GSEB Class 6 Social Science Solutions Chapter 9 આપણું ઘર પૃથ્વી

1. Select the correct option from the following questions and write the answer:

Question 1. I am the closest planet to the Sun.
A. Earth
B. Mercury
C. Venus
D. Neptune
Answer: (B) Mercury
In simple words: The planet closest to our Sun is called Mercury.

Exam Tip: Remember the order of planets from the Sun to easily identify the closest one.

Question 2. By what name is the 0° latitude known?
A. Greenwich
B. Tropic of Cancer
C. Equator
D. Tropic of Capricorn
Answer: (C) Equator
In simple words: The imaginary line around the middle of Earth, at 0 degrees latitude, is known as the Equator.

Exam Tip: Understand that the Equator is the main reference line for latitude, dividing Earth into two hemispheres.

Question 3. Which zone is located between 23.5° North Latitude and 66.5° North Latitude?
A. Frigid Zone
B. Temperate Zone
C. Tropical Zone
D. All of the options
Answer: (B) Temperate Zone
In simple words: The area on Earth found between 23.5° and 66.5° North Latitudes is called the Temperate Zone.

Exam Tip: Memorize the latitude ranges for each temperature zone (Tropical, Temperate, Frigid) for both northern and southern hemispheres.

Question 4. I make an angle of 23.5° on my axis.
A. Sun
B. Moon
C. Earth
D. Venus
Answer: (C) Earth
In simple words: Our Earth tilts at an angle of 23.5 degrees as it spins on its own axis.

Exam Tip: The tilt of the Earth's axis is crucial for understanding seasons and varying daylight hours throughout the year.

Question 5. How many times does the Sun's ecliptic intersect the equator in a year?
A. One time
B. Two times
C. Three times
D. Four times
Answer: (B) Two times
In simple words: The path the Sun appears to take across the sky crosses the Earth's equator twice every year.

Exam Tip: These two intersection points are known as equinoxes, marking roughly equal day and night length globally.

Question 6. By whose obstruction is a 'solar eclipse' seen on Earth?
A. Moon's
B. Sun's
C. Earth's
D. None of the options
Answer: (A) Moon's
In simple words: A solar eclipse happens when the Moon gets in the way and blocks the sunlight from reaching Earth.

Exam Tip: Always remember that a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is between the Sun and Earth, while a lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and Moon.

2. Identify me and write the answer:

Question 1. I am also called a gigantic planet.
Answer: Jupiter is called a gigantic planet.
In simple words: Jupiter is known as the gigantic planet.

Exam Tip: Identify key characteristics of each planet, like size for Jupiter, to remember them easily.

Question 2. Date changes when crossing me.
Answer: The International Date Line causes the date to change when crossing it.
In simple words: When you cross the International Date Line, the date changes.

Exam Tip: Understand that the International Date Line is an imaginary line that marks the change of calendar dates as one travels around the globe.

Question 3. I am 90° South Latitude.
Answer: The 90° South Latitude is the South Pole.
In simple words: The South Pole is at 90 degrees south.

Exam Tip: Recognize that the 90° latitude marks the poles, with 90° N being the North Pole and 90° S being the South Pole.

Question 4. I revolve around the Earth.
Answer: The Moon revolves around the Earth.
In simple words: The Moon goes around the Earth.

Exam Tip: Differentiate between planets revolving around the Sun and satellites (like the Moon) revolving around planets.

Question 5. If I were not there, life would be destroyed.
Answer: If the Sun were not there, life would be destroyed.
In simple words: The Sun is necessary for life; without it, life would end.

Exam Tip: Emphasize the Sun's role as the primary source of energy for life on Earth.

3. State whether the following statements are true or false:

Question 1. The Moon is self-luminous.
Answer: False
In simple words: The Moon does not make its own light.

Exam Tip: Remember that the Moon reflects light from the Sun, which makes it appear luminous to us.

Question 2. Neptune is a blue (green) colored planet.
Answer: True
In simple words: Neptune is a planet with a blue-green color.

Exam Tip: Associate Neptune with its characteristic blue color, often due to methane in its atmosphere.

Question 3. The imaginary horizontal lines drawn on the Earth are called latitudes.
Answer: True
In simple words: Imaginary flat lines on Earth are called latitudes.

Exam Tip: Understand that latitudes run horizontally around the globe, parallel to the equator.

