NCERT Solutions Class 7 Science Curiosity Chapter 12 Earth, Moon, and the Sun

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question. What causes day and night on Earth?
Answer: The spinning of our planet on its imaginary centerline creates day and night. This turning motion goes from west to east.
In simple words: Day and night happen because the Earth spins around like a toy top.

Exam Tip: Always write that the Earth turns from west to east to get full marks on this question.

Question. What is the time taken by the Earth to complete one rotation?
Answer: Our planet needs about 24 hours to turn all the way around once.
In simple words: It takes one whole day, or 24 hours, for the Earth to spin around once.

Exam Tip: Be sure to specify the time as 24 hours or one day for a full turn.

Question. What is the shape of Earth’s orbit around the Sun?
Answer: The path of our planet as it goes around the Sun is almost like a circle.
In simple words: The Earth travels around the Sun in a path that is nearly a perfect circle.

Exam Tip: Do not just write "circular" - write "nearly circular" to describe the orbit accurately.

Question. What is a solar eclipse?
Answer: This event happens when the Moon moves directly between our planet and the Sun. This blocks the light of the Sun from reaching us.
In simple words: A solar eclipse is when the Moon blocks the Sun's light from hitting the Earth.

Exam Tip: In your diagram, make sure the Moon is placed in the middle, between the Sun and the Earth.

Question. What is the direction of the Earth’s rotation?
Answer: Our planet spins in a direction that goes from the west side to the east side.
In simple words: The Earth spins from west to east.

Exam Tip: Do not mix up rotation direction with the apparent motion of the Sun, which is the opposite (east to west).

Short Answer Type Questions

Question. Why does the Sun appear to move from east to west in the sky?
Answer: Since our planet turns from west to east, the Sun seems to rise on the east side and go down on the west side. This is just how it looks to us from the ground.
In simple words: The Sun seems to move across the sky because our Earth is spinning the other way.

Exam Tip: Clearly state that this motion is an illusion caused by the Earth's real spin from west to east.

Question. What is meant by revolution of the Earth?
Answer: Going around the Sun is called revolution. It takes our planet nearly 365 days and 6 hours to finish one full trip.
In simple words: Revolution is the Earth's long journey all the way around the Sun, which takes one year.

Exam Tip: Make sure to mention both parts: the movement around the Sun and the time of 365 days and 6 hours.

Question. How does the Moon cause a solar eclipse?
Answer: When the Moon lines up perfectly between our world and the Sun, it stops the sunlight. This throws a dark spot onto the Earth.
In simple words: The Moon blocks the Sun and throws its shadow onto the Earth.

Exam Tip: Use terms like "lines up" or "comes in a straight line" and mention the Moon's shadow.

Question. Why is it not safe to look at a solar eclipse directly?
Answer: Staring straight at it is dangerous because the powerful rays can hurt your eyes, even if some light is covered up.
In simple words: Looking at the eclipse can hurt your eyes because the Sun's rays are still very strong and dangerous.

Exam Tip: Mention that the intense radiation can cause permanent eye damage.

Question. What is a lunar eclipse?
Answer: This event takes place when our planet gets in between the Sun and the Moon. The Earth then throws its own dark space onto the Moon.
In simple words: A lunar eclipse is when the Earth gets in the middle and blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon.

Exam Tip: For a lunar eclipse, remember that the Earth is in the middle of the alignment.

Descriptive Answer Type Questions

Question. How does Earth’s rotation cause the cycle of day and night?
Answer: As our planet spins, the side turned toward the Sun gets light. Meanwhile, the side turned away stays dark and has night. This constant turning keeps repeating the cycle every 24 hours.
In simple words: The side of Earth facing the Sun has day, and the back side has night. As Earth spins, these sides change.

Exam Tip: Describe both the lit side (day) and the dark side (night) to give a complete explanation.

Question. Explain how the tilt of the Earth leads to seasons.
Answer: Our planet is tipped to one side. As it travels around the Sun, the top half and bottom half get different shares of heat and light over the year. This change in sunlight brings us the four seasons.
In simple words: Because the Earth is tilted as it orbits the Sun, some parts get more sunlight than others at different times of the year.

Exam Tip: Mention both the "tilt of the axis" and the "revolution around the Sun" as the two causes of seasons.

Question. Why do stars appear to move in the sky during the night?
Answer: The stars actually stay in one place. They only look like they are traveling from east to west because our world is spinning. It is like seeing trees rush past when you spin on a playground ride.
In simple words: Stars look like they are moving because the Earth is spinning underneath us.

Exam Tip: Use the term "apparent motion" or explain that the stars are actually stationary.

Question. What is the apparent size and how does it relate to solar eclipses?
Answer: How big something looks to us depends on how large it really is and how far away it is. Even though the Moon is tiny compared to the Sun, it is much closer to us. This makes them look the same size in the sky, letting the Moon block out the Sun.
In simple words: The Moon looks big enough to block the huge Sun because the Moon is very close to Earth.

