12.

SOME NATURAL PHENOMENA

EXERCISES
A. VERY SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS : Answer in one-word
Q. 1. Which kind of material can be charged with static
electricity ?
Ans. Insulator.
Q. 2. What is the rapid flow of charge between the two
oppositely-charged clouds called ?
Ans. Lightning.

[1]
 TEACHER’S MANUAL :: SCIENCE— 8
Q. 3. What is a sudden movement of a part of the earth’s
crust called ?
Ans. Earthquake.
Q. 4. What are the zones of weakness in the earth’s crust
due to abrupt release of strain called ?
Ans. Faults.
Q. 5. Name the instrument on which the seismic waves due
to an earthquake are recorded.
Ans. Seismograph / Seismometer.

B. SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS : Answer in 10-15 words

Q. 1. What you should not do during thunderstorm when
you are inside your house ?
Ans. We should not do the following things during a thunderstrom.
l Should not switch on the TV sets, computers or other electrical

devices. Use of wired phone should be avoided.

l Should not take bath during thunderstorm and contact with

running water should be avoided.

l Should not stand near windows or balcony having metallic

railings.
Q. 2. Name the point from where the shock-waves of an
earthquake originate. At what depth inside the earth this point
lies ?
Ans. The point from where the shock-waves of an earthquake
originate is termed as seismic focus or seismic origin or hypocentre.
The seismic focus lies within the crust of the earth at a depth of
about 60 km.
Q. 3. What happens when a charged cloud passes over a
tall building / tree ?
Ans. When a charged cloud passes over a tall building or a tree it
induces an opposite charge on it. If the charge built up is large, it leads to
an electric discharge in the form of a lightning strike. Lightning strike causes
great damage to the buildings or trees and the living beings around them.
Q. 4. Name the scale that is used for measuring
(a) magnitude (b) intensity, of an earthquake.
Ans. (a) Magnitude of an earthquake is expressed on Richter scale.
(b) Intensity of an earthquake is expressed by the modified Mercalli
scale.
SOME NATURAL PHENOMENA 3

Q. 5. Mention the factors on which the damaging effect of

an earthquake depends.
Ans. The damaging effect of an earthquake depends on the
following factors :
(i) Magnitude of the earthquake.
(ii) Local geological conditions.
(iii) Focal depth.
(iv) Distance from the epicentre.
(v) Design of buildings and other structures.
(vi) Density of constructions and population in the affected area.

C. LONG-ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS : Answer in 20-25 words

Q. 1. Explain the following : (a) Nylon clothing crackles
as you undress. (b) TV screens soon become very dusty.
(c) It might be dangerous to raise an umbrella in a storm.
(d) A rubbed balloon will stick to the wall for sometime.
Ans. (a) Nylon clothing, on rubbing, becomes electrically charged.
Due to flow of electric charge, nylon clothing crackles as we undress.
(b) The TV screen soon becomes very dusty because screen gets
electrically charged due to friction. The screen attracts the tiny dust
pieces that stick to it.
(c) The metallic tip or pole of an umbrella may increase the risk of
the bearer being struck by lightning. The static charge of clouds in the
surrounding area may pass through the bearer, increasing his chance of
being hit by the lightning. Therefore it might be dangerous to raise an
umbrella in a storm.
(d) The balloon gets electrically charged by friction. The charged
balloon attracts the wall and hence sticks to it.
Q. 2. Explain the role of a lightning conductor in protecting
a tall building from lightning.
Ans. When a highly charged cloud passes over a tall building, it
induces an opposite charge on the spikes of the lightning conductor.
This charge is quickly flows on the Earth through the copper rod/strip.
Thus, the lightning strike is prevented and the building is saved from
being damaged.
Q. 3. Suggest three measures to protect ourselves from
lightning ?
Ans. (i) Do not carry an umbrella over your head.
(ii) Do not stand near tall trees, high-rise building, electric pole and
any metallic structure.
(iii) Do not lie on the ground. Instead squat low on the ground with
your hands on your knees and head in between.
 TEACHER’S MANUAL :: SCIENCE— 8
Q. 4. Draw a diagram showing various layers of the earth.
Ans.
Mantle

Outer core
Inner
core

Crust
3400 km

The inner structure of the earth (not to the scale)

Q. 5. Define the following terms : Seismic focus, Epicentre,

Focal depth, Seismic waves.
Ans. Seismic focus : The point from where the shock-waves of
an earthquake originate due to sudden movement/slip of rocks is termed
as seismic focus.
Epicentre : The point on the surface of the earth, vertically above
the seismic focus is called epicentre.
Focal depth : The focal depth of an earthquake is the depth of the
seismic focus below the earth’s surface.
Seismic waves : The waves generated in the lithosphere due to
sudden movement in a part of earth’s crust are called Seismic waves.

