Chapter 15 Some Natural Phenomena
Question 3: Write T against true and
Exercise Questions
F against false in the following
statements.
Question 1: Which of the following
cannot be charged easily by friction? (a) Like charges attract each other. (T /
F)
(a) A plastic scale
(b) A copper rod (b) A charged glass rod attracts a
(c) An inflated balloon charged plastic straw. (T / F)
(d) A woollen cloth
(c) Lightning conductor cannot protect a
Answer: (b) A copper rod building from lightning. (T/F)
Explanation: Only non-conducting (d) Earthquakes can be predicted in
materials can be easily charged by advance. (T / F)
friction. Copper is a highly conducting
materials. Therefore, a copper rod Answer:
cannot be charged easily by friction. (a) False
Question 2: When a glass rod is Like charges repel each other and unlike
rubbed with a piece of silk cloth the charges that attract each other.
rod
(b) True
(a) and the cloth both acquire positive
charge. A charged plastic straw has a negative
(b) becomes positively charged while charge on its surface while the glass rod
the cloth has a negative charge. has positive charges on its surface.
(c) and the cloth both acquire negative Unlike charges attract each other so,
charge. they both attract each other.
(d) becomes negatively charged while
the cloth has a positive charge. (c) False
Answer: (b) The rod becomes positively During a lightning, the lightning
charged, while the cloth has a negative conductor conducts all the atmospheric
charge. charges to the Earth directly, leaving the
building safe. Hence, lightning
Explanation: When two objects are conductors protect a building from
rubbed against each other, they acquire lightning.
opposite charges. By the law of
convention, it is known that the rod (d) False
acquires the positive charge and the
Even though the earthquake causes are
cloth is acquiring the negative charge.
known, there are no instruments that are
invented to detect them in advance. If the Richter scale gives a reading of
Therefore earthquakes cannot be magnitude 3, then the earthquake is not
predicted in advance. likely to cause much damage. Generally,
an earthquake of magnitudes higher than
Question 4: Sometimes, a crackling 5 is considered destructive in nature.
sound is heard while taking off a
sweater during winters. Explain. Question 7: Suggest three measures to
protect ourselves from lightning.
Answer: The electric discharge takes
place between the body and the sweater Answer: Protective measures against
due to friction. At the time of electric lightning are as follows:
discharge some energy is released. In
this case, energy is released in the form (i) Stay in a completely closed place. If
of crackling sound. you are moving in a car, then remain
there until the lightning is over. Close
Question 5: Explain why a charged the windows of the car immediately.
body loses its charge if we touch it
with our hand. (ii) Do not touch any electrical wires,
telephone cables, metal pipes, etc.
Answer: Human body is a good
conductor of electricity. A charged body (iii) Do not bath in running water. This
loses its charge when we touch it with may cause an electric shock.
hand because the charges get transferred
through our body to the earth. This Question 8: Explain why a charged
phenomenon is known as electric balloon is repelled by another charged
discharge. balloon whereas an uncharged
balloon is attracted by another
Question 6: Name the scale on which charged balloon?
the destructive energy of an
earthquake is measured. An Answer: Two charged balloons have
earthquake measures 3 on this scale. similar charges on the surfaces. Since
Would it be recorded by a like charges repel each other, that’s why
seismograph? Is it likely to cause one charged balloon is repelled by
much damage? another charged balloon. When an
uncharged balloon is brought near a
Answer: The destructive energy of an charged one, the uncharged balloon
earthquake is measured by the Richter acquires some opposite charge. Since
scale. This scale has readings from 1 to unlike charges attract each other,
10. therefore a charged balloon attracts an
uncharged one.
The reading of magnitude 3 on the
Richter scale would be recorded by a Question 9: Describe with the help of a
seismograph. diagram an instrument which can be
used to detect a charged body.
Answer: An electroscope can be used to Question 10: List three states in India
detect whether a body is charged or not. where earthquakes are more likely to
The following figure shows a simple strike.
electroscope.
Answer: Three states in India are Gujrat,
Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.
In India, the areas most threatened are
Kashmir, Western and Central
Himalayas, the whole of North-East,
Rann of Kutch, Rajasthan and the
Indo-Gangetic Plane. Some areas of
South India also fall in the danger zone.
Question 11: Suppose you are outside
your home and an earthquake strikes.
What precaution would you take to
protect yourself?
Answer: During the earthquake, I would
It consists of a metal rod. At one end of take the following precaution:
the rod, two leaves of aluminium foil are
I would try to find a clear spot, away
fixed and at the other end, there is a
from buildings, trees and overhead
metal disc. The leaves of aluminium foil
power lines. Drop to the ground.
are placed inside a conical flask and the
If I am in a car or a bus, do not come
flask is corked to isolate the leaves from
out. Ask the driver to drive slowly to
air.
a clear spot. I will not come out till
When the metal disc is touched with a the tremors stop.
charged body, the aluminium strips
move away from each other. This Question 12: The weather department
happens because some of the charges of has predicted that a thunderstorm is
the body are transferred to the strips likely to occur on a certain day.
through the metal rod. This method of Suppose you have to go out on that
charging a body is called charging by day. Would you carry an umbrella?
conduction. The nature of charges on Explain.
both the leaves and the charged body is
Answer: No. We should not carry an
similar. Hence, both the leaves of the
umbrella in a thunderstorm. During
aluminium foil will move away from
thunderstorms, which are accompanied
each other. If the body was not charged,
by lightning, electric discharge from the
then the leaves of the foil would remain
clouds can travel through the metallic
as they were before. They would not
rod of the umbrella. This may give an
repel each other.
electric shock to the person who is
carrying it. Hence, it is not safe to carry
an umbrella during lightning.