Exam Tip: Explain that "apparent size" is how big an object looks from a distance, which is key to solar eclipses.

Question. Why do different stars appear in the sky at different times of the year?
Answer: As our planet makes its yearly trip around the Sun, our night side faces different areas of deep space each month. This lets us see new star patterns as the seasons change.
In simple words: Because the Earth goes around the Sun, we look out at different directions of space during different months.

Exam Tip: Associate this change with the Earth's "revolution" rather than its "rotation".

Exploring Questions

Question. Why is the total solar eclipse visible only in a small area?
Answer: The shadow cast by the Moon is quite small when it hits our planet. Only people standing directly inside this narrow dark path can see the full eclipse, while others see only a part of it or nothing at all.
In simple words: The Moon's shadow is small, so only a tiny part of the Earth gets covered by it.

Exam Tip: Mention that the Moon is relatively small, which makes its shadow on Earth very narrow.

Question. What would happen if the Earth’s axis were not tilted?
Answer: Without a tilt, we would get the same amount of sunlight all year long. This means seasons would disappear, and every place on Earth would have the same weather day after day.
In simple words: If the Earth were straight up and down, we would have no seasons at all.

Exam Tip: Explain that seasonal weather changes would stop entirely, leaving each region with a permanent climate.

Question. Why do the poles have six months of day and night?
Answer: Because of our planet's tilt, one pole leans toward the Sun for half the year, getting constant daylight. As the Earth travels to the other side of its orbit, that pole then spends the next six months in total shadow.
In simple words: The poles lean toward the Sun for half the year and away from it for the other half.

Exam Tip: Clearly connect the six-month cycle to both the tilt of the Earth and its journey around the Sun.

Question. Why can we safely view a lunar eclipse with the naked eye but not a solar eclipse?
Answer: The Moon does not make its own light; it only bounces soft sunlight back to us, which is safe to look at. The Sun, however, shines with very strong and harmful rays that can burn your eyes even during an eclipse.
In simple words: The Moon is dim because it only reflects light, but the Sun is always bright enough to hurt your eyes.

Exam Tip: Contrast the safe, reflected light of the Moon with the direct, intense radiation of the Sun.

Question. Why do places near the equator experience less seasonal variation?
Answer: The middle belt of the Earth receives straight, direct sunlight all year round. This keeps the temperature and the length of daytime almost the exact same, unlike areas closer to the poles.
In simple words: The equator stays warm and sunny all year because it always gets direct sunlight.

Exam Tip: Use the phrase "direct sunlight" and mention "consistent temperature" to describe the equator's climate.

Question. What causes day and night according to Class 7 Science Curiosity Chapter 12?
Answer: Day and night are created by our planet spinning on its axis once every 24 hours. As it turns from west to east, only the side facing the Sun gets light. The opposite side is hidden in shadow and stays dark. As the spin continues, land moves from light to dark and back again, which gives us a steady pattern of day and night. This regular spin is how we measure our daily time.
In simple words: The Earth's constant spin brings different sides of the planet into the sunlight every 24 hours.

Exam Tip: Make sure to mention that the Earth's spin takes 24 hours and creates a continuous light-to-dark cycle.

Question. Why do we have different seasons during the year, as explained in Class 7 Science Curiosity Chapter 12?
Answer: Seasons happen because our planet is tipped at a 66.5-degree angle and orbits the Sun. It takes 365 days for one complete journey. This tilt means different areas get more or less direct sunlight over the year. When the top half of Earth leans toward the Sun, it gets warm summer light, while the bottom half stays colder. As the Earth moves, this pattern swaps, giving us our four seasons.
In simple words: The Earth's tilt and orbit change how much sunlight different halves of the world get during the year.

Exam Tip: State the specific tilt angle of 66.5 degrees and the 365-day orbital period to earn top marks.

Question. What is a solar eclipse and how does it occur, according to Class 7 Science Curiosity Chapter 12?
Answer: A solar eclipse is an event where the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun. This blocks some or all of the Sun's light and throws a shadow onto our world. It can only take place during a new moon. If everything lines up perfectly, the Moon hides the Sun completely, creating a total eclipse in a tiny region. In other areas, you will only see a partial block. You must never look at it without special glasses, as the Sun's rays can ruin your eyesight.
In simple words: During a solar eclipse, the Moon blocks the Sun's light and throws a shadow on the Earth.

Exam Tip: Note down that this phenomenon only occurs during the new moon phase, and emphasize the safety danger of looking at it.

Question. What should I focus on the most in Class 7 Science Curiosity Chapter 12?
Answer: You should concentrate on how the Earth's spin and orbit create day, night, and different seasons. Make sure to learn the steps for both types of eclipses, how the Moon's shape seems to change, and how these three space bodies interact. Drawing diagrams of these positions is a great way to study.
In simple words: Focus on how the Sun, Earth, and Moon move, and practice drawing their different positions.

Exam Tip: Practice drawing labeled diagrams of eclipses and Moon phases, as these often carry high marks in exams.