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SAKSHAM UPPSC 2024

DAILY
CLASS NOTES
Geography

Lecture – 02
Earth
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Earth
Earth - The Unique Blue Planet

Size, Shape, and Position

 Third Nearest to the Sun: Earth is the third planet in our solar system, located at an

ideal distance from the Sun to support life.

 Fifth Largest Planet: In terms of size, Earth ranks as the fifth largest planet.

 Geoid Shape: Earth's shape is slightly flattened at the poles, leading to its description

as a geoid, which means an earth-like shape.

 Earth is more extended in the equatorial region, resulting in a wider circumference

around the equator. In contrast, the polar regions are slightly flattened, giving Earth

its distinct shape.

The effects of Earth's rotation on its shape and the resulting variations in gravitational

force

 Due to the Earth's rotation, centrifugal force is generated, pushing outwards from

the center. This force causes the Earth to bulge out slightly at the equatorial region.
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 The equatorial radius refers to the distance from the center of the Earth to the

equator, while the polar radius refers to the distance from the center to the poles.

 The Earth's equatorial radius is larger than its polar radius, indicating that the Earth

is more extended in the equatorial region.

 Due to the bulging at the equator, the gravitational force experienced on the surface

varies depending on the location.

 In the polar regions, the gravitational force is slightly stronger compared to other

regions.

 In the equatorial region, where the Earth's shape bulges out, the gravitational force is

slightly weaker compared to the polar regions.

Earth's Favorable Conditions for Life

 Earth provides a unique set of conditions suitable for supporting life as we know it.

 Moderate Temperature: The Earth's distance from the Sun allows for a moderate

temperature range, neither too hot nor too cold.

 Presence of Water: Earth has abundant water, covering approximately two-thirds of

its surface, a vital element for sustaining life.

 Essential Air: Earth's atmosphere contains life-supporting gases, including oxygen,

necessary for the survival of living organisms.

Because of these reasons, the earth is a unique planet in the solar system. From the

outer space, the earth appears blue because its two-thirds surface is covered by water. It

is, therefore, called a blue planet.

Rocket launching centre

 The rotation of the Earth from west to east is the reason why major rocket launching

centres are often established in or near the equatorial region, preferably on the

eastern coast.

 One example is the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, located in Sriharikota, Andhra

Pradesh, India.
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Axis of Earth

 The axis of the Earth refers to the imaginary line around which the Earth rotates.

 The Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of approximately 23.5 degrees from the vertical

line. This tilt is known as the axial tilt or obliquity of the Earth.

 The Earth's axial tilt has significant implications for our planet's seasons and climate

patterns. It causes the changing seasons as different parts of the Earth receive varying

amounts of sunlight throughout the year.

 The axis of the earth, which is an imaginary line, makes an angle of 66½° with its

orbital plane. The plane formed by the orbit is known as the orbital plane.

The Earth's Orbit

 The orbit of the Earth refers to the fixed path along which the Earth revolves around

the Sun.
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 The Earth's orbit is elliptical in shape, resembling a slightly elongated circle. This

means the Earth's distance from the Sun varies throughout its orbit.

 Due to the elliptical shape of the Earth's orbit, the distance between the Sun and

Earth changes as the Earth moves along its path. At certain points in the orbit, Earth

is closer to the Sun, while at other points, it is farther away.

 The average distance between the Earth and the Sun is approximately 150 million

kilometers (93 million miles). This average distance is known as one astronomical unit

(AU) and is often used as a standard unit for measuring distances within the solar

system.

 Aphelion: It refers to the point in Earth's orbit where it is farthest from the

Sun. During aphelion, Earth is approximately 152 million kilometers (94.5

million miles) away from the Sun. This typically occurs around July 4th in

the Northern Hemisphere.

 Perihelion: It refers to the point in Earth's orbit where it is closest to the

Sun. During perihelion, Earth is approximately 147 million kilometers (91.4

million miles) away from the Sun. This usually occurs around January 3rd

in the Northern Hemisphere.

Motion of the Earth

Rotation

Rotation refers to the Earth's movement on its axis, which is an imaginary line passing

through the North and South Poles.

 Direction of Rotation: The Earth rotates from west to east, also known as an

eastward or counterclockwise direction when viewed from above the North Pole.

 Duration of Rotation: The Earth takes approximately 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4

seconds to complete one full rotation. This period is known as an Earth day, marking

the daily motion of the Earth.

Impact of Rotation

Sunrise and Sunset:

 Due to the Earth's rotation from west to east, the Sun appears to rise in the east

and set in the west, creating the daily cycle of daylight and darkness.

Formation of Day and Night:

The rotation of the Earth on its axis is indeed the primary cause of day and night.

 The formation of day and night on Earth is determined by the circle of illumination,

which is an imaginary circle that divides the Earth into two regions: the illuminated

region (day) and the non-illuminated region (night).

 As the Earth spins, different areas receive sunlight or are turned away from it,

resulting in the alternating cycles of daylight and darkness.

 Daytime occurs when a specific location is facing towards the Sun, while nighttime

occurs when that location is facing away from the Sun.

 This regular rotation of the Earth gives rise to the formation of day and night,

creating a fundamental rhythm in our daily lives.

Coriolis Effect

 Formation and Nature: The Coriolis force, also known as the Coriolis effect, influences

freely moving objects on Earth's surface due to its rotation.

 Deflection: In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis force causes objects to be

deflected towards the right, while in the Southern Hemisphere, deflection occurs

towards the left.

 The Coriolis force is also known as Ferrel's law.

 Variation in Coriolis Force: The Coriolis force is strongest in the polar regions and

weakest near the equator.

 Impact on Objects: Objects moving at higher speeds experience a more pronounced

Coriolis force.

 Cyclones and Anticyclones: The Coriolis force plays a significant role in the formation

and behaviour of cyclones and anticyclones, influencing their rotation and movement

patterns.
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What would happen if the earth did not rotate?

The portion of the earth facing the sun would always experience day, thus bringing

continuous warmth to the region. The other half would remain in darkness and be

freezing cold all the time. Life would not have been possible in such extreme conditions.

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