C M Y K

C M Y K
C M Y K

C M Y K
 SCIENCE
CLASS VII
Editorial Board

Dr. Kamal Mahendroo, Professor Dr. B. Krishnarajulu Naidu,

Vidya Bhavan Educational Resource Centre, Professor in Physics (Retd)
Udaipur, Rajasthan Osmania University,Hyderabad.

Dr. Snigdha Das, Dr. M. Adinarayana,

Vidya Bhavan Educational Resource Centre, Professor of Chemistry (Retd)
Udaipur, Rajasthan. Osmania University,Hyderabad.
Dr. N. Upender Reddy, Professor,
C&T Dept., SCERT, A.P., Hyderabad.

Co-Ordinators

Sri. J. Raghavulu, Smt. B.M. Sakunthala,

Professor, SCERT, A.P. Lecturer, SCERT, A.P.
Sri. M. Ramabrahmam, Sri. J. Vivekvardhan,
Lecturer, IASE, Masab Tank, Hyderbad. S.A., SCERT, A.P.
Dr. T.V.S. Ramesh,
S.A., UPS Potlapudi, Nellore.

Published by Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderbad.

The secret of Education is respecting the children

Ralph W. Emerson

Respect the Law Grow by Education

Get the Rights Behave Humbly

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 1 FOOD COMPONENTS

In the previous class we have learnt that we the relationship between eating food and
eat many kinds of foods like biryani, pulihora, performing activities.
idly, chapathi, dals etc. and you also learnt Food supplies the energy we need to do many
how to cook some kinds of food making them tasks in our day to day activities.
tasty and palatable by adding oil, sugandha
dravyalu (condiments) etc. • Do we need energy when we sleep?
Why / why not?
Do you know that even while sleeping we
breathe and circulation of blood in our body
goes on; so we need energy while sleeping.
Can you add some more activities performed
by our body during sleep?
Read the following and discuss with your
friends.
1. Suppose you don’t get food for lunch
how do you feel?
2. If you don’t get anything for more than
Fig. 1
a day how will you feel?

Every one has their own favourite food. 3. If you don’t get food for many days what
will happen to you?
What is your favourite food/dish? Why do
you like it? Let us find out what components are present
in our food.
Is only favourite food sufficient for you? Why?
Let us do – 2: Listing out food components
What food do you eat every day?
Observe the given packet (Fig. 2) and list out
Think ,why do you eat it? the food components present in it.
Let us do – 1 : In Table 1, put a tick mark if you find the listed
We eat different types of food items. Make a food components present in food items .
group with five or six students and make a Collect some other food packets as well like
list of some day-to-day activities and food those of chips, coffee, milk, juice, salted dal,
items we eat; display your group report. etc.
Discuss in groups with your teacher about

VII Science 1
 Table 1: Food items and components
Food Items Carbohydrates Protein Fat Vitamins & Other if any
Minarals
Milk Powder

Let us do – 3: Confirmation of presence

of food components
Collect different types of food materials like
milk, a potato, a bit of oil / ghee. Test them
according to the instructions given below. For
this you will need test tubes, stand, plate and
dropper. You would also need some chemicals
as given in each section of testing.
Fig. 2 Take a sample of each food item in a test tube
or plate. Prepare the chemicals needed. Test
the samples with them. Note down your
1. What are the components found in observations in your notebook
biscuits? Experiment – 1: Test for Starch:
2. What components are most common in Preparation of dilute
your list? iodine solution
3. Do you find any vitamins and minerals Take a test tube or a cup
in them? What are they?
and add few drops of
4. Where do you write salt and sugar? Why? Iodine solution to it.
5. Are there any food items with similar Then dilute it with water
components? till it becomes light
yellow/brown in Fig. 3
What are the essential components of
colour.
food?
Take a sample of food item in the test tube.
Our food consists of Carbohydrates, Proteins,
Add a few drops of dilute Iodine solution on
Fats, Vitamins and Minerals. Besides these,
the sample you have collected.
water and fibres are also present. The
components present in food substances can Observe the change in colour. What do you
be tested easily through simple experiments. find?

2 Food Components
If the substance turns dark-blue or black it If the substance you wish to test is a solid,
contains starch grind it into powder or paste. Add a little of
Experiment – 2: Test for fats it in the test tube and add 10 drops of water
to the powder and stir well.
Take a small quantity
of each sample. Rub Add 10 drops of this solution in a clean test
it gently on a piece of tube Add 2 drops of copper sulphate solution
paper.If the paper and 10 drops of sodium hydroxide solution
turns translucent the to the test tube and shake well. Change of
substance contains Fig. 4 colour to voilet or purple confirms presence
fats. of protein.
Recall your past experience when you have The above tests show the presence of
eaten vada or any other food item on a paper components of food which are usually present
plate; you might have noticed the paper plate in larger amounts as compared to others. All
turning translucent. types of food that we eat contain all the above
mentioned food components. The quantity of
What change did you observe in the paper
plate and why? each component varies from type to type.

Experiment – 3: Test for Proteins Let us do – 4: Testing of food items

Test different food items as given in Table 2.
Preparation of 2% copper You may add your own examples. Find out
sulphate solution and 10% the type of components in them and fill
sodium hydroxide solution: information on the basis of your observations
To make 2% copper in table 2.
sulphate solution dissolve 2 You can enrich the table by adding more food
gms of copper sulphate in substances.
100 ml of water. Fig 5 Analyse the data in the above table and think
To make 10% of Sodium Hydroxide solution about what our food contains.
dissolve 10 gms of sodium Hydroxide in 100 Discuss with your friends and answer the
ml of water.
Table 2: Testing of food items for Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats
STARCH PROTEINS FATS
S.No. FOOD
Present / Absent Present / Absent Present / Absent
1 RICE

2 POTATO

3 MILK

4 CURD

5 EGG

VII Science 3
following questions. Let us do – 5: Roughages in some food
items.
1. Which foods show the presence of starch?
Collect some vegetables like ribbed gourd,
.......................................................................... bunch beans, lady’s finger or some boiled
sweet potato etc. break them or crush them
2. What nutrients are present in milk? into pieces and observe.
.......................................................................... • Do you find some fine strands or thread
like structures?
3. Which component of food could you • What are these strands called?
identify in potatoes?
Roughages are a kind of carbohydrate that
.......................................................................... our body fails to digest. They help in free bowel
movement in the digestive tract and prevent
4. Which food item contains more fat? constipation.
Discuss with your teacher how dietary fibres
..........................................................................
helps in preventing constipation.
5. Which food items contain more protein? SOURCES OF ROUGHAGES
Bran, shredded wheat, cereals, fruits and
.......................................................................... vegetables, sweet and plain potato, peas and
Generally every food item contains all the berries, pumpkins, palak, apples, banana,
components of food. But some components papaya and many kinds of beans are the
may be more while some may be less. sources of roughages.We must take care to
We require different quantities of include sufficient fibre foods in our daily diet.
Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fats according
to age and need of individuals. Growing
children and adolescents need more protein-
containing food like milk, meat, pulses etc. We
also need minute quantities of some other
components called Vitamins and Minerals to
keep us healthy.
Think! Find out from your classmates
whether all of their family members take Fig. 6
sufficient food. If not,why ? Find reasons Generally we have a habit of eating some fruits
and solutions. without peels. We eat banana without peel but
ROUGHAGES OR DIETARY FIBRES fruits like apples, grapes, sapota are eaten
along with peels. Most of the vegetable are
There are some components of food that are
also used along with peels, sometimes we
necessary for our body called roughages or
make some special dishes like chutneys etc.
dietary fibres.
with peels. So don’t peel or discard outer layers
of fruits or vegetables. They are rich in
4 Food Components
nutrients. Peel contains move easily in the digestive tract. Water helps
fibre which helps in in many other processes in our body as well.
digestion. But now-a- Hence, we must drink plenty of water.
days farmers use many
pesticides in the fields
They are very dangerous
for our health so we must
wash fruits and
vegetables with salt water Fig. 7
thoroughly.Then only it
becomes safe to eat them
along with peels.
Fig. 9
WATER:
BALANCED DIET
Water is also an essential component needed
Let us do – 6
by our body. We should drink sufficient water
for our body. Do you know we get water from Break fast Lunch Dinner
fruits and vegetables also? Most fruits and
vegetables contain water.

List the food items eaten by you yesterday

from break-fast to dinner. Does your diet
Fig 8 contain all the necessary components of food
Cut these fruits and vegetables. Can you find in it? Think and discuss with your friends.
water in them? Most vegetables like potatoes, Let us do – 7
beans, kheera, tomatoes, gourds and fruits like
Look at the food ‘THALI’ with many food
apples, papaya and melons etc. contain water
items and list out the food items and food
.
components in it.
Why does our body need water?
Let us do – 5: To know the use of water
Take a piece of sponge and try to move it in a
pipe. It moves with some difficulty, Remove
the sponge from the pipe, dip it in water and
try to move it again in the pipe. It moves freely
or smoothly (Fig 9).Why does it move freely?
Water is food and it also helps the food to Fig. 10

VII Science 5
 Food Items Food Components are fulfilled. Just
balancing our diet with
Rice Carbohydrates
different kinds of
foods is not enough. It
should be cooked in a
proper way. Fig. 11

You know many nutrients are lost by over

cooking, re-heating many times, washing the
vegetables after cutting them into small pieces.
Think! Is your mid-day meal a balanced one?
Write your observations and display them on
You need not eat all items as shown in the
bulletin board.
“THALI” rather you should ensure that your
food contains all food components everyday Do you know which foods are to be eaten
in adequate quantity. For example, a diet moderately, adequately, plenty and sparingly?
containing food items having more of • Foods like cereals, pulses, milk etc.
carbohydrates and protein along with a little should be taken adequately.
fat, vitamins and minerals makes a balanced • Fruit, leafy vegetables and other
diet. vegetables should be used in plenty.
Make your diet a balanced one • Cooking oils and animal foods should
Taking green salads and vegetables everyday. be used moderately.
Taking foods like cereals, pulses, milk etc. • Vanaspathi, Ghee, Butter, Cheese must
adequately be used sparingly.
Taking a bit of fat (Oil, Ghee, Butter etc.) Avoid junk foods:
Don’t forget to supplement your daily diet If you are eating only pizzas and sandwiches
with green salads and vegetables. daily, what will happen? Your body is being
Do you know? Dry deprived of the other food substances. Junk
fruits like dates, food causes damages to our digestive system.
plums, raisins, It is better to avoid eating junk food.
Cashew nuts, Discuss in groups or collect information
pistachios, etc. also about junk foods In what way are they harmful
keep us healthy to us?
Balanced diet is cheap indeed:
Scientists have found out that a balanced diet
need not necessarily be costly. Everyone can
afford it, even the poor. If a person eats dal,
rice, rotis, green vegetables, little oil and
jaggery all the food requirements of the body

6 Food Components
Food habits of the people depends upon each component varies from one type of
climatic conditions and cultural practices of food to another.
the particular place. We eat rice in large • Roughages or Dietary fibres clean our
quantities but people living in north India eat food canal and prevent constipation.
chapathies as a daily food. Why? Because
wheat is grown widely in that region. The way • We must drink enough water so that our
of cooking and eating food also reflects the body functions properly.
cultural practices of people. • The food that contains all the nutrients
History of food and Nutrition: like Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats,
Vitamins and Minerals in proper
Until about 170 years ago proportions is called Balanced Diet.
there was little scientific
knowledge in the West • Every one requires a Balanced Diet.
about nutrition. The Improve your learning:
founder of modern
1. Make a list of food items eaten during
science of nutrition was
lunch by you. Try to mention the
Frenchman named
components in each food item.
Lavoisier (1743 to
1 7 9 3 ) w h o s e 2. Manjula eats only bread and omlette
contribution paved new ways to nutrition daily. Do you think it is a balanced diet?
research. In the year 1752 James Lind’s Why? Why not?
discovered “Scurvy” which could be cured or 3. Make a list of food items that contain all
prevented by eating fresh fruits and components of food.
vegetables. It was known that diseases could
4. Who am I?
be cured by eating certain kinds of foods. In
19th century it was known that body obtains a. I am a component of food that makes
food from three substances namely proteins, paper translucent.
fats and carbohydrates. b. Put a drop of me on a cut potato it turns
KEY WORDS: black.
Carbohydrates, Fibres, Balanced diet, 5. Explain what will happen if we don’t
Proteins, Fats, Constipation include roughage in our food?
What have we learnt? 6. Test the given food items and record the
• Food contains some components type of component that are present in
Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats, Vitamins them. (Ground nut, Cooked dal, Pulusu)
and Minerals 7. Draw some food items of your diet and
• Fibres are also a component of food explain why you like them.
that are present in different kinds of fruits 8. If you were invited to a party with many
and vegetables. food items in the menu like Rice, Roti,
• All food items contain all the Puri, Idly, Dosa, Samosa, Dal, Green
components of food. The amount of salad, Vegetable curry, Fruit chat,

VII Science 7
 Chicken curry, Eggs, Gulab Jamun
a. What food items would come on to your plate to make your diet a balanced one?
b.What food items would you take plenty, adequately?
9. How is water useful to our body?
10. Fill in the blanks.
a. If our food is not balanced with proper nutrients we may ______________ .
b. Fibres in our diet prevent ______________ .
c. Our daily diet should include plenty of ______________ .
d. Oils and fats give us ______________ .
11. Match the following and give the reasons.
1. Fibre ( ) A) micro-nutrients.
2. Protein ( ) B) energy giving.
3. Vitamins & minerals ( ) C) body building.
4. Carbohydrates ( ) D) bulk forming
12. Prepare a balanced diet chart with the help of your group and exhibit it in your class
room science fair
13. Prepare ‘kichidi’ with your mother’s help using all kinds of available vegetables, dals, nuts
etc. Write a note on the process of making kichidi.
14. Observe whether your mother cooks on a low or high flame. Discuss with your mother
and find out the reason.

8 Food Components
 2 ACIDS AND BASES

In our daily life we use a lot of material. Even • In what ways are they different?
our food has a lot of variety. Different items • What kind of tastes do food substances
also have different taste. In preparing and we eat have?
storing food we take a lot of care. In this
chapter we would try to understand the Fruits, vegetables and other
reasons for some of them. Let us first think food substances have
over the following questions related to what different tastes.
we eat. Write the names of food substances that you
• What sort of food do we eat? know in the appropriate column, based on
their taste:
• Are all of them alike? For example do
they have the same colour, taste etc.
TABLE - 1

• Here you experience any other taste in • Do some substances change their taste
your daily life? Write them. when cooked?

———————————
• Do substances change their taste when
added to some other substances?
——————————— • Add salt to lemon juice. How do the two
——————————— together taste now?

——————————— • Add sugar to lemon juice what change

do you notice in the taste?
• Do you find a difference in the taste of a
ripe and a raw fruit? • Is there any difference in the taste without
sugar?

VII Science 9
· Do some substances change colour · What is the reason for the red spot?
when added to other substances? Colour Change:- We notice here that
· Have you observed any change when turmeric changes colour when soap water or
lime water is added to turmeric? lime water is added to it. Is it possible that
some other substances also change their
Let us do - 1
colour. Let us see.
Take some turmeric powder. Add a bit of Let us do - 2
water to it and prepare turmeric paste. Rub
Take a turmeric paper piece. Find as many of
the turmeric paste on a white paper. Draw a
the substances given in the table-3 as possible
flower on that paper with a pencil. Colour the
and put them on the turmeric paper one by
flower with soap water using a brush.
one. You could try using other substances
around you as well.
• What do you observe? Do you find any
change in colour?
• We notice that the colour of turmeric
paper changes when other substances are
added to it.
Those substances that indicate a change in
colour when some substances are added to
Fig.1 them are known as indicators.
· Does the colour of the flower remain the Turmeric paper is a natural indicator, along
same when soap water is put on it? with turmeric indicator paper, we can also
Similarly take some lime water. Add a few prepare other natural indicators mentioned in
drops of it on a piece of turmeric paper. Does the table – 2 and carry on the tests.
the paper change its colour? Is the changed Let us test some substances using these filter
colour of turmeric paper the same in both? paper indicators. Add the substance
Rani and Sai dropped food they were eating mentioned in the table – 3 to natural indicators
on a white sheet. They washed the sheet with and observe the change in colour. Write the
soap and found to their horror a red spot changed colours in the table.
appearing on the sheet.
TABLE - 2

10 Acids and Bases

Try with some other substances and observe · Which of the above substances changed
the changes. red litmus to blue?
Let us do - 3 · Which of the above substances changed
Take solutions of some juices of fruits, the blue litmus to red?
vegetables, cold drinks and various solutions Preparation of Lime water
and test them with blue and red litmus papers. Take half a beaker full of water. Add about
List out results in the table (3), by marking 5 gm of lime that we apply to betel leaves.
( ) in the relevant column. Stir the beaker well and let it stand overnight.
TABLE 3 Filter this solution the following day. Use
this filtrate in all experiments you perform.
This solution should be transparent.
The substances that turn blue litmus to red
are acidic in nature. The substances that are
soapy to touch and turn red litmus to blue
are basic in nature.
Some of the substances given in the list did
not change the colour of either blue or red
litmus. These are said to be neutral in nature.
Precautions
Don’t taste any substance unless your teacher
instructs you. Wash the tube, stick or dropper
you use (for putting drops of substances on
different paper strips).
Let us do - 4:
Classify the above substances into the
following categories from the above
observations.
TABLE 4

VII Science 11
• Now take things which are sour in taste Apart from natural acids, there are certain acids
and used as food e.g. curd, lemon juice like Hydrochloric acid, Sulphuric acid and
etc. Check with blue and red litmus, what Nitric acid etc. that are prepared from
happens? minerals.
Indicators: Basic Nature:-
The paper strips like litmus paper strips change How do you feel when you touch a cake of
colour based on the nature of the material put soap? Take it between your fingers and gently
on them. These are all indicators. They tell us rub your fingers on it? Do the same with the
whether a substance is acidic or basic. They other material. What difference do you notice?
are used extensively in studying substances and • You might have touched soap water or
their properties. lime water. How do you feel?
Acidic Nature:- • Can you list out some more substances
You may have experienced a burning sensation that are soapy to touch?
when bitten by an ant. The sensation is due to The substances which are soapy to touch are
the presence of formic acid that the ant basic in nature.
releases.
Some substances that contain bases that we
Do you know the substances that contain acid. use in our daily life, for example soap, and
are given in the table 5. given in the following table.
TABLE - 5

TABLE - 6

Let us do - 5
Burn a small piece of
Magnesium ribbon by
holding it with tongs. Collect the white ash and
dissolve it in a little water. Touch the solutions
formed and test this solution with blue litmus
and red litmus.

12 Acids and Bases

• What do you observe? and test them with Phenolphthalein and Methyl
Oxides of Magnesium when dissolved in water orange solution. Take a small amount of the
form Magnesium Hydroxide. Similarly oxides substance in two test tubes. Add a few drops
of Potassium and Sodium form Potassium of phenolphthalein and methyl orange to each
Hydroxide and Sodium Hydroxide when test tube separately. Note the effect. Repeat
dissolved in water. All these are basic in nature. the process for all the substances one by one.
They would be soapy when touched. Draw a table just like table (7) in your
notebook. Record your observations in that
Let us do - 6 table.
Take the substances that are given in table (3)
TABLE - 7

Make believe Blood comes out of a When a magician or a juggler cuts a lemon,
lemon! How is it possible? blood flows out of it! Actually, he uses a knife
dipped in methyl Orange or hibiscus solution
to cut the lemon. When Methyl orange is
mixed with citric acid (lemon juice) it turns
red. But it is not blood. In many of our places
we find people doing this and presenting it as
magic. Now you can also do this!

• What can you conclude from the above • Can you distinguish acids and bases using
data? Keep in mind that some substances these indicators?
are acidic, some are basic and some are • What would be the criteria for deciding
neutral. this?
• Compare the above observations with
those in case of litmus test.

VII Science 13
 Methyl orange gives red color with acids our skin. Industrial
and yellow colour with bases. Phenolphtha- waste gases contain
lein remains colourless in acidic solution Sulphur dioxide,
while it turns pink in basic solution. Nitrogen Oxide,
Let us do some more experiments Carbon dioxide.
Take a natural acid say lemon juice When they get mixed
in six test tubes and add Copper, with moisture they
Zinc, Magnesium, Iron, Brass, change to acids.
Aluminium pieces to each one of Acid rains are also witnessed in our State in
the test tubes separately. Note Visakhapatnam district. Can you guess the
your observations. reason for acid rain in Visakhapatnam?
Light a matchstick and introduce it into the Let us do - 7
test tubes. What do you observe?
Take lemon juice in two test tubes and
Henry Cavendish, an Italian add some pieces of marble to one test
Scientistdiscovered tube and egg shells to another.
Hydrogen gas. It doesn’t have What do you observe?
colour. Bring a burning match stick near the test
tube.
It catches fire with What happens?
a sound. Is it Hydrogen? These are due to release of some gas.
Do you know? Pass the gas into lime water. What happens?
Can you see some bubbles?
Why are the inner sides of vessels made up
of brass and copper coated?
When some substances are kept in a copper
container for a long time then a blue - green
layer is formed in the inner walls of the
container. Copper reacts with the acids
present in the substances and forms a blue
- green compound. To avoid this reaction
the inner walls of these vessels are coated Lime water turned milky white.
with Tin. Is it Carbon dioxide?
Now try to write the properties of acids and
• Why are pickles, jams, jellies preserved bases from your observations in the above
in glass, porcelain and plastic containers? experiments.
Have you heard about Acid rains? We have seen that neutral solutions have no
Do you know what acid rains are? Acid rains effect on indicators. We have also seen that
are the combination of Carbonic acid, acids and bases have opposite effects on
Sulphuric acid and Nitric acid with rain water. indicators. When is the solution made by
Acid rains causes damage to buildings and to mixing an acid and a base, a neutral solution?

14 Acids and Bases

Let us do -8 If you are given a solution of Hydrochloric
acid how can you make it into a solution which
Take a clean test tube using a clean dropper
is neither acidic nor basic?
and put 10 drops of Hydrochloric acid
carefully in it and also add 2 drops of If you are given a caustic soda solution, how
phenolphthalein indicator solution. can you make it into a solution which is neither
acidic nor basic?
What is the colour of the resulting solution?
When acids and bases are mixed in
Now add Caustic soda solution definite proportions they give a neutral
(Whose concentration is equal to solution. We lear n more about
Hydrochloric acid) drop by drop neutralization in higher classes
to the test tube. Fertile land - Organic manures:-
After each drop shake the
In recent years the use chemical fertilizers has
test tube well and see if there increased. Though the use of chemical
is any change in the colour fertilizers increases production it changes the
of the solution. nature of the soil. Some fertilizers increase the
Keep adding the Caustic soda drop by drop acidity of the soil and some its basicity. Thus
until the colour begins to turn pink. Now what use of natural organic manure is becoming
kind of solution does the test tube have? more prefered these days.
Add one drop of Hydrochloric acid and see
if it changes back to its original (colourless)
state. If not, then add one more drop of
Hydrochloric acid. Keep doing this until the
solution in the test tube becomes colourless
again.
Now can you say what kind of solution this
is? Check your claim with litmus paper. Salts:-
On the basis of this experiment can you We have seen in the process of neutralization,
explain how would you convert an acidic both the acidic and the basic qualities are
solution into basic solution? destroyed. Actually when an acid and a base
are mixed, a chemical reaction takes place and
If you are given a basic solution how can you
salts are produced.
turn it into an acidic solution?
For example by neutralizing Hydrochloric
In the above experiment you might have acid solution with Caustic soda (Sodium
noticed that if we add excess base (caustic Hydroxide) solution, a salt Sodium Chloride
soda) to acidic solution (Hydrochloric acid) is produced. Production of salt depends on
it converts into base; similarly we can change the quantity of acid and base by proportion
base into acid. in a very specific manner.

VII Science 15
 Remember:- All neutral solutions are not Let us do - 10: Classifying salts
salt solutions. Sugar or Starches are neutral Collect some salt substances with the help of
but they are not salts. your teacher, make their salt solutions. Test
Let us do - 9 the salt solutions with blue litmus and red litmus
papers. Classify these salts as per your
Test the following salt substances with red observations in the given table.
litmus and blue litmus papers. Record your
observations in the table. Why is our sweat like salt?

Salts which change blue litmus to red are acidic

salts and salts which change red litmus to blue
are basic salts. Some salts effect neither blue
nor red litmus. These are called neutral salts.

Our body needs many types of salts. We lose

some salts through excretion. So sweat is salty.
Do you know?
Uses of some acids, bases and salts

16 Acids and Bases

Keywords:- given in three test tubes and you are given
Indicator, Acid, Base, Red litmus, Blue a strip of red litmus? How will you
litmus, Acidic substance, Basic Substance, identify the three solutions?
Neutral Substance, Salts, Neutralization, 4. When drops of lemon juice are put on
Acid rain. blue litmus it turns red what will happen
if you put some drops of soap solution
What we have learnt
on the same position on litmus paper?
• Indicator helps us to find whether the
5. What happens when Nitric acid is added
solution is acidic or basic or neutral.
to egg shell?
• Red litmus paper, blue litmus paper, 6. Turmeric stains on white clothes, when
phenolphthalein, methyl orange washed with soap, turn red. Why?
Hibiscus, turmeric and rose paper are
natural indicators. 7. Ammonia is present in window cleaners.
It turns red litmus blue. What is its
• The substances that turn blue litmus to nature?
red are acidic in nature.
8. What is the nature of urea? Is it acidic,
• The substances that are soapy to touch basic / neutral? How can we verify it?
and turn red litmus to blue are basic in
9. Red litmus paper is dipped in a solution.
nature.
It remains red. What is nature of the
• Acid rains are the combination of solution? Explain your answer?
Carbonic acid, sulphuric acid and Nitric 10. What is the effect of basic substances on
acid with rain water. turmeric paper?
• All substances whose solutions are 11. Can flowers and turmeric papers also be
neutral are not salts. For eg. sugar or called indicators? Why?
starches give neutral solutions but they
12. Correct the statement if it is wrong
are not salts.
a) Indicators show different colours in
• In the process of Neutralization, both
acidic and basic solutions.
the acidic and basic qualities are
destroyed. b)Sodium Hydroxide turns blue litmus
red.
• Salts need not always be neutral; they can
also be acidic or basic. c) Tooth decay is caused by the presence
of base.
Improve your learning
13. Take vinegar, lemon juice, soapy water,
1. The sting of a wasp is basic. How can baking soda in different vessels. Put
we treat the sting of a wasp? beetroot pieces in the vessels. Predict
2. Why are acids not stored in a metal what happens? Verify your prediction by
container? observing the changes. After 10 minutes,
3. Acidic, basic and neutral solutions are 30 minutes, 60 minutes record your
observations. What do you conclude?

VII Science 17
14. Visit a doctor. Find out the medicines she prescribes to treat acidity. Ask her how acidity
can be naturally prevented. Prepare a report.
15. Prepare red cabbage juice by boiling a piece of red cabbage in water. Use it as an indicator
and test acidic and basic solutions with it. Present your observations in the form of a
table.
16. Collect different flowers and prepare their natural indicators with the help of filter papers.
17. Test the nature of lemon juice and urine sample with help of natural indicators prepared
from different flowers. Explain their nature.
18. How do you feel about nature? It is a big natural laboratory that contains innumerable
indicators!
19. Choose the correct anser:
a. To protect tooth decay we are advised to brush our teeth regularly. The nature of the
tooth paste commonly used is
(i) Acidic (ii) Neutral (iii) Basic (iv) Baking soda
b. Which of the following is acidic in nature?
(i) Lemon juice (ii) Baking Soda (iii) Lime Water (iv) Antacid
20. Match the following

a) Lactic Acid ( ) (1) Tomato

b) Acetic Acid ( ) (2) Lemon

c) Citric Acid ( ) (3) Vinegar

d) Oxalic Acid ( ) (4) Curd

18 Acids and Bases

 3 ANIMAL FIBRE

We get fibres from plants and animals.

Cotton, Jute, Gongoora, Coconut plant fibers
are useful to make different kinds of fabrics.
In the same way we get fibres of silk and wool
from animals like silk worms and sheep, goat,
camel, yak etc. Let us find out about these
animal fibres.
Story of silk:
Making of silk or silk fabrics is a very
interesting story. This involves various
persons and practices. To know about silk,
Neelima visited a sericulture exhibition.
People there, shared their experiences with
One day Neelima went to a flower garden to Neelima. This is what they told Neelima.
pluck flowers with her friend Reshma. Stall-1 (Moth to egg)
Suddenly, while plucking flowers, Neelima
shouted and started crying, a caterpillar had This was the stall where eggs and different
crawled on her dress! Reshma quickly threw moths were displayed.
it away. “Are caterpillars dangerous?” Neelima
asked. Reshma said, “All caterpillars are not
dangerous, some are useful too. Do you know
your dress is made of something we get from
to caterpillars?” Neelima was surprised and
started thinking about what dresses are made
up of . She remembered studying about that
in class VI, about the fibres derived from
plants like cotton & jute that are made into Fig. 1
fabric. So animals also gave us fibres!
Hello….! I am Prathima living in Tadakapalli
What fibres do animals give us? Is the way of of Ananthapur district. My father works in a
obtaining them similar to plants? Which part seed growing centre.
of animal is useful to make fabrics? Neelima
asked question after question. She wanted to Do you know we call the eggs of silk moth
get answers to all her questions. ‘seeds’?

VII Science 19
Silk moth is like butterfly. We keep those
moths in grill mesh boxes in separate rooms.
My father takes care of those silk moths. We
call them as ‘Chilakalu’, my father said another
name of these moths is ‘Bombyx Mori’.
At the time of laying eggs we arrange white
cloth pieces or paper. Moths lay hundreds of
eggs on them( a female moth lays around 500
eggs in one go and dies). Those eggs are very
small in size.
Fig. 3
Farmers from different places of our districts
come and purchase these eggs. Most of the As-Salam-Alekum… ! I am Rehman from
times my father allows these eggs to hatch in Hanuman Junction of West Godavari District.
special chambers usually over mats, on beds We grow silk worms to get cocoons. We get
of chopped mulberry leaves to get small 5-6 harvest of wor ms in a year. My
worms. Farmers from Kurnool, Kadapa, grandfather, father and my brother work on
Mahaboobnagar and some other places of our our farm. We have two acres of Mulberry
State come and purchase these tiny worms. plantation. My grandfather bought Mulberry
Sometimes silk moths are also sold. People twigs from Palamaneru of Chittoor district,
buy these silk moths to produce eggs. These where sericulture(the whole process of
centers are called ‘Grinages’. “I saw a big seed obtaining silk starting from silk moth) is
growing centre at Horsely Hills in Chittoor carried out. We plant the twigs to get the
district “ said Prathima. mulberry crop.

Neelima walked on to the next stall .Here she My father purchased tiny white coloured silk
met Rehman. worms (caterpillars) from seed growing
centres at Horsely Hills. We place these
Stall- 2 (Egg to cocoon) worms in trays. We chop Mulberry leaves into
Here large trays with leaves and larva feeding small pieces to feed them.
on them could be seen. Some trays had white
and yellowish egg like structures! These worms eat leaves day and night. They
need good hygienic conditions and proper
light to grow. When they grow bigger in size,
we transfer the worms into big sized cane
frames called “Chandrikalu”
After 30-35 days the caterpillar stops eating
and settles at a particular place. It weaves a
net to hold itself. Caterpillar moves its mouth
from side to side and secretes fibre-like
substance. When it is exposed to air and heat
it becomes strong. The net is woven
Fig. 2

20 Animal Fibre
completely to cover the body of the Do you Know?
catterpillar. This seems to be a closed sack. Apart from Mulberry , Tasar silk (Desali
This is called ‘Pattukayalu’ (Cocoon). Pattu) is produced in our State. Some
My father said the larva of silk worm species of silk moths that lay eggs on
undergoes changes in the cocoon to change termanalia (oak) plantation produce tasar
into a moth. After 2-3 weeks young moths silk. Mostly tribal people rear these kind
come out from the cocoons and fly away. So of cocoons. This silk plantation is mainly
we have to be very careful. Within 2-3 days concentrated in Karimnagar, Adilabad,
of formation of cocoon, we start removing Warangal, Khammam and coastal regions
them from the tray. of East Godavari and Visakhapatnam.
We kill the larvae inside by a process called Stall 3 (Cocoon to fibre –process of
stiffling by putting a lot of these in a steam reeling; fibre to yarn)
oven for 10 to 15 minutes. The cocoons have Neelima observed that some people were to
to be stiffled to kill the larva inside as boiling and stirring something in large
otherwise, it will cut its way out after growing pots(Fig 5)
into a moth and spoil the cocoon. We will not
be able to get a continuous thread of silk
from such a cocoon. Thus we won’t be able
to obtain quality fibre for fabric!
Stiffling helps us to store the cocoons for a
long time.(Fig 4)
This process is usually done in a reeling centres.

