Welcome to Bodhiclasses, your trusted partner in mastering science with depth, logic, and joy. We help students go beyond textbooks to truly understand the why behind the what. In this post, we offer a rich collection of extra questions and answers from Chapter 12 – Earth, Moon, and the Sun to strengthen your concepts and boost your exam readiness.
Multiple Choice Questions (10 MCQs)
- What is the direction of Earth’s rotation?
(a) East to West
(b) North to South
(c) West to East
(d) South to North
Answer: (c) West to East - How much time does Earth take to complete one rotation?
(a) 30 days
(b) 24 hours
(c) 365 days
(d) 12 hours
Answer: (b) 24 hours - The Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of approximately:
(a) 66.5°
(b) 90°
(c) 45°
(d) 23.5°
Answer: (d) 23.5° - A lunar eclipse occurs when:
(a) Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon
(b) Moon comes between the Earth and Sun
(c) Sun comes between Earth and Moon
(d) None of these
Answer: (a) Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon - The longest day in the Northern Hemisphere is on:
(a) 21 March
(b) 22 December
(c) 21 June
(d) 23 September
Answer: (c) 21 June - What causes day and night on Earth?
(a) Revolution of Earth
(b) Rotation of Earth
(c) Orbit of Moon
(d) Tilt of axis
Answer: (b) Rotation of Earth - What is the reason behind seasons on Earth?
(a) Revolution and tilted axis
(b) Rotation only
(c) Gravitational pull
(d) Phases of Moon
Answer: (a) Revolution and tilted axis - During a solar eclipse, which celestial body is in the middle?
(a) Sun
(b) Earth
(c) Moon
(d) Venus
Answer: (c) Moon - When does an equinox occur?
(a) When days are longest
(b) When nights are longest
(c) When day and night are equal
(d) During solar eclipse
Answer: (c) When day and night are equal - The Pole Star appears stationary because:
(a) It is too far
(b) Earth doesn’t rotate
(c) Earth’s axis points towards it
(d) It moves with Earth
Answer: (c) Earth’s axis points towards it
Chapter 12 – Earth, Moon, and the Sun
One-Mark Questions (10)
- Name the natural satellite of Earth.
Answer: Moon - In which direction does the Sun appear to move across the sky?
Answer: From East to West - Define rotation.
Answer: The spinning of Earth on its axis is called rotation. - What is an orbit?
Answer: The path along which a celestial body revolves around another is called an orbit. - How long does the Earth take to complete one revolution?
Answer: About 365 days and 6 hours - What is the shape of Earth’s orbit around the Sun?
Answer: Nearly circular - What is an eclipse?
Answer: It is the blocking of light from one celestial body by another. - Which hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun during December?
Answer: Southern Hemisphere - Name the days when day and night are equal.
Answer: 21 March and 23 September (Equinoxes) - When does the Sun rise at the North Pole?
Answer: Around 21 March
Chapter 12 – Earth, Moon, and the Sun
Two-Mark Questions (10)
- Differentiate between rotation and revolution.
Answer: Rotation is the spinning of Earth on its axis (causes day and night); revolution is the movement of Earth around the Sun (causes seasons). - Why do we see different constellations in different months?
Answer: Due to Earth’s revolution, our position changes, changing our view of stars at night. - What is a solstice? Give two examples.
Answer: Solstice is when the Sun reaches its highest or lowest point. Examples: 21 June (Summer Solstice), 22 December (Winter Solstice). - Why should solar eclipses not be viewed with naked eyes?
Answer: The Sun’s rays during an eclipse can damage the retina, leading to blindness. - What causes the Moon to appear red during a total lunar eclipse?
Answer: Earth’s atmosphere bends sunlight, allowing red light to reach the Moon, giving it a reddish glow. - State one reason why lunar eclipses are visible from a larger area.
Answer: Because the Earth’s shadow is large and falls over a wide portion of the Moon-visible Earth. - Why do polar regions experience 6 months of daylight and 6 months of darkness?
Answer: Due to the tilt of Earth’s axis, poles can be tilted towards or away from the Sun for extended periods. - What is the significance of the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn?
Answer: These are latitudes where the Sun is directly overhead during solstices. - How are seasons reversed between Northern and Southern Hemispheres?
Answer: When one hemisphere tilts toward the Sun (summer), the other tilts away (winter). - What is the importance of the apparent size of the Moon during eclipses?
Answer: Although smaller, the Moon appears similar in size to the Sun due to its closeness, enabling it to block the Sun completely.
Chapter 12 – Earth, Moon, and the Sun
Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) – 5 Question
- If Earth stopped rotating, what would happen to the day-night cycle?
Answer: One side would have continuous day and the other continuous night, drastically affecting life and climate. - Suppose Earth had no tilt. What would be the impact on climate?
Answer: There would be no seasonal variation; each place would receive constant sunlight year-round. - Why is the Southern Hemisphere warmer in December despite Earth being closest to the Sun in January?
Answer: Because the Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun in December, receiving more direct sunlight. - How would seasons be affected if Earth’s orbit was a perfect circle but still tilted?
Answer: Seasons would still occur due to tilt, but temperature variation might reduce slightly. - Why do eclipses not happen every month even though the Moon revolves around Earth?
Answer: Because the Moon’s orbit is slightly tilted with respect to Earth’s orbit, so the Sun, Earth, and Moon don’t always align perfectly.
Chapter 12 – Earth, Moon, and the Sun
