The Making of the Earth


A. Comprehension Questions

L. (i) Answer the following questions:

1. What are planets? 

Answer: Planets are heavenly bodies that revolve around the sun. They do not have their own light but shine because they reflect the light of the sun. Our Earth is one of the planets in the solar system.


2. Define solar system.

Answer: The Solar System is a group of the sun and all the planets that revolve around it, along with their satellites. It also includes other objects like asteroids and comets. The sun is like the father of this family, and the planets, including Earth, go around it.


3. How can you distinguish between planets and stars?

Answer: Planets do not twinkle, while stars do. This is because planets only reflect the light of the sun, whereas stars shine with their own light as they are burning hot like the sun.


4. Why do the stars twinkle ?

Answer: Stars twinkle because their light passes through the Earth's atmosphere, which is made up of layers of air with different temperatures and densities. These layers cause the light to bend or refract, creating the twinkling effect. Since planets do not have their own light and simply reflect sunlight, they do not twinkle.


5. How was earth formed?

Answer: The Earth was formed when a small part of the sun shot out into space, detached from it, and began to cool down. Initially, it was very hot, with gases and vapours all around. Over time, it gradually cooled, allowing the surface to become solid and eventually form oceans when water vapour condensed and rained down. This process took millions of years, and as the Earth cooled, it became possible for life to exist.


6. How were oceans and seas formed?

Answer: Oceans and seas were formed when the Earth cooled down enough for the water vapour in the air to condense into liquid water. This water then fell as heavy rain, filling the large hollows and depressions on the Earth's surface. Over time, these filled areas became the vast oceans and seas we see today.


(ii) Answer in 50-60 words:

1. Write a short note of about 100 words on the making of the earth.

Answer: The Earth was formed billions of years ago from a part of the sun that shot out into space. Initially, it was extremely hot with gases and vapours all around it. Over time, as the Earth was much smaller than the sun, it started cooling down. This cooling allowed the surface to become solid, while the interior remained hot. As the Earth cooled further, water vapour condensed into rain, filling the depressions on the surface to form the oceans. The Earth’s formation was a gradual process, taking millions of years, and it eventually became suitable for life to exist.


2. Write a few words on the happy family of the sun.

Answer: The Sun is the center of the Solar System, and it forms a "happy family" with its planets and their satellites. The Sun, being the father, attracts the planets, including Earth, and keeps them revolving around it. Each planet has its own unique characteristics and, in many cases, has natural satellites like the Moon. This family also includes asteroids and comets, all bound by the Sun's gravitational pull. The entire group of these celestial bodies, with the Sun at the center, is called the Solar System, and together they move in harmony through space.