Maharashtra Board Textbook Solutions
Standard 6 – Science
Chapter 16 – The Universe
🌟 1. Name these –
(a) Birthplace of stars
Ans: The birthplace of stars is a nebula.
(b) Biggest planet in the solar system
Ans: The biggest planet in the solar system is Jupiter.
(c) The galaxy which is our neighbour
Ans: Our neighbouring galaxy is the Andromeda Galaxy.
(d) Brightest planet in the solar system
Ans: The brightest planet in the solar system is Venus.
(e) Planet with largest number of satellites
Ans: The planet with the largest number of satellites is Jupiter.
(f) Planets without a single satellite
Ans: The planets without any satellites are Mercury and Venus.
(g) Planet with a rotation different from other planets
Ans: Venus and Uranus have rotations different from most other planets.
(h) A celestial body that carries a tail along
Ans: A celestial body that carries a tail is a comet.
✨ 2. Fill in the blanks.
(a) The group of galaxies of which our Milky Way is a part is called the Local Group.
(b) Comets are made of ice and dust particles.
(c) The planet Uranus appears as if it is rolling along its orbit.
(d) Jupiter is a stormy planet.
(e) The Pole Star is the best example of a variable type of star.
✔️ 3. Say if the statements given below are right or wrong. Rewrite the statements after correcting them.
(a) Venus is the planet closest to the Sun.
Ans: Wrong. Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun.
(b) Mercury is called a stormy planet.
Ans: Wrong. Jupiter is called a stormy planet.
(c) Jupiter is the biggest planet.
Ans: Right.
🪐 4. Answer the following.
(a) What is a special characteristic of the planet Mars?
Ans: The special characteristic of the planet Mars is that it appears red in colour due to the presence of iron in its soil. It also has the highest volcano in the solar system called Olympus Mons.
(b) What are the types of galaxies?
Ans: The types of galaxies based on their shapes are spiral galaxies, elliptical galaxies, barred spiral galaxies, and irregular galaxies.
(c) Which celestial bodies does a galaxy include?
Ans: A galaxy includes stars, clusters of stars, nebulae, clouds of gas and dust, dead stars, and newly formed stars.
(d) Name the different types of stars.
Ans: The different types of stars are:
(i) Sun-like stars
(ii) Twin stars
(iii) Supernovae
(iv) Red giants
(v) Variable stars
(e) What are the types of comets and on what basis are they classified?
Ans: Comets are celestial bodies made of ice and dust that develop tails when they come close to the Sun. They are classified based on the time they take to revolve around the Sun into:
(i) Short-period comets
(ii) Long-period comets
(f) What is the difference between meteors and meteorites?
| Meteor | Meteorite |
|---|---|
| Meteors burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere. | Meteorites reach the surface of the Earth. |
| They appear as a streak of light in the sky. | They are solid pieces that fall on Earth. |
| They are usually very small. | Their size can vary from small to very large. |
| They are often called “shooting stars.” | They are fragments of meteoroids that land on Earth. |
(g) What are the characteristics of the planet Neptune?
Ans: The characteristics of Neptune are:
(i) One season on Neptune lasts for about 40–41 years.
(ii) It has extremely fast winds, making it one of the windiest planets.
🔗 5. Match the following.
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| (1) Galaxy | (c) Spiral |
| (2) Comet | (e) Halley |
| (3) Sun-like star | (d) Sirius |
| (4) Saturn | (b) 33 satellites |
| (5) Venus | (a) From east to west |