Chapter 3 Our Changing Earth

Q1. Define earthquakes? Where does the greatest damage occur

during an earthquake and why?

Ans: When lithospheric plates move, the surface of the earth

vibrates. The vibrations can travel all around the earth. These
vibrations are called earthquakes.

An earthquake is measured with a machine called a seismograph.

The magnitude of the earthquake is measured on the Richter scale.

The common earthquake prediction method is studying animal

behavior. For example fish in the ponds get agitated and snakes
come to the surface.

Vibrations travel outwards from the epicenter as waves. Greatest

damage is usually at the place closest to the epicenter and the
strength of the earthquake decreases away as we move away from
epicenter.

Q2. What preparedness measures should be adopted during an

earthquake?

Ans: Earthquake preparedness measures:

a) Safe Spot-Under a kitchen counter, table or desk, against an inside

corner or wall.

b) Stay away from- Fire places , areas around chimneys, windows

that shatter including mirrors and pictures frames.

c) Be Prepared - Spread awareness amongst friends and family

members and face any disaster confidently

Q3. How can you classify earthquakes?

Ans: An earthquake can be classified on the basis of its intensity are
as follows:

a) An earthquake of 2.0 or less can be felt on a small scale.

b) An earthquake of over 5.0 can cause damage.

c) An earthquake of over 6.0 is considered strong and

d) An earthquake of over 7.0 or above is classified as a major

earthquake.

4. Why some rocks has mushroom shape?

Ans: Mushroom rocks are found in the deserts. This is because the
wind in the desert erodes the bottom of the rock more than the top
giving it the shape of a mushroom.

Mushroom rocks, are one of the most striking manifestations of the

processes of erosion and weathering. They are formed when erosion
of an isolated rocky outcrop progresses at a different rate at its
bottom to that at its top.

Abrasion by wind-borne grains of sand is most prevalent within the

first three feet of the ground, causing the bases of outcrops to erode
more rapidly than their tops.

Q5. What are some works of the winds?

-Ans :Winds play a vast role in making the top layers of the earth.
They result in making the following shapes on the earth

a) Mushroom Rocks- Mushroom rocks are found in the deserts. This

is because the wind in the desert erodes the bottom of the rock
more than the top giving it the shape of a mushroom.
b) Sand dunes- Sand dunes are small mounds formed in deserts by
the action of the wind. These are basically low hill structures.

c) Loess- When very small and fine grains of the sand are blown away
by the winds and get deposited to some other place and area is
called as Loess.

Q6. What are the effects of sea waves?

Ans: Following effects can be considered:

a) Coastal landforms rise with the erosion and deposition of sea

waves.

b) Hollow caves are formed on the rocks due to sea waves.

c) Only the roofs of the caves remain due to the bigger size of the
cavities and forms Sea arches.

d) Due to erosion the walls break and only roofs remain which are
called as stacks.

e) Cliffs are made which stands vertically above the seawater.

Q6. What are the works of ice in forming earth surface?

Ans: Rivers of ice are called as glaciers. These glaciers are formed due
to a very low temperature presence in the area present for a longer
time.

These glaciers when get a high temperature changes into small rivers
which are their original form. These glaciers also expose the solid
rock beneath them by bulldozing soil.

Areas which are eroded by these glaciers when turn into water
forms beautiful lakes. Glaciers also make glacial moraines by
depositing the rocks of big and small size.
Q7. How are the landforms made?

Ans: Due to weathering and erosion landscapes are continuously

worn away. These two forces are the fundamental reasons for
forming the landforms.

Weathering breaks the big rocks on the earth’s surface and helps it
to form landforms. Erosion helps it to scatter on the plain which is
done by the different elements like ice and water.

In a long run these two forces help to create major landforms on the
earth’s surface.

Q8. What creates different landforms on the surface of the earth?

Ans:The erosion and deposition of the sea waves gives rise to coastal
landforms. The various landforms of coastal areas are almost
exclusively the result of the action of sea waves.

Wave action creates some of the world's most spectacular erosional

landforms like sea caves, sea arches, stacks and sea cliff. Where wave
energy is reduced depositional landforms, like beaches, are created.

Q9. What are Lithospheric plates? How do Lithospheric plates move?

Ans: The lithosphere is broken into a number of plates known as the

Lithospheric plates. They move very slowly. Some of them are large
and some are small and rigid. They are irregularly shaped plates,
which carry continents and the ocean floor.

The lithospheric plates move very slowly–just a few millimeters every

year. This is because of the movement of the molten magma inside
the earth. The molten magma inside the earth moves in circular
motion.

10. Define the following terms: weathering, denudation and erosion?

Ans: The combined action of all processes that involve only the
breaking down of the rocks is known as weathering.
The combined action of transportation of sediments is known as
erosion.
The laying bare of underlying rocks as a result of weathering and
erosion is known as denudation.