Class 6 Social Science Solutions English Medium

NCERT Solutions Class 6 Social Science English Medium

Locating Places on the Earth

Topic: Notes

Locating Places on the Earth

Maps

A map is a representation or drawing of an area of the Earth's surface as seen from above. Maps help us locate places and understand different features of the Earth.

• Maps can represent a small area such as a village or a large area such as a country or the whole world.
• Maps are useful for finding locations, directions, distances and geographical features.
• An atlas is a collection of maps in the form of a book.
• Maps may show natural features, political boundaries or information related to a particular theme.

Types of Maps

• Physical Maps: Show natural features such as mountains, rivers, oceans and plains.
• Political Maps: Show countries, states, boundaries, cities and other political features.
• Thematic Maps: Show information related to a particular theme or topic.

Components of a Map

The three main components of a map are distance, direction and symbols.

• Distance: Tells us how far one place is from another.
• Direction: Helps us identify the position of one place in relation to another.
• Symbols: Represent different geographical and human-made features on a map.

Scale

Scale shows the relationship between a distance shown on a map and the actual distance on the ground.

• Scale allows a very large area to be represented on a small map.
• For example, if 1 cm on a map represents 500 m on the ground, the scale is 1 cm = 500 m.
• Scale is important for calculating actual distances from a map.

Directions

• The four main or cardinal directions are North, East, South and West.
• The intermediate directions are Northeast, Southeast, Southwest and Northwest.
• Directions help us describe the position of one place in relation to another.

Map Symbols

Symbols are conventional signs used on maps to represent different features.

• Symbols make maps simple and easy to understand.
• They can represent roads, railway lines, rivers, buildings, boundaries and other features.
• The Survey of India has fixed a set of symbols for maps of India and parts of India.

Globe

A globe is a spherical model of the Earth. It represents the Earth's shape more naturally than a flat map.

• A globe shows the continents, oceans and other major features of the Earth.
• It also helps us understand the position of the Equator, latitudes and longitudes.
• A globe is useful for understanding the Earth as a whole.

Coordinates

Coordinates are used to identify the precise location of a place on the Earth.

• The two coordinates are latitude and longitude.
• Latitude tells us how far north or south a place is from the Equator.
• Longitude tells us how far east or west a place is from the Prime Meridian.
• The intersection of a particular latitude and longitude helps identify a specific location.

Latitudes

Latitude is the measure of the distance of a place north or south of the Equator.

• Latitudes are imaginary lines drawn around the Earth from east to west.
• They are also called parallels of latitude because they are parallel to one another.
• The Equator is the longest parallel of latitude.
• The Equator represents 0° latitude.
• Latitudes are measured from 0° to 90° towards the north or south.
• The North Pole is at 90°N.
• The South Pole is at 90°S.
• The length of the parallels decreases as they approach the poles.

Latitudes and Climate

Latitude has an important relationship with the climate of a place.

• Places near the Equator generally receive more direct sunlight and are warmer.
• Places towards the North and South Poles are generally colder.
• Thus, latitude is an important factor in understanding differences in climate.

Longitudes

Longitude is the measure of the distance of a place east or west of the Prime Meridian.

• Lines of longitude are imaginary half-circles running from the North Pole to the South Pole.
• They are also called meridians of longitude.
• All meridians meet at the North Pole and South Pole.
• The Prime Meridian represents 0° longitude.
• Longitudes are measured from 0° to 180° towards the east and west.
• 180°E and 180°W represent the same longitude.

Prime Meridian

The Prime Meridian is the reference meridian from which longitudes are measured.

• It is marked as 0° longitude.
• It passes through Greenwich in London, England.
• It is also called the Greenwich Meridian.
• It divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

Equator

The Equator is an imaginary circle around the middle of the Earth and represents 0° latitude.

• It is the longest parallel of latitude.
• It divides the Earth into the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere.
• All other parallels of latitude are smaller than the Equator.

Hemispheres

A hemisphere means one half of the Earth.

• The Equator divides the Earth into the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere.
• The Prime Meridian divides the Earth into the Eastern Hemisphere and Western Hemisphere.
• A place can belong to two hemispheres at the same time, such as the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres.

Latitude and Longitude Grid

Latitudes and longitudes together form a network of imaginary lines called a grid or grid lines.

• Parallels of latitude run from east to west.
• Meridians of longitude run from north to south, from pole to pole.
• The grid helps us locate any place precisely on the Earth.
• The approximate latitude and longitude of a place can be found using a globe or atlas.

