Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Physics -VI
Chapters as per NCERT Text Book
1. Motion and Measurement of Distances
Topics
Transportation and Distances
Measuring Length and its Accuracy
Rest and Motion
Types of Media
Shadows and Pin Hole Camera
Mirrors and Reflection
Electric Cell and Torch Bulb
Electric Circuit
Electric Conductors and Insulators
Magnetic and Non-magnetic Materials
Properties of a Magnet
Chemistry- VI
1. Fibre to Fabric
2. Sorting Materials into groups
3. Separation of Substances
4. Changes Around us
Fibres
Properties of Materials
Methods of Separation I
Methods of Separation II
Changes around us
Biology- VI
1. Food: Where does it Come from?
2. Components of Food
4. Body Movements
Sources of Food
Test For Starch, Proteins and Fats
Nutrients and Balanced Diet
Deficiency Diseases
Categories of Plants
Parts of a Plant
Parts of a Flower
Joints and their Types
Bones and Skeleton
Gait of Animals
Habitat and Adaptation
Types of Habitat
Characteristics of Living Things
6. Water
7. Air Around Us
8. Garbage In, Garbage Out
Water Cycle
Effects of Rainfall - Draughts and Floods
All about Air
Garbage Disposal and Vermicompost
Recycling Paper and Plastics
Page 1
Topics
Transportation and Distances
Measuring Length and its Accuracy
Rest and Motion
Types of Media
Shadows and Pin Hole Camera
Mirrors and Reflection
Page 1
Evolution of Transport
Before the invention of the wheel, the only means of transportation was walking. For
transporting goods, people used animals like donkeys, horses, mules, elephants, oxen, sled
dogs, and even bison. Boats were also used as a means of transportation on water. The earliest
boats were simple logs of wood with a hollow cavity.
The oldest wheel was discovered in Mesopotamia, and is believed to be over 5,500 years old.
Fixed wheels for carts were invented around 3500 BC, according to some historians. After the
invention of the wheel, man started using animals to pull vehicles that moved on wheels, and
thus, bullock carts and chariots came into existence. Till the 19th century, most forms of
transport used only animals
The bicycle was invented in the late 18th century bicycles. The first bicycles did not have brakes,
though. It was up to the rider to the control the speed of the bicycle! Later on, motors were
fitted to bicycles, and thus, mopeds came into existence. Further research and development led
to the invention of the motors car.
The steam engine and the rail road were invented in the 19th century. Apart from these,
motorized boats and ships were used as a means of water transport. Roads, rail road and water
remained the major means of transport for a very long time. The Wright brothers invented the
VI I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Physics Chapter Notes
Page 2
airplane and gave the world another means of transport - airways. In his effort to explore his
universe, man even stepped into space and invented the spaceship to travel in space.
There are various means of transport, such as road, rail, water and airways. The mode of
transport can be chosen, usually depending upon the distance to be travelled, but sometimes
also upon how fast you want to get to your destination.
Page 3
Page 4
Before the metrics for measurement were developed, people used several different means to
calculate distance and length. For instance, a carpenter would measure the length of wood
using his palms, fingers or arm. Similarly, a cloth merchant would measure the length of cloth
against an outstretched arm. To standardize measurements and ensure consistency, standards
needed to be set.
Foot length or palm length were commonly used as non-standard units of measurement.
Historians say that the Egyptians formulated the cubit. The cubit was the base measurement
for the pyramids. The point from where your elbow bends to the tip of the middle finger of
your outstretched hand is the cubit.
However, scientists all over the world felt the need for uniformity in the standards for the
measurement of lengths and distances. Today, they all use a standard of measurement called
the International System of Units or SI units. The SI unit for length is the metre, and is denoted
by the small letter 'm.' For measuring large distances, as per SI standards, we use the kilometre,
denoted by two small letters 'km.' One kilometre is equal to 1000 metre.
Page 5
A ruler is used to measure the length of an object. It is also used to measure the length of a
straight line. A non-stretchable string or thread is used to measure the length of a curved line.
First place the ruler along the edge of the object that is to be measured, with the zero
mark of the ruler placed at one end of the object.
On the ruler, note the reading at the other end of the object.
The same procedure can be followed to measure the length of a straight line.
Place the broken or damaged ruler along the edge of the object that has to be
measured in such that any visible mark coincides with one end of the object.
Now note the reading on the ruler at the other end of the object.
The difference between the two readings is the length of the object.
Accuracy
Whatever method you use, always look at the ruler with the eyes directly in the line with the
reading and not in an oblique way to obtain the readings accurately.
Page 6
Take a non-stretchable string or a thread and tie a knot at one of its ends.
Place the knotted end of the thread at one end of the curved line.
Holding the thread steadily with your fingers, and stretch it along the curved line until
you reach the other end.
Now make a mark on the thread where it reaches the other end.
Finally, place the thread along a metre scale and measure the length between the knot
and the marked point.
Length is one of the fundamental quantities. To measure the length of any object, place
a ruler along the edge of that object with the zero mark of the ruler placed at one end of
the object. Then, note the reading on the ruler at the other end of the object. This gives
the measure of the object's length. When noting the reading on a ruler, you should look
at it with the eyes directly above the reading, and not in an oblique way. Otherwise, you
will not be able to note the reading accurately. If the zero mark of the ruler does not
coincide with the first end of the object, then the difference between the readings at
the two ends gives the length of the object.
The circumference of a cap forms a curved line. To measure the length of a curved line,
tie a knot on one end of a piece of thread. This becomes the starting point for
measurement. Now, place this knotted end at the starting point of the curved line that
Page 7
you want to measure. Then stretch the thread along the curved line, keeping it in place
with your fingers and thumb. Keep stretching the thread along the curved line until you
reach the end of the line. Use a pen to make a mark on the thread at the point where it
reaches the other end of the curved line. Now, place this thread along a metre scale and
measure the length between the knot and the marked point. This gives you the length
of the curved line, which is the edge or the circumference of the cap.
Page 8
Rest
When a body remains in one position for a long time, it is said to be at rest. For example, the
chairs of the dining table are at rest unless and until they are moved, and the flower vase, table,
and the blackboard in the class room are all at the position of rest.
Motion
The act, process or state of the change in place or position of a body with respect to time and
relative to the observer is said to be motion.
For example the blades of a rotating fan, the hands of a working wall clock, a moving car, a
spinning top and satellites are all in motion.
Rest and motion are relative terms
A body seems to be at rest with respect to one object, but may appear to be in motion with
respect to some other object.
For example, a person on a railway platform is at rest with respect to another person on the
same platform, but is in motion with reference to a person looking at him from a train crossing
that platform. Similarly, a passenger sitting in the train will appear at rest to another passenger
on the same train.
VI I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Physics Chapter Notes
Page 9
Types of Motion
The various types of motion are
Rectilinear motion
Rectilinear motion is the motion of an object that moves in a straight line.
For example, a train moving on a track, a parade, coins tossed in the air are all in rectilinear
motion.
Circular motion
Circular motion is the motion of an object that moves at a fixed distance from a fixed point.
