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Locating Places on the Earth

NCERT Class 6 · Social Science Based on NCERT Class 6 Social Science textbook · Free CBSE study kit

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Chapter Notes

Overview
This chapter teaches students how to locate any place on Earth using maps, coordinates, and time zones. It exists in the syllabus to build foundational geographic skills, from reading maps to understanding latitude, longitude, and time differences. The one big idea a student must walk away with is that every place on Earth has a unique address defined by its latitude and longitude, and that longitude also determines local time and time zones.
Key Concepts (24)
Map
A representation or drawing of an area, viewed from the top, showing features such as roads, buildings, and natural elements.
e.g. A map of your city showing the railway station, hospital, and market.
Atlas
A book or collection of maps.
e.g. The NCERT atlas used in school has maps of India and the world.
Physical map
A map that mainly shows natural features such as mountains, oceans, and rivers.
e.g. A map showing the Himalayas, the Ganga river, and the Indian Ocean.
Political map
A map that shows details of countries or states, boundaries, cities, etc.
e.g. A map of India showing all states, union territories, and their capitals.
Thematic map
A map with a specific kind of information, such as population density or rainfall.
e.g. A map showing where different crops are grown in India.
Scale
The ratio between a distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the ground.
e.g. If 1 cm on the map equals 500 m on the ground, the scale is 1 cm = 500 m.
Cardinal directions
The four main directions: north, east, south, and west.
e.g. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
Intermediate directions
Directions between cardinal directions: northeast (NE), southeast (SE), southwest (SW), and northwest (NW).
e.g. If your school is between north and east, it is in the northeast direction from your home.
Symbols
Standardised drawings or marks used on maps to represent features like buildings, roads, rivers, and forests.
e.g. A small triangle represents a temple, and a crossed hammer represents a police station on Survey of India maps.
Globe
A spherical model of the Earth (or another celestial body) with a map drawn on it.
e.g. The globe in your classroom shows all continents and oceans in their correct shapes.
Latitude
A measure of distance from the Equator, expressed in degrees, running east-west as parallels.
e.g. Delhi is at approximately 29°N latitude, meaning it is 29 degrees north of the Equator.
Equator
An imaginary line halfway between the North and South Poles, at 0° latitude, dividing the Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
e.g. Countries like Indonesia and Kenya lie on or near the Equator and have hot climates.
Parallel of latitude
An imaginary line running east and west, parallel to the Equator, that draws a circle around the Earth.
e.g. The Tropic of Cancer at 23.5°N is a parallel of latitude.
Longitude
A measure of distance from the Prime Meridian, expressed in degrees, running north-south as meridians.
e.g. Delhi is at approximately 77°E longitude, meaning it is 77 degrees east of the Prime Meridian.
Prime Meridian
The meridian at 0° longitude, passing through Greenwich, London, used as the international reference for measuring longitude and time.
e.g. When it is noon at the Prime Meridian, it is 5:30 pm in India.
Meridian of longitude
A half-circle running from the North Pole to the South Pole, used to measure longitude.
e.g. All meridians are equal in length and meet at the poles.
Grid
The network of parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude on a map or globe.
e.g. Using the grid, you can find the exact location of any place, like Mumbai at 19°N, 73°E.
Local time
The time at a particular place based on the position of the sun, determined by its longitude.
e.g. When it is noon in Porbandar, it is already dark in Tinsukia because of the difference in longitude.
Standard time
The uniform time adopted by a country or region, based on a specific meridian passing through it.
e.g. Indian Standard Time (IST) is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Time zone
A region of the Earth that has the same standard time, broadly following 15° longitude intervals.
e.g. India has a single time zone (IST), while the USA has six time zones.
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
The local time at the Prime Meridian (Greenwich, London), used as a reference for all other time zones.
e.g. If it is 12:00 noon GMT, it is 5:30 pm IST.
Indian Standard Time (IST)
The standard time of India, which is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT.
e.g. When it is 9:00 am GMT, it is 2:30 pm IST.
International Date Line
An imaginary line approximately at 180° longitude, where the date changes by one day when crossed.
e.g. If you cross the International Date Line travelling eastward from Japan to the USA, you subtract a day (e.g., Monday becomes Sunday).
Madhya Rekhā
The ancient Indian prime meridian passing through Ujjayinī (Ujjain), used in Indian astronomy for calculations.
e.g. Varāhamihira, a famous astronomer, used the Ujjayinī meridian about 1,500 years ago.
How It Works
Using a map to find a location
  1. Identify the starting point on the map (e.g., railway station).
  2. Look at the cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) to understand orientation.
  3. Use the scale to estimate distances (e.g., 1 cm = 500 m).
  4. Follow the symbols to locate the destination (e.g., bank, hospital).
  5. Trace the route using roads and landmarks shown on the map.
💡 Always check the direction arrow (usually marked 'N') first; many students forget to orient the map correctly.
Determining latitude and longitude of a place
  1. Find the Equator (0° latitude) and measure the angular distance north or south to the place — that is its latitude.
  2. Find the Prime Meridian (0° longitude) and measure the angular distance east or west to the place — that is its longitude.
