The Origin and Evolution of the Earth

Class 11 Geography · Fundamentals of Physical Geography · Chapter 2

CBSE Class 11 community

View all
Geography
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
All 3 books, one purchase
  • Geography
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Physics, Chemistry, Maths + English
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Every subject, one purchase
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • + 3 more
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Physics, Chemistry, Biology + English
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Every subject, one purchase
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • + 3 more
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics + English
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Every subject, one purchase
  • Accountancy
  • Business Studies
  • + 3 more
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Geography
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Geography
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Geography
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Accountancy
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
All 2 books, one purchase
  • Accountancy
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Hindi Elective
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
All 2 books, one purchase
  • हिंदी
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Hindi Core
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
All 2 books, one purchase
  • हिंदी
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Chemistry
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
All 2 books, one purchase
  • Chemistry
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Political Science
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
All 2 books, one purchase
  • Political Science
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Urdu Elective
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
All 2 books, one purchase
  • اردو
  • ‏                                        Urdu Elective
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Hindustani Music (Vocal / Melodic)
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
All 2 books, one purchase
  • हिंदुस्तानी संगीत
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Home Science
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
All 2 books, one purchase
  • Home Science
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
English Core
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
All 2 books, one purchase
  • Hornbill
  • Snapshots
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Sociology
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
All 2 books, one purchase
  • Sociology
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Economics
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
All 2 books, one purchase
  • Economics
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Physics
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
All 2 books, one purchase
  • Physics
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Mathematics
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
TrendingRevise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Physics
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Physics
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Chemistry
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Chemistry
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Biology
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Accountancy
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
TrendingRevise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Accountancy
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Business Studies
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Economics
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Economics
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
History
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Political Science
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Political Science
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Sociology
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Sociology
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Psychology
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
English Core · Hornbill
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
English Core · Snapshots
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
English Elective · Woven Words
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
हिंदी (आधार)
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
हिंदी (आधार)
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
हिंदी (ऐच्छिक)
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
हिंदी (ऐच्छिक)
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
संस्कृतम् (केन्द्रिकम्)
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
संस्कृत (ऐच्छिक)
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
اردو (کور)
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
اردو (اختیاری)
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
‏                                        Urdu Elective
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Computer Science
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Informatics Practices
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
TrendingRevise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Home Science
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Home Science
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Fine Art · Painting
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Biotechnology
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Knowledge Traditions
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
सृजनात्मक लेखन और अनुवाद
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Health and Physical Education
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
हिंदुस्तानी संगीत (गायन / वादन)
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
हिंदुस्तानी संगीत (गायन / वादन)
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
हिंदुस्तानी संगीत (तबला / पखावज)
~140days leftAnnual exams · school dates varyFeb–Mar 2027 · school-specific · tentative
Revise all of it in about an hour
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Browse all 60 kits →

Summary

This chapter traces ideas about the origin of the earth and the universe. Early theories include the Nebular Hypothesis of Immanuel Kant (revised by Laplace in 1796), and the modern version by Otto Schmidt and Carl Weizsacker, who held that the sun was surrounded by a solar nebula of hydrogen and helium from which planets formed by accretion. The most popular modern view of the origin of the universe is the Big Bang Theory (expanding universe hypothesis); Edwin Hubble in 1920 provided evidence that the universe is expanding. The Big Bang occurred about 13.7 billion years ago when a "tiny ball" of infinite density exploded; within the first three minutes the first atoms began to form, and after 300,000 years atomic matter arose. Stars formed from clumps within nebulae about 5–6 billion years ago, and planets developed through stages: a rotating disc of gas and dust, the formation of planetesimals by cohesion, and finally accretion into larger planets. The earth began as a barren, hot, rocky body and acquired its layered structure (crust, mantle, outer core, inner core) through the process of differentiation, where heavier materials sank to the centre. The atmosphere evolved in three stages, including degassing from the interior and modification by photosynthesis; oceans formed about 4,000 million years ago and life began to evolve around 3,800 million years ago.

The Origin and Evolution of the Earth

Key terms

Nebular Hypothesis
the idea of Kant (revised by Laplace) that planets formed from a cloud of material around a youthful, slowly rotating sun.
Big Bang Theory
the expanding-universe hypothesis that all matter began in a tiny dense ball that exploded about 13.7 billion years ago.
Light year
a measure of distance: the distance light travels in one year, about 9.461 × \(10^12\) km.
Planetesimals
small rounded bodies formed by cohesion of matter that later accreted into planets.
Differentiation
the process by which heavier materials sank to the centre, separating the earth into layers.
Degassing
the process by which gases and water vapour were released from the earth's hot interior to build the early atmosphere.

Extra questions & answers

Try one from this chapter
The Nebular Hypothesis was first proposed by which philosopher?
Flashcards & interactive practice

Practice quiz · The Origin and Evolution of the Earth

Score on this chapter, climb the leaderboard, and get an AI diagnosis of your mistakes.

Dual AI-verified questions Real exam pattern 1 free quiz every month, then ₹9 per quiz — or a monthly plan

#1

The Origin and Evolution of the Earth

Start here
Geography 10 Qs · ~10 min

Instant score, answer review and weak-topic diagnosis

Data & insights

Trending in Class 11 this weekThe chapters students are reading most right now
  1. 1IntroductionEconomics
  2. 2The AdventureEnglish
  3. 3The Portrait of a LadyEnglish
See the full ranking