Today Around the world in 50 experimentsWe're heading to India, home to one of the oldest civilizations on Earth and a current population of over 1.4 billion people!
India is a magical land of spices, colours, mountains, beaches, swamps, rain, curry and crafts. India has 22 official languages and is the birthplace of chess, snakes and ladders and yoga.
Where is India?
India is a country in South Asia bordered by the Bay of Bengal on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other. India has a varied terrain and climate, including deserts, jungles, and fertile areas ideal for agriculture.
As part of our virtual trip to India, we will learn about the monsoon, the traditional drink of India and discover how the Himalayas were formed.
Monsoon season in India
What is a monsoon?
A monsoon is a seasonal change in the direction of the prevailing winds. In India, monsoon winds cause rainy summers and dry winters.
The monsoon season in India runs from June to September. Winds blow from the Indian Ocean to India. The monsoon is not the rain, but the movement of the wind that causes the rain. Monsoons are caused by temperature differences in the air over land and sea.
In summer, the land and the air above it are very warm, but the sea and the air above it are cooler. Warm air is lighter than cold air, so the warm air above the land rises and is replaced by cooler sea air. The air above the sea contains a lot of moisture, which falls to the land as rain.
In winter, the air over land cools to a lower temperature than the air over the sea. The warm sea air rises and is replaced by cooler air from the land. Winds originating over land are generally dry, so winters are dry.
Monsoons are not all bad. In India, monsoon rains are much needed for crops, although too much rain can cause flooding and damage crops and buildings.
Make a rain gauge
You can measure rainfall with a simple rain gaugeWe made this one using a plastic bottle.
Use a ruler and measure rainfall daily or weekly.
Find out what the average rainfall is in your area and compare it to that of Cherrapunji!
Take the tea test
India is famous for tea growing and is the second largest producer of tea in the world. One idea for a tea-based activity is to brew several different types of Indian teas and see if you can tell them apart. Assam and Darjeeling are two good teas to start with. The tea leaves are named after the area in which they are grown and have a slightly different taste. The difference arises from differences in climate and soil. The timing of the tea harvest can also affect the taste of the drink.
Another idea is to make traditional chai tea. Perhaps make it for a friend and ask them if they can identify what spices are in the tea from the aroma and taste.
Or try and Grow your own tea!
How big is a king cobra?
King cobras are found in the rainforests of India, as well as China and Southeast Asia. These impressive animals can reach 5.5 metres in length and can lift a third of their body off the ground to confront a potential predator.
King cobras are the longest venomous snakes in the world!
Use a tape measure to find out how tall you are and discover how much taller a king cobra is than you!
The Himalayas
The Himalayas are the highest mountain range in the world and span five countries: Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan and China.
The Himalayas continue to rise at a rate of about 4 mm each year, but this increase is offset by erosion and weathering.
How were the Himalayas formed?
The Himalayas were formed about 40 million years ago when India (which at the time was not part of the continent we now call Asia) moved across the sea towards the Eurasian plate. When the Indian and Eurasian plates collided, the Indian plate pushed the Eurasian plate, forcing it to rise and creating a huge mountain fold that became the Himalayas.
Learn about plate tectonics
A way to learn about plate tectonics It consists of modelling the Earth and its tectonic plates with an orange covered in marmalade with the peel facing up. Bring the edges of the peel (tectonic plates) together and you will see how the marmalade rises, like a mountain range!
Fun facts about India
The national flower of India is the lotus.
Himalayas means home of snow.
India is the only country in the world with lions and tigers.
The capital of India is New Delhi.
The currency of India is the rupee.
Hinduism is the most common religion, followed by Islam.
The Taj Mahal is one of the 7 new wonders of the world and it took 20,000 workers and 21 years to build.
In the monsoon season, Cherrapunjee It's the wettest place on Earth!
The Indian film industry is called Bollywood.
The Sundarbans It is one of the largest mangrove forests in the world and is located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal.
Where will you go next on our journey? Around the world in 50 experiments?
Last updated on June 6, 2023 by Emma Vanstone
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