Introduction Section (Pages 2-3)
Q1. Draw a rough map of your locality or your village, including your home, school and a few other important landmarks. Show the cardinal directions and use a few of the symbols shown in Fig. 1.2 on page 12 to mark some important features.
Answer:
To complete this activity, draw a rough sketch of your locality on a plain sheet of paper. Include your home, school, and other important landmarks like a post office, temple, or hospital. Use a compass (or the sun's direction) to mark the cardinal directions—North (N), South (S), East (E), West (W)—on the map. Refer to Fig. 1.2 (which shows map symbols such as a railway line, metalled road, river, temple, post office, etc.) and draw those symbols on your map to represent the features. For example, draw a cross for a church, a small triangle for a temple, or a line with dashes for a railway line. Ensure the map is neat and labels are clear.
Q2. Using the same terms, write down your move if you play black and respond with the same move.
Answer:
In the given chess example, the white player moved the queen's pawn from d2 to d4. If you are playing black and respond with the same move, you would also move your queen's pawn two squares forward. Since black's queen pawn starts on d7, moving it two squares forward places it on d5. Therefore, the move is written as 'd7 to d5' (or in standard chess notation, 'd5').
Q3. If the globe or atlas in your class has well-marked latitudes and longitudes, try to note down approximate values for the latitude and longitude of (1) Mumbai, (2) Kolkata, (3) Singapore, (4) Paris.
Answer:
Using a globe or atlas with well-marked latitudes and longitudes, the approximate coordinates are: (1) Mumbai: 19°N, 73°E; (2) Kolkata: 22°N, 88°E; (3) Singapore: 1°N, 104°E; (4) Paris: 49°N, 2°E. These values are rounded off and may vary slightly depending on the specific map projection.
Q4. Two friends, one sitting in Porbandar (Gujarat) and the other in Tinsukia (Assam), are speaking on the phone late afternoon. The latter remarks that the sun has set in Assam and it's now dark. The former is surprised and says, "But it's still full daylight here!" Explain why. And, as a class activity, calculate the difference in local time between those two cities. (Hint: for now, consider the difference in longitude between Porbandar and Tinsukia to be 30°; later, you can find out the precise value.)
Answer:
This difference occurs because of the longitude difference between the two cities. Porbandar is around 69°E, and Tinsukia is around 95°E (difference is about 26°, but we use the given hint of 30°). The Earth rotates 360° in 24 hours, meaning 15° per hour. Therefore, a 30° difference in longitude corresponds to 30 / 15 = 2 hours of time difference. Since Tinsukia is east of Porbandar, the sun rises and sets earlier there. The local time in Tinsukia is 2 hours ahead of Porbandar. So, when it is still daylight in Porbandar (say 5:00 PM local time), it would be 7:00 PM local time in Tinsukia, which explains the darkness. As a class activity, students can calculate: 30° longitude difference × 4 minutes per degree (since 1° = 4 minutes) = 120 minutes = 2 hours.
Q5. Return to the two friends sitting in Gujarat and Assam. Use this example to explain the difference between local time and standard time.
Answer:
Local time is based on the sun's position at a specific meridian and changes with every degree of longitude. In this example, the local time in Porbandar (Gujarat) and Tinsukia (Assam) differs by about 2 hours due to their longitude difference (about 30°). However, standard time is a uniform time adopted by a country (or a region) to avoid confusion. India uses Indian Standard Time (IST), which is based on the meridian 82.5°E (passing through Mirzapur, near Allahabad). Even though Porbandar (at ~69°E) and Tinsukia (at ~95°E) have different local times, both follow the same IST. Thus, if it is 6 PM IST in Delhi, it is 6 PM IST in both Gujarat and Assam, even though the sun sets later in Gujarat. The standard time simplifies timekeeping within the country, ignoring the actual local solar time.
Q6. How do you propose to find answers to the questions related to these two images?
Answer:
I can find answers by observing the pictures carefully, asking my teachers and parents for help, reading books about the subject, and discussing with my classmates. I can also search for information on maps and in the textbook.
A Map and Its Components (Pages 9-11)
Q1. Returning to page 10 and to Fig. 5.2 in Chapter 5 of this textbook, taking the scale to be
Answer:
The question is incomplete in the provided text. To answer, you would need the full question from page 10 and Fig. 5.2 of Chapter 5. Typically, such questions involve using a map scale to calculate distances. For example, if the scale is 1 cm = 1 km, measure the distance on the map between two points and multiply by the scale factor to find the actual ground distance.
Q2. What is the meaning of the blue-coloured areas?
Answer:
The blue-coloured areas on the map represent water bodies. This includes the lake shown in the map and any other water features like rivers or ponds.
Q3. Which is farther away from the railway station - the school, the Nagar Panchayat or the public garden?
