MAHARISHI VIDYA MANDIR SR. SEC.

SCHOOL, CHETPET, CH- 31

ACADEMIC YEAR 2023-2024

MIDDLE SCHOOL

CHAPTER -15 SOME NATURAL PHENOMENA

SUMMARY OF THE LESSON

I. Electric Charge:
 Static charges: On rubbing a plastic comb with our dry hair,
the plastic comb acquires electric charge due to friction and it
attracts tiny bits of paper when we bring near to it. The comb
exerts an electrostatic force on bits of paper and the charges
acquired on the comb are called static charges and they do
not move and it remains bound to the surface.
 Electrified/ charged with electricity: The substances
which acquire the property of attraction when rubbed.
 Static electricity: The phenomenon in which a definite
combination of bodies gets electrified on rubbing.
 Charged object: An object having charge on it.
 Uncharged object: An object having no charge on it.
 A charged object has the ability to attract an uncharged object.
II. Charging an object by friction:
 Charging an object by rubbing with another object.
 Insulators can be charged by rubbing while held in hand as
the insulators are unable to conduct static charges through
our body to the Earth.
 Conductors cannot be charged by rubbing while held in hand.
As these materials allow the static charges to flow from our
body to the Earth.
 Conclusion: Insulators can be charged by friction whereas
metals cannot be charged by friction.
 Tribo electric series:

 When two materials from the static build up array are

touched together, materials nearer the top of the graph
will tend to have a positive charge, while materials
nearer the bottom of the array will tend to have a
negative charge
charge.
III. Positive and negative charges:
 Atom has protons, electrons and neutrons. Protons and
neutrons held together inside the nucleus of an atom by a
nuclear force. Protons cannot be transferred from the atoms
of one object tto
o another object. But electrons can transfer
from the atoms of one object to another by rubbing.
 The object which loses electrons acquire positive charge and
the object which gains electrons acquire negative charge.
 For example, using tr triboelectric
iboelectric series, when a glass is rubbed
with silk, glass being on the top of series, gain positive charge
whereas silk on the bottom of series, gain negative charge.
IV. Interaction of electric charge:
i. Activity: To show that similar charges repel each other:
Procedure:
 Take a glass rod and rub it with silk, glass acquires positive
charge. Suspend the charged glass rod from its middle with a
silk thread.
 Take another glass rod and again rub it with silk and similar
positive charge acquires on the glass rod.
 Now bring this charged glass rod near the suspended glass
rod.
Observation: Both the glass rods repel each other.
Conclusion: Since both glass rods acquired similar charge it cause
a repulsion between them.

 Similarly when two ebonite rods are rubbed with fur, both the
rods gain negatively charged and when it bring together, they
repel each other.
 In the same way, when two inflated balloons are rubbed
separately with woollen cloth, balloon acquires a negative
charge and when two charged balloons bring closer to each
other we find that they repel each other.
 ii. Activity: To show that unlike charges attracts each other.
Procedure:
 Take a glass rod and rub it with silk cloth, a glass rod gain positive
charge and suspend the charged glass rod with a silk thread.
 Take a ebonite rod and rub it with fur, an ebonite rod gain negative
charge and bring this charged ebonite rod near the suspended glass
rod.
Observation:
 We find that both rods attract each other.
Conclusion:
Since both rods attract each other, it is assumed that they both acquire
opposite charges on them. Hence opposite/ unlike charges attract
each other.

V. Electroscope:
 A device which detects the electric charge on an object.

Activity: To prepare an electroscope

Procedure:

 Using an awl, pierce the centre of a cardboard and insert a

metal clip. Metal clips must be opened so that it forms a
shape of five with a hook on its lower side. Hang two strips of
aluminium foil in the metal clip. Keep the cardboard on the
mouth of the glass bottle. Electroscope is ready for use.
 Now bring a charged glass rod on rubbing with a silk cloth and
gently touch the rod to the end of a metal clip.