Question 4. On June 21, it is winter on the Tropic of Cancer.
Answer: False
In simple words: June 21 is when summer starts in the Northern Hemisphere, where the Tropic of Cancer is.

Exam Tip: Link June 21 with the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, meaning it's summer, not winter, on the Tropic of Cancer.

Question 5. It is very cold at the equator.
Answer: False
In simple words: The equator gets a lot of direct sunlight, so it's usually very warm, not cold.

Exam Tip: Recall that the equator receives direct sunlight throughout the year, leading to consistently warm temperatures.

Question 6. 90° North Latitude is called the North Pole.
Answer: True
In simple words: The North Pole is located at the 90-degree mark of northern latitude.

Exam Tip: Recognize that the North Pole is the northernmost point on Earth, defined by 90° N latitude.

4. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1. How many motions does the Earth have?
Answer: The Earth has two motions:
1. Rotation
2. Revolution
In simple words: Our Earth moves in two ways: it spins around and it also goes around the Sun.

Exam Tip: Clearly distinguish between rotation (spinning on its axis, causing day and night) and revolution (orbiting the Sun, causing years and seasons).

Question 2. In which direction is the Pole Star seen?
Answer: The Pole Star is seen in the North direction.
In simple words: You can always find the Pole Star by looking towards the North.

Exam Tip: Remember that the Pole Star (Polaris) is unique because it appears almost stationary in the sky, always pointing North, making it useful for navigation.

Question 3. Which is the brightest planet in the solar system?
Answer: Venus is the brightest planet in the solar system.
In simple words: The planet Venus shines the brightest in our solar system.

Exam Tip: Connect Venus with its high reflectivity due to its thick atmosphere, making it appear very bright.

Question 4. By what name is the 180° longitude known?
Answer: The 180° longitude is known as the International Date Line.
In simple words: The 180-degree longitude line is called the International Date Line.

Exam Tip: Be precise with the full name 'International Date Line' when identifying 180° longitude.

5. Answer the following questions in three-four sentences:

Question 1. What would happen if the Earth did not rotate on its axis?
Answer: If the Earth did not spin on its axis, its parts would not face the Sun in turns. This would mean that days and nights would not occur. The part of Earth facing the Sun would experience perpetual daylight, while the opposite side would remain in constant darkness. Consequently, one half of the Earth would always be hot, and the other half would always be extremely cold.
In simple words: If Earth didn't spin, one side would always have day and be hot, and the other side would always have night and be cold. There would be no days and nights like we know them.

Exam Tip: When explaining hypothetical scenarios, clearly state the cause and then list the direct and indirect consequences. Remember to mention both temperature and light conditions.

Question 2. What are Latitudes and Longitudes?
Answer: Latitudes are the imaginary horizontal lines drawn on the Earth's sphere. They run parallel to the Equator and help determine locations north or south. Longitudes, conversely, are the imaginary vertical lines drawn on the Earth's sphere, running from the North Pole to the South Pole. These lines help in determining locations east or west and are crucial for time zones.
In simple words: Latitudes are flat, imaginary lines on Earth that tell us how far north or south a place is. Longitudes are tall, imaginary lines that go from pole to pole and help us find how far east or west a place is.

Exam Tip: Clearly define each term, mentioning their orientation (horizontal/vertical) and what they measure (north/south, east/west). A simple diagram in your mind can help.

Question 3. Sometimes February has 29 days. Explain the statement. OR What is a 'Leap Year' called?
Answer: The Earth's revolution around the Sun takes 365 days and 6 hours to complete. To avoid the inconvenience of accounting for these extra 6 hours each year, we consider a year to be 365 days. The remaining 6 hours accumulate over four years, totaling 24 hours, which makes one full day. This extra day is added to February, changing its usual 28 days to 29 days. A year in which February has 29 days is consequently known as a 'Leap Year'.
In simple words: Earth takes 365 days and 6 hours to go around the Sun. To fix this extra 6 hours, every four years we add one extra day to February, making it 29 days. This year is called a Leap Year.

Exam Tip: Explain the 'why' behind a leap year, focusing on the Earth's actual orbital period and the practical way we adjust our calendar to align with it.

