Chapter- Some Natural Phenomena

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q7) Explain why, it might be dangerous to raise an umbrella over our head in a thunderstorm.

Ans: We should avoid raising an umbrella over our head during lightning. This is because lightning may
strike the top end of the metal rod of umbrella and harm us.

Q8) A person is in open space during a thunderstorm with no shelter(not even a tree) available
nearby. Describe the safe position which he should take to protect himself from lightning. Why is this
position considered safe?

Ans: When in open space, a person should not lie on the ground during the thunderstorm and lightning.
A person should squat low on the ground during lightning. The person should place his hands on his
knees with his head between the hands. This position will make the person the shortest object around
which is unlikely to be hit by lightning.

Q9) Explain why, sometimes when we take off the woollen sweater or a polyester shirt in a dark
room, we can see tiny sparks of light and hear a crackling sound.

Ans: When we take off the woollen sweater, it rubs against our shirt. The rubbing together of sweater
and shirt produces opposite electric charges on them. The discharge of these electric charges produces
tiny sparks of light as well as crackling sound.

Q10) (a) Name the metal of which a lightning conductor is made.

Ans: A lightning conductor is made of a thick strip of metal (usually of copper).

(b) What is the shape of the top end of a lightning conductor?

Ans: The top end of lightning conductor is pointed like a sharp spike or spikes.

(c) Where is the upper end of the lightning conductor fixed in a building?

Ans: The upper end of the lightning conductor is fixed above the highest point of the building.

(d) Where is the lower end of the lightning conductor fixed and how?

Ans: The lower end of the metal strip is joined to a metal plate and buried deep in the ground near the
base of the building.

Q11) What precautions would you take to protect yourself during an earthquake if you are outdoors?

Ans: (i) We should stay at a clear spot away from buildings, trees and over-head power lines etc.

(ii) We should also sit on the ground so that we may not fall down due to shaking of ground.
(iii) If we are in a car or bus, we should not come out of it. The car should be driven slowly to a clear spot
away from buildings, trees and over-head electric wires etc. We should not come out of the vehicle till
the tremors stop.

Q12) State any two precaution which should be observed by people living in seismic zones for
protection against earthquakes.

Ans: (i) The objects such as heavy mirrors, photo frames, wall clocks and water heater’s etc should be
mounted securely on the walls at such places in the houses that they do not fall on the people in the
house during an earthquake.

(ii) All buildings should have fire fighting equipment in working order because some buildings may catch
fire during an earthquake.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1) What is an electroscope ? Draw a labelled diagram of an electroscope and explain its working.

Ans: An electroscope is a device for detecting electric charge on an object. By using an electroscope, we
can tell whether an object is electrically charged or not.

The working of an electroscope: let us charge a glass rod by rubbing it’s one end with a piece of
silk cloth. Touch the charged glass rod with the top end of metal clip. We will see that the two
aluminium leaves move away from each other. We say that the aluminium leaves diverge.

When we touch the top of metal clip with positively charge glass rod, then some of its
positive charge is transferred to the end of metal clip. Now, since, the metal clip is a good conductor of
electricity it conducts the positive electric charge to the aluminium leaves held on its other end. In this
the two aluminium leaves get charged with the same kind of electric charge i.e., positive charge.

(Draw the diagram from book page no. 288, figure 6-both)

Q2) (a) What is lightning? How is lightning produced between clouds in the sky?

Ans: The bright flash of light which we see in the clouds is called lightning.

When a storm cloud develops in the sky, strong wind move upwards through the cloud and
make the water drops present in the cloud rub against one another. The rubbing together of water
drops produces extremely large electric charges in the cloud due to friction. The water drops acquire a
positive charge and being lighter, move to the upper part of the cloud with rising wind. On the other
hand, the large water drops acquire a negative charge and being heavier come down in the lower part of
the cloud. When the positive and negative charges of the cloud meet they produce an intense spark of
electricity between the cloud in the sky. We see this electric spark as a flash of lightning in the sky.
(b) Why does lightning usually strike tall buildings?

Ans: If a storm cloud having negative charges at its bottom passes over a tall buildings, it induces
positive charges on the roof of the building. When the electric charges on the bottom of the cloud
become extremely large then these tremendous electric charges present on the bottom of the charged
cloud suddenly flow to the roof and we see a flash of lightning coming towards the building. We say that
lightning striked the building.

