15

Some Natural Phenomena

Expected Learning Outcomes

Knowledge to be gained: •Electric charges •Types of charges and their properties •Lightning
•Earthquakes •Seismograph and Richter Scale •Protection against lightning and earthquakes
Skill to be developed: •Construction of an electroscope and detection of charge on an object.
Attitude to be inculcated: •Precautions and safety measures against various destructive natural
phenomena should always be followed.
In Class VII, we have studied about natural notice electric sparks. All these sparks have a
phenomena like winds, storms, cyclones and similar nature. They arise because of the ow of
typhoons. Some natural phenomena like electric current between clouds.
cyclones and typhoons can cause great loss to life During heavy rain and thunderstorms,
and property. ey are, therefore, also called sometimes we see ashes of light in the sky. is
natural calamities. We also learnt that we can natural phenomenon is called lightning.
protect ourselves to some extent by taking timely Lightning is also an electric spark, but on a
actions. huge scale. Lightning happens when a high
In this Chapter, we will learn about two other amount of electric charge ows between
natural destructive phenomena called lightning clouds.
and earthquakes. We will also learn about the We know that air is an insulator and electric
various steps which can be taken to minimise the current cannot pass through it. So, to understand
destruction caused by these phenomena. how electric sparks and lightning occur, we
LIGHTNING would rst have to understand the nature of
You would have noticed electric sparks. Oen, electric charges.
when loose current-carrying wires come in ELECTRIC CHARGE
contact with each other, they produce a spark. In ancient times, people did not understand the
When we try to t a plug into a socket, we oen cause of electric sparks. ey were, therefore,
Some Natural Phenomena 231
 afraid of lightning and thought that the wrath of acquires electric charge when it is rubbed with a
Gods was visiting them. Now, of course, we silk cloth. e electric charge on the amber
understand that lightning is caused by the generated a force which attracted the tiny
accumulation of charges in the clouds. feathers.
About 2500 years ago, a Greek scientist named Ancient Greeks, as early as 600 B.C., also
ales, rubbed a resin known as ‘amber’ with a observed that when amber was rubbed with
silk cloth. He observed that upon rubbing the fur, it attracted light objects such as hair.
amber with a silk cloth, it started attracting tiny Let us perform a few activities to understand the
feathers. ales went on to claim that amber concept of electric charge.

Activity-1
Aim: To show attraction between charged and uncharged objects.
Procedure: Take a clean comb (free from oil) and
some bits of paper. Brush your dry hair briskly with
the comb for at least one minute. Aer brushing
your hair for some time, bring the comb near the
bits of paper and observe.
Now, take an in ated rubber balloon and rub it
against your dry hair. Aer rubbing the balloon
against dry hair, bring it near the bits of paper and
Tiny pieces
observe. of paper
Observation: In both cases, we nd that the tiny
bits of paper are attracted towards the comb and Fig.1 Electrostatically charged comb
the balloon. attracts tiny pieces of paper

Conclusion: is happens because both the comb and the balloon acquire some electric charge
when they are rubbed against dry hair. e electrically charged objects (comb and balloon) are then
able to attract tiny uncharged objects (bits of paper).

Activity-2
Aim: To show attraction and repulsion between
two charged objects.
Procedure: In ate two balloons. Hang them in
such a way that they are close to each other, yet
they do not touch each other (Fig.2). Rub both Fig.2 Two charged
balloons with a woollen cloth and release them. balloons repel
What do you observe? each other

232 Exploring Science-8

 Now take two pen re lls. Rub both the re lls with polythene
in order to charge them. Place one charged re ll in a glass
tumbler, which serves as a stand for the rst re ll. Bring the
other re ll close to the rst re ll (placed in the tumbler). Be
careful not to touch the charged end of the second re ll with Fig.3 Like
your hand. Is there any effect on the re ll in the tumbler? charges repel
each other
Now, bring a charged balloon close to a charged pen re ll
placed in a tumbler. What do you observe?
Observation:
Ÿ A charged balloon repels a charged balloon.
Ÿ A charged re ll repels a charged re ll.
Ÿ A charged balloon attracts a charged re ll.
Conclusion: A charged object can attract as well as repel Fig.4 Unlike charges
attract each other
other charged objects.

