UPSC Physical Geography – Chapter 2: Earth's Motions, Latitude, Longitude and Time (25 MCQs)

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UPSC Physical Geography – Chapter 2: Earth's Motions, Latitude, Longitude and Time (25 MCQs) – 24 questions, subject: Geography. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

The Earth is nearest to the Sun (perihelion) in:

Correct Answer: A [early January]

Explanation:

Around 3 January the Earth reaches perihelion, its nearest point to the Sun, about 147 million km away.

2.  

The Earth's axis makes an angle with the plane of its orbit of about:

Correct Answer: C [66½°]

Explanation:

The axis is tilted 23½° from the perpendicular, so it makes 90° − 23½° = 66½° with the orbital plane.

3.  

On 22 December the Sun is overhead at noon on the:

Correct Answer: D [Tropic of Capricorn]

Explanation:

At the winter solstice the Southern Hemisphere leans towards the Sun, so its vertical rays fall on 23½°S.

4.  

On 21 June, which of the following places has 24 hours of daylight?

Correct Answer: D [Arctic Circle]

Explanation:

On 21 June the Northern Hemisphere leans towards the Sun, so at the Arctic Circle the Sun does not set.

5.  

A time difference of one hour corresponds to a difference in longitude of:

Correct Answer: B [15°]

Explanation:

The Earth turns 360° in 24 hours, so 360 ÷ 24 = 15° of longitude passes in one hour.

6.  

Indian Standard Time is based on the meridian of:

Correct Answer: B [82°30′E]

Explanation:

IST uses 82°30′E, near Mirzapur; 82.5 × 4 minutes = 330 minutes, giving UTC + 5:30.

7.  

When it is 12 noon at Greenwich, the time at a place on 45°W is:

Correct Answer: D [9 a.m.]

Explanation:

45 × 4 = 180 minutes behind.

8.  

The only parallel that is a great circle is the:

Correct Answer: D [Equator]

Explanation:

A great circle divides the globe into two equal halves; among parallels only the equator does so.

9.  

Consider the following statements:

1. All meridians are of equal length.
2. The distance between two meridians is greatest at the equator.
3. Parallels become larger towards the poles.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Meridians are equal half-circles that converge at the poles, so their spacing is widest at the equator; statement 3 is false.

10.  

Assertion (A): The Northern Hemisphere has summer in June although the Earth is then near its farthest point from the Sun (aphelion, early July).

Reason (R): Seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis, which makes the Sun's rays more direct in the hemisphere leaning towards the Sun.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

The tilt, not distance, makes June rays more direct in the north, so R explains northern summer near aphelion.

11.  

The Prime Meridian was adopted at an international conference in:

Correct Answer: C [1884]

Explanation:

The International Meridian Conference at Washington in 1884 adopted the meridian through Greenwich as 0° longitude.

12.  

A traveller crossing the International Date Line from Asia towards America will:

Correct Answer: C [repeat a calendar date]

Explanation:

Crossing eastward from Asia to America moves a traveller behind by a day, so the same calendar date is repeated.

13.  

Which of the following Indian States is NOT crossed by the Tropic of Cancer?

Correct Answer: B [Odisha]

Explanation:

The Tropic of Cancer passes north of Odisha, through Jharkhand and West Bengal; Odisha is not among the eight States.

14.  

The speed of the Earth's rotation is greatest at the:

Correct Answer: D [equator]

Explanation:

about 1,670 km/h.

15.  

A leap year is needed because the Earth's revolution takes about:

Correct Answer: D [365¼ days]

Explanation:

Four extra quarter days of the 365¼-day revolution add up to one day, inserted in February every fourth year.

16.  

Arrange the following dates in the order in which they occur from January:

1. Summer solstice
2. Perihelion
3. Winter solstice
4. Vernal equinox

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [2-4-1-3]

Explanation:

early January, 21 March, 21 June, 22 December.

17.  

The line separating the lit half of the Earth from the dark half is called the:

Correct Answer: B [circle of illumination]

Explanation:

The circle of illumination is the moving boundary between the sunlit half and the dark half of the Earth.

18.  

One degree of latitude is approximately equal to:

Correct Answer: A [111 km]

Explanation:

The Earth's circumference of about 40,000 km divided by 360° gives about 111 km per degree of latitude.

19.  

The time taken by the Earth to complete one rotation relative to the distant stars (a sidereal day) is about:

Correct Answer: B [23 hours 56 minutes]

Explanation:

measured against the distant stars, one rotation takes about 23 hours 56 minutes, a sidereal day.

20.  
UPSC Prelims 2025

Consider the following statements:

I. Anadyr in Siberia and Nome in Alaska are a few kilometers from each other, but when people are waking up and getting set for breakfast in these cities, it would be different days.

II. When it is Monday in Anadyr, it is Tuesday in Nome.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: A [I only]

Explanation:

Nome, east of the Date Line, is behind Anadyr; when it is Monday in Anadyr it is Sunday in Nome.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2024

On June 21 every year, which of the following latitude(s) experience(s) a sunlight of more than 12 hours?

1. Equator
2. Tropic of Cancer
3. Tropic of Capricorn
4. Arctic Circle

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: D [2 and 4]

Explanation:

On 21 June northern latitudes have long days: the Tropic of Cancer gets over 12 hours and the Arctic Circle 24 hours.

22.  
UPSC Prelims 2022

In the northern hemisphere, the longest day of the year normally occurs in the:

Correct Answer: B [Second half of the month of June]

Explanation:

the summer solstice, about 21 June.

23.  
UPSC Prelims 2019

On 21st June, the Sun:

Correct Answer: A [does not set below the horizon at the Arctic Circle.]

Explanation:

On 21 June the Northern Hemisphere leans towards the Sun, so it stays above the horizon all day at the Arctic Circle.

24.  
UPSC Prelims 2013

Variations in the length of daytime and night-time from season to season are due to

Correct Answer: D [revolution of the earth on a tilted axis]

Explanation:

As the Earth revolves with its axis tilted 23½°, each hemisphere leans towards and then away from the Sun, changing day length.

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