Fig. 5
Locating ends of thread of cocoon

Fig. 4 Stiffling
These cocoons are kept in sealed bags and
sold at the cocoon market. If not stiffled, we
sell them off within a week. My father usually Fig. 6
enquires about rates of cocoons in the market Located ends reeled onto reels
at Hindupur, Madanapally, Dharmavaram,
A person stood in the corner explaining about
Kadiri, Palamaner u, Raychoti and
the process of obtaining fibre from cocoon.
Hyderabad.
I am Prasanth from Shad Nagar of
VII Science 21
Mahaboobnagar district. I work in the reeling Pochampally - silk city of Andhra Pradesh.
centre. We weave silk fabric by using silk yarn on
Neelima saw cocoons being boiled in water. handlooms. For us, weaving is a traditional
She was shocked and uttered ‘Hey … ! What occupation. We get silk yarn from reeling
are you doing? centres to weave a variety of sarees.
Pochampally pattu and Dharmavaram are
We are boiling cocoons to get silk fibre. famous types produced by our state.
Caterpillar of silkworm spins fiber which is Pochampally pattu is also called ‘tie and die
mainly made up of two types of protein or Jamdani’. Dharmavaram is famous for its
(sirisine and fibroin) and is very strong. The wide border and rich buta or dots.
cocoons have to be boiled to loosen the fibre
to be able to reel it
Obtaining silk fibre from cocoon is called
reeling. It is done with special machines called
reelers and twisters. The silk fibre is carefully
collected from the cocoon and nearly 3 to 18
of such threads are wound together to make
yarn from it which is reeled(Fig 6). This yarn
is cleaned, bleached and coloured(Fig 7).
The yarn is ready to be woven into a variety
Fig. 8 A Jamdani sari on loom. Weft being
of designed fabrics, on looms. You can see
woven over warp.
reeling centres at Nandikotkur, Hyderabad,
Banaras, Kanchipuram, Dharmavaram,
Karimnagar etc.
Narayanpet, Kothakota, Pochampally are all
types of silk fabrics. They get their names from
the places where they are made. You may have
also heard the names of tasar silk, mooga silk,
kosa silk, eri silk etc as you went through
different stalls here. These are all several
varieties of silk. Some chemicals add strength
to silk fibres. Silk is used to make other
products as well like satin and crepe. We have
both handlooms and power looms to weave
silk.
Fig. 7 Warp of sari being prepared.
Neelima was filled with wonder and delight
Stall 4 Reeling to weaving about the fabric of her silk frock. She tried
Neelima saw a handloom at one corner of to make a flowchart of the life cycle of silk
the exhibition and talked with the person moth. Try to help her. (Fig 9)
displaying it.
Namasthe …! I am Bhupathi belonging to

22 Animal Fibre
 clothes like sweaters, mufflers, hats, long coats,
table covers etc. There were models of
different types of animals like sheep, goat, yak,
LIFE CYCLE llama, camel, alpaca etc there. She knew sheep
OF gave wool but why were the other animals
SILKWORM displayed at the stalls?
Grandpa told Neelima that wool is obtained
from hair of all the animals displayed. It is
also called fleece or fur collectively. It is mainly
a protein. Good quality wool is obtained from
Merino sheep. They are specially reared. The
Fig. 9 fleece is 3-5 inches long and very fine and most
valuable. A merino sheep may yield about 5
Draw the flow chart of life cycle of silk
to 18Kg of wool per year.
worm in your notebook.
Grandpa do we find any difference between
Do you know? hair of all animals?
The thread you get from the average cocoon Certainly, hair of camel that lives in Rajasthan
ranges from about 1,000 to 3,000 feet, and is not same as Angora goat that lives in
about 2,000 to 3,000 cocoons are required Kashmir. Camels have rough and coarse hair.
to make 500 gm of silk. That is about Under this rough hair some animals usually
5,000,000 feet or more than 1,000 miles! have soft hair as well. Angora goat or the
Merino sheep have soft hair.
That’s not all. People involved in the
process suffer from skin as well as Grandpa where do we find sheep or goat that
respiratory problems due to continuous give us wool?
handling of the silk worm and the silk fibres. In Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,
Uttaranchal, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim,
Story of Wool: Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat. They
Next day Neelima visited another part of the are often reared on large farms.
exhibition with her Grandpa. The entrance Grandpa what are they doing with that
was shaped like a big sheep! She entered scissor?
through the stomach of the sheep into the That is a shear to cut fleece from sheep.
exhibition hall. She was surprised because the During spring season fleece of sheep is
setting seemed to be a real Kashmiri village. removed from its body using this type of
There she saw different varieties of woolen razor.

VII Science 23
 Well, they are sorting coarse and soft ones as
well as broken and long ones and making
separate piles of them. Unwanted materials
like twigs or bits of leaves etc that may be
present with the wool are also separated out.
This process is called sorting or wool classing.
Fleece is the soft mass of wool.
“Grandpa, how do these woolen fibres get
different colours? What is there in the tubs?”
There are bleaches and dyes in the tubs.
Fig. 10 Woolen fibres are bleached and then dyed with
This process is called shearing(Fig 10). To different colours. The coloured fibres are
prevent damage to skin, grease is used. usedto make yarn. These fibres are then
Well Neelima , why is shearing done during combed.
spring season?
There is a machine for combing or carding
Neelima replied:
wool. Wool is pulled through many teeth of
--------------------------------------------------------
the combing machine.(Fig 13)
(Guess what her answer is ? Write it down in
your note book) From there, a
“Neelima come here. See this big water tank machine rolls
and spade”. Sheared skin with hair is dipped and pulls and it
in such tanks and stirred with a spade. Often out into a thick
it may be washed under a stream of water as rope and still
well. This water contains some chemicals to another pulls
remove grease, dirt and dust. This process is and twists it into
called washing or scouring. a long thread.
After washing, cool air is passed over the wool This is the
which makes it softer. process of
“Grandpa, What are they doing? “Why are spinning. Fig. 13
they keeping heaps of fleece at separate places? Here you can see it being wound on whirling
spools as well.

Fig. 13
Fig. 11

24 Animal Fibre
Thus we get the yarn which may be dyed and under the next. All types of yarn whether
before weaving. cotton or silk or wool etc. are woven in this
“Grandpa how can I use those needles? What manner.(Fig 15)
are they doing with the needles?” Neelima was surprised to see how fast knitting
“Neelima they are knitting woolen fabrics by was being carried out. She sat near a man to
using needles. Wool can be knit easily because observe and learn how to knit. Neelima
it has a natural bend or crimp on it”. purchased a book about woolen fabrics and
a sweater for her grandma and returned
home.At home Neelima made a flow chart to
show the processes involved from obtaining
wool to producing fabric.

SHEARING

Fig. 14
SCOURING

By making knots with loops and rings of long

threads of yarn, woolen fabrics are knitted. SORTING
In addition to handmade process of knitting,
handlooms and power looms are also used on
which woolen yarn is woven to fabric.(Fig 14) BLEACHING

DYEING

COMBING/CARDING

SPINNING

Fig. 15 WEAVING OR KNITTING

Woolen threads are stretched from the top of
loom to the bottom. These are called warp ROLLING AND TWISTING
threads. The threads that go side to side are
weft threads. A shuttle like a big needle takes
the weft threads over and under warp threads. WOOLLEN FABRIC
One more important part of the loom is the Grandpa asked Neelima to check and make
harness. The harness lifts every other warp corrections in the sequence.What corrections
thread so that the weft threads go over one do you think Neelima needs to make?
VII Science 25
Neelima thought that silk and wool are also • Separation of silk fibre from cocoon is
natural fibres like cotton. She wanted to find called reeling.
out the difference between silk and cotton. Let • Hair of animals like goat, sheep, camel
us help her.
etc., are used to obtain woollen fibre.
Silk Cotton
• Angora goat hair is soft to spin different
1. Mainly protein 1. Mainly a types of fabrics like shawls and sweaters.
carbohydrate • Removing of hair or fleece from the skin
called cellulose
of sheep is called shearing.
• Cleaning of fleece with a stream of water
is called scouring.
• Knitting is the process of making fabric
Do you know? by using knitting needles to form
interlocking loops and rings of woolen
Wool is a poor conductor of heat. Air
yarn.
trapped in between the woollen fibres and
our body prevents the flow of heat from Improve your learning
our body to our surroundings. So we feel 1. In sericulture industry do which stages
hot and are protected from cold. Woollen
of silkworm weavers buy? Why do they
cloth also helps to douse fire.
do so?
Think why it is good to wrap a person, who is 2. Which place in our state is called silk
caught in fire, with a blanket. city?
3. Prepare a chart showing life cycle of
Key words
silkworm and display that in the
Animal fibre, Silkworm, Cocoon classroom.
Mulberry, Sericulture , Bombyx mori,
4. Why are cocoons stiffled?
Reeling, Fleece, Shearing, Scouring,
Knitting, Bleaching, Weaving , Dyeing, 5. What will happen if cocoon is not
Warp, Woof boiled?

What we have learnt 6. What are the differences between fleece

of angora goat and camel.
• Animal fibres are natural fibres.
7. Make a flow chart showing various
• Animal fibre is a protein while plant
fibre is a carbohydrate. stages of production of woollen fabric.

• Rearing of silk worms for obtaining silk 8. In what way is knitting different from
is called sericulture. weaving?
• Egg, Larva, Pupa, Adult moth are the 9. Prepare a scrap book with pictures of
stages in the life cycle of silk worm. different wool yielding animals.

26 Animal Fibre
10. Fill up the blank and give your reasons 13. Write 5 differences between wool and
for the statement. silk manufacturing.

………………….. fabric protect us 14. Observe designs on silk sarees, trace

from cold. them in your notebook and make your
own designs.
11. If you are going to visit Dal lake at
Kashmir which type of clothes would 15. In East India silk is called pat. You may
you like to keep in your luggage ? Why? collect different pieces of silk fabric
from a cloth store and write the names
12. Do you find any similarities between silk of the type of fabric and make a chart.
and wool weaving? What are they?

READ AND ENJOY

SILK- THAT’S HOW IT BEGAN: THE WORLD OF WOOL

Chinese traditions, along with the writings of Woolen fabrics are as ancient as human civilization.
Confucius tell the same 2700 BC tale. It states that According to archeological evidences domestication of
the empress Leizu (Hsi- ling- shi) was having tea one woolly sheep may have started around 6000 BC by
day under a mulbery tree with her husband, emperor early Iranians. Earliest woven wool garments are dated
Huang-ti, when a silk worm’s cocoon fell into her cup. 2000-3000 years later.

In an attempt to take it out, the thread of the cocoon In 15th century, British made laws to control wool
began to unroll. So the Empress thought of weaving smuggling and at one time they punished people by
the thread. The Emperor, encouraged his wife to study cutting off their hands! The industrial revolution
the life of silk worm, and so she learned the art of introduced mass production of wool. Leaders of wool
raising silk worms or what is called sericulture. Her production are Australia and China.
finding was taught as well and thus the advent of the
silk industry.

However, archaeological evidences show that the origin

of silk industry traces back to 3000 and 5000 BC.
The sites of Yangshao culture in Xia Country,
Shanxi reveal a cocoon of a bombyx mori or a
domesticated silk worm along with silk weaving looms.

VII Science 27
 4 MOTION & TIME

Motion is a common experience in our life. · Why has this difference occurred?
We observe birds flying in air, buses, autos, · Is it because the tree moved to the right
cars, bullock carts, moving on roads , trains of the car or the car moved to the left of
on railway tracks and many other objects the tree?
around us in motion. Apart from observing We know that the position of the car has
motions of objects around us, we ourselves changed with respect to the tree in ‘2’ seconds.
experience motion while we are walking, But there is no change in the position of the
running, playing, riding a bicycle etc., Similarly tree with respect to its surroundings.
we observe many objects like trees, buildings,
An object is said to be in motion if it changes
display boards, electric poles etc., at rest while
its position with respect to its surroundings in
we walk to school.
a given time.
Other than running, playing and walking when do
you experience motion? Prepare a list.
An object is said to be at rest if there is no
When we sit inside a moving bus or train we change in its position with respect to its
observe that the objects like trees, buildings, surroundings in a given time.
electric poles etc., are moving.
Are these trees, buildings, electric poles Thus, we can say that the tree is at rest and the
etc., really in motion or at rest? car is in motion while we observe them over
a period of time (2 seconds in this case).
To understand this we should understand the
meaning of motion and rest. Can you give some more examples of
Motion and Rest: objects which are at rest or in motion?
Observe the following pictures
Let us do - 1:
Observing motion of the car.

Fig. 1 Fig.2 (2 sec later)

· What difference do you notice in the
position of the car? Fig .3 Fig.4
· What difference do you notice in the Look at the pictures. State which of the
position of the tree? following statements are true.

28 Motion and Time

i. The distance between the driver and the
car changes. ( )
ii. The distance between the car and gate
of the house is changed ( )
iii. There is no change in the position of gate
of the house with respect to its
surroundings ( ) Fig. 5
iv. There is no change in the position of the The man in the boat is moving in relation to
car with respect to its surroundings ( ) the bank of river. He is at rest with respect to
Imagine you sat in the above moving car the boat.
beside the driver. Do you observe any change
in the driver’s position? Is there any change in
the scene you view through the window
(buildings, trees etc.)?
As the car moves, the distance between you
and the landmarks like buildings, trees, poles
etc., outside the car changes. This change in
the scene you view through the window
indicates that the car is moving. However your Fig. 6
position with respect to the driver of the car The girl on the swing is ....................... in
remains the same. relation to seat of the swing.
That is you and the driver of the car are at She is ........................... with respect to the
rest with respect to each other, but both of garden.
you are in motion with respect to the
surroundings outside the car.
A body may be at rest with respect to one
set of surroundings and at the same time be
in motion with respect to another set of
surroundings.
Thus motion is relative to the observer.

Let us do - 2:
Observing certain motions. Fig. 7
Observe the following pictures. Read the The girl on the bicycle is .....................in
statement below the first picture and write relation to the road.
similar statements about other pictures. Talk
about them with your friends. She is ..................... in relation to the bicycle.

VII Science 29
Uniform and non uniform motion What difference do you find in the movement
A body is said to be in motion if its position of hands of clock and the body of butterfly?
keeps on changing with time (with respect to In which case is the change of position with
the observer). But in our daily life we time constant?
experience certain motions in which, the We observe that in case of the wall clock,
change in position of objects remains the same change in position of minute hand is same for
for a time interval, in some other motions, the every minute. How do we know this?
change in position of object will not be the Measuring the angle between two positions of
same for a given time interval. the minute hand is the way. But in the case of
Imagine the movement of hands in a wall the butterfly, the change in its position is not
clock and the movement of a butterfly in a constant while it is flying from one flower to
garden. In these two cases hands of wall clock another in the garden.
and the butterfly are in motion. They change
their positions with time. Let us do - 3:
Observing time and distance values.
Observe the following tables, showing
distances travelled by two different cars for
different instances of time.

Fig. 8 Fig. 9

Car A Car B
1. Which car has travelled equal distances but for car-B, the change in position is not
in equal intervals of time ? constant. For 1st 10 seconds, it is 50m, for 2nd
2. Which car has travelled unequal distances 10 seconds, it is 40m, for 3rd 10 seconds it is
in equal intervals of time? 90m, and for 4th 10 seconds it is 50m.
Obviously we notice that for car - A, the Thus motion of car - A is uniform and motion
change in position in every 10 seconds is 150m of car - B is non-uniform.

30 Motion and Time

 If a body covers equal distances in
equal intervals of time, it is said to be A car traveling along
in uniform motion. a straight road.

If a body covers unequal distances in Fig. 10

equal intervals of time, it is said to be
in non-uniform motion.
Motion of blades of
Let us do - 4 a ceiling fan
Identifying Uniform and Non-Uniform
motion. Fig. 11

Identify uniform and non-uniform motions

among the following examples and mark Motion of needle in
Uniform as (U) and non uniform as (NU). a running sewing machine

1. Movement of hands of a clock.

( ) Fig. 12

2. A boy cycling in a crowded place.

( ) Motion of pendulum
in an old wall clock
3. Movement of a housefly.
( )
4. The fan in an air cooler running at fixed
speed. ( ) Fig. 13

Considering the direction of motion what

5. A train entering into a railway station. differences do you notice in above
( ) examples?

6. Flying of kite in air. The motions in the above examples are

( ) different in terms of direction of motion.
• Car is moving in same direction along a
Types of Motions straight line.
When we discuss about motion, it is important • Blades of ceiling fan rotate about a fixed
to be aware that there exist different types of line in a circular path.
motions and each type is dependent on a
particular situation. • Needle of sewing machine moves up and
down about a fixed point.
Let us consider the following examples.
• Pendulum of the wall clock oscillates ‘to’
and ‘fro’ about a fixed point.

VII Science 31
Based on the path taken by the bodies in motion we classify motion of bodies as,
1. Translatory motion 2. Rotatory motion 3. Oscillatory motion
Translatory motion
Look at the following pictures

Fig. 14 Fig. 15
The bus moved from point ‘A’ to ‘B’, in a certain interval of time.
Think and answer the following questions:
1. Do all the parts of bus (like wheels, head lights, windows etc.,move along from point ‘A’
to ‘B’?
2. Is the direction of motion of bus along straight line or curved line?
Can you give some more examples of motion in which all points of moving body move in the
same direction as that of the body?

Let us do - 5: Observing the path of the motion.

Observe the following table, and state the paths of motion for each case by putting ( ) !mark
in the relevant column .

In all the above cases of motions, do all the points of moving objects move in same direction
of motion?

If all parts of a moving body move in the direction of motion

then the motion is said to translatory motion.

32 Motion and Time

 If a body in translatory motion moves
along a straight line then motion is
called rectilinear motion.

If a body in translatory motion moves

along a curved path then motion is Fig. 18 Fig. 19
called curvilinear motion.
Let us do - 6: Identifying types of motion.
We notice everyday some motions which are
rectilinear and curvilinear at a time. Some
examples of motions are given below: Label
them as rectilinear (R) or curvilinear (C) or Fig. 20 Fig. 21
Rectilinear and curvilinear (RC) motions.
1. What similarity do you find in all the
1. Seconds hand of a watch.
motions?
( )
2. Movement of a train on tracks. 2. What is the path of motion of each
( ) particle of the body that moves?
3. Movement of a tape in a tape recorder. 3. Is there any change in the position of a
( ) body while it is in motion?
4. Movement of a needle in a speedometer
of car. Let us examine motion of blades of ceiling
( ) fan. Consider one blade of the rotating ceiling
5. Movement of a bus on hill station road. fan drawn below.
( ) While the blade of a fan is moving, the points
6. Motion of coins on a carrom board. A, B, and C on the blade move to A1, B1, C1
( ) first and then move to A2, B2 and C2 position.
7. Motion of the ball in pin board. Thus when a fan is in motion, each point on
( ) the blade moves in a circular path around the
8. Motion of a mango falling from tree. centre of the fan which is fixed.
( ) A
Rotatory motion:
B
Let us do - 7:
C
Observe the following diagrams
C2
C1
B2 B1
A1
A2

Fig. 22
Here, we observe that the position of a fan is
Fig. 16 Fig. 17 not changing. Only the blades of fan are

VII Science 33
changing their position continuously and 4.
moving in circular path around a fixed point.
The imaginary line passing through this fixed
point is called axis of rotation. This type of
motion is called Rotatory Motion. ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Rotatory motion means that, motion of all

particles of a moving body follow a circular
path with respect to a fixed centre or axis
of rotation.
1. Are all the objects shown in activity - 7 Fig. 26
in rotatory motion? Let us do - 9:
2. Can you give some more examples of Take a table tennis ball, and keep it on the
rotatory motion? surface of a table. Push the ball with your finger
Let us do - 8: and observe its motion.
Observe the following motions of objects,
State whether they are in rotatory motion?
Draw a line showing axis of rotation using
pencil as shown in fig- 1.
1.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Fig. 27
Fig. 23
Is it in Rotatory motion or in Translatory
2.
motion?
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ When you push the ball on the surface of a
table, it moves from one end to the other end
and all the particles of the ball also move along
the direction of motion of the ball. Hence the
Fig. 24
ball is in translatory motion. Similarly, each
3 particle of the ball moves in a circular path
about a particular line, when the ball rolls on
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
the surface. Therefore it is in rotatory motion.
Thus in the above example the ball possesses
both translatory and rotatory motions.
Can you give some more examples of objects
Fig. 25 having both translatory and rotatory motions?

34 Motion and Time

 Let us do - 10:
Observe following motions of bodies and label them as Rotatory (R), Translatory (T),
Translatory and Rotatory (TR)

Oscillatory motion:
Observe the following pictures and answer the following questions.

Fig. 28 Fig 29. Fig. 30 Fig 31.

• What similarity do you find in the · Is the direction of motion constant?

motions of the above given situations? If we critically examine the above mentioned
• Are the objects in motion following the motions, we understand that in each case the
same path again and again? objects move backwards and forwards or
upward and downward, on the either side of
VII Science 35
a fixed point or a line. For example, the girl The ‘to’ and ‘fro’ motion of an object
on a swing moves backwards and forwards, about a fixed point always following the
on either side of the rest position of the swing. same paths is called oscillatory motion.
Similarly in other cases also the body is in ‘to’ Can you give some more examples of such type of
and ‘fro’ motion along the same path of motions?
motion. This type of motion is called Let us do - 11
oscillatory motion.
Identify oscillatory motions among the following and put ( ) mark in the brackets given.
1. A spinning top ( )
2. Bullet from a gun ( )
3. Typewriter key ( )
4. Motion of a potter’s wheel ( )
5. Motion of a vibrating sitar string ( )
6. Motion of a car taking a turn while moving ( )
7. Ringing of a bell ( )
8. A bouncing ball ( )
4.1 Slow and Fast Motion:
We observe many objects in motion in our daily life. In some cases objects move slowly and in
other cases they move fast. How do we know whether the motion is slow or fast?
Let us assume that you started to school on a bicycle and your friend started in a bus at the
same time from a place.
• Who reaches the school first? Why?
• Do you find any difference in the time taken by bicycle and bus to reach the school?
Let us do - 12: Comparing the motion of objects.
Observe following pairs of objects that are in motion. Compare their motions and decide
which moves slower and which move faster. Mark ( ) in relevant box.
• How can you decide whether the motion of a body is slow or fast?

36 Motion and Time

• Do we need to know about distance Who do you think ran the fastest and whose
covered, time taken by the body in running is slowest? Why?
motion to decide whether the motion is
Obviously we can see that all of them ran the
slow or fast?
same distance of 100 m but time taken to
Let us look at details of a running race. cover the distance was different. Priya took
Priya, Karthik, Divya and Kiran participated the shortest time of 20 seconds which shows
in a 100 m. running race. They took 20 s, 22s, that she was the fastest.
25s and 28s respectively to reach the finishing
line.

Thus we understand that the distance travelled by an object in a given interval of time can help us decide which
one is faster and which one is slower.

Hey could you please tell Your attention please!

me what the time is?
The train scheduled to arrive
I forgot to put on my
watch today! at Hyderabad from Tirupathi
is running an hour behind
the scheduled time.

Time:
We use the word time very often in our daily
life. Look at the following examples.
If we observe the above examples, we use the
That line is moving
very fast. Why is word ‘time’ for different purposes. In some
this person so slow?

VII Science 37
situations, without using the word ‘time’, we for completion of chemical reaction, time
express the duration of time like ‘so late’, ‘so taken by the pendulum for one oscillation etc
early’ etc.
How do we measure or estimate time?
Let us do - 13: Estimating time.
Ravi and Sathish started for school at 8.00 a.m.
from their houses which are side by side. Ravi
started on a bicycle and Sathish by walk.
• Who will reach the school first? How Fig. 34 Fig. 35
much earlier will he be compared to the
other? Now-a-days we find stop clocks almost in all
• How do you measure ‘early’ or ‘late’ cell phones. In our daily life stop clocks help
arrival at school? measure pulse rate etc. Apart from this, they
You can easily estimate that Ravi reaches the also help us to accurately measure the times
school earlier than Sathish. But to answer the in running races , swimming races etc.
question of how early Ravi reached, we need
to measure the times taken by both Ravi and Let us try to measure time using a stop clock.
Sathish and find the difference of time
between both the cases. Let us do - 14:
For this we need time measuring instruments Take a cell phone . Go to ‘setting’ and open
like watches, clocks etc.
Try to give some more examples of how to ‘stop clock’ option. If you are not able to do
measure time in addition to watches this take help from your friend or teacher.
Now-a-days, we use different instruments like Measure the time taken for the events
electronic clocks, digital clocks, quartz clocks mentioned in the table.
etc to measure time. A few decades ago people
used pendulum clocks that have now become
rare.
Event Duration of
Time
Ringing of long bell in the
school.
Fig. 32 Fig. 33
Completion of prayer song
Do you know:
Like minutes and hours, week, fortnight, Running 200m by your
month, season, ayanam are also units for friend in the school ground.
measuring time.
Measurement of time using stop clock Completion of pledge
during school assembly
Stop clocks are used to measure time interval
between occurrence of events accurately. You
Which event has taken more time to
might have seen stop clocks in the laboratory.
complete? Think! How much time does it take
We use stop clocks in the laboratory to
to sing the national anthem?
measure short intervals of time like time taken

38 Motion and Time

Units of time: .................................................................................................................
Depending on the context, we express time ..................................................................................................................
in seconds or minutes or hours to specify the ..................................................................................................................
occurrence of an event.
..................................................................................................................
The basic unit of time is a second (s). Larger
units of time are minutes (min) and hours (h). Have you seen a bicycle with a speedometer?
Do the following activity:
Table: Units of time
Travel on a motor vehicle with your father to
60 seconds 1 minute market or any other place and observe the
60 minutes 1 hour changes in speedometer reading.
24 hours 1 day Note the exact time when you started from
home and observe speedometer reading
365 days 1 year carefully and note it and the corresponding
10 years 1 decade Speedo Meter Reading Corresponding Time
10 decades 1 century (Speed) (Time)

10 centuries 1 millennium 0 Started at home 9-10 a.m.

20 9.15 a.m.
Speed:
30 9.20 a.m.
Many objects in the world around us are
moving. To compare how fast they are time in the table. Some examples are given in
moving, we need to know their speed. the table.
You may have observed the speedometer in • Does the speed of the vehicle remain the
motor cars which tells us how fast the car is same throughout the journey?
travelling.
• If not, what can you say about the speed
Usually, the speedometer in a vehicle shows of the vehicle during the journey?
the distance travelled in kilometers and the
We experience in our everyday life that most
needle shows the speed of the journey in
of the objects in motion do not have the same
kilometres per hour.
speed throughout the journey. To express the
Look at the speedometers of two vehicles speed of the object, we consider its average
shown here and decide which vehicle is slower. speed.
How to calculate average speed
Average speed = Total distance travelled /
Total time taken to travel the distance
Car - 1 Car - 2. Thus we can define speed of an
Have you seen any other vehicles having object as the distance travelled by
speedometers? Write their names? it in a unit of time.

VII Science 39
Units of speed From the table, we notice that the car has
covered unequal distances in equal intervals
Depending on the need and context, speed is
of time (10 min), which shows the speed of
measured in different units.
the car is not uniform. To find the speed of
Unit of speed in S.I. system is meter per second the car in the journey we should calculate total
(m/s) distance travelled by the car and the total time
Another unit commonly used for speed is taken to cover that distance.
kilometer per hour (Km/h) Total distance travelled by the car = 60 km
1 Km / h = 5/18 m/s Time taken = 40 min.
Do you know how we got this? The distance must be either in meters or
1 km = 1000 m kilometers and time in seconds or hours. We
express the speed either in m/s or in km/h.
1 h = 3600s
In this example distance is 60 km and time is
1 km / h = 1000 m / 3600s 40 min.
= 5/18 m/s 1 hour = 60 min
Consider a car driven on a road. A person 40 2
seated beside the driver recorded the distance 40 min = hour h
60 3
travelled after every 10 minutes by noting the
distance reading in the speedometer. The distance travelled
Speed =
distance travelled by the car at different time taken
instances of time is as follow.
60 km 3
• What is the total distance travelled by the 2
60 ! km / h
2 = 90 km/ h
car? h
3
• What is the time taken to travel the
Thus, the car travelled with an average speed
distance?
of 90 km/h.
Reading of Solve the following problem
Time
Distance Covered The speed of a bus is 72 km/h, whereas the
0 minute 0 km speed of a car is 12.5 m/s. Which vehicle
10 minute 15 km moves faster?
20 minute 25 km To compare two speeds. They must be
expressed in the same units. In the above
30 minute 38 km
example, speed of a bus is expressed in km/
40 minute 60 km h and the speed of a car in m/s, to compare
• How do you find the speed of the car? these speeds, one of them must be converted
• Is the speed of the car unifor m to other.
throughout the journey? Speed of a bus = 72 km/h

40 Motion and Time

 Speed of a car = 12.5 m/s b) A passenger flying in an
1 km/h = 5/18 m/s airplane is at rest with respect to
the airport and moving with
1 m/s =18/5 km/s respect to other passengers.
Thus the speed of car is c) The wheels of a train are in
12.5 x 18/5 km/h = 45 km/h rotatory motion as well as in
translatory motion, when it
Hence, the bus moves faster than the car
moves.
Key words:-
2. John tied a stone to a string and whirled
Motion, Rest, Translatory motion, it around. What type of motion do you
Rotatory Motion, Axis of Rotation, find there?
Oscillatory Motion, Speed, Average
3. What is common to the following?
Speed.
Motion of the propeller of a flying
What we have learnt:- helicopter, the minute hand of a watch,
• Motion is a common experience in our the tape of a cassette recorder.
life. a) All are examples of
• An object is said to be in motion if it translatory motion
changes it’s position. b) All are examples of oscillatory
• There are three types of motion namely motion
translatory motion, rotatory motion and c) All are examples of rotatory
oscillatory motion. motion
• We measure time by using diffrent d) All are examples of periodic
instruments like electronic clocks, digital motion
clocks, etc.
4. Which of the following is not an oscillatory
• Speedometer helps us know the speed motion?
of a vehicle.
a) Motion of the hammer of an
• Units of speed in SI system is meters per electric bell.
second.
b) Motion of your hands while
Improve your learning:- running.
1. State whether the following statements c) Motion of a child on a see -
are True or False. Rewrite the wrong saw.
statements correctly.
d) Motion of a horse pulling a
a) A body can be at rest and in cart.
motion at the same time in relation
5. Arun completed a 100 meter race in
to the same set of surroundings.
16s., while Karthik finished it in 13s.
Who ran faster ?

VII Science 41
6. I. A train runs from New Delhi to 9. The basic unit of speed is
Hyderabad. It covers first distance of a) km / min b) m/min.
420 km in 7 hrs. and next distance of
360 km in 6 hrs. c) km/h d) m/s

II. Gopi takes part in a car race. He 10. The correct relation between speed,
drives a distance of 70 km each in the distance and time is.
first, second and third hours. a) Speed = distance / time
Which of the following statements is b) Speed = time / distance
true. c) Speed = distance / time
a) I, is an example uniform d) distance = speed / time
motion and II is an example of
non-uniform motion. 11. The distance between two stations is 240
b) I is an example of non- km. A train takes 4 hrs to cover this
uniform motion and II is an distance. Calculate the speed of the
example of uniform motion. train.
c) I and II are examples of 12. A train travels at a speed of 180 km/h.
uniform motion. How far will it travel in 4 hours?
d) I and II are examples of non-
13. When do you say an object is in
uniform motion.
rotatory motion?
7. Write the motion of different parts of a
14. Can an object possess translatory and
bicycle while it is in motion.
rotatory motions at the same time? Give
a) the wheel
an example.
b) the cycle chain
c) the pedal with its arm 15. Make a collection of action pictures
d) the movement of the feet showing living and non-living things in
pedaling motion. Paste them neatly in a scrap
e) the movement of the rider book. Under each picture write the type
along with the bicycle. of motion the picture shows.
8. Which of the following statements is 16. In a sewing machine used by tailors,
correct? mention the type of motion of sewing
a) The basic unit of time is machines parts when it runs.
second. a) the wheel
b) Every object’s motion is
b) the needle
uniform.
c) Two cars move for 5 minutes c) the cloth
and 2 minutes respectively. The
second car is faster because it
takes less time.
d) The speed of a car is expressed
in km/h.
42 Motion and Time
 TEMPERATURE AND ITS
5 MEASUREMENT
In class VI we learned about different changes We see that some objects are cold and some
that take place in different seasons in the lesson are hot. We also know that some objects are
‘Changes around us’. We wear different clothes hotter than others while some are colder than
in different seasons. others. How do we decide which object is
We wear woolen and dark hotter than the other, and which object is
coloured clothes during winter colder than the other? We need a reliable
when it is cold out side. method to decide the hotness/coldness of
Woolen and dark coloured an object, Generally hotness or coldness is
clothes keep us warm. We expressed in ter ms of temperature.
prefer to wear light coloured Temperature is a measure of the degree
cotton clothes when it is hot. of hotness or coldness of an object.
They give us a feeling of By touching with our hands, we can guess
coolness. You might have whether a cup of milk is still worth sipping
Fig. 1
wondered why a particular or has become too cold, whether milk is hot
type of cloth is suitable for a enough for making curds etc. But estimating
particular season. temperature with our hands can, sometimes
In winter we feel cold inside the house. If we mislead or confuse us.
come out in the sun, we feel warm. In summer Let us do - 1:
we feel hot even inside the house. How do
we know whether something is hot or cold? Take some coldwater, luke-warm water and
We try to get answers to these questions in hot water in three different vessels. Immerse
this chapter. your left hand in the cold water vessel and
right hand in hot water vessel simultaneously.
Let us do this: Wait for two or three minutes. Take off both
Some of the objects are given in the table. your hands and dip them in the luke-warm
Mark these objects as hot or cold? water vessel.
OBJECT COLD HOT
Ice Cream
Fruit Juice
Metal Chair Kept
in the sun
Spoon in cup of hot
tea Fig. 2

VII Science 43

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 What do you feel about hotness of water now? Have you seen the lid moving up and down
Do both of your hands feel the same hotness? and listened to the sound coming out of it?
Though both hands are in the same glass of Where does the sound come from? Why is
water, one hand we feels it cold and the other the lid moving? Sometimes the lid might be
feel it hot! Look how our hands are confused! thrown away too. What is the reason ?
Can we exactly decide hotness/coldness of a We know that boiled water is being converted
substance just by touching it? Why? It is not to water vapour. The volume of the water
possible to guess the hotness of a substance vapor increases. The increase volume of
only on the basis of feel/touch. It is certain vapour tries to go out. In this process it tries
that water in different tubs has different to lift the lid up. What makes the lid to lift
degrees of hotness which cannot be exactly up? We need energy to lift any object. Where
determined simply by touching. does this energy come from? It comes from
Heat – A form of Energy the heated water. Where did this water get
energy from? From the heat of the fire! Thus
heat is a form of energy.
We know that heat is a form of energy that is
transferred from an object at higher
temperature to one at lower temperature.
When we stand in the sun or near fire, heat
energy enters our body and we feel hot. When
ice is put on our palm, heat energy moves from
our body to the piece of ice. That’s why we
Fig. 3 feel cold.
We feel hot when we sit in sunlight or near “The energy which makes an object appear
fire. We feel cold when we put a piece of ice hot or cold is called heat.”
on our palm. Have you ever thought why it Let us do - Conversion of Energy.
is so?
Think it over! • Rub your palms together.
When rice is being cooked you observe How do you feel?
the plate on the rice bowl jumps! • Have you ever observed that iron
Why is it happening?
becomes hot when it is
...................................... beaten with a hammer?
...................................... • Take a soapnut seed. Rub
it on a stone and touch it.
Fig . 4 How do you feel? Fig . 5
Have you observed water boiling in a vessel In above cases mechanical energy is converted
with a lid on it? What do you notice? into heat energy.