In the above experiments, the comb, the balloons An object having no electric charge on it is
and the pen re lls are said to be electrically called an uncharged object, whereas an object
charged when they are rubbed against dry hair, having an electric charge on it is called a
woollen cloth or polythene. ey are said to have charged object. From this discussion, we can
acquired electric charge. conclude that the charged objects attract
From the above experiment, we can conclude uncharged objects. e process of giving
that an electric charge can produce a kind of electric charge to an object is called charging
force which can attract as well as repel objects. the object.
Electric charge is the property of matter which Charging by Rubbing
is responsible for electrical phenomena.
e simplest method of charging an uncharged
CHARGED AND UNCHARGED object is by rubbing it with another suitable
OBJECTS object (silk cloth, woollen cloth, dry hair,
Take a glass rod and bring it near some tiny bits polythene, etc.). When a plastic comb is rubbed
of paper, it will not have any effect on them. If the with dry hair or a plastic re ll is rubbed with
glass rod is rst rubbed with a piece of silk cloth polythene, the plastic comb and the plastic re ll
and then brought near the tiny bits of paper then acquire a small electric charge. In the process of
the glass rod attracts the bits of paper towards charging the plastic comb and the plastic re ll,
itself. the hair and polythene also get charged.
You can say that at rst, the glass rod is In the above examples, the friction caused due to
electrically neutral or uncharged, so no effect the rubbing of the two objects charges the
was seen on the tiny bits of paper. But when the objects. is is called charging by friction. e
glass rod was rubbed with the silk cloth, it got plastic comb and the plastic re ll are said to have
charged. e electrically charged glass rod exerts acquired electric charge by friction. Apart from
a force on the tiny uncharged bits of paper and the comb and the re ll, the hair and polythene
hence attracts them. also get charged. erefore, we can say that
Some Natural Phenomena 233
 friction charges both the objects which are of electric charges—positive charges and
rubbed together. negative charges. Two charged objects interact
e electric charges generated by friction with each other on the following principles:
(rubbing) are static electric charges, i.e., they do u Two negatively charged objects repel each
not move by themselves. ese electric charges other.
remain bound to the surface of the charged u Two positively charged objects also repel
objects. each other.
All insulators (objects made of insulating
u A positively charged object attracts a
materials, like a glass rod, plastic ball, balloon,
negatively charged object, and vice versa.
rubber balloon, etc.) can be charged by rubbing
while holding them in hand. is is because they We can conclude that like charges repel each
are non-conductors and hence they do not other and unlike charges attract each other.
conduct (transfer) electric charge present on their When two bodies are charged by rubbing
surface through our hand and body into the Earth. against each other, they acquire equal and
On the other hand, conductors (objects made of opposite charges. For example, when we rub a
conducting materials) cannot be charged by glass rod with silk, it acquires a positive charge.
rubbing them while holding them in hand. is At the same time, the silk cloth acquires a
is because as soon as an electric charge is negative charge of equal value.
produced on the surface of the conductor, it is In Activity-2, when a balloon is rubbed with a
quickly transferred to the Earth via our body. woollen cloth, it acquires a negative charge.
A metal object (or any other conductor) can be When a plastic pen re ll is rubbed with
charged by rubbing only when it is held by an polythene, it acquires a positive charge. When
insulating material, like polythene, rubber the negatively charged balloon is brought near a
gloves, etc. positively charged plastic re ll, the balloon
Types of Electric Charge attracts the plastic re ll.
In Activity-2, we saw that a charged object can
either attract another charged object or repel
another charged object. e balloon charged by
rubbing with woollen cloth attracted the pen
Positively
re ll charged by rubbing with polythene. While charged
at the same time, two charged balloons repelled Negatively ball pen
each other. erefore, it is clear that the charge charged balloon re ll

on the balloon and the charge on the plastic re ll Beaker

were not the same. ere must have been two
different kinds of charges—one on the balloon,
and the other on the re ll. Fig.5 Unlike charges attract each other
In f a c t , it h a s b e en proven by m any When two positively charged objects (plastic
experiments that there are two different types re lls) are brought close, they repel each other.

234 Exploring Science-8

Similarly, when two negatively charged objects of negatively charged particles (electrons) can
(rubber balloons) are brought close, they also take place between the atoms of the objects. e
repel each other. objects which gain extra negatively charged
particles (electrons) become negatively charged,
while the objects that lose some negatively
charged particles (electrons) become positively
charged.
Whether an object will lose electrons or gain
electrons during rubbing depends on the
nature of the material of the object. Let us
understand this with a few examples.
When a plastic comb is rubbed with dry hair,
Fig.6 Like charges repel each other
some negatively charged particles move from the
Electric Charges in Atoms
dry hair to the plastic comb. As a result, the
We know that all objects are made of atoms of plastic comb acquires an excess of negatively
various elements. Every atom contains particles charged particles, which make the comb
with electric charge in them. Each atom contains negatively charged. e dry hair is le with an
some particles with a positive charge and some excess of positively charged particles, which
particles with a negative charge. Under normal make the dry hair positively charged.
circumstances, the number of particles with a
When a glass rod is rubbed with a silk cloth,
negative charge (electrons) in an atom is equal some negatively charged particles move from the
to the number of particles with a positive glass rod to the silk cloth. As a result, the silk
charge (proton). So, they cancel each other out. cloth acquires an excess of negatively charged
is makes an atom electrically neutral. particles, which make the silk cloth negatively
In an atom, it is possible to remove a negative charged. e glass rod is le with an excess of
charge particle (electron), but it is nearly positively charged particles, which make the
impossible to remove a positive charge particle glass rod positively charged.
(proton). It is also possible to add a negatively
charged particle (electron) to an atom. Glass rod

