Earth Moon and the Sun Class 7 Extra Questions and Answers Science Chapter 12

Students can keep Class 7 Science Extra Questions and Class 7th Curiosity Chapter 12 Earth Moon and the Sun Important Extra Question Answer handy for quick reference during exams.

Class 7 Science Chapter 12 Earth Moon and the Sun Extra Questions

Class 7 Science Chapter 12 Extra Questions on Earth Moon and the Sun

Earth Moon and the Sun Class 7 Very Short Question Answer

Question 1.
What is the Earth’s axis?
Answer:
It is an imaginary line passing through the North and South Poles around which the Earth rotates.

Question 2.
What direction does the Sun appear to move in the sky?
Answer:
The Sun appears to move from east to west in the sky.

Question 3.
What causes the apparent movement of stars in the night sky?
Answer:
The Earth’s rotation makes stars appear to move from east to west.

Question 4.
What is meant by the term “revolution” in the context of Earth?
Answer:
It refers to the movement of the Earth around the Sun.

Question 5.
What is the Big Dipper called in Indian astronomy?
Answer:
Saptarishi.

Question 6.
Name the two solstices experienced in a year.
Answer:
Summer solstice and winter solstice.

Question 7.
What happens on 21st June in the Northern Hemisphere?
Answer:
It is the longest day, known as the summer solstice.

Question 8.
What are equinoxes?
Answer:
Days when day and night are of equal length, around 21 March and 23 September.

Question 9.
What is a lunar eclipse?
Answer:
It happens when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon.

Question 10.
Can we safely view a lunar eclipse with the naked eye?
Answer:
Yes, it is safe to view a lunar eclipse without any eye protection.

Question 11.
Why can’t Mercury or Venus block the Sun completely?
Answer:
Because they are too small and too far from Earth.

Question 12.
What is the name of the Indian observatory in Tamil Nadu for solar studies?
Answer:
Kodaikanal Solar Observatory.

Question 13.
Who was M.K. Vainu Bappu?
Answer:
A famous Indian astronomer known as the father of modern Indian astronomy.

Earth Moon and the Sun Class 7 Short Question Answer

Question 1.
Explain how the rotation of the Earth causes day and night.
Answer:
The Earth rotates on its axis from west to east. As it spins, the part facing the Sun experiences day, and the side away from it has night. This rotation completes in about 24 hours.

Question 2.
What would happen if the Earth stopped rotating?
Answer:
If the Earth stopped rotating, one side would always face the Sun and have continuous day, while the other would have permanent night. This would disturb life, weather, and temperature balance.

Question 3.
Why does the Pole Star appear fixed in the sky?
Answer:
The Pole Star lies nearly along Earth’s axis of rotation, directly above the North Pole. As the Earth spins, stars appear to move, but the Pole Star stays almost in the same position.

Question 4.
How does the Earth’s tilt lead to the formation of seasons?
Answer:
The Earth’s axis is tilted. As it revolves around the Sun, this tilt causes different parts of the Earth to receive more or less sunlight at different times, leading to seasons.

Question 5.
Why does the Sun appear to rise in the east and set in the west?
Answer:
The Earth rotates from west to east. Because of this, the Sun appears to move across the sky from the eastern horizon to the western one.

Question 6.
What does the changing view of the night sky throughout the year tell us?
Answer:
As Earth revolves around the Sun, our view of space changes. This makes different constellations visible in different months, helping us track Earth’s position in orbit.

Question 7.
Why is it dangerous to look at a solar eclipse without protection?
Answer:
During an eclipse, the Sun’s rays are strong enough to damage the eyes. Looking directly at it without proper filters can cause permanent blindness.

Question 8.
Differentiate between total and partial solar eclipse.
Answer:
A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon completely covers the Sun. A partial eclipse occurs when only a part of the Sun is blocked by the Moon.

Question 9.
How do we know the Earth is rotating if we do not feel it?
Answer:
We observe apparent movements like the rising and setting of the Sun and stars. Experiments like Foucault pendulum also prove the Earth’s rotation.

Earth Moon and the Sun Class 7 Long Question Answer

Question 1.
How does the Earth’s rotation affect what we observe in the sky each day?
Answer:
The Earth rotates from west to east on its axis. As a result, we see the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west, even though the Sun is not actually moving. The same applies to the stars—they appear to shift across the sky because we are on a moving Earth. The Pole Star, however, seems fixed because it lies almost directly above Earth’s rotational axis. This apparent movement is a result of our rotating viewpoint.

Question 2.
What are equinoxes and how are they different from solstices? Give examples with months.
Answer:
Equinoxes are days when the duration of day and night are equal, occurring around 21 March and 23 September. Solstices, on the other hand, are the longest and shortest days of the year. The summer solstice (around 21 June) has the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere, while the winter solstice (around 22 December) has the shortest. These changes are caused by the tilt of the Earth’s axis during its yearly journey around the Sun.

Question 3.
Describe the motion of the Earth using a labelled diagram showing rotation and revolution.
Answer:
The Earth spins on its axis once every 24 hours. This is called rotation and it causes day and night. At the same time, the Earth travels around the Sun in an orbit, completing one revolution in about 365 days. The combination of rotation and revolution, along with the tilt of the Earth’s axis, explains the cycles of day, night, and seasons.