  3. Combine both values: e.g., Delhi is at 29°N, 77°E.
  4. Use the grid of parallels and meridians on a globe or atlas to read the coordinates.
💡 Latitude is always written first, then longitude. Also, latitude ranges from 0° to 90°, while longitude ranges from 0° to 180°.
Calculating local time from longitude
  1. Note that the Earth rotates 360° in 24 hours, so 15° of longitude equals 1 hour of time.
  2. If you move eastward from the Prime Meridian, add 1 hour for every 15°.
  3. If you move westward from the Prime Meridian, subtract 1 hour for every 15°.
  4. For example, if it is 12:00 noon at Greenwich (0°), then at 15°E it is 1:00 pm, and at 15°W it is 11:00 am.
💡 Students often forget that moving east adds time and moving west subtracts time. Also, the calculation is based on the difference in longitude, not the absolute value.
Using the International Date Line
  1. Locate the International Date Line at approximately 180° longitude.
  2. If crossing the line travelling eastward, subtract one day from the calendar (e.g., Monday becomes Sunday).
  3. If crossing the line travelling westward, add one day (e.g., Sunday becomes Monday).
  4. Note that the line deviates in places to avoid splitting countries into two different days.
💡 The International Date Line is not a straight line; it zigzags to keep countries like Fiji and Russia in the same day.
Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes
⚠ Confusing latitude and longitude
✗ Delhi is at 77°N latitude and 29°E longitude.
→ Latitude measures distance from the Equator (north-south), and longitude measures distance from the Prime Meridian (east-west). Delhi's latitude is 29°N (not 77°N) and its longitude is 77°E (not 29°E).
✓ Delhi is at 29°N latitude and 77°E longitude.
⚠ Mixing up local time and standard time
✗ The local time in Porbandar and Tinsukia is the same because both follow Indian Standard Time.
→ Local time depends on the sun's position and varies with longitude. Porbandar and Tinsukia have different longitudes, so their local times differ. However, both follow the same standard time (IST) for convenience.
✓ The local time in Porbandar and Tinsukia is different because of their different longitudes, but both follow Indian Standard Time (IST) as the standard time.
⚠ Forgetting the direction when adding/subtracting time
✗ If it is 12:00 noon at Greenwich, then at 30°E it is 10:00 am.
→ Moving eastward from the Prime Meridian adds time, not subtracts. 30°E is east of Greenwich, so the time should be 2:00 pm (12:00 noon + 2 hours).
✓ If it is 12:00 noon at Greenwich, then at 30°E it is 2:00 pm.
⚠ Thinking all parallels of latitude have the same length
✗ All parallels of latitude are the same length.
→ Parallels of latitude are circles that decrease in size as you move away from the Equator. The Equator is the longest, and the poles are points (zero length).
✓ The Equator is the longest parallel of latitude; parallels become smaller as you move towards the poles.
⚠ Confusing the International Date Line with the Prime Meridian
✗ The International Date Line is at 0° longitude.
→ The International Date Line is approximately at 180° longitude, opposite the Prime Meridian (0°).
✓ The International Date Line is located approximately at 180° longitude, opposite the Prime Meridian.
Compare & Contrast
What they measure
Latitude
Longitude
Latitude measures distance north or south of the Equator (0° to 90°), while longitude measures distance east or west of the Prime Meridian (0° to 180°).
How they are determined
Local time
Standard time
Local time is based on the sun's position at a specific longitude and varies from place to place, while standard time is a uniform time adopted by a country or region based on a chosen meridian, such as IST for India.
What they show
Physical map
Political map
A physical map shows natural features like mountains, rivers, and oceans, while a political map shows human-made divisions like countries, states, and cities.
Exam Focus
Marks pattern: 2 MCQs (1 mark each), 1 short answer (3 marks), 1 long answer (5 marks)
Most asked: Definition and components of a map (scale, direction, symbols) · Latitude and longitude: definitions, examples, and how to locate a place · Difference between local time and standard time · Calculation of time difference using longitude · Indian Standard Time and its relation to GMT
Don't skip: Explain how latitude and longitude help in locating a place on Earth. Give an example.; Why is it 5:30 pm in India when it is 12:00 noon in London? Explain with reference to longitude and standard time.; What are the three main components of a map? Explain each with an example.
One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)
  1. A map is a drawing of an area viewed from the top, showing features like roads and buildings.
  2. The three main components of a map are distance (scale), direction (cardinal points), and symbols.
  3. Cardinal directions are north, east, south, and west; intermediate directions are NE, SE, SW, and NW.
  4. Scale on a map shows the relationship between distance on the map and actual distance on the ground.
  5. Symbols on maps are standardised marks used to represent features like temples, police stations, and rivers.
  6. Latitude measures distance north or south of the Equator, from 0° to 90°.
  7. Longitude measures distance east or west of the Prime Meridian, from 0° to 180°.
  8. The Equator is the longest parallel of latitude at 0°.
  9. The Prime Meridian is at 0° longitude and passes through Greenwich, London.
  10. Local time varies with longitude; moving east adds 1 hour per 15°, moving west subtracts 1 hour per 15°.
  11. Indian Standard Time (IST) is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
  12. Standard time is a uniform time adopted by a country, while local time varies with the sun's position.
  13. The International Date Line is at approximately 180° longitude; crossing it eastward subtracts a day, westward adds a day.
  14. Time zones are regions with the same standard time, broadly following 15° longitude intervals.
  15. The ancient Indian prime meridian was called madhya rekhā and passed through Ujjayinī (Ujjain).

