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Earth: The Blue Planet – Introduction and Key Features

May 17, 2026
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[Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only known planet in the Solar System that supports life. It is often called the “Blue Planet” formed around 4.5 billion years ago from a cloud of gas and dust called the solar nebula. It has a spherical shape (geoid) and rotates on its axis while also revolving around the Sun. The Earth has a layered structure: CrustMantleCore. Earth is surrounded by an atmosphere made mainly of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%), which protects life from harmful solar radiation and helps maintain temperature. Two main movements of Earth are: Rotation → causes day and night (about 24 hours); Revolution → causes seasons (about 365¼ days). Earth is unique because it has liquid water, suitable temperature, and a protective atmosphere, making it the only known planet capable of supporting life]

 

1Q. Which planet is known as the “Blue Planet” in the Solar System?

Ans: Earth

2Q. Which is the only known planet to support life?

Ans: Earth

3Q. What is the natural satellite of Earth?

Ans: Moon

4Q. Which force keeps Earth in orbit around the Sun?

Ans: Gravity

5Q. What is the shape of Earth called?

Ans: Geoid

6Q. Which layer of Earth lies between the crust and the core?

Ans: Mantle

7Q. Which is the hottest layer inside Earth?

Ans: Inner Core

8Q. What is the approximate age of Earth?

Ans: About 4.5 billion years

9Q. Which movement of Earth causes day and night?

Ans: Rotation

10Q. Which movement of Earth causes seasons?

Ans: Revolution

11Q. How much time does Earth take to complete one rotation?

Ans: About 24 hours

12Q. How much time does Earth take to revolve around the Sun?

Ans: About 365¼ days

13Q. What is the imaginary line passing through Earth’s poles called?

Ans: Axis

14Q. At what angle is Earth tilted on its axis?

Ans: 23½°

15Q. What is the path of Earth around the Sun called?

Ans: Orbit

16Q. Which phenomenon occurs due to Earth’s tilted axis?

Ans: Seasons

17Q. What is the closest point of Earth to the Sun called?

Ans: Perihelion

18Q. What is the farthest point of Earth from the Sun called?

Ans: Aphelion

19Q. On which date is Earth nearest to the Sun?

Ans: Around 3 January

20Q. On which date is Earth farthest from the Sun?

Ans: Around 4 July

21Q. Which imaginary line divides Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres?

Ans: Equator

22Q. What are the lines running east-west on Earth called?

Ans: Latitudes

23Q. What are the lines running north-south on Earth called?

Ans: Longitudes

24Q. Which longitude is known as the Prime Meridian?

Ans: 0° Longitude

25Q. Which latitude is known as the Tropic of Cancer?

Ans: 23½° North

26Q. Which latitude is known as the Tropic of Capricorn?

Ans: 23½° South

27Q. Which latitude is called the Arctic Circle?

Ans: 66½° North

28Q. Which latitude is called the Antarctic Circle?

Ans: 66½° South

29Q. Which layer of Earth contains the ozone layer?

Ans: Stratosphere

30Q. Which is the lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere?

Ans: Troposphere

31Q. In which layer do weather changes occur?

Ans: Troposphere

32Q. Which gas is most abundant in Earth’s atmosphere?

Ans: Nitrogen

33Q. Which gas supports life on Earth?

Ans: Oxygen

34Q. Which gas protects Earth from harmful ultraviolet rays?

Ans: Ozone

35Q. Which planet has conditions most similar to Earth?

Ans: Venus

36Q. Which planet is called Earth’s twin?

Ans: Venus

37Q. Which planet is larger than Earth and famous for the Great Red Spot?

Ans: Jupiter

38Q. Which is the third planet from the Sun?

Ans: Earth

39Q. Which celestial event occurs when Earth comes between the Sun and Moon?

Ans: Lunar Eclipse

40Q. Which celestial event occurs when the Moon comes between Earth and the Sun?

Ans: Solar Eclipse

41Q. What is the speed of Earth’s rotation at the equator?

Ans: About 1670 km/h

42Q. What causes tides on Earth?

Ans: Gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun

43Q. Which planet has liquid water on its surface?

Ans: Earth

44Q. What is the outermost solid layer of Earth called?

Ans: Crust

45Q. Which instrument measures earthquakes on Earth?

Ans: Seismograph

46Q. What is the boundary between Earth’s crust and mantle called?

Ans: Mohorovičić Discontinuity (Moho)

47Q. Which layer of Earth is made mainly of molten iron and nickel?

Ans: Outer Core

48Q. What protects Earth from solar winds?

Ans: Magnetic Field

49Q. What is the study of Earth called?

Ans: Geology

50Q. Which planet in the Solar System has the highest density?

Ans: Earth

51Q. Which scientist first explained that Earth revolves around the Sun?

Ans: Nicolaus Copernicus

52Q. Which proof supports Earth’s rotation on its axis?

Ans: Foucault Pendulum

53Q. Which proof supports Earth’s revolution around the Sun?

Ans: Stellar Aberration

54Q. What is the velocity of Earth’s revolution around the Sun?

Ans: About 29.8 km/s

55Q. Which imaginary circle receives the vertical rays of the Sun on 21 June?

Ans: Tropic of Cancer

56Q. Which imaginary circle receives the vertical rays of the Sun on 22 December?

Ans: Tropic of Capricorn

57Q. During which equinox are day and night equal throughout Earth?

Ans: 21 March and 23 September

58Q. Which force causes Earth to bulge at the equator?

Ans: Centrifugal Force

59Q. Why is Earth slightly flattened at the poles?

Ans: Due to rotation

60Q. What is the angular speed of Earth’s rotation?

Ans: 15° per hour

61Q. Which longitude determines the International Date Line?

Ans: 180° Longitude

62Q. Which country is nearly divided into two dates by the International Date Line?

Ans: Russia

63Q. Which atmospheric layer reflects radio waves back to Earth?

Ans: Ionosphere

64Q. Which atmospheric layer is nearest to outer space?

Ans: Exosphere

65Q. Which layer of Earth’s atmosphere contains electrically charged particles?

Ans: Thermosphere

66Q. What is the average distance between Earth and the Sun?

Ans: About 149.6 million km

67Q. Which term describes Earth’s daily spinning movement?

Ans: Diurnal Motion

68Q. Which waves cannot travel through liquid layers inside Earth?

Ans: S-Waves

69Q. Which date marks the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere?

Ans: 21 June

70Q. Which date marks the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere?

Ans: 22 December

71Q. Which branch of science studies Earth’s atmosphere and weather?

Ans: Meteorology

72Q. What is 0° longitude called?

Ans: Prime Meridian

73Q. What is the speed of light from the Sun to Earth?

Ans: About 8 minutes 20 seconds

74Q. Which planet has the strongest magnetic field after Jupiter?

Ans: Earth

75Q. Which geophysical phenomenon proves Earth’s internal heat?

Ans: Volcanism

76Q. Which discontinuity separates Earth’s mantle and core?

Ans: Gutenberg Discontinuity

77Q. Which layer of Earth is responsible for plate tectonics?

Ans: Lithosphere

78Q. Which movement of tectonic plates causes earthquakes?

Ans: Plate Tectonics

79Q. Which zone around Earth traps charged particles from the Sun?

Ans: Van Allen Radiation Belt

80Q. What is 180° longitude called?

Ans: International Date Line