1. Match the Column
Match the items in Column I with Column II.
| Column I | Column II | Correct Match |
|---|---|---|
| (i) Satellite of Earth | (a) Orion | (d) Moon |
| (ii) Red Planet | (b) Venus | (c) Mars |
| (iii) Constellation | (c) Mars | (a) Orion |
| (iv) Planet called evening star | (d) Moon | (b) Venus |
2. Riddles
(i) Solve the following riddle: My first alphabet is in MAN but not in CAN -> M My second alphabet is in ACE and also in FAN -> A My third alphabet is in RAT and not in CAT -> R My fourth alphabet is in SUN but not in FUN -> S I am a planet that moves around the Sun.
Answer: MARS
(ii) Make two similar riddles by yourself:
Riddle 1 (Earth): My first is in EGG but not in DOG -> E My second is in ANT and also in RAT -> A My third is in RED but not in BED -> R My fourth is in TEN but not in HEN -> T My fifth is in HOT but not in POT -> H Answer: EARTH
Riddle 2 (Sun): My first is in SEA but not in TEA -> S My second is in CUP but not in CAP -> U My third is in NET but not in PET -> N I am a hot ball of fire. Answer: SUN
3. Multiple Choice
Which of the following is not a member of our Solar System? (i) Sirius (ii) Comets (iii) Asteroids (iv) Pluto
Answer: (i) Sirius. Explanation: Sirius is a star located far outside our solar system. Comets, asteroids, and Pluto (dwarf planet) orbit our Sun.
4. Planet Identification
Which of the following is not a planet of the Sun? (i) Jupiter (ii) Pluto (iii) Neptune (iv) Saturn
Answer: (ii) Pluto. Explanation: Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet, not a primary planet.
5. Brighter Star
Which is the brighter star, the Pole Star or Sirius?
Answer: Sirius. Explanation: Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. The Pole Star (Polaris) is not very bright.
6. Order of Planets
An artist’s representation of the Solar System is given in Fig. 12.12. Is the order of the planets correct? If not, write the correct order.
Answer: No, the order in the figure might be jumbled. The correct order from the Sun is:
- Mercury
- Venus
- Earth
- Mars
- Jupiter
- Saturn
- Uranus
- Neptune
7. Identify Patterns (Diagram Activity)
A portion of night sky with stars is shown. Identify Big Dipper, Little Dipper, and Pole Star.
- Big Dipper: Look for the 7 stars forming a large spoon/ladle shape.
- Little Dipper: Look for a smaller ladle shape nearby, which is generally inverted relative to the Big Dipper.
- Pole Star: The star at the very end of the Little Dipper’s handle.
8. Identify Orion (Diagram Activity)
Draw lines to connect stars for Orion and label Sirius.
- Orion: Connect the four outer stars to form a rectangle (shoulders and knees) and the three stars in the middle to form the belt.
- Sirius: Extend the line of the belt towards the left/down (East) to find the bright star Sirius.
9. Stars at Dawn/Dusk
You can see stars fading away at dawn and appearing at dusk. During the day we do not see the stars. Explain why.
Answer: Stars are present in the sky during the day, but we cannot see them because of the glare of the Sun. The Sun is very close to Earth, making its light extremely bright. This intense sunlight scatters in the Earth’s atmosphere, turning the sky blue and outshining the faint light of distant stars.
10. Movement of Big Dipper
Does the Big Dipper appear to move?
Answer: Yes, the Big Dipper appears to move around the Pole Star.
- Observation: If you observe it at intervals of 2-3 hours, you will see the constellation rotating counter-clockwise around the North Star.
- Reason: This apparent movement is due to the rotation of the Earth on its axis. Since the North Pole points to the Pole Star, that star appears stationary, while everything else appears to circle it.
11. Creative Writing
Think about the night sky and write a poem or a story on it.
(Sample Poem) Upon the velvet cloak of night, A thousand diamonds shining bright. The Hunter stands with belt and sword, The Great Bear wanders, never bored. The Moon, a lantern, soft and pale, Guides the comet’s icy tail. So many worlds, so far away, Waiting for the break of day.