Question 4. Which planets are known as inner planets?
Answer: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are known as the inner planets. These planets are closer to the Sun and are generally smaller and rockier than the outer planets. They are found inside the asteroid belt in our solar system.
In simple words: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are known as the inner planets. They are close to the Sun and are made of rock.

Exam Tip: Remember the four inner planets in order from the Sun and their key characteristics (rocky, closer to the Sun).

Question 5. What is Uttarayan?
Answer: Uttarayan refers to the period when the Sun's direct rays shift northwards from the Tropic of Capricorn towards the Equator. This movement begins on December 22nd. During Uttarayan, the Northern Hemisphere starts receiving more direct sunlight, leading to longer days and shorter nights. Therefore, Uttarayan effectively starts on December 22nd.
In simple words: Uttarayan is when the Sun's direct rays start moving north from the Tropic of Capricorn, beginning on December 22nd. This means days get longer in the Northern Hemisphere.

Exam Tip: Specify the starting date and the direction of the Sun's movement (towards the Equator from Tropic of Capricorn) and its effect on day length.

6. Write short notes:

Question 1. Lunar Eclipse.
Answer: The Moon receives light from the Sun. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the Sun's rays and the Moon, casting Earth's shadow on a portion of the Moon. This shadowed part of the Moon then becomes invisible to us. A lunar eclipse happens only on a full moon night. It is a spectacular celestial event where the Moon darkens as it passes through the Earth's shadow.

In simple words: When Earth comes directly between the Sun and the Moon, it casts a shadow on the Moon, making it look dark. This is called a lunar eclipse, and it only happens during a full moon.

Exam Tip: Draw a simple diagram showing the alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon for a lunar eclipse (Sun-Earth-Moon) to illustrate your explanation.

Question 2. Solar system or Solar family
Answer: The Solar System is a vast family comprising the Sun, planets, satellites, asteroids, comets, and meteors. It includes eight main planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. While Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are visible to the naked eye from Earth, Uranus and Neptune require powerful telescopes to be seen. All these planets travel around the Sun in elliptical paths. Furthermore, the solar system contains many satellites orbiting their respective planets; for instance, Earth has one moon, while Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Mars have two or more moons. Mercury and Venus, however, do not possess any satellites. Additionally, there are numerous smaller asteroids located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

In simple words: The Solar System is our cosmic home, with the Sun at its center. It includes all eight planets, their moons, and other space objects like asteroids and comets, all orbiting around the Sun.

Exam Tip: Define the solar system by listing its main components and mention the number of planets and their general characteristics (e.g., inner rocky, outer gaseous).

Question 3. Zones
Answer: Based on the amount of light and heat received throughout the year on Earth's latitudes, the Earth can be divided into three main temperature zones: 1. **Tropical Zone:** This zone is located between 23.5° North and 23.5° South latitudes. It receives direct sunlight throughout the year, resulting in high levels of light and heat. 2. **Temperate Zone:** Found in both hemispheres, this zone lies between 23.5° and 66.5° latitudes. Here, the Sun's rays are not very direct or very slanted. Consequently, light and heat levels remain moderate throughout the year. 3. **Frigid Zone (Polar Zone):** Located in both hemispheres, this zone extends from 66.5° to 90° latitudes. The Sun's rays are extremely slanted here all year. Therefore, the amount of light and heat is very low, and some polar regions do not receive sunlight for several days during winter.

Exam Tip: For each zone, remember its latitude range and the general climate conditions (heat and light intensity) it experiences. A diagram helps visualize these zones.

Question 4. Equinox
Answer: The Sun's ecliptic path crosses the Equator twice a year. The day these two paths intersect is called an 'equinox day'. During an equinox, the Sun's rays fall directly on the Equator, resulting in equal lengths of day and night across the entire Earth. This phenomenon occurs on March 21st and September 23rd. As the Sun moves north after March 21st, day length increases in the Northern Hemisphere, reaching its longest on June 21st. Similarly, as the Sun moves south after September 23rd, day length increases in the Southern Hemisphere, reaching its longest on December 22nd. Thus, equinoxes are periods of balance in daylight hours.
In simple words: An equinox happens twice a year, around March 21st and September 23rd, when the Sun shines directly on the equator. On these days, day and night are almost the same length all over the world.

Exam Tip: Clearly define an equinox as the point when the Sun's rays are directly overhead the Equator, leading to equal day and night worldwide. Remember the two dates: March 21st and September 23rd.