NCERT Solutions for Class-6 Geography Chapter-1 The Earth in the Solar System

NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES

Question 1. Answer the following questions briefly:
(a) How does a planet differ from a star?
(b) What is meant by the ‘Solar System’?
(c) Name all the planets according to their distance from the sun.
(d) Why is the Earth called a unique planet?
(e) Why do we see only one side of the moon always?
(f) What is the Universe?
Answer:
(a) Difference between a Planet and a Star

Planet	Star
1. It receives heat and light from the Sun.	1. It has its own heat and light.
2. It has a spherical body. Planets only reflect the light received from the Sun.	2. It is a very big and hot ball of fire made of gases. The Sun is also a Star.
3. Planets do not twinkle because they do not possess their own light.	3. It gives out huge flames. It radiates a great amount of heat and light.
4. There are nine major planets. Our Earth is also one of them.	4. Stars are very far from us. They are in millions of millions.

(b) Meaning of Solar System
The sun, the planets, and satellites together with other minor bodies make up the solar system. The sun is at the center of the solar system. The planets revolve around the sun in their fixed orbits. The satellites revolve around the planets.
(c) Planets according to their distance from the Sun
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, 2003UB313.
(d) Earth is called a unique planet because,
     1. Conditions favorable to support life are found only on the earth; it is neither too hot nor too cold.
     2. Earth has surface water, which is very necessary for our survival.
     3. It has life-giving oxygen and the ozone layer, which protect us from the harmful rays, of the sun.
(e) We see only one side of the moon always because of the following reasons:
     1. The moon revolves round the earth in 27 days.
     2. It spins on its axis exactly in 27 days.
     3. Hence the places on the moon correspond to the places on the earth always.
     4. Because of these reasons we see only one side of the moon always.
(f) Universe
The Universe is the whole body of stars, planets, satellites, and gases. It is endless. Stars are huge bodies of glowing gases e.g. sun. Planets and satellites do not have heat and light of their own. They are lit by the light of the stars.

Question 2. Tick the correct answer:
(a) The planet is known as the “Earth’s Twin” is
(i) Jupiter
(ii) Saturn
(iii) Venus

(b) Which is the third nearest planet to the sun?
(i) Venus
(ii) Earth
(iii) Mercury

(c) All the planets move around the sun in a
(i) Circular path
(ii) Rectangular path
(iii) Elliptical path

(d) The Pole Star indicates the direction to the
(i) South
(ii) North
(iii) East

(e) Asteroids are found between the orbits of
(i) Saturn and Jupiter
(ii) Mars and Jupiter
(iii) The Earth and Mars

Answer:
(a) → (iii) Venus
(b) → (ii) Earth
(c) → (iii) Elliptical path
(d) → (ii) North
(e) → (ii) Mars and Jupiter

Question 3. Fill in the blanks:
1. A group of ……….. forming various patterns is called a ………..
2. A huge system of stars is called …………
3. ………… is the closest celestial body to our Earth.
4. ………….. is the third nearest planet to the sun.
5. Planets do not have their own ……….. and ………
Answer:
1. stars, constellation
2. galaxy
3. Mercury
4. Earth
5. heat and light

INTEXT QUESTIONS

Question 1. Do you wonder why can’t we see the moon and all those bright tiny objects during the daytime? (NCERT Page 1)
Answer: Because the light of the sun in the daytime is so bright that we cannot see these tiny bright shining objects of the night skies.

Question 2. Ask someone elder in your family or neighbourhood to show you more stars and planets in the sky.
Answer:
1. Stars shine twinkling in the sky.
2. Planets do not twinkle, they shine because they reflect the light of the sun.
3. Twinkling objects are stars and non-twinkling objects are planets.

Question 3. What do animals and plants require in order to grow and survive? (NCERT Page 5)
Answer: In order to grow and survive animals and plants require, heat and energy, oxygen, water, and food.

Question 4. Look at the full moon and observe its shadows.
Answer: Do this exercise yourself on Poornima.

Question 5. Do you see whitish broadband like a white glowing path across the sky on a clear starry night?
Answer: Yes. Whitish broadband is like a white glowing path across the sky. It is a cluster of stars, known as the Milky Way. It is our galaxy.