Exercise Solutions Available
Step-by-step answers for all textbook questions in this chapter
Globe: Latitudes and Longitudes: NCERT Exercise Solutions
Welcome to the complete NCERT exercise solutions for Class 6 Social Science Geography Chapter 2 — Globe: Latitudes and Longitudes. This page provides detailed, step-by-step answers to all intext questions, chapter-end exercises, MCQs, and exam tips aligned with the latest CBSE syllabus.
Every answer follows the NCERT textbook explanation so you can write confidently in exams. If you spot an error or need clarification, drop a comment below.
How to Use This Page
1. Quick Recap — Start with the Key Concepts table to revise definitions before attempting answers. 2. Intext Questions — Try these on your own first, then check the solutions. 3. Chapter-End Exercises — These carry maximum weight in exams; study each answer carefully. 4. MCQ Practice — Attempt all MCQs; they test conceptual clarity and appear frequently in objective-type exams. 5. Common Mistakes — Review these before every test to avoid losing marks on silly errors. 6. Exam Checklist — Use it as a final revision tool the night before your exam.
Key Concepts (Quick Recap)
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Globe | A true miniature model of the Earth that shows the correct shape, size, and location of continents and oceans. |
| Latitude | The angular distance of a place north or south of the Equator, measured in degrees (0° to 90°). |
| Longitude | The angular distance of a place east or west of the Prime Meridian, measured in degrees (0° to 180°). |
| Equator | The 0° latitude line that runs midway between the North Pole and the South Pole, dividing the Earth into two equal halves (Northern and Southern Hemispheres). |
| Prime Meridian | The 0° longitude line passing through Greenwich, England; it divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. |
| Parallels of Latitude | Circular lines running parallel to the Equator; they decrease in length from the Equator towards the poles. |
| Meridians of Longitude | Semi-circular lines running from the North Pole to the South Pole; all meridians are of equal length. |
| Tropic of Cancer | The latitude at 23½°N; it is the northernmost latitude where the Sun appears directly overhead at noon. |
| Tropic of Capricorn | The latitude at 23½°S; it is the southernmost latitude where the Sun appears directly overhead at noon. |
| Arctic Circle | The latitude at 66½°N; north of this circle, the Sun does not set on the summer solstice. |
| Antarctic Circle | The latitude at 66½°S; south of this circle, the Sun does not set on the December solstice. |
| Heat Zones | Three zones on Earth — Torrid Zone (hot), Temperate Zone (moderate), and Frigid Zone (cold) — based on the amount of heat received. |
| Standard Time | The time adopted for a whole country based on its central meridian; India uses IST (82½°E). |
Intext Questions
Chapter-End Exercise Questions
Q1. What is the true shape of the Earth?
The Earth is not a perfect sphere. It is slightly flattened at the poles and bulged at the Equator. This shape is called a geoid (meaning "Earth-shaped") or an oblate spheroid. The Earth's equatorial diameter (about 12,756 km) is slightly larger than its polar diameter (about 12,714 km). This difference of about 42 km makes the Earth appear slightly wider at the Equator. However, for most practical purposes, the Earth is considered a sphere because the difference is very small compared to its total size.
Q2. What is a globe?
A globe is a true model (miniature form) of the Earth. It is shaped like the Earth itself — a sphere — and shows the correct shape, relative size, and location of continents, oceans, and other features. On a globe:
- Countries, oceans, and major features are shown in their correct proportions.
- The distances and directions between places are accurate.
- Latitudes and longitudes are drawn as they actually appear on Earth.
A globe is the most accurate representation of the Earth because it does not distort the shape, size, or distance of features the way flat maps do.
Q3. What is the latitudinal value of the Tropic of Cancer?
The latitudinal value of the Tropic of Cancer is 23½°N (23 degrees 30 minutes North). It is an important parallel of latitude that marks the northernmost latitude at which the Sun appears directly overhead at noon. This occurs on the summer solstice (around June 21) each year. The Tropic of Cancer passes through countries like India, Mexico, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and China.
Q4. What are the three heat zones of the Earth?
The Earth is divided into three major heat zones based on the amount of heat received from the Sun:
1. Torrid Zone (Hot Zone): The area between the Tropic of Cancer (23½°N) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23½°S). This zone receives the maximum heat because the Sun's rays fall vertically (directly overhead) throughout the year at some point. It is the hottest zone on Earth.
2. Temperate Zone (Moderate Zone): There are two temperate zones — the North Temperate Zone (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle, i.e., 23½°N to 66½°N) and the South Temperate Zone (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle, i.e., 23½°S to 66½°S). The Sun's rays never fall directly overhead here, so the climate is moderate — neither too hot nor too cold.
3. Frigid Zone (Cold Zone): There are two frigid zones — the North Frigid Zone (between the Arctic Circle and the North Pole, i.e., 66½°N to 90°N) and the South Frigid Zone (between the Antarctic Circle and the South Pole, i.e., 66½°S to 90°S). These zones receive very little sunlight and are extremely cold throughout the year.
Q5. What are parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude?
Parallels of Latitude:
- These are imaginary circular lines running parallel to the Equator on the globe.
- They are also called parallels because no two parallels ever meet each other.
- All parallels decrease in length from the Equator (longest, approximately 40,075 km) towards the poles (where they become points).
- They help determine how far north or south a place is from the Equator.
- Examples: Equator (0°), Tropic of Cancer (23½°N), Tropic of Capricorn (23½°S), Arctic Circle (66½°N), Antarctic Circle (66½°S).
Meridians of Longitude:
- These are imaginary semi-circular lines running from the North Pole to the South Pole on the globe.