Here, all objects rotate in circular motion. So, circular motion is motion in which the body
traverses a circular path. The hands of a clock, a merry-go-round, the blades of a fan, the wheel
of a moving vehicle, satellites, a spinning top, are all good examples of circular motion.
Periodic motion
Periodic motion is motion that repeats itself at regular intervals of time. Every body executing
circular motion can be said to be executing periodic motion. For example, the pendulum of a
wall clock moves at regular intervals, the bells in a church, a bouncing ball, a vibrating string
and a swinging cradle are all in periodic motion.
Sometimes an object can display combinations of different types of motion:
For example
A moving car which moves straight on the road displays rectilinear motion but at the
same time the wheels of the car which are moving in circles display circular motion. So a
moving car displays both rectilinear and circular motion.
In a sewing machine, the needle is in periodic motion whereas the wheels of the sewing
machine are in circular motion. So a sewing machine displays circular and periodic
motions.
Page 10
If a body does not change its position with respect to time, then it is said to be at rest. If
a body changes its position with respect to time, then it is said to be in motion. There
are different types of motion. Rest and motion are relative terms. If you consider a
passenger in a moving train, he is at rest with respect to his co-passengers, but is in
motion with respect to an observer on the ground.
There are many examples of bodies that are relatively at rest. Trees, buildings and
mountains are some examples of bodies that are relatively at rest with respect to each
other. Some examples of bodies in motion are flying birds, moving trains, and the
rotating blades of a ceiling fan.
There are different types of motion. They are rectilinear motion, circular motion and
periodic motion.
Rectilinear motion
When a body moves along a circular path, it is said to be in circular motion. Examples of
bodies in circular motion are the rotating blades of a fan, children playing on a merrygo-round, and the hands of a clock.
Page 11
Periodic motion
When the motion of a body repeats itself after a certain time period, it is called periodic
motion. The motion of a pendulum in a pendulum clock, and the motion of needle in a sewing
machine are some examples of periodic motion.
Page 12
Luminous objects
Objects that emit light on their own are called luminous objects. The light emitted by luminous
objects enables us to see things around us. Examples of luminous objects are a tube light, the
sun, a lit candle, glowing bulb, a bonfire and a lit torch.
Non-luminous objects
Objects that do not emit light on their own are called non -luminous objects. The light emitted
by luminous objects falls on non-luminous objects, and then bounces back to our eye, which
enables us to see non-luminous objects. Examples of non-luminous objects are the moon, a
book, a pen, a wooden box, a cupboard and a chair.
Opaque objects
Objects through which we cannot see are called opaque objects. A medium that does not allow
light to pass through it is called an opaque medium. Examples of opaque medium are a pencil
box, a wooden screen, a book, a towel, a ceramic plate and chart paper.
Page 13
Transparent objects
If we are able to see anything clearly through an object, then such an object is said to be a
transparent object. A medium that allows all the light incident on it to pass through it is called a
transparent medium. Examples of transparent objects are plain glass, a reading glass, a plastic
scale, windowpanes, a soap bubble and pure water.
Translucent media
Objects that allow only a part of the light incident on them to pass through it are called
translucent media. Examples of translucent media are a shower stall, smoked glass, sun glasses
and butter paper.
Light travels in a straight line, and its rays represent the path of light
Objects like the sun that give out or emit light of their own are called luminous objects. Objects
like the moon and planets that do not give out or emit light are called non-luminous objects.
You can see objects when light from luminous objects incidents on them and reflects towards
your eyes. The material that light passes through is called a medium.
There are three types of media. They are transparent, translucent and opaque. Material that
allows the entire light incident on it to pass through is called a transparent medium. Examples
of transparent medium are clear glass and clear water.
Material that allows a part of the incident light to pass through it is called a translucent
medium. Examples of translucent medium are butter paper, tissue papers and ground glass.
Material that does not allow light to pass through it is called an opaque medium. Most objects
in our surroundings, like buildings and trees, are opaque objects.
Page 14
Page 15
Shadow
An opaque object blocking the path of light is called a shadow. A shadow is a dark region, and is
formed only when a light source, an opaque object and a screen are present. For example,
during a lunar eclipse, we see a part of the earth's shadow on the surface of the moon. This
happens when the earth, the sun and the moon are in a straight line, with the earth between
the sun and the moon. Here, the sun acts as the light source, the earth as the opaque object,
and the moon as the screen. Opaque objects form shadows because light is not able to bend
around
them.
Shadows are seen more clearly on light screens. Whatever the colour of the object, its shadow
is always black because it is not illuminated by light. The length and shape of a shadow
depends on the object by which it is formed. In the olden days, shadows caused by objects
placed in the sun were used to measure time. Such a device is called a sun dial. The Jantar
Mantar in Jaipur consists of a sundial or Samrat Yantra, which can be used to tell the time, as its
shadow moves visibly at one millimetre per second, or roughly six centimetres every minute.
Pinhole Camera
The image formed by a pinhole camera is inverted and smaller in size when compared to the
original object. These cameras work on the principle that light travels in a straight line. Pinhole
cameras are cheap and simple to make. An eclipse can be viewed using a pinhole camera.
VI I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Physics Chapter Notes
Page 16
Take two rectangular boxes that fit into one another without leaving any gap.
Make a small hole in the larger box at the centre of the closed end opposite the side
that has been cut open.
Cut a square of side five centimetres in the smaller box in the closed end opposite the
side that has been cut open. Cover this square with tracing paper.
Finally, slide the smaller box into the larger box, ensuring that the pinhole and the
tracing paper are in line with one another, but at the opposite ends.
Slide the smaller box to adjust the focus so that you can capture the image of any object
you want.
This is the basic structure of the pinhole camera. However, the developed form of a pinhole
camera uses photosensitive film instead of translucent paper to capture images. The film can be
developed later to obtain photo prints. Nowadays, of course, we use digital cameras that store
images in a computer chip. However, the basic principle of capturing the image remains the
same.
An area that is not or is only partially irradiated or illuminated because of the interception of
radiation by an opaque object between the area and the source of radiation is called a shadow.
Shadows take the form of the outline of the object that intercepts the light in its path. Thus, the
dark outline of the opaque object that you see is a shadow.
To form a shadow, we need a source of light, an opaque object in the path of light, and a screen
on which a shadow is formed.
Page 17
The shape of the shadow of an object is dependent neither on the colour of the object nor on
the colour of the screen.
If the distance of the object from the source is decreased, then the size of the shadow
increases, provided the distance between the source and the screen is constant. Maintaining
the distance of the screen from the source, if the object is moved away from the source, then
the size of its shadow decreases.
If the distance between the object and the screen is constant, and if the light source is moved
towards the object, then the size of its shadow increases. On the other hand, if the distance
between the object and the screen is constant, and if the light source is moved away from the
object, then the size of its shadow decreases.
Another factor affecting the size of the shadow is the distance between the object and the
screen. If the distance between the object and the source of light is maintained constant, and if
the screen is moved away from the object, then the size of the object's shadow decreases. On
the other hand, if the screen moves towards the object, then the size of its shadow increases.