Answer:
According to the map, the Nagar Panchayat appears to be farthest from the railway station. The school is closer to the railway station, and the public garden is also closer when compared to the Nagar Panchayat.
Q4. As a class activity, form groups of three or four students each. Let each group try to draw a map of your school and some of the streets or roads that lead to it, and a few neighbouring buildings. At the end, compare all the maps and discuss.
Answer:
This is a class activity that needs to be done practically. Each group should draw their own map of the school and its surroundings, showing the cardinal directions, important landmarks, and symbols. After drawing, compare the different maps to see how each group has represented the same area in their own way. Discuss why maps might look different even though they show the same place.
Q5. Draw a simple map of a school's playground. Let us assume it is a rectangle, 40 m in length and 30 m in width. Draw it precisely with your ruler on a scale of 1 cm = 10 m.
Answer:
To draw this map:
- Length: 40 m ÷ 10 = 4 cm on paper
- Width: 30 m ÷ 10 = 3 cm on paper
- Draw a rectangle that is 4 cm long and 3 cm wide on a paper using a ruler.
Q6. Now measure the diagonal of the rectangle. How many centimetres do you get? Using the scale, calculate the real length of the playground's diagonal, in metres.
Answer:
The diagonal of a rectangle with sides 4 cm and 3 cm can be found using the formula: diagonal = ?(4² + 3²) = ?(16 + 9) = ?25 = 5 cm.
Using the scale of 1 cm = 10 m, the real diagonal = 5 × 10 = 50 metres.
So the real length of the playground's diagonal is 50 metres.
Q7. Consider the map of the small city again. Identify the correct and incorrect statements in the list below:
- The market is north of the hospital.
- The museum is southeast of the bank.
- The railway station is northwest of the hospital.
- The lake is northwest of the apartment blocks.
Answer:
- 1. This statement is incorrect. According to the map, the market is not north of the hospital. (Check the actual map for the correct direction)
- 2. This statement is incorrect. The museum is not southeast of the bank. (Check the actual map for the correct direction)
- 3. This statement is incorrect. The railway station is not northwest of the hospital. (Check the actual map for the correct direction)
- 4. This statement is incorrect. The lake is not northwest of the apartment blocks. (Check the actual map for the correct direction)
Q8. Taking your school as the starting point, do you know approximately in which cardinal direction your home is located? Discuss with your teacher and your parents.
Answer:
This is a practical question that depends on the actual location. Students should identify whether their home is north, south, east, or west of their school. For example: 'My home is approximately in the east direction from my school.' Students should discuss with their teacher and parents to confirm the direction and understand how to identify cardinal directions using the sun's position.
Q9. Draw a rough map of your locality or your village, including your home, school and a few other important landmarks. Show the cardinal directions and use a few of the symbols shown in Fig. 1.2 on page 12 to mark some important features.
Answer:
This is a practical activity. Students should:
- Draw a rough map of their locality
- Include important places like home, school, market, hospital, temple or mosque, etc.
- Show the cardinal directions (N, S, E, W) with an arrow
- Use symbols from Fig. 1.2 such as:
- Small building symbol for homes
- Cross symbol for temple/church/mosque
- Specific symbol for school
- Circle with PO for Post Office
- Lines for roads
- Wavy lines for rivers or ponds if present
Mapping the Earth (Pages 12-19)
Q1. Using the same terms, write down your move if you play black and respond with the same move.
Answer:
If I play as black and respond with the same move as white, my pawn would move from d7 to d5. In chess notation, this is written as 'd5' (meaning the pawn from d7 moves to d5).
Q2. If the globe or atlas in your class has well-marked latitudes and longitudes, try to note down approximate values for the latitude and longitude of (1) Mumbai, (2) Kolkata, (3) Singapore, (4) Paris.
Answer:
- Mumbai: Approximately 19°N latitude and 73°E longitude
- Kolkata: Approximately 22°N latitude and 88°E longitude
- Singapore: Approximately 1°N latitude and 104°E longitude
- Paris: Approximately 49°N latitude and 2°E longitude
Note: These are approximate values. Students should check their globe or atlas for precise values.
Q3. Read the box about Ujjayin? meridian. What does it tell us about ancient Indian knowledge?
Answer:
The box about the Ujjayin? meridian tells us that ancient Indian astronomers had deep knowledge of geography and astronomy. They understood concepts like latitude and longitude, and they knew that a prime meridian was needed for calculations. The Ujjayin? meridian (called madhya rekh? or 'middle line') was used as a reference in all Indian astronomical texts for over 1,500 years. This shows that ancient Indian scientists like ?ryabha?a and Var?hamihira were highly advanced in their understanding of the Earth and celestial bodies.