D. TICK (4) THE ODD-ONE OUT GIVING REASON

1.
Static electricity, Metal, Insulator, Rubbing
2.
Earthquake, Tsunami, Richter scale, Epicentre, Focal depth
3.
Glass rod, Cotton cloth, Positive charge on glass rod, Silk cloth
4.
Hypocentre, Volcanic eruption, Earthquake, Seismic waves
5.
Intensity of earthquake, Magnitude of earthquake, Mercalli scale
Ans. 1. Metal : Metals cannot be charged by rubbing.
2. Tsunami : These are powerful sea waves.
3. Cotton cloth : Others related with static electricity.
4. Volcanic eruption : Others are related with Earthquakes.
5. Magnitude of earthquake : The intensity of an earthquake is
expressed by Mercalli scale.
SOME NATURAL PHENOMENA 5

E. DEFINE THE FOLLOWING TERMS

1. Charging by rubbing.
Ans. The static electricity can be produced by rubbing. Objects
made from rubber, polythene, glass and ebonite can be charged by
rubbing. Metals (like steel) cannot be charged by rubbing.
A glass rod when rubbed with silk cloth gets charged with positive
charge. The silk cloth develops an equal amount of negative charge.
An ebonite rod when rubbed with fur or woollen cloth develops a
negative charge. The fur/woollen cloth develops an equal amount of
positive charge.
2. Lightning strike.
Ans. When a charged cloud passes over a tall building or tree it
induces an opposite charge on them. If the charge built up is large, it
leads to an electric discharge. It is called lightning strike.
When lightning strikes a building or a tree, it can shatter and set it
on fire. Lightning can severely burn and cause death of living beings if
they happen to be in that area.
3. Earthquake and Seismic focus.
Ans. Earthquake : Any sudden movement (including vibrations)
of a part of the earth’s crust caused by an abrupt release of strain
accumulated in it over a long period of time is called earthquake.
Seismic focus : The point from where the shock waves of an
earthquake originate is called the seismic focus.
4. Damaging effects of earthquakes.
Ans. Damaging effect of Earthquakes :
Earthquakes may :
(i) cause damage to the buildings, railway tracks, bridges, roads
etc. As a result, people may get trapped inside the collapsed
structures and many may die.
(ii) cause landslides. The rubble may block rivers and cause flooding.
(iii) change the course of rivers and cause floods.
(iv) damage underground water and gas pipelines. This may lead to
fire breakout and large scale burning.
5. Lightning conductor.
Ans. High-rise buildings can be protected from lightning strike by
providing a lightning conductor at their highest point.
A lightning conductor consists of a long, thick metal rod/strip having
sharp spikes at its upper end. The spikes pointing towards the sky are
fixed at the highest point of the building. The lower end of the metal
rod/strip is connected to a large copper (or aluminium) plate which is
buried deep inside the Earth. This is called Earthing.
 TEACHER’S MANUAL :: SCIENCE— 8
When a highly charged cloud passes over a tall building, it induces
an opposite charge on the spikes. This charge quickly flows to the Earth
through the copper rod/strip. Thus, the lightning discharge is prevented
and the building is saved from damage.

HIGHER ORDER THINKING SKILLS : Think and Answer

Q. 1. A plastic comb when rubbed with dry hair gets

charged. However a metallic comb does not. Give reason.
Ans. The comb gets charged when we vigorously comb our dry
hair because the electrons from our hair get dislodged and get on the
surface of the comb. The plastic comb gets negatively charged and our
dry hair become positively charged. When some small bits of paper
are brought near the comb, they get attracted to it. This is due to static
electricity generated in the comb due to rubbing. This doesn’t happen
in case of a matallic comb because static electricity is not generated in
metals or in general, conductors.
Q. 2. Can the electrostatic charge be stored ? If so how ?
Ans. Yes, it can be stored in a device called ‘Leyden jar’ discovered
by Pieter van Musschenbroek. Now a days, modified versions of Leyden
jar called capacitors are used in electrical circuit.
Q. 3. Why is it advised to switch off TV/radio during
thunderstorm ?
Ans. Thunderstorms occur when large air masses rise quickly
into the atmosphere, forming huge cumulonimbus clouds. Severe air
currents inside the clouds cause water droplets and ice crystals to crash
into one another continually, and the friction between these particles
creates static electricity in the cloud. Over time, opposite charges build
between the top and bottom of the cloud, and the bottom of the cloud
and the earth. When these opposing charges become intense, a gigantic
spark occurs (lightning) which jumps the gap between the cloud and the
earth. The thunder accompanying lightning is the noise produced by
the discharge.
It is better to unplug the TV aerial (if roof mounted) in a
thunderstorm as the aerial could receive a substantial charge from a
nearby lightning strike. Being plugged-in will also lower the impedance
to ground and could make the aerial a slightly preferential path for a
lightning discharge.
Q. 4. The top of a lightning conductor is always higher
than the top of the building. Give reason.
SOME NATURAL PHENOMENA 7

Ans. A lightning conductor is a Lightning

metal rod or conductor mounted on top Rod
of a building and electrically connected
to the ground through a wire, to protect
the building in the event of lightning. It
is installed at the highest point of the
Wire
building because if lightning strikes the
building it will preferentially strike the
rod, and be conducted harmlessly to the
ground through the wire, instead of passing
through the building, where it could start a Ground Rod
fire or cause electrocution.

