Social Science Notes for Chapter 1 Locating Places on Earth Class 6 - FREE PDF Download
FAQs on Locating Places on Earth Class 6 Social Science Chapter 1 CBSE Notes - 2025-26
1. What are the key concepts covered in the Class 6 Social Science notes for Locating Places on Earth?
These revision notes provide a summary of the essential concepts from Chapter 1, which include:
- The difference between a globe and a map.
- Key reference points like the Axis, North Pole, and South Pole.
- Important imaginary lines such as the Equator, Parallels of Latitude, and Meridians of Longitude.
- How the grid system is used to accurately locate any place.
- The concept of the Earth's major heat zones.
2. How do latitudes and longitudes work together to form the Earth's grid system for quick revision?
For a quick recap, think of it like a graph. Latitudes are the horizontal lines (parallels) that measure distance north or south of the Equator. Longitudes are the vertical lines (meridians) that measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian. The point where these lines intersect creates a unique coordinate, or an 'address', allowing us to pinpoint any location on Earth with precision.
3. What is the significance of the Equator (0° latitude) in this chapter summary?
The Equator is the most important parallel of latitude because it serves as the central reference line. It divides the Earth into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. All other parallels are numbered from the Equator, making it the starting point for measuring latitude and understanding the different heat zones.
4. Why is the Prime Meridian (0° longitude) a crucial concept to remember from these notes?
The Prime Meridian is the key reference line for longitude. Its primary importance is that it divides the Earth into the Eastern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere. It also serves as the starting point (0°) for all other meridians and is the basis for calculating the world's Standard Time zones, as per the 2025-26 CBSE syllabus.
5. What is the main difference to note between parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude?
The key differences to remember for revision are:
- Parallels of Latitude run in an east-west direction, are always parallel to each other, and vary in length (the Equator is the longest).
- Meridians of Longitude run in a north-south direction, are not parallel (they meet at the poles), and are all of equal length.
6. Why do parallels of latitude get shorter towards the poles, but all meridians of longitude are of equal length?
This is because the Earth is a sphere. Parallels of latitude are complete circles that encircle the globe. The Equator is the largest circle at the Earth's widest part. As you move towards the poles, these circles become smaller, until they are just points at the North and South Poles. In contrast, each meridian of longitude is a semi-circle that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole, so every meridian covers the same distance and is therefore of equal length.
7. How do key latitudes like the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn help define the Earth's heat zones?
These two important parallels of latitude mark the boundaries of the Torrid Zone, the area that receives the most direct sunlight throughout the year. The Tropic of Cancer is the northernmost point and the Tropic of Capricorn is the southernmost point where the sun can be directly overhead. The location of these lines helps us understand why the areas between them are the hottest, while areas further away fall into the cooler Temperate and Frigid Zones.
8. How does understanding the grid system in this chapter help explain modern technology like GPS?
The concept of the grid system is the fundamental principle behind modern navigation. A Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver works by calculating its precise position on Earth using this very same coordinate system. It communicates with satellites to determine its exact latitude and longitude, demonstrating a real-world application of the concepts learned in this Class 6 chapter.
9. What is the most effective way to use these revision notes for the chapter on Locating Places on Earth?
For effective and quick revision, first, focus on the definitions of key terms like Equator, Prime Meridian, and Axis. Next, study the diagrams showing the grid system to visualise how latitudes and longitudes intersect. Finally, use the summary points to connect the concepts, such as how longitudes are related to time zones, to ensure you have a complete overview before an exam.











