Q1. A) Define wind.
Moving or blowing air is called Wind.
B) State various properties of Air.
1. Air is present all around us.
2. It has no colour and is transparent
3. Air occupies space and has mass.
4. Air exerts pressure.
Q2. Water does not enter in the glass when it is inverted into a vessel containing water but water enters
in it when glass is tilted. Why?
I. Water does not enter the inverted glass because:
1. The glass was not empty at all. In fact, it was completely filled with air when we turned
it upside down.
2. There was no space for the air to escape.
3. The air in the empty glass prevents the water from entering in it.
II. When we tilt the glass held in water slightly, we find that:
1. The air in the glass comes out in the form of air bubbles.
2. The water filled up the empty space that the air had occupied.
Q3. A) What is atmosphere and upto which height it extends?
The blanket of air that surrounds the earth is called Atmosphere.
The atmosphere extends upto about 1600 km.
b). State the composition of Air.
The experiments conducted by the French scientist Lavoisier proved that air is a mixture of many gases.
The major components of air are:
(table 16.1, pg 192)
Q4. State the importance of:
a) Nitrogen
1. Nitrogen neither burns itself nor supports the process of burning, so it keeps the process of
burning under control.
2. It is required by all plants and animals as it forms parts of proteins in many living beings.
3. Nitrogen (present in air) is also used in making fertilisers which are used to provide nitrogen
to the plants.
b) Oxygen
1. All living things breathe. They take in oxygen from air.
2. Oxygen is necessary for breakdown of food to get energy.
3. Oxygen supports burning so it helps in the burning of fuels like coal, petrol, diesel etc. to
produce energy.
c) Carbondioxide
1. Plants utilize carbon dioxide from the air for making food through the process of
photosynthesis. All animals are directly or indirectly dependent upon plants for their food.
2. Carbondioxide gas helps to trap sun’s heat rays during the day time and prevents the earth’s
atmosphere from too much cooling at night.
Q5. What components of air you will find more in:
a. Industrial Areas
The air over industrial cities usually has a higher amount of carbondioxide and dust in it than the
air over open spaces.
b. Coastal areas
In coastal areas, the air has more water vapour than in areas away from the coast.
Q6. Give reasons:
1. Mountaineers carry oxygen cylinders with them.
i). The amount of oxygen decreases with height.
ii). So, mountaineers feel difficulty in breathing.
iii). That’s why, a mountaineer climbing a high mountain and a diver going into the deep sea
use oxygen cylinders.
2. Tall Chimneys are installed in factories.
It is so because:
i). Tall chimneys are installed in factories to emit harmful smoke and gases at a certain
height in atmosphere.
ii). This protects people from inhaling poisonous gases and smoke.
3. Traffic policemen wear masks at crowded cross roads.
i). Traffic policemen wear masks at crowded crossroads to protect themselves from the
smoke emitted by vehicles such as cars, scooters and buses.
ii). This smoke contains harmful gases.
4. We should always breathe through nose but never through mouth.
It is so because:
i). Fine hair and mucus present inside nose prevent dust particles from entering into our
lungs.
ii). That is why, we should never breathe in air through our mouth because harmful dust
particles and germs present in it may enter our body and affect our health.
5. Earthworms come out of the soil during heavy rains.
Earthworms normally live in soil. They come out of the soil only during heavy rain. This
happens because:
i). When it rains heavily, rainwater fills up all the spaces occupied by air in soil.
ii). No air is left in soil for earthworms to breathe or respire.
iii). So, they come out of soil.
Q7. How do plants and animals maintain the balance of oxygen and carbon di oxide in the nature?
1. Respiration by living organisms and burning of fuels by humans require oxygen and release
carbondioxide.
2. Plants use carbondioxide present in air during photosynthesis and release oxygen in the
atmosphere.
3. In this way, plants and animals help in maintaining the balance of oxygen and carbondioxide in
nature.
4. This shows the interdependence of plants and animals in nature.
Q8. A) State various uses of air.
Air is useful to us in many ways. Its major uses are as follows:
1. Oxygen is used by all living organisms for respiration.
2. Oxygen is necessary for burning fuels.
3. Compressed air is used for inflating tyres of bicycles, scooters, cars and buses. It is also used in
balloons, football, etc.
4. Moving air (wind) has force. This force helps yachts (sailing boats), Parachutes and gliders move.
5. Wind helps in the dispersal of plant seeds. It also helps in pollination.
b). State various uses of windmill.
Moving air (wind) is used to turn the blades of windmills.
A windmill is used to:
1. Draw water from tube-wells
2. To run flour mills
3. To generate electricity.
