Courses
Courses for Kids
Free study material
Offline Centres
More
Store Icon
Store

Important Questions for CBSE Class 6 Social Science Chapter 3 - Motions of the Earth

ffImage
banner

CBSE Class 6 Social Science The Earth Our Habitat Important Questions Chapter 3 - Motions of the Earth - Free PDF Download

CBSE Class 6 Social Science Geography Motions of the Earth Chapter 3 talks about the two types of motions of our planet and their effects on the living organisms. Rotation means the movement of the earth around its own axis, which causes day and night. Revolution means the movement of the Earth around the Sun in a fixed path, which causes changes in seasons.


To practise questions based on these, download the free PDF of Important Questions with solutions for CBSE Class 6 Social Science The Earth Our Habitat Chapter 3 - Motions of the Earth prepared by expert Social Science teachers from the latest edition of CBSE (NCERT) books.


Topics Covered in Chapter 3 Motions of the Earth of Class 6 Geography

Class 6 Social Science Geography Motions of the Earth teaches students about the different positions and motions of the earth and their effects on us under important topics including:

  • Rotation

  • Revolutions

  • Circle of illumination

  • Orbital plane

  • Leap year

  • Elliptical orbit

  • Summer solstice

  • Winter solstice

  • Equinox 

Study Important Questions for Class 6 Social Science Chapter 3 – Motions of the Earth

Very Short Answer Questions:                                                               1 Mark         

1. Fill in the blanks: 

(i) Revolution is the moment of the earth around the _____. 

Ans: Sun - Revolution is the movement of the earth around the Sun in a fixed route or orbit.

(ii) Rotation is the moment of earth on its ______. 

Ans: Axis - The Earth revolves at a speed of around 1,600 kilometres (1,000 miles) per hour around its axis. It travels at a speed of 107,800 kilometres (67,000 miles) per hour around the Sun.

(iii) The earth completes one revolution of the Sun in ______ days. 

Ans: 365 - In 365 days, 5 hours, 59 minutes, and 16 seconds, the Earth revolves around the Sun. A year is the length of time it takes for a planet to orbit the Sun.

(iv) The earth takes ____hours to rotate around its axis.

Ans: 24 hours - In relation to the Sun, Earth rotates once every 24 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds, but once every 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds in relation to other, distant stars.


2. State true and false. 

(i) The Sun revolves around the earth. 

Ans: False 

(ii) There are nine planets in our solar system. 

Ans: False

(iii) Poles experience 6 months-long nights and 6 months-long days. 

Ans: True 

(iv) Direct rays of the Sun fall on the equator on 21 June.

Ans: False 


3. Match the following:-

i. Equinox

25 December

ii. Christmas Day

366 days

iii. Leap year

Winter

iv. Short days

Equal day and night

Ans: 

i. Equal Day and Night - Equinox is one of the two times during the year when the Sun is directly above the Equator and day and night are of equal length; it is also one of the two points in the sky where the ecliptic (the Sun's annual journey) and the celestial equator connect.

ii. 25 December - Christmas is observed on December 25th.

iii. 366 days - There are 365 days in a typical year. There are 366 days in a leap year (the extra day is the 29th of February).

iv. Winter - The Sun's rays impact the Earth at a shallow angle during the winter. The Sun's beams are more widely dispersed, reducing the quantity of energy that reaches any specific location. The Earth can't warm up because of the long nights and short days.


4. Choose the correct option. 

(i) The moment of the earth to the Sun is ______. 

a) Elliptical 

b) Semi circle 

c) Hyperbolic 

d) Circular 

Ans: Elliptical 

(ii) A leap year has_________.

a) 366 days 

b) 364 days 

c) 365 days 

d) 360 days 

Ans: 366 days 


5. Define the following. 

(i) Leap year 

Ans: The year with 366 days is referred to as a leap year.

(ii) Land of midnight Sun 

Ans: A place beyond the Arctic and Antarctic Circle is known as the Land of the Midnight Sun.


Short Answer Questions                                                                    

6. What will happen if the earth stops rotating? 

Ans: Life on the planet will be impossible if the earth stops revolving.


7. What is rotation? 

Ans: Rotation is the movement of the earth on its axis. The rotation of the Earth on its axis takes 24 hours.


8. Why the earth faces nights and day? 

Ans: The rays of the Sun fall at different times on the planet due to the rotation of the earth, resulting in day and night.