(c) What damage can be done when lightning strikes on the earth?

Ans: When lightning strikes a building its tremendous electric energy can set a building on fire or can
cause serious damage. Same in the case of trees. When a person is hit by lightning then electric energy
passes through the body due to which the person gets sever burns and gets killed.

Q3) (a) How does a lightning conductor protects a tall building? Name the scientist who invented the
lightning conductor.

Ans: A lightning conductor is made of a thick strip of metal. The top end of lightning conductor is
pointed like a sharp spike and it is fixed above the highest point of the building. From the top of
building, the thick metal strip runs along the outer wall of the building to the ground. The lower end of
the metal strip is joined to a metal plate and buried deep in the ground near the base of the building.

If lightning strikes, it will hit the top of the lightning conductor. The electric energy passes through
the metal strip and gets discharged safely into the ground through the buried metal plate. Since no
electric energy produced by lightning passes through the building, no damage is caused to it.

The lightning conductor was invented by scientist named Benjamin Franklin.

(Draw the diagram from book page no. 291, figure -8)

(b) Why are lightning strikes more frequently in hilly areas?

Ans: Lightning strikes are more frequent in the hilly areas because in such areas clouds are
comparatively closer to the ground than in the plains.

Q4) (a) What is an earthquake? What are the two main situations in which earthquakes occur?

Ans: An earthquakes is a sudden shaking or trembling of the earth which lasts for a very short time. It is
caused by the violent movements of rocks deep inside the earth’s crust.

The two main situations in which earthquakes occur are----

(i) Slide past one another.

(ii) Collide with one another.

(b) Define (i) focus and (ii) epicentre, of an earthquake.

Ans: (i) Focus: The place inside the earth’s crust where the earthquake is generated is called focus of the
earthquake.

(ii) Epicentre: The point on earth’s surface directly above the focus is called epicentre.

(c) What are the various effects of an earthquake?

Ans: Earthquake can cause immense damage to houses, other buildings, bridges, dams and people. A
lot of people get killed when they get buried under the debris of collapsed houses and other buildings
during an earthquake. It can also cause floods, landslide and tsunami.

Q5(a) Name the three layers of earth. Draw a labelled diagram to show the structure of earth.

Ans: The three layers of earth are core, mantle and crust.

Core: The inner most part of the earth is called its core. It is made up of mostly of iron. The core of earth
is extremely hot.

Mantle: The central region of earth between the core and crust is called mantle. It is the middle layer of
the earth. It is mostly made up of dense solid rocks. Some of the mantle is however a mix of solid rocks
and hot molten rocks like lava of the volcano.

Crust: The outer most layer of earth is called crust. It is made of comparatively lighter rocks than that of
mantle. It is not in one piece. The crust of earth is made of many huge pieces of flat rocks. Each piece is
called plate.

(Draw the diagram from book page no. 293, figure -11)

(b) What is a seismograph? Draw a labelled diagram of a seismograph.

Ans: Seismograph is an instrument which measures and records the magnitude of an earthquake in
terms of the shock waves it produces. It is also known as seismometer.

A seismograph consists of a heavy weight (like a heavy metal ball) suspended from a support with
the help of a strong wire. The support is attached to the base of seismograph. And the base of
seismograph is fixed rigidly to a solid rock on the surface of earth. A pen is attached to the lower end of
the hanging heavy weight. This pen can trace lines on a graph paper wound around a rotating drum
which lies beneath it.

(Draw the diagram from book page no. 295, figure -16)

Extra Notes

Q1) Explain why, a glass rod can be charged by rubbing when held by hand but an iron rod cannot be
changed by rubbing, if held by hand.
Ans: A glass rod can be charged by rubbing when held in hand because glass rod is an indicator which
does not conduct electric charges produced on its surface through our hand and body into the earth
where as an iron rod cannot be changed by rubbing when held in hand because iron rod is a conductor
due to which as soon as it gets charged by rubbing, the electric charges produced on its surface flow
through our hand and body into the earth and it remains unchanged.

Q2) Explain why, a charged balloon is repelled by another charged balloon whereas an uncharged ballon
is attracted by a charged balloon.

Ans: A charged balloon repels another charged balloon because like charges repel where as a charged
balloon attracts an uncharged ballon by producing opposite charges in the nearer end of uncharged
ballon by electric induction.