1. What is the importance of the inclination of the earth's axis?

ANSWER:
Due to the inclination of the Earth’s axis, the lengths of day and night are not the same
throughout the year at different places on the globe. Due to this inclination, the
Northern Hemisphere remains inclined towards the Sun for half of the year and the
Southern Hemisphere remains so for the other half of the year.

2. Why are days longer than nights during the summer season?

ANSWER:
During summer, in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole is inclined towards the Sun,
due to which a large portion of the Northern Hemisphere receives more heat and light.
That is why days are longer than nights in summers.

3.Why do we have a leap year?

ANSWER:
The Earth takes 365 days and 6 hours to complete one revolution around the Sun.
However, for our convenience, we count only 365 days in a year and the balance of
extra 6 hours is added every year for four years and is computed as one extra day after
those four years. Thus, year having 366 days is known as a leap year.

4. What are the factors responsible for the change of seasons?

ANSWER:
The factors responsible for the change of seasons are as follows:

*Rotation of the Earth on its axis

*Revolution of the Earth around the Sun
*Inclination of the Earth’s axis

Part H. Give long answers for the following questions

1. What are the effects of the earth's rotation?

ANSWER:
Following are some of the effects of Earth’s rotation:

*It causes the bulging of the Earth at the Equator.

*It causes days and nights.
*It causes tides twice a day.
*It gives us a day of 24 hours
*it gives us the concept of direction based on sunrise and sunset.

2. How are days and nights caused?

ANSWER:
Days and nights are caused by the rotation of the Earth on its own axis. Due to the
spherical shape of the Earth, only one half of the Earth gets light and heat from the Sun
at a particular time. The portion of the Earth that receives sunlight is known as day,
while the other portion is known as night.

3. Explain the phenomenon of seasons with the help of a diagram.

ANSWER:
The Earth moves in an elliptical orbit and completes one revolution in 365 1/4 days. The
axis of the Earth is tilted along the orbital plane and this tilt causes seasons. Because of
this reason, different parts of the Earth receive different amounts of sunlight at different
times of the year and hence experience change in seasons. When the axis faces the Sun,
the respective hemisphere experiences summer. When the axis faces away from the Sun,
the respective hemisphere experiences winter.
(diagram 3.8,page 105)

HOTS
4. Why are days and nights not of equal duration throughout the world?

ANSWER:
The lengths of days and nights are not the same throughout the year. This variation is
because of the inclination of the Earth’s axis. The axis of the Earth is an imaginary line
that passes through its centre. This axis is not vertical but is inclined at an angle of 66.5
degrees with the plane of the Earth’s orbit. Due to this inclination, the Northern
Hemisphere remains inclined towards the Sun for half of the year and the Southern
Hemisphere during the other half.

5. Why are the sun's rays never vertical on the Arctic Circle?

ANSWER:
On summer solstice, in the Northern Hemisphere, the midday Sun is vertically overhead
the Tropic of Cancer. This is the northernmost latitude till which the midday Sun can
reach vertically overhead. Farther north than this, the Sun is never vertically overhead,
and that is why the Arctic Circle never experiences the vertically overhead Sun.

Part D. Distinguish between the following.

1. Dawn and twilight

2. Solstice and equinox
3. Rotation and revolution

ANSWER:
1. Rotation-
It refers to the movement of the Earth on its own axis.This motion causes day and
night.
Revolution-
It refers to the movement of the Earth around the Sun. This movement is the
reason behind the occurrence of different seasons.

2. Dawn- -
The diffused light before sunrise is known as dawn.
Twilight-
The diffused light after sunset is known as twilight.
3. Solstice -
It is the position of the Earth during summer and winter.It is of two types: summer
solstice and winter solstice
Equinox-
It is the position of the Earth during spring and autumn. It is of two types: spring
equinox and autumn equinox.