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 • Did you ever bathe with cold water Give examples where heat energy gets
during winter? What happens? converted into other forms of energy and vice
.......................................................... versa.

.......................................................... Heat and Temperature:

• What do you do to protect yourself If you stand close to fire, you feel warm.
from cold? When a warm object is placed close to a cooler
object, heat energy moves from the warmer
.......................................................... object to the cooler one until both objects
.......................................................... attain the same temperature. Often we think
that heat and temperature are the same things;
• How do you get hot water in winter?
this is wrong. Temperature is a measure of
.......................................................... the heat energy in a body and which indicates
.......................................................... the ability of a body to give heat to another
body or absorb heat from another body. We
• Generally we heat water to get hot
use thermometers to measure temperature.
water. How do you heat water? What
sources do you use? Have you observed any
thermometers in daily life?
..........................................................
Have you seen the
..........................................................
ther mometer used by
If we use electric heater to heat water doctor’s in hospitals? What
electrical energy is converted to heat. does it contain?
Likewise, if we use gas stove, chemical
How does it help us to
energy is converted to heat. In solar
measure the temperature?
heaters, solar energy is converted to heat.
Let us obser ve a
thermometer:
Hold the thermometer and
observe it carefully. What
is it made up of ?
Fig. 6 Fig. 7 What do you find inside the
In the above examples, different kinds of thermometer?
energies are being converted to heat. In the What do you find at both
same way heat energy can be converted to ends of the tube?
other forms of energy. You may have heard
How do they differ from
that in a thermal power station, heat energy is Fig.8
each other?
converted to electrical energy. In a steam
engine, heat energ y is converted to At one end of the tube you observe a bulb. It
mechanical energy which helps in moving the is filled with Mercury. What do you observe
engine. at the other end of the tube?

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 The other end of the tube is sealed after Properties of Mercury:-
removing air from it. Do you find any • Its expansion is uniform. (For equal
markings on the tube? We find a scale which amounts of heat it expands by equal
is marked to express temperature in degree lengths.)
Celsius. We read the temperature with the help • It is opaque and shining.
of these markings. Read the markings on the
tube. Where does it start? Where does it
• It does not stick to the sides of the glass
tube.
end?
• It is a good conductor of heat.
This arrangement of the marks is called scale
of temperature.
• It is easily available in pure state.
Properties of Alcohol
All thermometers are based on the fact that
matter expands on heating. To understand the
• It can record very low temperatures.
working of a thermometer we need know • Its expansion per degree Celsius rise in
how mater expands on heating. temperature is very large.
It can be coloured brightly and hence is
Let us do: Expansion of liquid due to heat
easily visible.
Take a flat bottom flask and fill it with coloured
How to use a thermometer?
water. Fix a cork, having a capillary tube, in
the mouth of flask such that level of water is To find the temperature of an object, the bulb
as shown (Fig 9). Place the flask in a metal of the thermometer needs to be in close
trough. Pour boiling hot water into the trough contact with that object. Watch the shiny line
and carefully observe the level of coloured of Mercury in the tube. The highest point on
water. What do you observe? the scale, at which the rise of Mercury stops ,
shows the temperature of the object.
If you take the flask out of
the trough and keep it out Example: To find the temperature of your
side for some time, what do palm, place the bulb of thermometer in
you observe? In the above contact with palm for two minutes and see
activity we see that water the Mercury rise. When Mercury stops rising
expands on heating and and its level becomes steady, note the position
contracts on cooling. of its upper end. This is the temperature of
So does Mercury. It is used Fig. 9 your palm. How much is it?
as liquid for indicating temperature in If markings on thermometer are wiped
thermometers. Apart from Mercury we also out, how do we create new markings?
use alcohol as thermometer liquid.
Take some ice in a beaker. Immerse a
Think: thermometer in ice for two minutes. Mark
Why do we use mercury or alcohol as the Mercury level. Now let the ice melt.
thermometer liquids? Can you observe any change in Mercury level?
The level of Mercury remains same while ice
melts. This means that temperature is

46 Temperature and Its Measurements

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 constant. This constant temperature at which Do you know about the first
ice melts is called melting point of ice and thermometer?
mark it 0°C.
Take some water in a beaker. Immerse the
thermometer in it and start heating the water.
It will start boiling while getting converted
into steam. Mercury level starts rising and
reaches a point beyond which it doesn’t rise.
Mark the level of mercury at this point.
Observe the constant level at which Mercury Fig. 10
stays while water is boiling, this constant
temperature is called boiling point of water. First thermometer was invented by Galileo
We mark the level of mercury at this point as in 1593 AD. In this thermometer air was used
100°C. as the thermometric substance as air rapidly
expands on heating and contracts on cooling.
Thus temperature at which ice melts or water Further, the substance that is used in
boils is constant. These values are fixed as thermometer has uniform expansion or
0°C and 100°C respectively. Like water, all contraction with the rise or fall in temperature.
substances in pure form melt and boil at
certain fixed temperatures. Let us do this:
Do you find any difference in temperature of
To create a scale, we need two fixed points let air in shadow and in the sun?
us choose the melting point (0°C) and boiling
point (100°C) as two fixed points for the scale
of thermometer. Now divide the distance
between these two points on the thermometer
into 100 equal parts. Think about how we can
achieve this.
Eachof the 100 equal parts represents 1°C. Fig. 11 Fig. 12
We further divide 1°C into 10 small divisions. Measure temperature of air using a
It can be read as 1/10 = 0.1°C. thermometer. What will you do to keep
Now can you precisely determine which water thermometer in close contact with air?
is cooler and which is hotter than the other in ........................................................................
the 3 beaker experiment? If the temperature Record your observations in the following
of the beaker in which we immersed both the
hands is 41°C, what can be said about the
RECORDED
temperature of water in other beakers? OBSERVATION
TEMPERATURE
The beaker containing cooler water will record Air in the shade (at 12 noon)
temperature less than 41°C. Air in the Sun (at 12 noon)

The beaker containing hotter water will record Morning (at 8 am)
temperature more than 41°C. Night (at 8 pm)

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 • What did you observe? Is there any Clinical Thermometer:
difference in temperature with variation Generally when we are
of time or place? suffering with fever our body
.............................................................. temperature increases.
.............................................................. How can you find how much
the body temperature has
• Why do you use an umbrella in increased?
the hot sun during summer? Doctors use a thermometer to
Fig. 12 find out the temperature of
our bodies. It is called Clinical
Do you know? Thermometer.
In Lybia (Africa) on a particular day in the Hold the Clinical
year 1922, it became so hot that the Thermometer in your hand Fig. 14
temperature of air even in shade was as high and observe it carefully.
as 58°C. At some places (Kothagudem,
Ramagundam) in Andhra Pradesh, the
maximum temperature of air sometimes Fig. 15
reaches 48°C and more. When it is so hot There are two types of scales marked on the
we feel extremely uncomfortable as the clinical thermometer one that starts with 35
normal temperature of the human body is degrees and ends at 45 degrees is Celsius scale.
37°C. The lowest temperature in the world While the other that starts with 94 degrees and
has been measured in Antarctica where it ends at 108 degrees is the Fahrenheit scale.
once went down to about -89°C. The minus
sign is used for temperature which is less Do you see a kink in the capillary near the
than 0°C. Water freezes at 0°C, just think bulb?
how cold -89°C must be. In winter when the This kink prevents Mercury level from falling
atmospheric temperature around us becomes on its own.
15°C - 20°C we begin to feel cold.
Reading the Fahrenheit Scale on
Fig. 13 thermometer:
The maximum Note the temperature difference
(highest) and indicated between the two
minimum (lowest) bigger marks. Also note down
temperatures of a the number of divisions between
day are measured these marks. Suppose two
by a thermometer consecutive bigger marks differ
called the Six’s by one degree and there are five
maximum - divisions between them. Then
minimumthermometer one small division reads
1/5 = 0.2 ºF
Fig. 16
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 How to use a clinical thermometer? Measure it now with
clinical thermometer.
Wash the thermometer preferably with an Record your observa-
antiseptic solution. Hold it firmly by the end tions in table.
and give it a few jerks. These jerks will bring
the level of Mercury down. Ensure that it falls
below 35C (95°F). Now place the
Fig. 18
thermometer under your tongue or arm pit. Make sure that you have cleaned the
After one minute, take the thermometer out thermometer before each measurement.
and note the reading. It tells you your body
temperature. Estimated Tempera-
Temperature
Name of the Student measured with clinical
ture by touching
What did you record as your body thermometer
temperature?

Fig. 17

Fig. 18
In the picture first thermometer shows the Compare the values in the table after
body temperature of Srikar. Second ther- completion of recording.
mometer shows the temperature of Srinath.
Who is suffering from fever? How can you
• What do you observe in the table?
say that? • Are the estimated temperature and
The normal temperature of human body is measured temperature same?
37°C (98.6ºF) which is measured by clinical • Is the body temperature of every person
thermometer. 37°C (98.6ºF)?
Let us do this: • What is the average body temperature
of your friends?
The average body temperature of a large
number of healthy persons is known as
normal temperature(98.6ºF).
Do you know?
Fig. 19 Thermister thermometer:
Feel the body temperature of some of your It is available in market to
friends by placing your hand on their forehead. measure the human body
Estimate the temperature at the record it in temperatures, particularly
the table. for infants and children. Fig. 19
VII Science 49

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 Can you guess why? Laboratory thermometer
........................................................................ Observe the thermometer in Fig 22. It
is laboratory thermometer. Label the
........................................................................ parts of it. Observe the markings of
Digital thermometer: the laboratory thermometer. What is its
There is a lot of concern over the use range ?
of Mercury in thermometer. Mercury What do you mean by minus degree
is a toxic substance and is very difficult Celsius?
to dispose of if a thermometer breaks. Is it less than 0°C or greater than it?
These days digital thermometers are
also available which do not use How to use it
Mercury. Take some tap water in a beaker.
Fig. 20 Dip the thermometer in water so
that the bulb is immersed in water
but does not touch the bottom or
side of the beaker. Hold
thermometer vertically, wait till
the mercury thread becomes
steady. Note the reading. That is
the temperature of water at that
time.
Fig. 21
Reading the Celsius scale on Fig. 22
We are advised not to use a clinical thermom-
thermometer
eter for measuring the temperature of any
object other than human body. Also we are Note the temperature difference
advised to avoid keeping it in the sun or near indicated between two bigger
a flame. Why? marks(Fig 23). Also note down
Try this:
the number of divisions between
those marks. Suppose two
Measure the temperature of a person with consecutive bigger marks differ
clinical and digital thermometers. Are the by one degree and there are 10
temperature readings same or different? divisions between them then one
Explain your observations. small division reads
How to measure the temperature of other 1/10 = 0.1°C Fig. 23
objects?
Let us do this:
To measure the temperature of other objects
Take some hot water in a beaker, dip
there are other thermometers. One such
thermometer in it for one minute. Record
thermometer is known as the laboratory
the temperature while the thermometer is in
thermometer.
water.

50 Temperature and Its Measurements

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 Take out the thermometer from water. Improve your learning
Observe the mercury thread carefully. 1. The body temperature of Srinath is 99°F.
Is he suffering from fever? If so, why?
2. Why do we use Mercury in the
thermometer? Can water be used instead
of Mercury? What are the problems in
using it?
3. Temperature of Srinagar (J & K) is -4°C
Fig. 24 and in Paderu (AP) is 3°C which of them
has greater temperature? What is the
What do you notice after some time? Why? difference between the temperatures of
We are advised not to use the laboratory these two places?
ther mometer to measure our body 4. During winter mornings why do people
temperature. Why? stand in the Sun? Explain.
Hint: (Think about the kink) 5. After walking some distance on a hot
How does the laboratory thermometer differ summer day. Why do we prefer to go into
from the clinical thermometer? the shade?
Key Words: 6. Srikanth takes a sip of cold drink and feels
the chill. Guess what its temperature is?
Heat energy, Temperature, Thermometer,
Try to measure it.
Fahrenheit scale, Celsius scale, Clinical
thermometer, Expansion 7. Jyothi was prepared to measure the
temperature of hot water with a clinical
What we have learnt?
thermometer. Iis it right or wrong. Why?
1. Temperature is the degree of hotness or
8. Swathi kept a laboratory thermometer in
coldness of an object.
hot water for some time and took it out
2. Heat is a form of energy to read the temperature. Rani said it was
3. Heat flows from an object at high a wrong way of measuring temperature.
temperature to another at lower Do you agree with Rani ? Explain your
temperature. answer.
4. Mercury and alcohol are used as 9. Why do we jerk a clinical thermometer
thermometer liquids in thermometer. before we measure body temperature?
5. Doctors use a clinical thermometer to 10. Heat energy is converted into other
measure the human body temperature. forms of energy. Give some examples.
6. The normal temperature of human body 11. Prathima said ‘Heat is a form of energy’.
is 37°C ( 98.6°F) How do you support her?
7. Laboratory thermometer is used to 12. Why is a clinical thermometer not used
measure the temperature of objects. to measure the temperature of air?

VII Science 51

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 13. Fill in the blanks
a. Doctor uses _____________ thermometer to measure the human body temperature.
b. At room temperature Mercury is in _______________ state.
c. Heat energy transfer from _______________ to ___________
d. -7°C temperature is _______________ than 0°C temperature.
14. Match the following
i) Clinical thermometer ( ) a) A form of energy
ii) Normal temperature of human body ( ) b) 100°C
iii) Heat ( ) c) 37°C
iv) Boiling point of water ( ) d) 0°C
v) Melting point of water ( ) e) Kink

15. Use the 16. Draw the diagram of a clinical

Thermometer and thermometer and label its parts. What is
record the the use of kink in clinical thermometer?
temperature in your 17. Draw the diagram of a laboratory
school daily at mid thermometer and label its parts. How
day meals time in the does it differ from a clinical
following table. thermometer?
Record temperature
for a month. 18. Measure the body temperature between
fingers, under the tongue, armpit,folded
hands, folded legs etc., Is it the same?
Date Temperature
Does the body temperature remain the
same after jumping ten times?. Why?
19. Collect information from hospital/
health centre about the precautions to
be taken while reading temperature with
a clinical thermometer.

On which day was the temperature

highest? What could be the reason?
On which day was the temperature
lowest? What could be the reason?
What was the average temperature during
the month?

52 Temperature and Its Measurements

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 20. Measure the temperature of water in normal conditions. If you add the following substance
to the water, do you find any difference in temperature? Predict and verify.
Water(100ml each time) Temperature of the solution
Water temperature in
mixed with Prediction immediately after mixing the
Celsius
Two tablespoonful of each substance

Glucose Decrease

Washing powder

Baking soda

Sugar

Common salt

Do you find any change in temperature before and immediately after mixing the above
substances in water? If yes, what could be the reason?

VII Science 53

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 6 WEATHER AND CLIMATE

• Do you know what they are ? Discuss in

groups and make a list of those
indicators.
It is a common experience for everybody to
hear elder people talking about the possible
weather on a day before planning to celebrate
a function of the family. They do it by
observation of different seasons. Farmers
listen to radio or watch T.V. for weather
In class VI you had seen how Ramya and forecast. They depend on these weather
Sowmya’s mother predicted that it was going predictions to plan their agricultural activities.
to rain. She also advised them to take an These weather predictions effect our daily life.
umbrella.
• On what basis did Ramya and Sowmya’s • Where do these predictions come from?
mother predict that it was going to rain?
• How does the meteorological
department make these predictions?
• Does it happen that each time you think The department collects data and uses it to
it would rain, it rains?
Generally our elders try to predict rain. make predictions.
Sometimes their expectations come true and Let us do-1: Observe the following table.
sometimes not. They look for some indicators This is about weather of Hyderabad for
to make such predictions.
Weather Day - 1 Day - 2 Day - 3
Maximum Temperature 28oC 27oC 29oC
Minimum Temperature 21oC 17oC 21oC
Rainfall None Light Shower None
Sky may be Clear Cloudy Cloudy
Wind Very mild breeze Mild breeze Good breeze
Humidity 95% 90% 85%
Sun rise 6:25 a.m. 6:30 a.m. 6:31 a.m.
Sun set 5:40 p.m. 5:40 p.m. 5:41 p.m.

54 Weather and Climate

three consecutive days. Hyderabad is the
Maximum
capital of Andhra Pradesh. Day Date
temperature
• What aspects do you see in this weather
record? 1 10-12-2011 30oC

• On which day did it rain ? 2 11-12-2011 31oC

We find that these aspects of weather keep
changing. The humidity changes, the wind 3 12-12-2011 31oC
changes, the temperature changes the sunrise
and sunset times change too. 4 13-12-2011 30oC
We find that there are some changes in a day.
5 14-12-2011 30oC
But most of the day is normal. The weather is
a complex phenomenon that it can vary over
very short periods of time. Sometimes its
sunny in the morning but clouds appear from
somewhere and it starts raining. Within a
matter of a few minutes this gives way to
bright sunshine. You must have had several
such experiences. The temperature, humidity,
rain, wind speed change. All this effects the
life of human beings and other living
Fig. 1 Graph showing the variation of maxi-
organisms. This constitutes weather.
mum temperature during 10-14 Dec. 2011 at
Do you know? Hyderabad.
Many people died during the tsunami in • Draw graphs for the minimum
Andaman and Nicobar islands in 2004. temperature and humidity as well.
But the tribals who observed the ocean
moving back and birds making sounds
• Understanding weather reports-
moved away from danger. They could Let us do-3: Understanding weather
predict the danger and save their lives. reports
Let us do-2: Plotting Graph Report 1:
• Take a newspaper or watch the TV news Isolated rain or thunder showers are lightly to occur
and record the maximum and minimum over Chittoor, Nellore, Prakasham and some parts
temperature, rainfall, humidity and wind of Kadapa districts. Mainly dry weather will prevail
pattern of any 3 cities or towns in a table. over southern Telangana districts and northern coastal
Do this over a week. districts of Andhra Pradesh. Sky should be cloudy
for the next two days in Kurnool and Ananthapur
• Take the figures of the maximum
districts.
temperature over a week and plot the
data on a graph. For example one is Report 2:
given here. According to meteorological department report 42oC
VII Science 55
maximum temperature recorded at Ramagundam of temperature. There is a special thermometer
Karimnagar district and 29oC minimum temperature to measure highest and lowest temperatures
recorded at Aarogyavaram of Chittore district. of a day.
Because of cumulonimbus clouds 2mm of rainfall Activity 4:
was recorded in Hyderabad. Scattered rainfall recorded
in some parts of interior Rayalaseema. Remaining Take a maximum minimum thermometer
part of the state was dry. (MMT) from your school laboratory. Let us
find out how to use it to measure the two
• Which report explains what will happen? temperatures.
• What aspects of the weather are B
discussed in both the reports?
I2 I2 I1 I1
• What are the differences in the weather
A
situation given by the two reports?
The report that explains future conditions is
a weather forecast. The report that explains
about past conditions is a weather report. In
common conversation we often refer to both
as weather report.
Measuring components of weather
We have different types of measuring
instruments to measure different weather Six invented the maximum minimum
components. Do you know how we measure thermometer (MMT) thermometer to
them? Let us know how to measure weather measure highest and lowest temperatures of
components like temperature, rainfall, wind a place. This consists of a cylindrical bulb A,
speed, humidity etc. connected through a U-shaped tube to
Measuring temperature of a place spherical bulb B that contains alcohol.
The weather of a place can change every day. When the temperature increases, the alcohol
This is why we often say today’s weather is in the bulb A expands. The mercury in the U
very humid or it is too hot and so on. Generally tube goes up to the bulb B side and the
mornings and evenings are pleasant during indicator(I1)also moves up. This indicates
summers but we feel that it is very hot during maximum temperature of the day. If the
noon. temperature decreases,alcohol in the bulb A
contracts then the mercury in the U-tube goes
• How do we compare a place which is
to the A bulb side and the indicator (I2 )also
hot with a place which is cool ?
moves up. This indicates minimum
• How do we determine the hottest part temperature of the day. After taking readings
of the day? the indicators I2 and I1 are brought to their
We have already learnt that there are original places by using a magnet.
thermometers that help us measure the Collect weather reports of a nearby city from

56 Weather and Climate

 Temperature at your school Temperature obtained based on
observed by MMT Radio or TV forecast
Date Comparsion
Minimum Time Maximum Time Minimum Maximum

newspapers. Tabulate your observations for Maximum

Day Date
a week and compare them. temperature
Write your observations in your notebook 1 10-12-2011 31oC
about the temperature that you have
measured. 2 11-12-2011 32oC
• When was the maximum temperature
recorded? 3 12-12-2011 32oC

• When was the minimum temperature 4 13-12-2011 32oC

recorded? Why?
• Is there any similarity in temperatures 5 14-12-2011 32oC
between your school and the nearest
city? Graph showing the variation of maximum
Activity 5 temperature during 10 to 14 Dec. 2011 at
Guntur.
Pravin has measured temperature of his
village with the help of MMT. He expressed • For how many days did Pravin observe
his observation through a graph. Observe the the temperature of his village?
graph. • On which day was the highest
temperature recorded?
• On which days did the lowest
temperature fall?
• Do you find any relation between 10th
and 14th of December 2011? What is
that?
• Make a graph with your observations of
maximum and minimum temperatures.

VII Science 57
Measuring rainfall Direction of the wind
• How can we measure the amount of We feel happy in the mornings and evenings
rainfall at a particular place? in summer. At that time cool breeze blows.
Farmers estimate the rainfall based on the We know that there is air in our surroundings
wetness of the soil after the rain. They call it and also that moving air is wind.
as “PADUNU”. This much of rainfall is • Can we guess what the direction of wind
sufficient to start agriculture activities like is?
ploughing. This is an approximate measure. Let us do-7:
Let us do - 6: Let us find the direction of wind by using card
Take a 10cm wide beaker and insert a funnel board pieces and a thin nail.
of the same width. Keep the apparatus in an
open place when it is raining. The rain water Take two cardboard pieces and cut them the
would be collected through the funnel into the shape of an arrow and paste them together.
beaker. After the rain is over, measure the Insert a thin needle or iron wire as shown the
amount of water collected in the beaker. If figure in the middle of the arrow. The needle
the depth of water is 1 cm then that the must be long enough to be fixed on a strong
magnitude of rainfall is 1 cm. base and should allow the arrow to move
along the direction of the wind.

Meteorologists measure the rain fall using a

‘Rain gauge’. It is also called Udometer or
We can also measure wind speed and direction
Pulviometer or Ombrometer. They can
with an Anemometer.
measure exact amount of rainfall. Rainfall is
expressed in centimeters or millimeters.
In rural areas if there is rainfall at the right
time farmers celebrate crop festivals.
• How do farmers celebrate the first
showers?
• Try to find out reasons behind this?
• Discuss with your elders in your village/
town. You can also collect the songs they
sing at that time. Display them on your Observe the direction of wind. Tabulate your
school wall magazine. observation of wind direction.

58 Weather and Climate

 North South
Time East North East North West South South East
West West
Early
Morning

Noon

After Noon

Evening

Night

• Does the wind move in the same ‘humidity’ of the place. If the humidity is high
direction the whole day? when it is hot, we feel sweaty. We will learn
• In which direction does it move in the more about humidity in subsequent classes.
morning? Think and discuss:
Humidity: • Why do people living in hot and humid
Why is it sweaty in Vijayawada and relatively region wear cotton clothes?
less in Hyderabad in summer? Even though it • In which season is the quantity of
is hotter, we do not sweat as much in moisture in the air high?
Hyderabad. In places near a river or in coastal
Are weather conditions cyclic during the
regions the weather in summer is sweaty.
years?
In summer season if you are in coastal region
We know that in the equatorial region it is very
you would feel very sweaty in addition to
hot and in the polar region it is very cold. How
feeling hot winds.Vijaywada is more humid
can we say a particular place is cold or hot?
than Hyderabad.
Let us do - 9:
• Why is Vijaywada generally more humid?
Think about it. Observe the weather report (temperature and
rain fall) of two places in our state. The
Let us do - 8:
average temperature and rain fall for the last
Take about 10 ml water in a test tube. Heat it 25 years of the particular month is given in
on a Bunsen burner or a candle. What the table. (See the table in next page)
happens? Think about it.
• In which month was maximum
• Why do bubbles appear in water? temperatures recorded? Why?
• Why is the water level reducing? • Comparatively which place is hot? Why?
• Where did the water go? • How can you say Arogyavaram is cooler
When water is heated, it changes into water than Ramagundam in summer?
vapour. The vapour enters into the air. In the If the same weather recurs periodically at a
same way sea water changes into vapour due place it is considered as climate of that place.
to heating by the sun.
The quantity of moisture in the air is the
VII Science 59
 Ramagundam Arogyavaram
Average Average
Average Rainfall Average Rainfall
Month temperature in
in millimeters
temperature in
in millimeters
Celsius degrees Celsius degrees
January 30 1 28 6
February 32 - 28 2
March 34 - 29 -
April 38 - 30 1
May 41 1 33 3
June 39 4 31 3
July 36 2 30 8
August 38 10 30 16
September 35 11 29 9
October 36 11 29 18
November 31 11 28 23
December 32 9 28 14

What is Climate? S. No. State Climatic Condition

The average weather pattern taken over a long 1 Kerala
time, say 25 years, is called climate of that
place. 2 Andhra Pradesh

Broadly, the same patterns of temperature, 3 Rajasthan

rainfall, humidity wind speed that have been 4 Jammu & Kashmir
generally continuing for a long time, say the
last 25 years, at a place gives the climate of 5 West Bengal
that place.
The Indian Meteorological Department
If we find that temperature at a place is (IMD) studies climate of our country.
generally high for large part of the year, we
Climate describes the weather condition
say the climate of that place is hot.
occurring over a relatively longer period of
· When would you say that the climate of time in a given place. For example in the
a place is rainy or cold? month of June. We expect the weather to be
Let us do-10 mild in Bangalore, humid in Kolkata, hot and
dry in parts of Rajasthan, cold in Kashmir and
Observe features of the following states, and
rainy in Coastal Kerala. What does this tell
specific places in India from an ATLAS. Try
us? Think about it. For example does it mean
to write down something about the climate in
that in coastal Kerala it is always rainy in the
these areas.
month of June or if it would be always humid
in Kolkata?
60 Weather and Climate
 Do you know? What we have learnt
The people living in an area adjust to the • Weather affects our life.
conditions of climate. For example the rain • The factors hot, cold, winds, rain etc
fall has being relatively less for the past two describe the weather of a place.
decades. Even in Rayalseema during rainy
season the tanks and canals remain dry. The
• We can measure temperature of a place
with maximum and minimum
dried canals and tanks are now used for
thermometer.
other purposes. The less rainfall has also led
to developing ways to use less water. The • The quantity of water vapour (moisture)
change in rainfall pattern shows there may in air is humidity.
be shifts in climate over long periods of • Humidity is measured by a hydrometer.
time. In areas which do not have a climate • Rainfall of a particular place is expressed
of rain when it rains heavily there is no way in millimeter (m.m.), centi meter
to drain out the water. As a result many areas (c.m.) and measured with a rain gauge.
were flooded and submerged in Kurnool
in 2010 and also in other parts of • Anemometer is used to measure wind
Rayalaseema. speed.

Now-a- days there is a complaint that climate

• Climate of a place can be defined after
25 years of weather observations.
is not as ordered as it was . Seasonal climatic
condition do not appear as predictable and • We adjust to the climate to live
known. Give examples of such changes in your comfortably.
area after talking to elders. Improving your learning
Climate and life style 1. What aspects should you observe to know
Climate mostly effects on our daily life. We and predict the weather of your village?
change our life style to suit that climate. We 2. Read a newspaper, collect the weather
wear cotton clothes in summer. We want to reports in it. Write about the various
drink cool water also. What do we like to do elements of the weather mentioned in
in winter? We take care to protect ourselves the report.
from rain. Imagine the precautions you would 3. Where is the meteorological department
need to take if you were going to visit in your area? How is it useful to you?
Kashmir or Ooty during winter. Discuss with
4. It is hot and sweaty at a place. What
your friend and write a note on these
could be the possible reasons for that?
precautions.
5. Write true or false. Give reasons.
Keywords
a. Minimum temperature is recorded in
Weather, forecast, temperature, early morning. ( )
climate, humidity
b. The direction and speed of wind is found
by an Anemometer. ( )
c. In summer the winds blow towards the

VII Science 61
 earth from the seas/ocean in the afternoon ( )
d. In our state the maximum temperature is recorded in the month of July. ( )
6. Observe the graph showing rainfall (in mm) of a place from August to December. Write
down the observations from it and what inference you can draw.

100
90
RAIN FALL IN MM

80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
7. Why do people need and observe weather?
8. Explain these symbolsused in a weather forecast report.

9. Collect the weather reports from the news papers and make a profile of the weather in a
city.
10. Every year we have floods in the rainy season. Why?
11. Observe your surroundings and try to predict how tomorrow would be?
12. Priya’s mother said “It is very hard to stay at Vizag during summer” Why did she say so?
13. Collect different news papers and compare the weather reports. Are they same or not?
Why?
14. Observe your surrounding immediately after rain. Express your feelings in the form of a
song.
15. Prepare some questions to conduct a quiz programme in your class on this chapter.

62 Weather and Climate

 7 ELECTRICITY
CURRENT AND IT’S EFFECT

Rajesh and Pavani MAKE YOUR OWN CELL

are studying at
night (fig. 1)and the
power goes off.
(fig.2) Rajesh
searches the table
desk for the torch
and the batteries.
Fig. 1

Pavani tries to insert the batteries in the torch, Fig. 3

she tries for a few minutes and the torch lights You will need a few things to make a cell. First
up. get two injection bottles. Then cut two 3cm
long bits of thick copper wire. Use sandpaper
You must be to scrape about 1cm of the coating off both
familiar with ends of the wires. Break open a discharged
such a situa- dry cell and remove its outer metal covering
tion. (made of Zinc). Cut two 2mm wide and 3cm
long strips from this zinc plate. Insert the
copper wires and zinc strips separately into
the rubber caps of the injection bottles as
shown in Fig 3. Ensure that the copper wires
Think: Fig. 2 and zinc strips do not touch each other.
1. Do you know how to insert batteries in Now take a wire and connect the zinc plate
a torch? of one bottle with the copper wire of the
2. Can you make out whether the switch of other bottle. Fill both bottles with sulphuric
the torch is working properly? acid (ask your teacher to help you). Carefully
close the bottles with the caps in which the
3. Can you determine whether the bulb in
copper wires and zinc strips are inserted.
the torch is fused?
Your cell is ready. How will you test it? Take
In class 6 you have learnt about torch and how
an LED. Attach two wires to its two terminals.
it works. Now let us see what a cell or battery
Touch the wire from one terminal to the
contains.
copper wire of the first bottle and the wire
from the other terminal to the zinc plate of
VII Science 63
the second bottle. Did the LED light up? In The dry cell can supply electric current in a
case you have any problem, consult your circuit for a certain time. After that, its
teacher. chemicals get exhausted and it cannot be used
Do all the cells contain liquid in them? Let us any more.

find out what the batteries in our torches Dry cell converts chemical energy
contain. into electrical energy

Do this: Symbols of electric Components

Take the help of your Do you know about symbols? How do you
teacher to cut open a dry indicate to your teacher that you wish to go
cell. What can you see inside out to drink water? You know the signs for
it? Observe the chemical addition, subtraction, multiplication and
components in the dry cell. division. You might have used the symbols for
Inside a dry cell there are ‘greater than’,’ less than’ , ‘equal to’ etc.
certain chemicals which Symbols play an important role in our life.
react with one another to Fig. 4 They convey precise meaning with few
Dry Cell
produce electric energy. descriptions. Some common electric
components can be represented by standard
Metal cap symbols as shown in the following page.
Seal (Positive terminal)
Do this: Drawing a circuit diagram
In the previous class you have learnt about
Zinc Container Carbon rod
some simple circuits. Let us learn a little more
(Negative terminal) about them by performing a few experiments.
Carbon
powder

Outer
cover
Amonium
Chloride
Paste

Fig. 5 - Parts of Cell

Fig. 6 - Simple switch to close the circuit

A dry cell consists of a container made up of
Look at figure 6. A bulb, battery and switch
zinc metal. The container also serves as the
are connected as shown. Can we make this
negative terminal in the centre. A carbon
drawing simpler using symbols? The picture
(graphite) rod with a metal cap serves as a
of circuit using symbols is called a circuit
positive terminal.
diagram.
The carbon rod is surrounded by a mixture
Figure 7 shows a circuit diagram of the same
of carbon particles and a chemical called
circuit as shown in figure 6.
ammonium chloride. The cell is sealed from
the top.
64 Electricity_Current and It’s Effect
 ELECTRIC SYMBOLS AND THEIR USES

VII Science 65
 Series and Parallel circuits:
In a series circuit, electricity has only one path
to flow through. All the electrical components
are connected in this path. If any one of them
is removed or is not functioning properly, the
+ - circuit will be incomplete.
Fig. 7 - Circuit daigram A parallel circuit has more than one path for
Circuit Diagram the flow of electricity. Each bulb in the circuit
is connected in a separate path through which
There should be a source, which is one or
electricity can flow.
more electric cells(battery). The switch can
be placed anywhere in the circuit. If the switch Connecting Electrical cells in series:
is in the ON position, the circuit is complete Do this:
from the positive terminal of the battery to
its negative terminal. The circuit is then said Take a dry cell and torch bulb. Connect the
to be closed and the current flows throughout bulb to a cell using copper wires shown in
the circuit constantly. The wires should not figure-8. Observe the intensity of light.
have any discontinuity (gaps). When the switch
is in the OFF position, the circuit is
incomplete. It is said to be open. No current
flows through any part of the circuit.
Observe the sequence in which the cell, bulb
and switch are connected in the circuit. Fig. 8 - Dry cell to make a bulb glow

The sequence of components is as follows: Now take one more

dry cell and connect
Positive terminal of the cell two cells as shown in
Wire Switch Wire Bulb figure-9. In this
Fig. 9 - Connecting dry method the positive
Wire Negative terminal of the cell cells in series terminal of the first
cell and the negative terminal of the second
Is it compulsory to follow the above sequence? cell are connected to the bulb.
Can you change the sequence and still make Is there a difference in the intensities of the
the circuit work. Try this experiment and write bulb in the above case? When does the bulb
other possible sequences. glow brighter?
…………………………………………… ……………………………………
…………………………………..……….. …………………………………….
You may use three or four cells in the same
…………………………………..………..