The size and shape of the shadow of an object depends on the orientation of the object with
respect to the beam of light. The shadow changes in size and shape when the object is placed in
a different way in the path of light.
Page 18
Image
The likeness of an object carried and formed by light in a mirror is called an image. For
example, your image is a reflection of your face in the mirror. An image can be seen in the
mirror because the light reflected from an object falls on the mirror and it is reflected. So, light
incident on any smooth shiny surface like a mirror bounces back into the same medium. This
bouncing of light by any smooth surface is called reflection of light. Mirrors change the
direction of light incident on them. The image in a plane mirror is the same size and colour as
that of the object. Moreover, the distance between the image and the mirror, is the same as
the distance between the mirror and the object.
Shadow
When an opaque object blocks the path of light, a shadow is formed. A shadow is a black dark
outline. Its length changes with a change in the position of the source of light. Shadows can be
seen only on a surface or a screen.
Two-Way Mirror
A glass that acts as a mirror on one side and plain glass on the other is called a two-way mirror.
A two-way mirror is used when you want to observe people without letting them know that
they are being watched, for example, by police or in psychological institutions.
VI I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Physics Chapter Notes
Page 19
Pinhole Camera
Images formed by a pinhole camera are entirely different from the images that are formed by a
mirror. The image formed by a pinhole camera is inverted and smaller in size when compared
to the object. The image is also not clear. Moreover, the distance between the object and the
pinhole is not the same as the distance between the pinhole and the image.
A periscope is an instrument used for observing objects from a hidden position. This instrument
is mostly used in submarines, and works on the concept of reflection in plane mirrors. Using
mirrors, it enables people in a submarine to view objects on the surface of the water.
Reflection is the phenomenon in which light incident on an object bounces back into the same
medium through which it was propagating while incident on the object, following some laws.
The path along which light propagates is called a light ray. When a light ray is incident on an
object, it is called the incident ray. The ray that bounces back by the object into the same
medium called the reflected ray.
A smooth plane surface that reflects the entire light incident on it is called a plane mirror. Light
incident on an object is reflected by that object. That reflected light incidents on the mirror, and
is reflected again. It is because of this reflection that we see images. An image is the likeness of
an object carried and formed by light in a mirror. In other words, your image is a reflection of
your face in the mirror. In ancient times, people mostly used pools of still water, or water
collected in a vessel as mirrors. The first man-made mirrors were in the form of a polished
stone made by using obsidian, a naturally occurring volcanic glass.
Page 20
The similarity between a shadow and an image is that neither can exist without light. However,
there are some differences between shadows and images. Shadows are black, whereas images
are colourful. Shadows of objects placed in the sun change in length with the position of the
sun through the day. Your shadow will be at its longest at dawn or early morning, and at dusk
or early evening, whereas it will be at its shortest at noon. An image in a plane mirror doesn't
change in size at all; it is always the same size as that of the object. An image in a mirror can be
seen without a screen, whereas it is mandatory to have a screen to form a shadow.
Page 21
An electric cell provides electricity to various devices that are not directly fed by the supply of
electricity.
Electric Cell
An electric cell consists of two terminals. One is a positive terminal and the other one is a
negative terminal. A chemical that helps produce electricity to connected devices.
Bulb
A bulb consists two terminals. A filament is a spirally wound wire inside the bulb supported by
two thick wires at its ends. An electrical cell is connected to the terminals of a bulb so that
electricity from the cell can pass through the bulb. This electricity makes the filament in the
blub glow and emit light.
Electric Cell and Torch Bulb
An electric cell is a device that supplies electrical energy to devices that function using
electricity. Thus, an electric cell produces electricity for a torch to glow. In fact, not only a torch,
Page 22
an electric cell provides electricity to a number of devices, such as toys, alarm clocks, pocket
radios and cameras.
An electric cell has a cap, just under which there is a plus sign. This is the positive terminal of
the cell. At the other end of the cell, there is a flat metallic disc with a minus sign just above the
disc. This metallic disc is the negative terminal of the cell. These terminals of the cell can be
used to connect it to various devices. Inside a cell, there is dark powdery stuff, which is the
chemical. This chemical helps the cell to provide electricity to the device it is connected to.
When a cell is connected to a device, the strength of the chemical decreases. Finally, when the
entire energy of the chemical is spent, the device connected to the cell stops functioning. A
rechargeable cell or a storage battery can be recharged
The bulb inside a torch has a filament. This filament is supported by two thick wires at its ends.
When the positive and the negative terminals of an electric cell are connected to the two
terminals of a bulb, electricity passes through the filament and it starts glowing. The terminals
of the bulb are fixed in such a way that they do not touch each other. The bulbs that we use in
our homes all look the same. In recent years, a different type of bulb has become popular - the
compact fluorescent lamp, generally referred to as a CFL. It is an energy-saving bulb, which has
a longer life than an ordinary bulb.
Page 23
Page 24
Electric Circuit
Electricity needs a path to pass from the positive terminal to the negative terminal of an
electric cell. A connection that provides a path outside an electric cell, for the electricity to
pass from the positive terminal to the negative terminal of the cell, is called an electrical
circuit.
For example, a bulb glows only when the positive terminal and the negative terminal of an
electric cell are connected to the two terminals of the bulb.
If the wires from the bulb are connected to the same terminal (either positive or negative),
then the bulb doesn't glow.
Sometimes, the bulb may not glow even though the connections are properly made.
This is because the flow of electricity is incomplete as the filament in the bulb is broken. A
broken filament bulb is said to be fused.
A device that is used to stop the flow of electricity by breaking the circuit is called a switch.
Switches have wide range of applications. Some common types are:
Joystick switches, which are used in the remote control unit of a toy car.
Page 25
All materials do not allow electricity to pass through them. Materials that allow electricity to
pass through them are called conductors. Conductors conduct electric current. Since metals are
good conductors of electricity, electric wires are made of metals. These electric wires act as
conducting materials. So they are used to make electrical circuits. Some common conductors
that conduct electric current are copper, silver, gold and aluminium. Copper is the most popular
material used for wires. Sometimes we receive electric shocks because our bodies are also
good conductors of electricity.
Materials that do not allow electricity to pass through them are called insulators. Insulators
oppose electric current and so they are used as protection from the dangerous effects of
electricity. Some common insulators are glass, air, plastic, cotton, thermocol, wood and rubber.
Water is a good conductor of electricity, but in its purest form, called distilled water, it acts as
an insulator. Distilled water is, therefore, used in batteries as an insulator.
We use various electrical appliances every day. Without the help of insulators, the use of
electrical appliances is impossible. The parts of the electric appliances that we touch are
covered with insulating material. For example, plugs and switches are covered with an
insulating material such as plastic, and the wire attached to the plug is a metal wire, which is a
conductor. So conductors and insulators work hand in hand.
VI I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Physics Chapter Notes
Page 26
A Greek shepherd named Magnes discovered magnets 4,000 years ago in Magnesia, Greece.