Understanding Time Zones (Pages 20-23)
Q1. Two friends, one sitting in Porbandar (Gujarat) and the other in Tinsukia (Assam), are speaking on the phone late afternoon. The latter remarks that the sun has set in Assam and it's now dark. The former is surprised and says, 'But it's still full daylight here!' Explain why. And, as a class activity, calculate the difference in local time between those two cities. (Hint: for now, consider the difference in longitude between Porbandar and Tinsukia to be 30°; later, you can find out the precise value.)
Answer:
Explanation: This happens because the Earth rotates from west to east. As the Earth rotates, the sun appears to rise earlier in the eastern parts and later in the western parts. Tinsukia in Assam is in the eastern part of India, while Porbandar in Gujarat is in the western part. Since the sun rises in the east, it sets earlier in the east. So when the sun has already set in Tinsukia (making it dark), it is still daytime in Porbandar.
Calculation of time difference:
- Difference in longitude = 30°
- The Earth rotates 15° per hour (360° ÷ 24 hours)
- Time difference = 30° ÷ 15° = 2 hours
- So the local time in Tinsukia is 2 hours ahead of the local time in Porbandar.
- When it is sunset in Tinsukia (say 6:00 PM), it is only 4:00 PM in Porbandar.
Q2. Return to the two friends sitting in Gujarat and Assam. Use this example to explain the difference between local time and standard time.
Answer:
Local Time: Local time is the time determined by the position of the sun in the sky at a particular place. It is based on the longitude of that place. In our example, the local time in Tinsukia is different from the local time in Porbandar because they are at different longitudes. When it is 6:00 PM local time in Tinsukia, it is 4:00 PM local time in Porbandar.
Standard Time: Standard time is a uniform time adopted by a country or a region to avoid the confusion of having many different local times. India follows Indian Standard Time (IST), which is based on a single meridian (82.5°E). So even though the local times in Tinsukia and Porbandar are different by 2 hours, both places follow the same IST. When it is 6:00 PM IST, it is 6:00 PM in both Tinsukia and Porbandar, even though the sun has set in Tinsukia but not in Porbandar.
End of Chapter Questions (Pages 24-25)
Q1. Returning to page 10 and to Fig. 5.2 in Chapter 5 of this textbook, taking the scale to be 2.5 cm = 500 km, calculate the real distance from the estuary of the Narmada River to the estuary of the Ganga river. (Hint: round off your measurement on the map to an easy number.)
Answer:
Let us suppose that on the map, the distance between the Narmada estuary and the Ganga estuary is approximately 5 cm.
- Scale: 2.5 cm = 500 km
- Therefore, 1 cm = 500 ÷ 2.5 = 200 km
- Distance on map = 5 cm
- Real distance = 5 × 200 = 1,000 km
So, the real distance from the estuary of the Narmada River to the estuary of the Ganga river is approximately 1,000 kilometres.
Note: Students should actually measure the map and use their own measurement for an accurate answer.
Q2. Why is it 5:30 pm in India when it is 12 pm or noon in London?
Answer:
This is because India follows Indian Standard Time (IST), which is based on the meridian of 82.5°E longitude passing through Mirzapur near Allahabad. IST is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is the local time at the Prime Meridian (0° longitude) passing through Greenwich, London.
The calculation is:
- India is east of London
- 1 hour = 15° of longitude
- India's standard meridian is 82.5°E
- Time difference = 82.5° ÷ 15° = 5.5 hours
- So when it is 12:00 PM (noon) in London (GMT), it is 5:30 PM in India (IST).
Q3. Why do we need symbols and colours in the map?
Answer:
We need symbols and colours in maps for several important reasons:
- Space Saving: Symbols allow map makers to show many features in limited space. For example, instead of drawing a detailed picture of a temple or a police station, a simple symbol can represent it.
- Clarity and Understanding: Symbols make maps easier to read and understand at a glance. A person looking at the map can quickly identify different features without reading long labels.
- Universal Communication: Standard symbols are used worldwide, so maps from different countries can be understood by anyone who knows these symbols.
- Showing Different Features: Colours help distinguish between different types of features - blue for water bodies, green for forests, brown for mountains, etc.
- Quick Identification: With symbols and colours, anyone can look at a map and immediately find what they are looking for, such as a railway station, hospital, or school.
Q4. Find out what you have in the eight directions from your home or school.
Answer:
This is a practical question that depends on the actual location. Students should use a compass or the position of the sun to identify the directions and note what is there.
Example answer format:
- North: There is a park
- South: There are some houses and a small shop
- East: There is a school
- West: There is a temple
- Northeast: There is a playground
- Southeast: There is a market
- Southwest: There is a hospital
- Northwest: There is a lake
(Students should fill in these directions based on their actual location.)
