Question 3 - 2 Marks Questions - Chapter 1 Class 6 Geography - The Earth and the Solar System - Geography

Why do the planets not twinkle like stars at night?

Answer

Answer by Student

The planets do not twinkle like stars at night because they are closer to Earth and appear bigger and brighter in the sky . They reflect the sunlight that falls on them and do not have their own light.

Detailed Answer by Teachoo

-lock-

Twinkling is an effect caused by the Earth’s atmosphere . The atmosphere is a layer of air that surrounds the Earth. It is not the same everywhere and has different amounts of heat and pressure. When the light from a star or a planet passes through the atmosphere, it bends or changes direction due to these differences. This makes the star or planet look like it is moving, shining more or less, and changing color.

However, the amount of twinkling depends on the size and brightness of the star or planet. Stars are very far away from Earth and look very small and dim in the sky. They have their own light that comes from burning gas in their centers. When their light passes through the atmosphere, it is bent by many air particles and changes a lot. This makes them twinkle.

Planets are much closer to Earth and look bigger and brighter in the sky. They do not have their own light but bounce back the sunlight that hits them. When their light passes through the atmosphere, it is bent by fewer air particles and changes less. This makes them steady and smooth.

Thus, we can see that planets do not twinkle like stars at night because they are closer to Earth and look bigger and brighter in the sky

-endlock-