Question

Read the passage given below and answer the following questions.

The rotation of the Earth causes day and night. Due to the rotation taking place on the inclined axis, it does affect the phenomena of day and night. The duration of day and night varies according to the latitudes. The days and nights are almost equal at the equator where the inclination of axis is the least. The difference between the length of day and night goes on increasing from the equator towards the poles. The days become progressively longer and the nights become shorter in summers and vice versa in winters. This is due to the fact that the inclination of axis goes on increasing from the equator towards the poles. Had the axis been vertical, the length of days and the nights would have been equal all over the Earth.

1. The difference between the duration of day and night will be more at Kannyakumari or at Leh? Give reason for your answer.
2. What is the angle of inclination of the Earth’s axis?
3. In summers, which of the two places will experience longer days-Chennai or Lucknow?

Answer 1

1. The difference between the duration of day and night will be more at Leh than at Kannyakumari.
   Reason: The difference between the length of day and night increases from the equator towards the poles due to the inclination of the Earth’s axis. Kannyakumari is near the equator (lower latitude), and Leh is at a higher latitude (closer to the poles). Hence, the variation in day and night length is greater at Leh compared to Kannyakumari.
2. The angle of inclination of the Earth’s axis is approximately 23.5 degrees with respect to the perpendicular to the orbital plane (the plane of the Earth’s revolution around the Sun).
3. In summers, Lucknow will experience longer days than Chennai.
   Reason: Lucknow, being at a higher latitude than Chennai, experiences a greater variation in day length due to the Earth’s tilted axis. During summer, places farther from the equator have longer days compared to places closer to the equator. These conclusions are drawn from the explanation that day and night duration vary by latitude because of the Earth’s tilted axis, with minimal variation at the equator and maximal near the poles. Length of day increases as you move away from the equator towards the poles during summer and vice versa during winter. The Earth’s axis tilt is about 23.5 degrees. For example, between Chennai (closer to equator) and Lucknow (farther north), Lucknow has longer summer days.