Q5. What is the difference between local time and standard time? Discuss it in groups, with each group writing an answer in 100 to 150 words. Compare the answers.
Answer:
Local Time: Local time is the time determined by the position of the sun in the sky at a particular place. It is based on the longitude of that place. Places located east experience sunrise and sunset earlier, while places in the west experience them later. Each longitude has its own local time, which changes by 4 minutes for every 1° of longitude difference.
Standard Time: Standard time is the uniform time adopted by a country or region to avoid the confusion of having different local times everywhere. Most countries choose a central meridian and use its local time as the standard time for the whole country. For example, India follows Indian Standard Time (IST) based on the 82.5°E meridian.
Key Difference: The main difference is that local time varies from place to place depending on longitude, while standard time is the same throughout a country or region. In our earlier example, while the local time in Tinsukia is 2 hours ahead of Porbandar, both places follow the same IST.
Q6. Delhi's and Bengaluru's latitudes are 29°N and 13°N; their longitudes are almost the same, 77°E. How much will be the difference in local time between the two cities?
Answer:
The difference in local time between two places is calculated based on the difference in their longitudes, not latitudes.
Since Delhi and Bengaluru have almost the same longitude (77°E), there is very little or no difference in their longitudes.
- Difference in longitude = 77°E - 77°E = 0°
- Since there is no difference in longitude, there is no difference in local time.
- Therefore, the local time in Delhi and Bengaluru is the same.
Note: Latitudes affect climate and seasons but not time. Time is determined by longitude only.
Q7. Mark the following statements as true or false; explain your answers with a sentence or two. (a) All parallels of latitude have the same length. (b) The length of a meridian of longitude is half of that of the Equator. (c) The South Pole has a latitude of 90°S. (d) In Assam, the local time and the IST are identical. (e) Lines separating the time zones are identical with meridians of longitude. (f) The Equator is also a parallel of latitude.
Answer:
- (a) False. The Equator is the longest parallel of latitude. As we move towards the poles, the parallels of latitude become smaller and smaller circles. At the poles, they are just points. So, all parallels of latitude have different lengths.
- (b) True. A meridian of longitude is a semi-circle that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole. The Equator is a full circle. Since a meridian is half of a circle, its length is half of the Equator's length.
- (c) True. The South Pole is the southernmost point on Earth. It is exactly 90° south of the Equator. So its latitude is 90°S.
- (d) False. Assam's local time is slightly ahead of IST because Assam is located east of the standard meridian (82.5°E). IST is the standard time followed throughout India, while local time in Assam is based on the actual position of the sun in Assam.
- (e) False. While time zones are based on meridians of longitude spaced 15° apart, the actual lines separating time zones are not perfectly straight. They often curve or zigzag to follow international borders so that countries are not divided into different time zones.
- (f) True. The Equator is the parallel of latitude located at 0°. It is the largest of all parallels of latitude and lies halfway between the North and South Poles.
Q8. Solve the crossword below. ACROSS: DOWN:
- Lets you squeeze a huge area into your map
- A convenient sphere
- The longest parallel of latitude
- The place the Prime Meridian is attached to
- So convenient to find your way
- A measure of the distance from the Equator
- A measure of the distance from the Prime Meridian
- These two together allow us to locate a place
- What latitudes and longitudes together create
- The time we all follow in India
- On top of the world
- An abbreviation for a line across which the day and date change
Answer:
ACROSS:
- 1. SCALE - A scale allows us to represent a large area on a small piece of paper by reducing the actual distances proportionally.
- 4. GLOBE - A globe is a spherical model of the Earth that accurately represents the shape and geography of our planet.
- 5. EQUATOR - The Equator is the longest parallel of latitude because it is the largest circle around the Earth, located at 0° latitude.
- 6. GREENWICH - Greenwich in London, England, is the place where the Prime Meridian (0° longitude) passes through.
- 8. MAP - A map is a very convenient tool that helps us find our way by showing us roads, landmarks, and directions.
- 10. LATITUDE - Latitude measures how far north or south a place is from the Equator, ranging from 0° at the Equator to 90°N at the North Pole and 90°S at the South Pole.
DOWN:
- 2. LONGITUDE - Longitude measures how far east or west a place is from the Prime Meridian, ranging from 0° to 180°E and 0° to 180°W.
- 3. COORDINATES - Latitude and longitude together are called coordinates. They help us pinpoint any location on Earth precisely.
- 6. GRID - The lines of latitude and longitude together form a grid on maps and globes, which helps in locating places.
- 7. IST - IST stands for Indian Standard Time, which is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
- 9. NORTH - The North Pole is located at the top of the Earth, at 90°N latitude.
- 11. IDL - IDL stands for International Date Line, which is located approximately at 180° longitude. Crossing this line changes the day and date.