LESSON-15

SOME NATURAL PHENOMENON

Some natural Phenomena are winds, storms and cyclones are

destructive phenomena. In this chapter we will discuss two
destructive natural phenomena lightning and earthquakes.

LIGHTNING

• Lightning is an electric spark, but on large scale.

• Lightning is caused by accumulation of charges in the clouds.
• We need to take precautions to protect ourselves from the
deadly spark.
• Most of the substances are electrically neutral state. According
to basics of atomic structure, an atom is made up of electrons,
protons and neutrons.
• An electron has a negative charge, a proton has a positive charge
and there is no charge on a neutron.

CHARGING BY RUBBING

• When a plastic comb is rubbed with dry hair it get charged these
objects are called charged objects.
• When two objects are rubbed with each other, electrons get
transferred from one object to another
• The transfer of charges is responsible for static electricity in
various objects.

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 • Static electricity is the main reason of lightning

TYPES OF CHARGES AND THEIR INTERACTION

Let us see some examples through activities-

Activity 1

• Hang two inflated balloons in such a way that they do not touch
each other then, rub both the balloons with a woollen cloth and
then release.
• In this activity, we have brought together the charged objects
that were made of the same material and rubbed same kind.
• Both the balloons repel each other. So we can conclude that the
charges of the same kind repel each other.

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Activity 2

• Rub a refill and place it gently in a glass tumbler. Bring an

inflated charged balloon (balloon rubbed with a woollen cloth)
near the refill.
• The charged balloon attracts a charged refill.
• The charges of different kind attract each other.

TRANSFER OF CHARGE AND EARTHING

ACTIVITY 3

• Let us take an empty jam bottle and a piece of cardboard bigger

than the mouth of the bottle.
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 • Make a hole in cardboard to insert a metal paper clip and Open
out paper clip. Now we cut two strips of aluminium foil of
dimension 4 cm × 1 cm each.
• Hang them on the paper clip as shown. We insert the paper clip
in the cardboard lid perpendicular.
• We charge a refill by rubbing with polythene and touch it with
the end of the paper clip. We observe that they repel each other.
Now we touch other charged bodies with the end of the paper
clip. The foil strips behave in the same way in all cases.(iii) The
aluminium foil strips receive the same kind charge from the
charged refill through the paper clip (metals are good
conductors of electricity) and repel each other and they become
wide open.
• Such a device can be used to test whether an object is carrying
charge or not. This device is known aselectroscope.

EARTHING

The process of transferring of charge from a charged object to the

earth is called earthing.

Earthing is provided in buildings to protect us from electrical shocks

due to any leakage of electrical current.

• Electrical charge can be transferred from a charged object to

another through a metal conductor. When we touch the end of
the paper clip gently with hand, we will find that the foil strips
of electroscope come back to their original state.

LIGHTNING

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 The transfer of charge from clouds to cloud or from cloud to the
earth is called lightning. It is bright streak of light during a
thunderstorm with the sound of thunder.

• Lightning is an electric spark which happens on a large scale in

the sky by vigorous movement of air currents and the water
droplets.
• From these generated charges, the positive charges accumulate
at near the upper edges of the clouds and the negative charges
accumulate at near the lower edges of the clouds. Scientists are
yet to understand the exact reason for this. There is
accumulation of positive charges near the ground also.
• When accumulation of charges become very heavy, air is no
longer able to resist their flow. As a result, the electric charges
transfer to the ground and produce streaks of bright light and
sound across the sky. The process is called an electric discharge.

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 • Dangers-Lightning can damage houses, buildings and trees. It
can also kill human life, property and animals.
• Safety:-
First sound of thunder is an alert to rush to a safer place. After
hearing the last thunder, we should wait for some time before
coming out of the safe place.

2. A house or a building is a safe place. During lightning and

thunderstorm open place is not safe.

