Some Natural Phenomena – MCQs with Answers and Explanations
CBSE Class 8 Science – Chapter 15: Some Natural Phenomena (MCQs)
Designed strictly as per the NCERT syllabus and CBSE Class 8 Board Examination pattern for thorough MCQ practice.
CBSE Board Examinations – Systematic MCQ Practice
These Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) are framed topic-wise from Chapter 15: Some Natural Phenomena.
Each question includes the correct answer and an easy, concept-clearing explanation, ideal for Class 8 CBSE exam preparation.
Benefits of this MCQ set:
- Covers all major topics: electric charges, lightning, earthquakes and safety.
- Strictly based on NCERT Class 8 Science textbook content.
- Helps in school tests, periodic assessments and final exams.
- Strengthens understanding through detailed explanations.
Topic 1
Introduction to Natural Phenomena and Safety
Q1. The chapter “Some Natural Phenomena” in Class 8 Science mainly deals with:
Answer: (b) Lightning and earthquakes
This chapter focuses on two important and sometimes destructive natural events – lightning and earthquakes – and the safety measures related to them.
Q2. Which of the following is not a natural phenomenon?
Answer: (c) Ringing of an electric bell
Lightning, earthquakes and thunderstorms occur in nature on their own, so they are natural phenomena.
Ringing of an electric bell is caused by a man-made device and hence is not a natural phenomenon.
Q3. Why is it important for us to study natural phenomena like lightning and earthquakes?
Answer: (c) To understand their causes and learn safety measures
We cannot stop natural events like lightning or earthquakes, but by understanding them we can follow proper safety rules and reduce damage and loss of life.
Q4. A natural event that causes sudden, large-scale damage to life and property is called a:
Answer: (b) Disaster
When a natural phenomenon such as a severe earthquake or strong lightning strike causes heavy destruction, it becomes a natural disaster.
Q5. Which one of the following statements about natural phenomena is correct?
Answer: (c) Some natural phenomena may be harmless, others may be dangerous.
Events like rainbows are harmless, whereas lightning and earthquakes can be dangerous.
So, natural phenomena can be both harmless and harmful depending on their nature and intensity.
Topic 2
Electric Charges and Charging by Rubbing
Q6. When a plastic comb is rubbed through dry hair, it starts attracting small pieces of paper because:
Answer: (b) The comb becomes electrically charged.
Rubbing the plastic comb on hair transfers electric charges to the comb.
The charged comb then exerts an electric force on light objects like paper bits and attracts them.
Q7. An object is said to be electrically charged when:
Answer: (c) It has an excess or deficiency of electric charges.
A body becomes charged when it gains extra electrons or loses some electrons.
This imbalance (excess or deficiency) of charges makes it an electrically charged body.
Q8. How many kinds of electric charges exist?
Answer: (b) Two
There are two kinds of electric charges – positive and negative.
Understanding their interaction is the basis of electrostatics.
Q9. When a glass rod is rubbed with silk, the glass rod becomes:
Answer: (b) Positively charged
On rubbing, electrons move from the glass rod to the silk cloth.
The glass rod loses electrons and becomes positively charged while silk becomes negatively charged.
Q10. When a plastic rod is rubbed with wool, the plastic rod usually becomes:
Answer: (b) Negatively charged
In this case, electrons move from wool to plastic.
The plastic rod gains electrons and becomes negatively charged, while wool becomes positively charged.
Q11. Which of the following correctly describes the interaction between charges?
Answer: (b) Like charges repel and unlike charges attract.
This is a basic law of electrostatics.
Two bodies with the same type of charge push each other apart, while bodies with opposite charges pull each other closer.
Q12. A charged plastic scale attracts tiny bits of paper. The bits of paper are initially:
Answer: (c) Neutral
The pieces of paper are uncharged at first.
When a charged object is brought near, charges inside the paper rearrange (induction), and the side nearer to the scale gets opposite charge, leading to attraction.
Q13. Which of the following is the best conductor of electricity?
Answer: (d) Copper
Metals like copper and aluminium are good conductors and allow charges to flow easily.
Plastic, glass and rubber are insulators and oppose the flow of charges.
Q14. Which statement about charging by rubbing (friction) is correct?
Answer: (b) Only insulators can be charged by rubbing.
Insulators like plastic and glass can hold the charge produced by friction.
If conductors are rubbed, the charge quickly flows away through our body to the earth.
Q15. Which of the following is not an example of charging by friction?