The name magnetite has been derived from Magnesia or Magnes. Magnets are named after
Magnetite.
Magnets attract magnetic materials. Natural rocks that have the property of attracting iron are
called naturals magnets. Magnes discovered a natural magnetic rock, called the lodestone. In
the form of a bar, it was used to find directions on the earth, and so the name, 'lodestone,'
which means the stone that leads. Lodestone has a compound of iron called magnetite. These
natural
magnets have
the
magnetic property of
attracting materials
like
iron.
"Archimedes", the ancient Greek scientist, is believed to have used lodestone to pull nails from
enemy ships. Taking the nails out made the ships sink.
Magnetic Materials
Materials that are attracted by a magnet are called magnetic materials. Objects made of
materials such as iron, cobalt and nickel are magnetic objects. Examples of magnetic materials
include iron nail, key, metal spade, needle and metal door handle.
Page 27
Non-Magnetic Materials
Materials that are not attracted by magnets are called non-magnetic materials. Modern coins
are made of uniform mixtures of different metals so they become non- magnetic. Examples of
non-magnetic materials include rubber, coins, feather and leather.
Page 28
Properties of a Magnet
Substances
that
possess
the
property
of
Substances that possess the property of attracting iron are called magnets. The two ends of a
magnet are called its poles. All magnets have two poles, and they are called dipoles. A magnet
with a single pole doesn't exist. Since poles have high magnetic power, they attract objects
easily. The poles of a magnet are named as the North Pole and the South Pole. In order to
identify the poles, the North Pole is usually painted in red colour. The other end of the magnet
will, therefore, be the South Pole. In laboratories, magnets are painted completely red in colour
with a white dot to indicate the North Pole. The other end will, therefore, be the South Pole. A
magnet can be cut into two pieces. Each piece will behave like an independent magnet, with a
north pole and a south pole.
Types of magnets
Bar magnets
In these magnets, the poles are located at the ends of the bar.
Cylindrical magnets
In these magnets, the poles are located at the two circular ends of the cylinder.
Dumb-bell shaped magnets
In such magnets, the poles are located at the two dumb-bell shaped ends.
VI I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Physics Chapter Notes
Page 29
Horseshoe magnets
In these magnets, the poles are located at the two free ends of the 'U' shape.
Compass
A compass is an instrument that is used to find the directions. It has a thin magnetic needle
supported from a pivot so that it can rotate freely. The needle is placed over a dial with the
directions marked. The entire assembly is placed inside an airtight box.
The north pole of the magnetic needle is painted red. The magnetic needle in the compass
points in the north-south direction. By aligning the dial properly, the directions can be found. In
the ancient days, an old pointing device, called the south pointing fish, was used to know the
directions. The head of the fish pointed towards the south.
Alignment of a compass
Take a compass and make sure that the magnetic needle comes to rest. Rotate the box so that
the red tip of the magnetic needle coincides with the north mark of the dial. The compass is
now aligned. Next, select any object around you. Then, with the help of the compass, identify
the direction in which the object lies relative to you.
Law of magnets
Unlike poles attract each other and like poles repel each other.
Artificial magnets
Magnets can be made artificially, too. A rectangular iron bar, an iron needle, a blade or an iron
nail can be turned into a magnet by rubbing a bar magnet over it.
Precautions to protect magnets from losing their magnetic properties
Page 30
Certain items such as CD's, DVD's, debit cards, credit cards or ATM cards, audio and video
cassettes, and mobile phones contain magnetic material. Keep them away from magnets to
prevent damage.
Page 31
VI
Topics
1. Fibre to Fabric
Fibres
Properties of Materials
3. Separation of Substances
Methods of Separation I
Methods of Separation II
4. Changes Around us
VI
Changes around us
I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Chemistry Chapter Notes Page 1
1. Fibre to Fabric
Fibres
Fabrics are made up of strands called yarns, which are made from even thinner
strands,
called fibres.
Cotton, silk, wool and jute are called natural fibres as they are obtained from
natural sources. We get cotton and jute from plants. We get silk from the cocoons
of silk worms.
Synthetic fibres like nylon, polyester and acrylic were invented about a hundred
years ago. These are man-made and are not obtained from any plant or animal
sources.
Cotton fibre is obtained from cotton plants that grow in black soil in a warm climate.
In India, cotton is grown in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana,
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh.
The cotton plant bears fruits about the size of a lemon, called cotton bolls. The
bolls are full of seeds and cotton fibre. They burst open when they are ripe.
The cotton fibres are collected by hand from the ripe cotton bolls. This process is
called picking.
Next, the cotton fibres are separated from the seeds by combing them. This is
known as ginning.
VI
I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Chemistry Chapter Notes Page 2
Jute fibre comes from jute plants, which are mainly grown in places that have high
temperatures and plenty of rainfall. Jute is cultivated during the rainy season. In
India, jute is cultivated in West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,
Assam,
Chhattisgarh and Tripura.
The stems of jute plants are soaked in water for a few days until they start
rotting.
Then the fibres are separated by hand from the rotting stems.
Once the fibres have been obtained, they are made into yarn by twisting the
strands together. This process of making yarn from fibre is called spinning.
Not just jute, even cotton, silk and other fibres are spun to convert them into yarn.
Machines are used for spinning yarn on a large scale. Fabrics like khadi are made by
spinning yarn on hand-operated devices like charkhas and taklis. The process of
arranging two sets of yarns to produce a fabric is called weaving. Even coconut
fibre can be woven into a fabric called coir. Coir is too rough to be made into
garments. It is mostly used to make doormats, carpets and other flooring
material.
In ancient Egypt, flax and cotton plants were cultivated near the River Nile and were
used for making fabric. At the beginning of civilisation, people used bark, leaves and
animal fur to cover themselves. As people settled down and started farming, they
learned to weave vines and animal fleece to make fabrics.
In the next stage of civilisation, flax and cotton were woven into garments. In those
times, people just draped the fabric to cover themselves. It was only after the
invention of the sewing needle that people started stitching their garments.
Even today, in older cultures like India, you see people wearing unstitched garments
like turbans, saris and dhotis.
VI
I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Chemistry Chapter Notes Page 3
Objects are categorised on the basis of their shapes, the materials they are made up
of, and the properties of these materials.
All objects around you have definite shapes. For example, eggs are oval and
ice-cream cones are conical in shape. Objects can be classified on the basis of
their shapes.
Objects can be made from many different kinds of material, such as plastic,
wood,
glass, metal, cotton, paper, leather, wool, rubber, and even soil. Therefore, all
objects can be grouped on the basis of the material that they are made from.
Notebooks, greeting cards, newspapers and calendars are all made from paper.
VI
I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Chemistry Chapter Notes Page 4
Similarly, shoes, belts and bags that are made of leather form another group.
So, objects can be grouped according to the materials they are made of.
Gold, copper, iron and aluminium look shiny, and are called lustrous materials.
Most metals have this property. Other materials like wood or plastic, are nonlustrous.
Metals like iron may react with the moisture in the air, which makes them lose their
lustre and look dull.
