‘Rotation and Revolution: Rotation - direction, ispeed and its effects (occurrence of day an “hight, the sun rising in the east and setting in west, Coriolis effect) olution of the earth and its inclined axis effects: the variation in the length of the and night and seasonal changes with " Bquinoxes and Solstices. ‘The earth, like all other planets in the Solar System revolves round the sun in an elliptical orbit and it also rotates on its axis. These two motions of the earth are known as revolution and rotation, respectively. Many phenomena on earth like day and night, seasons, winds and ocean currents depend on these motions. ROTATION OF THE EARTH Rotation is the spinning of the earth on its axis from west to east once in 24 hours. The axis is the imaginary line passing through the centre of the earth as it does on the globe. The two end points through which the axis passes are known as the North Pole and the South Pole The axis is tilted at an angle of 23°A° from the vertical. This means that if a line were drax parallel to the plane of the earth's orbit, che axis would make an angle of 661A° to thie ling as shown in Fig, 3.1. LL Characteristics of Rotation 1. Direction: The earth com, ipletes ic rs, 26 56 minutes, 4.09 seconds (roughly in hours). Inclination of Axis: The earth is alw tilted in the same direction (towards the Star) as it moves round the sun. The ai at which the earth is tilted is known as inclination of the earth’s axis. Speed: The speed of earth’s rotation at Equator is 1670 km per hour (circumfe of the earth is 40,075 km, which is in 24 hours). The speed decreases tow. the poles. Effects of the Rotation of the Earth 1. Occurrence of Day and Night are caus by the rotation of the earth on its axis. Fig. 3.1. Inclination of the earth's axis Total Geography — 9 & scanned with OKEN Scannerecauuse parts of the earth which face the sun have day and the parts which do not face sun have night. This happens with jon and progression and not suddenly. time when the sun begins to cast its light in the sky is known as dawn, At noon, the an is overhead. At dusk, it is twilight and sun is seen disappearing in the sky. At ght, it is completely dark. Duration of the and night is not equal at all places on earth because of the inclined axis, The of days varies with respect to the seasons as well as latitude. rise and Sunset are caused by the otation of the earth from west to east, This appens because due to the earth’s rotation, yery part of the earth’s surface faces the ‘sun at some time or the other. The part of ¢ earth that moves from darkness into sun’s rays, experiences sunrise and en it moves away from the sun's rays, it experiences sunset, jolis Effect refers to the force experienced ‘by any object moving over the surface of @ rotating body such as the earth. The ‘the movement of air (winds) and water (ocean currents) on the earth. Due to its effect, the winds and ocean currents move lockwise and are deflected to the right in ‘the Northern Hemisphere and move in the anticlockwise direction and are deflected to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. The sun, the moon and the stars seem to move from east to west. This is because the earth spins from west to east. This effect is similar to what one experiences while looking at trees from a moving train. 5. Centrifugal force is an apparent outward force that acts on a rotating object. It is always directed outward, ie., away from the axis of rotation. The speed of rotation "has created a centrifugal force resulting in a bulge in the middle portion of the earth and flattened top at the poles. Rotation causes difference in time over various places on the earth. The difference in time is 4 minutes for each degree of longitude [24 hours (1440 minutes) divided by 360°]. Rotation and Revolution 7. The side of the earth towards the sun constantly gains heat and the side away from the sun constantly loses heat by radiating it into outer space. In this respect Totation of the earth in a tilted position on its axis has the following advantages: (i) The short rotational period makes the Variation of temperature between day and night moderate. (i) Rotation in combination with Revolution (earth’s movement round the sun) causes seasons and variations in the lengths of day and night over different places on earth. INCLINATION OF EARTH’S AXIS AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE As we have said rotation is the spinning of the earth on its axis from west to east. The axis is the imaginary line passing through the centre of the earth on which it rotates. The earth’s axis is not vertical. It makes an angle of 23%4° with the vertical or 664° with the plane of the Earth's orbit. Let us imagine that the earth had a vertical axis. Then at all places on the earth, the length of day and night would have been equal as shown in the Fig. 3.2. @ Place L at the Equator would be at position L’ after 12 hours. Distance LO = Distance OL’ . Length of day = Length of night. Ne 3P i Fig. 3.2. Hypothetical Vertical Axis & scanned with OKEN ScannerFig. 