NCERT Solutions For Class 8 Science Chapter 15 - Some Natural Phenomena - .

NCERT Solutions for Class 8
Science
Chapter 15 – Some Natural Phenomena
1. Which of the following cannot be charged easily by friction?
(a) A plastic scale
(b) A copper rod
(c) An inflated balloon
(d) A woollen cloth
Ans: (b) A copper rod
When insulating materials such as plastic scales, balloons, and woollen clothes rub
against each other, they may become electrically charged. Charging by friction is
used to charge only non-conducting materials (poor conductors of electricity). As
copper is a highly conducting material, it cannot be charged easily by friction.
2. When a glass rod is rubbed with a piece of silk cloth the rod
(a) and the cloth both acquire positive charge.
(b) becomes positively charged while the cloth has a negative charge.
(c) and the cloth both acquire negative charge.
(d) becomes negatively charged while the cloth has a positive charge.
Ans: (b) becomes positively charged while the cloth has a negative charge.
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When an object is charged by rubbing it against another object, the two objects
acquire opposite charges. By convention, it is considered that the charge acquired
by the silk cloth is negative and the charge acquired by the glass rod is positive.
Therefore, the glass rod becomes positively charged, whereas the silk cloth becomes
negatively charged.
3. Write T against true and F against false in the following statements.
(a) Like charges attract each other. (T / F)
Ans: F
Like charges (positive-positive or negative-negative) repel each other, whereas

unlike charges (positive-negative) attract each other.
(b) A charged glass rod attracts a charged plastic straw. (T / F)
Ans: T
Both objects have opposite charges on them. A charged glass rod (positively
charged) attracts a charged plastic straw (negatively charged) because opposite
charges attract each other.
(c) Lightning conductors cannot protect a building from lightning. (T / F)
Ans: F
When lightning strikes, the lightning conductor conducts all of the atmospheric
charges directly to the Earth, keeping the building safe. As a result, a lightning
conductor protects a building against lightning strikes.
(d) Earthquakes can be predicted in advance. (T / F)
Ans: F
Despite the fact that the causes of earthquakes are known, no instruments have been
developed to detect them in advance. As a result, earthquakes cannot be predicted in
advance.

4. Sometimes, a crackling sound is heard while taking off a sweater during
winters. Explain.
Ans: When we take off a sweater during winter, the woollen sweater gets charged
due to friction between the body and the sweater. The discharge of these electric
charges produces tiny sparks of light and a crackling sound.
5. Explain why a charged body loses its charge if we touch it with our hand.
Ans: Electricity can flow through the human body because the human body is a
conductor of electricity. When we come into contact with a charged object, our body
conducts its charges to the Earth. That is why if we touch a charged body with our
hand, it loses its charge. This is referred to as an electric discharge.
6. Name the scale on which the destructive energy of an earthquake is

measured. An earthquake measures 3 on this scale. Would it be recorded by a
seismograph? Is it likely to cause much damage?
Ans: The Richter scale is used to determine how destructive an earthquake is. The
scale ranges from one to ten. A seismograph would record a reading of magnitude 3
on the Richter scale.
If the earthquake has a magnitude of 3 on the Richter scale, it is unlikely to cause

significant damage. Earthquakes of a magnitude greater than 5 are generally
considered destructive in nature.
7. Suggest three measures to protect ourselves from lightning.
Ans: Three protective measures against lightning are:
(i) Always remain in a covered area or stay indoors. If you are moving in a car, stay
there until the lightning is over and keep the windows shut.

(ii) Do not bathe in running water during lightning.
(iii) Do not touch any electrical appliances, wires, telephone cables, metal pipes etc.
during lightning.
8. Explain why a charged balloon is repelled by another charged balloon

whereas an uncharged balloon is attracted by another charged balloon?
Ans: A charged balloon repels another charged balloon because both carry the same
type of charges and the same charges repel each other.
When an uncharged balloon is brought near to a charged balloon, the uncharged

balloon acquires the opposite charge on its surface by the process of induction. Thus,
an uncharged balloon is attracted by another charged balloon because opposite
charges attract each other.
9. Describe with the help of a diagram an instrument which can be used to

detect a charged body.
Ans: An electroscope is a device which is used to detect the charge on a body. It

works on the principle that charges (positive-positive or negative-negative) repel
each other while unlike charges (positive-negative) attract each other.

This device has a metal rod. At one end of the metal rod, two strips of aluminium
foil are fixed and at the other end, there is a metal disc. The bottom of the rod and
strips of aluminium foil are placed inside a conical flask for protection. When the
metal disc of the electroscope is touched with a charged body (ebonite or glass rod),
the aluminium strips diverge or move away from each other. This happens because
some of the charges of the charged body are transferred to the aluminium strips
through the metal rod. The nature of charges on both the aluminium strips is similar.
Hence, both the strips of the aluminium foil move away from each other. If the body
is not charged, then the two strips of aluminium remain as they are. They do not
repel each other.
The extent of divergence depends upon the amount of charge on the electroscope.
When the aluminium strips repel each other proves that the body is charged because
repulsion is the sure test to detect if the body is charged or not through an
electroscope.
10. List three states in India where earthquakes are more likely to strike.
Ans: The following are the three Indian states where earthquakes are more likely to
occur:
(i) Jammu and Kashmir
(ii) Assam
(iii) Gujarat
11. Suppose you are outside your home and an earthquake strikes. What
precaution would you take to protect yourself?
Ans: If we are outside our home and an earthquake strikes, then the following
precautions must be followed:

(i) We should move to an open space away from tall buildings, tall trees, electric
wires and poles.
(ii) If we are driving, we should slow down the vehicle and move it slowly to a clear
spot away from buildings, electric poles, trees, etc. and stay there till the
earthquake stops.
12. The 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.
Ans: In a thunderstorm, no one should carry an umbrella. Electric charges can travel
from the cloud through the metallic rod of an umbrella during a thunderstorm
accompanied by lightning. This could cause an electric shock to the person carrying
it. As a result, carrying an umbrella during a lightning storm is dangerous.

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NCERT Solutions for Class 8

Chapter 15 – Some Natural Phenomena

1. Which of the following cannot be charged easily by friction?

(a) A plastic scale

(b) A copper rod

(c) An inflated balloon

(d) A woollen cloth

Ans: (b) A copper rod

(a) and the cloth both acquire positive charge.

(c) and the cloth both acquire negative charge.

Class VIII Science www.vedantu.com 1

3. Write T against true and F against false in the following statements.

(a) Like charges attract each other. (T / F)

Like charges (positive-positive or negative-negative) repel each other, whereas

(b) A charged glass rod attracts a charged plastic straw. (T / F)

(c) Lightning conductors cannot protect a building from lightning. (T / F)

(d) Earthquakes can be predicted in advance. (T / F)

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6. Name the scale on which the destructive energy of an earthquake is

If the earthquake has a magnitude of 3 on the Richter scale, it is unlikely to cause

7. Suggest three measures to protect ourselves from lightning.

Ans: Three protective measures against lightning are:

Class VIII Science www.vedantu.com 3

8. Explain why a charged balloon is repelled by another charged balloon

When an uncharged balloon is brought near to a charged balloon, the uncharged

9. Describe with the help of a diagram an instrument which can be used to

Ans: An electroscope is a device which is used to detect the charge on a body. It

Class VIII Science www.vedantu.com 4

(i) Jammu and Kashmir

Class VIII Science www.vedantu.com 5

12. The weather department has predicted that a thunderstorm is likely to

Class VIII Science www.vedantu.com 6

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