Iron is a good example of a very hard material. Materials that are considered
hard are difficult to compress, while those that can be compressed or scratched
easily are called soft materials. Cotton and sponge are examples of soft
materials.
Objects can be classified on the basis of properties of the materials that they are
made from.
Lighter materials like paper, leaves and wood float on the surface of water,
while heavier objects, like those made from iron, sink in water.
Materials like glass or plastic are called transparent as you can see through
them. Objects made from transparent materials allow you to easily see what they
contain.
Materials like wood, cardboard and metal are opaque, as you cannot see through
objects made from these materials.
Some materials like plastic can be transparent or opaque, depending on the use for
which the object is meant.
For example, try spotting the jar that contains cookies from among these containers!
There are some materials that allow you to see through them, though not very
clearly. Such materials are called translucent. Butter paper and frosted glass are
examples of translucent material.
VI
I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Chemistry Chapter Notes Page 5
Thus, there are various properties on the basis of which you can group objects.
Grouping is
useful for locating objects easily, such as on supermarket shelves. It also helps in
studying the
properties of objects that are in these groups.
VI
I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Chemistry Chapter Notes Page 6
3. Separation of Substances
Methods of Separation I
VI
I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Chemistry Chapter Notes Page 7
Even though the large stalks can be separated from the grains by threshing, the
grains still have dried husk and chaff, which have to be separated and thrown away
before the wheat can be used. This method is called winnowing.
The husk is blown away as it is much lighter than the grain. So, when the
grains are gently
dropped to the ground, only the wheat grains collect there, while the husk blows
away.
Sieving is a method of separating substances that are of different sizes. For
example,
wheat flour has some fine powdered wheat as well as some bigger impurities. When
it is put this through a sieve, the fine powder falls through the small holes in the
sieve, while the thicker
impurities remain as they are too big to pass through these holes. The substances
are thus separated.
Methods of Separation II
Grains can be separated from dirt by sedimentation and decantation. When water is
added to the grains, the dust and dirt dissolve in the
water, making it muddy. Thus, the dirt and grains are separated.
The grains settle at the bottom because they are heavier.
This process of the settling of the heavier substance is called sedimentation.
Now, the grains can be separated by simply pouring out
the water. This process is called decantation.
VI
I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Chemistry Chapter Notes Page 8
Oil and water can also be separated by decantation and sedimentation. Water is
heavier than oil, so it settles at the bottom if left alone for some
time. The oil can then simply be poured out.
The water left behind can be further cleaned using a filter paper. While water passes
through the fine pores of the filter, dirt will sift out, leaving the water clean.
This process of using a filter to separate substances is called filtration.
Salt and water from salty water can be separated by evaporation.
We need to boil this water so that its temperature rises and it converts into steam.
This process is called evaporation.
The steam turns back into water when it comes in contact with a
cold metal lid. This process is called condensation.
A mixture of sand and salt can be separated by combination of methods.
The first method is sedimentation and decantation. This mixture is put in water
and left for the sand to settle for some time. Then, we will decant the salty water,
which will separate the sand from the mixture.
Now the salt can be separated from the water by evaporation. The water will boil
away, leaving the salt behind.
So, the mixture of the sand, salt and water has been separated successfully using
a combination of sedimentation, decantation, evaporation and condensation.
VI
I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Chemistry Chapter Notes Page 9
4. Changes Around us
Changes around us
Every day, we see different types of changes around us, like day turning into night,
the season changing from winter to summer, melting of ice to water, cooking of
food, and so on.
Changes take place around us all the time. However, all changes are the same. We
get back the original substance in some, and can't get them back in others.
A reversible change is a change that can be undone or reversed.
o
For example, if you could capture all the steam that is made when a kettle
boils, you could turn it back into water by cooling it.
Some other examples of reversible changes are the melting of ice, folding a
paper and blowing a balloon.
A blacksmith changes a piece of iron into different tools. For that, a piece of
iron is heated to red hot. This also softens it. It is then beaten into the desired
shape. It is a reversible change.
An irreversible change is a permanent change that cannot be undone. In an
irreversible change, new substances are formed.
Cake batter is made from eggs, flour, sugar and butter. Once the cake has been
baked, you cannot get the ingredients back.
VI
I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Chemistry Chapter Notes Page 10
Some other examples of irreversible changes are the digestion of food and
heating of lime stone.
VI
I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Chemistry Chapter Notes Page 11
Topics
Sources of Food
2. Components of Food
Categories of Plants
Parts of a Plant
Parts of a Flower
4. Body Movements
6. Water
Water Cycle
Effects of Rainfall - Draughts and Floods
7. Air Around Us
Page 1
Page 2
2. Components of Food
Test for Starch, Proteins and Fats
Nutrients are chemical components in food that are required for releasing energy and helps in
growth.
Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals are important nutrients found in food.
Starch and sugar are the two kinds of carbohydrates found in food.
Blue-black colour indicates the presence of starch in the tested food item.
To test for the presence of proteins in a food items, you need to:
Page 3
Add 10 drops of caustic soda solution and shake the test tube.
Violet colour indicates the presence of proteins in the tested food item.
To test for the presence of fats in a food item, you need to:
An oily patch on the paper indicates the presence of fats in the tested food item.
All living organisms require food. Food has six types of nutrients - carbohydrates, proteins, fats,
vitamins, minerals and water.
These are essential to perform all daily and metabolic activities.
Carbohydrates are compounds of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, always in the ratio of 2:1:1.
They are oxidised in the cells to release energy. Carbohydrates include sugars, starch and
cellulose.
Carbohydrates are oxidised in the body in the form of sugars. They provide instant energy.
When oxidised in the body, one mole of glucose releases 686 kilocalories of energy.
VI I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Biology Chapter Notes
Page 4
Nitrogen is the most essential element in proteins. Some proteins contain sulphur and
phosphorus.
Amino acids are the simple, smaller units of proteins. Proteins provide chemical material for
the growth and repair of the body cells and tissues.
In an emergency, they may also oxidize to release energy. Food rich in proteins includes lean
meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, nuts, beans, peas, etc.
Fats are also composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Fats have very little oxygen content,
though..
Fat below the skin protects the body against rapid loss of heat.
Common foods rich in fats are butter, cream, vegetable oils, meat, and fish liver oils.
Mineral salts are needed in the diet in small quantities. These are obtained from table salt, green
vegetables and fruits. Some important minerals are:
Calcium, required for:
Blood clotting
Muscle contraction
Page 5
Forming haemoglobin
Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat soluble and can be stored in the body.
Vitamin B complex and vitamin C are water soluble and cannot be stored for a long period of
time.
Vitamin D: Helps the body to absorb calcium and phosphorus to form bones and teeth.
Page 6
Deficiency Diseases
Diseases or disorders occur mainly due to the deficiency of one or more nutrients in the diet
over a long period of time. For example, wheat is rich in carbohydrates, but poor in nutrients like
proteins and fats. Too much intake of wheat products results in a deficiency of proteins and fats,
which reduces growth. Lack of proteins also results in stunted growth, skin diseases, swelling of
the face and discolouration of the hair, and even causes diarrhoea. So a balanced diet is required
to avoid deficiency diseases.