3.3. Inclined Axis | Similarly at all places on the earth, the length of day and night would be equal the axis of the earth was not inclined. effect of the inclined axis on the of day and night is that their duration differs as shown in the Fig. 3.3. @ At the Equator place C would be at Position C’ after 12 hours. Distance CO = Distance OC’ ~+ Length of day = Length of night, (i) On the Tropic of Cancer place B will be at B’ after 12 hours. But distance BX is greater than BX, Days are longer than nights, On the Arctic Circle place A will be at Position A’ after 12 hours. AA’ remains in continuous light in summer for six Southern Hemisphere wi D’ after 12 hours, Distance DY (in light) is less than the distance DY (in darkness) Days are shorter than nights, (v) Place E on the Antarctic Circle remains in continuous darkness in winter. Night for 24 hours near the South Pole in winter for six months, : Total Geoaranhy —a Effect of the Inclined Axis on the duration of day and night The duration of day and night is not g at all places. ‘The time of the day at any place is dete; by the height of the sun in the sky. If the axis of the earth was vertical ing, of inclined, places on earth would ha same temperature throughout the y © If the earth did not revolve around the, even then with its inclined axis there be no seasons. Effect of the Inclined Axis on Seasons The path of the earth around the sun is kno as elliptic. It passes through the centre of the earth and the sun. The earth’s axis ig perpendicular to the plane of the elliptic, bur, tilted at an angle of 66%° to it. The axis therefore, inclined at an angle of 23%° from th Perpendicular to this plane. As a result of thi in the course of the earth’s movement the sun, the North Pole remains inclined d the sun for a part of the year while the Sou Pole is tilted away from it. For the remai Part of the year, the situation is reversed, th North Pole being tilted away from the sun the South Pole being inclined towards it. carth this gives rise to the changing seas and the varying lengths of day and night. If th carth’s axis were perpendicular to the plane orbit, there would be equal nights and days af all places on the earth, at all times of the yea and there would also be no seasons. WHY WE DO NOT FEEL MOTIONS OF THE E Rotation and revolution are the motions of the earth. If we were to Motions it would make life unc The force of gravity keeps eve attached to the at rest & scanned with OKEN Scannerey Fig. 3.4. Revolution of the Earth ‘The earth revolves round the sun in an elliptical bit, This motion, together with rotation, makes ‘earth's environment complex. teristics of Revolution (i) The earth moves round the sun in an elliptical orbit at an average speed of 29.8 kilometres per second or about 100,000 kilometres per hour. i) When the earth is closer to the sun, the gravitational pull makes the earth move faster than when it is away from the sun. Thus, the speed of revolution is not uniform. (ii) The period taken by the earth to make one complete round of the sun is 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 45.51 seconds which is taken as 365 days and 6 hours. The length of one Solar year is 365 days. The remaining 6 hours are adjusted every 4 years into one complete day and added to the month of February. When February has 29 days, that year is _ known as a leap year having 366 days. (iv) The earth’s axis is always inclined to its orbital plane at an angle of 664°. The motion of the earth is from west to east or in the same direction as the rotation. Rotation and Revolution Effects of Revolution 1, Seasonal Changes: The amount of heat that a place receives on earth depends on the angle at which the sun’s rays reach it. When a place receives vertical sun rays the place gets hot. This is because the amount of heat in the direct vertical rays is concentrated on a small area, whereas the same amount of heat is spread over a larger area, in the case of the oblique rays. We have already noted that the tilt of the earth’s axis causes the seasons. Revolution causes different seasons i.c., the changing weather conditions due to differences in the heating of the earth. Revolution is an annual cycle; so, the seasons repeat year after year. 2. Inclination of axis and seasonal changes: Since the earth is tilted, the seasonal changes are not abrupt. 8. Perihelion and Aphelion positions: The earth’s orbit is the path along which the earth travels around the sun, This path is elliptical in shape. Due to this elliptical orbit of the earth, the distance between the earth and the sun varies. When the earth is closest to the sun the position is called perihelion and when it is farthest the position is called aphelion. At aphetion the distance of the sun is 152 million km. While at its closest at perihelion the earth is 147.3 million km away from the sun. Owing to the elliptical orbit, the minimum distance of the earth from the sun is reached on or about January 3rd every year. It is winter in the Northern Hemisphere when the axis is tilted away from the sun. While the tilt makes the Northern Hemisphere cool in winter, its oo es . aca ‘Aphelion Fig. 3.5. Perihelion and Aphelion Positions 29 & scanned with OKEN Scannercomparative nearness to the sun helps to make the Southern Hemisphere warm in summer. On January 3, the earth in its orbit is closest to the sun. This time of the earth is said to be Perihelion. On about July 4, the earth is farthest from the sun, at this time the earth is said to be Aphelion. 