Class VI

17 January 2025 10:38

Chapter 1: The Earth in the Solar System

Introduction
1. Celestial Bodies: Objects shining in the night sky (e.g., sun, moon).
2. Constellations: Groups of stars (e.g., Ursa Major - Big Bear, Saptarishi - part of 7 sages).
3. Pole Star: Also known as the North Star, used for navigation.
4. Planets: Reflect light from stars. The term "Planeta" is Greek for "wanderers."
• Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus have rings.
Solar System
The solar system consists of:
• The Sun
• 8 planets
• Satellites
• Dwarf planets
• Asteroids
• Meteoroids
Planet Details:
• Mercury:
○ Revolution: 88 days
○ Rotation: 59 days
○ Distance: 58 million km
○ Moons: 0
• Venus:
○ Revolution: 255 days
○ Rotation: 243 days
○ Distance: 108 million km
○ Moons: 0
• Earth:
○ Revolution: 365 days
○ Rotation: 1 day
○ Distance: 150 million km
○ Moons: 1
• Mars:
○ Revolution: 687 days
○ Rotation: 1 day
○ Distance: 228 million km
○ Moons: 2
• Jupiter:
○ Revolution: 11 years 11 months
○ Rotation: 9 hours 56 minutes
○ Distance: 778 million km
○ Moons: 53 (49 confirmed)
• Saturn:
○ Revolution: 29 years 5 months
○ Rotation: 10 hours 40 minutes
○ Distance: 1427 million km
○ Moons: 53 (46 confirmed)
• Uranus:
Revolution: 84 years
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 ○ Revolution: 84 years
○ Rotation: 17 hours 14 minutes
○ Distance: 2869 million km
○ Moons: 27 (21 confirmed)
• Neptune:
○ Revolution: 164 years
○ Rotation: 16 hours 7 minutes
○ Distance: 4496 million km
○ Moons: 13 (8 confirmed)
The Sun:
• Center of the solar system; composed of huge, hot gases.
• Provides the gravitational pull that binds the solar system together.
• Ultimate source of heat and light.
Planets:
• Move in fixed paths (orbits).
• Venus is often referred to as Earth's twin.
• Until August 2006, Pluto was considered a planet.
• The International Astronomical Union classified Pluto as a dwarf planet.
The Earth:
• 5th largest planet in the solar system.
• Approximately 2/3 of its surface is covered by water.
• Commonly referred to as the "Blue Planet." As of 31/08/2021:
Some planets are made of rocks, while others are composed of liquids and gases.
Uranus and Neptune are known as ice giants, similar to Ceres and 2003 UB313.
Aryabhatta said the moon & planets shine due to reflected light from the sun.
The Moon
• Diameter: 1/4 of Earth
• Distance: 384,400 km from Earth
• Rotation & Revolution: 27 days
• Only one side is visible from Earth
• Neil Armstrong - 20/06/1969
Asteroids
• Tiny bodies that revolve around the sun.
• Located between Mars & Jupiter.
• Part of a planet that exploded (theory).
Meteoroids
• Small pieces of rock that move around the sun.
• Sometimes come near Earth & tend to fall upon it.
• Develop a tail due to the sun.
Galaxy: System of billions of stars, clouds & dust (e.g., Akash Ganga).
Chapter 2: Globe: Latitudes & Longitudes
Introduction:
1. Axis:
Imaginary line through North & South Pole.
2. Equator:
Imaginary line that divides Earth into 2 equal parts: Northern Hemisphere & Southern
Hemisphere.
3. Globe: A true miniature model of Earth.
Latitudes:
Parallel lines to the equator.
Measured in degrees since the distance from equator to either pole is 1/4 of the circumference
of Earth (360 degrees).
Thus, 90° north makes the North Pole & 90° south makes the South Pole.

