Pressure, Winds, Storms, and Cyclones Class 8 Extra Questions and Answers Science Chapter 6

Students can keep Class 8 Science Extra Questions and Class 8th Curiosity Chapter 6 Pressure, Winds, Storms, and Cyclones Important Extra Question Answer handy for quick reference during exams.

Class 8 Science Chapter 6 Pressure, Winds, Storms, and Cyclones Extra Questions

Class 8 Science Chapter 6 Extra Questions on Pressure, Winds, Storms, and Cyclones

Pressure, Winds, Storms, and Cyclones Class 8 Very Short Question Answer

Question 1.
Define pressure.
Answer:
Pressure is defined as the force per unit area.

Question 2.
What is the SI unit of force?
Answer:
Newton.

Question 3.
What is the SI unit of pressure?
Answer:
The SI unit of pressure is newton/m2. It is also called Pascal, denoted by Pa.

Question 4.
Why is the base of a dam broader than the top?
Answer:
A broad base not only supports the structure of the dam, but also withstands the horizontal pressure of water, which is the highest near the floor.

Question 5.
What is atmosphere?
Answer:
The envelope of air surrounding the Earth is called the atmosphere.

Question 6.
Name the gases present in the atmospheric air.
Answer:
The atmospheric air contains nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, and traces of other gases.

Question 7.
Define lightning.
Answer:
Lightning is a sudden flow of charges producing a bright flash of light.

Question 8.
What is a thunderstorm?
Answer:
A storm accompanied by lightning and thunder is called a thunderstorm.

Pressure, Winds, Storms, and Cyclones Class 8 Short Question Answer

Question 1.
If you are living in a cyclone-prone area, what would you do during a cyclone?
Answer:
If we live in a cyclone-prone area, we should keep an emergency kit always ready with essential items, and during a cyclone, immediately move to a safer area like a designated cyclone shelter nearby.

Question 2.
How does lightning occur?
Answer:
Lightning can occur when opposite charges collide within a cloud, between the clouds, or between the clouds and the ground.

Question 3.
What is a thunderstorm?
Answer:
A storm accompanied by lightning and thunder is called a thunderstorm. Lightning rapidly heats the air around it, causing the air to expand and produce a loud sound known as thunder.

Question 4.
What is the magnitude of atmospheric pressure? Why are not we crushed under this weight?
Answer:
The force exerted by the atmospheric air column over an area of 15 cm x 15 cm is nearly equal to the force of gravity on an object of mass 225 kg (2250 N). We are not crushed under this weight because the pressure inside our bodies is also equal to the atmospheric pressure. This balances the pressure exerted from outside.

Question 5.
How is pressure caused inside our bodies?
Answer:
The pressure inside our bodies is caused by the movement of fluids and gases in tissues and organs of the body.

Question 6.
Why should we keep doors and windows open when high-speed winds blow over our houses?
Answer:
High-speed winds are accompanied by a reduced pressure. So, the air pressure above the roofs of the houses is lower than the pressure below them. If the difference is large and the roofs of the houses are not strong enough, they may be blown away. To keep our roofs safe, we should keep the doors and windows of the houses open during storms with high-speed winds. When the same wind moves over the roofs and through the houses, the pressure difference inside the house and over the roof is reduced considerably, making our roofs safe.

Pressure, Winds, Storms, and Cyclones Class 8 Long Question Answer

Question 1.
What necessary precautions should we take to protect ourselves from lightning?
Answer:
The following precautions should be taken for protection from lightning:

• Stay away from tall objects like trees, buildings, etc. during lightning.
• Crouch down on a low-lying open area in such a way as to have minimal contact with the ground (not lying flat on the ground).
• Avoid using an umbrella with a metallic rod.
• Do not stay in water.
• It is comparatively safer inside a bus or a car.