66 Electricity_Current and It’s Effect

manner. The bulb glows brighter and brighter. Connecting Electric Bulbs in Series:
Thus by connecting small cells in series, we
get a battery. The battery cells in the torch are
in series.
Think:
Can we connect as many cells as we want for Fig. 12 - Bulbs connected in series
making a bulb glow brighter and brighter? Is Connect three torch bulbs in series as shown
there any restriction on the how many cells in figure-12.
can be/should be used for a given bulb?
Connect this to a dry cell. Observe the
Connecting Electric cells in Parallel: brightness of each of the three bulbs. Now
connect one more dry cell in series with the
first cell. Observe the brightness of each of
the bulb. Then connect one more dry cell in
series with the first two cells. Again observe
the bulbs.

Fig. 10 - Connecting cells in parallel

Disconnect one of the three bulbs from
circuit. What do you observe? In series
Do this: connection of bulbs, if one bulb gets fused,
Take three dry cells and connect them as all the other bulbs in the series will stop
shown in figure-10. That is all the positive glowing. It means that if one bulb is
terminals of the three cells are connected disconnected the other bulbs do not glow.
together and all the three negative terminals This can be observed in serial bulbs used in
are connected together. These three positives decorative items at the time of marriages and
and three negatives are connected together to other festivals.
a bulb. Connecting bulbs in parallel:
Is there any difference in the intensity of bulb
glow compared to that in the case of only one
cell?

Fig. 13 - bulbs connected in parallel

Do this:
Connect three bulbs in parallel as shown in
figure 13. That is, one end of each of the three
bulbs are connected to one wire. The other
ends of the three bulbs are connected to
Fig. 11 - Parallel circuit daigram another wire. These two wires are connected
to a cell. All the three bulbs glow dimly. Now

VII Science 67
disconnect one of the bulbs. What would You might have noticed that when these
happen? Can you predict? It means that if one appliances are switched on, their filaments
bulb is disconnected the other bulbs continue become red hot and give out heat.
to glow. This can be observed in our The amount of heat produced in a wire
household electric circuit. All components in depends on its material, length and thickness.
our houses are connected in parallel. Thus, for different requirements, the wires of
different materials, lengths and thicknesses are
Think!
used.
1. Why does the bulb glow brighter and
The wires used for making electric circuits do
brighter when electric cells are connected
not normally become hot. On the other hand,
in series?
the elements of some electric appliances
2. Do the electric bulbs used in your house become so hot that they are easily visible. The
glow with dry cell? Why? filament of an electric bulb gets heated to such
3. Are the cells used in torch light and wrist a high temperature that is starts glowing and
watch the same? giving out light.
4. What is the reason for connecting electric When an electric current passes through a wire,
bulbs in parallel in household electric the wire gets heated. Can you think of some
circuit? electric appliances that get heated up just like
a bulb when electric current passes through
Heating effects of Electric Current them? ..............................................................
The bulb becomes hot when
..........................................................................................
you put it on for some time.
Why do you think this happens? ..........................................................................................
It is the filament of the bulb Do this:
that heats up due to current
flowing through it. Fig. 14 Think of the main use of electrical appliances
Electric Bulb
and write their names in the correct column.
You might have seen an
electric iron, electric cooker One example is given for you
and electric heater. All these An Electric kettle, a lift in a building, a street
contain a coil of wire made lamp, a tube light, an exhaust fan, a rice
up of Nichrome. This coil cooker, a cassette player, an electric mixer, an
is called filament of the Fig. 15 electric oven, a water pump.
appliance. Electric Heater

68 Electricity_Current and It’s Effect

Tube Lights and Compact Fluorescent Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB):
Lamps (CFLs)
Wastage of electricity can be reduced by using
fluorescent tube lights in place of the bulbs,
as shown in figure – 16.

Fig. 18 - Miniature Circuit Breaker

Fig. 16 – Tube light These days Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB)

is increasingly being used in place of fuses.
Compact Fluorescent Lamp These are switches which automatically turn
(CFLs) shown in figure – 17 off when current in a circuit exceeds the safe
also reduces wastage and can limit. It has a switch which goes OFF
be fixed in ordinary bulb automatically if there is overheating. This
holders. The ISI mark of a breaks the circuit. If we turn them on, the
lamp ensures that the appliance circuit is once again complete
is safe.
The advantage miniature circuit breakers have
Electric Fuses over fuses is that they can be reset (manually
C.F.L.
When excessive electric or automatically) to restore normal operation,
current flows through a whereas fuses need to be replaced after every
circuit the wires or the single operation. The MCB can be reset by
hand and the circuit becomes complete once
appliances may get
again . Look for ISI mark on MCBs also.
heated and can catch fire.
To avoid fire, a safety What can be a disadvantage of MCB?
device known as a fuse is Electricity in our home:
connected in series in the Fig. 17
Electric fuse
circuit.
A fuse is a small piece of wire as shown in
figure 17. It is made of a special alloy that
gets heated quickly and melts. If the current
Fig. 19 - Electric & Digital Meter
in the circuit is too high, the fuse wire gets hot
and melts. This leaves a gap in the circuit. Most of the electricity that we use at home
Automatically the circuit is broken and flow and at school is alternating current. The mains
electricity that is supplied to our houses comes
of electricity is stopped. This protects
from power stations and sub-stations
appliances from getting burnt due to the distribute electricity. Electricity is not free of
passage of too large a current through them. cost. We have to pay for it according to how
much we consume.
VII Science 69
You may have noticed that a person belonging Note: Unit cost differs in different areas and
to the electricity department, the meter reader, also on the slabs. Electricity provided for
visits houses every month and takes the meter domestic purpose is cheaper compared to that
readings. If you look at the meter in your for commercial or industrial purposes.
house you will notice a wheel that goes around 2) Suppose in a house there are four bulbs
and the numbers in the window keep changing. of 100 W each, six of 60 W each and six of
Modern meters have digital displays. 40 W each. All of them are used for two hours
What does the term ‘one unit’ mean? How is a day. How many units of electricity will be
the usage of electricity measured? If you look used up in 30 days? How much will they have
at the bulbs used in your home, you will notice to pay at Rs. 2.80 /- per unit.
that they are marked in watts 25W, 40 W, 60W, Total power used
100W. The wattage measures how ‘powerful’
the bulb is. The brighter the bulb, the higher = (4 x 100W) + (6 x 60 W) + (6 x 40 W)
its wattage and the more the electricity used = 1000 W = 1 KW.
by it.
Total power used every day
1 Kilowatt (KW) is 1000 Watts (W). When
= 2 hrs x 1Kw = 2 KWH
any appliance of 1 Kilowatt is used for one
hour, it uses up one kilowatt - hour (KWH) In 30 days, power used
or ‘one unit’ of electricity. If it runs for two = 2 x 30KWH = 60 KWH
hours it will use up two units of electricity.
The cost of the power is
You can learn how to calculate the amount you
=Rs. 2.80 x 60 = Rs. 168/-
have to pay in the electricity bill through the
following exercise table. Think!
Exercise: Are there households in Andhra Pradesh who
do not have electricity ? Which areas of A.P.
1) The meter reading in Ayub’s house in
are they found in large numbers? What may
January is 400 units, February 580 units.
be the reasons for those people having to live
Calculate how much his parents would have
without electricity?
to pay towards electricity bill of February?
The unit cost is Rs. 3.05. Think! Our country faces shortage of
electricity. So wasting electricity means you
are depriving someone else of electricity. Your
bill also goes up. So use electricity carefully
and only when it is needed. Think of the ways
of saving electricity.
Do you Know!
Michael Faraday (1791-1867)
Michael Faraday observed that by moving a
magnet in and out of a coil. we can make
electric current flow through the coil. Using

70 Electricity_Current and It’s Effect

this he built the first electric generator or • Safety device used in electric circuit is
dynamo in 1831. He also invented the fuse.
transformer. • 1 Kilowatt (KW) equal to 1000 watts.
New words:
Improve your learning:
Cell, Batter y, Fuse, Series Circuit,
Parallel Circuit, Bulbs in Series, Bulbs in I. Answer the following Questions
Parallel, Tube light, Compact Fluorescent 1) Draw the symbols of the following
Lamps, Miniature Circuit Breaker, Watt, electric components
Circuit Diagram, Heating effect of
a) Cell b) Battery
Current, Switch,
c) Switch d) Electric bulb
What we have learnt:
2) Draw an electric circuit diagram
• Electric cell is a source of electric energy. consisting of a cell, a bulb and an electric
• The two terminals of an electric cell are switch.
called positive (+ve) and negative (-ve). 3) In a series connection of bulbs, if one
• Dry cell converts chemical energy into a bulb fails, why do all other bulbs go
electrical energy. OFF?
• Two or more cells joined together form 4) Write the difference between series
a battery. connection and parallel connection.
• The battery cells in the torchlight are kept 5) What is the advantage of Miniature
in series. Circuit Breaker?
• An electric bulb has a filament that is 6. Fill in the blanks
connected to its terminals. a. Longer line in the symbol for a cell
• An electric bulb glows when electric represents its ____________ terminal.
current passes through it. b. Smaller line in the symbol for a cell
• In a closed electric circuit, the electric represents its ____________ terminal.
current passes from one terminal of the c. The combination of two or more cells
electric cell to the other terminal. is called a ____________
• Switch is a single device that is used to d. Safety device used in electric circuit is
either to break the electric circuit or to ____________
complete it.
e. The device used to close or open an
• If one bulb is disconnected in a series electric circuit is ____________
connection, all the other bulbs also get
7. Mark ‘T’ of the statement is true and ‘F’
disconnected.
if it is false. Give reasons for choice of
• Wastage of electricity can be reduced by answer.
using fluorescent tube lights in place of
a. In series circuit the electricity has only
bulbs.
one path (T/F).

VII Science 71
b. In parallel circuit the electricity has more a) Electric bulb b) Battery ( )
than one path (T/F). c) Switch d) Fuse
c. To make a battery of two cells, the 9. Visit your classmates houses. Find out
negative ter minal of one cell is the meter readings of three months.
connected to the negative terminal of Record your observations. Ask your
the other cell (T/F). parents about how electricity bill is paid?
d. When the electric current through the 10. Draw the symbols for the electrical
fuse exceeds a certain limit, the fuse wire components in the table
melts and breaks (T/F).
e. The switch is used to close or open an
electric circuit (T/F).
8. Choose correct answer.
i. Arun buys four bulbs of 15W, 40W, 60W
and 100W respectively, Which one
should be use in his room as a night bulb.
a) 15 W b) 40W ( )
c) 60W d) 100W
ii. Device used to close or open an electric
circuit is ( )
11. Draw the circuit daigram for the
a) Electric bulb b) Battery
following series connection.
c) Switch d) Fuse
iii. Which one of the following is used as a
for light source. ( )
a) Cassette player b) Electric mixer
c) Rice Cocker d) Table lamp
iv. Safety device used in electric circuit is

12. Match the following

1. Cell ( ) a) Used to open or close a circuit
2. Switch ( ) b) Safety device used in electric circuit.
3. Circuit ( ) c) A complete path for the flow of an electric current
4. Miniature Circuit Breaker ( ) d) Reset by hand, circuit becomes complete once
again.
5. Fuse ( ) e) A device which converts chemical energy into
electrical energy
72 Electricity_Current and It’s Effect
 AIR, WINDS AND
8 CYCLONES
We know that when we ride on a bicycle in
the direction of the wind, it is easy to ride the
bicycle, but when we go opposite to the
direction of the wind, it is very hard and we
tire easily.
· Try to guess the reason.
· How else does wind effect and influence Fig.1
our lives?
Keep the glass straight and press it so that
Sometimes the wind is cold and sometimes it the glass is completely under water. Take it
feels pleasant and nice. It can blow clouds and out and observe what happens.
sometimes raises dust. It is sometimes gentle
but can be really strong too and blow away · Did the paper in the glass get wet or not?
things. You read in Class 6 that clothes dry · What would happen if you tilt the glass
faster on a windy day. while immersing it in water? Try it.
· Write five examples from your daily life Let us do - 2
that you feel are influenced by wind.
Fill a bucket with water. Take a bottle with a
Since wind has so much effect on our lives we narrow mouth and immerse it in the bucket
have to find out what winds are? How do they till it fills with water (Fig. 2).
arise?
· Did something come out of the bottle
The air around us is rarely still. It moves when water entered it?
continuously from one direction to another.
· How do you know whether something
The movement is in many directions. This is
came out or not?
what we call winds. So we know that wind is
moving air. Would it be correct to say that a glass or bottle
that we think is empty is actually full of air?
Let us try to understand something more
about air and winds.
Let us do–1: Where do we find air?
Take a bucket full of water and a transparent
glass. Take a paper, crumple it into a ball and
push it to the bottom of the glass. Invert this
glass and immerse it in to the bucket of water Fig. 2a Fig. 2b

VII Science 73
After doing activity 1 and activity 2, Rani said where air exerts pressure. For example
that air is everywhere. Any bottle, glass or any these may include a balloon being filled
other container that appears empty is actually with air, the air filled football that
full of air. Nothing can be added to it unless becomes hard, water rising through a
the air inside is removed. It is only when some hand pump, the tubes of cycle, scooter
air is removed that something else can enter. or car. Think of other examples where
Air occupies the space around us. we can see that the air exerts pressure.
· Do you agree with Rani? Discus with Let us do - 3:
your friends and write the reasons for Take a syringe and draw out
your answer. its plunger to the limit. Close
· Give a few more illustrations showing the nozzle of the syringe with
that air needs to be removed from a a finger and press the piston.
container before something else can Fig. 4
enter it.
Were you able to press the piston?
What are the steps needed to use a dropper?
Explain its functioning. · Did you feel pressure on your finger
while doing so?
· What do you think exerted pressure on
your finger?
Air Expands on Heating
Fig. 3a Fig. 3b Fig. 3c Let us do - 4
Does Air exert pressure? Take an empty injection bottle and one empty
You know that a bicycle tube or tube of any ball point refill. Remove the pin of the refill
other vehicle can burst when it is over filled and insert one of its ends in the cork of the
with air. How does this happen? What does injection bottle as shown in Fig. 5.
the excess air do to the tube? Discuss with Put a water drop on the upper
your friends on how the air in the vehicle’s end of the refill. Rub your
tubes keeps them in shape. hands together so that they
Take a balloon and fill it with air. Keep blowing become warm. Carefully pick
more and more air into it. What would up the bottle and hold it in
eventually happen? The balloon expands and both your hands for some time
after a point bursts. Fig 5
· Why does it burst? so that the bottle also becomes warm.

· Can we say that this activity also shows What happens to the water drop?
that air exerts pressure? How does it behave?
· Give reasons for your answer. Now keep this bottle in a saucer of cold water
· List other experiences of situations and observe what happens to the drop. Why
does this happen?
74 Air, Winds And Cyclones
· What makes the water drop inflate when The air from the balloon would slowly escape.
the injection bottle is held in cupped · Why does that happen?
hands? What happens to it in cold water?
Let us do - 7
· Can we infer from the first observation
that air expands on heating? Take a balloon. Blow air into it. As we fill it
up, it expands and it becomes harder to press
· Can you state what happens to the air in the walls of the balloon. The inside air exerts
the bottle when it cooled by keeping the pressure on the walls of the balloon.
bottle in water?
Open the mouth of the balloon slightly. What
Let us do-5: Hot air is lighter than cold air happens?
Air from the balloon comes out. You can open
the mouth less or more and control the flow
of air. The air in the balloon is at high pressure
and it goes towards low pressure area.
Fig 6a Fig 6b
You already know that when air moves, it is
Take two paper bags or empty paper cups of called wind. Air moves from the region where
the same size. Take a broomstick. Hang the the air pressure is high to the region where
two bags in the inverted position on the two the pressure is low.
ends of the broom stick. Tie a piece of thread
in the middle of the stick. Hold the stick by The greater the difference in pressure, the
the thread, like a weighing balance. Put a faster the air moves. We still have to think why
burning candle below one of the bags as winds occur in nature. How is the pressure
shown in the figure 6 and observe what difference that causes winds created in nature?
happens. Is there a difference in temperature involved?
The following activities will help you to
Note that we have used paper bags or cups as understand this.
they are of a light weight and it would be easier
to see the results of this experiment if we take Let us do – 8
any such light objects to hang on the thread. Take an incense stick(agarbati) and light it.
· Why is the balance of the bags disturbed? Observe the smoke of the incense stick?

Handle the burning candle carefully. · Where does it go?

Let us do -6 Observations from above activities indicate

that warm air rises up. Also, it is important to
Take a balloon and fill it with air. Heat it slowly. remember that on heating the air expands and
What happens? occupies more space. When something
The balloon expands and the air inside exerts occupies more space, it becomes less dense.
more pressure on the walls. The warm air is therefore less dense than
cold air. Thus smoke and hot air go up.
· If the tied end is opened now, what
would happen? Similar to observations of activities done so
far, numerous factors contribute to heat air.

VII Science 75
When the air rises up, air pressure at the place the air form under the paper.
becomes low and we have many kinds of
winds as air comes in to occupy areas of lower
pressure. The differential heating of land and
water by the sun leads to land and sea breeze.

Figure – 8(b)
Can you imagine what would happen? Have
you ever seen high speed winds blowing over
the roofs of houses? If roofs were weak they
could be lifted and blown away.
· If you have heard or seen any such
experiences share it with your friends.
In the activity (9), when we move our hand
there is movement of air caused. The moving
Fig. 7 Land and sea breeze air creates low pressure. Hence the paper lifts
up due to the higher pressure on the paper
The land heats up faster than the sea, so warm
from air in the glass. When on the other hand
air rises over the land during the day as it is
we hold the glass facing down, the same thing
warmed by the Sun. At certain times of a year,
happens and the air inside the glass pushes the
this can create a sea breeze which is a gentle
paper out and makes the paper fall down.
breeze blowing into the land. At night, the land
cools faster than the sea, reversing the air flow. WIND - UNEVEN HEATING ON
This creates a land breeze that blows out to THE EARTH
sea. We have discussed the cause of winds in areas
Effects of Moving air near large water bodies including seas and
oceans, What about wind on the other parts
a. Take a glass and a postcard. Keep the glass
of the earth. What are the reasons that
on a table and the postcard on the glass. Wave
different areas have different temperature? Let
your hand or note book above the post card
us try to find more about all these.
to displace the air just above the postcard.
Uneven heating takes place on the surface of
What do you observe?
the earth. There are a number of reasons for
Why did postcard lift up? this.
Figure – 8(a) A. Uneven heating between the equator
b. Now wet the edges of glass with water. Stick and the poles.
the post card to it, and hold it inverted with You might have learnt in geography that the
your left hand as shown in figure (8 b) and region close to the equator gets more heat
move your right hand or note book to move

76 Air, Winds And Cyclones

from the sun. This is because of the direction the news papers/ T.V.
of the sunlight being straighter close to the CYCLONES
equator. The air in these regions gets warmer.
The warm air rises, and the cooler air from Cyclones are a form of violent storms on
the regions in the 0-300 latitude belt on either Earth. People call these storms by names such
side of the equator moves in. This movement as typhoons, hurricanes etc. depending on
of air sets forth winds that move over the where they occur. Let us try to understand the
earth. phenomenon of cyclone through the following
activity.
We have also seen that the increased wind
speed is accompanied by a reduced air Let us do - 10:
pressure and this aids rains.
Let us try to understand how winds are
produced, how they bring rain and how they
can be destructive sometimes.
B. Uneven heating of land and water
You have read about the sea breeze and the
land breezes. In summer, near the equator the Fig. 9
land heats up faster and during the day the Take a glass containing water and two straws.
temperature of the land is higher than the water Keep one straw in the water and another in
in the ocean. The air over the land gets heated horizontal direction as shown in figure 9 and
and rises. This causes the winds to flow from blow through the horizontal straw.
the oceans towards the land. These are
monsoon winds. This is usual during the
• Can you say what happens to water?
months of June to September. • What do you observe?
The direction of the wind flow gets usually • Why is the water spray coming out from
reversed in the months from December to the straw? Discuss with your friends.
early March. The wind flows from the land to When you blow over the straw the water comes
ocean as the sea cools more slowly.. out due to low pressure which forms inside
The winds from the oceans carry water and the straw. So the water from the glass reaches
bring rains. Farmers in our country depend up in the straw due to high pressure.
mainly on rains for their harvests. We can also We see that the increased wind speed is
generate energy from high speed wind. Thus accompanied by a reduced air pressure.
we can see the usefulness of winds in our life.
How Cyclones May Form
· Write other uses of wind you can think of
Tropical cyclones are like giant engines that
Do winds also cause harm? Let’s see how? You use warm moist air as fuel. The warm moist
may be familiar with the word cyclone. During air rises upward from near the surface. The
the months of May-June or October- warm air rises causing an area of lower air
November reports about them can be seen in pressure below. Air from surrounding areas

VII Science 77
of high air pressure pushes into the low location.
pressure area. Then this “new” air becomes
warm and rises too. As the warm air continues
to rise, the surrounding air swirls-in to take
its place and the water from the sea surface
also comes up with the air as you have seen in
activity 10. As the warmed moist air rises and
cools off, the water in the air forms clouds.
The whole system of clouds and winds spins and
grows, fed by the ocean’s heat and water
evaporating from the surface. See the figure (10)
Fig. 11
• Have you heard or seen any experiences
of cyclones? Write about these in your
notebook.
• Collect information regarding cyclones
from news papers. Prepare a scrap book
with news paper cuttings followed by
small report prepared by you.
CYCLONES – Do’s and Don’ts:-
• We should not ignore the warnings issued
Fig. 10 by the meteorological department
through T.V., Radio or news papers.
These kinds of satellite images help us to Pass on the information to others and
predict the path of the cyclones to some ignore rumors.
extent.
• When a cyclone alert is on for your area,
Factors Contributing to Cyclone: continue normal working but stay alert
Factors like wind speed, wind direction, to the radio warnings.
temperature and humidity contribute to the • We should make necessary arrangements
development of cyclones. In India cyclones to shift essential household goods,
usually occur in the month of May-June and domestic animals and vehicles, etc. to
October-November. More cyclones tend to safer places.
occur on the eastern side i.e. towards Bay of
Bengal • Switch off electrical mains in your house.
DESTRUCTION BY CYCLONES: • Keep ready the phone numbers of all
emergency services like police, fire
Cyclones can be very destructive. The main brigade, and medical centers.
effects of cyclones include heavy rain and,
strong wind. The destruction of a cyclone • Pack essentials for yourself and your
depends mainly on its intensity, its size and its family to last a few days, including

78 Air, Winds And Cyclones

 medicines, special food for those who • Air is everywhere.
would need it. This may include babies • The moving air is called wind.
and elders.
• Air around us exerts pressure.
Post cyclone measures
• Air expands on heating and contracts on
If you are staying in a cyclone hit area- cooling.
• Strictly avoid any loose and dangling • Warm air rises up whereas comparatively
wires. cooler air tends to sink towards the
• Do not drink water that could be earth’s surface.
contaminated. Always store drinking • As warm air rises air pressure at the
water for emergencies. place is reduced and the cooler air moves
• Do not go out for the sake of fun. into that place.
• Cooperate and help your neighbours and • Uneven heating on the earth causes wind
friends. movements.
Advanced Technology has helped and these • Cyclones may be caused due to wind
days we are better protected. In the early part traveling at high speed due to difference
of last century, coastal residents may have had in air pressure.
less than a day to prepare or evacuate their • It has become easier to study cyclones
homes from an oncoming cyclone. The world with the help of advanced technology
today is very different. Thanks to satellites and like satellites and radars.
radars, a cyclone alert or cyclone watch is
issued 48 hours in advance of any expected Improve your learning
storm and a cyclone warning is issued 24 Fill the missing words in the blank spaces in
hours in advance. The message is broadcast the following statements.
every hour or half an hour when a cyclone is
1. Wind is ————— air.
near the coast. Information about cyclones
will be given by the Indian Meteorological 2. Winds are generated due to ————
Department (I M D). ——— heating on the earth.
We have learnt that all storms are low pressure 3. Near the earth’s surface ——————
systems. Wind speed plays an important role —— air rises up whereas —————
in the formation of storms. It is, therefore, air comes down.
important to measure the wind speed, The 4. Air moves from a region of ————
instrument that measures the wind speed is ——— pressure to a region of ———
called anemometer. (See extended activities —— pressure.
to make your own anemometer)
5. Suggest two methods to find out wind
KEY WORDS: direction at a given place.
Wind, Expansion, Anemometer, Cyclone, 6. State two experiences that make you
Low pressure, High pressure think that air exerts pressure. (Other than
What we have learnt:
VII Science 79
 those given in the text).
7. While constructing a house, where do we
construct ventilators; why?
8. Explain why holes are made in banners
and hoardings hanging in the open.
9. How will you help your neighbours in
case cyclone approaches your village/ Fig 12
town?
10. In the day time, when we go to the sea
and attach the strips to the sharpened pencil.
the air blows towards us and does not
Check that the strips rotate freely and when
go towards the sea. Explain.
you blow on the cups.
11. Which of the statements given below is
Your anemometer is ready. Counting the
correct?
number of rotations for a minute will give you
a) In winter the winds flow from the land an estimate the speed of the wind.
to the ocean.
13. Collect some articles and photographs
b) In summer the winds flow from the from news papers and magazines about
land towards the ocean. storms and cyclones. Make a story on
c) A cyclone is formed by a very high the basis of what you learnt in this
pressure system with very high speed chapter.
winds revolving around it. 14. Interview eye witnesses to collect the
d) The coastline of India is not vulnerable actual experiences of people affected by
to cyclones. a cyclone.
12. Read the following procedure and make 15. More fun with air
your own anemometer. A. do the following activities and write your
Collect the following items findings
(a) 4 small paper cups (b) Two strips of the
cardboard 20 cm long, 2 cm width (c) Gum
(d) Stapler (e) Sketch pen (f)sharpened pencil
Take a scale draw crosses under the card
board strips as shown in figure 12.
Fig 13
Fix the strips at the centre, putting one over
the other they make a ‘+’ sign. Now fix the Take an empty bottle and place it on the table
cups at the ends of the strips. Colour one cup as shown in figure 13. Place a cotton ball just
with sketch pen. All four cups should face in inside its mouth. Now try to blow air on the
the same direction. ball to send it into the bottle, and then try the
activity with bottles of different sizes. Throw
Push a pin through the centre of the strips

80 Air, Winds And Cyclones

a challenge to your friends whether they can · What did you observe?
send the cotton ball inside the bottle by · What did you expect?
blowing air. Are you surprised? Why did this
happen? Think about it and discuss with your · What happens?
friends. Try to answer and discuss with your friends.
B. Can you blow out the ball from funnel? C. Flow of air

Fig 14
Take a funnel and ball, keep the funnel in your
mouth as shown in figure 14. Keep the ball in
the funnel. Blow air through the funnel and Fig 16
try to send out the ball from funnel. What
Take a large plastic bottle and a two holed
happens? Have you succeeded in sending the
rubber cork that fits firmly into its mouth.
ball out?
Also take two glass tubes. Tie a coloured
balloon to the lower end of one of the glass
tubes. Insert the glass tubes into the two holes
of the cork. The glass tubes should fit tightly
in the holes.
Close the mouth of the bottle with the cork
and seal it with sealing wax to make the bottle
Fig. 15 airtight. The balloon should be inside the
bottle as shown in Fig. 16.
And then place the ball on your hand and put
the funnel over the ball as shown in figure 15 Now suck air out of the bottle through the tube
Now blow air forcefully through funnel and that doesn’t have a balloon attached to it.
try to blow out the ball from the funnel (while · What happens to the balloon?
blowing air, remove hand). · Why do you think this happened?

VII Science 81
 9 REFLECTION OF LIGHT

In Class VI you saw how shadows are formed. Then turn the torch towards your face as
You observed that the shape of the shadow shown in figure 1(b), and see your image in
changes according to the position of source the mirror.
of light and the position of object . You drew
shadows of some objects and you noticed that
the rays of light travel in a straight line, by the
observation of shapes of the shadows.
You came to know that when light falls fig. 1(b)
on an object it will be reflected by the surface
of that object and if that reflected light reaches In which case is your image clear?
our eyes we can see that object. You will find that when light is focused
In this class we try to learn more about on your face you can see your image clearly in
reflection of light. the mirror.You also notice that when light is
focused on the mirror you find a dim image
When will you be able to see clear of your face in the mirror. Why does it happen
images of yourself in a plane mirror? so?
Will you be able to see your image in a Think:
mirror if the mirror is in front of you in a
dark room? We already know that, to see any object, light
should fall on it. In daytime we are able to
Let us do this (1) see all objects which are in our room even
Point a torch towards the mirror so that it’s though sunlight does not fall directly on those
light falls on the mirror which you hold up as objects. How is it possible?
shown in figure 1(a), and try to see your image The multiple reflection of sunlight from
in the mirror. surfaces like wall, floor, ceiling etc. finally falls
on the object and gets reflected by it and
reaches us. This enables us to see the object.
Imagine that your friend sat in the middle of
the room. Estimate how many times,
reflection of sunlight should take place to
finally fall on your friend. Identify the places
fig. 1(a) from where light reflects.

82 Reflection of light
How light reflects after striking an object? Let us observe how light (ray of light)
reflects.
We need to understand about light
rays to know how light is reflected after Let us do this (3)
striking an object.
Place a blank sheet of paper on the
Rays of light ground such that part of it is in the sunlight
and other part of it is in the shadow. Hold
Let us do this (2)
the mirror strip with the slit facing the sun.
Take a mirror strip and a black paper Let a ray of light from the slit fall on the paper.
as shown in figure 2a. Cover the mirror strip Now take another mirror strip and place it in
with black paper and cut a 1 mm wide slit in the path of this light ray such that the ray
the black paper, as shown in figure 2b. coming from first mirror falls on the second
mirror as shown in fig 3.

fig. 2(a)

fig. 2(b) Fig. 3

Hold the mirror strip with the slit facing the
sun as shown in figure 2c. You will see some What do you observe?
light coming through the slit. Let this light
Did you see any other ray of light,
fall on a sheet of paper spread on the
apart from the one from the mirror slit, on
ground.
the paper?
This effect of the mirror strip on the
ray of light is called reflection. The ray of
light falling on the mirror is called the incident
ray and the ray returning from it is called the
reflected ray.
Fig. 2 (c) Laws of reflection:
Light coming from such a slit or any other Is there any relationship between the
small hole looks like a ray of light. direction of the incident ray and the direction
We shall use this mirror strip covered with the of the reflected ray.
slit of black paper in the following Let us do this (4)
experiments.
Take a sheet of blank paper. Draw a
line segment AC across the middle. Draw

VII Science 83
another straight line at right angles (90 Place a mirror strip vertically on segment AC
degrees) to segment AC. The second line with its reflecting surface facing the normal.
should bisect segment AC at point B. We shall See that the back of the mirror coincides with
call this line as Normal. See in figure 4a. segment AC. Take the mirror strip with a slit
and let its light ray fall along line 4, as you did
in the earlier experiment. Now this ray is the
incident ray for the mirror . The angle between
the normal and the incident ray is called the
Angle of Incidence ( i).
Did the reflected ray fall on any of the lines
you have drawn? If yes, on which line did it
fall?
Fig. 4(a)
The angle between normal and the reflected
Draw two lines from point B on the left side
ray is called the Angle of Reflection ( r).
of the normal and two on the right side. The
lines should be at angles of 30° and 60° Adjust the mirror strip with the slit so that its
respectively from the normal. Number these light ray falls along line 3 and observe on which
lines 1, 2, 3, 4 as shown in figure 4b. line the reflected ray falls?
Adjust the mirror strip with the slit so that its
light ray falls along normal, then the angle of
incidence is 0o (the angle between normal and
incident ray “that is also normal here”, is 0o)
What happens? Where did you find the
reflected ray?

Fig. 4(b) Record your observations in the table - 1.

