SOME NATURAL PHENOMENON
Natural phenomena:
Anything that occurs in nature on its own without the involvement of
human beings is called a natural phenomenon (natural disaster).
Example:
Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, wind, storms, cyclones, thunderstorms and
lightning.
Some natural phenomena like earthquakes, lightning and cyclones can be
highly destructive to human beings. However, we can protect ourselves from
these kind of natural disasters.
cyclone
Earthquake
Lightning
Lightning:
• Lightning is an electric discharge or electric spark caused by the
imbalance between the clouds and the ground. It is due to the
accumulation of charges in the cloud.
• Lightning may destroy human life and property.
• In ancient times, people were unaware of the cause of lightning, and
hence they were scared of it, and they thought that the wrath of
gods were visiting them.
• As of now, scientists have developed some precautions that can help us
prepare and protect ourselves from lightning.
Greeks' idea about sparks:
• The Greeks were aware of the electric charges from 600 BC. They found
that when amber (a type of resin) and fur are rubbed together, amber
attracts light objects like hair.
• Likewise, polyester clothes or woollen clothes also attract lighter objects
like hair and can produce a spark or crackling noise when taken off from
the human body. This spark or crackling noise is due to motion of electric
charges.
• Benjamin Franklin, an American scientist, showed that the lightning and
spark from our clothes are due to the same phenomena in the
year 1752. We took 200 years to realize both are the same.
Charging by rubbing:
• When we rub two objects together, they get charged due to the transfer
of electrons between them. This transfer makes one object as positively
charged and the other negatively charged.
• This transfer of charges is the reason when a plastic refill is rubbed with
polythene, it acquires a small electric charge. These objects are called
charged objects.
• This phenomenon can be found in many materials such as balloons,
erasers and steel spoons.
Charge by rubbing
Types of charges:
• We have learnt when two objects are rubbed together, they get charged
due to the transfer of electrons. This transfer creates an excess of
electrons in one object and the deficiency of electrons in another.
• Objects with an excess of electrons are called negatively charges, while
those with fewer electrons are called positively charged.
• When a glass rod is rubbed with a silk cloth, transfer of electrons will take
place between them. Silk acquires few electrons; thus, it
becomes negatively charged, whereas glass loses few electrons and
becomes a positively charged body.
Transfer of electrons
Properties of charges:
1. Like charges repel each other.
2. Unlike charges attract each other.
Properties of charges
The generation of electric charges by rubbing are static in nature; they do not
move by themselves. When the charges move, they constitute an electric
current.
We have learnt that if a body gains some electrons, it becomes negatively
charged, and if a body loses some electrons, it becomes a positively charged
body.
LOHA
What happens if a charged body comes into contact with a conductor?
easily
A conductor is a material which allows an electric charge to pass through it. So,
when we touch a conductor (uncharged metal body) with a charged body, then
the charges will spread evenly on the surface of the conductor. This method of
transfer of charge is called conduction.
Charging by conduction
How to find whether a body is charged or uncharged?
We can find whether a body is charged or uncharged by using a device called an
electroscope.
Structure and working of electroscopes:
• Gold and silver are mostly preferred to construct
an electroscope because they are good conductors of electricity. If not,
copper and aluminium can also be used.
• Electroscopes consists of two closely placed metallic aluminium foils or
strips.
• The ends of the aluminium foils are attached to a metallic wire or rod. This
whole hyphenated is kept in a glass bottle or glass jar since glass is a bad
conductor.
• When a charged body comes into contact with the metallic wire, then the
charges will spread uniformly on the aluminium foils.
• When the strips or aluminium foils are charged with similar charges, they
repel each other and the aluminium foils become wide on, and it confirms
the presence of charge on a body.
Transfer of charges
• If we touch the charged aluminium foil with our hands, then the charges
pass through our bodies since human bodies are also a good conductor
of charges. Finally, the charges get grounded to the earth.
• The method of transferring charge from a charged object to the earth is
called earthing.
• In buildings, earthing is provided to protect us from electrical shocks due
to any leakage of electrical current.
Leakage of electrical current
Protection from leakage of charges
The story of lightning:
We have studied about charges and their properties. Now let us relate the
charges with lightning.
• During rain or thunderstorm, air currents move upwards while the water
droplets move downwards.
• In this process, charges also get separated. The positive charges
accumulate near the upper edges of clouds, and the negative charges
accumulate near the lower edges of clouds.
• There is an accumulation of positive charges on the ground also.
• Air is present between the clouds and the ground. Generally, the air is a
poor conductor of charges. When the air loses its resistance, it starts to
conduct the charges.
• Negative and positive charges meet, producing streaks of bright light and
sound. We see streaks as lightning, and this process is known as electric
discharge.
• The process of electric discharge can occur between clouds and
the earth's surface or even between two clouds.
Charges on cloud and land surface
Lightning safety:
• Walking or standing in an open place during the lightning is not safe for
us. A lightning strike could destroy life and property. So, it is essential to
take steps to protect ourselves.
• As soon as the sound of thunder is heard, find a safe place like a building
or vehicle. If you are travelling by vehicle, you are safe inside with the
windows and doors of the vehicle shut.
