GEOGRAPHY

Chapter-1-Earth as a planet
Class-9 A/B

I- Short answer question:

1- How can you prove that the earth is a sphere by looking at the pole star?

Ans- At the equator, the angle is 0°. This can happen only in an arc of
circle. If the earth were flat, the pole star would have the same height for
all latitude.
( leave eight lines for diagram)

2- Briefly describe the shape of the earth?

Ans – The earth is said to be spherical; but it is not perfect sphere. The
difference in diameter is due to the centrifugal force of earth’s rotation at a
great speed which formed a bulge at the equator and a compression at the
poles.
Thus, the earth is said to be an oblate spheroid.

3- What is the earth’s mean temperature? State its one advantage.

Ans- The earth is the third planet from the sun. It has average
temperature of 17°c which is suitable for life to exist.
4- Why is the Earth called a watery planet?

Ans- The Earth is a watery planet because seventy percent of its surface
is covered by the water.

5- What is biosphere?

Ans. Biosphere is the narrow realm of contact and interaction between

the atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere.
6- Name the condition necessary for life on earth.

Ans- The condition necessary for life on earth are:

 Distance from the sun
 Temperature
  Atmosphere
 Water in liquid form
 Solid crust (lithosphere)
 Biosphere

7- Give any two features of the earth that makes it a unique planet.

Ans- Two features of the earth that makes it a unique planet are:
 The earth is at an optimum distance from the sun. Hence, it is neither
too hot nor too cold.
 Biosphere provides all the necessities for all the species living on
earth. i.e. light, heat, water, food and habitats.

II- Structured question :

1. (a)- How does he sighting of the ship from the seashore prove about
that the earth is round in shape?

Ans- While standing on a seashore, watching an approaching ship, we

first of all sea only it’s mast. Then as it comes closer, we can see the deck in
the middle, then its funnel, and finally the hull comes into full view. This can
happen only when the earth’s surface is curved. If the earth were flat, the
entire ship would have been seen all at once.
(b)- State briefly the Bedford level experiment.
Ans- Almost on similar lines, as described above, an experiment was
carried out in the Bedford level canal area in England. Three poles of equal
length were fixed at intervals of 5 km. It was ensured that the poles had the
same height above the water in the canal when the poles were viewed from
one end of the canal. The middle pole looked slightly higher. It could not
have happened if the earth had a flat surface.
( leave 12 lines for diagram)

(c)- Give the geographical reason for each of the following:

(i)- The sunrise and sunset occurs at different times and different
places.
Ans- The sunrise and sunset occurs at different times and places. This is
because the earth rotates from west to east and therefore, people in the east
can see the sun earlier than those in the west. Had the earth been flat, the
sunrise and sunset would have occured at the same time all over the world.
(ii)- The earth is not perfect sphere.
Ans- The earth is not a perfect sphere. This is because the difference in
diameter is due to the centrifugal force of earth’s rotation at a great speed
which forms a bulge at the equator and a compression at the poles. Thus,
the earth is said to be an oblate spheroid.
(iii)- Venus is hotter than the mercury.
Ans- Venus is hotter than mercury. This is because the atmosphere
around Venus is mainly composed of carbon dioxide that reduces the rate
of heat escaping into atmosphere.
(iv)- Draw a well labeled diagram to show that the horizon of the earth
is circular in shape
Ans- ( leave 15 lines for diagram)

2. Describe the role of each of the following in making earth a habitable

planet.

(a) Atmosphere – The blanket of air surrounding the earth.

(i) The atmosphere receives heat from the sun by solar
radiation and loses heat by earth’s radiation. In this
way a balance is maintained.
(ii) The atmosphere also prevents lose of heat from the
earth’s surface and helps to keep the earth warm.
(b)Water – A colourless , transparent , odourless liquid that forms the
seas, lake, rivers and is the basic of fluids of living organism.
(i) Distribution of water is responsible for moderating
the climate and surface condition of the earth.
(ii) Water can absorb enormous amount of heat without
causing much change in its temperature. But for the
tremendous amount of water on the earth, for
greater day and night temperature variations would
exist.
(c) Temperature –A measure of warmth or coldness of an object or
substance with reference to some standard value.
 (i) The earth is the third planet from the sun. It has
average temperature of 17°c which is suitable for
life to exist.
(ii) If the average temperature on earth’s surface
changes by only a few degrees, many species would
perish due to the extreme heat or cold.
(d)Carbon cycle – The carbon cycle is the process in which carbon
travels from the atmosphere into organism and the earth and then
back into the atmosphere. Carbon from Co2 taken by green plants
from the environment through photosynthesis is returned to the
environment through respiration, decomposition and through
burning of fuels. This cyclic movement of carbon from organisms to
the atmosphere is known as carbon cycle. The carbon cycle helps in
maintaining carbon balance in nature.
 GEOGRAPHY
Chapter- 2
Geographic grid: Latitude and Longitude
CLASS-9 A/B

Short answer question:

Question1. What is the geographical grid?
Ans- A framework of lines of longitude and latitude on a globe or a map is
called geographical grid.

