NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science Part 1 Chapter 2 Understanding the Weather

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Class 7 Social Science Part 1 Chapter 2 Question Answer

Answer:
We measure weather using instruments like a thermometer (temperature), rain gauge (precipitation), barometer (atmospheric pressure), wind vane/anemometer (wind direction and speed) and hygrometer (humidity). All these instruments are placed together in a Weather Station (or Automated Weather Station) which records data at regular intervals to monitor weather continuously.

Answer:
Weather predictions help governments and people take timely action – e.g., warning fishermen not to go to sea before a storm, evacuating coastal areas before a cyclone, helping farmers plan irrigation before drought and advising people to stay indoors during heat waves. This reduces loss of life and property.

Answer:
In Hindi we say garam (hot), thanda (cold), umas (humid), sardi (chilly).

Answer:
Since “cold” is relative and depends on what a person is used to, Krishnan cannot make Amir understand exactly how cold it is just by using the word “chilly”. They need a common, standard measurement – like degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit – so both can understand the same number the same way, regardless of their personal experience of temperature.

Answer:
Precise measurement helps in planning activities in advance – e.g., knowing it will rain helps decide whether to carry an umbrella, farmers decide when to sow or harvest crops, schools/offices can plan holidays during extreme weather and disaster management agencies can prepare for cyclones, floods or heat waves before they happen.

Answer:
I talked to some elders in my neighbourhood. They said they predict the weather by observing natural signs such as:

• Dark clouds and strong winds usually mean rain is coming.
• Ants carrying food to higher places often indicate rainfall.
• A red sky in the evening usually suggests clear weather the next day.

Regional saying (Hindi):
“शाम का लाल आसमान, अगले दिन साफ़ मौसम की पहचान।”

Here’s a chart of the temperatures of a city in Madya Pradesh. What is the maximum. Temperature recorded in the week shown here? What is the minimum? Calculate the range.

Remember the conversation between Krishnan and Amir? If Krishnan said it was 20°C in Chennai and he was feeling a little cold, he and Amir would have a measure they could understand. What do you think Amir’s reaction to Krishnan’s statement might be?
Answer:

• Maximum temperature recorded in the week = 32°C (on 03.03.2025)
• Minimum temperature recorded in the week = 14°C (on 05.03.2025)
• Range = Maximum – Minimum = 32 – 14 = 18°C

If Krishnan says it is 20°C in Chennai, Amir in Kashmir (used to much colder temperatures) would likely feel that 20°C is actually quite warm or pleasant, not cold. This shows that having a numerical measure (°C) removes confusion, since both now know exactly what “20°C” means, even though their personal feeling about it may differ.

Answer:

Answer:
My advice would be to pack light, breathable clothing suitable for warm temperatures (29°C is warm). Because the humidity is very high (84%), clothes made of natural fabrics like cotton would be more comfortable than synthetics, as high humidity makes it harder for sweat to evaporate, leading to a sticky feeling. Since June is typically the start of the monsoon season in Mumbai, packing an umbrella or raincoat would also be a good idea.

1. The school vegetable garden.
2. The terrace of the school building.
3. Open ground with elevated platform.
4. Compound wall of school.
5. Verandah of the school laboratory.
Answer:
The best site is likely 3. Open ground with elevated platform.
Reasons: A rain gauge needs to be placed in an open area away from obstructions like buildings or trees that could block rain from entering the funnel. It also needs to be on a stable, flat surface where it won’t tilt or be affected by ground-level splashing or runoff.

• Site 1 (garden): Plants might obstruct; ground might be uneven.
• Site 2 (terrace): Could work if stable and away from walls/edges, but might be less ideal than open ground.
• Site 4 (wall): Obstruction.
• Site 5 (verandah): Covered, definite obstruction.
• Site 3 offers the best combination of openness and stability, minimizing obstructions.