Adding a positively charged particle to an atom + Silk

–
is impossible. +
–
When an atom loses negatively charged +
–
particles, it becomes electrically positive. Fig. 7 Effect of +
rubbing glass –
When an atom gains negatively charged
with silk
particles, it becomes electrically negative.
How Rubbing Charges Various Objects Why a Charged Object Attracts
When an object, like a glass rod, silk cloth, Uncharged Objects
rubber balloon, woollen cloth, plastic comb, etc., We already know that opposite charges attract
is rubbed with another suitable object, a transfer each other. When a charged object is brought

Some Natural Phenomena 235

 near an uncharged object, it attracts the charged. e attraction between the opposite
opposite charges present on the nearer end of charges results in the piece of paper being
the uncharged object. As a result of electric attracted towards the plastic comb.
induction, the end of the uncharged object that is Negatively charged
plastic comb
closer to the charged object becomes oppositely
charged. e attraction between the opposite
charges in the two objects thus leads to the
Induced
attraction between the two objects. charges
Attraction
For example, when a negatively charged plastic
Piece of
comb is brought near a small piece of paper, the paper
negative charges on the comb repel the negative Fig.8 A charged object attracts an
charges present in the atoms of the paper and uncharged object by induction
attract the positive charges present in it. is Detecting and Measuring Electric Charge
makes the uncharged piece of paper electrically e electric charge on an object can be
induced. e end of the paper that is near to the detected by using an instrument called the
plastic comb becomes positively charged, and
electroscope. Let us conduct an activity to learn
the opposite end of the paper that is far from the
about the construction and working of an
charged plastic comb becomes negatively
electroscope.

Activity-3
Construction of an electroscope:
Take an empty glass jar with a wide mouth. Cut a Top end of
metal paper clip
piece of cardboard slightly bigger than the mouth of
the jar. Pierce a hole in the middle of the cardboard. Cardboard cover
Now, take a metal paper clip, open it up to form the
shape of 5 ( ve) with a hook on the lower side
(Fig. 9). Insert the top end of the metal paper clip in
the hole in the middle of the cardboard in such a way
that it forms a suspended hook. Take two thin strips Aluminium
of aluminium foil, about 5 cm long and 1 cm wide. foil strips
Place the aluminium foil strips in the middle of the Glass jar
suspended hook. Place the cardboard carrying the
metal paper clip and the aluminium strip on the Fig.9 A simple electroscope
mouth of the glass jar.
At this stage, the two aluminium strips are uncharged and lie close to each other. Our instrument
(electroscope) is ready.
Working of an electroscope:
Take a glass rod and charge its one end by rubbing it with a piece of silk cloth. Touch the charged
glass rod at the top of the metal clip. You will notice that the two aluminium strips move away from
each other. is divergence of aluminium strips occurs due to the transfer of charge from the glass rod

236 Exploring Science-8

 to the metal paper clip, and eventually to the aluminium strips. + +
+ + + +
+ + + Positively
When the top end of the metal clip is touched with the +
+ charged
positively charged glass rod, then some of its positive +
glass rod
+
charge is transferred to the top end of the metal clip. Since +
++
the metal clip is a good conductor of electricity, it conducts + +
+ +
the positive charge to the aluminium strips. In this way, the + + +
+ Aluminium
two aluminium strips get charged with the same kind of +
+ +
+ strips
+ +
electric charge—a positive charge. As a result of acquiring diverge
similar charges, the two aluminium strips repel each other
and try to move apart (diverge). Fig.10 Detection of charge with electroscope

From the above activity, we can conclude that the with a known charge. Suppose we have already
metal strips of an electroscope move apart charged the electroscope with a negative charge.
(diverge) when they are brought in contact When we bring an object with an unknown
with a charged object. charge in contact with the negatively charged
e greater the charge on an object, the greater electroscope, we can tell the charge on the object
the amount of charge it will transfer to the metal by noticing the movement in the metal strips of
strips of an electroscope, and the greater will be the electroscope. If the divergence in the metal
the separation between the metal strips. e strips of the electroscope decreases, we can
amount of divergence of the metal strips is a conclude that the charged object is positively
measure of the amount of charge on the body. charged. If the divergence in the metal strips of
the electroscope increases, we can conclude that
To nd the nature of the charge on an object, it is
the charged object is negatively charged.
necessary to charge the electroscope beforehand