TABLE - 1

Angle of Angle of
S.No. Incident ray Reflected Ray
Incidence Reflection

1. On line - 4
On ..........................

2. On line - 3
On ..........................

3. On normal
On ..........................

84 Reflection of light
Do you see any relationship between the angle Make your own periscope
of incidence and the angle of reflection? State
Let us do this (5)
this relationship in the form of a rule and write
the rule here. Collect the following materials to make
your periscope:
………………………………………………………………………………
..
Let us verify this rule. Empty agarbatti box, two mirror
strips, scale, pencil, blade, match box, candle,
If the two incident rays form angles of 20° glue.
and 45° respectively with the normal, what will
be the angles formed by the reflected rays with Close both ends of the agarbatti box. Draw
the normal? squares at both ends. Draw the diagonal to
these squares as shown in figure 6(a). Slit the
Verify your answer by conducting the diagonals with a blade. The slits should equal
experiment. to the length of the mirror strips.
Note: observe this diagram carefully (figure
5). The ray of light from the candle is
reflected at the mirror, and bounces off at
the same angle as it come to the mirror. Our
eye does not know that the light has been
reflected. Our eye sees the object (the candle)
in the mirror, and feels that light is coming
from that candle which seems to be behind
the mirror. In this way we see an image of Fig. 6(a)
the candle. Fix the mirror strips in these slits as shown in
figure 6(b). Take care to see that these mirror
strips lie parallel to each other, with their re-
flecting surfaces facing each other. Fix the
mirror strips firmly to the box with a few
drops of molten wax from a burning candle.
You can also use glue or fevicol instead of
wax.

Fig. 5
We are able to see a person who is walking on
the road through a window or a door. At the
same time that person can also see us. Is it
possible to see that person while hiding Fig. 6(b)
oneself?

VII Science 85
Cut out two windows on the narrow sides of opposite to you in the mirror kept on the floor.
the box as shown in figure 6(c). The win- B
dows should open directly on the reflecting A
surfaces of the mirror strips. Now your C
periscope is ready.
window 1

Fig. 7
window 2 Your friends A, C are able to see images of
each other in the mirror. Why can’t you see
their images?
Fig. 6(c)
Ask your friend – B, who is in front of you to
When you look through window 2, you will
move a feet aside from his place. What
be able to see things lying in front of window
happens? Did you see his image in the mirror?
1. If you hide behind a tree, you can easily see
If not, why?
what is happening on the other side of the tree
with your periscope. Observe in figure 6(d), Imagine a normal to the mirror. It would be
the girl is viewing objects outside the room perpendicular to the mirror as well as to the
through the window while hiding herself in the floor. Imagine an incident ray coming from
room,with the help of a periscope. your friend B, falls on the mirror then the
reflected ray from mirror and reaches you.
Observe that the incident ray, reflected ray and
normal lie in the same plane.
Now think why the image of your friend B is
not visible to you when he moves aside. Where
should you stand to see his image? Once again
imagine the incident, reflected rays and normal
and assumed plane. What do you understand?
Fig. 6(d) The incident ray, reflected ray and normal
should be in same plane, only then can you
Think: why should we keep mirror strips see your friend.
parallel to each other in periscope?
Are the incident ray coming from your friend
What happens if they are not parallel? A, reflected ray going towards your friend C
Let us do this (6) and normal in the same plane?
Place a mirror (1ft. × 1ft.) on the floor. You Now let us try to answer why the mirrors in
and your friends A, B, C stand on four sides periscope are kept parallel to each other: In a
of the mirror as shown in figure 7. Adjust your periscope the incident ray for the second
places of standing, in such a way that each one mirror is the reflected ray of the first mirror.
of you can see the image of the person When these two mirrors are parallel to each
86 Reflection of light
other, only then the rays lie in the same plane Can you see the image in the mirror though the
and can pass through the windows of the object is not seen by you? Look at figure 10.
periscope. If these mirrors make some angle
Take a mirror and an object and try.
with each other, then the reflected ray of the
first mirror may not reach the second mirror
or the reflected ray of second mirror may not
pass through the window of periscope. In
both cases we can’t see the object with the
periscope.
How do we get an image in a mirror? Fig. 10
You would have seen your image in a mirror Think: All of you are sitting in your
many times. Do you know how it is formed? classroom, where and how would you place
During day time the light which falls on you a mirror to see a tree which is outside the
gets reflected and a number of reflected light class?
rays from you that fall on the mirror also get
reflected back. These reflected rays reach your Can all of you see that tree at a time?
eye and make you see your image. See figure If not, what will you do so that each one of
8. Thus formation of image in mirrors is due you can see the tree without changing your
to reflection of light rays from the mirror. seat?
Take a mirror and try.
Is there any difference between you and
your image?
Stand in front of a mirror as shown in figure
11 and observe on which side of you does
the pocket on your shirt appear, when you
look into the mirror.
Fig. 8
See the figure 9 and observe the lines. They
will explain how the image of a candle is
formed in the mirror and how you are able
to see the image of the candle in the mirror

Fig. 11 Fig. 12
Raise your right hand in front of a mirror as
Fig. 9 shown in figure 12. Which hand of your image
appears raised?

VII Science 87
To make your image to comb hair with its Is the size of an object and its image same?
right hand, what will you have to do? Let us do this (8)
What do these observations suggest? Stand in front of a big mirror. Observe your
image. Step back two feet and step forward
In a mirror, right of an object appears one foot. Observe your image while you move
………………… and left of the object to and fro. What do you notice? Did your
appears ………………… image also move? Estimate the distance from
you to the mirror and the distance from the
Note that only sides are interchanged. This mirror to the image. Is the size of your image
is called lateral inversion. equal to your size? Place an object in front
of the mirror. Compare the size of the object
Let us do this (7)
with its image. Is the size of the object and its
Take a drawing sheet and cut it into a few image same?
pieces. Write an English letter in capitals on What can you say about the size of your image
each piece of drawing sheet. Observe the when you stand in front of a small mirror and
images of the letters formed in the mirror as a big mirror? Do you find any difference in
the sizes of those images?
shown in figure 13.
You may notice that irrespective of the size
of mirrors, the size of image and the size of
object are equal.
Think:
Anuvugani chota adhikulamanaradu
Konchamundutella koduva kadu
fig. 13 Konda addamandu konchamai undada
i) Which of the images appear same as the Viswadabhi rama vinuravema
original letter? Have you heard of this poem?
Why does a mountain look tiny in the mirror?
ii) Which of them appear reversed? Why?
Images are many . . . Object is one. .
Repeat above activity with Telugu/Hindi/ • Have you gone to a hair cutting saloon?
Urdu letters and also with numbers 1 to 9 • How many mirrors does the barber
then try to answer the above questions. generally use in a saloon?
Can you spell your name as it appears in a You may notice there is one mirror in the front
mirror? and another at back of the sitting place.
Sometimes barber places a mirror behind
Spelling of my name is .................................. your head, as shown in figure 14.
It appears in the mirror as..............................

Think: On the front side of ambulances, the

word AMBULANCE is written like
ECNALUBMA Why?
Fig. 14
88 Reflection of light
• Why do they use more mirrors? Let us do this (10): A Garden in box
• How many images do you see when Take an empty shoe box. Place two plane
you sit in the chair? Why? mirrors along the edges. See that the pair of
How to form multiple images? mirrors are parallel to each other and their
reflecting surfaces face each other as shown in
Let us do this (9) figure 16.
Take two plain mirrors of same size and join
them with a cellophane tape as shown in figure
15. Fold the mirrors through certain angle
and place an object between them. How many
images can you see?

fig. 16
Scratch the centre part of a mirror at its back
and make a hole to the wall of the box such
that it coincides with the scratched portion of
the mirror. Put some flowers in the box. Make
a few holes in the lid before closing the box
so that light enters into the box. Now look
through the hole. You can see a wonderful
Fig. 15 and beautiful vast garden.
Count the number of images after changing Why does the small area look like a vast
the angle between the mirrors. garden?
What should we do to get more images? The light which enters the box falls on the
Observe: flowers, gets reflected and travels in all
Keep the mirrors in such a way that the angle directions. The rays which fall on the mirrors
between the mirrors is 90 degrees and reflect back to the opposite mirror. This
observe the images and compare them with process happens again and again. Due to this
the object. What do you notice? Is there any multiple reflection we can see that small area
difference between those images? as a big garden.
Imagine the reason for that. Make your own Kaleidoscope
• How can we use the property of Let us do this (11)
reflection in daily life? Take three mirror strips of the same size. Tie
• Have you seen any instrument (or) toy these strips with rubber bands to form a
which works, based on reflection? triangular tube as shown in figure 17(a).

VII Science 89
 Can you explain why this happens?
Think: Have you seen these types of
patterns (those observed in kaleidoscope)
in your daily life?
Have you ever observed your image in a
rearview mirror?
Have you observed the mirrors at both the
fig. 17(a) sides of driver in motor vehicles like bus, car
While tying the strips together, remember to or motorcycle? See figure 18.
keep their reflecting surfaces facing each other
inside the tube. Cover one end of the tube
with translucent paper using a rubber band.
Cover the second end with card board sheet
and make a hole in it. So that you can look
inside it. Your kaleidoscope is ready.Now put
few small pieces of coloured glass bangles
inside the triangular tube as shown in figure
17(b). Fig. 18

These are rearview mirrors. These are used

by drivers to see vehicles which are moving
behind or beside of the vehicle without turning
fig. 17(b) their heads.
Have you ever observed your image in that
mirror? How is your image in that mirror?
Look at the bangle pieces through the hole as
shown in figure 17(c). Let us do this (12)
Take a plane mirror. Go to a vehicle. Observe
your image in the rearview mirror and as well
as in the plane mirror. What difference do you
find?
You might have noticed that the image
formed by rearview mirror is smaller than the
fig. 17(c) image in a plane mirror. Why it is like that?
What do you see? What is the difference between these two
mirrors? Observe their shapes and find the
Shake the kaleidoscope and try to see through
difference.
the hole slowly rotating it. What happens?

90 Reflection of light
Have you observed reverse image of Why do we call concave and convex
yourself in any mirror? mirrors as spherical mirrors?
Let us do this (13) Let us do this (14)
Try to observe your image in a stainless steel Take a rubber ball and cut a portion of it
spoon. The curved shining surfaces on either with knife as shown in figure 21. (Be careful.
side of a spoon acts as a mirror as shown in Ask your teacher to help you in cutting the
figure 19. ball).

Fig. 21
The inner surface of the cut piece of ball is
called concave surface and the outer surface
Fig. 19
of it is called convex surface.
How is the image on the outer portion of the
If the reflecting surface of a mirror is
spoon?
concave, it is called a concave mirror see
How is the image on the inner portion of the figure 22(a).
spoon?
When you look at the inner portion of the
spoon you find a reversed image. The inner
portion of spoon acts as concave mirror.
When you look at the outer portion of the
spoon you find small size image of you. Outer
portion of spoon acts as a convex mirror. Fig. 22(a)
Have you seen the mirrors whose reflecting If the reflecting surface is convex, then it is
surfaces look like the head of a steel spoon? called as convex mirror. See figure 22(b).
(See figure 20) The mirrors which contain
curved reflecting surface are called spherical
mirrors. They are two types.
1) Concave mirror 2) Convex mirror

Fig. 22(b)
Any convex or concave mirror is a part of a
sphere. Hence these mirrors are called
Fig. 20 spherical mirrors.

VII Science 91
Let us form images with Spherical mirrors Adjust distances between candle and mirror,
screen and mirror by moving them either
Let us do this (15)
forward or backward till a clear image appear
Place the concave and convex mirrors on two on the screen.
different V- stands. Put two candles of same
Repeat the activity using a convex mirror and
size in front of them as shown in figure 23.
plane mirror in place of concave mirror.
Images of which mirror are formed on the
screen?
The image that can be obtained on a screen is
called a Real Image. We can see this image
in the mirror too.
The image that can’t be obtained on a screen
fig. 23 but can be seen only in the mirror is called a
Adjust the position of candles, to form clear Virtual Image.
images in the mirrors. Observe the sizes of Think: Every day we see our image in a
images and compare them with candle sizes. plane mirror. Is it a real or virtual image?
• What difference do you notice How can you decide?
between the image and object in a Have you noticed the surface of reflection
convex mirror? in a torch light? Or in a head light of a
• What difference do you notice vehicle?
between the image and object in a Observe the torch light or headlight of a
concave mirror? vehicle. You notice a concave mirror behind
Can we obtain the images formed by the bulb (See figure 25). Due to this concave
mirrors on the screen? surface the brightness of a small bulb is
increased.
Let us do this (16) (try this in a dark room)
Place a concave mirror on a V-stand. Place a
lighted candle in front of it. Place a thick white
paper or white drawing sheet behind the Fig. 25
candle. This acts as a screen. See figure 24.
Imagine: What happens if the surface of
reflection in the torch or in a head light of a
vehicle is convex like in figure 26?

Fig. 24 Fig. 26
92 Reflection of light
Dentists use mirrors to examine our teeth (See Reflection from a
figure 27). smooth surface like that
of a mirror is called
regular reflection (see
figure 29). Clear images
are formed in case of Fig. 29
regular reflection.
Reflection from a rough or irregular surface
is called irregular reflection or diffused
Fig. 27 reflection (see figure 30). Images are not clear
in case of irregular reflection. In some cases
These mirrors used by doctor help to see a we can’t find the image at all.
bigger image of teeth. What type of mirrors
are they?
In our daily life while we stand in front of
windows we observe our images on the glass
of some windows but don’t find images on
the glass of some other windows. Why?
Our image is clear when we stand in front of Fig. 30
certain types of glass as shown in figure 28(a). If the surface of the window glass is smooth,
Our image is not clear when we stand in front due to the regular reflection we are able to see
of some other types of glass as shown in figure our image in that glass. But if the surface of
28b. the window glass is rough, due to the irregular
reflection we can’t find our image or we find
unclear images in that glass.

Let us try this

Observe the image of the sun or a tree in
still water. Later, disturb the water by
throwing a pebble. How does the image of
the Sun or the tree appear now? Why?

Let us try this

Keep a mirror close your face and look into
Fig. 28(a) Fig. 28(b) it. Move the mirror backward and observe
· Why do certain glasses form clear the image. What change do you observe? Try
images? this activity using Convex, Concave mirrors.
In which mirror do you get an inverted im-
· Why are images in some other glasses
age? At what distance does it happen?
not clear?

VII Science 93
Key words: 9. In a rearview mirror (convex mirror)
we get diminished image of the object.
Incident Ray, Reflected Ray, Normal, Angle
of Incidence ( i), Angle of Reflection ( r ), 10. In a mirror which is used by Dentist
Periscope, Lateral Inversion, Kaleidoscope, (concave mirror) we get enlarged
Rear view mirror, Spherical mirror, Convex image of the object.
Mirror, Concave mirror, Real Image, Virtual 11. The image that can be obtained on a
Image, Regular Reflection, Irregular screen is called a Real Image.
Reflection.
12. The image that can’t be obtained on a
What we have learnt screen but can be viewed in the mirror
1. Light changes its direction when it is is called a Virtual Image.
obstr ucted by any object. This
phenomenon is called reflection. 13. Torches, headlights of vehicle have
concave mirrors behind the bulb for
2. Angle of incidence is equal to an angle
reflection.
of reflection. We denote angle of
incidence with i and the angle of 14. Reflection from a smooth surface is
reflection with r. called regular reflection.
Measure of i = measure of r. Reflection from a rough surface is
(for a plane mirror) called an irregular reflection.
3. In the image formed by a mirror, right
of the object appears as left and left Improve your learning
of the object appears as right. This is 1. Vidya made a Periscope making slits like
called Lateral Inversion. this as shown in the figure. Will it work or
4. The distance from the object to a plane not? Explain your answer. Try to make a
mirror is equal to the distance of the periscope like this and see whether it
image from the mirror . works or not?
5. Irrespective of size of the plane
mirror, the size of the image in the
mirror is equal to the size of the object.
6. Any object which is far away from us
looks smaller in size. In the same way
its image in the plane mirror will also 2. (i) Draw reflected
look smaller. ray in the figure
given here.
7. Plane mirror forms single image. If we
want to form multiple images two
plane mirrors need to be kept at an
(ii) Mark the position
angle.
of the image in the
8. The number of images increases when figure given here by
we reduce the angle between two dotted lines.
mirrors.

94 Reflection of light
3. How do you relate angle of reflection and 9. Write examples of multiple images
angle of incidence? formed in your daily life?
What will be the angle of reflection when 10. Observe the figure and identify which
angle of incidence is type of mirror is used? How do you
i) 60° ii) 0° justify it?

4. Imagine that your sister is viewing a

cricket match on a TV and you are viewing
the same cricket match in a mirror which
is opposite to the TV. What difference
do you notice in the match?
5. Write the mirror image of your name?
............................................. (in English)
.............................................. (in Telugu)
6. You are given the mirror image of a name.
11. Sai lighted a candle in his house when
Can you find out the actual name?
power went off. His mother placed it in
AY R U S front of a mirror. Sai observed something
Place a mirror in front of this figure and that excited him. What change would
check your answer. have excited Sai? Some questions came to
7. Get three mirror strips, two rubber bands, his mind. Can you guess the questions?
card board sheet, translucent paper, and Write a few such questions.
broken bangle pieces and make a
12. Unexpectedly some water sprinkled on a
Kaleidoscope.
mirror while Madhu was shaving his face.
8. Observe the following figures. Did he observe any difference in his
image? If yes, explain why?
13. Imagine that all the houses in your street
have elevation with mirrors. Suppose you
and your friends are walking in the street.
Would you experience any difficulties
How many images would you observe in when you walk through that street? Predict
the mirrors in the above cases? Write your and explain. Is it difficult for birds to live
guesses. or fly in that street? Why?
Fig – 1…………………….
14. Take a empty tooth paste box and two
Fig. – 2 ………………………… mirror strips of required size and make a
Do experiments and check whether your periscope.
guesses are correct or not? Give reasons.

VII Science 95
15. What is the angle between two plane and there are no concave mirrors in head
mirrors when there are five images? lights of the vehicles. Appreciate the role
of convex and concave mirrors in safe
16. What is the difference between convex
driving.
and concave mirrors? Draw the diagrams
of concave and convex mirrors. 21. While constructing a new house, Kishan’s
uncle rejected his wife’s request of glass
17. Where do you find irregular reflection in
elevation to the building, saying that “It
daily life? Give some examples.
is harmful to the birds and also our
18. Mirrors help us to see all the objects selves”. How do you appreciate the
around us without turning our heads. decision of Kishan’s uncle?
How do you appreciate the role of
22. Collect information from your elders and
mirrors in our life?
shopkeepers about where we use more
19. Army people can see their enemies while mirrors and why?
hiding themselves with the help of
23. Collect information about which objects
periscopes. How do you appreciate the
of your school and home work like a
use of periscope for their security?
mirror and why? Identify the similarities
20. Imagine what would happen if there are among those objects.
no rearview mirrors attached to vehicles

96 Reflection of light
 10 NUTRITION IN PLANTS

I grew from a mango seed.

How large am I ? So much
I produce, plenty for me
and plenty for all.

He covered the soil with a lid

so that nothing could fall
onto the surface of the soil
and add to its mass.
There were holes in the lid so
Fig.1 that the tree could grow out Fig 2
How do plants produce so much that they are of the soil and so that air and Von Helmont
able to feed other organisms dependent on water could reach the roots.
them? Van Helmont left the tree for five years, giving
For ages people have been pondering over it only rain water to drink. At the end of the
this and till three hundred and fifty years ago five years he measured the
we believed what Aristotle had said over two mass of the tree and the
thousand years ago. According to him plants mass of the dry soil for a
could produce everything from what they took second time. The results
from the soil.
of this experiment are
In the year 1648 a Belgian scientist Jan Baptista shown below:
Von Helmont conducted an experiment that
This experiment changed
continued for five years. He took a small willow
the belief of hundreds of
tree and planted it in a large pot of soil. Before years! This was because
he did this he carefully measured the mass of the Von Helmont arrived at a
dry soil and the mass of the tree. Fig. 3 result that –
VII Science 97
 Mass (kg)
At start After five years Change in mass (kg)
Tree 2.27 76.74 74.47
Dry soil 90.72 90.66 0.06

1. The substances needed for the growth

of a plant do not come from the soil and found that only the
only. green parts of plants when
2. The plant grows because of the water it exposed to sunlight could
gets. do that. Several scientists
Do you think Von Helmont’s conclusions started working on what
were correct? green plants were doing
with water and air and
People tried to check this sunlight and till date we
and thus experiment after Fig 5
know that- Ingenhouz
experiment followed.
Stephan Hales described Green parts of plants use carbon dioxide in
the leaves as organs of the presence of sunlight (as well as other
transpiration ( loss of sources of light) along with water to make
excess water from plant glucose, starch and other food materials. This
body) and he said that process of making food materials is called as
Fig 4
plants exchange gases with photosynthesis and such plants are called
Stephen Hales Autotrophs.
their surrounding air.
Furthermore, he was the first to point out a List the four major things needed by plants
possible role of light in plant nutrition. to carry out the process of photosynthesis.
It was Priestley who
carried out a sequence of
experiments. He could
demonstrate that what
animals were doing to
the air was being
reversed by plants. That
is, according to him, if Fig 5
animals were making the Priestley
air impure, plants were making it pure. In nature, the presence of the green substance
Ingenhouz tried to repeat Priestley’s in leaves is essential for photosynthesis to take
experiments under different conditions place. This green substance is called
chlorophyll.

98 Nutrition in Plants
Where does water come from? roots. They use carbon dioxide of air. This
Plants get water from the soil through their job is done by the leaves. The leaves have tiny
roots while the process of photosynthesis holes through which the exchange of air takes
takes place in the leaves. So how does the water place. These holes are so minute you can only
reach the leaves from the roots? What path see them with the help of a microscope. They
does it follow? are called stomata. It is through the stomata
that the exchange of air in leaves takes place
Let us recall the experiment done in the chapter continuously. You have seen the picture of
“ Plants: Parts and Function” , which showed stomata in your ClassVI science textbook.
how water is transported in the plant body.

Fig 7 - Stomata
Fig 6
We know that plants take water through their
• On the basis of this experiment, what roots and air though the stomata of their
conclusion can you draw about the leaves (there are some other parts like loose
functions of the root and stem in the tissues and lenticels present on the bark of
nutrition of plants? plant through which exchange of air takes
Farmers sprinkle urea in rice or wheat place). We also know that leaves contain the
fields whenever the leaves turn yellow. green substance, chlorophyll. What else is
The leaves soon become green again. needed for photosynthesis?
• Why is it necessary to irrigate the fields The next question is whether the process of
after sprinkling urea? Think it over and forming starch by combining carbon dioxide
answer with reasons. and water requires light. Let us try to find out.
• The farmer sprinkles urea in the soil of If light is absent
his field. How does the urea affect the A description of an experiment is given here.
leaves of the crop? Read it, try and find out what effect light has
This experiment and the information about on the formation of starch in leaves. The
urea tell us how and from where plants get experiment was done with a plant called
water and other nutrients dissolved in it. Chaina rose (Mandara), but it can be
performed with any plant.
Exchange of air
You need to find out if starch is present in
Plants get water from the soil through their

VII Science 99
leaves. You already know how to test for Do You Know?
starch, but a problem arises if you try this test Preservation of plant parts like
with leaves. Leaves are green in colour. When leaves, flowers or whole plant is a
iodine solution is put on a leaf, it should turn treditional designery art. If the plants are
blue if starch is present. However, the green not available in a particular place then the
colour of the leaf disguises the blue colour. plant physiologists collect those plants
So you must first remove the green colour of where they available and make them in the
the leaves if you want to test whether they preservative form. This is commonly
contain starch. The way to do this is to first known as herberium They study those
put the leaves in a boiling tube and boil them plants, and these preserved plants also
in alcohol. This is a bit difficult. You need to helpful for the future studies.
be careful while boiling leaves in alcohol.
In the experiment described here, 4 to 5 leaves Can you tell by looking at the figure where
of a Chaina rose plant were plucked in the starch is present and where it is not?
afternoon. After removing their green colour Did the entire leaf get light after it was covered
in the way described above, they were put in with black paper? If this was not the case,
diluted iodine solution. The leaves turned which parts of the leaf did not get light?
black. Why did this happen?
Did starch form only in those parts that got
In the second part of the experiment, 4 to 5 light?
leaves of the same plant were covered with
On the basis of this experiment, what
black paper without removing them from the
connection do you see between light and
plant. The way the black paper was cut and
starch formation?
fixed to the leaves is shown in the figure 8.
Do plants produce only starch?
In the chapter ‘Our food’, you read that starch,
fats and proteins are present in food. They
are also present in plants. Where do these
substances come from? Plants produce sugar
first, which is converted to starch and then
other compound as well. But plants need
other nutrient elements to do this.
The main nutrients needed are nitrogen,
Fig. 8 potassium and phosphorus. Plants require
many other nutrient elements as well, but these
These leaves were plucked two days later. are needed only in minute quantities. Hence,
Their green colour was removed and they they are called micronutrients. Plants absorb
were dipped in iodine solution. The leaves these nutrient elements from the soil through
turned black in the pattern shown in the figure. their roots. Unfortunately, at this stage we
cannot perform any experiment to study these
nutrient elements.

100 Nutrition in Plants

Other modes of nutrition in plants kept in moist places. These spots develop due
Have you seen yellow thread-like structures to the growth of fungi, which is a type of
twining around the stem, branches and leaves plant.
of some trees? Fig 10 shows such a plant. All these types of plants do not contain
This thread-like plant chlorophyll so they simply absorb organic
is Cuscuta. It neither material usually from decaying matter.
has leaves nor • Try to find out the different types of
chlorophyll. How do saprophytes that you may find growing
they survive? From around you? If they are too small try to
where do they get observe them with a hand lens.
nutrition? Cuscuta • Draw the pictures of the saprophytes
takes food from the and write the places where you found
plant on which it is them.
climbing.Like humans
and animals such Special mode of obtaining nutrition in
plants depend on the insectivorous plants:
food produced by A few plants manufacture their own food but
other plants. also obtain a part of their nutrition from
Fig. 10
This mode of nutrition is called heterotrophic insects. Leaves of these plants are specially
nutrition. modified to trap insects. These plants grow
in areas deficient in nitrogen. Hence they meet
Parasitic plants develop special roots called their nitrogen requirements from insects.
haustoria, which penetrate into the tissues of Being green in colour, they can manufacture
the host plant and absorb food materials from their own food. Droseras, Utricularia,
them. Venusflytrap are examples of some such
Plants that grow on dead and decaying insectivorous plants. These are also called as
matter carnivorous plants.
Often after rains we
find umbrella like
structures growing
from the ground.
Such plants are called
saprophytes. They
grow on dead/
decaying matter.
You might have seen
black and white spots
appearing on bread
pieces, pickles, when
Fig. 11 Fig. 12

VII Science 101

Some plants like those of the Dal family have Let us green our environment so that we will
a type of bacteria growing on their roots in never worry about oxygen and food!
nodules. The bacteria fixes nitrogen for the Key words:
plant while it gets shelter in the roots of these
plants. Such an association is beneficial to Nutrition, Autotroph, Chlorophyll,
both groups and called symbiosis. Photosynthesis, Stomata, Saprophyte,
Insectivorous, carnivorous, Symbiosis,
Fungi
What we have learnt
• Green parts of plants use carbon
dioxide in the presence of sunlight (as
well as other sources of light) along with
water to make glucose, starch and other
food materials. This process of making
food materials is called photosynthesis.
Fig. 13 • Plants that do not photosynthesize
depend on other means of getting their
Do you know? nutrition.
There are colonies of algae and fungi living • Saprophytes live on decaying organic
together in a symbiotic relationship! These matter.
colonies are known as Lichens. This
relationship starts with the attack of algal • Insectivorous plants fulfill their nitrogen
colony by a type of fungus. It is an example deficiency by trapping insects.
of balanced parasitism then. Later as algae • In symbiosis, organisms share their food
survive, they are given protection from and shelter.
intense light and conditions of drying up
Improve your learning
due to the presence of fungus colony. The
fungus gets food from its partner. 1. A potted plant is kept in light for a day
and one of its leaves is tested for starch.
The same plant is kept in the dark for
two days and another leaf is tested for
starch. Will there be a difference in the
results of the two experiments? Give
reasons for your answer.
2. What happens if leaves of a green plant
are coated with oil?
(Hint: What will be the effect on
stomata?)
Fig. 14

102 Nutrition in Plants

3. Do you think saprophytes help us in 8. Circle the insectivorous plant among the
keeping the environment clean? plants given below.
(Hint: What do saprophytes feed on?) (a) Hibiscus (b) Teak
4. Differentiate between following with (c) Nepanthus (d) Aloevera
some examples. 9. Collect information about experiments
(i) Parasite and saprophyte of Joseph Priestly and Ingen Houz from
(ii) Host and parasite. Internet and make a brief note on them.

5. Fill in the blanks and give reasons 10. Do you agree with von Helmont? If
nutrients absorbed by plants from soil
(i) Green plants are is equal to the mass of plant / tree what
……………………… in nature will happen? Think and write your
(ii) The food synthesized by the plants is hypothesis.
stored as ………………………. 11. Why are some plants called
(iii) Saprophytes depend on insectivorous plants? Give reasons.
……………………….. for food. 12. Designery leaves - select any broad
6. Name the following: leaved potted plant. Cut a card board
with a design of your choice and seal
(i) Pores through which leaves exchange
the selected leaf with the card board. Let
gases.
the plant stand under the sun for a week
(ii) Plants that act as scavenger of nature. then remove the card board you will get
(iii) Those plants that share food and shelter. designery leaves plant. Try to make more
leaves with designs and display your
(iv) Plants which cannot make their own
plant but don’t forget to present your
food and obtain it from host.
writeup.
7. Tick the correct answer
13. Collect a leaf. Take peels from both sides
(i) Cuscuta is an example of of the leaf and observe stomata size,
a). Autotroph b). Parasite shape and number under microscope.
c). Saprophyte d). Symbiont Write your findings.
(ii) Haustoria are 14. Prathima said “Mushroom is also a
plant” is she correct? How would you
a). Roots b). Stems support her?
c). Leaves d). All of them
15. Photosynthesis is the way plants make
(iii) Raw materials involved in the process food in every leaf by using different
of photosynthesis items. Write your feelings on this.
a). Carbon dioxide b). Water
c). Sun light d). All of them

VII Science 103

 RESPIRATION IN
11 ORGANISMS
We know that people may survive without • What did you feel after keeping your
food for several days. They go on a fast or mouth and nose closed for so long?
hunger strike but during time that they drink Let us do-2: How many Breaths in a
some water or other liquids a least once a day. Minute?
But what about air? Don’t we feel suffocated
if we don’t get air even for a short while! Hold a finger under the nose of one of your
friends. The side with the fingernail should
The process by which air goes in and out of face the nostrils. Ask your friend to breathe
our body is called breathing. In this lesson we in and out normally.
will study about what happens when we as well
as other organisms breathe? How does this
process help in respiration?
Let us do - 1: Respiration in Human
Beings
Let’s first find out how long a person can hold
her/his breath. Use a watch with a seconds’
needle to time your breathing. If you don’t
have a watch, then practice counting at a
uniform rate. You can measure the time by
counting. Close your mouth and close your
nose with your fingers so that air cannot pass Fig. 2
through it. • What did you feel on your finger when
your friend exhaled?
• Use this method to find out how many
times your friend inhales and exhales in
a minute.
• Did your friend inhale as many times as
(s)he exhaled in a minute?
Fig.1 The process of breathing in air is called
• How long could you keep your mouth inspiration and that of breathing out air is
and nose closed? called expiration. The number of times we
breathe in and breathe out air in a minute is
called the respiration rate.
104 Respiration in Organisms
Exercise and breathing: Now fill the bottle to the brim and invert it in
You may have seen that we begin to pant after a bucket or a large container of water. But
remember, no air bubbles should remain in
running or exercising. So do exercise and
the bottle after you invert it. Insert one end
running affect the rate at which we breathe in
of a rubber tube into the mouth of the bottle
and out?
under water. Hold the other end of the tube
• In your opinion does the expiration rate in your hand. Inhale as much air as you can
increase or decrease after exercising? and blow the air into the measuring cylinder
The air we breathe in fills our lungs that are through the rubber tube. Don’t breathe in
located in our chest. In the following while blowing the air out. Blow out as much
experiment we shall see what happens to our air as you can in a single breath. This air will
chest when we inhale or exhale air. collect in the measuring cylinder. As a result,
the water level in the cylinder will fall. The
Let us do - 3: Expansion of chest with reduction in water level is equal to the air you
each breath breath.
Take a length of twine or a measuring tape. • How much air were you able
Wrap the tape around the chest of one of your to exhale in a single breath?
friends and measure the width of her/his
chest. Hold the tape lightly and ask your friend
• Find the amount of air the
Fig. 4
others in your group breathe out in a
to breathe in and out deeply a few seconds.
single breath and compare these
amounts.
• Was the amount of air the same for all
your friends?
Let us do - 5: Difference between inhaled
and exhaled air
Exhale air from your nose on the back of your
index finger.
Fig. 3 • Is this air warm?
• Do you find any difference between Now use a syringe to pump some air on your
measurements? finger.
• How does the width of the chest change • Is the air from the syringe also warm?
when air is inspired or exhaled?
Let us day - 6: Moisture in our breath
Let us do - 4: How much air in your breath?
On cold winter mornings you may have
Make a measuring cylinder with a two-litre noticed that the air you breathe out is misty.
plastic bottle and 100 ml injection bottle. To • Why does this happen?
do this, pour 100 ml of water at a time in the
bottle and mark the water level after each
• We shall do an experiment to find out.
addition. Take a mirror. Wipe it clean with a cloth. Blow
air from your mouth on the surface of the
mirror.
VII Science 105
• Look at the surface of the mirror • Did you see the same effect on the
carefully. What did you see? mirror this time?
• Clean the mirror again and blow air on • On the basis of this experiment would
it with a syringe. it be correct to say that exhaled air is
more moist than air from a syringe?