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 Thus, 90° north makes the North Pole & 90° south makes the South Pole.
Parallels north of the equator are called north latitudes and similarly for the south pole.
Important Latitudes:
○ I) Tropic of Cancer: 23 1/2° N
○ II) Tropic of Capricorn: 23 1/2° S
○ III) Arctic Circle: 66 1/2° N
○ IV) Antarctic Circle: 66 1/2° S
Heat Zones:
1. Torrid Zone: From Tropic of Cancer to Tropic of Capricorn. Receives maximum sunlight; the mid-
day sun is overhead almost once a year at all latitudes.
2. Temperate Zone: From Tropic of Cancer to Arctic Circle & from Tropic of Capricorn to Antarctic
Circle. Moderate temperatures; the sun is never overhead at any latitude.
3. Frigid Zone: Areas like the North Pole & Arctic Circle & South Pole & Antarctic Circle receive less
sunlight.
Longitudes:
• Semicircular lines connecting two poles.
• Longitudes use the Prime Meridian for reference.
• The Prime Meridian is a longitude at the British Royal Observatory in Greenwich; its value is 0°.
• All other longitudes are x° west or east of the Prime Meridian.
Time Zones:
• Earth rotates from west to east, so places east of Greenwich are ahead in time, and vice versa.
Since Earth is 360°, one hour corresponds to 15°. Therefore, a place 30° west of Greenwich will
be 2 hours behind.
Why Standard Time?:
• Big countries fall in different time zones, but some have a standard time.
• Standard time simplifies communication & transportation and ensures the whole country is on
the same page.
• India follows Indian Standard Time (IST), based on 82 1/2° E (Indian Standard Meridian), which is
5 1/2 hours ahead of UTC.
• Russia has 11 time zones.
• Earth has 24 time zones.
Chapter 3: Motions of Earth
Rotation:
• Movement of Earth on its axis.
• The axis of Earth makes an angle of 66 1/2° with the orbital plane.
• The circle divides night & day - the circle of illumination.
• Period of rotation: Earth day - 24 hrs.
Revolution:
• Motion of Earth around the sun in its elliptical orbit.
• Takes 365 days & 6 hours.
• Every four years, the extra six hours accumulate to form a leap year - 366 days.
• 21st June: Longest days; sunlight on Tropic of Cancer - summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Conditions are opposite in the Southern Hemisphere, with longest nights, etc.
• Places beyond the Arctic Circle receive sunlight for 6 months - summer solstice.
• 22nd December: The Tropic of Capricorn receives direct light; all other conditions are reversed.
• 21 March & 23 September: Light on the equator, neither pole is towards the sun, resulting in
equal day & night.
Seasons:
• Spring Equinox: 21 March
• Summer Solstice: 21 June
• Autumn Equinox: 23 September
• Winter Solstice: 22 December
Sun's position changes with seasons:

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Sun's position changes with seasons:

Chapter 4: Maps
Introduction:
Map is a representation or drawing of earth's surface or a part of it on a flat surface
Types of Maps:
1. Physical maps: Map showing natural features like mountains, plains, rivers etc
2. Political maps: Maps showing cities, towns, states, countries with their boundaries
3. Thematic maps: Maps showing specific info e.g road, rainfall, forest etc
Components of Maps:
(i) Distance: Scale is ratio b/w actual distance & distance shown on map b/w 2 points
• when 5cm corresponds to 500K (e.g) - small scale map used for countries etc
• when 5cm corresponds to 500m (e.g) - large scale map, used for cities etc, give more info
(ii) Direction: maps have a N written on upper right hand corner called North line show direction
4 Major directions are NEWS aka cardinal points, other 4 intermediate directions are ......

