Here are the step-by-step solutions to the "Questions, activities and projects" exercise from Chapter 1:
Question 1. Returning to page 10 and to Fig. 5.2 in Chapter 5 of this textbook, taking the scale to be 2.5 cm = 500 km, calculate the real distance from the estuary of the Narmada River to the estuary of the Ganga river. (Hint: round off your measurement on the map to an easy number.)
Answer 1. Calculating Real Distance (Narmada to Ganga Estuary)
Given Scale: 2.5 cm = 500 km which means
1 cm = 200 km
If you measure the straight-line distance on the textbook map from the Narmada estuary (where it enters the Arabian Sea in Gujarat) to the Ganga estuary (the Sundarbans delta where it enters the Bay of Bengal), it rounds off to approximately 7 cm.
Real Distance = 7 cm x 200 km = 1,400 km
(Note: Depending on your physical page print, if your measurement rounds closer to 7.5 cm , the calculation will be 7.5 times 200 = 1,500 km.
Question 2. Why is it 5:30 pm in India when it is 12:00 noon in London?
Answer 2. The Earth rotates 360 degrees in 24 hours, which means it covers 15 degrees of longitude every hour (or 1 degree every 4 minutes).
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London is located on the Prime Meridian (0 degrees longitude).
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India’s Standard Time (IST) is calculated from its central meridian located at 82 degrees 30 minutes East (82.5° E).
Calculation of Time Difference:
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Longitude difference = 82.5° - 0° = 82.5°
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Time difference in minutes = 82.5 × 4 minutes = 330 minutes
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Time difference in hours = 330 ÷ 60 = 5 hours and 30 minutes
Because India is located to the East of the Prime Meridian, it experiences the sun earlier and its time is ahead. Therefore, when it is 12:00 noon in London, India is exactly 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead, making it 5:30 pm IST.
Question 3. Why do we need symbols and colours in a map?
Answer 3. are scaled-down representations of the real world. It is impossible to draw actual features like buildings, mountains, rivers, and railway lines in their true size and shape.
Symbols, signs, letters, and colors are used as a universal language to fit a vast amount of clear, readable geographical information into a limited space. For example, blue is universally understood to represent water bodies, while green represents forests or plains.
Question 4. Find out what you have in the eight directions from your home or school.
Answer 4. Eight Directions Activity
To complete this activity, stand in an open area at your home or school facing North (you can use a compass app on a smartphone to find exact North) and identify landmarks in all eight directions:
Cardinal Directions Intermediate Directions
North (N): e.g., School main gate North-East (NE): e.g., Playground
South (S): e.g., Science lab / Back wall South-East (SE): e.g., Principal's office
East (E): e.g., Nearby residential colony North-West (NW): e.g., Parking lot
West (W): e.g., Main road South-West (SW): e.g., Library
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 5. Difference Between Local Time and Standard Time
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Local Time: This is the time calculated according to the position of the sun at a specific meridian. When the sun is directly overhead, it is 12:00 noon locally. Every single line of longitude has a different local time.
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Standard Time: This is the uniform official time chosen for an entire country or region, usually fixed according to a central meridian passing through that country.
Summary (100–150 words):
Local time is entirely dependent on nature and varies continuously as you travel east or west because the sun rises and sets at different times for different places. If a large country like India used local times, every city would have a different clock reading, leading to massive confusion in railway schedules, flight timings, and national broadcasts. To avoid this chaos, countries adopt a "Standard Time." This acts as a single, uniform clock setting for the entire nation based on a centrally chosen meridian, ensuring that everyone across the country follows the exact same schedule.
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 6. Time Difference Between Delhi and Bengaluru
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Delhi's Longitude: 77∘ E
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Bengaluru's Longitude: 77∘ E
Difference in Local Time: 0 minutes (No difference)
Explanation: Local time depends purely on longitude (the vertical lines running north to south). Since both Delhi and Bengaluru sit practically on the exact same longitudinal line (77∘ E), the sun will cross their meridian at the exact same moment. Their differences in latitude (29∘ N vs 13∘ N) only affect daylight duration and climate, not the time of day.
7. True or False with Explanations
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All parallels of latitude have the same length.
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False. Only the Equator ($0^\circ$) is a full Great Circle. As you move toward the North and South poles, the circles of latitude get progressively smaller until they become single points at $90^\circ$.
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The length of a meridian of longitude is half of that of the Equator.
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True. Meridians are semi-circles running from the North Pole to the South Pole, making them exactly half of a full planetary circle. The Equator is a full circle around the Earth’s widest part.
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The South Pole has a latitude of $90^\circ\text{ S}$.