Ancient Indian Knowledge of Latitude and Longitude

Ancient Indian astronomers were aware of the concepts of latitude, longitude and the need for a reference or prime meridian.

• Ujjayini, present-day Ujjain, was a reputed centre of astronomy.
• The ancient Indian prime meridian was called madhya rekhā, meaning the “middle line”.
• The Ujjayini meridian passed through Ujjayini.
• The Ujjayini meridian became a reference for calculations in Indian astronomical texts.
• Varāhamihira was a famous astronomer who lived and worked at Ujjayini about 1,500 years ago.

Location of India

India can be located precisely with the help of its latitudes and longitudes.

• India extends approximately from 8°N to 37°N latitudes.
• India extends approximately from 68°E to 97°E longitudes.
• India lies in the Northern Hemisphere.
• India also lies in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Earth's Rotation and Time

The Earth rotates on its axis, and this rotation causes differences in local time at different longitudes.

• The Earth completes one complete rotation of 360° in 24 hours.
• Therefore, the Earth rotates through 15° in one hour.
• Thus, a difference of 15° longitude corresponds approximately to a difference of one hour in local time.
• A difference of 1° longitude corresponds approximately to 4 minutes of time.

Longitude and Local Time

Local time at a place is related to its longitude.

• Places located towards the east have a later local time.
• Places located towards the west have an earlier local time.
• For every 15° difference in longitude, the local time differs by approximately one hour.
• For example, if it is noon at the Prime Meridian, the local time at 15°E is approximately 1 p.m.
• At 15°W, the local time would be approximately 11 a.m.

Local Time

Local time is the time calculated according to the longitude of a particular place.

• Different places can have different local times because they lie at different longitudes.
• As the Earth rotates from west to east, places to the east experience sunrise and later times earlier than places to the west.
• Using separate local times for every place in a large country would be inconvenient.

Standard Time

Standard time is an officially adopted time used throughout a country or a defined region.

• A country selects a particular meridian as the reference for its standard time.
• Standard time avoids confusion caused by different local times.
• India follows a single standard time called Indian Standard Time (IST).
• IST is based on the standard meridian of India.
• IST is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT.

Time Zones

A time zone is a geographical region in which the same standard time is followed.

• The Earth is divided broadly into time zones based on differences in longitude.
• A difference of approximately 15° longitude corresponds to one hour.
• Time-zone boundaries do not always exactly follow meridians of longitude.
• They may be adjusted to follow international or political boundaries.
• Large countries may have several time zones.
• The USA has six time zones.
• Russia has eleven time zones.

International Date Line

The International Date Line is an imaginary line located approximately at 180° longitude, opposite the Prime Meridian.

• The International Date Line is associated with a change of date.
• When the line is crossed while travelling eastward, one day is subtracted.
• When the line is crossed while travelling westward, one day is added.
• The line is approximately at 180° longitude rather than exactly following a straight meridian.
• It deviates in some places to avoid dividing countries into two different dates.

Important Differences

Latitude	Longitude
Measures distance north or south of the Equator.	Measures distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
Latitudes are parallel to the Equator.	Longitudes run from pole to pole.
The Equator is the 0° latitude.	The Prime Meridian is the 0° longitude.

Map	Globe
A map is a flat representation of an area.	A globe is a spherical model of the Earth.
It can show a small or large area in considerable detail.	It represents the Earth's overall spherical form.

Local Time	Standard Time
Depends on the longitude of a particular place.	Officially adopted for a country or region.
May differ from place to place.	Provides a common time for the relevant region.

Parallel of Latitude	Meridian of Longitude
Runs from east to west.	Runs from the North Pole to the South Pole.
Parallel to the Equator.	All meridians meet at the poles.
The Equator is the longest parallel.	The Prime Meridian is the reference meridian.

Important Numerical Relationships

• 360° rotation of Earth = 24 hours
• 15° longitude = 1 hour
• 1° longitude = 4 minutes
• Eastward movement = Add time
• Westward movement = Subtract time
• IST = GMT + 5 hours 30 minutes

Important Facts to Remember

• The Equator is the longest parallel of latitude.
• The South Pole is at 90°S.
• The Prime Meridian passes through Greenwich.
• Latitudes and longitudes together create a grid.
• Coordinates help us locate a place precisely.
• India follows Indian Standard Time.
• The International Date Line is approximately at 180° longitude.
• The date changes when the International Date Line is crossed.

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