CBSE · NCERT · Class 6 Science · Chapter 12

NCERT Solutions: Class 6 Science Chapter 12 - Beyond Earth

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Chapter-wise NCERT intext questions and exercise answers for Beyond Earth, grounded in the official textbook.

Questions are taken verbatim from the NCERT textbook; answers were grounded against the chapter's content during generation. Items needing review are marked.
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Q.1Match the column: Column I: (i) Satellite of Earth (ii) Red planet (iii) Constellation (iv) Planet which is commonly called an evening star. Column II: (a) Orion (b) Venus (c) Mars (d) Moonv
Solution

The Moon is Earth's natural satellite. Mars is called the red planet. Orion is a constellation. Venus is often seen as the evening star.

Answer:

(i) Satellite of Earth - (d) Moon; (ii) Red planet - (c) Mars; (iii) Constellation - (a) Orion; (iv) Planet which is commonly called an evening star - (b) Venus.

Q.2(i) Solve the following riddle. My first alphabet is in MAN but not in CAN My second alphabet is in ACE and also in FAN My third alphabet is in RAT and not in CAT My fourth alphabet is in SUN but not in FUN I am a planet that moves around the Sun. (ii) Make two similar riddles by yourself.v
Solution

For the given riddle: MAN not CAN gives M; ACE and FAN gives A; RAT not CAT gives R; SUN not FUN gives S. Together they spell MARS.

Answer:

(i) The planet is Mars. (ii) Example riddle 1: My first alphabet is in MOON but not in SOON; my second is in EARTH and also in STAR; my third is in ROSE but not in RISE; my fourth is in SUN but not in FUN. I am a red planet. Answer: Mars. Example riddle 2: My first alphabet is in VERY but not in AERY; my second is in SUN and also in TUNE; my third is in NEST and not in BEST; my fourth is in US and also in SUN; my fifth is in STAR and also in CAR. I am called the evening star. Answer: Venus.

Q.3Which of the following is not a member of our Solar System? (i) Sirius (ii) Comets (iii) Asteroids (iv) Plutov
  1. i. Sirius
  2. ii. Comets
  3. iii. Asteroids
  4. iv. Pluto
Solution

Sirius is a star outside our Solar System. Comets and asteroids are smaller objects of the Solar System, and Pluto is a dwarf planet in the Solar System.

Answer:

(i) Sirius

Q.4Which of the following is not a planet of the Sun? (i) Jupiter (ii) Pluto (iii) Neptune (iv) Saturnv
  1. i. Jupiter
  2. ii. Pluto
  3. iii. Neptune
  4. iv. Saturn
Solution

The chapter lists eight planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Pluto is not one of these eight planets.

Answer:

(ii) Pluto

Q.5Which is the brighter star, the Pole Star or Sirius?v
Solution

Sirius is the brightest star visible in the night sky, while the Pole Star is important mainly because it appears nearly fixed in the north direction.

Answer:

Sirius is brighter than the Pole Star.

Q.6An 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 in the boxes in the figure.v
Solution

The planets are arranged by increasing distance from the Sun in the order Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Answer:

No, the order shown is not correct. The correct order of planets from the Sun is Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Q.7A portion of night sky with stars is shown in Fig. 12.13. Look carefully and identify the groups of stars that form the patterns--the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper. Draw lines to connect the stars for these patterns and label them. Also, identify and label the Pole Star. You may refer to Fig. 12.4 for help.v
Solution

The Big Dipper and Little Dipper are recognised by their ladle-like shapes. The Pole Star lies nearly at the end of the Little Dipper's handle.

Answer:

Connect the seven bright stars forming the larger ladle-shaped pattern to label the Big Dipper. Connect the smaller ladle-shaped group nearby to label the Little Dipper. The Pole Star is the star at the end of the handle of the Little Dipper and should be labelled there.

Q.8A portion of the night sky is shown in Fig. 12.14. Draw lines to connect the stars for Orion and label the star Sirius. You may refer to Fig. 12.3.v
Solution

Orion is identified by its three belt stars. Sirius is the bright star close to Orion in the sky.

Answer:

Connect the stars of Orion by first locating the three nearly straight stars of Orion's belt and then joining the surrounding bright stars to make the familiar Orion pattern. Label Sirius as the very bright star near Orion, below and to one side of the constellation in the night-sky view.

Q.9From Earth, you can see stars fading away at dawn and appearing at dusk. During the day we do not see the stars. Explain why.v
Solution

Visibility depends on contrast. During daytime, scattered sunlight outshines the stars.

Answer:

Stars are present in the sky during the day too, but we cannot see them because sunlight is scattered by Earth's atmosphere and makes the sky very bright. The faint light from distant stars is hidden by this brightness. At dusk the sky becomes darker, so stars appear visible again.

Q.10During a clear night, try to observe the Big Dipper 3-4 times at an interval of 2 to 3 hours. Also try to locate the Pole Star each time. Does the Big Dipper appear to move? Draw a rough sketch to illustrate this, mentioning the time in each case.v
Solution

Because Earth rotates, most stars appear to move across the sky. The Pole Star lies nearly along Earth's axis of rotation, so it appears almost stationary.

Answer:

Yes. The Big Dipper appears to change its position with time and seems to move around the Pole Star. The Pole Star appears nearly fixed in the north direction. A rough sketch should show the Big Dipper at different positions around the Pole Star at different times.

Q.11Think about the night sky and write a poem or a story on it.v
Solution

This is a creative prompt; any relevant poem or story about the night sky is acceptable.

Answer:

Sample poem: The night sky opens, deep and wide, With stars like lamps on every side. The Moon sails softly, calm and bright, And planets wander through the night. I look above and start to see, A universe calling out to me.