Discovery of Carbon dioxide Discovery of Oxygen

The first step towards trying to find out After nearly two decades of discovery of
what air contained was carried out by Von carbon dioxide, oxygen was discovered.
Joseph Priestley, published his“Experiments
Helmont. He conducted an experiment of and observations on different kinds of air”
burning charcoal which leads to the and was the first to prove the different
formation of ash. He found the weight of qualities of the gases released by plants
ash to be much less as compared to charcoal. and the one’s exhaled by animals (mice).
On the basis of this, he concluded that He discovered that, although a candle
burned out in a closed container, when he
the decrease in mass was due to formation added a living sprig of mint to the container,
of an invisible substance which he named the candle would continue to burn.
“gas”.

Joseph Priestley Lavoiser

Von Helmont Joseph Black
At the time, Priestley did not know of
In the year 1756, Joseph Black studied Oxygen, but he correctly concluded that the
this gas in more detail. He found that when mint sprig “restored” the air that the
burning candle (or mice which he used in a
limestone is heated or reacted with acids, similar set of experiments) had spoiled.
it gives rise to a gas which he called “fixed
Priestley shared his observations with
air”. He studied several properties of this Lavoiser. Lavoiser had also conducted
gas. One of the properties was, lime water several experiments on atmospheric air and
turned milky when this gas was passed knew that it contained many gases, and he
through it. Now we know this gas as carbon identified Priestley’s discovery as the active
dioxide. component of air for which he had been
searching. He called it oxygen (Greek: acid
former), in the belief that all acids contained
it.
106 Respiration in Organisms
• Why did we use a syringe in Experiments Now repeatedly blow in and suck out air in
5 and 6? this apparatus as shown in Figure 6.
You must have understood from these Find the answers to the
experiments that there are differences between following questions while
the air we breathe out and the air from a doing the experiment:
syringe.
• When you suck in air,
What does our breath contain? through which boiling
We know that we inhale and exhale air. The tube does the air flow
exhaled air is warm and has moisture in it. into the apparatus? How
What we do not know is about the gases our can you find out?
Fig. 6
body takes from the inhaled air and throws • When you blow air out, through which
out in exhaled air. For this we would have to
boiling tube does the air flow out of the
know about the gases present in air. Also, how
apparatus? Can you say why the air does
we came to know about them.
not go out through the other boiling tube
We know that air is a mixture of several gases as well?
not only Oxygen and Carbon dioxide, there
are others as well. Air also contains several • In which boiling tube did the colour of
suspended particles. the indicator solution change?

Let’s do some experiments to find more about • Are the inspired air and expired air
gases present in inhaled and exhaled air. For similar? If they are not, what are the
this we shall refer to the discoveries of the differences between them?
gases mentioned in the previous section. Wash and clean the two boiling tubes and fill
We would have to prepare some solutions to both of them with one fourth lime water.
test the gases. These are phenolphthalein Repeat the experiment of repeatedly blowing
indicator solution and lime water. Prepare in and sucking out air.
them in the same manner as you had done in
the chapter on acids and bases. Answer the following questions on the basis
of this experiment:
Let us do - 7: Gases in our breath
• What was the colour of lime water in
Set up the apparatus shown in Figure 5 for boiling tubes A and B before you began
this experiment. Be careful while inserting the the experiment?
• In which boiling tube did the lime water
glass tube in the cork. It could break. So take turn milky after you blew in and
the help of your teacher to do sucked out air?
this. • What difference between inspired and
Fill both boiling tubes one expired air did you find out in this
fourth with phenolphthalein experiment?
solution. Mark them A and B.
Fig. 5 You have studied the test of carbon dioxide

VII Science 107

with lime water in the section of “discovery say which gas is present in exhaled air?
of carbon dioxide” · Can you explain how and from where
this gas came into the exhaled air?
· On the basis of what you learned can you
S.No. Gases Inhaled Air (ml.) Exhaled Air (ml.)

1 Oxygen 210 165

2 Carbon Dioxide 0.4 40

3 Nitrogen and Other Gases 790 795

7
The air we breathe in does not contain only
oxygen. It is a mixture of many gases. Similarly, Fig. 7
the air we breathe out is not only carbon
dioxide, but a mixture of several gases. The
quantity of gases in every 1,000 ml of inspired
and expired air is as follows:
· Try to state the difference between
inspired and expired air on the basis of If you look below the flaps, you will see red
Experiments 5, 6, 7 and the table given above? colored gills. These are the respiratory organs
This kind of change that we see through the of the fish. The water that enters the mouth
experiments done so far and the table , we flows through both the gills as it comes out
come to know of a process that occurs of the flaps. The gills absorb the oxygen that
beyond breathing, known as respiration. is dissolved in the water. This oxygen is carried
Think ...! Think ...! to different parts of the body.
What happens to air after it reaches our lungs? Frog:
Try to find out about this from your school
library or your teacher.
Breathing in other Animals:
Let us study some organisms and find out how
they breathe.
Fish:
Observe fishes in an aquarium. Fishes
Fig. 8
continuously open and close their mouth in
water. Why do the flaps on both sides of the In class 6 we have studied that frog is able to
head alternately open and close? stay on land, in water and even underground.

108 Respiration in Organisms

How does it manage to do so? To breathe on the body, collect it back and send it out
land it has lungs while it goes deep through these spiracles.
underground and sleeps twice every year, its To know more about this process you may
moist skin takes over the function of its lungs. observe a live cockroach by keeping it
In baby frogs or tadpoles there are special covered by a transparent bottle or glass. See
organs like that of fishes called gills. These the movements that occur in its body. What
gills help them to breathe in water by taking do you observe? Write your observation in a
in the air dissolved in water. few lines.
Earthworm
Earthworms breathe through their skin. It is
thin and moist with minute holes. Through the
skin, air passes in and out. The earthworm thus
breathes through its whole body surface.
Name some other animals that breathe
through their skin.
Fig. 9

Tadpoles of the frog live only in water but

the frog lives either on land or in water.
Sometimes you may see frogs under the soil
also.
Think! How does the frog respire under the
soil?
Cockroach Fig. 11
Respiration in plants
A cockroach has small openings on the sides
of its body. Other insects have similar Do plants respire in the way humans do? In
openings. On the underside of the cockroach human beings gaseous exchange with the
in each segment, there are small holes which surroundings takes place through nose and
are connected through respiratory tubes in a mouth. We have studied in class 6 about the
network. These help the cockroach to breathe. parts in plants that help in gaseous exchange.
These holes are called spiracles. The network They are stomata present on surface of leaves
of respiratory tubes called trachea take air and lenticels present on the surface of stems.
from these spiracles, circulate it throughout Let’s do an experiment to find out
Take a conical flask. Fit a two-holed rubber
Spiracle Spiracle
cork tightly into its mouth and insert glass
Trachea
tubes into the two holes. Fit a rubber tube on
trachea
one of the glass tubes and a funnel on the
other. If the funnel does not sit tightly on the
Fig. 10 glass tube, make a funnel with an ink dropper.

VII Science 109

Fill a test tube about one fourth with lime Repeat Experiment 8, using sprouted seeds
water and dip the rubber tube into it. (moong, gram etc) instead of flowers and
Now add water to the funnel drop by drop. buds.
Keep adding water till the conical flask is filled • What effect did the experiment with
one fourth with water. Observe the test tube sprouted seeds have on the lime water?
carefully while you add water. • On the basis of your observations in
these experiments can you say that
• Did the lime water change colour? flowers, buds and sprouted seeds
Now remove the water from the conical flask respire? Give reasons for your answer.
and put some flowers and buds in it. Fit a cork Plants respire like us. But it is difficult to
on the flask and let it stand for half an hour. observe this through experiments. Both plants
Now add water drop by drop to the conical and animals use oxygen during respiration.
flask through the funnel as you did in the You may have heard of big hospitals keeping
previous experiment. Look carefully at the test cylinders filled with oxygen. When a person
tube while doing so. has breathing problems he is given oxygen.
• Did the lime water change colour this An oxygen mask is fitted to the nose and
time? mouth of the person and a rubber tube
connects the mask to the oxygen cylinder.
After completion of your experiment try to
Sometimes a patient is given oxygen during
draw a figure of your apparatus arrangement
an operation.
in your note book.
Key words
You can do the above experiment by taking a
small rooted plant with moist soil at its root Spiracle, Gills, Carbon dioxide, Oxygen,
instead of flowers and buds. But you would Inhale, Exhale, Inspiration, Expiration,
have to keep the set up in a dark place. Trachea
Do you Know? What we have learnt
In day time plants respire as well as · Respiration occurs in all organisms. In
photosynthesize. At night only part of the this process, oxygen is taken in while
process of photosynthesis takes place and carbon dioxide and water vapour are
carbon dioxide is not used up completely by released.
this process. So at night it can be tested by the · Skin, Gills, tracheae and lungs are
above experiment. respiratory organs.
Let us do - 8: Respiration in Sprouted seeds · Stomata and lenticels helps in exchange
of gases in plants.
Improve your learning
1. Fill in the blanks and give reasons.
(i)…………………. are the respiratory
organs of fish.
Fig. 12

110 Respiration in Organisms

(ii) In a cockroach, a network of ……………………….. is found.
(iii) ……………………….. are found on leaves for the exchange of gases.
2. Select correct answer and give reasons.
(i) The process which involves the exchange of gases is called ( )
a). Respiration b). Circulation c). Digestion d). Breathing
(ii) During inspiration air passes into lungs due to ( )
a. Increased volume of thoracic cavity
b. Fall in pressure inside the lungs
c. Increase in the volume of thoracic cavity and fall in lung pressure.
d. Muscular expansion of lungs
(iii) Roots respire through ( )
a). Spiracles b). Lenticels c). Stomata d). Air spaces
(vi) Which of the following animals breathe through their skin and lungs? ( )
a). Fish b). Frog c). Snake d). Earthworm
(v) What happens to lime water, when we exhale air into it? ( )
a). Remains same b). Turns blue c). Turns milky d). Becoms colourless
(vi) Plants respire through ( )
a). Cells b). Stomata c). Gills d). Cell membrane
(vii) The respiratory organs in cockroach are ( )
a. Lungs b. Gills c. Lenticels d. Spiracles
3. What is respiration? How is it different from breathing?
4. Frogs breathe through their skin as well as their lungs. Explain.
5. If you want to know about ‘Actions of gases in lungs’. What questions you would like to ask?
6. If you did this experiment of respiration with fruits ard dry leaves, what would the result
be? Explain.
7. It is very interesting to watch fishes in an acquarium. Make your own bottle acquarium.
8. Do you find any relation between plants and animals by their respiration and
photosynthesis?
9. Asif wondered how plants and animals which live under water also respire. Do you
know how?
10. Imagine the lungs and size of elephant. Is there any relation between body size and lung
size? Collect information from School Library or Internet.

VII Science 111

 REPRODUCTION IN
12 PLANTS
During spring season our surroundings are Thalamus
filled with the fragrance of flowers. Almost Let us hold a Dhatura flower by its stalk. This
every plant around has flowers on it! We see a stalk is green in colour and has a slightly
wide variety of flowers then. swollen head. This is called thalamus. It is
We have already studied the different parts the seat on which the parts of a flower are
of plants in class VI. present.
• Let us write down names of the parts of Calyx:
plants that we have studied so far.
• Is there any part that you haven’t studied Now let us
about earlier? observe the part
• Do you know which part of the plant that comes just
gives rise to fruit? above the
thalamus. There is
Flowers are usually a green tube like
the most attractive structure called
part of any plant. calyx. The edges
Why do you think on the part Fig. 2
flowers are so towards the petals
attractive and
colourful? Fig. 1 have thin leaf like structures called sepals.
The lower ends of sepals are fused to form
What role do flowers play in a plant’s life? the tube like structure. Remove the tube of
Let us study some flowers around us to answer fused sepals carefully. What do you see after
these questions. removing the sepals?
Let us do - 1 Corolla:
Collect flowers of, say, Datura, Chinarose There is a funnel shaped corolla. This is
(Hibiscus), Cucumber, Bottle guard, Tridax, formed of fused petals. Count the free edges
Sun flower, Ipomea etc. Observe these of these. How many are there? What is the
flowers. Are they of the same size and shape? colour of the petals? Remove this funnel
Try to draw the flowers collected and write shaped corolla as well. Observe and draw the
their names if you know them. We shall now same in your note book.
study the Datura flower to know more about Androecium:
the parts present in a flower (floral parts).Try
to draw it’s shape in your note book. After removing the petals you can see soft

112 Reproduction in Plants

elongated structures attached to these petals. seated a bulb like structure called ovary. Just
They are called stamens. How many stamens above it a fine tube like structure called style
do you see? goes up ending in a somewhat flat bead like
There is a bulb like structure at the top of structure called stigma. This whole structure
each stamen that is called pollen sac or anther. from ovary to stigma is the pistil or one female
Just below it a fine whitish thread like structure reproductive part. All the parts present on the
called filament attaches the anther to the petal pistil together called as gynoecium.
(in Dhatura). So stamen has an elongated Draw the picture of pistil which you observe.
filament and a bulb like pollen sac. How many How many pistils are there in Dhatura?
stamens are there? Stamens of the flowers are We observe that flower parts are arranged in
together called the male part or androecium. definite circles or whorls. Note your
Draw the picture of stamen as seen by you. observations regarding the different types of
Gynoecium: flowers collected by you.
As we remove petals, right on the thalamus is Write your observation in the given table.

Circle No.

Let us observe male parts (Androecium)and female parts (Gynoecium) of different flowers
that you have collected.
Observe stamen and pollen sac or anther of the flowers. Are they of the same size and shape?
Observe various types of stamens of different flowers.

Fig. 3. Types of stamens

VII Science 113

Let us observe female parts like ovary, style,
stigma of different flowers that you have
collected. How are they? Like male parts,
female parts also differ from flower to flower.
Observe various types of pistils of different
flowers. (Fig. 4)
Fig. 4. Types of Pistil

Draw the diagram of flower you have dissected compare it with the diagram given below:

Petals Stigma
Anther

Stamen
Style

Sepals

Ovary
Thalamus
Stalk

Fig. 5. Floral Parts

Do all flowers have four parts?

Let us do - 2
Collect as many flowers from your surroundings as you can. See that you have at least a type
of melon or gourd flower as well. Now observe different parts in each flower. Record your
observations in the table given below. (You may also record your observation regarding the
flowers already collected by you earlier in this chapter).

114 Reproduction in Plants

• In the case of cucumber or bottle gourd, Incomplete flower:
do they have all four parts in each
flower? A flower in which any
of these four whorls is
In Cucumber and Bottle gourd you will missing is an
probably find two types of flowers on each. Incomplete flower.
Examine them carefully. Take the help of the Eg: cucumber, bottle gourd, papaya.
figure given below and find out the difference
between the two. Unisexual flower:
A flower which has either
stamens (androecium) or
pistil (gynoecium) is called
unisexual flower. Eg:-
cucumber, bottle gourd,
bitter gourd etc., )
Is an unisexual flower a complete flower?
Fig. 6 Why not?

Do you know any other plants which have Bisexual flower:

separate male and female flowers? Give A flower that has both
examples. stamens and pistil
What do you see in sunflower? It looks like a (androecium and
single flower. But is actually a bunch of gynoecium). Eg:- Datura,
flowers. The small flowers in the bunch are hibiscus, Ipomea, is called
called ‘florets’. The florets in the centre are bisexual. Are both
called disc florets. The florets along the rim unisexual flowers found
are called ray flowers. You will learn more always on the same plant?
about such special flowers in higher classes. Try to find out about

Flowers may be classified on the basis of bottle gourd, watermelon and papaya or any
number of parts present in them as- other plant bearing unisexual flower, whether
the male and female flowers are borne on the
Complete flower: same plant or on separate plants?
A flower that has four Collect hibiscus, cucumber, bitter gourd,
or more whorls – at datura, ipomea, bottle gourd flowers etc.
least one each of calyx Observe the different parts in them. Record
(sepals), Corolla your observations in the table (see if you can
(petals), Androecium collect all these, in case you can’t, take the help
(stamens) and Gynoecium (pistil) is called a of books present in your school library or
Complete flower. Eg: datura, ipomea, elsewhere.
hibiscus.

VII Science 115

Sexual parts of flower:
Now take a stamen (androecium) from the
datura flower, tap the stamen gently on a slide.
You can see some grains fallen on the slide.
Put a drop of water and observe these grains Fig. 8a. T.S of ovary Fig. 8b L.S of ovary
under the microscope. With the help of hand lens study the internal
parts. What do you see? Some small ball like
structures called “ovules” can be seen
arranged in different chambers.
Now take pistils of other flowers as well one
by one, and cut the ovary of them and
observe. Draw the diagram of the section of
ovary that you have observed.
Flower part to Fruit
Fig. 7
Let us do - 3
These grains are called pollen grains. Collect
pollen grains from other flowers and observe Collect a pistil and fruit from datura plant.
under the microscope as well. Are all these of Cut the transverse section of both ovary of
same shape and colour? Draw the different pistil and fruit. Observe the internal structure
pollen grains as you see them under the of both the section cuttings with the help of a
microscope. hand lens. Are there any similarities between
these two?
Take the pistil of a datura flower as it is big
enough to observe the internal parts.
Cut the sections of the ovary of pistil as
shown in figures 8 a and 8 b. Fig.9 T.S of
Fruit of Datura

116 Reproduction in Plants

Collect pistil and fruit of cucumber, bhendi bottle guard, cover with a polythene bag
(Ladies finger), cotton and beans and do the loosely tying the bag on a stalk. Make some
above activity. Write your observations. What tiny holes in the bag with the help of a pin.
similarities do you see between the ovary and Two days later observe the buds blooming.
fruit of the same species? (Now collect the pollen grains from a male
It is reasonable to conclude that an ovary flower of the Bottle gourd plant). Pluck the
develops into a fruit while the ovules develop stamens of male flower and shake to collect
into seeds. The seeds further produce new pollen grain in a sheet of paper. Twisting cotton
plants. wool over the tip of a match stick prepares a
Agents that help ovary of flower to brush. Now uncover five of the ten female
develop into fruit flowers. Apply the pollen grain on to the stigma
of these flowers with the brush. The pollen grains
Let us do - 4 stick to the stigma. Cover the flowers again with
Observe a bottle gourd plant in a garden. It polythene bag. Remove all male flowers from
has unisexual flowers i.e. male and female the plant. So that no pollen grain reaches the
flowers separately. Select 10 female buds of remaining female flowers.

Fig. 10a Fig. 10b Fig. 10c

The process of pollen grains reaching the If transfer of pollen grains take place within
stigma from anther is known as pollination. the flower it is known as Self Pollination.
After one week observe both pollinated and Transfer of pollen grain from anther of one
non-pollinated flowers. Pollinated flowers flower to stigma of another flower of same
develop into fruits where as non-pollinated species in called Cross Pollination.
flowers do not. Agents of Pollination:
• Why is it necessary to begin this How do these pollen grains fall on the stigma?
experiment with buds in which petals are Air, water, animals, insects, humans act as
closed? agents of pollination. They carry pollen grains
• Why are the buds enclosed in polythene from anther to the stigma. Insects like
bags? butterflies suck nectar from flowers. At that
• Why are the non-pollinated flowers also time pollen grains of that flower stick to the
covered with polythene bags? legs of the butterfly. When the butterfly goes
By this experiment we come to know that to another flower for nectar, the pollen grain
significant role is played by male flower in the that have stuck to it’s legs fall on that flower.
formation of fruit.

VII Science 117

 observe under microscope. In which slide do
Do you know: pollen grains germinate and why?

Birds and insects are the natural agents for There are some substances present on the
pollination. Now-a-days farmers use stigma which promote the germination of the
pesticides to control pests on crops. The pollen grains. During germination a tube
enormous use of pesticides kills insects grows from the pollen grain. This tube
also. It effects pollination. Crop yield ultimately reaches the ovary through the style
become reduced particularly in sun flower with the male part. This male part fuses with
crop. The rate of pollination is reduced the female part in the ovule of the ovary.
because of lack of insects in the fields.. Fusion of units of male and female parts to
Think! How we destroy our beautiful form a structure called as zygote is called
nature. Fertilization.
After fertilization seed develops from the
ovule and the ovary usually develops into a
What happens to the pollen grain after fruit. The entire process of fertilization and
Pollination? formation of zygote is known as Sexual
Let us do - 5 reproduction. For the formation of a seed
sexual reproduction is essential. The seed thus
Take two slides. Put 2-3 drops of water on
formed are dispersed to different places by
them. Add some sugar grains to water on one
agents like air, water, birds and animals and
slide. Now put some pollen grains of Hibiscus
by human beings as well. These seeds grow
flower on both the slides. After one hour
into new plants under favorable conditions.
Pollen grain

Pollen tube

Overy

Fig. 11 Fertilization
Production of baby plants or offsprings from the zygote is called sexual reproduction
We often find that some plants grow from their cuttings or some other parts. Can you name
some such plants?
Plant part from which new plant
S.No. Name of the Plant produced
1

118 Reproduction in Plants

Reproduction of plants from all such parts soil. Plant the piece with eyes in one cup and
other than the flower is asexual reproduction. label the cup as “with eyes” and those without
Asexual reproduction: eyes in another cup named as “without eyes”.
Water both cups daily and observe what
The most interesting thing in plants is baby happens. In which cup do potato plants
plants can grow even without formation of sprout?
seeds that is without sexual reproduction. Let
us study some such processes. Here is a picture of a plant called
Bryophyllum.
a. Vegetative reproduction
Production of new plants from vegetative
parts of a plant i.e. root, stem and leaf is
known as vegetative reproduction.
Let us do - 6
Do you know how Fig. 13
far mers produce You can see baby plants on the edge of the
potatoes in their leaves. Can we say that the Bryophyllum plant
fields? reproduces through its leaves?
Take potato and In our garden we grow plants like rose,
observe it. It has a Fig. 12 hibiscus, and jasmine by cutting a small branch
number of small and planting them in the soil.
depressions on its surface. These are known
as eyes. Cut the potato into pieces such that Which other plants can be grown from its
there is an eye in each piece. Remove the eyes cutting? (Name a few such plants)
from some of these pieces. Fill two cups with Vegetative reproduction in some plants

VII Science 119

b. Budding: Let us do - 8
The jalebi maker adds something to the jalebi Take a slice of bread cover it with a vessel
mix and leaves it for sometime. It helps him and leave it undisturbed for two or three days.
to make good jalebes. What he mixes is a type Thereafter you will find the slice covered
of plant called yeast. Yeasts grow with the help with grey coloured fungus called bread mould.
of a small bulb like outgrowth which increases Let it stand for three or four days. The whole
in size and breaks off from the parent plant growth appears like a black powder like
to live independently. This process of matter. Transfer this powder with a thin stick
reproduction is called budding. on a fresh slice of moist bread. Observe what
happens after every day and note your
observation.(Fig 15)
The black powdery portion of bread mould
contains several spores.

Fig. 14
Let us do - 7:
Take some water in a glass tumbler. Mix a
tablespoon of sugar and half spoon of yeast
powder you get in the market, in the glass
tumbler. Cover the glass and leave it
undisturbed for a day. On the next day place
a drop of the solution on a slide and cover it
with a cover slip and examine it under a
microscope. You will be able to see budding
yeast cells as shown in the figure 14 (they look Fig 15
like water bubbles growing new ones on them).

Do you know!
Alexander Fleming a Scottish scientist, discovered that
a certain kind of mould (Penicillium) produces a
substance, named after the mould, called Penicillin,
whichcan destroy many kinds of disease causing
bacteria. Penicillin came to be know as an antibiotic
and saved the lives of many solidiers in World War-II. Sir Alexander Fleming

120 Reproduction in Plants

 · Production of offspring from zygote is
Key Words: called sexual reproduction.
Cutting, Androecium, Gynoecium, · Formation of new plants without sexual
Thalamus, Corolla, Calyx, Stamen, Pistil, reproduction is Asexual reproduction.
Anther, Filament, Budding, Zygote,
Vegetative Propagation, Spore, Pollination, Improve your learning
Fertilization 1. Do all flowers have same parts? Give
What we have learnt examples of some flowers and explain your
answer.
• Flower consists of four parts. Sepal,
Petal, Stamen and Pistil. 2. Differentiate between

• Based on presence and absence of floral a. Bisexual flowers, Unisexual flowers

parts flower are two types. Complete b. Complete flower, incomplete flower
flower and Incomplete flower. c. Male flower, female flower
d. Sexual reproduction, Asexual
• Based on presence of both or single Reproduction
sexual parts flowers are of two types. e. Self pollination, Cross pollination
Bisexual flowers and Unisexual flowers.
3. What happens when a pollen grain falls on
• Transfer of pollen grains from anther to a stigma?
stigma is known as pollination. Flowers
can be self pollinated or cross pollinated. 4. What helps to bring pollen grains to the
stigma?
• Fusion of male and female parts to form
zygote is called Fertilization. 5. Explain the method of sexual reproduction
in plants.
• On the basis of parts involved,
reproduction in plants is of two types, 6. Can plants produce new plants even
sexual reproduction and asexual without seeds? Explain the methods with
reproduction. examples.

VII Science 121

7. Draw the diagram of any flower showing 13. What am I?
its parts. a) I am formed by the fusion of male and
8. Do all plants reproduce in the same way? female parts.
Explain with examples. b) I am a part of the plant that can travel
9. Karthik saw a cucumber plant in the a long distance and grow to a baby
kitchen garden. He identified two types of plant.
flowers-some flowers had a small swollen 14. Fill in the blanks
structure behind them while some did not.
He removed all the flowers which did not a) Flowers containing both male and
have the swollen structure behind them female parts are called
thinking that they were of no use. ……………….
- Which flowers did he remove? b) Pollen grain from anther of one flower
that reaches the stigma of another
- What are the flowers which had a small flower is called……
fruit behind them?
c) From ………………. part of
10. What are the agents of pollination? Bryophyllum new plants are produced
11. Differentiate between self pollination and d) Agents of pollination are ...................
cross pollination.
e)Transfer of pollen grain from anther to
12. Name the parts of the following plants stigma is called ………………
from which they propagate vegetatively.
a) Potato b) Byrophyllum
15. Match the following
(1) Pollen grain ( ) (a) Ovary
(2) Ovule ( ) (b) Bryophyllum
(3) Reproduction through eyes ( ) (c) Anther
(4) Reproduction through leaves ( ) (d) Potato
16. Observe the following figures. What difference do you observe. Write in your note
book.

Teophrastus, a Greek philosopher and the pupil of Aristotle, is known as the father
of Botany. Reproduction in plants was first studied in detail by Theophrastus.

122 Reproduction in Plants

 13 SEED DISPERSAL

Fig. 1
In the previous chapter “Reproduction in How did they grow into plants? She was
Plants” you have learnt about the parts of the surprised. We often see plants that grow on
flower. Do you know which part of the flower cracked walls and on stones. How do seeds
turns into fruit? What does the fruit contain? reach there?
You have also seen the section on the Ovary. Generally we sow seeds in our house gardens
What develops from the Ovule? You know and in fields, but different kinds of plants grow
that after fertilization ovary develops as fruit in our surroundings. Who sows these seeds?
and ovules develop into seeds. When the seeds How do seeds travel from one place to
germinate they give birth to new plants. another? Ravali has so many doubts .
You may have observed some fruits or Why are seeds dispersed?
vegetables growing in a garden or your back
yard. Some fruits may be seen growing singly Most of the seeds fall in the soil and get
while some are in bunches. Some of them buried in the ground. After some time they
contain one seed, whereas some others germinate and grow into small plants.
contain many seeds. What will happen if all the seeds fall in
One day Ravali the same place and germinate producing
saw that a tomato plants?
plant was growing Will they have sufficient place to grow?
on the roof top. Will they get sufficient sun light and
No one can sow water?
seeds on the house
top.How did they Can they survive in the absence of light
reach there? and water?
Fig. 2
When we discuss these questions we will

VII Science 123

know that seed dispersal is necessary to grow these aspects..
tiny plants of the same species. To avoid How are seeds dispersed?
competition with the mother plant for air,
water and minerals plants disperse their seeds Do you know the factors that affect seed
to different distances. But the process of dispersal? Are the characteristics of seeds
dispersal varies from plant to plant. Plants decided on the way they are dispersed? Let us
have special mechanism for seed dispersal. find out.
Do seeds travel to find suitable places to Let us do – 2: Observing different seeds
germinate? Do the dispersed seeds have any
Collect some seeds like grass, poppy, bhendi,
special characteristics? Does the travelling
coconut etc. Try to collect different types of
mechanism affect seed dispersal? Let us study
seeds like seeds with hair, thorns, big, small,
Nature of Seed
S.No.

Name of
the Seed Light Heavy Round Flat Hairy Thorny Fibrous
Bhendi

light, heavy etc., and record the information There are different seeds with different
in the given table 1: structures which are useful for their dispersal.
· Which seeds can be carried by air? Do you know how these seeds are dispersed
· Name the seeds that are round and from one place to another?
heavy? Different agents of the seed dispersal
· Which seeds can float on water? 1. Dispersal through wind
· Which seeds contain hooks/horns? Have you seen white hairy balls or parachute
Why? like structure moving in air? Children try to
· Are the hairy seeds light and flat? Why? catch them. Have you ever tried to do so too?
They are the seeds of caltropis. These seeds
· How are fibrous seeds? Are they light have light and hairy structure at one end. They
or heavy? travel with wind and settle at a suitable place
· Are there Tadi seeds in your list? Which to germinate. Seeds that are dispersed through
characteristics do you find in them? air are usually light and are either very small
or are light with wings on them or some hairy

124 Seed Dispersal

structures on them. The seeds get adapted in seeds are dispersed by water? (Hint: Think
such a way that they get carried away easily by about water plants)
wind. Some seeds float in air, some propel 3. Dispersal of seeds by birds and other
to travel short distances. animals
Discuss with your friends and list out the seeds
which are dispersed by birds and animals.
Milkweed Dandelion Maple Seeds are dispersed by animals in many ways.
In case of fleshy fruits, the fruit is eaten by
Fig. 3
animals while some dry fruits, with specialized
In some plants like orchids seeds are minute structures like hooks, thorns, hairy parts, get
with inflated covering. In plants like maple, stuck to the bodies of animals and get carried
seeds have wing like outgrowths. Cotton seeds to distant places. We find such seeds in some
have hairy structures. These types of kind of grass plants.
specialized structures, present in the seeds, will
be helpful for dispersal by air.
Try to find out names of seeds which float in
air in your surroundings and make a list.
2. Dispersal by water
Fig. 5
Did you notice some kinds of fruits or seeds
getting stuck to your clothes when you walk
through fields and bushes? They have hooks or
thorns on them. Find out which fruits or seeds
these are?
Fig. 4
How do seeds float on water? Some seeds are sticky and get stuck to the
beaks of birds and in course of flight they fall
The seeds adapted to float on water are usually
down at distant places. Often some birds carry
light. The outer covering of the seed has
empty spaces filled with air and some are seeds with their beaks. Some of them fall
fibrous with air spaces that encloses the whole before they reach their nesting places.
seed or fruit. Eg: Coconut. The entire Do you know some seeds have to pass
Coconut fruit floats on water and moves from through the guts of some birds before they
one place to another. When it reaches the germinate?
ground it germinates. That’s why we usually
find coconut trees growing near sea shores.
Seeds that are heavy usually fall to the bottom
of water sources and get carried by the flow
of water. Ex: Seeds of Lotus.
Give examples of some other plants whose Fig. 6

VII Science 125

 The forgetful squirrel.
It collects a lot of nuts and hides them underground
before onset of winter. It can hardly eat all of them and
even forget where it has hidden its nuts! Thus we have
several nut trees at different places.
Birds like Bulbuls, Mynahs, Crows eat some the seeds with great force in the surroundings.
fruits (Eg: Neem fruit) the outer fleshly part We find such type of seeds in Bhendi,
gets digested in the food canal and the seed Mustard and seeds of Pea family. Some seeds
coats of them become tender.They are then grow in capsules which when touched burst
dispersed to other places as bird droppings. and uncoil with a force in such a way that they
Many fleshy fruits are meant to being eaten scatter the seeds all around.
by animals. The fleshy part of the fruit is eaten
leaving the seeds uninjured. Some seeds get
dispersed through animal excretions
Let us do:
Observe the animals in your surroundings.
Fill in the following table.

S.No. Name of the Fruits eaten / Seed

Animal dispersed
The seeds of Balsam are dispersed in this
manner. You may have also noticed that some
fruits explode when we sprinkle water on
them and the seeds get dispersed.
Try to list out such types of seeds that you
see in your surroundings
Let us do: Observation of scattering of the
seeds
Collect fruits of Kankambaram from your or
your friends houses, sprinkle water on them.
Write your observations. Collect some dry
pods of pea, gingelly (Til), bhendi from a
nearby field or from a shop and try to open
4. Dispersal by bursting of fruits that them. What happens to the seeds in the pod?
throw the seed out: How far are they scattered? Note the distance.
Many fruits enclose the seed in a capsule or • In which weather conditions do seeds
pod. Upon drying the pod explodes releasing scatter?

