Class 8 NCERT Solutions Science Chapter 15 - Some Natural Phenomena

Practise important textbook questions with our reference NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 8 Science Chapter 14 Some Natural Phenomena. These solutions by TopperLearning will give you clarity on concepts like the Richter scale, electroscope etc. Revise chapter-based True or False questions by running through our chapter solutions.

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197

Some Natural Phenomena Exercise 197

Solution 1

(b) A copper rod

Concept Insight: Only non-conducting materials (bad conductors of electricity) can be easily charged by friction. Copper is a highly conducting material. Therefore, a copper rod cannot be charged easily by friction.

Solution 2

(b) The rod becomes positively charged, while the cloth has a negative charge.

Concept Insight: When an object is charged by rubbing it against another object, the two objects get oppositely charged. By convention, it is considered that the charged acquired by the glass rod is positive and charged acquired by the cloth is negative. Therefore, the rod becomes positively charged and the cloth becomes negatively charged.

Solution 3

(a) False

Concept Insight: Like charges repel each other, whereas unlike charges that attract each other.

(b) True

Concept Insight: A charged glass rod has positive charges on its surface while a charged plastic straw has negative charges on its surface. Since unlike charges attract each other, a charged glass rod attracts a charged plastic straw.

Concept Insight: During lightning, the lightning conductor (made up of metal) conducts all the atmospheric charges to the Earth directly, leaving the building safe. Hence, a lightning conductor protects a building from lightning.

(d) False

Concept Insight: Although the causes of earthquakes are known, but no instrument has been invented to predict them in advance.

Solution 4

When we take off a 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.

Solution 5

Human body is a conductor of electricity. So, when we touch a charged object, our body conducts its charges to the Earth. That is why a charged body loses its charge, if we touch it with our hand. This phenomenon is known as electric discharge.

Solution 6

The destructive energy of an earthquake is measured by the Richter scale. This scale has the readings from 1 to 12.The reading of magnitude 3 on the Richter scale would be recorded by a seismograph.

If the Richter scale gives a reading of magnitude 3, then the earthquake is not likely to cause much damage. Generally, earthquakes having magnitudes higher than 7 are really destructive earthquakes.

Solution 7

Protective measures against lightning are as follows:

(i) Stay in a completely closed place. If you are moving in a car, then remain there till the lightning is over. Close the windows of the car immediately.

(ii) Do not touch any electrical wires, telephone cables, metal pipes, etc.

(iii) Do not bath in running water. This may cause an electric shock.

Solution 8

In first case, a charged balloon repels another charged balloon as both have like charges and like charges repel each other.

In second condition, an uncharged balloon gets attracted towards a charged balloon because the charged balloon induces opposite charge on it. This process of inducing charge on an uncharged body by bringing it close to a charged body is known as induction.

Solution 9

An electroscope can be used to detect whether a body is charged or not. The following figure shows a simple electroscope.

It consists of a metal rod. At one end of the rod, two leaves of aluminium foil are fixed and at the other end, there is a metal disc. The leaves of aluminium foil are placed inside a conical flask and the flask is corked to isolate the leaves from air.

When the metal disc is touched with a charged body, the aluminium strips move away from each other. This happens because some of the charges of the body are transferred to the strips through the metal rod. This method of charging a body is called charging by conduction. The nature of charges on both the leaves is similar. Hence, both the leaves of the aluminium foil move away from each other. If, however, the body is not charged, then the two leaves remain as they are. They do not repel each other.

Solution 10

The three states in India where earthquakes are more likely to strike are Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, and Assam.

Solution 11

If we are outside our home and an earthquake strikes, then

(i) We should try to find an open field away from tall buildings, installations, tall trees, and electric wires and poles.

(ii) If travelling in a bus or a car, then we should not come out of it, instead we should drive the vehicle slowly to a clear spot away from buildings, trees etc.

Solution 12

No. We should not carry an umbrella in a thunderstorm. During thunderstorm, which is accompanied by lightning, electric discharge from the clouds can travel through the metallic rod of the umbrella. This may give an electric shock to the person who is carrying it. Hence, it is not safe to carry an umbrella during lightning.