QUICK ASSIGNMENT

A. MULTIPLE CHOICE TYPE QUESTIONS : Tick (4) the correct answer

1. Which of the following cannot be charged by friction ?
(a) plastic scale
(b) copper rod
(c) inflated balloon
(d) woollen cloth
2. The two objects rubbed against each other
(a) will lose electrons
(b) will gain electrons
(c) one will lose and the other will gain electrons
(d) none of these
3. The point from where the shock-waves of an earthquake
originate is called
(a) epicentre
(b) seismic focus
(c) focal depth
(d) none of these
4. The shock waves produced by an earthquake travel
(a) along the surface
(b) deep inside the earth
(c) both on the surface and inside the earth
(d) only in the air
 TEACHER’S MANUAL :: SCIENCE— 8
5. The magnitudes of some earthquakes are given below. Which
of these will cause the maximum damage ?
(a) 3.0 (b) 4.0
(c) 5.0 (d) 8.0
Ans. 1. (b) 2. (c) 3. (b) 4. (c) 5. (d)

B. WRITE ONE WORD FOR THE FOLLOWING

1. The process of transferring charge from a charged object to the
earth.
2. Rapid flow of charge through the air between the two oppositely
charged clouds.
3. The relative movement of different parts of the lithosphere
producing high intensity shock waves.
4. An instrument which detects and records the magnitude of
earthquake.
5. The plates at the boundaries of which considerable geological
activities take place.
Ans. 1. Earthing
2. Lightning or Electric discharge
3. Earthquake
4. Seismograph or Seismometer
5. Tectonic plates

C. MATCH THE COLUMNS

Column A Column B
1. Earthing A. Richter scale
2. Earthquake B. Lithosphere
3. Tectonic plates C. Rubbing
4. Static electricity D. Earth’s crust
5. Faults E. Lightning
Ans. 1. E 2. A 3. B 4. C 5. D

Chapter Based Practice Paper

A. MULTIPLE CHOICE TYPE QUESTIONS : Tick (4) the correct answer
1. Which of the following can be charged with static
electricity ?
(a) metal (b) alloy
(c) insulator (d) semiconductor
SOME NATURAL PHENOMENA 9

2. When two bodies are rubbed against each other, they acquire
(a) equal and like charges
(b) equal and unlike charges
(c) unequal and like charges
(d) unequal and unlike charges
Ans. 1. (c) 2. (b)

B. FILL IN THE BLANKS TYPE QUESTIONS

1. When a glass rod is rubbed with silk, it becomes positively
charged because it get scrapped off some electrons.
2. Lightning is produced when oppositely charged clouds come
closer to each other.
3. When lightning strikes a building or a tree, it can shatter and
set it on fire.
4. Earthquakes occur in the crust of the earth.
5. The powerful waves generated by an earthquake under the
ocean floor are called Tsunamis.

C. TRUE OR FALSE TYPE QUESTIONS

1. A body can be charged only by bringing it in contact with
another charged body.
2. When an ebonite rod is rubbed with fur, electrons are transferred
from fur to the ebonite rod.
3. A plastic strip can be used to make a lightning conductor.
4. The waves generated in the lithosphere due to sudden
movements in a part of the earth’s crust are called sound waves.
5. Faults are the zones of strength in the earth’s crust.
Ans. 1. False 2. True
3. False 4. False
5. False

D. PUZZLES AND QUIZ

Solve the crossword puzzle with the help of clues given
below.
ACROSS
1. The relative movement of different parts of the lithosphere
producing high intensity shock waves. (10)
2. Dislocation of the crust. (5)
 TEACHER’S MANUAL :: SCIENCE— 8
3. The loud sound produced during lightning. (7)
4. Charge developed on glass rod when rubbed with silk. (8)
5. Method by which static electricity is produced. (7)
6. Charge developed on ebonite rod when rubbed with cat
skin.(8)

DOWN
7. Caused by electric discharge between two clouds alongwith the
rain. (12)
8. Burying the lower end of the lightning conductor deep inside the
earth. (8)
9. Sea waves caused by earthquake under the sea bed. (8)
10. Earthquakes measuring 6 or more on Richter scale. (5)
11. The point on the surface of the earth, vertically above the
seismic focus. (9)
NOTE : The solved crossword is given below.

7T 1E8 A R 9T H Q U A K 11E

H A S P

U R U I

N T N C
D H A 10M E

E I M A N
R N I J 2F A U L T


S G O R
3T H U N D E R E
O 4P O S I T I V E
5R U B B I N G
M 6N E G A T I V E