Class 6 Science Chapter 12 – Beyond Earth Extra Questions
Class 6 Science Chapter 12 Extra Questions and Answers for “Beyond Earth ” (based on NCERT textbook Curiosity).
EXTRA IMPORTANT QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS – Chapter 12 – Beyond Earth
This includes All types of Questions normally asked in school exams, tests, and NCERT exercises.
A. Very Short Answer Type Questions – Chapter 12 – Beyond Earth
1. What is a constellation?
A group of stars that forms a recognizable pattern in the sky.
2. What is the Pole Star also called?
The Pole Star is also called Polaris or Dhruva Tara.
3. Name the brightest star in the night sky.
Sirius.
4. Which star appears fixed in the northern sky?
Pole Star.
5. Name the star closest to Earth.
The Sun.
6. What are objects that revolve around planets called?
Natural satellites.
7. Name Earth’s natural satellite.
The Moon.
8. How long does the Moon take to complete one revolution around Earth?
About 27 days.
9. What is the Milky Way Galaxy called in India?
Akasha Ganga.
10. Which planet is called the Red Planet?
Mars.
11. Name the largest planet in our Solar System.
Jupiter.
12. What unit is used to measure distances within the Solar System?
Astronomical Unit (AU).
B. Short Answer Type Questions – Chapter 12 – Beyond Earth
1. Why do stars appear to twinkle?
Stars appear to twinkle because their light passes through layers of moving air in the atmosphere, causing the light to bend multiple times.
2. Why do we not see stars during the daytime?
During the day, sunlight is extremely bright and scatters in the atmosphere, making the faint light from stars invisible to our eyes.
3. What is light pollution? Why is it harmful for sky watching?
Light pollution is excessive artificial light at night.
It hides faint celestial objects and reduces our ability to clearly observe stars, planets, and constellations.
4. Why does the Sun look bigger than other stars?
The Sun looks bigger because it is much closer to Earth than any other star.
5. What are asteroids? Where are they found?
Asteroids are small rocky objects that revolve around the Sun.
Most are found between Mars and Jupiter in the asteroid belt.
6. Why does Venus appear brighter than most stars?
Venus is covered with thick clouds that reflect sunlight strongly, making it appear very bright.
7. What are comets made of?
Comets are made of dust, rocks, gases, and ice.
8. Why does a comet have a tail?
When a comet comes close to the Sun, the heat evaporates its icy parts, forming a glowing tail.
9. Why does the Pole Star appear stationary?
Because it lies almost directly above Earth’s axis of rotation.
10. Why can we see more stars in villages than in cities?
Villages have less light pollution, enabling more stars to be visible.
C. Long Answer Type Questions – Chapter 12 – Beyond Earth
1. Describe the Solar System.
The Solar System consists of the Sun, eight planets, their moons, asteroids, comets, and other small objects.
The Sun is at the center and is the main source of heat and light.
The planets revolve around the Sun in fixed orbits and also rotate on their axes.
The inner planets are rocky, while the outer planets are gaseous giants.
Asteroids lie mostly in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Comets come from the outer region and have long tails when they approach the Sun.
All these celestial bodies are held together by the Sun’s gravitational force.
2. Write a detailed note on the Moon.
The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite and lies about 3,84,000 km away.
It takes about 27 days to revolve around Earth.
The Moon has no air, water, or life, making it a barren and lifeless body.
Its surface is covered with craters formed due to impacts of asteroids and rocks.
These craters remain unchanged because the Moon has no atmosphere.
India has studied the Moon through Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2, and Chandrayaan-3 missions.
These missions have helped in improving our understanding of the Moon.
3. Explain stars, constellations, and their usefulness.
Stars are huge heavenly bodies that emit their own light and energy.
When seen from Earth, some stars appear to form meaningful patterns called constellations.
Different cultures named these patterns based on their stories and imaginations.
Constellations helped ancient sailors and travelers navigate by identifying directions.
The Pole Star, part of the Little Dipper, helped people locate the North direction.
Constellations like Orion, Canis Major, and Taurus can still be used in emergencies.
Thus, constellations were useful tools for navigation before modern technology.
D. Higher Order Thinking Questions (HOTS) – Chapter 12 – Beyond Earth
1. Why is Venus hotter than Mercury even though it is farther from the Sun?
Venus has a thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide that traps heat strongly, creating a greenhouse effect.
This makes Venus hotter than Mercury.
2. Why do planets not twinkle like stars?
Planets are much closer to Earth and appear larger.
Their light does not get bent as much by atmospheric layers, so they do not twinkle.
3. If the Pole Star appears fixed, what does it tell us about Earth’s movement?
It shows that Earth rotates around an axis that points almost directly toward the Pole Star.
E. Reasoning-Based Questions – Chapter 12 – Beyond Earth
1. Why does the Big Dipper seem to move during the night?
Because the Earth rotates on its axis, making the stars appear to shift positions.
2. Why does the Moon have so many craters?
Because it has no atmosphere to burn incoming rocks, and no wind or water to erase crater marks.
3. Why do astronomers prefer observing the sky from dark locations like Hanle in Ladakh?
Because such places have very low light pollution, clear skies, and high elevation, giving excellent visibility.
F. Application-Based Questions – Chapter 12 – Beyond Earth
1. How can you identify the Pole Star using the Big Dipper?
By drawing an imaginary line through the two stars at the edge of the Big Dipper’s cup and extending it about five times; it points to the Pole Star.
2. How can sailors use stars for navigation?
The Pole Star helps find the North direction, and constellations help locate positions at sea.
3. Why is it important to adjust your eyes to darkness before sky watching?
Because the eyes become more sensitive to dim light after some time, allowing you to see more stars.
G. Diagram/Observation-Based Questions – Chapter 12 – Beyond Earth
1. How can you identify Orion in the night sky?
Look for three bright stars in a straight line; these form Orion’s Belt.
2. How can you locate Sirius using Orion?
Extend an imaginary line through Orion’s belt towards the east; it leads to Sirius.
H. Extra Value-Based Questions – Chapter 12 – Beyond Earth
1. What values can we learn from Yangdol and Dorjay’s interest in the night sky?
Curiosity, observation skills, appreciation of nature, and scientific thinking.
2. How does studying the universe make us better humans?
It builds curiosity, humility, and awareness about our place in the universe.
I. Extra Challenging Questions – Chapter 12 – Beyond Earth
1. Why can’t we see all constellations throughout the year?
Because Earth revolves around the Sun, changing our night sky view during different seasons.
2. Why do astronomers use telescopes instead of naked eyes?
Telescopes gather more light, show dim objects clearly, and magnify distant celestial bodies.