Fig. Rotation of the Earth

Fig. Changing view of the night sky

Earth Moon and the Sun Class 7 Skill-Based Questions

Question 1.
Draw and label a diagram showing the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon during a lunar eclipse.
Answer:

Fig. Geometry of lunar eclipse

Question 2.
Draw and label a diagram showing the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon during a solar eclipse.
Answer:

Fig. Geometry of solar eclipse

Question 3.
Use a torch and a ball in a dark room to show how only half of the Earth receives sunlight. Describe your observation and also draw the diagram.
Answer:
Shining the torch on one side of the ball shows only half is lit. This represents how sunlight falls on Earth. The bright side shows day, and the dark side shows night due to rotation.

Fig. Using a globe and a torchlight to understand day and night

Earth Moon and the Sun Class 7 Case Based Questions

1. During a visit to an observatory, Maya observed a solar eclipse through a special protective lens. The Moon was between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the Sun’s light. Maya was told that it was important never to look directly at the Sun during such an event.
(i) Why is it dangerous to look directly at the Sun during a solar eclipse?
Answer:
Looking directly at the Sun can damage the eyes and cause blindness.

(ii) What happens during a solar eclipse?
Answer:
The Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the Sun’s light.

(iii) How should one safely observe a solar eclipse?
Answer:
By joining eclipse viewing events organised by astronomy clubs or planeteria as they provide specialised eye protection for viewing eclipse.
OR
Which eclipse did Maya visit the observatory to observe?
Answer:
Solar eclipse

2. Rahul was observing the sky one evening when he noticed that the Sun appeared to set in the western sky. The next day, his friend told him that the Earth rotates from west to east, which is why the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Rahul was curious and asked his teacher how this phenomenon happens.

(i) Why does the Sun appear to rise in the east and set in the west?
Answer:
Since the Earth rotates from west to east and we are viewing the Sun from the Earth.

(ii) How does the Earth’s rotation affect the appearance of the Sun in the sky?
Answer:
The Earth’s rotation makes the Sun appear to move across the sky in opposite direction.

(iii) What is the reason for the Sun’s movement across the sky?
Answer:
The Earth’s rotation causes the Sun to appear to rise in the east and set in the west.
OR
What would happen if the Earth rotated from east to west instead?
Answer:
If the Earth rotated from east to west, the Sun would appear to rise in the west and set in the east.

Earth Moon and the Sun Class 7 Suggested Projects and Activities

1. Create a model of Earth’s axial tilt. Take a globe or a ball and tilt it at an angle of 23.5 degrees (Earth’s actual tilt). Rotate it around a light source (representing the Sun) and observe how different parts of the Earth experience different amounts of sunlight as the Earth revolves around the Sun.

2. Make a simple model to show a solar eclipse. Take a flashlight to represent the Sun, a ball to represent the Earth, and another smaller ball to represent the Moon. Hold the Moon between the Earth and the Sun to show how a solar eclipse happens.

Earth Moon and the Sun Extra Questions for Practice

Question 1.
When does the summer solstice occur in the Northern Hemisphere?
(a) 21 March
(b) 22 December
(c) 21 June
(d) 23 September

Question 2.
What is a lunar eclipse?
(a) When the Sun is hidden behind the Earth
(b) When the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon
(c) When the Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun
(d) When the Moon disappears from the sky

Question 3.
What causes the apparent movement of the Sun in the sky?
(a) Earth’s rotation
(b) Earth’s revolution
(c) Sun’s rotation
(d) Moon’s orbit

Question 4.
Read the given statements and select the correct option.
Assertion (A): The Moon can completely cover the Sun during a solar eclipse.
Reason (R): The apparent sizes of the Moon and the Sun from the Earth are similar.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.

Question 5.
Match the following:

(a) (i)-(q), (ii)-(p), (iii)-(r), (iv)-(s)
(b) (i)-(p), (ii)-(s), (iii)-(q), (iv)-(r)
(c) (i)-(s), (ii)-(q), (iii)-(p), (iv)-(r)
(d) (i)-(q), (ii)-(r), (iii)-(s), (iv)-(p)

Question 6.
What is the tilt of the Earth’s axis responsible for?

Question 7.
Why are seasons not prominent near the equator?

Question 8.
Why do scientists study solar eclipses?

Question 9.
Which Indian text predicted eclipses accurately in ancient times?

Question 10.
What do we call the path of the Earth around the Sun?

Question 11.
Why is the apparent size of the Moon and the Sun similar in our sky?

Question 12.
What precautions must be taken during a solar eclipse event in schools?

Question 13.
Draw a neat and clean diagram to explain the rotation of the Earth.

Question 14.
State two ancient Indian contributions in the field of astronomy related to eclipses.

Question 15.
Describe the position of the Earth, Sun, and Moon during a lunar eclipse.

Question 16.
Explain how the seasons would be affected if the Earth’s axis were not tilted.

Question 17.
Draw a diagram to explain the different seasons on Earth.

Question 18.
Write out the difference between a total solar eclipse and a partial solar eclipse.

Question 19.
What do you mean by spring and autumn equinox?

Question 20.
Why does only a small area experience a total solar eclipse while lunar eclipses are visible over a larger area?

Question 21.
Write a brief report on the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory and the contributions of M.K. Vainu Bappu to Indian astronomy.

Question 22.
Describe how ancient Indian astronomers predicted eclipses and what modern instruments we use today.

Question 23.
Draw a diagram of the solar and lunar eclipse and write down about the
(i) total solar eclipse
(ii) partial solar eclipse
(iii) total lunar eclipse
(iv) partial lunar eclipse

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