Chapter 1 Locating Places on the Earth Class 6 Social Science Exploring Society: India and Beyond NCERT Solutions
Chapter 1 India and the World: Land and the People NCERT Solutions Class 6 Social Science
Page No. 7
1. What is a map and how do we use it? What are its main components?
Answer
A map is a representation or drawing of an area, showing physical and/or political features. It is used to navigate and understand spatial relationships between different locations. It is also used to represent details of areas and features of the Earth.
The main components of a map are:
- distance,
- direction,
- symbols
2. What are coordinates? How can latitude and longitude be used to mark any location on the Earth?
Answer
Coordinates are a set of values that define a specific point on a map. Latitude and longitude are used to mark any location on the Earth by providing a unique set of numerical values that describe its position relative to the Equator (latitude) and the Prime Meridian (longitude).
- Latitude measures how far north or south a place is from the Equator.
- Longitude measures how far east or west a place is from the Prime Meridian.
- By using both latitude and longitude together, we can pinpoint any exact location on Earth.
3. How are local time and standard time related to longitude?
Answer
Local time and standard time are related to longitude because the Earth is divided into time zones based on lines of longitude.
- Local Time: This is determined by the position of the sun in the sky, which changes with longitude because the Earth rotates, and different places see the sun at different times.
- Standard Time: This is a uniform time used across a large area, like a country or region, to make it easier to coordinate activities. Each time zone has a standard time, which is usually set to match the local time at a central point within that zone.
As you move east or west, the local time changes by 1 hour for every 15 degrees of longitude, because the Earth rotates 15 degrees each hour.
Page No. 7
Let us Explore
→ On the map in Fig. 1.1 given on page 8 -
1. Mark the hospital.
2. What is the meaning of the blue-coloured areas?
3. Which is farther away from the railway station — the school, the Nagar Panchayat or the public garden?
Answer
1. The hospital is at the middle of the map. You can do it yourself.
2. The blue-coloured areas on the map represents water bodies.
3. The public garden is farthest from the railway station.
→ 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
You can do it yourself.
Page No. 10
Let us Explore
→ 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
As, 1 cm = 10 m
Hence, length should be: 40 m = 4 cm on the map
width should be: 30 m = 3 cm on the map
→ 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 the rectangle is 5 cm.
So, if 1 cm as per scale equals 10 metres,
Then, 5 cm × 10 metres = 50 metres
The real length of the playground’s diagonal is 50 metres.
Page No. 11
Let us Explore
→ Consider the map of the small city again. Identify the correct and incorrect statements in the list below:
1. The market is north of the hospital.
2. The museum is southeast of the bank.
3. The railway station is northwest of the hospital.
4. The lake is northwest of the apartment blocks.
Answer
1. False
2. True
3. True
4. False
→ 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
You can do this yourself.
→ 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
You can do this yourself.
Page No. 13
Let us Explore
→ Using the same terms, write down your move if you play black and respond with the same move.
Answer
The black side has just opened the game by moving the queen’s pawn two squares forward. The pawn has moved from, d7 to d5.
Page No. 17
Le us Explore
→ 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
(1) Mumbai, India
- Latitude: 19.0760° N
- Longitude: 72.8777° E
(2) Kolkata, India
- Latitude: 22.5726° N
- Longitude: 88.3639° E
(3) Singapore
- Latitude: 1.3521° N
- Longitude: 103.8198° E
(4) Paris, France
- Latitude: 48.8566° N
- Longitude: 2.3522° E
Page No. 21
Let us Explore
→ 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
The difference in local time between Porbandar (Gujarat) and Tinsukia (Assam) is due to their different longitudes. As the Earth rotates from west to east, different locations experience sunrise and sunset at different times. When it is evening in one place, it can still be daytime in another location further west.
Since Tinsukia is east of Porbandar, the sun will set earlier in Tinsukia than in Porbandar. This is why Tinsukia is already dark while Porbandar still has daylight.
Calculation:
Difference in Longitude: The given difference in longitude between Porbandar and Tinsukia is 30°.
Time difference Calculation: The Earth rotates 360° in 24 hours, so it rotates 15° per hour (360° ÷ 24 hours). The time difference can be calculated by dividing the longitude difference by 15° per hour.
Time Difference = 15° per hour ÷ 30° = 2 hours
So, the local time in Porbandar is 2 hours ahead of the local time in Tinsukia. When it’s dark in Tinsukia, it’s still daylight in Porbandar.
→ Return to the two friends sitting in Gujarat and Assam. Use this example to explain the difference between local time and standard time.
Answer
The difference between local time and standard time are as follows:
Local time is the time based on the position of the
sun in a specific location. It changes with longitude because the Earth rotates 15° every hour, causing sunrise and sunset to occur at different times in different places.
Example with Porbandar and Tinsukia:
Longitude difference: 30°
Time difference: 2 hours (since 30° ÷ 15° per hour = 2 hours)
If it’s 6:00 PM in Tinsukia, it will be 8:00 PM in Porbandar due to the 2 hour time difference.
Standard time is a uniform time used across a larger region or country to make timekeeping consistent. Time zones are used to establish standard times that do not change with every degree of longitude within the zone.
Time Zones and Standard Time:
Porbandar and Tinsukia might be in different time zones, with Porbandar possibly following a standard time that is 2 hours ahead of Tinsukia’s time.