+ + + +

(a) Charging the electroscope (b) Divergence increases if (c) Divergence decreases if
unknown charge is similar unknown charge is opposite
Fig.11 Testing the nature of charge with an electroscope
Electric Discharge—Production of Sparks discharge occurs due to the heavy build-up of
Air is a non-conductor of electricity, and so it opposite charges on two nearby surfaces.
does not conduct electric charges. If, however, During an electric discharge, the positive and the
the amount of electric charges on two opposite negative charges cancel each other out and
charged surfaces becomes very large, then the air energy is released in the form of a spark and a
between them conducts electricity in the form of crackling sound. A spark is a ash of light which
an electric discharge. e passage of electricity is seen for a very short time.
in the air due to the movement of electric In nature, the electric discharge within a cloud
charges is called electric discharge. Electric produces lightning and thunder.
Some Natural Phenomena 237
 LIGHTNING an electric discharge takes place. is electric
Lightning is produced by the electric charge in discharge is accompanied by an electric spark in
the sky. Lightning is a great electric spark in the the sky called lightning, and a loud crackling
sky. It is produced because of an electric sound called thunder.
discharge in the atmosphere betwe en Negative charge at
+ + + +
oppositely charged clouds. the bottom of the cloud + + + + + +
+ + +
e bright ashing of light which we see in the
–– –– –– –– – – – – –– – –– – – – –
– – –
clouds during a thunderstorm is called –– – –– – – – –

lightning. e electric nature of lightning was Lightning

established by a scientist named Benjamin
Franklin. He was the rst to prove that clouds in Induced positive
charge on the top
the sky build up charge during a storm. of the building
To prove his hypothesis, Benjamin Franklin ew
a silk kite into the clouds during a thunderstorm.
e end of the thread tied to the kite had a metal
key attached to it. When the kite ew close to the
clouds, Benjamin Franklin touched the metal
key and experienced an electric shock. With this,
he proved that the charges in the cloud owed Fig.12 Lightning striking a building
down the wet string to the metal key. When the Clouds can also charge tall buildings and trees by
metal key was touched, the charge owed from induction. e lower side of the charge-bearing
the metal key to Franklin’s body, giving him an clouds is negatively charged. us, by induction,
electric shock. the buildings/trees acquire positive charges. If
the build-up of charge gets very heavy, an electric
When a storm cloud develops in the sky, strong
discharge can take place between the cloud and
winds moving upward through the clouds make
the building or tree. is can produce lightning
the water droplets present in the cloud rub against
that reaches the surface of the Earth.
one another. is rubbing produces large electric
charges in the cloud due to friction. e small us, lightning is produced because of a very
water droplets acquire a positive charge and rise heavy electric discharge between clouds or
up with the rising wind. On the other hand, the between clouds and the Earth.
large water droplets acquire a negative charge and Lightning strikes are more frequent in the hilly
collect in the lower part of the cloud on account of areas because, in such places, clouds are closer to
being heavier. e top of the cloud becomes the ground.
positively charged, whereas the bottom of the Dangers of Lightning
cloud becomes negatively charged.
A ash of lightning carries a lot of electric energy.
When the positively charged side of a cloud When lightning strikes a tree, it can burn up the
comes near the negatively charged part of tree and damage it. When it strikes tall buildings,
another cloud, or when the amount of opposite it can damage the electrical instruments present
charges in a cloud becomes extremely large, then in the building. When a person is hit by

238 Exploring Science-8

lightning, the electric energy passes through the When lightning strikes, it hits the top of the
body of the person. is causes severe burns, and lightning conductor rather than the building.
can even kill the person. us, when lightning e electric energy then ows harmlessly to the
strikes the Earth, it can destroy and damage Earth, through the metal strip, without
property and trees, and kill people. damaging the building. In this way, lightning can
be easily discharged harmlessly into the ground.
Lightning Conductor
e process of transfer of charge from a
A lightning conductor is a device used to
charged object to the Earth is called earthing.
protect tall buildings from damage by
lightning. Benjamin Franklin developed the Lightning conductor
idea of using lightning conductors to protect tall
buildings.
A lightning conductor is made of a thick strip of
metal, usually of copper. e shape of a lightning Building
conductor is like a very tall spike. e lower end of
a lightning conductor is attached to a copper plate
buried deep in the Earth. e top end of the
lightning conductor is xed above the highest
point of the building, and a thick metal strip runs
along the outer wall of the building to the ground.