Observation:

 We find that both aluminium strips repel each other.

Conclusion:

 On touching the positively charged glass rod to the metal clip,

some of its positive charges transferred to the metal clip.
Since metal clip is a conductor of electricity, it conducts
electric charge to the aluminium foil. Since aluminium foil
acquired similar positive charge, hence they undergo
divergence.
 Note: Similarly, if a negatively charged plastic comb on
rubbing with dry hair, if bring it near to the metal clip, the
 same phenomena happens, both aluminium strips acquire
negative charge and they undergo divergence.
 Greater the amount of electric charge, greater the divergence
of the strips.
 If we touch the metal top by our finger, then the charged
particles from the electroscope get transferred to the Earth
through our body. And electroscope becomes neutral. So
aluminium strips becomes collapse.
 Earthing: The process of transferring an electric charge from a
charged body to the Earth.
 Earthing providing in the wiring of houses and buildings to
protect from electric shocks which may occur due to leakage
of current.
VI. Lightning:
Causes:
 When a thunderstorm develops, the air currents move upward
whereas the water droplets move downward. This movement also
causes a separation of positive and negative charges on the clouds.
The negative charges accumulate near the lower end of the cloud
while the positive charges collect near the upper edge. Also, positive
charge accumulates on the ground as well.

 As these charges accumulate, it reaches a stage where it is impossible

for air (a poor conductor of electricity) to resist the attraction between
the positive and negative charges. When these charges meet, they
create streaks of light and loud sounds. The charge gets discharged. This
discharge can occur between two clouds or between clouds and earth.
 Lightning: A flash of light which is seen in the clouds. Produced by
electric charges in the sky followed by a loud sound called thunder.
  Passage of electricity in air due to the flow of electric charges is
known as electric discharge.
 Sheet lightning: Lightning occurs within a cloud.
 Fork lightning: Lightning occurs between a cloud and the Earth.
Lightning conductor:
 It is made of metal works by conducting electrical energy with
lightning into the Earth.
 Made of thick strip of copper. Its top end is like a spike and is
installed at the highest point of a building and its lower end is deep
into the Earth.
 When the lightning strikes, discharge of electricity takes place from
the cloud to the metal rod and then into the Earth and hence the
building is saved from its dangerous effects.
Dangerous effects of lightning:
 Destroys life and property
 Causes fire and shatter buildings
Safety measures during lightning:
 Ensure that all tall buildings are fitted with lightning conductor to
discharge the electric charge harmlessly to the ground.
 Stay indoors during thunderstorm. All electric wires and telephone
cords should not to be touched. Not to take a bath during storm.
Switch off all electrical appliances like T.V, computers and electric
iron. Cordless mobile phone is safer to use.
 In case travelling in closed vehicles such as a bus or a car, stay
inside the vehicle. Such vehicles provide excellent lightning
protection. Open vehicles such as motorbikes, cycles and tractors
are not safer to use.
 If at outdoors, open fields like tall trees and elevators are not safe
to take shelter. Opening a umbrella with a metal point is not safe
during storm.
 If there is no shelter at out during storm, never lie on the ground.
Instead sit on the ground with hands on the knees.
VII. Earthquakes:
 It is not possible to forecast or predict the occurrence of a
earthquake. It generally occurs without warning.
 A sudden shaking or trembling of the Earth that lasts for a very
short time
 Effects:
 Causes great damage to dams, buildings, bridges and also
huge loss of lives.
 Also results in floods, landslides and tsunamis.
 Causes:
 Disturbances deep inside the uppermost layer of the Earth
called crust. Crust is fragmented and each fragment is a
plate. These plates are not static and always in motion.
Whenever the plates brush one another due to collision,
some disturbance is created in the Earth’s crust. This
disturbance is not confined to one place inside the crust but
shows as an earthquake on the Earth’s surface.