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True. Latitude is measured up to $90^\circ$ north or south from the Equator. The South Pole marks the absolute southern limit, so its value is $90^\circ\text{ S}$.
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In Assam, the local time and the IST are identical.
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False. Indian Standard Time (IST) is based on the meridian $82^\circ30'\text{ E}$ (which passes through Mirzapur, UP). Assam is located much further east (around $92^\circ\text{ E}$ to $96^\circ\text{ E}$), meaning its actual local solar time is about an hour ahead of IST.
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Lines separating the time zones are identical with meridians of longitude.
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False. While time zones are fundamentally calculated using longitudes ($15^\circ$ spacing per hour), the actual boundaries are modified to zig-zag around national borders, states, and islands so political regions aren't awkwardly split into two times.
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The Equator is also a parallel of latitude.
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True. The Equator is the starting point ($0^\circ$) for measuring all horizontal grid lines on Earth, making it the primary and largest parallel of latitude.
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As per new NCERT syllabus here are the Structured, student-friendly notes for Chapter 1: The Wonderful World of Science from the Class 6 NCERT textbook Curiosity CBSE and Rajasthan Board calss 6 Science..
Notes of Chapter 1: Locating Places on the Earth
from the Class 6 NCERT Social Science textbook .
NCERT Solutions Maths
NCERT Solutions Class 10
NCERT Solutions Class 9
NCERT Solutions Class 8
NCERT Solutions Class 7
NCERT Solutions Class 6
NCERT Solutions Class 5
NCERT Solutions Class 4
NCERT Solutions Class 3
NCERT Solutions Class 2
NCERT Solutions Class 1
Chapter 1: The Wonderful World of Science
from the Class 6 NCERT textbook Curiosity.
Here is a comprehensive question bank tailored for Class 6 students based on Chapter 1: The Wonderful World of Science from the NCERT textbook Curiosity.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) With correct Answers
1. What is the primary driving force behind scientific discovery?
A) Reading textbooks
B) Curiosity and asking questions
C) Memorizing facts
D) Scoring marks in exams
Answer: B) Curiosity and asking questions
2. According to the chapter, science is best described as:
A) Just a subject in a book
B) A collection of fixed answers
C) An adventure of exploring and understanding the world
D) Something that only happens in high-tech laboratories
Answer: C) An adventure of exploring and understanding the world
3. When we look at a tiny grain of sand or a vast forest and wonder how they work, we are practicing:
A) Analysis
B) Observation
C) Experimentation
D) Conclusion
Answer: B) Observation
Which of the following is an example of science happening in our everyday homes?
A) Cooking food in the kitchen
B) Watching stars in outer space
C) Migrating birds
D) Volcanic eruptions
Answer: A) Cooking food in the kitchen
What do scientists do right after observing a strange pattern in nature?
A) Write a final textbook rule
B) Ask questions and form a hypothesis/test
C) Give up the search
D) Ignore it
Answer: B) Ask questions and form a hypothesis/test
The systematic path scientists use to discover the truth is called the:
A) Mathematical path
B) Scientific method
C) Creative writing method
D) Historical timeline
Answer: B) Scientific method
Which human body process mentioned in the chapter is a wonder of science?
A) Wearing clothes
B) Digesting food
C) Riding a bicycle
D) Buying groceries
Answer: B) Digesting food
Why does a seed know when to open and grow? This question is an example of:
A) A scientific inquiry
B) A historical fact
C) An invalid guess
D) A mathematical equation
Answer: A) A scientific inquiry
Science helps us unravel the mysteries of:
A) Only outer space
B) Nature and the universe
C) Just electronic gadgets
D) Ancient languages
Answer: B) Nature and the universe
What type of question is considered a "bad question" in science?
A) Simple questions
B) Funny questions
C) There is no such thing as a bad question
D) Questions that challenge old ideas
Answer: C) There is no such thing as a bad question
Fill in the Blanks
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Science is not just a subject; it is a way of __________, observing, and understanding the world.
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According to the chapter, a simple human trait called __________ is the very starting point of all scientific exploration.
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Looking closely at things to notice patterns or changes is called __________.
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Scientists perform __________ to test how things work under different conditions.
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The process of looking at test results to see if they make sense is called __________.
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The water cycle, where water evaporates to form __________, is an example of science in nature.
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Ants working together in a __________ is a fascinating biological observation.
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A systematic study always begins with a simple human trait called __________.
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Science is not confined to laboratories; it is happening all __________ us every day.
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Figuring out the final rule or reason behind a scientific test is called drawing a __________.