Standard time zones help avoid the confusion of local time differences by providing a consistent reference across large areas.
Page No. 24
Questions, activities and projects
1. 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
To calculate the real distance from the estuary of the Narmada River to the estuary of the Ganga River using the given scale (2.5 cm = 500 km), we need to follow these steps:
Use a ruler to measure the distance between the two points (Narmada River estuary and Ganga River estuary) on the map. Suppose the distance measures approximately 12 cm .
Given that 2.5 cm on the map represents 500 km in reality, you can set up a proportion to find the actual distance.
Distance on map (cm)= Real distance (km)
2.5 cm = 500 km
12 cm = x km
∴ x = (12 × 500 km)/2.5
⇒ x = 6000 km/2.5
⇒ x = 2400 km
Therefore, the real distance from the estuary of the Narmada River to the estuary of the Ganga River is approximately 2400 km.
2. Why is it 5:30 pm in India when it is 12 pm or noon in London?
Answer
India is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of London time. When it is 12 pm (noon) in London (Greenwich Mean Time), it is 5:30 pm Indian Standard Time (IST).
- London is located at 0° longitude, (the Prime meridian).
- In India 82%°E longitude is standard meridian and time on this meridian is standard time in India (1ST).
- Time in India is ahead of London. Time difference is 4 minutes for every 1° of longitude towards east.
- Hence in India – 82 ½° ÷ 4 minutes = 330 minutes
i.e. 330 ÷ 60 = 5 hours 30 minutes.
3. Why do we need symbols and colours in the map?
Answer
We use symbo/s and colours in the map due to following reasons:
- It is not possible to draw, on a map, the actual shape and size of different features such as buildings, roads, bridges, trees, railway lines or a well. So, they are shown by using certain letters, shades, colours, pictures and lines. These symbols give a lot of information in a limited space.
- Colours play an essential role in a map as they help to distinguish and identify different features, such as landforms, bodies of water, and political boundaries. For example, blue colour is used to depict water bodies, green is used to indicate forests or vegetation, and brown is used to show mountainous areas, etc.
4. Find out what you have in the eight directions from your home or school.
Answer
From my home:
- North: There is a large public park known for its walking trails and playground.
- Northeast: A small grocery store that is convenient for quick shopping trips.
- East: The main road that leads to the city center, lined with various shops and cafes.
- Southeast: A local library where I often go to study and borrow books.
- South: A community health center providing medical services to the neighborhood.
- Southwest: A primary school with a large playground and sports facilities.
- West: A residential area with houses and apartment buildings.
- Northwest: A bus stop that provides transportation to different parts of the city.
From my school:
- North: The school’s administrative building and the principal's office.
- Northeast: The science block, which includes laboratories and classrooms for physics, chemistry, and biology.
- East: The main entrance of the school and the parking area for students and staff.
- Southeast: The school cafeteria where students have their meals and snacks.
- South: The playground and sports field where various sports activities and physical education classes are held.
- Southwest: The school’s auditorium used for assemblies, performances, and events.
- West: A small garden maintained by the school’s gardening club, featuring a variety of plants and flowers.
- Northwest: The library and study hall where students can read, study, and do their homework.
This activity helps in understanding the geographical layout and significant landmarks around my home and school.
5. 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 refers to the time based on the position of the sun in the sky at a specific location, which varies with longitude.
Standard time is a uniform time adopted by a region or country, often based on the local time of a specific meridian within that region. Standard time helps in coordinating activities and schedules within a large area, avoiding confusion that would arise from having multiple local times.
6. 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
Delhi and Bengaluru have nearly the same longitude, so the difference in local time is based on their latitude.
Latitude difference: 29° N (Delhi) - 13° N (Bengaluru) = 16°
Time difference: Each degree of latitude difference equals 4 minutes of time.
16 degree × 4 minutes = 64 minutes
So, Delhi and Bengaluru have a local time difference of about 64 minutes.
7. Mark the following statements as true or false; explain your answers with a sentence or two.
→ All parallels of latitude have the same length.
→ The length of a meridian of longitude is half of that of the Equator.
→ The South Pole has a latitude of 90°S.
→ In Assam, the local time and the IST are identical.
→ Lines separating the time zones are identical with meridians of longitude.
→ The Equator is also a parallel of latitude.
Answer
- False. Parallels of latitude decrease in length as they move away from the Equator towards the poles.
- True. Meridians of longitude are half the length of the Equator because they run from pole to pole.
- True. The South Pole is at 90°S latitude.
- False. Assam's local time is slightly ahead of IST due to its eastern position, but IST is used uniformly across India.
- False. Time zone lines often deviate from meridians to follow political and administrative boundaries.
- True. The Equator is the zero-degree parallel of latitude.
Solve the crossword below.
Across
1. Lets you squeeze a huge area into your map
4. A convenient sphere
5. The longest parallel of latitude
6. The place the Prime Meridian is attached to
8. So convenient to find your way
10. A measure of the distance from the Equator
Down
2. A measure of the distance from the Prime Meridian
3. These two together allow us to locate a place
6. What latitudes and longitudes together create
7. The time we all follow in India
9. These two are poles apart
11. An abbreviation for a line across which the day and date change
Answer
Across:
1. Scale
4. Globe
5. Equator
6. Greenwich
8. Map
10. Latitude
Down:
2. Longitude
3. Coordinates
6. Grid
7. IST
9. Poles
11. IDL