- They are called meridians because each one is half of a great circle.
- All meridians are of equal length (approximately 20,004 km each).
- Meridians converge at both poles and are farthest apart at the Equator.
- They help determine how far east or west a place is from the Prime Meridian.
- The Prime Meridian (0°) passes through Greenwich, England; longitudes range from 0° to 180°E and 0° to 180°W.
Q6. Why does the Torrid Zone receive maximum heat?
The Torrid Zone receives the maximum heat because of the following reasons:
1. Vertical rays of the Sun: The Sun's rays fall almost vertically (directly overhead) on this zone throughout the year. Vertical rays cover a smaller area and concentrate more heat energy per unit area.
2. Passing through less atmosphere: Since the Sun's rays are nearly vertical, they pass through a thinner layer of the atmosphere, losing less heat through absorption and scattering.
3. Year-round Sun overhead: At some point during the year, the Sun is directly overhead at every latitude between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. This means the Sun's maximum intensity is always experienced somewhere in this zone.
4. Shorter distance through atmosphere: Compared to the slanting rays received by the temperate and frigid zones, the vertical rays in the Torrid Zone travel a shorter distance through the atmosphere, resulting in less heat loss.
This is why countries near the Equator (like India, Indonesia, and Brazil) experience hot climates throughout the year.
Q7. Why is it 5.30 p.m. in India when it is 12.00 noon in London?
The time difference between India and London is explained as follows:
1. Longitude difference: London is located on the Prime Meridian (0° longitude), while India's standard time is based on the longitude 82½°E (passing through Mirzapur, near Allahabad).
2. Calculation: The Earth rotates 1° in 4 minutes. Therefore, the time difference is:
- Longitude difference = 82½° - 0° = 82½°
- Time difference = 82.5 × 4 minutes = 330 minutes = 5 hours 30 minutes
3. Direction of rotation: Since the Earth rotates from west to east, places to the east of Greenwich experience time ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). India is to the east of London, so India is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of London.
4. Result: When it is 12:00 noon in London (GMT), it is 12:00 + 5:30 = 5:30 p.m. (17:30 hours) in India.
This is why India follows Indian Standard Time (IST), which is GMT + 5:30 hours.
Q8. Fill in the Blanks
(a) The Tropic of Cancer lies at 23½°N latitude.
(b) The three heat zones of the Earth are the Torrid Zone, the Temperate Zone, and the Frigid Zone.
(c) All parallels of latitude are of different lengths. (The Equator is the longest, and they decrease towards the poles.)
(d) The Prime Meridian passes through Greenwich (near London).
(e) The two poles are at 90° latitude — the North Pole at 90°N and the South Pole at 90°S.
Q9. True or False
Q10. Match the Column
| Column I | Column II |
|---|---|
| (i) Tropic of Cancer | (d) 23½°N |
| (ii) Tropic of Capricorn | (e) 23½°S |
| (iii) Arctic Circle | (a) 66½°N |
| (iv) Antarctic Circle | (b) 66½°S |
| (v) Equator | (c) 0° |
MCQ Practice
Choose the correct option for each question. The correct answer is marked with ✓.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Confusing the Equator with the Prime Meridian: The Equator (0° latitude) divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The Prime Meridian (0° longitude) divides it into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Students often swap these two in exams.
2. Writing the Tropic of Cancer as 23½°S or Tropic of Capricorn as 23½°N: Remember — Cancer is in the North (23½°N) and Capricorn is in the South (23½°S). A useful trick: "Cancer = North, Capricorn = South."
3. Saying all parallels of latitude are of equal length: Only meridians of longitude are of equal length. Parallels of latitude decrease in length from the Equator towards the poles. The Equator is the longest parallel; at the poles, parallels shrink to a point.
4. Forgetting that the time difference per degree of longitude is 4 minutes: Many students calculate time differences incorrectly. Remember: 1° of longitude = 4 minutes. So a 30° difference = 30 × 4 = 120 minutes = 2 hours.
5. Confusing heat zones with hemispheres: The Torrid, Temperate, and Frigid zones are based on heat (latitude), while the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Hemispheres are based on the Equator and Prime Meridian respectively. Do not mix these concepts.
6. Writing that the Earth is a perfect sphere: The NCERT textbook specifically states that the Earth is slightly flattened at the poles and bulged at the Equator, making it a geoid or oblate spheroid. Writing "perfect sphere" will cost marks.
Exam Checklist
Use this checklist before your exam. Tick off each item as you revise:
- [ ] I can define a globe and explain how it differs from a map.
- [ ] I know the true shape of the Earth (geoid / oblate spheroid).
- [ ] I can identify all major lines of latitude: Equator (0°), Tropic of Cancer (23½°N), Tropic of Capricorn (23½°S), Arctic Circle (66½°N), Antarctic Circle (66½°S).
- [ ] I understand the difference between parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude.
- [ ] I can name and describe the three heat zones: Torrid, Temperate, and Frigid.
- [ ] I can explain why the Torrid Zone receives maximum heat (vertical Sun rays).
- [ ] I can calculate time differences using longitudes (1° = 4 minutes).
- [ ] I can explain why India is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich.
- [ ] I know that the Equator divides the Earth into Northern/Southern Hemispheres, and the Prime Meridian divides it into Eastern/Western Hemispheres.
- [ ] I can distinguish between local time and standard time, and explain why standard time is needed.
- [ ] I can correctly answer fill-in-the-blank, true/false, and match-the-column questions on this chapter.
- [ ] I have practised all the MCQs and can avoid the common mistakes listed above.