 Also due to sudden volcanic eruption/ underground nuclear

explosion/ when a meteor hits the Earth.
 Earthquake-prone areas:
 Seismic or fault zones: Some weak zones where earthquakes
are more likely to occur. Eg: central and western regions of
the Himalayas.
 Magnitude of earthquakes
 Focus: The place inside the Earth’s crust where the
earthquake has been generated.
 The seismic waves generated from focus and spread in all
directions in the form of concentric circles.
 Epicentre: The point on the Earth’s surface which is directly
above the focus.
 Magnitude of an earthquake defines the energy released by
the event.
 Intensity of an earthquake depends on the place where it is
measured. Intensity decreases as the distance from the epicentre
increases.
 Seismograph:
 Earthquakes generate seismic waves. This can be detected and
recorded by an instrument called seismograph.
 Consists of a simple pendulum with a heavy mass suspended by a
wire or rod fixed at a point. A sheet of smoked paper is wrapped
around a rotating drum. A moving pen connected to the pendulum
presses lightly on the paper.
 When tremors occur, the pendulum starts vibrating. The pen
records the seismic waves on the paper wrapped around a drum.
 Seismogram:
 The seismograph record is called seismogram.
 Shows the seismic waves recorded on a graph paper.
 Shows the time for which earthquake lasts.
 Seismology:
 Study of earthquakes.
 Scientist who studies earthquakes are seismologists.
 Richter scale:
 The magnitude of an earthquake is measured on an open-ended
scale called Richter scale invented by Charles F Richter in 1934.
 It assigns a single number to quantify the amount of seismic energy
releases by the event.
 Range of scale is from 0 to 9.
 Scale is not linear and it is logarithmic.
Scale Effect
6.0-6.9 Moderate Disastrous in highly
populated areas.
7.0-7.9 Major earthquakes
8.0 and Really destructive earthquakes
above
 Effects of earthquakes:
 Disrupts electric power and break gas pipelines which causes fire
outbreaks in the area
 Soil liquefaction: Cause water saturated granular soil to lose its
strength and transform from solid to liquid.
 Causes tilting, sinking of buildings and bridges.
 Collapse of buildings
 Crack or collapse in the dams of rivers
 Twist in the railway lines due to high magnitude of earthquakes.
 Broken roads
 Supply of water through pipelines is greatly affected
 Cause floods, landslides, and tsunamis.
Precautionary measures during earthquakes:
 Before occurrence:
 People in earthquake prone areas must be educated and made
aware so that they can take precautionary measures before and after
the earthquakes.
 Quality of construction of a building is very important to ensure the
building is safe.
 The building units should have enough strength so that they remain
as one unit when subjected to vibrations.
 By-laws should be strictly followed while constructing new buildings.
 River banks must be strengthened by building dykes.
 In hilly areas, lighter materials should be used for building houses.
It should be made of wood or thatched materials. Roofs must be made
of lighter materials.
 During tremors: If you are indoors (At home or in school)
 Crouch under the desks if inside of a school building, never move or
create any chaos. Stay away from heavy object.
 If in bed, protect your head with a pillow.
 Stay away from heavy and tall objects that fall on you.
 In rural areas, people should come out of their houses and stay in
the open till tremors subside.
 During tremors: If you are outdoors:
 If a person feels the tremors while driving, stop driving and park
the vehicle on the roadside and wait till the vibrations stop.
 Stay away from trees, buildings, electric poles, and any other tall
object which has a chance of falling down.
 After the tremors:
 Help the people who have suffered injuries. Inform police control
room, fire control office, nearby Red Cross office or the NGOs in that
area. Also look for the people who trapped inside the buildings and
rescue and provide them first aid. Relief camps must be arranged by
government agencies or by other social groups for the people who have
lost property and damaged.
 As a student find your area that falls on high risk zone or not. Make
an effort to inform people around you and educate them to gain
confidence to cope with this natural calamity if the area falls under high
risk zone.
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