth.
2. Only half of the earth gets light from the sun at a time due to
its……………. shape.
3. The period of rotation is known as the ……………..
4. The sun’s rays fall vertically at the Tropic of…………….. on 22nd
December.
5. On ………… it is the autumn season in the Northern Hemisphere and
spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
Answer:
1. rotation
2. spherical
3. earth day
4. Capricorn
5. 23rd September.
State whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F).

1) The earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of 23 degrees from its orbital
plane.
2) Every five years, February has 29 days instead of 28.
3) Seasons change because the earth moves around the sun.
4) When it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s spring in the
Southern Hemisphere.
5) Living is not possible in very harsh conditions.
Answer:
1) False
2) False
3) True
4) False
5) True.
1. The sun rays are vertical over the ________ during ______
(a) Tropic of Capricorn, equinox
(b) Tropic of cancer, winter solstice
(c) Tropic of Capricorn, summer solstice
(d) Tropic of cancer, summer solstice
► (d) Tropic of cancer, summer solstice
2. A mean solar day is

(a) The average time taken for Earth to rotate on its axis: 24
hours
(b) The time taken for the Earth to go once around the Sun
(c) A day when the sun emits a lot of dangerous particles
(d) The time taken for the Earth to go once around the Sun
► (a) The average time taken for Earth to rotate on its axis: 24
hours
3. How many Solstices are there in every year

(a) 2
(b) 3
(c) 5
(d) 4
► (a) 2
4. The axis of the earth which is an imaginary line, makes an

angle of 66º with its
(a) Rotaitonal plane
(b) Orbital plane
(c) Revolution Plane
(d) Southern plane
► (b) Orbital plane
5. The earth takes _____ to complete one revolution

(a) 365 days and 9 hours
(b) 365 days and 8 hours
(c) 365 days and 7 hours
(d) 365 days and 6 hours
► (d) 365 days and 6 hours
6. Seasons change due to the change in the position of the earth

around the
(a) Moon
(b) Mars
(c) Saturn
(d) Sun
► (d) Sun
7. Earth's movement around sun is called

(a) Rotation
(b) Revolution
(c) Solstice
(d) Equinox
► (b) Revolution
8. Days are shorter during
(a) Rainy
(b) Winter
(c) Summer
(d) Autumn
► (b) Winter
9. In leap year, the month of February has

(a) 31 days
(b) 29 days
(c) 30 days
(d) 28 days
► (b) 29 days
10. It is the position of the earth when the Northern Hemisphere

has the longest day and the shortest night
(a) Winter Solstice
(b) Summer Solstice
(c) Day Solstice
(d) Night Solstice
► (b) Summer Solstice
11. Earth receive light from the

(a) Moon
(b) Mars
(c) Sun
(d) Venus
► (c) Sun
12. Two motions of the earth are

(a) Rotation and Revolution
(b) Rotavation and Revolution
(c) Rotaional and Revotation
(d) Rotation and Revotation
► (a) Rotation and Revolution
13. How much time does the earth take time to complete its
rotation?
(a) 22
(b) 23
(c) 24
(d) 20
► (c) 24
14. Earth moves on axis

(a) Solstice
(b) Rotation
(c) Revolution
(d) Season
► (b) Rotation
15. In perihelion, Helios means

(a) Hydrogen
(b) Light
(c) Hemisphere
(d) Sun
► (d) Sun
16. Leap day is always added to the month of

(a) February
(b) March
(c) January
(d) December
► (a) February
17. The sun's rays fall vertically on the ______ on 21st. June
(a) Arctic Circle
(b) Tropic of Cancer
(c) Tropic of Capricorn
(d) Antarctic Circle
► (b) Tropic of Cancer
18. Poles experience about

(a) Six months of day and three months of night
(b) Six months of day and two months of night
(c) Six months of day and six months of night
(d) Six months of day and four months of night
► (c) Six months of day and six months of night
19. An equinox happens each year

(a) Thrice
(b) Four times
(c) Twice
(d) Once
► (c) Twice
20. Longest day of the year

(a) Winter solstice
(b) Equinox
(c) Rotation
(d) Summer Solstice
► (d) Summer Solstice

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Chapter 3 -Notes

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Chapter 3 MOTIONS OF THE EARTH

1. Answer the following questions briefly.

(b) Define rotation and revolution.

(c) What is a leap year?

(d) Differentiate between the Summer and Winter Solstice.

Summer Solstice Winter Solstice

 During 21st March in the Northern hemisphere, it’s called spring

 On December 22nd, the Southern hemisphere tilts toward the Sun,

2. 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

3. Fill in the blanks.

(c) The Earth travels around the Sun in an elliptical orbit.

(e) Days are shorter during the winter season.

Multiple Choice Questions

(i) The axis of the earth is a/an……………..

(ii) The earth receives light from the ……………

(a) Moon (b) Stars(c) Meteors (d) Sun.

(a) 24 hours (b) 12 hours(c) 36 hours (d) 18 hours.

(iv) The earth completes one revolution in ……………

(v) It is spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern

Answer: (i)—(a), (ii)—(d), (iii)—(a), (iv)—(c), (v)—(b).

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete

State whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F).

2. A mean solar day is

3. How many Solstices are there in every year

4. The axis of the earth which is an imaginary line, makes an

5. The earth takes _____ to complete one revolution

6. Seasons change due to the change in the position of the earth

7. Earth's movement around sun is called

9. In leap year, the month of February has

10. It is the position of the earth when the Northern Hemisphere

11. Earth receive light from the

12. Two motions of the earth are

14. Earth moves on axis

15. In perihelion, Helios means

16. Leap day is always added to the month of

18. Poles experience about

19. An equinox happens each year

20. Longest day of the year

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