Question 2.
(a) What is pressure?
(b) What is the SI unit of force and pressure?
(c) If we apply a force of 100 N on a cardboard of area 2 m2, calculate the pressure applied on the cardboard.
Answer:
(a) Pressure is defined as the force per unit area.
(b) The SI unit of force is the newton, denoted by N.
The SI unit of pressure is newton/metre² (N/m²).
It is also called Pascal, denoted by Pa.
(c) Force applied = 100 N
Area of the cardboard = 2 m²
Therefore, Pressure = \(\frac{\text { Force }}{\text { Area }}=\frac{100 \mathrm{~N}}{2 \mathrm{~m}^2}\) = 50 N/m²

Question 3.
(a) What is a cyclone?
(b) Describe in detail the formation of a cyclone. Give a suitable diagram to explain the phenomenon.
(c) When does a cyclone lose its strength?
Answer:
(a) Cyclones are large storms that form over warm ocean waters.
(b) As the ocean water gets heated, the warm and moist air above it rises, and the water vapour condenses to form raindrops.

• During evaporation, water takes up heat to change into vapour. When this water vapour condenses into raindrops, heat is released back into the atmosphere.
• This causes more warming of the ascending air, leading it to rise even further, causing still lower pressure.
• Air from the surrounding areas rushes in, and it also starts rising.
• The Earth’s rotation causes the moving air to spin.
• This cycle is repeated, resulting in the creation of a very low-pressure area with high-speed winds revolving around it.
• This spinning system of clouds, winds, and rain is called a cyclone.

In a cyclone, the region of lowest pressure is at the centre, known as the eye of the cyclone. At the eye, the wind is calm, but the surrounding region experiences strong winds and heavy rainfall.
(c) As the cyclone moves from the ocean towards the land, higher wind speeds are generated compared to those produced by the regular thunderstorms. Once the cyclone reaches land, the source of moist air is cut off, and it gradually loses its strength.

Question 4.
(a) How do cyclones cause flooding of coastal areas?
(b) How can we protect ourselves during cyclones?
Answer:
(a) Strong winds during a cyclone push ocean water towards the shore, creating a wall of water that can be as high as 3 – 12 metres. This results in flooding of the coastal areas and even areas far from the sea. Heavy rainfall, along with cyclones, may cause rivers to overflow, resulting in floods, and in some places can trigger landslides.
(b) If we live in a cyclone-prone area, we can protect ourselves during cyclones by

• Staying updated on weather reports and periodic alerts and warnings issued by IMD and weather monitoring satellites.
• Several national and international organisations work together to monitor cyclone-related disasters.
• We should keep an emergency kit always ready and handy with essential items.
• During a cyclone or on getting a warning of a severe cyclone, we should quickly move to a nearby cyclone shelter.

Pressure, Winds, Storms, and Cyclones Class 8 Case Based Questions

Question 1.
Our Earth is surrounded by a large amount of air consisting of Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon, Carbon dioxide, and traces of other gases. Layers of air surrounding the Earth are called the atmosphere.
(a) What is atmosphere?
(b) What is atmospheric pressure?
(c) Is the pressure inside our bodies equal to the atmospheric pressure? Why are we not crushed?
Answer:
(a) The layers of air surrounding the Earth are called the atmosphere.
(b) The pressure exerted by air on the surface of the earth is known as the atmospheric pressure.
(c) Yes, the pressure inside our bodies balances the outside pressure of the atmosphere. That is why we are not crushed under the atmospheric pressure.

Question 2.
Lightning conductors are installed on all tall buildings for safety against lightning. There is a pointed metal rod on the top of the building. It is connected to a metal plate buried in the ground with a metal strip or a flat wire.
(a) What is the function of the lightning conductor?
(b) Where is the pointed end of the lightning conductor placed?
(c) When can lightning occur?
Answer:
(a) It transfers the electric charges produced during lightning into the ground.
(b) It is placed higher than the highest point of the building.
(c) Lightning can occur when opposite charges collide within a cloud, between the clouds or between the clouds and the ground.

Pressure, Winds, Storms, and Cyclones Extra Questions for Practice

Question 1.
What is the term given to a localised thunderstorm in Bihar?