Earth
Copper
plate

Fig.13 Earthing using a lightning conductor

Safety During Lightning our heads during lightning.

We should take the following measures during u e TV should be switched off because the
lightning to protect ourselves: antennas xed on the walls are prone to
lightning strikes.
u No open space is safe during lightning. So,
we should always nd a safe place to shelter, u If a person is in an open area where no
like buildings or houses. suitable shelter is present, then they should
take the following precautions:
u Open vehicles are not safe. We should travel
in a covered vehicle, like a car or a bus, (i) e person should take shelter under a short
during lightning. tree because short trees are less likely to be
hit by lightning.
u We should avoid touching the metal pipes in
the house during lightning, as they can (ii) e person should squat low on the ground
conduct electricity. during lightning. is position will make
their stature shorter, thereby making them
u We should avoid raising an umbrella over
unlikely to be hit by lightning.

Some Natural Phenomena 239

 Checkpoint-1
Write True or False
1. Lightning is a destructive natural phenomenon. __________
2. Rubbing cannot make an object electrically charged. __________
3. An uncharged object can attract another charged object. __________
4. Like charges attract each other, and unlike charges repel each other. __________
5. e electric discharge within a cloud produces lightning and thunder. __________

EARTHQUAKES Another earthquake occurred on 8 October

Earthquakes occur all the time all over the 2005 in Uri and Tangdhar towns of North
Earth. ey are yet another destructive natural Kashmir.
phenomenon. A major earthquake can cause What is an earthquake? What happens when it
damage to life and property. occurs, and what can we do to minimise its
Many natural destructive phenomena, like effects? ese are some of the questions which
thunderstorms, lightning, and cyclones can be we will discuss below.
predicted. e weather department warns us What is an Earthquake?
about a thunderstorm developing in an area, or
An earthquake is a sudden shaking or
the possibility of a cyclone. If a thunderstorm
occurs, there is always a possibility of lightning trembling of the Earth’s surface for a short
and cyclones accompanying it. So, we get time to duration. Earthquakes occur from time to time
take measures to protect ourselves. all over the Earth. Most of them are not very
destructive. Major earthquakes are less frequent,
An earthquake is a destructive natural
but very dangerous. ey can cause immense
phenomenon that cannot be predicted in
damage to houses, other buildings, bridges,
advance. Nobody can tell when and where
people, etc. Earthquakes can also cause oods,
an earthquake will occur. is nature of
earthquakes makes them more dangerous than landslides and tsunamis.
many other destructive natural phenomena. In order to understand how earthquakes occur,
A major earthquake occurred in India on 26 we should rst understand the inner structure of
January 2001 in the Bhuj district of Gujarat. the Earth.

Fig.14 Destruction
caused by
an earthquake

240
Structure of Earth are present are called continental plates ,
e inside of the Earth is made up of three main whereas the plates on which oceans are present
layers—Core, Mantle and Crust. are called oceanic plates. ese plates oat over
Crust (5-70km) the mantle and can rub against each other. e
convection currents occurring in the mantle
Mantle (2850km)
move the plates on the Earth’s crust slowly.
Outer core (2200km)
Plates ow on the
Convection
Inner core (1270km) convection currents
currents
Plate sinks
into the
subduction
Fig.15 Structure of zone
the Earth
Core: e innermost part of the Earth is called
its core. e core is mostly made up of iron and
1270 km 2200 km 2850 km
some nickel. It is extremely hot. e temperature Inner
core
Outer
core
Mantle Crust
70 km
at the centre of the core can reach up to 5000oC. Fig.16 Convection current in mantle
Most of the Earth’s core is liquid, whereas the
Why do Earthquakes Occur?
innermost part of the core is solid.
e plates on the Earth’s crust (tectonic plates)
Mantle: e region between the crust
are in continuous motion. When the tectonic
(outermost layer) and the core (innermost
plates brush past one another or when they
layer) is called the mantle. It is the Earth’s
collide, they cause disturbances in the Earth’s
thickest layer. It is about 2850 km thick. e
crust. ese disturbances show up as tremors
mantle is mostly made up of dense, solid rocks
on the surface of the Earth. ese tremors are
and hot molten rocks. e hot molten rocks in
called earthquakes.
this layer form the lava that erupts out of
volcanoes. e mantle is extremely hot. e Two adjacent tectonic plates either move apart or
temperature at the base of the mantle can reach collide or brush past each other.
up to 3500oC. e heat from the core warms the When two plates
Plate Plate
mantle. is sets up huge convection currents of move apart, new crust
molten lava rising inside the mantle. is created and added
Crust: e outermost layer of the Earth is to both plates. Fig.17 Diverging plates
called its crust. It is a very thin layer, whose When two plates collide, the heavier plate moves
thickness varies between 5 km to 70 km in some over the lighter plate. e lighter plate crashes
places. e crust is thicker where there is land and goes under the heavier plate. Sometimes, the
(continents), and thinner where there is the rocks at the joints of the plates interlock and get
ocean. e crust is made up of comparatively stuck. ey resist the pressure from the
lighter rocks than that of the mantle. convection currents. For years, the forces
e Earth’s crust is not a single complete unit. It pushing the plates have built up. When sufficient
is made up of several plates that join together to pressure is built up between the two crust plates,
make the crust. e plates on which continents the entangled rocks break apart and release a

