Winds, Storms and Cyclones

Q1. Fill in the blanks.

                             i.        Wind is moving air.

                            ii.        Winds are generated due to uneven heating on the earth.

                           iii.        Near the earth’s surface warm air rises up whereas cooler air comes down.

                           iv.        Air moves from a region of high pressure to a region of low pressure.

                           v.        Air expands on heating.

                          vi.        Warm air is lighter than the cold air.

Q2. True/False

                            i.        In summer the winds flow from the land towards the ocean. False

                           ii.        In winter the winds flow from the land to the ocean. True

                          iii.        A cyclone is formed by a very high-pressure system with very high-speed winds revolving around it. False

                          iv.        The coastline of India is not vulnerable to cyclones. False

                           v.        Increased wind speed is accompanied by a reduced air pressure. True

                          vi.        Regions close to the equator get maximum heat from the Sun. True

Q3. Which one of the following place is unlikely to be affected by a cyclone?
(i) Chennai (ii) Mangaluru (Mangalore) (iii) Amritsar (iv) Puri

Ans. Amritsar

Q4. What is wind?

Ans. The moving air is called wind.

Q5. What is anemometer?

Ans. The instrument that measures the wind speed is called an anemometer.

Q6. When you fly a kite, does the wind coming from your back help?

Ans. Yes, the force of the wind pushes the kite upwards and backwards.

Q7. Does the water give back heat when vapour condenses into liquid?

Ans. Yes, the water gives back heat when vapour condenses into liquid.

Q8. What is the main cause of wind movement?

Ans. Uneven heating on the earth is the main cause of wind movements.

Q9. Why we fill air into the bicycle tube?

Ans. We have to fill air into the bicycle tube to keep it tight.

Q10. Where do thunderstorms usually develop?

Ans. Thunderstorms develop in hot, humid tropical areas like India very frequently.

Q11. What do tornadoes look like?

Ans. Tornadoes can appear as a traditional funnel shape, or in a slender rope-like form.

Q12. From where does the word monsoon derived? What does it mean?

Ans. The word monsoon is derived from the Arabic word ‘mausam’, which means ‘season’.

Q13. What is the direction wind in winter?

Ans. In winter, the direction of the wind flow gets reversed; it flows from the land to the ocean.

Q14. What are the factors that contribute to the development of cyclones?

Ans. Factors like wind speed, wind direction, temperature and humidity contribute to the development of cyclones.

Q15. What role does the wind play in the formation of storm?

Ans. All storms are low pressure systems. Thus, wind speed plays an important role in the formation of storms.

Q16. Why do the leaves of trees, flags and banners flutter when the wind is blowing?

Ans. It is due to the pressure exerted by moving air (or wind) that the leaves of trees, flags and banners flutter when the wind is blowing.

Q17. Is it difficult to ride a bicycle against the direction of the wind? Why?

Ans. Yes, it difficult to ride a bicycle against the direction of the wind as air exerts pressure in the opposite direction in which bicycle is moving.

Q18. How can cyclones be predicted?

Ans. Meteorologists around the world use modern technology such as satellites, weather radars and computers etc. to track tropical cyclones as they develop.