Diseases caused by deficiency of minerals:
Lack of iron in the diet leads to a deficiency disease called anaemia. The symptoms of anaemia
are headache, dark patches under the eyes, weakness and feeling tried. A balanced diet should,
therefore, include iron-rich foods such as apples, fish and raisins to avoid anaemia.
Lack of iodine in the diet leads to a deficiency disease called goitre. In adults, goitre results in
swollen glands at the throat. In children, iodine deficiency causes stunted mental and physical
development. Iodine deficiency can be avoided by using iodized salt in the diet.
Diseases caused by deficiency of vitamins:
Lack of vitamin A in diet causes loss of vision. Symptoms include night blindness, i.e. poor
vision in dim light. Eating food rich in vitamin A, such as carrot, mangoes, butter and egg yolk,
helps avoid loss of vision.
Lack of vitamin B1 in the diet causes a deficiency disease called beriberi. The symptoms are
loss of weight and weak muscles. Food rich in vitamin B1, such as beans, meat, eggs and corn,
helps avoid beriberi.
VI I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Biology Chapter Notes
Page 7
Lack of vitamin C in the diet causes a deficiency disease called scurvy. The symptoms of scurvy
are bleeding gums. Moreover, wounds take longer to heal. Oranges, tomatoes, lemon, guavas and
amla are rich in vitamin C, so eating these helps avoid scurvy.
Lack of vitamin D in the diet causes a deficiency disease called rickets. The symptoms are soft
and bent bones. The diet should include fish, eggs, milk and butter to avoid rickets. In addition,
exposure to sunlight produces vitamin D in the body.
Page 8
A herb is a non-woody plant that has green and tender stems with few branches and is usually
short.
Herbs have a variety of uses including adding flavor to food, providing medicine for diseases and
in some cases even adding a spiritual touch.
Shrubs are taller than herbs and have stems branching out from the base.
The stems of shrubs are hard not but thick.
A common place where shrubs are grown is known as shrubbery.
A tree is a woody plant that has many branches on a single stem.
Trees benefit us by preventing soil erosion, maintaining the carbon dioxide content in the air and
in building huts and making furniture.
Threes are categorized based on their height, width of their trunk, their overall size, and of course
their age.
Creepers are plants with weak stems and hence cannot stand straight. They grow on the ground.
Creepers have a tendency to develop new plants on their own.
A few creepers could cause allergies or skin problems if touched.
Climbers are plants that need support from other structures to grow and spread.
Climbers can either move horizontally or vertically unlike creepers that move only horizontally.
Climbers attracts insects and reptiles because of their brightly coloured flowers and fragrance.
Page 9
Parts of a Plant
The different parts of a plant are the roots, stem, leaves, flowers and fruits.
The roots of a plant are mostly seen underground and look brown in colour.
The tiny thread-like structures over the roots are the root hair. The tip of the root is called the root
cap.
Roots are of two types - tap root and fibrous roots.
Some plants have a primary root that grows more or less straight down into the soil, and is
tapered
towards the end. This main root is called the tap root.
There are many smaller roots that branch out from the tap root, called lateral roots.
Examples of plants with tap roots are hibiscus, carrot, turnip and sunflower.
Some plants have many lateral roots that start from the base of the stem.
These are called fibrous roots.
Examples of plants with fibrous roots are banana, grass and onion.
The roots hold the plant firmly in the soil, thereby serving as an anchor to the plant.
Page 10
One of the main functions of the roots is to absorb water and nutrients from the soil for the
growth of the plant. Sometimes they also store sugars and carbohydrates.
The stem holds the leaves, flowers and fruits in a plant.
The vascular tissue inside the stem helps to transport water and nutrients from the roots to the
leaves, and food from the leaves to the roots.
Plants release excess water in the form of water vapour through minute openings in the leaves,
called the stomata. This process is known as transpiration.
The different parts of a flower include sepals, petals, stamen and pistil.
The green leaf-like parts surrounding the bud are called the sepals.
The brightly coloured parts of a flower are called the petals.
The male part of a flower is called the stamen, and the female part is called the pistil.
The male and female parts of a flower are involved in the formation of fruit in a process called
fertilization.
Parts of a Flower
Page 11
They protect the bud before it blooms into a flower. The sepals are collectively called the calyx.
The number of sepals varies from plant to plant.
The brightly coloured portions of a flower that attract insects and birds for pollination are called
petals.
Like sepals, the number of petals also varies from plant to plant.
The petals are collectively called the corolla.
In some flowers, the petals and sepals combine to form a round shape, which is called the tepal.
The stamens and the pistil are the reproductive parts of a flower.
The stamen is the male reproductive part of a flower.
The small tube with a little bulge at the end of a stamen is called the filament.
This yellow sac contains pollen grains, which contain male reproductive cells.
Like sepals and petals, every flowering plant differs in the number of stamens, too.
The female reproductive part of a flower is the pistil.
It consists of three parts - the stigma, the style and the ovary.
The upper end of the pistil is called the stigma, where pollen grains get deposited and
enter the pistil.
The narrow tubular part is called the style, which connects the stigma to the lower part of
the pistil.
The lower bulgy part of the pistil is called the ovary. It contains ovules.
The ovary can be cut longitudinally or transversely to see the female reproductive cells, ovules,
which appear as bead-like structures.
The number and arrangement of ovules differ in different flowering plants.
Like the stamens, the number of pistils also varies from flower to flower.
Page 12
4. Body Movements
Joints and their Types
Page 13
Page 14
Gait of Animals
Gait of earthworms
Earthworms move easily on hard and slippery surfaces. Earthworms have tiny, stiff hair-like
projections, called bristles, under their body. They grab the soil with the help of these bristles.
Earthworms first stretch and then contract their muscles to move. As a result, they cover only a
small distance with every move. A slimy substance secreted by the earthworm helps it to move.
Earthworms eat their way through the soil. They throw away undigested food, which improves
the quality of the soil.
Gait of snails
The outer skeleton of the snail, the shell, is made of calcium carbonate. The snail pulls this shell
along as it moves. The snail can even hide its head inside the shell. The strong muscular foot
below the shell can protrude.
The under surface of the muscular foot is lubricated with mucus. Waves of muscular contractions
along this surface help a snail move. The mucus also reduces the risk of injury from sharp
objects. That is why snails can walk over sharp objects like blades without getting hurt.
Gait of cockroaches
The cockroach has three pairs of legs that help it to walk, and two pairs of wings that help it to
fly. A cockroach moves its legs with the help of muscles near the limbs. It uses its breast muscles
help to move its wings and fly. A cockroach can walk, fly and even climb. A cockroach can move
in different terrains like sand and wired meshes because of the spines on its legs.