126 Seed Dispersal

• Do you think that these seeds would Let us do: Seeds in fruits
scatter in this way during rainy season? Collect different kinds of fruit which are
5. Dispersal of seeds through human available in your surroundings. Open them
beings and count how many seeds they have. Try to
Generally we sow seeds of flowers, fruits and collect information about seeds and enrich the
vegetables in our home garden . Everyone is following table.
aware of Tomatoes. It is a common vegetable S.No.
Name of the
Number of Seeds
cooked in every home. In tomato pickles, Fruit
tomato curry etc. we find Tomatoes. Do you
know from where this fruit has come from
and that it is not native to India? When
European travellers came to trade in India,
they left the seeds of vegetables like tomato,
cauliflower, guava, pear on their return.
Similarly sugar cane which is native to India
and is used worldwide for production of
sugar, is a good example of how people
transfer seeds/fruits from one place to
another.
Now-a-days we see different kinds of fruits
and vegetables around us. Import and export
of grains like wheat pulses, maize, paddy is a
common practice through which many seeds
get dispersed all over the world. It is funny to
think that seeds also travel by aeroplanes and • Which fruits have a large number of
ships! seeds?
Let us do: • Which fruits have a single seed?
Form group of four or five students and try • Doall the seeds germinate to grow into
to collect information about other seeds plants?
dispersed by man. All the seeds of a fruit should be able to
Why plants produced a large number of germinate to produce new plants. Actually
seeds: this does not happen. If this happens we will
You observed that fruits and vegetable plants see only same type of plants in large number
that grow in our home garden produce a large in our surroundings. All seeds don’t
number of seeds. Some fruits grow in singly germinate. Some seeds never germinate to
whereas some are in bunches. Some fruits have produce new plants. Some seeds germinate
a single seed in them and some have a large but plants die before maturation. To
number of seeds. overcome these problems plants produce a
large number of seeds.

VII Science 127

 Do you know:
A mustard plant produces more than 10,000
seeds in its lifetime. If all the seeds germinate
to grow into adult plants, think how many seeds
would be produced. If this happens for a period
of six years the entire globe will be covered with
mustard plants!

What we have learnt: 6. Collect the information in the following

• Seeds are carried from one place to table and discuss the reasons?
another so that they get suitable
conditions to grow, this is called Agents of Name of the seed / Fruit
dispersal of seeds. dispersal

• Seed dispersal is essential for survival of By wind

plants.
By water
• Seeds are of different shapes and sizes
and structures on them that help in By animal
dispersal.
By bird
• Seeds are dispersed by wind, water, birds
and animals. By man
Key words: By any
other
Dispersal, Bursting Mechanism, Fleshy
Fruit 7. Some seeds like soap nuts have very hard
Improve Your learning : shell. Why it is so?
1. What happens if seeds are not dispersed? 8. Now- a-days people want to eat sprouts. List
out the reasons why they take sprouts as
2. How are the seeds dispersed in caltropis? food?
3. Why do most of the coconut trees grow 9. Collect some seeds sow them in a particular
along the sea shores? place in your school garden. Observe how
4. Do you find any relationship between the many days each type of seed takes to
weight of the seeds and the dispersal germinate. Tabulate your observations.
mechanism? Discuss with suitable 10. Collect Tadi seeds and make a model.
examples. Display them in your School.
5. Ravali said “dispersal of seed is very
important in nature” Is she correct? Why
do you support her?

128 Seed Dispersal

 14 WATER
TOO LITTLE TO WASTE

In class VI, we had studied about the uses of Source of Water on Earth
water, about floods, droughts etc. So little is
the quantity of water available for our use that
we have to use it very carefully. We know that
water is a precious resource. We cannot live
without water. Not only we, plants and animals
also depend on water for their survival.
Recollect the water sources on the Earth. We
can see huge amounts of water in seas and
oceans. Is it useful for us? We do not use sea • Could we now say, water is a precious
water for drinking. Why? Sea water is also not resource? Justify your answer.
useful for crops . We use only fresh water. • How are we presently using this
Do you know what is fresh water? Where is it resource?
available? Fresh water is available in ponds, • What will happen if we continue to do
lakes, rivers and streams. Do you know how so?
much fresh water is available on Earth? If 10 Do you know?
liters of water is the total water on the surface
of earth then out of this only 1ml is available On World Water
as fresh water for our use as well as for several Day, that is 22
plants and animals. March 2005, the
period 2005-2015
If the total water on earth be 100%, let’s see was declared as the International Decade
what percent would be available fresh water. for action on “Water for Life”.
Did you notice that a very small amount of
Source of Water Percentage fresh water is available on earth? Most of the
times we do not think of the importance of
Ocean(sea water) 97% fresh water. We are not aware of the need to
preserve fresh water.
Glaciers & Poles as ice (fresh water) 2%
Let us do-1:
Ground Water, Water in Ponds, List out the daily life situations where we waste
Lakes and Rivers 1%
(available fresh water)
water usually. Discuss in groups why we do
so. Write reasons in your note book.

VII Science 129

Neeraja collected a news letter for you. Try to The growth of demand the decline in fresh water
analyse issues discussed in the newsletter. availability ,the adverse health effects from poor water
SORROW OF EARTH: quality and scarcity will result in violence and water
wars. The next cold war could be over water.
My dear young minds, I am your living home I am
Neeraja said that it is a sad story and she was
called Planet Earth I always try to make you happy
afraid of our future also. Why did she think
by supplying various resources to meet your needs. But
so? What do you find in the newsletter? Write
now I am in danger ,please listen to me.
your opinion about this in your note book.
Fresh water has been the
Day-by-day our needs are increasing rapidly.
constant and essential
We use water for agriculture, industries, power
companion of human
generation etc. Water resources are not being
beings throughout history
increased along with population and their
water is used in great
needs. We must be aware of the need to
quantities in agriculture
protect water resources.
and industries.
Neeraja decided she would conserve water at
But your planet is poorly endowed with fresh water.
home as an action towards the cause “Water
Most water is rendered useless to humans by dilution for life”.
with salt in the oceans. Only 2.5 Percent is available
What would you do for the cause “Water
as fresh water of which 2/3 is locked up in Ice and
for life”?
snow. Nature is unkind in depositing almost eighty
Devi observed that a lot of water flows out
percent of rain over the sea. The rain that falls over
of the kitchen as well as bathrooms at her
the land has a great potential value.
house. She could not see water being wasted
Unsustainable extraction of fresh water causes water in this manner so she made a channel for water
scarcity. Due to over extraction of fresh water to flow from kitchen to the garden around.
underground reserves are falling rapidly. In India, She could not waste water from the bathroom
the water table has fallen more than 300 meters. in a similar manner. Her mother told her that
Human interventions which degrades the quality and it could be used after purification. Seeing her
quantity of natural supply of fresh water occur, in 3 interest in this, they decided to visit a water
principle ways . treatment unit during the weekend.
Firstly dams alter the natural flow of rivers often At the water treatment unit, they came to
leading to water scarcity. Secondly, soil moisture is know about many things.
lost by land degradation due to poor farming practices
All the wastewater released by home,
and deforestation. Thirdly, surface water is polluted industries, hospitals, offices and other users are
by run off chemicals used in industries and house holds. collectively called Sewage. Sewage is a liquid
World population is projected to grown 9.3 Billion by waste. Most of it is water, which has dissolved
2050. In addition to safe drinking water and sanitation and suspended impurities, disease causing
the rising pressure on fresh water will be felt most bacteria and other microbes. These impurities
severely in the energy and food sectors. Two out of are called contaminants. These are :
three people will be living with water shortage by 2025. Organic impurities - Human faeces, animal
130 Water - too little to waste
waste, oil, urea, pesticides, herbicides, fruit wastewater is decreased to allow sand, grit and
and vegetable waste etc. pebbles to settle down.

Fig 1 Fig.3
Inorganic impurities- Nitrates, Phosphates, 3. The water is then allowed to settle in a
metals etc. large tank which is sloped towards the middle.
Bacteria & other microbes- Such as those Solids like faeces settle at the bottom and are
which cause cholera, typhoid, dysentery etc. removed with a scraper. This is the sludge. A
Processes at the waste water treatment skimmer removes the floatable solids like oil
plant and grease. Water so cleared is called clarified
water.
Treatment of wastewater involves physical,
chemical and biological processes, which
remove physical, chemical and biological
matter that contaminates water.
1. Wastewater is passed through bar
screens. Large objects like rags, sticks,
cans, plastic packets, etc are removed by
this.

Fig.4
The sludge is transferred to a separate tank
where it is decomposed by anaerobic bacteria.
The biogas produced in the process can be
used as fuel or can be used to produce
Fig.2 electricity.

2. Water then goes to a grit and sand 4. Air is pumped into the clarified water
removal tank. The speed of the incoming to help aerobic bacteria to grow. Bacteria

VII Science 131

consume human waste, food waste, soaps and by following manholes and drains that
other unwanted matter still remaining in appear to connect them.
clarified water. • In case you do not find such a system in
After several hours, the suspended microbes your locality, find out how sewage is
settle at the bottom of the tank as activated being disposed off. Also find out
sludge. The water is then removed from the whether it is sent to treatment plants or
top. not.
• Is it being dumped into water bodies
without being treated?
• Prepare a short report on your findings.
Let us do: Finding out what really happens
to wastewater at treatment plants
You can do this individually or in groups at
school or home. Record observations at each
stage:
• Fill a large glass jar ¾
Fig.5 full of water. Add
The activated sludge is about 97% water. The some dirty organic
water is removed by sand drying beds or matter such as grass
machines. Dried sludge is used as manure, pieces or orange peels,
returning organic matter and nutrients to the a small amount of
soil. detergent, and a few
drops of an ink or any
The treated water has a very low level of
colour. Fig 6
organic material and suspended matter. It is
discharged into the sea, a river or into the • Cap the jar, shake it well and let the
ground. Nature cleans it up further. mixture stand in the sun for two days.
Sometimes it may be necessary to disinfect • After two days, shake the mixture and
water with chemicals like chlorine and ozone pour a small sample into test tube. Label
before releasing it into the distribution system this test tube “Before treatment; Sample
i.e. river, groundwater etc.. 1”. How does it smell?
Let us do: Study the sewage route in your • Use an aerator from an aquarium to
home/school/any other place. bubble air through the sample in the
• Walk down the street or survey the glass jar. Allow several hours for
campus to find the number of manholes. aeration; leave the aerator attached
overnight. If you do not have an aerator,
• Follow an open drain and find out where
use a mechanical stirrer or a mixer. You
it ends.
may have to stir it several times. This
• Make a line diagram of the sewage route actually works like a skimmer of waste

132 Water - too little to waste

 water treatment plant. • Did aeration change the odour?
• Aeration causes organisms that break • What was removed by the sand filter?
down waste to grow faster thus it leads • By adding chlorine what changes do you
to what is called as “Biological Process”. observe in sample 3 and 4?
• The next day when aeration is complete, • Did chlorine have an odour? Was it
pour another sample into a second test tube. worse than that of the wastewater?
Label it “After aeration; Sample 2”.
• Write two points each of similarity and
• Fold a piece of filter paper to form a difference between the processes
cone. Wet the paper with tap water and involved at the treatment plant and this
then insert the cone in a funnel. Mount experiment.
the funnel on a support (as you have learnt
in Class VI). • What is the use of bar screen at sewage
treatment plant? Was anything like that
• Place layers of sand, fine gravel and present in this experiment? Why?
finally medium gravel in the funnel. (An
actual filtration plant does not use filter Diseases caused by untreated water
paper, but the sand filter is several meters If waste water is not treated and allowed to
deep). pass as such into our resources, it becomes a
• Pour the remaining aerated liquid through cause for a large number of diseases.
the filter into the beakers. Do not allow This is what happens at Ramu’s village.
the liquid to spill over the filter. If the All residences there release waste water from
filtered liquid is not clear, filter it a few kitchen, bathrooms and toilets outside their
times till you get clear water. This is houses, which gets stagnated and causes
“physical process”. diseases like diarrhoea, malaria, typhoid and
• Pour a sample of the filtered water into cholera.
a third test tube labeled “Filtered; • Suggest what Ramu could do to stop the
Sample 3”. stagnation of water.
• Pour another sample of the filtered water Other ways of Disposing Sewage:
into a fourth test tube. Add a small piece
of a chlorine tablet. Mix well until the We dispose waste water in our daily life in
water is clear. Label the test tube different ways and means. We often see water
“Chlorinated; Sample 4”. stagnated near bore wells or beside houses.
Sometimes human and animal excretions also
• This is a “Chemical Process” of mix with this water. We get a foul smell when
treatment. we walk near those areas. To prevent this we
• Observe carefully the samples in all the need a proper drainage system.
test tubes. Do not taste! Just smell them! In some villages and towns we can see drainage
• What changes did you observe in the canals on both sides of the streets to maintain
appearance of the liquid after aeration? flow of waste water.

VII Science 133

· Is there any drainage system in your
village?
Types of Drainage Systems:
Generally we make some arrangements in our
areas to carry waste water and other materials
released by domestic activities. In some places
people construct a ditch to settle drainage
water. In some places they make the waste
water flow in canals to their fields or to the
waste lands around.
· Is it right to leave untreated waste water
in this manner?
Let us do: Finding out types of drainage
system in a locality
Make a list of drainage systems that you may
have heard about (You may also ask your
teacher):
______________________________________ Some homes do not have drains running to a
common treatment plant. They usually have a
______________________________________
septic tank instead. These are units of waste
______________________________________ disposal used at homes usually in villages/
______________________________________ towns and in some individual houses in cities.
· Which among the above is the most
common type of drainage system that
you see?
· How is the flow of water blocked
sometimes in drainage canals?
· What can be done to reduce such blocks?
· How can a closed drainage system be
useful for us?
· Discuss with your friends/teacher and
Fig 7
write which type of drainage system
(either open, closed or underground) is Do you know? Our state government
useful for us and why? provides septic tank facility for each home in
the village.
· Collect information about how many
families have septic tanks and toilets in

134 Water - too little to waste

 their houses in your village/town/ Another step towards conservation:
nearby village. Ask the families who do Nallavally is the oldest Vana Samrakshana
not have one to construct the same. Samithi (VSS ) of Medak district, which was
• How are the wastes from toilets disposed formed in 1993 with 600 members. An area
of in your school? Write a few lines about of 310.40 Hectares has been allotted from
the process. Nallavally forest block to the VSS members.
Conservation of Water:
We perform many activities in our daily life
using water. We can conserve water by
adopting certain good practices. Let us read
about the practices performed at Mary’s
house.
I am Mary. There are six persons in my family.
My grandfather says water is precious so
don’t waste it. My mother collects water in a
bucket after cleaning rice, dal and
vegetables in the kitchen which contains
peels of vegetables and we use this water for Prior to formation of Vana Samrakshana
our cattle. We do not throw solid food Samithi, the Socio-Economic condition of the
remains, tea leaves and oily wastes down the villagers was bad. Many of them used to
drain. My father made a channel so that the migrate to other places as their lands were not
kitchen and bathroom water flows to the suitable for cultivation due to lack of enough
coconut and banana plants in our garden.
We always use mild soaps and detergents so
ground water. They could only raise rain fed
that this water may not harm our plants. One crops like Jowar, Red gram, Horse gram,
day my grandmother asked me to measure Maize etc., Availability of water even for
drops of water which leaked from a tap in drinking purpose was also difficult as all open
the bathroom. I noticed that three mugs full wells and bore wells used to dry up in summer
of water leaked from that tap in a day. Then
season.
she asked me to calculate how many mugs of
water was wasted in a year. We immediately
got our tap repaired.
• What are the ways in which Mary’s’ family
conserves water at home?
• How can you conserve water in your
home?
• Do people in your area conserve water? The VSS members have constructed several
How? Percolation Tanks, Contour Trenches to
• If they don’t, think and write some harvest the rainwater. Check Dams and Rock
suggestions that you would like to give Fill Dams have also been constructed to
them. conserve water to revive the forest area.

VII Science 135

Key words • Water should be treated before being
Sewage, Wastewater, Contaminants, Septic released to water bodies.
tank, Drainage system, Percolation tank, • Water must be conserved by individual
Contour trenches, Bar screen, Grit, efforts as well as through efforts made
Check dam, Rock fill dam, Activated by the community.
sludge. Improve your learning
What we have learnt 1. Fill in the blanks and give reasons.
• Only one percent of all water resources (a) Cleaning of water is a process of
is available freshwater. removing ____________.
• The available resource of fresh water is
(b) Wastewater released by houses is
getting depleted at a very fast pace due
called ____________.
to different human activities.
(c) Dried ____________ is used as
• Wastewater is generated at homes,
manure.
industries, etc. by different human
activities. (d) Drains get blocked by
____________ and ____________.
• All the wastewater released by home,
industries, hospitals, offices and other 2. What is sewage? Explain why it is
users are collectively called Sewage. harmful to discharge untreated sewage
• Sewage is a liquid waste. Most of it is into rivers or seas?
water, which has dissolved and 3. Why should oils and fats not be released
suspended impurities, disease causing in the drain? Explain.
bacteria and other microbes. 4. Describe the steps involved in getting
• Sewage water contains inorganic, clarified water from wastewater.
organic and bacterial as well as other 5. What is sludge? Explain how it is treated.
microbial contaminants.
6. Untreated human excreta is a health
• Wastewater is treated in treatment plants
hazard. Explain.
• Physical, chemical and biological
7. Name two chemicals used to disinfect the
processes are involved in treatment of
water.
wastewater at the treatment plants.
8. Explain the function of bar screens in a
• Chlorine kills harmful disease causing
wastewater treatment plant.
organisms present in wastewater.
• Aeration allows growth of microbes that 9. Explain the relationship between
break down wastes. sanitation and disease.

• Different types of drainage systems are 10. Outline your role as an active citizen in
open, closed and underground ones. relation to sanitation.
• Septic tanks also help in wastewater 11. What would you do to motivate people
disposal. in your street to utilise toilets ?

136 Water - too little to waste

12. What would happen if there were no 16. Prepare atleast 5 slogans on “Don’t
microbes that break down wastes in waste water”.
sewage? 17. Make a writeup for your project on
13. What point would you like to address in preservation of rain water.
the letter for your panchayat officer 18. Is there a check dam or any other water
about drainage system in your village / conservation unit in your village? Write
town? a note on it.
14. Go to a nearby railway station / bus 19. Have you any doubts about diseases
station / hospital / industry. What type caused by un treated water? List them
of sewage is released? List out where out.
and how.
20. If you see water run off from a public
15. Fresh water is scarce. What is your tap what would you do about it?
contribution to make your family
members aware of the need to save
water?

VII Science 137

 15 SOIL - OUR LIFE

Let us try to find out

the answers to some
of these questions.
For this lets do some
activities.
Let us do-1 :
Usefulness of soil
Work in groups of 3
to 4 students. Discuss
and list out the ways
in which soil is useful
for us. Compare the
Figure 1 list with that of other groups and add any
point that you may have missed.
Rafi and Vasanthi were asked by their teacher
to make models of some vegetables. They • Can we say soil is one of the most
collected some soil from their garden, mixed important resources like water and air?
the soil with water and made some models. Why?
They were not satisfied, as sometimes, their Soil is the uppermost layer of earth’s crust. It
models would break when they tried to shape is formed of rock particles and organic
them. The surface of the models was rough matter called humus. It is one of the most
and not smooth. Rafi’s grandma saw them important natural resources. It supports the
doing this and said, “To make models, you existence of living organisms. We can use soil
have to collect soil from the bank of our for different purposes in our daily life. Almost
village pond which is sticky”. all things in our surroundings directly or
• Guess why soil of the garden was not indirectly depend on soil.
suitable to make models?
Can we say soil is one of the most important
• Why was grandma’s suggestion useful? resources like water and air?
• Are soils different from place to place? The soil supports all plants, animals and micro
• How is soil useful for us? organisms. Almost all the things in our
surroundings directly or indirectly depend on
• Guess what soil is made up of ?

138 Soil: Our Life

soil. For example a pot may be directly made soil (The suggested sites are: lawn of the
from soil. But a wooden chair is derived from school, public parks, near pond, river bank,
tree which depends on soil. bank of a canal, a badly eroded field, a good
Let us do-2: Soil in our life agricultural field). Select any three such site
and work in groups. It would be better to visit
Rafi and Vasu want to make a list of things the place after rain.
that are directly or indirectly related to soil.
Help them with their list. Don’t forget to carry a hand lens, any hand
tool to dig soil, your notebook, pencil,
rubber, scale, news paper, soil life chart and
any bag.
Soil Life Chart
( Put a tick mark on the options given if you
find them in your site, add to the list wherever
needed.)
Name of Site: _________________
Section 1: Plants
1. In the soil, there are-No roots, few roots,
many roots _________________
2. Presence of small plants like __________
What do you observe in your findings? This 3. Other signs of plants include: __________
tells that our daily life activities are closely
Section 2: Animals
related to soil. In addition to agriculture we
depend on soil for house construction, making I observed-different kinds of worms. (e.g.
utensils, toys etc. earthworms which have no legs,……………
……………………………………………..)
Human beings can’t live without air and water.
In the same way soil is also an essential different kinds of larvae of insects. (e.g. thick
component in our lives. Most of our daily life worm-like creatures,… …………………
activities are closlely related to soil. We use ………………………………………)
soil for various purposes. different kinds of snails and slugs. (e.g. soft-
During festivals like Vinayaka Chavithi people bodied animals; snails have shells, slugs do not
use idols of Ganesh made of plaster of paris have shells,……………………)
and chemical colours which causes severe different kinds of insects. (e.g. animals with 3
damage to our environment. Instead of these pairs of jointed legs,……………………...)
chemical idols we should use clay idols and
celebrate festivals in an ecofriendly way.. different kinds of spiders, mites, ticks.

Let us do-3: Soil and Life (e.g. animals with 4 pairs of legs,……………
………………………………………….)
Go to any area to study about organisms in

VII Science 139

different kinds of animals with more than 4 • Does the amount of animal life and the
pairs of legs. (e.g. centipedes, millipedes, burrows the animals make have any
……………………………………………………….) relation to the condition of the soil?
Other creatures I found are……… • “Soil is a good habitat”. Explain the
……………………...........) After examining statement.
and counting, return the living things to the Soil is a good habitat. We depend on it for
soil. agricultural and construction purposes,
This is what you need to do at the site: making utensils, toys etc. We have already
1. Measure and mark off an area of land learnt that plants depend on soil for nutrients
approx. 30 cm x 30 cm. like mineral salts and water from the soil in
the chapter “Nutrition in Plants.”
2. Gently sort through the leaf litter, and
collect any creatures you find there. Record Do you know?
your findings in the chart given. Making pots by using soil is called pottery.
3. Dig the soil to a depth of 4-6 cm. observe This is an ancient creative occupation.
and record the presence of roots. Are there During Harappan civilization, different
any? varieties of designer pots and clay utensils
were used. Pottery is a cottage industry in
4. Take out the soil and spread the soil onto our country. Potters make pots by using
a sheet of newspaper. clay soil on a pottery wheel.
5. Carefully sort the soil, watch closely for
small living things with a hand lens. Watch
for worms and other animals. You may also
find other signs of animal life such as
burrows or eggs of insects which may be
single or in masses. Count the different
kinds (write in section: other creatures I
found)
You may take the help of the given Fig. 3
picture for your study.
Know more about your soil
Now we have come to know that soil is a good
habitat of organisms. We have also studied
its different uses. Now let us study some other
properties of soil.
Let us do-4: Is the soil from different places
Fig. 2 same?
• Which area has a maximum of animal For our study, we require soils collected from
life? different places. Examples of some of these
locations are given below:

140 Soil: Our Life

 fields, lakeside, open meadows, This work distribution should be done a day
river banks, gardens, forests, before the chapter is begun in the class.
roadside, fallow land Leave home a little early on that day, go to
You can change the list, adding or subtracting the location allotted to you, collect about 250
names, to suit your convenience. But you gm of soil for your sample, and bring it to
should make sure that you get different types school. You can carry the soil in a bag.
of soil from different places. It would be even Remember to collect the soil only on the day
better if the soils are of different colours. you begin the experiments in class. Don’t forget
to put a label on your soil sample, stating
Collect the soil samples while you are on your where you got it from and the date on which
way to school from home. But, first, let your you collected it.
teacher distribute the work of collecting
different soil samples among the different First copy the following Table in your Note
groups in the class. The class can decide which book and note all your observations in this
group should visit which location and bring table. Instructions given after the table will
back which type of soil samples to school. help you to fill it.

Let us do-5: Examining The Soil After various properties of soil as given in the table.
Returning To School Some points to study the properties are given
below.
Examine the different soil samples brought
1. How does the soil look? Is it like fine
to class and see whether you can identify

VII Science 141

 powder or granular? have to grind the soil to a fine powder, Spread
2. What is its colour? Is it black, brown or it out and examine the particles through a
some other colour? hand lens.)
3. How does it feel when you touch or press Let us do-6: What type of soil is it?
it? Hard, soft, elastic, dry, sticky etc? Take 20 gm to 25 gm of soil from your soil
4. How does it smell? Is it aromatic, foul sample. Remove the pebbles, grass and other
smelling or without a scent? organic matter from it. Add water to the soil,
5. Can you see anything new when you drop by drop, kneading the soil while doing
examine the soil under a microscope? so. Pour enough water so you can make small
6. Can you see any living creatures or balls of soil, without the soil sticking to your
plants in the soil? palms. Make a 2.5 cm diameter ball of soil.
7. Can you see any remains of dead Put this ball on a flat surface and try and roll
creatures or plants? it into a 15-cm-long rod. If you can bend the
8. Are all the particles in the same sample rod without breaking it, then bend it into a
of soil similar? ring.
If you have a problem in answering these You can identify a soil type by the extent to
questions, do the following activities and then which you can mould it.
try to answer them. Identify the different types of soils in the line
(To observe properties No 6 and 7, you will diagram given below. Determine the soil on
the basis of following chart.

142 Soil: Our Life

If the proportion of larger sized particles is the soil samples in the table.
more, we call the soil sandy. If the proportion • Are the figures of the percent moisture
of fine particles is more, the soil is clay. If content of all the soil samples the same?
large and fine particles are present in equal
proportions, the soil is called loam. • Compare your findings with those of the
other groups.
Let us do-7: The Moisture Content of Soil
Let us do-8: The Percolation Rate of Soil
There are many ways of finding out the
moisture content of different soils. We shall Take soil samples which were
use a simple method. Grind the soil you wish collected for the previous
to find the moisture content of, into a fine activity. Take a plastic funnel
powder. Weigh 100 gm of soil from this pile. and place a filter paper in it
as shown in figure. Weigh 50
Spread it on a newspaper and dry it for about gm of dry soil and pour it into
two hours in the sun. While drying the soil, the funnel. Take 100ml of
the sky must be clear and the heat of the sun water in a measuring cylinder.
intense. Keep turning the soil over while you Then pour the water on the
are drying it. Be careful that the soil does not soil drop by drop.
spill out of the newspaper. Weigh the soil
again after it has completely dried. The Do not let all the water fall at one spot. Pour
difference in the two weights will tell you how water all over the surface of the soil until it
much water 100 gm of the soil contained. This starts dripping out of the funnel. Observe
quantity is known as the percent moisture how fast water passes down the soil. Measure
content of the soil. the amount of water collected in the beaker.
Let all the groups do the experiment with Calculate the difference between amounts of
different soil samples. water. Record the time taken for water to pass
through the sample. Fill the following table.
• Write the percent moisture content of

VII Science 143

• Which type of soil retains the highest • What is the colour of the water?
amount of water? • Use blue and red litmus to test whether
• Which type of soil took least time to pass the water is acidic or basic. Note the
down water? result in the table.
• Which type of soil took maximum time Soils contain minerals. Most of the minerals
to pass down water? found in the soils are salts of sodium, calcium,
• Which type of soil retains least amount magnesium and potassium chlorides, sulphates
of water? and carbonates. Highly acidic soil retards
plant growth by affecting the efficiency with
Water passing down through the soil which the plant absorbs nutrients from the soil.
particles is called percolation.
• Can you find out ways to decrease
• Why does sand soil not retain water for acidity?
a long time?
HORIZONS OF SOIL
• Is there any relation between percolation
rate and water holding capacity of soil? Soil is made up of distinct horizontal layers;
Write your observations? these layers are called horizons. They range
from rich, organic upper layers (humus and
Activity 9: Substances present in Soil topsoil) to underlying rocky layers (subsoil,
Fill a beaker half full with soil. Pour some regolith and bedrock).
rainwater or distilled water over the soil. You • O Horizon - The top, organic layer of
should pour enough water to fill the beaker soil, made up mostly of leaf litter and
three-fourths. Stir the soil and water with a humus (decomposed organic matter).
twig. Then let the solution stand for some
time. Once the soil settles down, drain out the • A Horizon - The layer called topsoil; it
water carefully. Fill a boiling tube half full with is found below the O horizon and above
this drained water. Heat the boiling tube over the E horizon. Seeds germinate and plant
a candle flame. Continue heating till only a roots grow in this dark-colored layer. It
fourth of the water remains. Then answer the is made up of humus (decomposed
questions given below. organic matter) mixed with mineral
particles.
• E Horizon - This eluviation (leaching)
layer is light in color; this layer is beneath
the A Horizon and above the B Horizon.
It is made up mostly of sand and silt,
having lost most of its minerals and clay
Drained Water as water drips through the soil (in the
process of eluviation).
• B Horizon - Also called the subsoil -
this layer is beneath the E Horizon and
above the C Horizon. It contains clay

144 Soil: Our Life

 and mineral deposits (like iron, • C Horizon - Also called regolith: the
aluminum oxides, and calcium layer beneath the B Horizon and above
carbonate) that it receives from layers the R Horizon. It consists of slightly
above it when mineralized water drips broken-up bedrock. Plant roots do not
from the soil above. penetrate into this layer; very little
organic material is found in this layer.
• R Horizon - The un weathered rock
(bedrock) layer that is beneath all the
other layers.
O Horizon • These different layers of soil are called
(Surface litter) soil profile.
A Horizon Do you know?
(Top Soil)
Soil Formation: Soil is formed slowly as
rock (the parent material) erodes into tiny
E Horizon
(Leaching layer) pieces near the Earth’s surface. Organic
matter decays and mixes with inorganic
B Horizon material (rock particles, minerals and
(Subsoil)
water) to form soil. These days farmers
test the soil in the field using soil
technologies in order to grow suitable
C Horizon
(Regolith)
crops in the fields. Engineers also test the
soil profile before constructing multi-
storied buildings, bridges and dams.
R Horizon
(Bedrock)

Soils in our village:

We will see different types of soils in different parts of our state. Most of the places in a
district generally have same type of soil. In some cases we can see different types of soil in a
district or same type of soil in different areas also. Lets us observe experiences of students
from different parts of our state.

I am Madhu. I am living in Dondapadu village of Mellacherucu mandal

in Nalgonda district. We have black soil in our village. We can make a
ball by using this soil. But we can make cracked ring only. So it is light
clay soil. Farmers grow cotton and Mirchi. If you dig two or three feet we
will get lime stone in the soil. We use those stones for different purposes
like construction of compound walls etc.

VII Science 145

 I am Kalesha. I am living in Padakal of Talakondapalli mandal in
Mahaboobnagar district. We have red soil in our village. We can make a
ball by using this soil. But we can’t make a ring by using this soil, because
this contains sand too. Farmers grow ground nut and castor and in some
places cotton is also grown. Our people said that this is red sand soil.

I am Sujatha. I am living in Dantaguntla of Kanumolu mandal in

Krishna district. We have black soil in our village. We can make any
type of model by using this soil. It is sticky in nature. We call it
black soil. This soil retains water for a long time. Farmers grow cotton,
sugar cane and paddy. I saw the same type of soil in Indukurupeta of
Nellore district also.

I am David. I am living in Kanala of Sanjamala mandal in Kurnool

district. We can only make cracked rings using the soil in our village.
My father said that this soil contains sand also. We grow Jowar, Bengal
Gram and Paddy .

I am Ramadevi. I am living in Ramapuram of Vetapalem mandal

in Prakasham district. In my village we can see sandy soil. We can’t
make even a ball by using this soil. Farmers grow Jasmine,
Kanakambaram like flowers only. Most of the farmers practise Aqua
culture. Paddy is not grown in my village.

What do you observe in the information given by these children. Write information about soil
and crops that are grown in your village in the same way.
I am ....................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................

146 Soil: Our Life

Soil and crops: • Which type of crops are grown in our
The crops commonly grown in any area state?
depend on many factors. One major factor is • The districts that cultivate paddy in large
the kind of soil available in that area and its areas have which type of soil?
properties. Along with seasonal rainfall fertility of soil also
We can start with taking paddy as an example influence crop production. Do you know why
to understand the relation between soil and farmers dump cattle dung in the fields?
crop production. A paddy crop grows best Farmers always take care of the soil in their
in a field that remains filled with water for a fields.
long time. Soil Conservation:
• Which type of soil is better suited for During heavy winds we observe that the
growing paddy - one with a high surface soil particles are carried away by air.
percolation rate or with a low one? Sometimes during heavy rains, rain water
carries away top layers of soil. This is called
soil erosion. As a result of storms and floods
fertile soil layers are removed and the soil
become barren. Our farmers grow big trees
around the fields to stop winds. They don’t
keep the lands vacant. Farmers generally use
vacant lands to grow grass and other plants.
These grass plant roots hold the soil particles
Let us do-10: and prevent soil erosion during heavy rains.
You will learn more about this in the chapter
Can you identify any connection between
on Forest.
crops and soil? Make group with four or five
students study the Atlas and other books in It is very important to preserve the fertility
your school library. Make list of soils and of soil. Do you know why farmers can’t
crops growing in those soils in our state. continue the same type of crops in their fields?
Continuous cultivation of same agriculture
• Which type of soil is generally seen in
crops reduce the soil fertility.
our state?

