Earth, Moon, and | Class 7 Science Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 4 min read
Earth, Moon, and – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of Earth, Moon, and from Class 7 Science, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
12.2.2 Seasons on the Earth
This section explains the cause of seasons on Earth due to its revolution around the Sun combined with the tilt of its axis. Earth's axis is tilted relative to its orbital plane by about 23.5 degrees and maintains this tilt as it revolves around the Sun. This tilt causes different hemispheres to receive varying intensities and durations of sunlight during the year, leading to seasons. In June, the Northern Hemisphere tilts towards the Sun, receiving more direct sunlight over a smaller area and longer daylight hours, causing summer. Simultaneously, the Southern Hemisphere tilts away from the Sun, receiving less intense sunlight and shorter days, causing winter. The situation reverses in December. The spherical shape of Earth causes sunlight to spread over different areas depending on the tilt, affecting heating intensity. The section clarifies common misconceptions that seasons are caused by Earth's varying distance from the Sun or proximity during tilt; in fact, the distance difference is minimal and not the cause. The section also describes solstices and equinoxes: the longest day (summer solstice) around 21 June, shortest day (winter solstice) around 22 December, and equal day and night (equinoxes) around 21 March and 23 September. It notes that polar regions experience continuous daylight or darkness for months, and equatorial regions have nearly equal day and night throughout the year, resulting in less pronounced seasons. Local geographical features also influence seasonal effects.
📊 Diagram: Fig. 12.9 shows Earth's tilted axis at different positions in its orbit around the Sun. Fig. 12.10a and 12.10b illustrate sunlight intensity differences in June and December respectively. Fig. 12.11a and 12.11b show longer and shorter daytime durations in June and December in the Northern Hemisphere.
🧪 Activity: Exploratory project suggested: Using a globe and lamp to simulate Earth's tilt and revolution to observe illumination changes and day length variations.
🔗 Connection: Leads to the next section on eclipses, which involve the relative positions of Earth, Moon, and Sun.
Frequently asked questions
In Fig. 12.17, how many hours of sunlight do the North Pole and the South Pole receive during one rotation of the Earth?
During one rotation of the Earth, the North Pole receives 24 hours of sunlight during its summer (around June 21) and 0 hours during its winter (around December 21). Conversely, the South Pole receives 24 hours of sunlight during its summer (around December 21) and 0 hours during its winter (around June 21). This is because of the tilt of the Earth's axis.
Fill in the blanks (i) Stars rise in the ______ and set in the ______. (ii) Day and night are caused by the Earth's ______. (iii) When the Moon fully covers the Sun from our view, it is called a ______ solar eclipse.
(i) Stars rise in the east and set in the west. (ii) Day and night are caused by the Earth's rotation. (iii) When the Moon fully covers the Sun from our view, it is called a total solar eclipse.
State whether True or False (i) Lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun comes between the Earth and the Moon. (ii) Sunrise happens earlier in Gujarat than in Jharkhand. (iii) In Chennai, the longest day occurs on the summer solstice. (iv) We should watch the solar eclipse directly with our naked eye. (v) Seasons occur due to the tilt of Earth's axis of rotation and its spherical shape. (vi) The Earth's revolution around the Sun causes day and night.
(i) False - Lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon. (ii) True - Gujarat is west of Jharkhand, so sunrise happens earlier there. (iii) True - The longest day in Chennai occurs on the summer solstice. (iv) False - Watching a solar eclipse directly can damage the eyes. (v) True - Seasons occur due to the tilt of Earth's axis and its spherical shape. (vi) False - Day and night are caused by Earth's rotation, not revolution.
Padmashree saw the Orion constellation nearly overhead at 8 pm yesterday. When will she see Orion overhead today?
Padmashree will see the Orion constellation nearly overhead about 4 minutes earlier each day, so approximately at 7:56 pm today.
Ready to ace this chapter?
Get the full Earth, Moon, and chapter — interactive notes, diagrams, worked solutions, polls and a free practice quiz — in the ConceptScroll app.
Study smarter with ConceptScroll
Daily NCERT-aligned reels, AI doubt solving and chapter quizzes — all free.
Start learning freeContinue reading
- पृथ्वी, चंद्रमा एवं सूर्य | Class 7 Science Notes
Clear NCERT-aligned notes on पृथ्वी, चंद्रमा एवं सूर्य for Class 7 Science.
- पृथ्वी, चंद्रमा एवं सूर्य | Class 7 Science Notes
Clear NCERT-aligned notes on पृथ्वी, चंद्रमा एवं सूर्य for Class 7 Science.
- पृथ्वी, चंद्रमा एवं सूर्य | Class 7 Science Notes
Clear NCERT-aligned notes on पृथ्वी, चंद्रमा एवं सूर्य for Class 7 Science.