4. Creation of heat zones: The spherical shape of the earth along with its movements around the sun causes the difference in the angles at which the sun’s rays fall on the earth’s surface. This causes difference in the istribution of heat on the earth’s surface. As ; ’ : result the world has been divided into three Fig. 3.6. Important Parallels of Latitudes _ distinct heat or temperature zones. SOLSTICES AND EQUINOXES (a) The Torrid Zone: This zone stretches py jighted part of the earth is callled the between 23%" N and S latitudes and more or GF ittumination. This circle moves wit less receives the vertical rays of the sun. AS @ apparent movement of the suin $0 that only result, this region experiences moderately of the earth faces the sun at any given po warm climate throughout the year. of time. s (b) The Temperate Zone: In between the 1. Solstice: On June 21, the earth is i Torrid and the Frigid zones ie. between position where the North Pole is tilted towar 23%° North and South and 66%* North and the sun. On this day the sun is overhead South lies the Temperate Zone. In this zone the Tropic of Caricer. This day is known as t the sun’s rays fall obliquely and hence the Summer Solstice. The Southern Hemisphe region experiences a moderate climate. however is tilted away from the sun ai (c) The Frigid Zone: This zone extends from experiences winter. : 66%" N to 90° N (or North Pole) and 66'%° S to On December 22, the Southern Hemisphe 90° S (or the South Pole). Since the sun’s is tilted towards the sun, while the Northe rays fall extremely obliquely in this region, | Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun. TE the region experiences extremely cold climate. day is known as the Winter Solstice. It Difference between Solstice and Equinox + Solstice refers to the time when the sun | 1, Equinox refers to time when the s Teaches its highest or lowest point in the| the plane of the earth’s Equat sky at noon, resulting in the shortest and fee aes cee 2 night and day of equal length. 2. The word Solstice is derive words ‘Sol’ meaning meaning ‘to stand still’ ‘d from the Latin | 2 - The word Equinox is derived from th ‘sun’ and ‘sistere’ words ‘aequus’ meaning ‘equal’ meaning ‘night’, 3. It happens twice a year on June 21 (summer a It hay ic id solstice) and December 22 (winter solstice). (Spring. or Vermalianen la p : (Autumnal Equinox) 4, It happens during summer and winter. 4. It happens at the start of spt ae 2 autumn. z & scanned with OKEN Scannerjer in the Southern Hemisphere and winter the Northern Hemisphere. in two days in a year, the sun vertically over the Equator i.e. at an of 90°. This angle decreases as one away from the equator. These days are March (Spring or Vernal Equinox) and d September (Autumnal Equinox). At the joxes the days and nights are of equal th throughout the world. On March. 21, it ring in the Northern’ Hemisphere and on it the two equinoxes the sun is at 90° at the As one moves away from the Equator, ititude of the sun decreases. When the arent northward movement of the sun finues up to June 21st (summer: solstice), are variations in th¢ duration of daylight, ' ANGLE OF INCIDENCE AND ty DURATION OF DAYLIGHT ‘The angle of incidence of the sun’s rays and duration of daylight at different latitudes is sn in Table 3.1 im altitude or the angle of incidence is ‘Measured in degrees. It is calculated by from 90°, the maximum reached at the Equator. For example in the above table at 66°30’ N latitude, the angle of incidence would be 90° - 66°30’ N = 23°30", Similarly if a latitude of a station were only 60°, the angle of incidence would be 90°~ 60° = 30°. The table also shows that hours of daylight are always 12 hours at the Equator and they g0 on increasing or decreasing towards the Poles. Seasonal contrasts are maximum at mid latitudes than at the Equator or the Poles, CYCLE OF SEASONS The Equinoxes and the Solstices are the positions of the earth with respect to the sun on the given fixed dates. They help us to understand how seasons occur and how they are reversed in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. When it, is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere. From Table 3.1 of variations in the altitude of the sun during equinoxes and solstices in different latitudes, it is observed that the duration of day and night varies according to the seasons. As a result of these variations, seasons are not the same in all parts of the earth. In general, there are four seasons i. spring, summer, autumn and winter corresponding to the dates of solstice and equinox (Fig. 3.4). eae Duration. Angle of Duration Angle of Duration: Angle of of daylight | incidence of daylight | incidence | of daylight | incidence (hours) (degrees) (hours) (degrees) (hours) (degrees) 12 hours 0° 24 hours | 23°30" 