Some Natural Phenomena 241

 tremendous amount of earthquake in terms of the shock wave it
Plate Plate
energ y. is sudden produces. A seismograph detects the shock
release of energy waves produced by an earthquake and records it
Fig.18 Colliding plates
produces shockwaves on paper in the form of a graph.
(seismic waves). e shockwaves travel in all A seismograph is simply a vibrating rod or a
directions. When they reach the surface of the pendulum hanging over a piece of paper. e
Earth, they are felt as earthquakes. vibrating rod starts shaking/vibrating when an
Similarly, when two plates rub past each earthquake occurs. A pen attached to the
other, then also, vibrating system records the seismic waves and
sometimes, the traces lines on a graph paper wound around a
Plate
rocks at the joints of Plate rotating drum which lies beneath it. By studying
the plates interlock these waves, scientists can estimate their power
and get stuck. is Fig.19 Plates rubbing to cause destruction.
also leads to the past each other
building up of energy, and it is released in the
form of shockwaves that are felt as earthquakes. Support

Knowledge Booster String

Pendulum bob
The Indian plate is in con nuous collision with the Pen Rotating
Eurasian plate. In the Himalayan region, the Indian plate drum
is pushing against the Eurasian plate, which leads to the
con nuous rising of the Himalayan mountains, and
earthquakes are felt in this region from me to me.
Chart paper

Seismic Zones (Fault Zones)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60
e earthquakes are caused due to the
Fig.20 A seismograph
movement of the Earth’s plates. e boundaries
of the plates are the weak zones where By studying the seismograph records of an
earthquakes usually occur. e weak zones of earthquake produced at various seismic stations,
the Earth's crust are known as ‘seismic zones’ scientists can construct a complete map of an
or ‘fault zones’. e major earthquakes occur in earthquake.
these seismic zones which are also called the Let us study a map of an earthquake.
earthquake belts. In India, the areas most
threatened by earthquakes are Kashmir, the
Western and Central Himalayas, the whole of the
North-East, Rann of Kutch, Rajasthan and the Epicenter
Indo-Gangetic planes. Some areas of South India
also fall in the danger zone. Wave
fronts Focus
Seismograph
Fault
A seismograph is an instrument which
measures and records the magnitude of an Fig.21 Map of an earthquake

242 Exploring Science-8

e point in the Earth’s crust from which the major tremors. Modern building technology can
earthquake waves (seismic waves) originate is make it possible.
called the seismic focus. e point on the We can take the following precautions against
Earth’s surface vertically above the focus is earthquakes while building our houses:
called the epicentre of the earthquake. e u Consult quali ed architects and structural
intensity of an earthquake is greatest at the engineers.
epicentre.
u Buildings should be made quake-safe by
Richter Scale constructing them according to quake–proof
e destructive energy of an earthquake is norms.
expressed on the Richter Scale. e Richter u In a highly seismic area, the use of timber is
Scale is a series of numbers from 1 to 12 used to better than bricks and concrete to make
express the magnitude of an earthquake. Richter houses. Houses made of timber are very
Scale is not a linear scale. It means that an popular in Japan which is highly prone to
earthquake of magnitude 2 is not twice as strong earthquakes.
as an earthquake of magnitude 1. In fact, an u Be careful where you hang wall clocks, photo-
earthquake of magnitude 2 is ten times as strong frames, water heaters, etc., so that in the event
as an earthquake of magnitude 1. An earthquake of an earthquake, they do not fall on people.
of magnitude 3 is 100 times as strong as an u Since some buildings may catch re due to an
earthquake of magnitude 1, on the same scale. earthquake, it is necessary that all buildings,
Similarly, an earthquake of magnitude 6 on the especially tall buildings, have re ghting
Richter Scale has 1000 times more destructive equipment in working order.
energy than an earthquake of magnitude 3.
If an earthquake does strike, take the following
e earthquakes having magnitudes higher than steps to protect yourself:
7 on the Richter Scale are considered to be very
If you are at home
destructive earthquakes. Such earthquakes can
destroy entire cities and villages, causing a great u Take shelter under a table and stay there till
loss of life and property. Both Bhuj and Kashmir the shaking stops.
earthquakes had magnitudes greater than 7.5. u Stay away from tall and heavy objects that