Question 2.
In which state is thunderstorm known as mango showers?

Question 3.
What is the benefit of mango showers?

Question 4.
Define a lightning conductor.

Question 5.
Define cyclone.

Question 6.
What is the term given to the region of lowest pressure at the centre of a cyclone?

Question 7.
Why do we feel more comfortable carrying a bag with broad straps?

Question 8.
While carrying vegetable baskets or pots on their heads, why do people place a thick, round piece of cloth under the loads?

Question 9.
Why are overhead tanks kept at a place higher than even the top floor of our houses?

Question 10.
Why do we have to apply more force to pull the sucker off the smooth surface?

Question 11.
How lightning conductor protect a building from the damage caused by lightning?

Question 12.
When does a cyclone lose its strength?

Question 13.
In which regions are there more cyclones?

Question 14.
How can we stay updated about cyclones?

Question 15.
Explain the Land breeze and the Sea breeze.

Question 16.
How are cyclones destructive? Describe it.

Question 17.
What is the benefit of weather monitoring satellites?

Question 18.
Give the differences between lightning and thunderstorms.

Question 19.
How are cyclones formed?

Question 20.
A thunderstorm under certain conditions becomes a cyclone. Factors like wind speed, wind direction, temperature, and humidity contribute to the development of a hurricane. Cyclones also occur frequently in tropical regions.
(a) What is a cyclone?
(b) Can a cyclone occur in Delhi? Give reasons.
(c) Which factors contribute to the development of a cyclone?

MCQs

Question 1.
During the daytime in coastal areas, sea breeze results because
(a) The land gets heated faster than the water
(b) The air above the land becomes warmer and lighter and rises to create a low-pressure
(c) The air from the high-pressure region above the sea blows to the low-pressure region over land
(d) All of the above

Question 2.
A sudden flow of charges takes place, producing a bright flash of light called
(a) lightning
(b) thunderstorm
(c) pressure
(d) Cyclone

Question 3.
Thunderstorm is known as Bordoisila in
(a) West Bengal
(b) Bihar
(c) Assam
(d) Jharkhand

Question 4.
Cyclones are large storms that form over
(a) Farmland
(b) Warm Ocean water
(c) Flouses in hills
(d) Any place on the Earth

Question 5.
A cyclone is caused by the spinning system of
(a) Clouds
(b) Winds
(c) Rain
(d) All of these

Fill in the blanks

Question 1.
Lightning rapidly heats up the air around it causing the air to expand and produces a loud sound known as _______________
Answer:
Thunder

Question 2.
The pressure exerted by air around us is known as _______________

Question 3.
The SI unit of _______________ is also known as Pascal (Pa).

Question 4.
The air pressure is higher in _______________ balloon compared to _______________ balloon.

Question 5.
At night, wind blows from the _______________ to the _______________ in coastal areas. It is called _______________

Question 6.
A storm accompanied by lightning and thunder is called a _______________

Question 7.
Thunderstorm in Assam is known as _______________

True or False

Question 1.
Force is pressure per unit area.

Question 2.
A safe position during lightning is near tall buildings.

Question 3.
A lightning conductor transfers the electric charge to the ground.

Question 4.
In a cyclone, the region of lowest pressure is at the centre, known as the eye of the cyclone.

Question 5.
During a cyclone, land water from rivers rushes into the sea and contaminates the seawater.

Question 6. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues warnings, periodic alerts, and weather reports so that we remain updated about the weather.

Question 7.
A difference in air pressure causes winds to blow.

Match the following

Question 1.

Column A	Column B
1. During a cyclone sea seawater rushes inland	(a) Force per unit area
2. India Meteorological Department	(b) Atmosphere
3. Normally, air acts as an electrical insulator	(c) Contaminates drinking water sources and damages farmland
4. The envelope of air around us	(d) Updates on weather reports, predicts alerts, and issues warnings about cyclones
5. Pressure	(e) It does not let opposite charges meet