VI I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Biology Chapter Notes
Page 15
Gait of birds
A bird has a body best suited for flying. Its wings are actually modified forelimbs. Birds can fly
easily with the help of these bony forelimbs. Birds have light and hollow bones. The breast bones
hold the muscles of flight that help them to flutter their wings. The tail controls the direction of
flight. Birds have very strong shoulder bones. They don't have the urinary bladder, which helps
them to fly easily. They can walk and perch on trees with the help of their hind limbs.
Gait of snakes
Snakes move in S-shaped loops and in a zigzag manner. They cannot move in a straight line.
They have difficulty in moving on very smooth surfaces. Snakes have a long back bone and
many interconnected muscles that help them to slither. They have muscles connecting the
backbone, ribs and skin. Snakes move in grass, sand and water. Snakes do not have arms or legs,
but even then, they can climb trees.
Gait of fish
Fish have a streamlined body, which helps them move fast in water.
Fish swim with the help of their fins. The tail moves from side to side, and helps the fish swim in
the right direction. Some fish, however, move by bending their bodies from one side to another in
quick succession, which produces a thrust that helps it move forward.
Page 16
Livings things exist in most places. Life exists even in open volcanoes. The term habitat refers to
the surroundings where organisms live. Every habitat is home for a certain living creature.
Habitat includes both living and non-living components. Plants and animals have different
features that help them to survive in their own habitat. Habitat can be terrestrial or aquatic.
Terrestrial habitat refers to the land where all plants and animals survive. It includes deserts,
forests and grasslands, as well as coastal and mountain regions. For example, camels and cactus
plants live in deserts only.
Aquatic habitat refers to the water where plants and animals survive. Aquatic habitat includes
rivers, ponds, lakes, ocean and swamps. For example, fish live in water.
Adaptation: Plants and animals develop certain features or certain habits that help them survive
in their surroundings, and this is known as adaption. Different living creatures adapt to their
habitats in different ways. For example, fish have gills that help them to live in water and use the
oxygen dissolve in it. Plants that live in water have special tissues that help to take in dissolved
gas from water. For example, the ulva has ribbon-like leaves.
It takes thousands of years for a livings being to adapt to its habitat.
Page 17
Acclimatization: The small adjustments by the body to overcome small changes in the
surrounding atmosphere for a short period of time are called acclimatization.
The components in a habitat are broadly classified into two types. They are biotic and abiotic
components.
Biotic components include all the livings organisms in a habitat.
Abiotic components include all the non-living things in a habitat. These include air, rocks, water,
sunlight and heat. All livings things depend on the abiotic components for all their needs. The
abiotic components are very useful for the survival of the biotic components in a habitat.
For example, sprouting is the first step where a new plant grows from a seed. The sprouting of a
seed depends on abiotic components such as air, water, light and heat.
The population of some species of turtles has declined due to the change in the earth's
temperature. Some popular theories believe that dinosaurs became extinct because of the changes
in the earth's temperature millions of years ago.
Types of Habitat
Terrestrial Habitat
Habitat is the place that is natural for the life and growth of an organism.
Now let us discuss how animals and plants adapt themselves for the terrestrial and aquatic
habitats.
Terrestrial habitat: All the deserts, mountains and forests and plain lands has come under
terrestrial habitat.
VI I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Biology Chapter Notes
Page 18
Page 19
Deers have eyes on the side of its head to look in all directions for danger and have long legs to
run away from predator.
Aquatic Habitat
All the fresh water and marine water bodies , has come under terrestrial habitat.
Fish have special features that help them to live in water.
They have streamlined bodies, which reduce friction and allow them to move freely in water.
Sea animals like the octopus and the squid do not have streamlined body as they stay deep inside
the ocean on the ocean bed, but make their body streamlined when they move in the water.
Sea animals, like fish, octopus and squid have gills that help them to absorb the dissolved oxygen
from the water they drink!
Dolphins and whales have blowholes to breathe in air when they swim close to the surface of the
water and there by stay inside the water for a long time without breathing.
In general the aquatic plants have much smaller roots and helps the plant in holding on the
surface. Stems are long and light.
Submerged plants such as Ulva has narrow and ribbon-like leaves. These allow the plants to bend
themselves in the direction of the flow of water.In milfoil, leaves are highly dissected, making
water to easily flow without Frogs usually live in ponds and lakes.
A frog can live both in water and on land. Frogs have strong hind legs to hop on land and webbed
feet to swim in water.
Frogs also have a membrane called the nictitating membrane on their eyes.
This membrane helps protect their eyes inside water.
Page 20
Human beings, animals and plants - all need food to survive. Trees, creepers, birds, flowers,
insects, animals and seeds are all livings things. Soil, bench, water, air and dry leaves are all nonlivings things. The characteristics of livings things are:
Livings Things Need Food
Livings things need food to survive and grow. Food makes the body grow faster, and gives
energy to the body to help it perform the life activities. For example, plants produce their own
food by the process of photosynthesis, and grow. Animals depend on plants and other food for
their survival.
Livings Things Grow
As livings things take food, they get more and more energy and grow faster. All living things
grow continuously.
Livings Things Respire
Respiration is the process of breathing in and out. Living things take oxygen into the body as they
breathe in and release carbon dioxide as they breathe out. The oxygen that enters the body
during respiration helps the body to create energy from the food consumed. Some animals have
special organs that help them in the process of respiration.
For example, the gills of fish help them to absorb oxygen dissolved in water. Earthworms breathe
through their skin. Plants have tiny pores on the leaves that help them to breathe.
VI I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Biology Chapter Notes
Page 21
Plants respire day and night, but breathe out oxygen during the day. Plants release more oxygen
while producing their food than they release during respiration.
Livings Things Respond to Stimuli
Stimulus is a change of some kind in the environment of a living organism. Every living thing
responds in some way or the other to stimuli. The response in plants to stimulus can be observed
easily.
Human beings, animals and plants - all need food to survive. Trees, creepers, birds, flowers,
insects, animals and seeds are all livings things. Soil, bench, water, air and dry leaves are all nonlivings things. The characteristics of livings things are:
Livings Things Need Food
Livings things need food to survive and grow. Food makes the body grow faster, and gives
energy to the body to help it perform the life activities. For example, plants produce their own
food by the process of photosynthesis, and grow. Animals depend on plants and other food for
their survival.
Livings Things Grow
As livings things take food, they get more and more energy and grow faster. All living things
grow continuously.
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
6. Water
Water Cycle
Our Earth is covered by two-thirds of water, but most of the water is not potable and contains salt.
Water is used for various activities such as agriculture, industries, cooking, cleaning utensils,
bathing, washing clothes, and, most importantly, for drinking.
Ponds, wells, streams, lakes and rivers are the different sources of drinking water.They are
supplied water by the oceans and seas.Oceans and seas supply water to other water bodies
through the water cycle.
The circulation of water from the oceans and the surface of the earth, to the air as water vapour,
and its return to the ocean as rain, hail or snow, is called the water cycle
A variety of salts, like sodium chloride, calcium, magnesium and potassium, are present in saline
water. The evaporation of water takes place in the water cycle, leaving the salts behind in the
ocean.