0 O° 23°30" 24 hours 47° 0 i 40° 16h 18m 63°30" 7h 42m 66°30" 13h 27m, 90° 10h 33m {i 90° 12 hours 66°30" 12 hours | 66°30" 10h 33 m 43° 13h 27m 4 | mh 4am | 16°30" | iehaem 0° 24 hours aE & scanned with OKEN ScannerPosition on 2ist June: It is summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. The rays of the sun fall vertically on the Tropic of Cancer. ‘The duration of sunlight or day time increases from 12 hours at the Equator to 13 hours and 27 minutes at 23%° N and further to 24 hrs at 66%4° N (See Table 3.1). Beyond the Arctic Circle, the regions experience 24 hours daylight. This phenomena is termed as ‘midnight sun’ Norway is called land of midnight sun and many tourists fiock to Norway to witness this phenomena. The sun is visible only at very low height, just above the horizon. This continues for almost three months up to autumn equinox. In the southern hemisphere it is winter. After June 21st, the hours of sunlight in Norther Hemisphere begin to decrease from hours at the equator to all nights and no s beyond the Arctic Circle. This position can be observed in Table 3.1. The maximum ition is reached on December 21st. Position on 23rd September: On 23rd ptember, the sun is vertically overhead at the equator and the days and nights are equal. It is ‘autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and spring n the Southern Hemisphere. On September 23rd, the duration of sunlight is 12 hours on all the places on earth. Position on 22nd December: On 22nd December, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun. It experiences summer, Areas beyond the Antarctic Circle experience 24 hours daylight. Being a water Hemisphere, the Spectacle of the Midnight Sun, though more interesting, is confined to navigators only. The South Polar regi - 3 Hemisphere. Rosition on 2ist March: After Qand December, the sun again begins to mae Woverasibe Equstor and on March, 2iet, the sun’s rays fall vertical . this day, all places on the earth he and nights. Itis a repeat of the posi September only in reference to the duretin day and night but not in reference to secret Path of the rising wun J Path of the setting sun Fig. 3.7. Twilight the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in Southern Hemisphere. TWILIGHT IN LOW AND HIGH LATITUDES It is clear that there are generally great seas contrasts as one moves from the Equator / the Poles. The variations in the amount of he received at different parts of the earth durit the year depend on the inclination of the sur rays. The difference though is best explained | vertical and slanting rays of the sun, we shou also remember that no place on earth has abri change from vertical to slanting rays or versa. During sunrise and sunset though the is below the horizon, we experience a d light. Much of this light is a reflection by and dust particles present in the atmo: sphet This period of diffused light between ul and complete darkness is called dus! twilight and that between sunrise and daylight is called dawn. This phenomena of dawn and dusk} experienced more in temperate regions. Duration of twilight has considerable in on seasons. The duration of twilight is beyond 50° latitude and in polar regio lasts for as much as seven weeks at a! ‘The twili mim Equator. It goes on incr towards the Poles. At the poles the duratio: 50 days long during the 3 months of alter is i weeaon iod of day and ni is ig becal or weather. During this period i ig Peri y and night. This is "Pring in period during which the refracted light is 32 Total Geography & scanned with OKEN Scanner3¢ Equator is short as the sun rises and sets is longer as the sun rises and sets in an oblique a vertical path there. On the other hand, in path. It is much longer at the poles, that is why temperate latitudes the period of refracted light __ the winter darkness there is only twilight. Choose the correct option: 1. Which of the following is true about the rotation of the earth? (a) The earth completes one rotation in 25:56:4.09 hrs (b) The earth’s axis passes through the poles (6) The speed of rotation increases as we move towards the equator (@) All of the above. 2. What angle does the earth’s axis make with the plane of earth's orbit? (a) 0° (b) 23%" (©) 66%° (@) 90° 8. An apparent outward force that acts on a rotating object: (a) Centrifugal Force (b) Sunset Effect (c) Coriolis Effect (@) Rotational Effect 4. What is the shape of the path of the earth around the sun? (a) Oval path (b) Spherical path —_(c) Elliptic (a) Coriolis 5. Which of the following is correct? (a) Aphelion : earth is closest to the sun (b) Aphelion : earth is farthest from the sun (c) Aphelion : moon is closest to the earth (@) Aphelion : the equator is closest to the sun. What is the time difference between two consecutive lines of longitude? {a) 7% minutes (b) 4 minutes (c) 1 minute {d) 3 minutes Which of the following is true about the revolution of the earth around the sun? (@) It results in the cycle of seasons _(b) The direction of motion is the same as rotation (c) The speed is not uniform (d) All of the above. Which of the following is true about the perihelion