VII Science 147

 the sandy soil and least in the clayey soil.
• Water holding capacity of soil depends
on soil type.
• Clay and loam are suitable for growing
wheat, gram and paddy. Cotton is grown
in sandy loam or black soil.
• Soil profile is a section through different
layers of the soil.
• Removal of top soil by wind, water or
Let us do-11: any other means is known as soil erosion.
Make a group with four to five students and Improve your learning:
collect information about crops that grow in 1. How can you say soil is a precious
a year in your village. Why do they change resource? Give reasons.
crops after a period of time? Write your
2. Which type of soil is suitable for growing
observations in your note book.
cotton?
• Which crops are grown one after another
3. Give reasons for low percolation rate of
in your village?
clayey soil as compared to sandy soil.
• Why are pulses grown every time?
4. Why is top soil more useful for us?
• Is there any crop that grows continuously
5. What types of soils are there in your
in a same field?
village? Make a list of crops grown on
Generally, farmers cultivate pulses after these soils.
completion of paddy. This kind of rotation
6. If a farmer wants to improve water
of crops retains soil fertility and productivity.
holding capacity of his sandy soil field
Conservation of soil is important factor in
what will you suggest to him?
agriculture.
7. Do you think rotting vegetation and
Key words
animal remains are important for the
Clayey, Humus, Loamy, Sandy, soil? In what way?
Percolation, Water retention, Soil profile,
8. Roots of grasses hold soil particles. This
Soil fertility, Soil erosion, Crop rotation
conserves the …………………………
What we have learnt
9. Which of the following statement is
• Soil is a mixture of rock particles and correct? Correct the wrong one.
humus.
• Soil form from sand.
• Clay, loam and sand are types of soil.
• Crop rotation protects soil fertility.
• Amount of water that passes through
• Clay soil can’t hold water for a long time.
gives us percolation rate. It is highest in
• Upper layers of soil are made of rocks.
148 Soil: Our Life
10. Collect soil from your school ground. 13. “If you sow a seed in the soil it will give
Try to make a ring with that soil. Write birth to a tiny plant which grows bigger
down your observations. What type of and bigger. “It is the wonder of soil”
soil is it? Swetha said. How you express your
11. Take a boiling tube. Put two spoons of appreciation of soil like Swetha?
soil in it. Heat it on a spirit lamp and 14. Write a dialogue between seed and soil
cover it. and perform a small play using your own
(a) Do this experiment and write your script.
findings. 15. If you have a chance to talk with a soil
(b) Do you find any moisture in the soil? scientist, what questions would you like
to ask him about soil?
(c) How can you say that?
16. Do you find any relationship between the
12. Nazmal’s grand mother said “Human chapters “Soil” and “Nutrition in
beings always depends on soil” is she plants”. What are they?
correct? How do you support her
statement
SOIL SCIENCE
Soil science is the study of soil as a natural
resource on the surface of the Earth. This
includes Soil formation, Clssification and
mapping, physical-chemical-biological and
fertility properties of soil.
Some times terms which refer to branches of soil science such
as pedology and edaphology are used as if synonymous with
soil science. Study of formation, chemistry, morphology and
classification of soil is called pedology. Study of influence of
soil on organisms, especially on plants is called edaphology.
The diversity of names associated with this discipline is related
to the verious associations concerned. Indeed engineers,
agronomists, chemists, geologists, physical geographers,
ecologists, biologists, microbiologists, syliviculturists,
archiaiogists all contribute to further knowledge of soil and the
advancement of soil science.

VII Science 149

 16 FOREST : OUR LIFE

Pushpa stays at Visakhapatanam. Her Every morning after breakfast, grandma

grandfather stays at a village near would pack a knapsack with some snacks, a
Sringavarapukota. bottle of cold water and a flask full of coffee.
• Try to locate these places in a map of Pushpa was so fond of the orchard that she
Andhra Pradesh given in your atlas. would love to spend the whole day under the
shade of the trees. She could hear birds
Pushpa always visits her grandpa’s place chirping, watch squirrels running about,
during the summer vacation as grandpa owns people moving around, grandmas’ goats
a large mango orchard. She could feast on the wandering to feed on small plants, some
juicy mangoes and feel the cool air at the insects flying about (grandpa always used the
orchard there. On the way to grandpa’s village right insecticide – a chemical to kill insects to
the beautiful view of thick forests of keep the orchard free from them yet some
Ananthagiri always attracted her. She would were always left!). It was indeed such a
ask her parents to stop the car on the roadside wonderful place!
to take a look at the forests along the hillside.
There were different types of trees; several
small and big plants growing close to each
other and some climbers growing up to the
tall tree tops!

Fig. 2
Pushpa had just passed her class sixth exam
and had been pondering over a question in
the question paper which was, “What do trees
Fig. 1 give us?”
At the village, grandpa would take her into the In the answer to it she had written about
orchard which looked like a forest with so many several things as well as shade and cool air.
mango trees and the small plants growing under Was she correct?
them. The difference was, all trees here grew in Do we feel cool under the shade of the trees
lines and were of the same kind! in an orchard?
150 Forest
:
• Make a list of things that you know are • Forests have been cut down at a very fast
obtained from trees. rate in the past hundred years and
Grandpa’s orchard: replaced by industries, orchards
(plantations of fruit bearing plants) or
Pushpa always wondered how these mango those needed for timber or other
trees had grown in grandpa’s orchard. economic needs, croplands etc.
Grandpa explained that it was great grandpa • The natural habitat of a forest is lost
who was given a piece of land in the forest. when forests are cut down. Several types
The forest area had to be cleared to grow the of organisms disappear (either die out
mango saplings (baby plants) and develop it or leave the place).
into the orchard it was today.
• There are forests only on 19.3% of the
“There must have been wild animals then in geographical area of our country now
those days?”, enquired Pushpa. (some reports say it’s much less than
“Yes off course, great grandpa along with his this).
brothers and other villagers had to beat drums • A forest is a community of trees, shrubs,
and use lighted fire torches at night to drive herbs and other plants and organisms
away the wild animals”. that cover a large area using carbon
Where did the wild animals go? Where do they dioxide, water, soil nutrients etc.
live now? What happened to the trees that • Forests take up a large amount of
were already present there? Do we always Carbon dioxide and some other harmful
destroy forests to grow orchards or crops? particles and gases and keep the air clean.
Questions after questions poured out and They serve as lungs of our earth.
grandpa had to think a lot to answer them.
• Forests are renewable natural resources,
• Why do we need forests at all? We could which play an important role in the
have only these orchards with so much of maintenance of ecological balance.
fruits to eat and, due to the absence of wild
animals, safe to roam around too! Do you • They are an important source of timber,
support this statement? Why? fuel wood, cane, resins, lac, oils, fruits,
nuts, firewood, fodder for animals,
What Forests are? honey etc.
Pushpa asked her friends and relatives to find • The forests also have wild strains of the
answers to questions that came to her mind. cultivable crops and medicinal plants.
These are some information given to her. • If affected by a disease, the whole forest
• In ancient times the country was famous area is not destroyed.
for its dense and continuous forests like • They provide habitat to wildlife.
Dandakaranya,Panchavati, Nallamala
etc. But with the advance of civilization • Forests help to control soil erosion.
through ages, most parts of these forests • They help in causing rain.
are gone now. • They keep the surrounding cool.

VII Science 151

Pushpa was quite confused. There were so • Can large areas of plantations of same
many things written about forests! She could type of trees like eucalyptus be called
not understand some parts such as how forests forests? Why?
maintained ecological balance, how they could • Draw the picture of a forest in your
be lungs of the world etc. She could only make notebook on the basis of what you have
out some common things about forests which learnt so far.
were-
• Do all forests have the same type of
Forest is a place where there are many different animals and plants? Why or why not?
trees. It is a home for wild animals. It also
decorates the world. It is a very airy and Diversity in forests:
shadowy place. We should not cut them to A. Forests of A.P.
build factories, buildings etc or to grow crops,
Let us find out about the types of plants and
orchards etc.
animals in the forests of our state.
• What is your opinion about forests?
In the forests of Andhra Pradesh we can see
• Why do you think forests are called lungs different types of trees like Teak, Sal etc., as
of the whole earth? well, that grow very tall. Neem, Tamarind,
• In what way is an orchard different from Amla, Soapnuts, Red sandalwood grows quite
a forest? tall. There are bushes, creepers, guggilam,

Forest area Animals that live in the forest Types of Trees

Elephants, Deers, Monkeys,

Chittoor Dist. Snakes, Squirrels Tamarind, Amla, Neem

Tigers, Bars, Jackals, Wolf, Tamarind, Amla, Neem,

Kurnool Dist. Salmanders Tangedu
Visakhapatnam Tigers, Deers, Chimpanzees, Tamarind, Amla, Neem,
Dist. Snakes, Fox Tangedu, Bamboo
Tamarind, Amla, Neem,
Adilabad Dist. Elephants, Tigers, Monkeys Tangedu,Addaku

tangedu, kamba, yegisa, nallamaddi, bamboo, the help of the above table, add some more
etc as well. names (refer to books in your library and also
Let us do-1: Studying diverse animals and ask your teacher) and make a list of them.
plants Discuss and write why there could be
Form groups and discuss about animals and variation in the type of animals and trees
plants found in the forests of our state. Take found in forests.

152 Forest
B. Forests of other regions
Let us do-2: Comparing forests
Find the similarities and differences between the two types of forests as given in the pictures?
• We have studied about habitats in class VI, on the basis of that, can you say why forests
are good habitats?

Fig. 3(a) Fig. 3(b)

Forest of hot and humid areas (Equatorial) Forest of cold areas (Alpine)

• Do you think forest is a habitat for soil for the plant to grow again. They have
human beings as well? How? very little needs and happily go about their
Besides animals and plants, forests have been daily lives.
a home of people as well, from ancient times. These people are being forced to leave their
In various forest areas of Andhra Pradesh we forest dwellings and start other professions.
find some people still living there and making Chenchus are the only people living in the
it their home. They usually live in places in company of tigers and wild animals. If they
the forest where water is available . withdraw from the core areas, their rich
To know more about them let us read this. knowledge of wild animals, medicinal plants
and tree species will vanish.
These people never harm the forest in any
manner. Chenchus (aadivasis) never cut green • What are the problems that these people
trees for fuel wood and for domestic will face if shifted from the forests?
purposes. They collect only dry wood. They Let us do-3: Preparing case study on tribals
also hunt only small animals like lizards and
Collect information about other tribal people
rabbits for their food. While collecting tubers
living in forests and prepare case studies. You
that they eat, they leave a part of them in the
can take help from one given on “Chenchu’s”.

VII Science 153

 The Chenchus – Handling forests with · Discuss and write reasons.
care! Usually people destroy the forest for their
Nayudu cheruvu thanda is a small village near own economic purposes for example, earning
Papinenipally in the dense Nallamala forest of by selling trees and thus, excessive cutting
Prakasham District. This village is surrounded by down of trees or deforestation takes place.
the highest hill ranges of Andhra Pradesh and there Deforestation also takes place when forests
are thick forests as well with several wild animals. are cleared to construct buildings, roads,
People living in this industries etc. Now-a-days thermal, nuclear
village belong to power plants. mining industries led by
“Chenchu” tribe multinational companies are a major threat to
(these people are forests throughout the globe. Often large
found in other parts of forests are also lost due to forest fires.
villages and
districts of the
• Does deforestation affect animals living
in a forest? How?
state as well). A
Chenchu walks • Think and write other reasons for the
through forests for loss of forests.
nearly 30 km
every day and has
• Why do wild animals enter villages near
forests?
thorough knowledge of forest, its flora, fauna and birds
within a radius of around 15 km. They collect various • What will happen if forests are
food products like soapnuts, honey, tamarind, bamboo completely destroyed?
etc and sell them in the ‘Santha’ (a weekend market) • Can we have only croplands and
and purchase materials like clothes etc. They also orchards instead of forests? Why?
collect medicinal plants from the forest for which they
are well known throughout the state. • Can growing various types of trees in
your locality help to revive forests? Why?
Destruction of forests- An alarming pace!
Let us do-4:
Read the following news.
Go around your locality and note the number
of trees. Also note the different types.
• Write down their names (If you know).
• Are these trees also present in forests
of our state?
STEP TOWARDS CONSERVATION
Kondamallipudi Vana Samraksha Samiti, is
located at the foot hills of Ananthagiri forest
alongside the Srungavarapukota. It is in an area
inhabited by members of “Koya” tribe who
Fig 5(a)
154 Forest
 Save a Tree, Save Other Lives Too!
There is a school in a village. The school
has no boundary wall. The Headmaster
arranged for the construction of a
boundary wall with the help of higher
authorities. They were measuring the
boundaries. There was a mango tree in
the school. The tree was on the
boundary line. A person staying next to
the school argued that the tree belonged
Fig 6 to him. The children studying in the
are known for getting into forest areas and school had been playing, reading, having
lunch etc for years under the tree.
cutting down trees to grow crops.
The children came to know that the
These people along with forest officials have person sold the tree. It was going to be
now made great efforts to save forests by cut very soon. They tried to convince
planting bamboo and other plants like that person not to remove the tree, but
Karaka, Rosewood, Nallamadi, Tamarind, he adamantly denied the children’s
Usiri, Jafra etc. They also took steps to request.
conserve soil moisture by making bunds along Neelima
edges of plantation areas, digging trenches etc. who was
They see to it that no one harms trees in their studying
area. Thus forests that were degrading started class VII
growing once again. was
Let us take a step: We know that every bit worried
about it.
of effort towards conservation helps. If we
take due care of plants growing around us we She thought
may not be adding a forest but adding to throughout the night
greenery around us which is essential for our and got an idea. The Fig. 7
next morning she
own existence.
told the idea to her
Do you know? friends. They
In 1730 AD about 350 Bishonois led by collected money
Amrita Devi sacrificed their lives to protect from their savings.
sacred green Kejari trees by hugging them
All the children went into the village
when a king wanted to cut those trees later
and collected some more money. They
this was led to chipko movement in the
went to that person and gave him all
history. There after this practice has been the money they collected.
carry forward by people like Sunder Lal
Bahuguna. Seeing the concern of the children, the
person agreed that the tree would not
Read the following story and write your be cut.
opinion in your notebook.
VII Science 155
(This is adapted from an award winning story written by R. Ramya, 5. List the things that we use in our daily
Class – VIII of ZPH School, Navalaku Gardens of Nellore.)
life which are made from wood.
In the state of Andhra Pradesh efforts have 6. What is deforestation? How can it be
been made by communities along with stopped?
Government officials to grow trees in areas
7. This is not a forest product -
allotted near villages/towns as social forestry,
that is, peoples’ own efforts to revive forests, a. Soap nut b. Plywood
which are well known as “Karthik Vanam”. c. Matchstick d. Kerosene
Keywords 8. If you want to develop social forestry
in your village which type of plants
Orchard, Plantation, Timber, Firewood, would you like to grow. Why?
Soil Erosion, Bunds, Deforestation, Tribe
9. Collect the pictures of forest products
What we have learnt and stick them in your scrap book.
• We obtain various things and materials 10. Write a note on livelihood of forest
from the forest. tribes of our state.
• A forest is a good habitat for many plants 11. Collect some songs / stories/poems
and animals about conservation of trees.
• Forest helps in binding of soil and 12. We can see animals not only in the forests
protecting it from erosion. but also in the Zoo. Write some
similarities and differences between the
• People living in forests depend on its conditions in which animals are found
products for their livelihood. in the zoo and the forest.
• Social forestry could help overcome 13. Charita said “forest is good habitat”
deforestation. How can you support her?
• Forests are lungs of our earth. 14. How do we depend on forests?
• Destroying forests posses threat to life 15. Draw or collect pictures of forests.
of animals and plants living there as well Discuss with your friends. Write about
our own survival. fate of forests in your state and what steps
you would take to conserve them.
Improve your learning
16. Find out about state of forests in India
1. How can you say forest is a habitat for
and write a brief report on it.
people?
17. Plant a tree on your birthday or during
2. What variations do we see in forest types?
any celebration in the family.
3. How do we depend on forests?
4. How can you say forests are lungs of our
earth?

156 Forest
 17 CHANGES AROUND US

In Class VI, we learnt that many changes are Table-1

taking place around us. There are certain
factors that influence these changes and there
are reasons for every change. Among the
changes we observe in our daily life some
changes are slow and some fast. There are
some changes that are temporary and some
are permanent. There are many changes which
take place naturally but for some we need to
initiate or intervene in some way for the change
to occur. In this lesson we try to learn about
some more changes. period of time. Such changes are known as
We know that there are certain changes that periodical changes.
repeat after roughly a fixed period of time. The events which repeat at regular intervals
For example we observe the repetition of of time are called Periodical Events
sunrise and sunset every day. Similarly we
notice changes in seasons after every few Physical Change:
months every year. In our daily life we observe many changes. In
Can you think of such other changes from the changes like melting of ice, solidification
your daily life? of ghee or coconut oil in winter etc., there is
a change in state of the substance. In certain
Make a list of changes you observe in your processes like filling balloons with air and
daily life that are repeated after some period pumping of cycle tubes etc., we notice change
of time. in shape. In some other changes like burning
Let us do-1: Finding the period of of wood and rusting of iron we find that new
repetition for changes. substances are formed. Are all these changes
the same?
Some changes are given in the following table-1.
Obser ve the changes and write the Let us do- 2: Find the change
approximate period of time after which they Some changes are given in the table.Write
are repeated, for each change. If we observe possible changes you notice for each case and
the above table, we notice that every change put ( ) in the appropriate column.
mentioned in the table repeats after some

VII Science 157

In how many changes do you notice change in of crackers, change of milk to curd, boiling
the state/colour/size/shape? Count each of egg, etc., a new substance is formed. But
separately in other examples of changes we notice a
In which cases are new substances formed? change in state or colour or size or shape etc
but the substance remains same and no new
In the above activity we notice that only in substance is formed. Let us observe the
some examples like burning of paper, burning following change.

158 Changes Around Us

Let us do-3: Observe the changes Chemical Changes:
in ice
Let us do-4: Observing the changes when
Take few pieces of ice in a beaker and heat burning some materials
them as shown in the following figure.
Take a piece of wood, a piece of paper and a
ball of cotton. Burn them and observe the
changes.

Fig. 1
What do you observe?
We notice that ice slowly melts and becomes
water and on further heating it changes to steam.
If we reduce the temperature, the water vapour
changes back to water and when temperature is
further reduced it changes to ice.
What changes do you notice in this Fig. 2
experiment? Record your observations in the following
Is there any change in state? Table.
Is there any change in shape and volume?
Is there any new substance formed?
Repeat the experiment using candle wax.
What do you observe?
In the above activity we notice the change of
the state of ice to water and to vapour but What changes do you notice ?
the substance, water, remains the same.
Changes of this type where no new substance Is there any change in colour?
is formed are known as physical changes. Is there any change in state of material?
When a material undergoes a change in shape, Do you find any new material after burning?
size, color or state it is called a Physical
Change. Are the materials formed before burning and
after burning the same?
Generally, no new substance is formed in a
physical change In the above activity we notice that when a
piece of wood, paper, and cotton are burnt a
Make list some physical changes you observe new material is formed . This is black in colour
in your daily life. and in powder form which is different from
VII Science 159
the original material. We also notice the Why do iron articles get rust when they are
change in shape and size of new material. This exposed to air for a long time ?
type change which leads to form a new
When iron is exposed to air for a long time ,
substance is known as Chemical Change.
the Oxygen present in air reacts with it in
Have you observed such changes in your daily the presence of moist air and forms a new
life? substance called iron oxide as rust on iron
articles. This process is known as rusting.
Can you name some changes which form new
substances?
Rusting of Iron: Similarly when Copper utensils are exposed
to air we find a greenish coat on them. This
greenish coat is formed when Copper reacts
with Oxygen and Carbon dioxide present in
the air. This coat also protects Copper from
getting further corroded. It is also an example
of rusting.
In all these cases, the metal is changed to its
oxide, forming a new substance. Hence
rusting is a Chemical Change. The speed of
rusting depends on the amount of moisture
Fig. 3 available to it for a long time That is more
the humidity in air, faster is the rusting of
Have you ever observed Iron nails, Iron iron.
gates, Iron benches or pieces of Iron left in
the open ground for a long time? The problem of rusting of iron and other
metal articles is common experience in almost
What do you notice? every home. It spoils beautiful articles and
You observe a brown layer on the surface of makes them look ugly. The following are
the Iron articles. This is called ‘rust’ and some of the ways to prevent the rusting of
process forming this layer is called ‘rusting’. iron.
Observe the iron tawa in your kitchen. You 1. Do not allow the iron articles to come
find a brown layer on it if it is unused for a in direct contact with Oxygen in the
long time. This is nothing but rusting of iron. air, water or both.
Similarly try to observe some other iron 2. Apply a coat of paint or grease on an
articles which are exposed to air like iron gates, iron article.
iron caps on manholes , iron benches in lawns Are there any other ways by which
etc. rusting of iron can be prevented?
Do you find rust on these articles? Do all the materials get rusted or react with
oxygen in the air?

160 Changes Around Us

Observe Gold and Silver. You wear them in that there is some metallic coating on these
the form of ornaments. Even if they get pipes to prevent rusting. They do not get
exposed to air for a long time, they do not rusted even after a long time since they are
change colour or get rusted. It means that galvanized.
they are resistant to corrosion which is the
The process of depositing one metal on
reason why we use them in making ornaments.
another metal is called galvanisation
List metals which get rusted and which don’t
Let us do-5: Observing colour layer on
get rusted when exposed to air.
cut fruits and vegetables
Galvanisation:
Take an apple, a brinjal, a potato, a tomato, a
You might have observed handles of bicycle cucumber, a banana; cut each into small pieces;
, metal rims of bicycles and motor cycles , place them in separate plates and expose them
white coated metal railings fixed to steps in to open air for sometime.
cinema halls and shopping malls etc.
Do these articles get rust? If not why?
Are all the above mentioned articles made
of iron ?
How can we know that a given article is made
up of iron or not ? Fig. 4
You learned about magnets in the lesson What changes do you notice?
‘Playing with magnets’.
Do magnets help us find iron articles? Try to
find out whether your bicycle handle is made
of iron or not. You notice that all the above
mentioned articles are made up of iron.
Some articles made up of iron, don’t get
rusted even they are exposed to air. To prevent
iron articles from coming into contact with
oxygen in air or water or both, we deposit a Record your observation in the following
layer of a metal like Chromium or Zinc on table.
them. This process of depositing a layer of
zinc or Chromium on Iron is called In which fruit or vegetable do you notice
Galvanisation. Generally we use Zinc for such change in colour?
type of coatings. Why does this change occur?
Have you ever observed in your house that Can you prevent the browning of cut
water pipe lines are without rust on them ? vegetables and fruits?
Have you noticed any coating over these
pipelines? If we observe carefully, we notice
VII Science 161
Some fruits and vegetables, when cut , react Take a small piece of Magnesium ribbon. Burn
with Oxygen in the air. This makes them to it on a flame of candle. You will find brilliant
get a brown layer on the surface. white dazzling light leaving a powdery
substance behind.
How to prevent browning of cut
vegetables and fruits: • Does the ash for med look like
Magnesium ribbon?
Have you observed your mother any time in
the kitchen keeping cut potatoes or brinjals • Do you think the Magnesium ribbon
in cold water? and the ash have the same composition?
When Magnesium burns in the presence of
Oxygen, it forms Magnesium Oxide in the
form of powder ash, which is a new substance.
Thus there is a change in the composition.

Collect the ash and mix it with a small quantity

of water and dissolve it. Another new
substance is formed.
Fig. 5
Why does she keep them in cold water?
What do you observe ?
Cold water prevents the outer surface of the
potato and brinjal from colouring. Small Do you observe any change in the state of
quantities of acids like vinegar or lemon juice the substance?
in water will also prevent browning of Is it acid or base?
vegetables.
Test the dissolved mixture with blue and red
You can also rub the surface of the cut fruits litmus papers to decide whether it is a acid or
with juices of citrus fruits like lemon to avoid a base.
their browning. The layer of lemon juice
Let us do-7: Observe some chemical
reduces the reaction on the surface of the fruit.
changes
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) can also be used to
prevent browning. Take a glass tumbler half-filled with water and
add a teaspoonful of Copper Sulphate to it.
Let us do-6: Observe the changes in
Now add a few drops of Sulphuric Acid to
Magnesium ribbon
the Copper Sulphate solution. Do you
observe any change in colour ? Take some
sample solution of it in another beaker and
keep it aside. Add an Iron nail to the solution
in the first beaker and keep it undisturbed for

Fig. 6
162 Changes Around Us
half an hour. Compare the colour of the
solution in which iron nail is dropped to that
of sample solution kept aside.
Now remove the nail from the beaker and
observe.
1. Is there any change in the colour of the
solution that had iron nail in it?
2. Is there any change in the nail?

Fig. 8
What is the change you observe? Limewater
changes to milky white showing that the gas
sent into the test tube is Carbon dioxide.

In these reactions the new substances like

Fig. 7 Carbon dioxide and Calcium Carbonate are
We notice that the blue coloured solution formed. Hence it is a chemical change
changes into green colour and a brown When a material undergoes a change in its
coloured deposit is seen on the iron nail. composition it is called a chemical change
Why did these changes take place? Let us do-9: Burning of Camphor
The change in colour of the solution is due to Have you ever seen “harathi” ?
the formation of Iron Sulphate, a new
substance. The brown deposit on the Iron Have you ever thought of the material used
nail is Copper, another new substance. in harathi?
It is “Camphor”, we burn it to get flame
(harathi). Observe what happens when you
Let us do-8: Observe reaction of Vinegar burn Camphor? Initially it changes into liquid
with Baking soda and then evaporates into air. It is also
First set up the apparatus has shown in Fig-8. considered to be a chemical change.
Take a teaspoon of vinegar (acetic acid) in a Take a small quantity of Camphor in a dish
test tube and add a pinch of baking soda and place it in the open air. Observe it after
(Sodium bi Carbonate) to it. If you do not some time. What happens? Its quantity reduces
have vinegar, lemon juice can also be used. and you sense the smell of it. It happens
You observe bubbles coming out with a because the camphor gets evaporated. Since
hissing sound. Pass this gas through freshly
prepared Limewater (Calcium Hydroxide)

VII Science 163

it has strong smell, it is used to keep insects Let us do-10: Observe crystallisation of
and flies away. It is also used in medicines. Sugar.
From the activities discussed above we
conclude that, in a chemical change, material
undergoes a change in its composition and a
new substance is formed.
In addition to new products the following may
also occur in a chemical change.
Fig. 9
1. Heat, light or any other radiation may be
given out or absorbed. Take a big size test tube . Fill half if it with
water. Add some sugar to it and stir it. Keep
2. Loud sound may be produced.
adding sugar and stirring until saturation is
3. A change in smell may take place or a attained. Then heat this sugar solution and
new smell may be produced. add some more sugar to it while stirring
continuously. Continue adding sugar till no
4. A colour change may take place.
more sugar can be dissolved in it. Now filter
5. A change in the state may occur. the solution and allow it cool for half an hour.
All chemical changes do not have the 5 traits What changes do you notice at the end?
mentioned above.
We notice formation of large size crystals of
Chemical changes are very important in our sugar at the bottom of the beaker. Thus sugar
lives. Mostly, new substances are formed as a the small granules of sugar added changed into
result of chemical changes. large size sugar crystals.
Think about some of the chemical changes What type of change is it ?
you observe around in your daily life.
Let us do-11: Observe Crystallisation of
Can you list them? Urea.
Crystallisation : Take some water in a test tube and add urea
Have you seen large crystals of sugar (Missri) to it. Heat the test tube till all the urea
or crystal salt? dissolves. Add more urea to it. Keep on
adding to it until no more urea can be
Do you know how we get these crystals? dissolved in it. Let the solution cool down for
Have you ever observed the formation of sometime. Observe the test tube after about
small sugar crystals on sweets like Jilebi and half an hour.
badushah, which are kept aside for a long Do you find any crystals in the solution?
period?
What is the shape of the crystals?
What is the reason for this?
Repeat the experiment with Alum. Compare
Let us find out. the type of crystals formed by urea and Alum.

164 Changes Around Us

Let us do-12: Observing Crystallisation of Till now we have discussed about some
Copper Sulphate. physical and chemical changes. In physical
Take some hot, saturated solution of Copper changes no new substance is formed whereas
sulphate in a test tube. Pour some of it in an in chemical change we have seen that one or
evaporating dish. Allow the solution to cool more new substances are formed.
quickly. Identifying physical and chemical change
Observe with a magnifying glass, the size,
Have you ever thought of the process behind
colour and shape of the crystals formed.
setting milk into curd? Is it a Physical change
From the above three activities we notice that or chemical change ?
we can separate dissolved substances in the
form of crystals. What type of a change is the boiling of egg
considered as? Is it a Chemical change or a
The process of separating a soluble
Physical change?
solid from the solution by heating or
evaporating is called crystallization. Think about the following changes and decide
whether they are physical or chemical changes.
Can you say what type of change this is? In
Write the type of change and reasons for that
crystallization no new substance is formed.
in the table.
Hence it is Physical Change.

VII Science 165

Everyday we use many types of batteries and substance getting formed, then it is called
many of these batteries are recharged a physical change.
regularly. Can you identify the types of change
taking place in this process?
• In a physical change generally no new
substance is formed.
We use Turmeric with Limewater (Calcium
Hydroxide) to decorate the feet (Parani)
• When a material undergoes a change in its
composition, it is called a chemical change.
during some occasions at our homes. What
type of change is this? Think about the • In a chemical change new substance is
reasons why chewing of Pan (Killi) turns our formed.
mouth red. • A chemical change is also called chemical
Look at the picture and circle all the Physical reaction.
and Chemical changes. Write them in the table • In any change heat, light, radiation or
given below. sounds may also be produced.
• In a change new colour or smell may
appear.
• The process of separating a soluble solid
from the Solution on heating is called
Crystallization.
• The process of depositing one metal on
another metal is called Galvanisation
Fig. 10 Key Words:
Physical / Chemical Change, Reversible,
S.No.

Item Chemical Reason

Change
Irreversible, Rust, Physical Change,
Burning of Chemical Forms powder, gives Composition , Vinegar, Baking
1.
Chichubuddi light & sound. Soda, Lime Water, Galvanisation,
Crystallization
2.
Improve your learning:
3.
1. Why do we paint wooden doors and
windows?
4.
2. Some deposits were observed in water
What we learnt: preserved in Aluminum containers after
• Changes mainly are of two types. Physical two to three days. What could the deposit
and Chemical. be? What is the reason for the formation
of these deposits?
• When a material undergoes a change in
shape, size, colour or state without a new

166 Changes Around Us

3. When a candle is burnt, what type of d) Condensation of steam is not a chemical
changes take place? Give another example change.
of a similar process. e) Burning of Magnesium in air is a chemical
4. How is an iron gate prevented from change.
rusting? 9. Fill in the blanks in the following
5. Between coastal and dry land areas, where statements
is rusting of iron objects faster? Give a) The chemical name of vinegar is
reasons. ___________.
6. Classify the changes involved in the b) Changes in which only _____________
following processes as Physical, Chemical properties of a substance change are called
or both. physical changes.
a) Burning of Coal c) Changes in which new substances are
b) Melting of Wax formed are called ___________ changes.
c) Beating Aluminum to make Aluminum foil d) Magnesium+Oxygen _________
d) Digestion of food e) Copper Sulphate+Iron _________
e) Boiling of Egg 10. Answer the following questions
f) Photosynthesis I) The gas we use in kitchen is in the form of
g) Cutting of Wood liquid in the cylinder. When it comes out
from the cylinder it becomes a gas (step –
7. Which of the following processes are
I), then it burns (step – II). Choose the
chemical changes? Give reasons.
correct statement from the following.
a). Making a Salt Solution.
a. Only step – I is a chemical change.
b). Adding Hydrochloric Acid to Marble
b. Only step – II is a chemical change.
stone.
c. Both steps – I & II are chemical changes.
c). Evaporation of water.
d. Both steps – I & II are physical changes.
d). Adding phenolphthalein indicator to acid
solution. II) Bacteria digest animal waste and produce
biogas (step – I). The Biogas is then burnt
e). Respiration
as fuel (step – II). Choose the correct
f). Ripening of a Mango. statement from the following.
g). Breaking of Glass. a. Only step – I is a chemical change.
8. Identify the incorrect statements among the b. Only step – II is a chemical change.
following and rewrite them correctly.
c. Both steps – I & II are chemical changes.
a) Formation of manure from leaves is a
d. Both steps – I & II are physical changes.
physical change.
III) A piece of paper was cut into four pieces.
b) Iron Pipes coated with Zinc do not get
What type of change occurred in the
rusted.
property of the paper?
c) Setting of curd is a physical change.
a. Physical change b. Chemical change

VII Science 167

c. Both changes d. No change 15)Collect information on changes taking
IV)Aryan stretched a rubber band. What does place in food during the process of
it represent? ________ digestion; when we eat raw and cooked
food, from the school library / internet
a. Chemical change b. Physical change
and display your observations on the
c. Both changes d. No change bulletin board.
V) Which of the following changes are 16)Collect information on the process of
reversible or irreversible. artificial ripening of fruits in fruit markets
a. Rise of water from ground to the and discuss whether it is useful or harmful.
overhead tank…………. 17)Ravi prepared carbon-dioxide using
b. Setting of cement …………….. baking soda and vinegar. Carbon-dioxide
c. Absorption of water by a sponge changed lime water into milky white.
…………….. Represent this experiment in a diagram
d. Migration of birds …………….. with labeling
e. Rise in temperature during summer 18)When you burn a piece of wood different
…………….. changes take place analyse the following.
(a) Predict possible changes and list them all.
11)Sudheer wants to make his vessels ,which
(b) Are there any physical changes among
are made of Brass and copper, clean and
them?
shiny. What suggestions you would like
(c) How many forms of energy are released
to give him?
in the change?
12)Anurag appreciates the changes in ripe (d) What chemical changes do you notice?
mango as “How nice its colour and taste Explain briefly why these occur.
is”? Give some examples of change that
makes you feel happy, or wonder and
appreciate them in your own words.
13)The changes like, chicks came out of eggs,
blossoming flowers are very pretty to see.
List out such type of changes around you
which make to feel happy on observing
the beauty of change.

14)Match the following.

1) Growing hair ( ) a) due to Chemical change
2) Breaking Mirror ( ) b) Acetic Acid
3) Galvanisation ( ) c) Slow change
4) Vinegar ( ) d) Physical change
5) Atmospheric pollution ( ) e) The process of depositing one
metal on another metal

168 Changes Around Us