Question 2. What devised the lines of latitude and longitude?

Ans- The lines of latitude and longitude was devised by the Eratosthenes , the
Greek philosopher.

Question 3. What are lines of longitude and latitude?

Ans- The lines running east to west parallel to the Equator, are called lines of
latitude.
The lines running north to south passing through the poles are called lines of
longitude.

Question 4.Mention two characteristic of lines of longitude?

Ans- The two characteristics of lines are:
(i) A latitude is the angular distance of a place north or south of the
equator.
(ii) Lines of latitude are parallel to the equator and each other.

Question 5.Name the two hemisphere of the earth made by the equator?
Ans - The two hemisphere of the earth made by the equator are:
(i)The Northern hemisphere (ii) The Southern hemisphere

Question 6. Express 1° angular distance in kilometer.

Ans- 1° angular distance in kilometer is 111 km.

Question 7. Name the thermal zones of the earth.

Ans- The torrid or tropical zone, the temperate zones and the frigid zones are
the thermal zones of the earth.
Question 8.With the help of a diagram show the important lines of latitude.
Ans- Please leave the space for diagram
Question 9.Which temperature zone receives almost vertical rays of the sun
and which zones receive slanting rays?
Ans- Temperate zone and Frigid zone receives almost slanting rays of the sun
and Torrid or Tropical zones receive vertical rays.

Question 10.Which lines is known as the prime meridian? State its

importance.
Ans- The prime meridian is the line of longitude whose angular distance is
defined as 0°. It passes through Greenwich near London. It is important to find
local time and standard time of a place and also to locate a place.

Answer the following questions

Question 1.An important program was to be broadcast from Mumbai at
7:30 pm .This was heard by some Indian sailor near Ivory Coast in West
Africa at 20° W Longitude. What was the local time there?
1
Ans- According to the IST 7:30 pm based on 88 2 °E longitude was the time at
Mumbai.
The longitudinal difference between Mumbai and Ivory Coast at 20°W is
82.5 + 20 =102.5.
So, 102.5 X 4= 140minutes =6h 50minutes.

Question 2.What is the longitude of a place where the local time is 1:15
pm ,when it is 4 am at Chicago (88° W)?
Ans- In time difference between two places is 9hr 15 min.
1:16pm – 4am =555min. = 9hr 15min.
So the longitudinal difference will be 555/4 =138.75
So, there longitude of required place is 138.75-88°W =55.75°E that it will
cover 88°W to 0° and 50.75°E from 0° to Greenwich time.
Question3. Calculate the time at Durban (30° E) when the time is 7:00 am at
New York (75° W).
Ans- The longitude difference between Durban and New York is
(30°+75°) = 105°
1° = 4 min.
So, 105°X 4 = 420min. or 7 hr
The time at Durban will be 2:00pm (means 7AM + 7hr = 14hr)
 Question 4.Calculate the longitude of a place where the local time is 6 am ,
when the time is 9 pm at new Delhi on longitude 77° E.
Ans- The time difference between required place and New Delhi is
6:00+9:00=15:00hrs
So it is = 15X60=90 min.
The longitudinal difference = 900/4 = 225°
So the place will be 225°-77°E = 148°W

Question 5 .Calculate the local time at Singapore (104° E) when it is 6:00pm

at Greenwich.
Ans- The longitude difference between Singapore and Greenwich is 104 °.
So the time difference is 104X4 = 416 min
i.e 6hr 56min.
So, the timer at Singapore will be 12:56am.

Question 6.Calculate the location of place where the local time is noon
when it is 7:30 pm at Greenwich.
Ans- The time difference is 12:00-7:30 =4h 30min. or 270min.
Longitudinal difference is = 270/4 = 67.5°E
So, the longitudinal will be 67.5°W

Question 7.What is the time and day at Mumbai (73° E) when it is Sunday
10:30 pm at Shillong (92° E).
Ans- The longitudinal difference is 92°E-73° = 19°
So, the time is 19X 4= 76 min.
i.e 1hr 16min.
So, the time at Mumbai will be 9:14pm
(10:30-1hr16min.)
The day will be Sunday.