position of the earth? {a) It is farthest from the sun. (b) It occurs on 3 January. (6) The speed of revolution is the least. (d) All of the above. The lighted part of the earth is called the (a) Circle of Light (b) Circle of Ilumination () Circle of Solstice (a) Circle of Equinox Perihelion : 147.4 million km 152 million km (@) Aphetion (b) Equinox (c) Solstice (@) All of the above. + Which of the following is true about the aphelion? (a) Occurs on 4 July, (b) Summer in northern hemisphere () Speed of revolution is maximum —_(d) Alll of the above. Solstice : Summer/Winter :: ____ Spring/ Autumn (a) Solstice (b) Equinox (c) Vernal (a) None of the above. Name the phenomenon when the regions beyond the Arctic Circle experience 24 hours daylight. (a) Daylight sun (b) Midnight sun (c) Arctic sun (d) Regional sun = & scanned with OKEN Scanner Rotation and Revalutian14, The period of diffused light between sunset and complete darkness ool a, (a) dawn. (b) dusk (o) twilight ) and ( 15. The duration of twilight: (a) increases to the poles (b) might last for as much as 7 weeks at the poles (©) is as long as the sun is 18° below the horizon (d) all of the above. 16. World Standard Time : 0 indian Standard Time : fa) 23%" (b) 72%° (co) 66%" (d) 82% 17. Greenwich Mean Time : ______: Indian Standard Time : 12:00 pm (a) 6:30 am (b) 5:30 am () 6:30 pm (4) 5:30 pm 18. World Standard Time : _______:: Indian Standard Time : Standard Meridian of Indi (a) World Standard Meridian (b) Prime Meridian (c) International Date Line (@) Greenwich Mean Time Il. Short Answer Questions ‘What is meant by the inclination of earth’s axis? At what angle is the earth’s axis inclin . Name the two chief motions of the earth. .. Describe two characteristics of rotation. a . State two effects of the rotation of the earth. el Mention any two possible consequences if the axis of the earth was vertical instead of incline . State one reason why we do not feel the motions of the earth. 3 - What is an elliptic? oe . Define ‘revolution’, . State two chief characteristics of the revolution of the earth, . Mention two effects of revolution, What do you understand by perihelion and aphelion? - On which two days are the days and nights equal all over the world and why? What name‘ you give to these days? ] . a is the longest and which is the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere and why? ~ On which dates does the sun shine vertically ic of Ptich dates doce ically overhead at (a) Equator, (b) Tropic a | - Why is noon is hotter than morning? * Winy are days and nights equal at all places on earth on September 23? What are the seas! fine a and the Southern Hemispheres on this date? : is meant by Summer Solstice? Wh i jemisphet 18. Whatie mene omnia ‘en dowe have Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisph 3 19. What will be the duration, 20. What is the relationship 21. Briefly describe the eycl 22. How is the duration of twili 23. How has the phenomenon 24. Mention one effect of seas, 25, Draw a well labelled dia times of the year. & scanned with OKEN Scannerguish between the following () Rotation and Revolution, " (ii) Equinox and Solstice. ‘Structured Questions 1. {@) What is meant by rotation of the earth? State three effects of the rotation of the earth. (0) What is the effect of the inclined axis of the earth on day and night? (c) Give a geographical reason for each of the following: (i) Kuala Lumpur rotates faster on the earth’s axis than London. (ii) We always see the sun rising in the east. (ii) Norway is called the Land of the Midnight Sun, (a) Draw a well labelled diagram to show inclination of the earth on its axis. 2. (a) Describe how the duration of sunlight changes from the Equator to the Poles with respect to the angle of incidence during the solstices. (i) Vertical and Slanting Rays. () Describe how seasons are made and reversed between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Give a geographical reason for each of the following: (i) The length of day and night is not equal at all places on the earth. The period of twilight and dawn increases polewards. (iii) 25th of December in New Zealand may be one of the hottest days of the year. Draw a well labelled diagram to show the tilt of the earth’s axis and how the revolution causes seasons and variation in the length of day and night. () change of seasons in the Northern Hemisphere. (i) the apparent path of the sun from the Equator to North, Pole. 2. Draw a diagram to show the winter solstice and answer the following questions. (i) Name the correct date depicted in your diagram. Name the latitude where the sun is shining vertically overhead. (iii) Name the part of the globe where there is night on this date. (iv) Name the latitude on which length of the day will be 24 hours. 7 (@) Give the date when the earth will be directly onset tg above position. (vi) What will be the vertical position of the sun on t ’ ‘ ; What is the effect of the inclination of the earth upon the length of day and night? What will be the probable length of day and night on that date? aaa Rotation and Revolution & scanned with OKEN Scanner