(iii) Symbols: give a lot of info in a limited space. some conventional symbols are

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Sketch:
drawing based on memory & spot observation & not to scale & used for a rough position of a
particular place with respect to other
Plan:
drawing of a small area on a large scale when large scale map is not enough plan is used for rooms,
buildings etc

Chapter 5: Major Domains of Earth

Lithosphere:
The solid portions of earth comprising of earth's crust & the thin layers of soil that contain nutrients
• large landmasses called continents & huge water bodies called oceans are two divisions of it
• highest mount Peak - Mt. Everest 8,848 meters from sea level
Continents: large landmasses there are 7 of them
1. Asia: largest covers 1/3 of total land, lies in eastern hemisphere Tropic of cancer passes through
it, is separated from Ural mountains . Europe + Asia = Eurasia
2. Europe: lies to west of Asia bound by water on 3 sides arctic circle passes through it
3. Africa: 2nd largest, equator runs almost middle the continent. T of cancer, equator T of
Capricorn all pass only through it. longest river - Nile largest hot desert in it - Sahara
4. North America: 3rd largest lies in northern & western hemisphere, linked to south america by
small strip of land - isthmus of Panama
5. South America: mostly in southern hemi, largest mountain range - Andes is here, largest river
here - amazon
6. Australia: smallest continent, lies in southern hemi is an island continent
7. Antarctica: south pole at centre, Indian research Bharti & Maitri here ( Research centres)
Hydrosphere:
• 71% covered by water
• 97% of which is in oceans (salty)
• Rest is in icesheets, glaciers, ponds etc
Oceans: large water masses, all are interconnected waves, tides & currents 3 major movements
1. Pacific Ocean: largest, 1/3 of earth, Marianna trench, circular in shape, surrounded by asia,
australia north & south america
2. Atlantic Ocean: S shaped flanked by north & south americas on west & europe & africa on east
busiest ocean economically
3. Indian Ocean: only ocean named after country, triangular, asia in north, africa in west &
australia in east
4. Southern ocean: encircles Antartica & extends to 60° southern latitude i.e 60°S
Atmosphere:
• thin blanket of air extending upto 1600 Km.
• Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere
• N2 (70%), O2 (21%), CO2, argon etc

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 • N2 (70%), O2 (21%), CO2, argon etc
• CO2 keeps planet warm
• Temp decreases as we go up
• Moving air is wind - due to pressure difference
Biosphere:
• Narrow zone of contact b/w 3 zones where life is found, the 3 domains interact with each other
Chapter 6: Our Country - India
• area of 3.28 million sq. km 1 - 3200 Km c - 2900 Km
Location:
• Tropic of cancer (23°30'N) passes almost through India
• From south to north - 8°4'N to 37°6'N latitudes
• From west to east - 68°7'E to 97°25'E longitudes
Neighbours & Divisions:
• 7 neighbours of India: Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar/Burma,
Bangladesh
• maritime neighbours - Sri Lanka & Maldives
• India is divided into 28 states & 9 UTs mainly based on language
Physical Divisions:
1. Himalayas: means adobe of snow (Him + alaya) 3 main ranges (1) Northernmost, greater
Himalayas, Himadri....
2. Northern Plains: lie to south of Himalayas, level & flat alluvial deposits laid down by Ganga,
Brahmaputra & their tributaries. Land is fertile => high population
3. Peninsular Plateau: south of Northern Plains, triangular in shape, is uneven, with many hill
ranges. Aravali hills (one of oldest mountain ranges in world) border it in north west side.
Vindhyas & Satpuras are imp ranges. Narmada & Tapi flow through these ranges into Arabian
sea.western Ghats & Eastern Ghats border the Plateau in west & east. western ghat is
continuous while as eastern ghat is uneven & broken. The Plateau is rich in minerals like coal &
iron ore
4. Coastal plains: to east of eastern Ghats & west of western Ghats lie coastal plains. The eastern
coastal plains are much broader. Rivers Mahanadi, Godavari & Krishna flow into Bay of Bengal.
rivers have formed fertile Deltas at their mouth. The Sundarban delta is formed where Ganga &
Brahmaputra flow into Bay of Bengal
5. Islands: Lakshadweep Islands: in Arabian sea, coral islands located off the coast of Kerala.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands lie to southeast of Indian mainland of Bay of Bengal.

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