Protection against Earthquakes may fall on you.

u If you are on bed, do not get up. Protect your
We know from our earlier discussions that
earthquakes cannot be predicted. We have also head with a pillow.
seen that they can be highly destructive. It is, If you are outdoors
therefore, important that we take necessary u Keep away from high-rise buildings, trees,
precautions to protect ourselves all the time. signboards and electric poles. Find a clear
Pe ople living in s eismic zones, w here spot, away from buildings, trees and
earthquakes are more likely to occur, have to be overhead power lines. Drop to the ground.
specially prepared. u If you are in a car or a bus, do not come out.
First of all, the buildings in these zones should be Ask the driver to drive slowly to a clear open
designed in such a way that they can withstand spot. Do not come out till the tremors stop.

Some Natural Phenomena 243

 Checkpoint-2
Fill in the blanks
1. __________ is a destructive natural phenomenon that cannot be predicted in advance.
2. e innermost part of the Earth is called its __________.
3. e Earth’s crust is not a single complete unit. It is made up of several __________.
4. Richter Scale is not a __________ scale.
5. e intensity of any earthquake is greatest at the __________.

Keywords
Electric spark : A ash of light seen for a very short time caused due to electric discharge.
Lightning : A natural phenomenon wherein we see a huge electric spark in the sky.
Static electricity : Electric charges at rest.
Induction : A method of charging an uncharged body without bringing it in contact
with a charged body.
Electroscope : e instrument used to detect electric charge on an object.
Electric discharge : e passage of electricity in the air due to the movement of electric charges.
Lightning conductor : A device used to protect tall buildings from damage by lightning.
Earthquake : A sudden shaking or trembling of the Earth’s surface for a small duration.
Seismic waves : Waves generated by an earthquake.
Tectonic plates : e parts into which the Earth’s crust is divided.

Points to Remember
u Electric charge is the property of matter which is responsible for electrical phenomena.
u Some objects can be charged by rubbing with other objects.
u An object having no electric charge on it is called an uncharged object, whereas an object
having an electric charge on it is called a charged object. e process of giving electric charge to
an object is called charging the object.
u Static electricity consists of electric charges that do not move. ey are also known as static
charges.
u Rubbing (friction) can be used to charge two uncharged objects.
u ere are two different types of electric charges—positive charges and negative charges.
u Like charges repel each other, and unlike charges attract each other.
u Atoms are originally electrically neutral. When they acquire extra electrons, they become
negatively charged and when they lose electrons, they become positively charged.
u e electric charge on an object can be detected by using an instrument called the electroscope.
u e passage of electricity in the air due to the movement of electric charges is called electric
discharge.
244 Exploring Science-8
u Lightning is a great electric spark in the sky. It is produced because of an electric discharge in the
atmosphere between oppositely charged clouds. Lightning strikes can destroy life and property.
u A lightning conductor is a device used to protect tall buildings from damage by lightning.
u e process of transfer of charge from a charged object to the earth is called earthing.
u An earthquake is a sudden shaking or trembling of the Earth’s surface for a short duration.
u An earthquake is a destructive natural phenomenon that cannot be predicted in advance.
u e inside of the Earth is made up of three main layers— Core, Mantle and Crust.
u e weak zones of the Earth’s crust are known as ‘seismic zones’ or ‘fault zones’. e major
earthquakes occur in these seismic zones.
u A seismograph is an instrument which measures and records the magnitude of an earthquake
in terms of the shock wave it produces. e destructive energy of an earthquake is expressed on
the Richter Scale. e earthquakes measuring 7 or more on the Richter Scale can cause severe
damage to life and property.
u We should take the necessary precautions to protect ourselves from earthquakes.