9. What is the reason for the season change? 

Ans: As the earth circles around the Sun, its location varies over time, resulting in the change of seasons.


10. In the Northern hemisphere, which day is considered as the shortest day? 

Ans: The shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere is December 22nd.


Short Answer Question II                                                                   3 Mark

11. What is a leap year? Why does it take place? 

Ans: On average, the Earth travels around the Sun in 365 14 days. One year is defined as 365 days. The remaining 6 hours, multiplied by 4, equals 24 hours, or one day. The month of February has an extra 29th day, and the year has 366 days, making it a leap year.


12. When do the longest day and the shortest night take place? 

Ans: The Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun on June 21st, and hence the Sun's rays fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer. This raises the temperature in that area. Because the sun shines on a large chunk of the northern hemisphere, it is summer in those areas. On June 21, the longest day and the shortest night occur.


13. When do the days get shorter and why? 

Ans: During the winter, the days are shorter. The evenings are longer than the days throughout the winter season. The days are longer than the nights throughout the summer.


14. Define the motion of the earth. 

Ans: Rotation is the earth's daily motion. There are two types of motion on Earth: rotation and revolution. The motion of the earth on its axis is known as rotation. The world rotates once every 24 hours, which is why the days and nights, as well as the seasons, change.


15. How does the change of the season take place? 

Ans: The revolution is what causes the seasons to cycle. The shift in the earth's location around the Sun causes the seasons. The earth follows its own orbit or course around the Sun. The four seasons, summer, winter, autumn, and spring are caused by the earth's movement and its axis tilt in a set direction.


Long Answer Questions                                                                     5 Mark                                   

16. What is the difference between the Winter Solstice and Summer Solstice? 

Ans: The position of the earth during the Summer Solstice is when the Sun's rays fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer. The earth's position at the Winter Solstice is when the Sun's rays fall directly on the Tropic of Capricorn. The North Pole is inclined towards the Sun during the summer solstice and away from the Sun during the winter solstice.

 

The light from the Sun falls on the majority of the Northern Hemisphere during the summer solstice, and it is summer there when the days are longer than the nights. The majority of the Southern Hemisphere receives sunlight during the winter solstice, while it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, and the nights are longer than the days.


17. Why is the Winter and Summer Solstice experienced at different times in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres? 

Ans: The summer solstice occurs when the North Pole tilts towards the Sun in the Northern Hemisphere. The South Pole is tilted away from the Sun in this situation, causing the Southern Hemisphere to experience winter solstice. When the South Pole is tilted towards the Sun, the Summer Solstice occurs, and when the North Pole is inclined away from the Sun, the Winter Solstice occurs. This explains why the winter and summer solstices occur at different times in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres.


18. Where do six months-long nights and days take place and why? 

Ans: For around six months, the tilt of the earth on its axis causes each of the poles to be slanted either towards or away from the Sun. The poles endure around six months of night and six months of day due to this tilt. There is continuous daylight for six months when the North Pole is turned towards the Sun. The South Pole is tilted away from the Sun at this time, and it is night for the duration. When the South Pole is turned towards the Sun, it receives continuous daylight for six months.


19. Explain the equinox. 

Ans: The equinox is the point on Earth where the Sun's rays fall squarely on the equator. The South Pole and the North Pole are not tilted toward the Sun in this situation. The days and nights are the same all throughout the world. This occurs on March 21st and September 23rd. On the equinox, all of the earth's nights and days are equal. The Sun receives an equal amount of sunrays in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres on this day.


20. What are rotation and revolution? 

Ans: The rotation and revolution of the Earth are two different motions. Rotation is the movement of the earth on its axis. The Earth follows a set orbit or path around the Sun. Revolution is the name given to this movement. The earth takes approximately 24 hours to complete one rotation around its axis. This is known as Earth Day. The earth revolves around the Sun in about 365 days. The earth's revolution around the Sun is known as the revolution of the earth around the Sun.


Benefits of Class 6 Social Science Geography Chapter 3 Important Questions

Here are some reasons why you should refer to our Important Questions of Class 6 Social Science Geography Chapter 3. 

  • Prepared by subject experts at Vedantu, these ensure accurate answers to all the important questions and students can rely on them completely. 

  • Important Questions for Class 6 Social Science Geography Chapter 3 help students identify important topics of the chapter and practice questions based on them.

  • They are one-stop study solutions for Class 6 students' exam preparation needs.

