NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Social Science Chapter 01 Locating Places on the Earth

Question 1. What is a map and how do we use it? What are its main components?
Answer: A map works like a picture showing where things are in a certain area, just like a treasure guide. We use maps to find places and see how to travel from one spot to another. Maps have three main parts: Distance - shows how far things are from each other; Direction - tells us which way is north, south, east, and west; and Symbols - these are small pictures or icons that stand for things like buildings, roads, and parks.
In simple words: A map is a drawing that shows where places are. It tells us distances, directions, and uses symbols to mark important things.

Exam Tip: Always mention all three components - distance, direction, and symbols - for full marks. These are the key building blocks of map reading.

Question 2. What are coordinates? How can latitude and longitude be used to mark any location on the Earth?
Answer: Coordinates are like addresses that help us pinpoint exact spots on a map. They are made up of two numbers: Latitude - these lines run east to west and tell us how far north or south a place is from the Equator; and Longitude - these lines go from the North Pole to the South Pole and tell us how far east or west a place is from the Prime Meridian. By using both together, we can identify any location on Earth. For example, New York sits at 74°W longitude, while Delhi is at 77°E.
In simple words: Latitude and longitude work like a grid on Earth. They help us find exactly where any place is, just like street addresses help us find houses in a city.

Exam Tip: Remember that latitude lines run east-west while longitude lines run north-south. This opposite pattern is easy to mix up, so practice it well.

Question 3. How are local time and standard time related to longitude?
Answer: Local time is the time at a specific place based on where the sun is in the sky. Standard time is a uniform time set for a whole region or country. Longitude helps us figure out time zones because as we move east or west, the time shifts. The Earth rotates 360 degrees in 24 hours, which means it turns 15 degrees every hour. This rotation causes the local time to change by one hour for every 15 degrees of longitude we move east or west. India Standard Time (IST) is set at 82.5° E longitude, making it 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
In simple words: Longitude tells us what time it is in different places. As you move east, time gets earlier, and as you move west, time gets later.

Exam Tip: Examiners often ask about the relationship between 15 degrees of longitude and one hour of time difference. Memorize this link firmly.

Question 4. Find out what you have in the eight directions from your home or school.
Answer:
(1) North: School
(2) North-east: Park
(3) East: Building
(4) South-east: Street
(5) South: Building
(6) South-west: Small Park
(7) West: Building
(8) North-west: Street
In simple words: Using a compass or the sun to guide you, look in each of the eight main directions (the four cardinal directions and the four in-between directions) and note what buildings or landmarks you see.

Exam Tip: When answering direction questions, always use a compass or sun position as reference. Accuracy in identifying the eight directions is what examiners check for.

Question 5. What is the difference between local time and standard time? Discuss it in groups, with each group writing an answer in 100 to 150 words. Compare the answers.
Answer: Local time depends on the position of the sun in the sky at a specific location, changing as the Earth turns. It differs continuously across longitudes, which means places at different longitudes have different local times. For instance, the sun rises and sets earlier in the east than in the west. Standard time, in contrast, is a fixed time for a whole region or country, usually set by law or custom. It helps keep timekeeping and communication uniform across larger areas by standardizing the time within each time zone. For example, India uses Indian Standard Time (IST), which remains the same across the entire country, even though local times would vary due to its width. This standardization prevents confusion and makes scheduling across different locations more convenient. Thus, while local time changes with longitude, standard time gives a consistent reference point within a defined area.
In simple words: Local time changes based on the sun's position at each place. Standard time is one fixed time for a whole country, making things easier and less confusing.

Exam Tip: When comparing the two, stress that local time varies with location while standard time is uniform. Use India as an example to show how one country can have one standard time despite large differences in longitude.

Question 6. Delhi's and Bengaluru's latitudes are 29°N and 13°N; their longitudes are almost the same, 77°E. How much will be the difference in local time between the two cities?
Answer: Delhi and Bengaluru have almost the same longitude at 77°E, which means there will be very little to no difference in local time between the two cities due to their longitudinal position. Latitude affects the climate and day length but not the local time directly. Since the Earth turns 15 degrees of longitude every hour, and both Delhi and Bengaluru are located at nearly the same longitude, the difference in local time between them is negligible. Therefore, the local time in Delhi and Bengaluru is practically the same.
In simple words: Since both cities are at nearly the same longitude, their local times are almost identical. Latitude does not change local time - only longitude does.

Exam Tip: Remember that only longitude affects local time, not latitude. When two places share nearly the same longitude, their local times will be almost equal.

Question 7. Mark the following statements as true or false; explain your answers with a sentence or two.
(→) All parallels of latitude have the same length. False - Parallels of latitude get shorter as we move toward the poles, with the Equator being the longest and the poles being just a point.
(→) The length of a meridian of longitude is half of that of the Equator. False - All meridians of longitude have the same length, which is equal to the length around the poles, approximately 40,000 km.
(→) The South Pole has a latitude of 90°S. True - The South Pole is located at 90 degrees south of the Equator.
(→) In Assam, the local time and the IST are identical. False - Although Assam follows IST as standard time, its local time differs slightly because it is east of the 82.5°E longitude on which IST is based.
(→) Lines separating the time zones are identical with meridians of longitude. False - Time zone boundaries often zigzag to avoid splitting countries or regions, so they do not always match meridian lines exactly.
(→) The Equator is also a parallel of latitude. True - The Equator is the longest parallel of latitude at 0° and divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
(→) Solve the crossword below. [Refer to crossword solution shown in source]
In simple words: Check each statement against what you know about latitudes, longitudes, poles, and time zones. Some statements mix up different concepts, so think carefully before answering.

Exam Tip: For true-false questions, always provide a reason or explanation. Simply marking true or false without explanation will not earn full marks.