Class 6 ncert Chapter 1 Social Science Solution - Locating Places on the Earth

Chapter 01: Location of Places on the Earth

Question: What is a map and how is it used?

Answer: A map is a symbolic representation that shows the location, direction, and distance of a place. With its help, we can find a place and know the route to reach there.

Question: What are the main components of a map?

Answer: There are three main components of a map:

1. Distance: Real distance is shown on the map with the help of a scale.
2. Direction: Direction points such as north, south, east, and west are used.
3. Symbols: Symbols are used to represent buildings, rivers, roads, etc.

Question: What do you understand by scale?

Answer: Scale helps us understand how much distance shown on the map represents in reality. Example: If the scale is 1 cm = 1 kilometer, it means that 1 cm on the map represents 1 kilometer in reality.

Question: What are latitudes and longitudes?

Answer: Latitudes are lines that run from east to west and divide the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Longitudes are lines that run from north to south and divide the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. With the help of these lines, we can locate any place on Earth accurately.

Question: What are coordinates?

Answer: A coordinate system is used to determine the location of a place on a map. Latitude and longitude together form the two coordinates of a place. With their help, any place on Earth can be located.

Question: How do latitudes and longitudes help in determining the location of a place on Earth?

Answer: Latitude shows the distance of a place north or south from the Equator. Longitude shows the position of that place east or west from the Prime Meridian.

Question: State the difference between local time and standard time.

Answer: Local time: The time determined at a specific place based on the position of the sun. Standard time: A uniform time adopted by a country or region, based on a particular longitude line. Example: India follows 82.5° east longitude as its standard time (IST), so the same time runs throughout the country.

Question: What is Indian Standard Time (IST)?

Answer: Indian Standard Time (IST) is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). It is based on 82.5° east longitude, which passes through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. It is used to maintain the same time across India.

Question: What is the International Date Line?

Answer: The International Date Line is located approximately at 180° longitude. When someone crosses this line, the date changes by one day:

• When crossing from east to west, one day is reduced (for example, Monday becomes Sunday).
• When crossing from west to east, the next day is counted (Sunday becomes Monday).

Question: What was the importance of the Ujjayini meridian?

Answer: In ancient India, the meridian passing through Ujjayini (present-day Ujjain) was called the "central line." It was a major center for astronomical calculations, and astronomers like Varahamihira worked here. It formed the basis of the concept of latitude and longitude in Indian astronomy.

Question: Why are time zones necessary?

Answer: The Earth rotates from west to east. Due to this, the time of the sun differs at different longitudes. Time zones organize this difference:

• There is a difference of 1 hour for every 15° longitude.
• Large countries (such as Russia (11), USA (6)) use multiple time zones.

Question: What is the difference between a globe and a map?

Answer:

Globe	Map
Spherical representation of the Earth.	Flat representation of the Earth.
Shape and distance are accurate.	There may be distortion in shape and distance.
Can show day and night by rotating.	It is static.

NCERT Book and Exercise Questions:

Question: Calculate the real distance from the mouth of the Narmada River to the mouth of the Ganga River (Scale: 2.5 cm = 500 km).

Answer:

• Measure the distance on the map (assume 5 cm).
• Scale: 2.5 cm = 500 km → 1 cm = 200 km
• Real distance = 5 cm × 200 km/cm = 1000 km

Question: Why is the sunset time different in Assam (Jorhat) and Porbandar (Gujarat)?

Answer: Because the longitudes of the two cities are different (about 30° difference), the time of the sun also changes. There is a difference of 1 hour for every 15° longitude. Therefore, the sun sets later in Porbandar.

Question: Mark the following statements as true (✓) or false (✗):

• 1. All parallels of latitude are equal in length. ✗ (False). The Equator is the largest parallel, and the length decreases towards the poles.
• 2. The length of a meridian of longitude is half of the Equator. ✗ (False). All meridians are equal in length (from North Pole to South Pole).
• 3. The latitude of the South Pole is 90° S. ✓ (True). The North Pole is at 90° N and the South Pole at 90° S.
• 4. Local time in Assam and IST are the same. ✗ (False). The local time of Assam is about 1 hour ahead of IST because it lies in the eastern longitude.
• 5. Lines separating time zones are similar to meridians of longitude. ✓ (True). Reason: The Earth is divided into 360° longitudes and completes one rotation in 24 hours. Therefore, there is a time difference of 1 hour for every 15° longitude.
• 6. The Equator is also a circle of latitude. ✓ (True). Reason: The Equator is the 0° latitude circle. It divides the Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres equally.

Question: The latitudes of Delhi and Bengaluru are 29°N and 13°N respectively, and their longitude is almost the same at 77°E. What will be the difference in local time between the two cities?

Answer: The longitude of Delhi and Bengaluru is almost the same (77°E), so their local time will be the same. This is because time is determined by longitudes and not by latitudes.

Question: When it is 12 noon in London, it is 5:30 PM in India. Why?

Answer:

• London is located at Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, 0° longitude).
• Indian Standard Time (IST) is based on 82.5° east longitude.
• Longitude difference = 82.5°
• Time difference = 82.5° × 4 minutes = 330 minutes = 5 hours 30 minutes.

Therefore, when it is 12:00 in London, in India it is 12:00 + 5:30 = 5:30 PM.

Question: Why are symbols and colors needed in a map?

Answer:

• Symbols: To represent buildings, rivers, roads, etc. easily (e.g., blue line = river).
• Colors: To differentiate various landforms (e.g., green = plains, blue = water bodies).