Exercise
A. Tick (3) the Correct Option
1. An object having no electric charge on it is called:
(a) a no charge object (b) a discharge object
(c) positively charged object (d) an uncharged object
2. Which of the following cannot be charged easily by friction?
(a) A plastic scale (b) An in ated balloon
(c) A copper rod (d) All of these
3. Unlike charges:
(a) attract each other (b) repel each other
(c) do not interact (d) none of these
4. When a glass rod is rubbed with a piece of silk cloth, the rod:
(a) and the cloth, both acquire a positive charge.
(b) becomes positively charged, while the cloth has a negative charge.
(c) and the cloth, both acquire a negative charge.
(d) becomes negatively charged, while the cloth has a positive charge.
5. Which instrument can be used to measure the destructive energy caused by an earthquake?
(a) Seismograph (b) Electroscope
(c) Richter Scale (d) None of these

Some Natural Phenomena 245

 B. Fill in the Blanks with Suitable Words
1. ______________ electric charges do not move by themselves.
2. When two bodies are charged by rubbing against each other, they acquire equal and
opposite ______________.
3. When an atom ______________ negatively charged particles, it becomes electrically
positive. When an atom ______________ negatively charged particles, it becomes
electrically negative.
4. e metal strips of an electroscope move apart (diverge) when they are brought in contact
with a ______________ object.
5. e electric nature of lightning was discovered by ______________.
6. Lightning conductors are usually made of ______________ metal.
7. An earthquake cannot be ______________ in advance.
8. ______________ is the innermost layer of the Earth.
9. e earthquakes are caused due to the movement of the Earth’s ______________.
10. e point on the Earth’s surface vertically above the focus is called the ______________ of
the earthquake.
C. Very Short-Answer-Type Questions
1. De ne electric charge.
2. What are static electric charges?
3. When is an atom electrically neutral?
4. Which instrument is used to detect the presence of electric charge on an object?
5. What is an electric discharge?
6. De ne lightning.
7. Which device is used to protect tall buildings from lightning?
8. What is earthing?
9. What is an earthquake?
10. What are seismic zones?
11. Name three states in India where earthquakes are more likely to occur.
12. What is the Richter Scale?
D. Short-Answer-Type Questions
1. How will you charge a plastic comb by the method of friction?
2. Explain why a charged conductor loses its charge when we touch it with our hand.
3. What is the principle on which two charged objects interact with each other?
4. How can we nd the nature of a charge with the help of an electroscope?
5. When does an electric discharge occur?
246 Exploring Science-8
 6. What are the dangers of lightning?
7. How does a lightning conductor work?
8. Why do earthquakes occur?
9. What is the seismic focus and epicentre of an earthquake?
10. e Richter scale is not a linear scale. Explain.
E. Long-Answer-Type Questions
1. How does rubbing charge various objects? Explain with an example.
2. How does a charged object attract an uncharged object?
3. Describe with the help of a diagram an instrument which can be used to detect a charged
body.
4. What are the safety measures that could be taken during lightning?
5. How does an earthquake occur?
6. What precautions should be taken against earthquakes while building our houses and when
an earthquake strikes?
HOTS
1. Since a charged body can attract an uncharged body, repulsion alone is a sure test of
whether a body is charged or not. True or false?
2. When electric charges ow through a conductor, we get electricity. True or false?
3. Why are taller buildings and trees more susceptible to lightning strikes?
4. e weather department has predicted that a thunderstorm is likely to occur on a certain
day. Suppose you have to go out on that day. Would you carry an umbrella? Explain.

Activity Zone

A. Make your own charge detector

Take a paper strip of roughly 10 cm × 3 cm. Give it a shape as shown in the gure below. Balance
it on a needle. Bring a charged body near it. Observe what happens. Write a brief report,
explaining its working.

Paper
(10 cm x 3 cm)

Fold along
the dotted line Needle

Cut along ermocole

the dotted line

Some Natural Phenomena 247

 Project Work
B. Find out ab out t he
major earthquakes that Kashmir, M7.6
Oct 8, 2005
have occurred in India.
Try to nd out the scale Kangra, M7.8
Kinnaur, M6.8
Jan 19, 1975
Apr 4, 1905
of devastation caused Assam, M8.6
Nepal, M7.8 Aug 15, 1950
by these earthquakes. Apr 25, 2015
Uttarkashi, M6.8
Ask your parents about Oct 20, 1991

the huge damage to life Gujarat, M7.7

Jan 26, 2001 Bihar, M8.0
Jan 15, 1934
and property caused by
the earthquakes of 2001
and 2005. Collect a few
pictures showing the
damages caused by the Latur Maharatra, M6.2
Sep 30, 1993
earthquake. Find the Arabian Bay of Bengal
pictures from the Sea

internet, newspapers
and magazines of those
days. Prepare a short Major
report on the suffering earthquakes
of the people aer an in India
earthquake.

Science Excursion
C. Find out if there is an organisation in your area which provides relief to those suffering from
a natural disaster. Visit the organisation and meet the officials present there. Enquire about
the type of help they render to the victims of earthquakes. Prepare a brief report on your
ndings.

e-Resources
Please visit the link given below or scan the QR code for more resources
on this Chapter:

https://www.megamindpublication.com/s-5-science/b-4-exploring-science-8/c-59/
some-natural-phenomena.html

248 Exploring Science-8