Answer:
“Good evening. Here is the weather report for Jammu and Kashmir for February 1st, 2024. Cold conditions prevailed across the region today. Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 6.5 degrees Celsius, which is below normal and a minimum of 0.2 degrees. The city saw trace rainfall during the day and about 13.4 mm over the past 24 hours, with humidity remaining high at 89%. Qazigund experienced significant precipitation, receiving nearly 12 cm of snow and 22 mm of rain in 24 hours, with temperatures ranging from 8.5 degrees max to -2.1 degrees min.
Pahalgam was colder, with a high of just 1.1 degrees and a low of -4.1 degrees, accompanied by 23 cm of snowfall in 24 hours and very high humidity.
Gulmarg faced freezing conditions throughout, with a maximum temperature of -2.6 degrees and a minimum of -7.6 degrees, receiving over 35 cm of snow in the last 24 hours and reaching 100% humidity in the evening.

Overall, expect continued cold weather with significant snowfall in higher reaches and high humidity across the valley.”

Class 7 Social Science Part 1 Chapter 2 Very Short Answer Type Questions.

1. What is weather?
See AnswerWeather is the state of the Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place.

2. Name the layer of the atmosphere where weather occurs.
See AnswerThe troposphere, the layer closest to the Earth’s surface.

3. Name the five elements of weather.
See AnswerTemperature, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, wind and humidity.

4. Which instrument measures temperature?
See AnswerA thermometer measures temperature.

5. Which instrument measures rainfall?
See AnswerA rain gauge measures the amount of rainfall.

6. What is the unit used to measure atmospheric pressure?
See AnswerAtmospheric pressure is measured in millibars (mb).

7. Which instrument measures atmospheric pressure?
See AnswerA barometer measures atmospheric pressure.

8. Which instrument measures wind speed and direction?
See AnswerAn anemometer measures wind speed and direction.

9. Which instrument measures humidity?
See AnswerA hygrometer measures humidity.

10. What is precipitation?
See AnswerPrecipitation is any form of water, like rain, snow, sleet or hail, falling from the sky.

11. What is relative humidity?
See AnswerRelative humidity is the amount of water vapour in the air, shown as a percentage.

12. What is the normal atmospheric pressure at sea coast?
See AnswerThe normal atmospheric pressure at sea coast is around 1013 mb.

13. When was the India Meteorological Department set up?
See AnswerThe India Meteorological Department was set up in 1875.

14. What is meteorology?
See AnswerMeteorology is the systematic study of weather and its evolution.

15. What is an Automated Weather Station (AWS)?
See AnswerAn AWS is a self-operating system that uses sensors to measure weather data.

Class 7 Social Science Part 1 Chapter 2 Short Answer Type Questions.

1. Why is the troposphere important for weather?
See AnswerThe troposphere is the layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth’s surface, extending 6 to 18 km high. Almost all weather phenomena, and all land-based plants, animals and humans, exist within this layer, making it central to weather study.

2. Why do we need a common standard to measure weather?
See AnswerWords like “cold” or “hot” mean different things to different people depending on where they live, as shown in the Krishnan-Amir example. A common standard, like degrees Celsius, allows everyone to understand and compare weather conditions accurately.

3. How does atmospheric pressure change with altitude?
See AnswerAtmospheric pressure is higher near the sea coast and decreases as we go higher into the mountains. This is because air becomes thinner at high altitudes, giving less oxygen, which is why people often feel breathless or dizzy there.

4. What is a depression or low-pressure system?
See AnswerA depression or low-pressure system, occurs when atmospheric pressure drops dramatically in an area. Meteorologists closely monitor such drops because a depression can sometimes develop into a storm or even a cyclone.

5. How does a rain gauge measure rainfall?
See AnswerA rain gauge has a funnel that collects rainwater into a cylinder marked with a measuring scale. The height of water collected, for example 5 mm, tells us how much rainfall the area received.

6. Explain how an anemometer measures wind speed.
See AnswerAn anemometer has three or four metal cups on a vertical shaft that spin when wind blows – faster wind means faster spinning. A meter attached at the bottom counts the spins and calculates wind speed in km/h.