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. What is a map?

  • A. A flat drawing or representation of an area viewed from the top ✓
  • B. A 3D model of Earth
  • C. A list of places in a city
  • D. A photograph of Earth from space

Answer: A — A map is specifically a flat, drawn representation of an area viewed from above, used to show locations and navigate.

Q2. If the scale of a map is 1 cm = 500 m, and two places are 4 cm apart on the map, what is the real distance between them?

  • A. 500 metres
  • B. 1000 metres
  • C. 1500 metres
  • D. 2000 metres ✓

Answer: D — If 1 cm = 500 m, then 4 cm = 4 × 500 m = 2000 metres (2 kilometres).

Q3. Which of these is a cardinal direction?

  • A. Northeast
  • B. Northwest
  • C. North ✓
  • D. Southeast

Answer: C — North is one of the four main cardinal directions; the others (NE, NW, SE) are intermediate directions between cardinals.

Q4. What does a symbol on a map represent?

  • A. A measurement of distance
  • B. A small drawing that represents a real building or feature ✓
  • C. The direction of north
  • D. The scale of the map

Answer: B — Symbols are small pictures used on maps to show buildings, roads, rivers, and other features so that many details fit in a small space.

Q5. Why is a globe more accurate than a flat map?

  • A. Because it is larger
  • B. Because Earth is spherical, and a globe shows the actual spherical shape ✓
  • C. Because it has more symbols
  • D. Because it is easier to carry

Answer: B — A globe is a round model that matches Earth's actual spherical shape, while flat maps distort the shape when trying to show Earth on paper.

Q6. Complete the sentence: An _______ is a book or collection of maps.

  • A. atlas ✓
  • B. symbol
  • C. scale
  • D. globe

Answer: A — An atlas is a collection of maps bound together in a book form, used as a reference.

Q7. In which government body is responsible for fixing official map symbols in India?

  • A. Indian Railways
  • B. Survey of India ✓
  • C. Ministry of Maps
  • D. National Geographic

Answer: B — The Survey of India is the official government body that has fixed the standard set of symbols used in all Indian maps.

Q8. If you are standing at a location and the bank is to your right and the school is behind you, then the school is in which direction from the bank?

  • A. North
  • B. South
  • C. Southwest ✓
  • D. Southeast

Answer: C — If the bank is to your right (east) and school is behind you (south from your position), the school is southwest of the bank.

Q9. Look at the map symbols in Fig. 1.2. Which symbol would you use to show a hospital on a map?

  • A. A cross or H symbol ✓
  • B. A small house drawing
  • C. A railway line
  • D. A temple symbol

Answer: A — Standard map symbols use a cross or 'H' to represent hospitals, making them instantly recognizable on maps.

Q10. Why do map makers use symbols instead of drawing actual buildings on large maps?

  • A. Because symbols look prettier
  • B. Because there is not enough space to draw every building, and symbols save space while showing many details ✓
  • C. Because symbols are easier to create
  • D. Because actual buildings cannot be drawn

Answer: B — Symbols are small drawings that fit in limited map space, allowing mapmakers to show numerous features and details clearly.

Flashcards

What is a map?

A map is a flat drawing or representation of an area (village, city, country, or world) viewed from the top.

