Chapter 16: The Universe
Solved textbook questions with step-by-step explanations.
Grade 6 Q&A: Chapter 16: The Universe
Welcome to the Questions and Answers section for Grade 6 Environmental Studies (Part One), Chapter 16: "The Universe." This chapter explores the vastness of the universe, the celestial bodies within it, and our place among them, based on the information provided.
Important Questions and Answers
Q1: What does the universe consist of?
Answer: The universe consists of numerous galaxies, and each galaxy comprises countless stars and planets.
Q2: What is our galaxy called?
Answer: Our galaxy is called the Milky Way.
Q3: What does the Milky Way galaxy contain?
Answer: The Milky Way galaxy contains our Solar System, which includes the Sun and the planets that revolve around it.
Q4: What are the planets in our solar system?
Answer: The planets in our solar system, in order from the Sun, are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Q5: What is the Sun?
Answer: The Sun is a star and the center of our solar system. All planets revolve around it.
Q6: What are planets?
Answer: Planets are celestial bodies that revolve around a star. They do not have their own light but reflect the light of the star.
Q7: What is Earth? What is special about it?
Answer: Earth is the planet on which we live. It is special because it is the only planet in our solar system known to have life.
Q8: What is the Moon?
Answer: The Moon is the natural satellite of the Earth. It revolves around the Earth.
Q9: What are stars made of?
Answer: Stars are made up of hot gases.
Q10: Do stars have their own light?
Answer: Yes, stars have their own light. They emit light and heat due to nuclear reactions within them.
Q11: Why do planets appear bright?
Answer: Planets appear bright because they reflect the light of the Sun.
Q12: What are constellations?
Answer: Constellations are groups of stars that form recognizable patterns in the sky.
Q13: Give examples of constellations mentioned.
Answer: Examples of constellations mentioned include Saptarshi (Ursa Major) and Orion.
Q14: What are asteroids? Where are they mostly found?
Answer: Asteroids are rocky celestial bodies that revolve around the Sun. They are mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Q15: What are comets? What do they consist of?
Answer: Comets are celestial bodies that revolve around the Sun in a highly elliptical orbit. They consist of frozen gases, dust, and rock.
Q16: What forms the tail of a comet?
Answer: When a comet gets closer to the Sun, the frozen gases vaporize, forming a tail of gas and dust that points away from the Sun.
Q17: What are meteors? What are meteorites?
Answer: Meteors are small pieces of rock or dust that enter Earth's atmosphere and burn up, creating a streak of light. If a meteor survives its passage through the atmosphere and reaches the Earth's surface, it is called a meteorite.
Q18: What is the force that holds the planets in their orbits around the Sun?
Answer: The force of gravity between the Sun and the planets holds the planets in their orbits.
Q19: What is the shape of the Earth's orbit around the Sun?
Answer: The Earth revolves around the Sun in an elliptical orbit.
Q20: What causes day and night on Earth?
Answer: Day and night on Earth are caused by the Earth's rotation on its axis.
Q21: What causes seasons on Earth?
Answer: Seasons on Earth are caused by the Earth's revolution around the Sun and the tilt of its axis.
Q22: What are artificial satellites? Give examples of their uses.
Answer: Artificial satellites are man-made objects launched into space to orbit the Earth. They are used for communication, weather forecasting, navigation, and scientific research.
Q23: Name some Indian artificial satellites mentioned.
Answer: Some Indian artificial satellites mentioned are Aryabhatta and INSAT.
Q24: What is space exploration?
Answer: Space exploration is the investigation and discovery of the universe beyond Earth's atmosphere using astronomy and space technology.
Q25: Name some Indian scientists who have contributed to space exploration.
Answer: Some Indian scientists who have contributed to space exploration include Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.
Exercise Solutions
Q1: Fill in the blanks.
- The universe consists of numerous galaxies.
- Our galaxy is called the Milky Way.
- The Sun is a star and the center of our solar system.
- The Moon is the natural satellite of the Earth.
- Planets revolve around the Sun.
Q2: True or False.
- Stars do not have their own light. False
- Earth is the only planet known to have life. True
- Asteroids are mostly found between Earth and Mars. False (Between Mars and Jupiter)
- Comets revolve around planets. False (Around the Sun)
- Artificial satellites are used for communication. True
Q3: Answer the following questions.
- What is the Solar System?
Answer: The Solar System is the system consisting of the Sun and all the celestial objects that orbit it, including planets, dwarf planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. - What is the difference between a star and a planet?
Answer: A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by its own gravity, producing light and heat through nuclear fusion. A planet is a celestial body that orbits a star, is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, and has cleared its orbital neighborhood of other objects; planets do not produce their own light but reflect the light of their star. - Name the planets in our solar system in order from the Sun.
Answer: The planets in our solar system in order from the Sun are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. - What are constellations? Give two examples.
Answer: Constellations are recognizable patterns of stars in the night sky that have been given names, often based on mythological figures, animals, or objects. Two examples mentioned are Saptarshi (Ursa Major) and Orion. - What are the uses of artificial satellites?
Answer: Artificial satellites have various uses, including communication (television, internet, mobile phones), weather forecasting, navigation (GPS), scientific research (studying Earth and space), and Earth observation (monitoring climate, agriculture, etc.).
References
- Maharashtra State Board Environmental Studies (Part One) Standard Six Textbook (2015 Edition) - Chapter 16: The Universe.
- Maharashtra State Board 6th Standard Environmental Studies Syllabus.
- Balbharati Environmental Studies Part 1 Textbook.