Note that it takes 12 hours from midnight to midday and 12 hours from midday back to midnight. FIGURE 13 illustrates the different times of day and night by referring to what happens to two places at different parts of the equator- Celebes and Lake Victoria - as the Earth rotates from west to east, in positions A, B and C. Activity 8 The Earth's rotation and people Geography skills: Identify and extract information from sources; Use information to describe, explain and answer questions about people, places and the relationship between the two. Work alone. Study FIGure 13 and answer the following questions. 1 How does the rotation of the Earth affect people's activities? 2 With the aid of a labelled sketch, describe the positions that Lake Victoria and Celebes will be in and their time of day in approximately six hours from the last position shown in FIGure 13 . 3 Describe what would happen if the Earth stopped rotating. 4 With the aid of an atlas, identify places that would be experiencing the following when South Africa experiences sunset. Explain your answers. 4.1 midnight 4.2 sunrise 4.3 midday 5 Which place in South Africa experiences the sun overhead first - Cape Town or Durban? Explain your answer.

To address the questions regarding the Earth's rotation and its effects on people's activities, we will analyze each question step by step. ### 1. How does the rotation of the Earth affect people's activities? The rotation of the Earth affects people's activities in several ways: - **Day and Night Cycle**: The Earth rotates on its axis, leading to the alternation of day and night. This cycle influences when people engage in various activities, such as work, school, and leisure. - **Time Zones**: Different regions of the world experience day and night at different times due to the Earth's rotation. This necessitates the establishment of time zones, which affects scheduling and communication across regions. - **Agricultural Practices**: The rotation affects sunlight availability, which is crucial for agriculture. Farmers plan planting and harvesting based on the time of day and seasonal changes. - **Cultural Practices**: Many cultures have rituals and activities that are tied to specific times of day, such as morning prayers or evening gatherings. ### 2. Describe the positions that Lake Victoria and Celebes will be in and their time of day in approximately six hours from the last position shown in FIGure 13. Assuming that the last position in Figure 13 shows Lake Victoria and Celebes at midday (12:00 PM): - **Lake Victoria**: Located near the equator, if it is midday at the last position, in six hours it will be 6:00 PM. The sun will be setting. - **Celebes**: Also near the equator, if it is midday at the last position, in six hours it will also be 6:00 PM. The sun will be setting. **Labelled Sketch**: - Draw a simple diagram showing the Earth with Lake Victoria and Celebes marked. Indicate the sun's position relative to both locations, showing that both are experiencing sunset at 6:00 PM. ### 3. Describe what would happen if the Earth stopped rotating. If the Earth stopped rotating: - **Permanent Day and Night**: One side of the Earth would face the sun continuously, experiencing perpetual daylight, while the opposite side would be in constant darkness. - **Extreme Temperatures**: The side facing the sun would become extremely hot, while the dark side would become very cold, leading to inhospitable conditions. - **Atmospheric Changes**: The atmosphere would likely shift, causing severe weather patterns and possibly leading to the loss of breathable air on the dark side. - **Gravitational Effects**: The centrifugal force caused by the Earth's rotation would cease, potentially affecting ocean levels and causing massive flooding on the side facing the sun. ### 4. Identify places experiencing specific times when South Africa experiences sunset. Assuming South Africa experiences sunset at 6:00 PM: #### 4.1 Midnight - **Places experiencing midnight**: Locations on the opposite side of the Earth from South Africa, such as parts of the Pacific Ocean or New Zealand, would be experiencing midnight (12:00 AM). #### 4.2 Sunrise - **Places experiencing sunrise**: Locations to the east of South Africa, such as Australia or parts of Asia, would be experiencing sunrise (6:00 AM). #### 4.3 Midday - **Places experiencing midday**: Locations to the north of South Africa, such as parts of Europe or West Africa, would be experiencing midday (12:00 PM). ### 5. Which place in South Africa experiences the sun overhead first - Cape Town or Durban? **Answer**: Durban experiences the sun overhead first. **Explanation**: Durban is located further east than Cape Town. As the Earth rotates from west to east, locations that are further east will experience sunrise and the sun being directly overhead before those that are further west. Therefore, Durban will have the sun directly overhead before Cape Town does. This analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of the Earth's rotation and its effects on time, activities, and geographical relationships.