Important Questions: Some Natural Phenomena - UPSC MCQ

The force of attraction or repulsion between two charged bodies is called electrostatic force.

During electrification by friction, one body loses electrons and gets positive charge and another gains these electrons and gets an equal amount of negative charge.

During thunderstorm and lightning, no open place is safe. If you are travelling by car, you are safe inside with the windows and doors of the vehicle closed. The rubber tyres of the cars are non- conductors, so you will be safer inside the car. All other options (tree, pole) have greater chances of electrocution. (B) house or a building is a safe place too.)

Electric charge is measured in 'coulombs?.

The charge on the ebonite rod rubbed with fur is negative (as it gains electrons). The charge on the glass rod rubbed with silk is positive (as it loses electrons). So, when these two rods are brought close to each other, they attract, since unlike charges attract each other.

Lightning rods are made up of iron or copper (good conductors).

Electroscope is a device used for detecting and testing charges of small magnitude in a body. They are of two types - the pith ball electroscope and the gold leaf electroscope.

A lightning conductor is a metallic device installed on tall buildings to protect them from lightning striking the building during a thunderstorm. The charge from the lightning gets 'attracted? to the conductor. All the charge then flows through it to the ground instead of to the building.

When a glass rod is rubbed with silk cloth, it loses electrons and acquires positive charge.

The process of a charge being conducted from a charged body to the earth is called earthing. Earthing protects us from electrical shocks due to leakage of electrical current and from lightning during a thunderstorm and rain.

The electrical charges generated by rubbing two objects are static and they do not move by themselves.

Crust is the uppermost layer of the earth exposed to the atmosphere.

Neutrons bear no charge upon them and they are neutral.

The discharge of static electricity produces a spark.

Electrical charge passes through a conductor.

The accumulated negative and positive electric charges combine to produce streaks of bright light/ lightning

Squatting low on the ground will make you the smallest target to be struck. In all other cases, you are exposed to the atmosphere.

Japan is most prone to earthquakes. People of Japan construct their buildings in such a way that these can withstand major tremors.

Moving air is called wind. It flows from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure.

An earthquake is a sudden shaking or trembling of earth. It is so sudden that it cannot be predicted in advance.