What does a map's scale mean?

Scale shows how much real ground distance is represented by a small distance on the map (example: 1 cm = 500 m).

Name the four cardinal directions.

The four cardinal directions are North (top), South (bottom), East (right), and West (left).

What are symbols on a map?

Symbols are small drawings or pictures used on maps to represent buildings, roads, rivers, and other features.

What is a globe?

A globe is a round, spherical model of Earth that shows the planet's actual shape.

Why can't we perfectly represent Earth on flat paper?

Because Earth is spherical (round), and you cannot flatten a sphere onto paper without tearing it, unlike a flat surface.

What are intermediate directions?

Intermediate directions are northeast (NE), southeast (SE), southwest (SW), and northwest (NW), located between the four cardinal directions.

What is an atlas?

An atlas is a book or collection of maps showing different areas, countries, or themes.

Name three types of maps.

Three types of maps are physical maps (showing mountains and rivers), political maps (showing countries and cities), and thematic maps (showing specific information).

Which government body fixes official map symbols for India?

The Survey of India is the government body that has fixed the official set of symbols used in Indian maps.

Important Board Questions

What is a map? [1 mark]

A map is a flat drawing or representation of an area (village, city, country, world) viewed from the top.

List the three important components of a map and explain what each one shows. [2 marks]

The three components are: (1) Scale — shows real ground distance represented by map distance, (2) Direction — shows cardinal directions (N, S, E, W), (3) Symbols — small pictures representing buildings and features.

If the scale of a map is 1 cm = 1 km, and your school is 5 cm away from your home on the map, how far is your home from school in real distance? Explain your calculation. [3 marks]

If 1 cm on map = 1 km real distance, then 5 cm = 5 × 1 km = 5 km. Show that you understand scale by multiplying the map distance by the scale factor.

Why is a globe a better representation of Earth than a flat paper map? Explain with an example of what happens when you try to flatten something spherical. Also, give three types of maps and describe what information each type shows. [5 marks]

Globe is better because Earth is spherical and a globe shows the true shape (compare to peeling an orange — you cannot flatten the peel without tearing). Three types: (1) Physical maps show mountains, rivers, oceans; (2) Political maps show countries, states, boundaries, cities; (3) Thematic maps show specific information like rainfall or population.

True or False: Cardinal directions are the same as intermediate directions. If false, explain the difference with examples. [2 marks]

False. Cardinal directions are the four main directions (North, South, East, West), while intermediate directions (Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest) are between the cardinal directions.

Assertion-Reason Questions for Locating Places on the Earth

Q1. Assertion (A):

A map is a representation of an area viewed from above.

Reason (R):

This helps show large areas on a small piece of paper by reducing their size while maintaining their shape and location.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both statements are true, and the reason correctly explains why maps are made this way — to show large areas in a compact form. Viewing from above allows for accurate representation of spatial relationships.

Q2. Assertion (A):

The scale of a map is important for understanding actual distances on the ground.

Reason (R):

A globe is always more accurate than a map because it is spherical like the Earth.

Answer: C — A is true but R is false — The assertion is true — scale is essential for calculating real distances. However, the reason is false — while globes are more accurate in shape, the importance of scale has nothing to do with whether we use a globe or map. Both need a scale to show distances.

Q3. Assertion (A):

Symbols are used on maps to represent different features in limited space.

Reason (R):

The Survey of India has fixed a standard set of symbols so that all maps of India use the same symbols consistently.

Answer: B — Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A — Both statements are true. Symbols do help show details in limited space, and the Survey of India does provide standard symbols. However, the reason doesn't explain why symbols are used — it explains how they are standardized, which is a separate point.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for Locating Places on the Earth

Case Study:

Priya is visiting her grandmother's house in a village for the first time. Her grandmother gives her a hand-drawn map of the village showing her home, the market, a temple, a school, and the village pond. The map has an arrow pointing north at the top and uses simple symbols like a square for buildings, a circle for the pond, and a triangle for the temple. Priya wants to walk from her grandmother's house to the market, which is shown as being in the northeast direction.

Q1. What important map component is shown by the arrow pointing to the top of the map?

  • A. Distance
  • B. Scale
  • C. Cardinal direction (North) ✓
  • D. Symbols

Answer: C

Q2. Which of the following symbols most likely represents the temple in Priya's grandmother's map?

  • A. Square
  • B. Circle
  • C. Triangle ✓
  • D. Line

Answer: C

Q3. If Priya is at her grandmother's house and the market is shown as northeast on the map, in which intermediate direction should she walk?

  • A. Northwest
  • B. Southwest
  • C. Northeast ✓
  • D. Southeast

Answer: C

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