India - Physical Environment

The specific heat capacity is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of the substance by 1 degree. The specific heat capacity of water is much greater than that of the land because the relative density of water is much lower than that of the land surface. It means more heat is required to raise the temperature of one gram of water by 1 degree than one gram of land.

Physical characteristics of heat transport and ocean circulation impact the Earth's climate system. Like a massive 'flywheel' that stabilizes the speed of an engine, the vast amounts of heat in the oceans stabilize the temperature of Earth. The heat capacity of the ocean is much greater than that of the atmosphere or the land.

As a result, the ocean slowly warms in the summer, keeping air cool, and it slowly cools in winter, keeping the air warm. The temperature contrast between continents and oceans is greater during summer than in winter.

Therefore, both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. Hence option (a) is the correct answer.

Source: NCERT: Class XI Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Chapter 9

The Godavari River has several principal tributaries, including the Penganga, Indravati, Pranahita, and Manjra. Among the rivers listed in the question, Indravati and Pranahita are tributaries of the Godavari. Therefore, the correct answer is option (d) 2 and 3 only.

Source: NCERT: Class 12 India Physical Environment

Westerlies are prevailing winds from the west toward the east in the middle latitudes between 30 and 60 degrees latitude. Western Disturbance occurs in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal to describe an extratropical storm originating in the Mediterranean, that brings sudden winter rain and snow to the northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent. This is a non-monsoonal precipitation pattern driven by the westerlies.

Source: NCERT: Class 11 India Physical Environment

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 receives light from the sun. Due to the spherical shape of the earth, only half of it gets light from the sun at a time. The portion facing the sun experiences day while the other half away from the sun experiences night.

On 21st June, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun. The rays of the sun fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer. As a result, these areas receive more heat. The areas near the poles receive less heat as the rays of the sun are slanting. The North Pole is inclined towards the sun and the places beyond the Arctic Circle experience continuous daylight for about six months.

Since a large portion of the Northern Hemisphere is getting light from the sun, it is summer in the regions north of the equator. The longest day and the shortest night at these places occur on 21st June. At this time in the Southern Hemisphere, all these conditions are reversed. It is winter season there. The nights are longer than the days.

This position of the earth is called the Summer Solstice. Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

Source: NCERT: Class VI Geography

Major Chemical Pollutants in Photochemical Smog:

• Nitrogen Oxides (NO and NO₂)
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
• Ozone (O₃)
• Peroxyacetyl Nitrates (PAN)

Source: 12th NCERT: Unit 9 Ecology and Environment