Do’s and Don’ts during a Thunder-storm

1. Outside

• Open vehicles, like motorbikes, tractors, construction machinery

and open cars are not safe during the lighting.
• Stay away from poles or other metal objects.
• Carrying umbrella is not a good idea at all during
thunderstorms.
• In open fields, tall trees, shelters in parks, elevated places do not
protect us from lightning strokes. We should take shelter under
shorter trees.
• In open area, if you do not find place to hide. Do not lie on the
ground. Instead, Place your hands on your knees with your head

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 between the hands. This position will make you the smallest
target to be struck.

2. Inside

• Lightning can strike telephone cords, electrical wires and metal

pipes. During a thunderstorm avoid contact with these.
• Bathing should be avoided during thunderstorms.
• Electrical appliances like computers, TVs, etc., should be
unplugged. Electrical lights can remain on. They do not cause
any harm.

Lightning Conductor- It is a device used to protect buildings from

lightning.

• It is a metallic rod, taller than the building, is installed in the

walls of the building.
• The base goes very deep inside the earth and one end is kept out
in the air.
• When lightning strikes, electric charge goes to the lightning
conductor and then it goes to earth. It provides easy route for the
transfer of electric charge to the ground.

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EARTHQUAKES

• It is a sudden shaking or trembling of the earth, which lasts for a

very short period, is called earthquake.
• It is caused by a disturbance deep inside the earth’s crust.
• It can cause large scale destruction and damage to human life.

WHAT CAUSES AN EARTHQUAKE?

• The tremors are caused by the disturbance deep down inside the
uppermost layer of the earth called the crust.

• The earth’s crust is made up of several pieces of landmass.

These are called tectonic plates. When they brush past one
another or a plate goes under another due to collision. They
cause vibrations in the earth’s crust. These occur as an
earthquake on the surface of the earth.
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 • Tremors on the earth can also be caused when a volcano erupts,
or a meteor hits the earth or an underground nuclear explosion is
carried out. However, most earthquakes are caused by the
movement of earth’s plates.

SEISMIC ZONE

As earthquakes are caused by the movement of earth’s plates, the

boundaries of the plates are the weak zones where earthquakes are
more likely to occur. These weak zones are called as Seismic Zone.

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Move in earth plates

RICHTER SCALE

• The power of an earthquake is expressed in terms of a

magnitude on a scale called the Richter Scale.
• Very destructive earthquakes have magnitudes higher than 7 on
the Richter scale.
• The Richter Scale was developed in 1935 by Charles Richter
and Beno Gutenberg of California Institute of Technology
• Richter scale is not linear. This means an increase of 2 is
magnitude means 1000 times more destructive energy.
• Example: an earthquake of magnitude 6 has thousand times
more destructive energy than an earthquake of magnitude 4.

PROTECTION AGAINST EARTHQUAKE

Earthquakes cannot be predicted & they cause destruction. Therefore,

it is important to take necessary precautions to protect ourselves in
time.

• Buildings in the seismic zones should be designed ‘quake-safe’.

• Consult qualified architects & structural engineers.
• In highly seismic areas, the use of mud or timber is better than
using heavy construction material.
• Roof should be as light as possible, so that if the structure falls,
the damage will not be heavy.
• Cupboards & shelves should be fixed on the walls, so that they
do not fall easily.
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 • Since some buildings may catch fire due to an earthquake, it is
necessary that all buildings have fire fighting equipment in
working order.

PROTECTION DURING A AN EARTHQUAKE

• The buildings should be designed so that they can withstand

major tremors.
• The use of mud or timber is better than the heavy construction
materials for making the buildings in earthquake prone areas.
• Cupboards and shelves should be fixed to the walls so that they
do not fall on someone during an earthquake.

When Earthquake strikes, following steps should be taken to protect

self:

INDOORS

• Take shelter under a table & stay there till the shaking stops.
• Stay away from tall & heavy objects.
• If you are in bed, do not get up. Protect your head with a pillow.

OUTDOORS

• Find a clear spot, away from buildings, trees & overhead power
lines. Drop to the ground.
• If you are in a car or a bus, do not come out. Ask the driver to
drive slowly to a clear spot. Do not come out till the tremors
stop.

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