Do's during lightning:
Outside:
• Generally, lightning is preceded by thunder which serves as an alert to
hide in closed buildings. Therefore when the sound of thunder is
heard, rush to a safe place.
• Just squat on the ground if you don't find a place to hide.
• Stay away from poles or other metal objects.
Inside the house:
• A house or a building or a car with closed windows and doors is a safe
place to hide during a lightning.
• Cordless phones and mobile phones are safer to use when compared
to wired phones. However, it is not wise to call up a person who is
receiving your phone through a wired telephone.
• Electrical appliances like computers, televisions, etc., should be
unplugged; thus, we protect the appliances from lightning.
Unplugging the electrical appliances
Dont's during lightning:
Outside:
• During a lightning, an open place is not safe. There could be a chance of
current discharge right over your body or head. So, avoid open fields and
open terraces.
• Don't carry an umbrella during a thunderstorm; sometimes, lightning
may strike the metal part of the umbrella.
• Never stand under tall trees because lightning may strike tall trees.
Inside the house:
• Lightning may strike telephone cords, electrical wires, and metal pipes.
So during lightning, avoid contact with these objects.
• Avoid bathing during lightning to avoid contact running water which can
conduct electric charges.
Do not play outside during rain
Lightning conductor:
• A lightning conductor is a device used to protect buildings from
lightning.
• A metallic rod is placed at the top along the walls of the building during
construction, such that one end of the rod is set in air while the other is
buried in the ground.
• The rod provides an easy route for transferring electric charge to the
ground without harming the building.
• When lightning strikes the rod, the charges get passed to
the earth without affecting the building. Thus, the building is protected
from lightning.
Lightning protection
atural phenomena like cyclone and thunderstorm can cause large scale
destruction to human life and property. But, one can predict this phenomena to
some extent. The weather department can warn about a thunderstorm
developing in some areas.
The weather department cannot predict earthquakes, so there is no time to
protect life and property. It can cause damage to life and property.
Earthquake:
A sudden shake or trembling of the earth which lasts for a very short time
is referred to as an earthquake. A sudden shaking of the earth can cause
enormous damage to buildings, dams, etc. They may also cause floods,
landslides, tsunami's and loss of life.
Damaged building due to earthquake
Causes of earthquakes:
• Earthquakes are caused by a sudden disturbance deep inside the earth's
crust.
• The outer layer of the earth is fragmented. Each fragment is called
a plate.
• Earth's plates are in continual motion, so there is a chance of collision
between the plates that cause disturbance in the earth's crust.
• This disturbance in the earth's crust shows up as an earthquake on the
earth's surface.
• The other cause of earthquakes are volcanic eruptions, meteor hits and
nuclear explosions.
Even though we know the cause of earthquakes, it is not yet possible to predict
when and where the next earthquake might occur.
Seismic or fault zones:
The movement of plates causes earthquakes; the plates are weak in their
boundaries, so they are referred to as weak zones where earthquakes are more
likely to occur. The weak zones are also known as seismic or fault zones.
Seismograph:
An instrument is used to detect and record earthquakes is called a
seismograph. It consists of a metal rod attached to a fixed base. During an
earthquake, the base moves, but the rod does not move. The movement of the
base to the rod is commonly transformed into an electrical voltage. The electrical
voltage is recorded on magnetic tape, paper, or any other medium. This record
is proportional to the motion of the metal rod relative to the earth, but one can
convert it to a record of the absolute motion of the ground.
Seismograph
Seismic or fault zones of India:
In India, the most threatened areas are as follows
• Kashmir
• Western and Central Himalayas
• Rann of Kutch
• The whole of North-East
• Rajasthan and the Indo-Gangetic Plain
• Some areas of South India
The power of an earthquake is measured in terms of a magnitude on a scale,
known as the Richter Scale. Destructive earthquakes have magnitudes higher
than 7 on the Richter Scale. Bhuj and Kashmir earthquakes had magnitudes
greater than 7.5.
Protection against earthquake:
One can predict the earthquakes. So, the buildings in fault zones or seismic
zones should be designed to withstand major tremors. It is preferable to make
the structure simple so that it is ‘Quake Safe’.
• It is better to use mud or timber than using heavy construction material
in a highly seismic zone. Keep roofs as light as possible because if the
structure falls, the damage will not be heavy.
• While designing the interiors, we should ensure that cupboards are fixed
to the wall so that they don't fall easily. Likewise, hang photo frames,
clocks and other design articles on the wall so that they don't fall on
people during the quake.
• It is necessary to install fire fighting equipment in all buildings, especially
in tall buildings, because there is a chance of fire during the quake.
Take the following steps to protect
yourselves in the event of the earthquake:
Inside the home:
Hide under a table till the earthquake stops.
• Do not stand or sit near heavy objects.
• Protect your head with a pillow if you are in a bed.
Hide under a table
Outside the home:
• Stay away from buildings, trees, and overhead power lines.
• If you are in a bus or a car, do not come out till the tremors stop. Ask the
driver to drive to a safe place.