Answer Key
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thinking
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Curiosity
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observation
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experiments
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analysis
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clouds
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colony
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curiosity
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around
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conclusion
True or False
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Science is completely limited to what is written in high-tech lab journals. (False)
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Every great scientific discovery started with someone asking "Why?" or "How?". (True)
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In science, we should accept things blindly without asking questions. (False)
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The natural process of a flower blooming involves scientific principles. (True)
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Only adults or professional scientists can think scientifically. (False)
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Drawing a conclusion is the very first step of the scientific method. (False)
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Science helps us understand everything from a tiny grain of sand to the vast universe. (True)
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The way our bodies breathe air and grow taller is a part of biological science. (True)
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Doing tests to check if our ideas are right is called experimentation. (True)
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Science proves that nature operates on chaotic randomness with no underlying patterns. (False)
Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1. What is the main theme of Chapter 1 of the textbook Curiosity?
Answer: The main theme is introducing students to the spirit of science, emphasizing that it is driven by curiosity, observation, and asking questions about the natural world.
Question 2. Name the four main steps of how a scientist works.
Answer: The four steps are: 1. Observation, 2. Experimentation, 3. Analysis, and 4. Drawing Conclusions.
Question 3. Give two examples of science happening in nature.
Answer: Two examples are: (1) How water evaporates to form clouds, and (2) How a tiny seed knows when to open and grow into a plant.
Question 4. Give two examples of science occurring inside your own home.
Answer: Examples include the cooking and chemical changes of food in the kitchen, and the operation of electronic gadgets like refrigerators or lights.
Question 5. What role does curiosity play in science?
Answer: Curiosity is the starting point of all science. It drives humans to observe their surroundings, feel wonder, and ask the essential questions that lead to discoveries.
Question 6. Why is there "no such thing as a bad question" in science?
Answer: Because every question, no matter how simple, prompts us to look closer, investigate, and test our understanding, which is the core of scientific thinking.
Question 7. What is meant by 'Observation' in the scientific method?
Answer: Observation means looking very closely at objects, events, or organisms in nature to notice details, changes, or repeating patterns.
Question 8. How do our own bodies represent the wonderful world of science?
Answer: Our bodies constantly carry out complex scientific processes like digesting food, breathing oxygen, circulating blood, and growing.
Question 9. Is science an dynamic process or a fixed set of magic tricks? Explain briefly.
Answer: It is a dynamic process of systematic study and exploration. It is not magic; it relies on evidence, testing, and logical reasoning to find the truth.
Question 10. How can a student act like a scientist on a daily basis?
Answer: A student can act like a scientist by keeping their eyes open to their surroundings, observing nature closely, and constantly asking "how" and "why" things happen.
Long Answer Type Questions (Answer in 60 words each)
Question 1. Explain how science can be viewed as a thrilling adventure rather than just a textbook subject.
Answer1 : Science is a thrilling adventure because it turns the entire universe into a playground for discovery. Instead of just memorizing facts from a textbook, science invites us to explore the unknown. From investigating microscopic grains of sand to gazing at vast galaxies, it allows us to act like detectives uncovering the hidden rules of nature.
Question 2. Describe the systematic path or method that scientists follow to uncover the truths of nature.
Answer: Scientists follow a structured path called the scientific method to avoid guessing. It begins with making careful observations of patterns in nature. Next, they design experiments to test these observations under different conditions. They then perform an analysis of the data collected, and finally, they draw logical conclusions to establish scientific facts.
Question 3 . How does the chapter illustrate that science is deeply integrated into our everyday lives? Provide examples.
Answer: The chapter shows that science is not isolated in distant laboratories; it happens around us daily. In nature, it explains how clouds form or how ants organize themselves. At home, it governs how food cooks or how gadgets function. Even inside us, it controls how we breathe and digest food, proving science is woven into everything we do.
Chapter 1: The Wonderful World of Science
Multiple Choice Questions
Study More Class 6 Science
Based on the new Class 6 NCERT science textbook titled Curiosity, here is the complete list of chapters:
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Chapter 1: The Wonderful World of Science
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Chapter 2: Diversity in the Living World
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Chapter 3: Mindful Eating: A Pathway to Health
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Chapter 4: Exploring Subatomic World (or sorting materials based on the specific curriculum focus)
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Chapter 5: Measurement of Distance and Motion
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Chapter 6: Materials Around Us
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Chapter 7: Temperature and its Measurement
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Chapter 8: A Journey through States of Matter
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Chapter 9: Methods of Separation in Everyday Life
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Chapter 10: Living Organisms and Their Surroundings
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Chapter 11: Nature's Treasures: Air and Water
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Chapter 12: Beyond the Earth: Our Solar System and Universe