7. Why is wind direction and speed important information for different people?
See AnswerPilots and sailors need wind data since it affects flying and sailing safety. Farmers use wind direction to predict where rain might come from and greater wind speed helps them know how quickly soil will dry.

8. How did people traditionally predict the weather using Nature’s clues?
See AnswerPeople observed natural behaviours like ants shifting eggs to higher ground before heavy rain, frogs croaking in expectation of rain and pine cones closing in humid conditions. Such traditional knowledge helped communities anticipate weather changes.

9. Why is weather forecasting especially important today due to climate change?
See AnswerClimate change is making extreme weather events like droughts, floods and cyclones more frequent. Accurate weather forecasting helps people and governments prepare in advance, evacuate risky areas and mobilise resources to reduce loss of life and property.

10. Give an example of how an Automated Weather Station (AWS) is used in India.
See AnswerIn 2023, the National Disaster Management Authority set up an AWS at a glacial lake in Sikkim, at over 4800 metres altitude. It provides early information about weather conditions to help prevent disasters like glacial lake outburst floods.

Class 7 Social Science Part 1 Chapter 2 Long Answer Type Questions.

1. Explain the five elements of weather described in the chapter, with examples.
See AnswerWeather is made up of five key elements. Temperature tells us how hot or cold the atmosphere is. Precipitation refers to any form of water – rain, snow, sleet or hail – falling from the sky. Atmospheric pressure is the weight of air felt on Earth’s surface, which changes with altitude and weather conditions. Wind is the movement of air from high-pressure to low-pressure areas, described by its speed and direction. Humidity is the amount of water vapour present in the air. Together, these five elements combine to define the weather of any place at a given time.

2. Describe the different instruments used to measure weather and what each one measures.
See AnswerMeteorologists use several instruments to measure weather precisely. A thermometer measures temperature, often using coloured liquid or digital sensors. A rain gauge measures precipitation by collecting rainwater in a funnel connected to a marked cylinder. A barometer measures atmospheric pressure in millibars, helping detect depressions that may turn into storms. A wind vane shows wind direction, while an anemometer, with its spinning cups, measures wind speed in km/h. Finally, a hygrometer measures relative humidity, the amount of water vapour in the air, which is important in fields like food processing and museum preservation.

3. How did humans predict the weather before modern instruments and how is this knowledge still used today?
See AnswerLong before scientific instruments existed, humans closely observed Nature to forecast the weather. Birds flying low, ants carrying their eggs to higher ground, squirrels gathering nuts, frogs croaking loudly and pine cones opening or closing in response to humidity all gave clues about coming rain or storms. This knowledge was passed down through generations and is still used today, especially in rural parts of India, to predict the arrival of the monsoon. While modern meteorology now relies on scientific instruments and data, these traditional methods remain valuable, especially in areas without easy access to weather stations.

4. What is an Automated Weather Station (AWS) and why are such stations important for India?
See AnswerAn Automated Weather Station is a self-operating system fitted with sensors that measure and record weather data such as temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, precipitation and atmospheric pressure, without needing a person present. These stations are widely used in agriculture, aviation, navigation and environmental monitoring because they provide accurate, timely data around the clock. In India, AWS units are especially valuable in remote and high-altitude areas – for example, the National Disaster Management Authority installed one at a glacial lake in Sikkim at over 4800 metres to provide early warnings of dangerous weather changes, helping prevent disasters in such difficult-to-monitor regions.

5. Explain why accurate weather prediction is important, using examples from the chapter.
See AnswerAccurate weather prediction helps people and governments prepare for extreme events like heavy rain, storms, droughts, and cyclones, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change. For example, if stormy weather is expected at sea, fishermen are warned not to venture out in their boats, and coastal areas may need to be evacuated if a cyclone is approaching. The India Meteorological Department issues detailed weather warning maps, using colour codes like green for “no warning” and red for “warning, take action”, so people know how seriously to respond. Such forecasts allow local governments to mobilise resources in advance, reducing damage and saving lives during disasters.