The water present on the surface of the ocean evaporates by the sun's heat. This process of
conversion of water from liquid state to vapour state is called evaporation. The sun warms up the
surrounding air as well. Evaporation takes place faster in direct sunlight, than in a shady area.
Evaporation also takes place from wet clothes, fields, ponds, lakes and rivers.
Plants take in water to grow as well as to prepare their food.
They retain the water they need and release the excess water into the air as water vapour through
the stomata of the leaves and the stem. This process is called transpiration.
VI I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Biology Chapter Notes
Page 25
Thus, water is mainly evapo-transpirated to the air from land, water bodies and plants.
The evaporated water is carried away by warm air.As the warm air moves higher from the surface
of the Earth, it starts to cool down. It is because the water vapour present starts to condense to
form tiny water droplets. These droplets float in the air and form cloud and fog.
All these droplets collect to form bigger drops of water. Some of them may become too heavy to
remain in the sky and fall down as rain. This process is known as precipitation.
If the air is too cold, the water drops can become snow or hail and may settle on the top of a
mountain. When these snow or hail melts, they can become part of a river or a stream. Thus, the
water that is evaporated from the oceans or seas is again condensed to form water and fills up the
rivers and seas. Rain water also seeps into the ground to form ground water.
This circulation of water is called the water cycle.
Uses of Water
Water is used in our day to day life. Water is used for everyday needs such as brushing, bathing,
washing, cleaning etc. Farmers use ground water to water their fields.
Many industries use ground water to produce everything from paints and fabric to leather and
chemicals. So ground water is used for many purposes. Moreover the decline in the number of
trees, excess usage of water and the presence of concrete in the areas does not allow the rain
water to seep into the ground which is the reason for the shortage of water.
Page 26
Droughts
Due to lack of rains the wells, lakes, ponds get dried up and thereby creating water scarcity and as
result droughts are possible. If there are no rains, then the soil becomes more dry and patchy.
Droughts occur when there are no rains for a longer period of time. There is less rainfall because
trees are cut down. Droughts results in drying up of the crops and vegetation and this effects the
availability of food for villages and food for the other animals. Finally this leads to malnutrition
in humans.
Floods
Due to heavy rainfall the water levels in ponds, lakes rises to a greater extend and the rise in the
water level of these water bodies causes the excess water to spread across causing floods.
Floods wash out the living beings such as fish and other animals etc. and they create great havoc
to the mankind. Once the rains stops the flood water receded, fish, cattle and other animals were
left dead.
Floods cause lot of harm to the living beings and there will be loss in property
also.
Rain Harvesting
Harvesting is a method to collect rain water and store the rain water. The purpose of harvesting
rain water is that two thirds of the earth is covered with water. Ocean and sea water contains
many dissolved salts and cannot be used for drinking, agriculture and domestic purposes.
So constant use of ground water results in scarcity of groundwater. So rain harvesting clears the
problem of depleting the ground water.
Technique involved in rain harvesting
First collect the rain water at the rooftop and then allow the rain water to travels through the pipes
or drains and then attach a wire mesh to the mouth pipe which filters large fragments such as
leaves etc.
This water is transported to the water tanks. These tanks contain layers of sand, gravel, charcoal
that will filter the dirt and other impurities from rain water. The water stored in the tank will then
VI I.I.T. Foundation, N.T.S.E. & Science Olympiad Biology Chapter Notes
Page 27
be transported to an underground pit which will help water to seep back into the ground. Rain
harvesting solves the problem of depleting the ground water and droughts.
Page 28
7. Air around Us
All about Air
Page 29
Page 30
Garbage Disposal
A large, low-lying area used to dispose garbage is known as a dump. A garbage dump is also used
as landfill. Garbage collectors collect waste and then dispose it at garbage disposals. Garbage
dumps have flies, cockroaches and mosquitoes, and later turn into breeding grounds for microorganisms that may cause diseases. That is why these garbage dumps are usually located on the
outskirts of a city. When garbage mixes with soil, it takes a longer time to decay. The soil
becomes loose and a building cannot be constructed on such a landfill. Moreover, it takes 20 to
30 years for the soil to get ready for construction.
Components of garbage
Garbage has useful and non-useful components.
Useful garbage components are those that can be decayed easily. The process of decaying is
known as composting. Useful garbage components are fruit and vegetable waste, plant and
animal waste, tea leaves, coffee grounds and paper. These useful components of garbage are
converted into manure in the soil.
Non-useful garbage components include polythene bags, plastics, glass and aluminium foils.
These take longer to decay. Decaying of these non-useful components is known as
decomposition. When non-useful components decay, they release harmful gases that damage the
environment. To avoid the adverse impact, these garbage items are sent for recycling.
Page 31
For example, when leaves burn, they release harmful gases and causes air pollution. Moreover,
they lead to asthma and lung diseases. That is why leaves should be buried so as to convert them
into manure.
Vermicomposting
The process of preparing compost with the help of red worms is called vermicomposting. The
red worm is a type of earthworm that lives in the soil rich in organic matter, which is a
combination of nitrogen-rich and carbon-rich material with plenty of moisture and microbes.
Method of Vermicompositing
A vermicomposting pit is made with a wooden box or big cement rings.
A mesh is spread at the bottom of the pit.
Vegetable waste, fruit waste, waste paper which is not shiny or coated with plastic, is spread over
the mesh.
Water is sprinkled to create moisture so that the red worms can live.
A vermicomposting pit takes nearly two to four weeks to completely convert waste into manure.
Waste material that is rich in oils, salt, meat and vinegar stops the growth of red worms. These
red worms have a special structure called gizzards with which they grind food material. A red
worm eats food equal to its weight every day. Red worms do not survive in too hot or too cold
conditions.
Page 32
It is important to reuse things than discarding them as waste. Many nice articles can be made out
of waste.
Industries use recycled or waste paper to regenerate paper. Paper that is suitable for recycling is
called "scrap paper". You can recycle old newspapers, magazines, notebooks and used
envelopes, but not waxed paper, oil-soaked paper, paper contaminated with food, carbon paper,
thermal fax paper, plastic laminated paper, stickers, and sanitary products or tissues.
Steps involved in recycling paper
Use an old cloth or newspaper to remove the extra water from the paste and dry it.
Page 33
diabetes and reproductive dysfunction. Harmful gases are emitted from burning plastics, which
cause cancer and they kill living beings.
That is why plastics should be disposed in the right way.
Plastics that do not contain the chemical, BPA, are usually licensed for storing food items.
Plastics thrown casually get into drains and sewages, often blocking the way and causing waterlogging. A major cause of the floods in Mumbai, India, in August 2005 was the choking of the
drainage system by plastic waste. So polythene bags should not be used for garbage disposal.
Measures taken to prevent from the dangerous effects of plastics:
Adopt healthy practices such as:
Waste that does not decompose should be put in blue dustbins, while waste that
decomposes easily should be put in green dustbins.
Vermicomposting
Conversion of the waste generated in the kitchen into organic matter with the combined action of
earthworms and micro-organisms is called vermicomposting. The organic matter so formed is
used as manure for plants.
Page 34