Answer: (d) Connecting a wire to a battery
Charging by friction occurs only when two objects are rubbed together.
In a battery, charges are produced by chemical reactions, not by rubbing.
Topic 3
Transfer of Charge, Electroscope and Earthing
Q16. The device used to detect whether a body is charged or not is called:
Answer: (b) Electroscope
An electroscope is a simple device that shows the presence of electric charge on a body by the divergence of its metal leaves.
Q17. In a simple electroscope, the divergence of aluminium leaves shows that the metal rod is:
Answer: (b) Charged
When charge reaches the leaves, both leaves get the same type of charge and hence repel each other, moving apart and showing divergence.
Q18. When a charged body is brought in contact with a neutral conductor, the conductor:
Answer: (c) May get charged depending on the type of charge transferred
In charging by conduction, some charge flows from the charged body to the neutral conductor, and the conductor acquires the same kind of charge as the source.
Q19. The process of transferring charge from a charged object to the earth is called:
Answer: (c) Earthing
Earthing provides a direct path for excess charge to flow into the earth, which is so large that it can absorb charge without becoming charged itself.
Q20. Why is it safer to touch electric appliances with dry hands rather than wet hands?
Answer: (b) Dry skin offers more resistance to electric current.
Water (especially with dissolved salts) is a good conductor.
Wet hands lower the resistance of the body and increase the risk of electric shock, so appliances should be handled with dry hands.
Q21. During an experiment, a student touches a charged metal rod with her bare hand. What will most likely happen?
Answer: (b) The rod will lose its charge to the earth through her body.
The human body is a conductor and is usually connected to the earth through the floor.
So, the charge on the rod flows through the body to the earth, leaving the rod neutral.
Q22. Which of the following is an important use of earthing in buildings?
Answer: (c) To avoid electric shocks and damage due to leakage of current
Earthing ensures that if the metal body of an appliance accidentally gets live, the charge flows safely into the earth, preventing shocks and protecting appliances.
Q23. In an electroscope, why are light metals like aluminium used for leaves?
Answer: (c) They can easily show movement when charged.
Light metals move even with small repulsive forces.
When the leaves get similarly charged, they diverge clearly, making it easy to detect charge.
Q24. A charged rod is brought near (but not touching) the metal cap of an electroscope. The leaves diverge. This is due to:
Answer: (c) Charging by induction
The presence of a nearby charged body causes redistribution of charges in the electroscope without direct contact.
This method of producing charge is known as induction.
Q25. Which of the following statements about earthing is correct?
Answer: (c) Earthing means connecting a body to a thick metal plate buried deep in the earth.
Proper earthing uses a thick metal plate or rod buried in moist soil and connected to the electrical system.
This gives any excess charge a safe path to the earth.
Topic 4
Lightning – Formation, Effects and Safety Measures
Q26. Lightning is caused by:
Answer: (b) Flow of electric charges between clouds or between cloud and earth
Lightning is a gigantic electric spark that occurs due to rapid discharge of built-up charges between clouds or between a cloud and the earth.
Q27. During a thunderstorm, we first see lightning and then hear thunder because:
Answer: (b) Light travels faster than sound.
Lightning and thunder occur almost together, but light reaches our eyes much earlier than sound reaches our ears because the speed of light is much greater than the speed of sound.
Q28. Which of the following is a safe place to take shelter during a thunderstorm with lightning?
Answer: (c) Inside a car or a bus with metal body
A vehicle with a metal body acts like a Faraday cage.
Electric charge passes around the outside and then to the ground, keeping the people inside comparatively safe.
Q29. Which of the following actions is unsafe during lightning?
Answer: (c) Using a corded telephone
Electric surges due to lightning can travel through phone lines and electrical wiring.
So using corded telephones is unsafe; battery devices without wires are safer during storms.
Q30. A lightning conductor protects a tall building by:
Answer: (c) Providing a safe path for lightning to reach the earth
The lightning conductor is a metal rod fixed at the top of the building and connected to the earth.
It safely carries the lightning discharge into the ground, reducing damage.
Q31. The metal rod of a lightning conductor is usually made of:
Answer: (c) Copper or aluminium
Metals like copper or aluminium are good electrical conductors and are durable, making them suitable for lightning conductors.
Q32. Which precaution should be followed when you are caught in an open field during lightning?
Answer: (c) Crouch down with your head between your knees and hands on your head.
You should make yourself as small as possible without lying flat.
Crouching reduces your height and contact with ground, lowering the chance of being struck by lightning.