  • Students will learn how to perfectly answer a question in the exam by referring to our  Class 6 Social Science Geography Chapter 3 Important Questions PDF.

  • These are suitable for a quick revision of the chapter as well.

Thus, to be thorough with all the important topics of Class 6 Social Science Geography Chapter 3, download the free PDF of our CBSE Class 6 Social Science Geography Motions of the Earth Chapter 3. Additionally, to ensure your overall preparation, head to Vedantu’s website or app and access free PDFs of revision notes, NCERT Solutions, mock tests, and previous years’ question papers as well. 

Conclusion 

Vedantu's provision of important questions for CBSE Class 6 Social Science Chapter 3, "Motions of the Earth," is an invaluable tool for young learners. These questions are thoughtfully curated to reinforce key geographical concepts, fostering a deeper understanding of the Earth's movements and their significance. They encourage critical thinking, geographical analysis, and examination readiness. Vedantu's commitment to quality education shines through, as these important questions empower students to excel in their social science studies. By practicing these questions, students can strengthen their geographical knowledge, revision, and exam preparedness, ultimately contributing to their academic success and providing a profound insight into the fascinating mechanics of our planet's motions.

WhatsApp Banner

FAQs on Important Questions for CBSE Class 6 Social Science Chapter 3 - Motions of the Earth

1. What are the two primary motions of the Earth as described in CBSE Class 6 Social Science Chapter 3?

The two primary motions of the Earth are rotation and revolution.

  • Rotation is the movement of the Earth on its own axis, which it completes in about 24 hours, causing day and night.
  • Revolution is the movement of the Earth around the Sun in a fixed path or orbit, which takes approximately 365.25 days to complete, causing the cycle of seasons.

2. What is a leap year and why is it a frequently asked question in exams?

A leap year is a year with 366 days instead of the usual 365. It occurs every four years. This is an important concept because it explains how our calendar system accounts for the fact that the Earth takes approximately 365.25 days to revolve around the Sun. The extra 0.25 day is added up over four years to make one full day (0.25 x 4 = 1), which is added to the month of February.

3. How can you differentiate between the Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice for your exam?

To score full marks on this important question, you must mention the Earth's tilt and the Sun's position.

  • During the Summer Solstice (around June 21st), the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun. The Sun's rays fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer, resulting in the longest day and shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
  • During the Winter Solstice (around December 22nd), the Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun. The Sun's rays fall directly on the Tropic of Capricorn, resulting in the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

4. Why do seasons change? Is it because the Earth gets closer to the Sun?

No, this is a common misconception. The change in seasons is not caused by the Earth's changing distance from the Sun. The primary reason for seasons is the Earth's axial tilt of 23.5 degrees. As the Earth revolves around the Sun, different parts of the planet are tilted towards or away from the Sun's direct rays. A hemisphere tilted towards the Sun receives more direct sunlight and experiences summer, while a hemisphere tilted away experiences winter.

5. What would happen if the Earth did not rotate on its axis?

If the Earth did not rotate, one half of the planet would face the Sun continuously, leading to perpetual daylight and extreme heat. The other half would be in perpetual darkness and experience extreme cold. This vast temperature difference would make life as we know it impossible to sustain.

6. What is the 'circle of illumination' and what is its significance?

The circle of illumination is the imaginary line that separates the sunlit part of the Earth (day) from the part in darkness (night). Its significance lies in the fact that it does not coincide with the Earth's tilted axis. This is why the lengths of day and night are generally unequal across the globe, except during the equinoxes.

7. Why are days and nights of equal length all over the world during an equinox?

During an equinox (around March 21st and September 23rd), the Earth's axis is not tilted towards or away from the Sun. At this specific point in its orbit, the Sun's direct rays shine directly on the equator. As a result, the circle of illumination passes through both the North and South Poles, dividing the Earth into two equal halves of light and darkness, leading to equal day and night duration everywhere.

8. Which diagrams are important to practise from Chapter 3, 'Motions of the Earth', for the 2025-26 exam?

For scoring well in exams, it is highly recommended to practise drawing and labelling the following diagrams from this chapter:

  • The diagram showing the Revolution of the Earth and Seasons, clearly marking the positions for solstices and equinoxes.
  • A diagram illustrating the Summer and Winter Solstices, showing the Earth's tilt and the direct rays of the Sun on the Tropics.
  • The position of the Earth during an Equinox, showing direct sunlight on the equator.
These diagrams are frequently asked in 3-mark and 5-mark questions.