HomeLearn Fast select Course
Change UnitChange SubjectLast Menu
ICSE-IX-Geography

13: Insolation

with Solutions -

Note: Please signup/signin free to get personalized experience.

Note: Please signup/signin free to get personalized experience.

10 minutes can boost your percentage by 10%

Note: Please signup/signin free to get personalized experience.

  
  • #
  • #
    Section : I
    Short Answer Questions
  • Qstn #1
    What is solar radiation ? What is its significance for the earth ?
    Ans : The sun continuously radiates heat and light energy in all the directions. It is known as solar radiation. Solar radiation is the only primary source of light and heat on the earth. The earth receives its heat from solar radiation which is a tiny fraction of the radiated energy of the sun.
  • Qstn #2
    What is meant by insolation ? State two of its main characteristics.
    Ans : The amount of solar energy received by the earth is called insolation, but only one part out of two billion parts reaches the earth. So, out of total 100% solar energy only 51% reaches the earth, 35% reflected back to into space and only 14% is absorbed by the ozone layer.
  • Qstn #3
    State two advantages of convectional heating of the atmosphere.
    Ans : Convectional heating of the atmosphere is done by heating up the layer of air touching land surface and rising up to warm up the upper layer, while the cold wind sinks down and again heated up by the terrestrial radiation. This circulation causes formation of clouds, rainfall and mild changes in climatic behaviour.
  • Qstn #4
    Name four factors that affect the temperature of a place.
    Ans : The four factors that affect the temperature of a place are :

    1. Latitude

    2. Distance from the sea.

    3. Altitude

    4. Wind direction

    5. Natural vegetation

  • Qstn #5
    How does the distance from the sea affect the distribution of temperature ?
    Ans : Due to the physical property of water, which is heated up and cooled down slowly with respect to the land. So, the coastal areas experience mild climate with least range of temperature, while the regions far from the sea are affected by extreme climate with maximum range of temperature.
  • Qstn #6
    State the pattern of temperature in mid latitudes.
    Ans : Due to spherical shape of the earth, temperature zone gets less insolation resulting in moderate climate with normal temperature ranging from 15°C to 30°C. The duration of sunshine is greater in summer than winter. So the summer is warm and winter is cold.
  • Qstn #7
    How would the breezes that blow during the day and those that blow during the night affect the temperature of a place situated in the coastal region ?
    Ans : During the day the sea breeze blowing from sea towards land keeps the coastal region cool and during the night land breeze blowing from land towards sea makes the sea cooler. This interchange of breeze maintains the heat balance resulting in the mild climate of the coastal regions with lower daily and annual ranges of temperature.
  • Qstn #8
    What difference is there in the temperatures on a mountain and on a sea shore ?
    Ans : The rate of decrease of temperature is 1°C for every 166 metres, the temperatures on a mountain are for lesser than the temperatures on a sea shore which is nearly at zero height.
  • Qstn #9
    Why is India cooler in December than in July ?
    Ans : Tropic of Cancer passes midway across India, so, there is summer season in July, while in December the sun is vertical on the Tropic of Capricorn in southern hemisphere, so India experiences winter season. So naturally December is cooler than July.
  • Qstn #10
    State two chief characteristics of the Temperate zone.
    Ans :
    1. Medium temperature and medium rainfall due to slanting rays of the sun
    2. less evaporation.
  • Qstn #11
    Explain the following:
    (a) Diurnal range of temperature.
    (b) Mean Monthly Range of Temperature.
    (c) Mean Annual Range of Temperature.
    Ans : (a) Diurnal range is the difference between the maximum and minimum temperature within 24 hours, of the day.
    (b) It is the difference between the mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures within the month.
    (c) It is the difference between mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures within a year, mainly between June and January.
  • Qstn #12
    Define briefly ‘Heat Balance”.
    Ans : Heat balance is defined as the state of equilibrium that exists on earth between incoming insolation from the sun and the out going terrestrial radiation from the earth.
  • Qstn #13
    Name the heat zones of the earth.
    Ans : Torrid zone, Temperate zone and Frigid zone.
next page