Q33. Which statement about lightning is correct?
Answer: (b) Lightning can strike the same place more than once.
A high structure or a particular spot may be struck several times during different storms.
Hence tall buildings often have lightning conductors installed.
Q34. Which of the following should be avoided indoors during a lightning storm?
Answer: (a) Watching television with the set plugged in
During lightning, it is better to unplug television and other electrical devices because surges may travel through power lines and damage them or cause shocks.
Q35. A student claims: “Lightning is just a flash of light and cannot harm us.” This statement is:
Answer: (b) Completely wrong
Lightning is an extremely powerful electric discharge that can cause deaths, severe burns, fires and damage to property.
It is a dangerous natural phenomenon, not just a harmless flash.
Q36. Which phenomenon produces both a flash of light and a loud sound in the sky?
Answer: (c) Lightning
Lightning produces a bright flash and the heated air around it expands rapidly, creating the loud sound called thunder.
Q37. The main reason for the build-up of charges in clouds is:
Answer: (a) Movement of water and air currents inside the cloud
Inside thunderclouds, water droplets and ice particles rub against each other due to strong air currents, causing separation and accumulation of electric charges.
Topic 5
Earthquakes – Causes, Terms and Measurement
Q38. An earthquake is best described as:
Answer: (a) A sudden shaking of the earth’s surface
An earthquake is a sudden shaking or trembling of the earth that lasts for a very short time and is caused by disturbances deep inside the earth.
Q39. The outermost solid layer of the earth is called:
Answer: (c) Crust
The hard and rocky outer layer of the earth is known as the crust.
It is broken into several large and small pieces called plates.
Q40. The plates that make up the earth’s crust are called:
Answer: (c) Tectonic plates
The crust is divided into several rigid blocks called tectonic plates, whose movements relative to one another cause most earthquakes.
Q41. The point inside the earth where an earthquake originates is called its:
Answer: (b) Focus
The focus is the point inside the earth from where the seismic waves start.
Energy is released here and travels outward in all directions.
Q42. The point on the earth’s surface directly above the focus is called:
Answer: (b) Epicentre
The epicentre lies vertically above the focus on the surface of the earth.
The strongest shaking and greatest damage are usually observed near the epicentre.
Q43. The instrument used to record the waves produced by an earthquake is called:
Answer: (c) Seismograph
A seismograph records the seismic waves produced during an earthquake, helping scientists study its strength and duration.
Q44. The magnitude of an earthquake is expressed on:
Answer: (b) Richter scale
The Richter scale measures the magnitude (energy released) of an earthquake.
Each increase of one unit on this scale represents a large increase in energy.
Topic 6
Earthquake Preparedness and Safety Measures
Q45. Which of the following is a safe action during an earthquake when you are inside a building?
Answer: (c) Take shelter under a strong table or bed
During an earthquake, you should follow “Drop, Cover and Hold”: get under a strong table or bed and hold it firmly to protect yourself from falling objects.
Q46. If you are in an open ground during an earthquake, you should:
Answer: (c) Stay away from buildings, trees and electric lines
In open spaces, move away from structures that might fall, such as buildings, trees and electric poles.
Open ground away from such objects is the safest place.
Q47. Which of the following is an earthquake-safe construction practice?
Answer: (b) Using good quality materials and proper reinforcement
Earthquake-resistant buildings are designed with strong foundations, quality materials and steel reinforcement, which help them withstand shaking better.
Q48. Which of the following items is useful to keep ready in an earthquake emergency kit?
Answer: (a) Battery-operated torch and radio
An emergency kit should include a battery torch, radio, first-aid box, some food and drinking water to help you manage when power supply and normal services are disrupted.
Q49. Which behaviour should be avoided during an earthquake?
Answer: (b) Running in panic in crowded places
Panic can cause stampede and additional injuries.
It is important to remain calm, move carefully and follow safety instructions instead of running wildly.
Q50. Why is it important to have earthquake drills in schools and offices?
Answer: (c) To practise the correct safety steps so that people react quickly during a real earthquake
Regular drills make people familiar with evacuation routes and safety positions.
This practice ensures a quick and organised response in case a real earthquake occurs.
Conclusion
This set of 50 topic-wise MCQs with answers and explanations from
Chapter 15 – Some Natural Phenomena helps CBSE Class 8 students build strong concepts on electric charges, lightning and earthquakes.
Regular practice of these questions will boost confidence and exam performance.