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CBSE · Class 8 · Science

Pressure, Winds, Storms, and Cyclones

Standard difficulty · 20 questions · 40 marks

Name: Date: Score: ____ / 40

Show your working for Sections B and C. Answers are on the last page — try every question first!

Section A — Choose the correct answer8 × 1 = 8 marks
1.
Pressure is:
  1. mass ÷ volume
  2. distance ÷ time
  3. force × time
  4. force acting on a unit area
2.
A force of 2,000 N acts on an area of 5 m2. What is the pressure?
  1. 400 Pa
  2. 10,000 Pa
  3. 2,000 Pa
  4. 405 Pa
3.
An animal weighing 28,000 N stands on four feet, each with an area of 0.5 m2. What pressure does it put on the ground?
  1. 7,000 Pa
  2. 56,000 Pa
  3. 14,000 Pa
  4. 28,000 Pa
4.
The design of a pointed nail:
  1. makes it lighter
  2. decreases pressure by making the area large
  3. increases pressure by making the area small
  4. has no effect on pressure
5.
During lightning, which of these is SAFE?
  1. crouching low in an open area
  2. lying flat on wet ground
  3. holding an umbrella with a metal rod
  4. standing on top of a hill
6.
The air pressure is 1,012 millibars. How many pascals is that? (1 mb = 100 Pa)
  1. 1,012,000 Pa
  2. 10,120 Pa
  3. 1,012 Pa
  4. 101,200 Pa
7.
The pressure at the edge of a cyclone is 1,006 mb and at its eye 997 mb. What is the difference?
  1. 9 mb
  2. 997 mb
  3. 2,003 mb
  4. 1,006 mb
8.
Which of these is UNSAFE during lightning?
  1. holding an umbrella with a metal rod
  2. staying inside a closed car or bus
  3. crouching low in an open area
  4. going inside a building
Section B — Short answer8 × 2 = 16 marks
9.
Define pressure and write its SI unit.
10.
Does the shape of each "increase" or "decrease" pressure? (a) a pointed nail (b) a camel's broad feet
11.
During lightning, is it "safe" or "unsafe"? (a) lying flat on wet ground (b) standing on top of a hill
12.
A box weighing 500 N rests on a face of area 10 m2. Find the pressure it exerts.
13.
A person weighing 700 N stands on two feet with a total area of 0.05 m2, then lies down covering 0.5 m2. Find the pressure in each case.
14.
Convert 1,000 hectopascals into pascals and into millibars. (1 hPa = 100 Pa = 1 mb)
15.
Near the coast, is there a "sea breeze" or a "land breeze" (a) at night (b) at midnight?
16.
A cyclone's winds blow at 227 km/h. If its centre moves at 23 km/h towards the coast, how far does it move in 11 hours?
Section C — Word problems4 × 4 = 16 marks
17.
Explain with two examples how we increase or decrease pressure in daily life.
18.
Boat A carries 6 people of 700 N each on a base of 9 m2. Boat B carries 2 people of 700 N on 2 m2. (a) Find the pressure each boat puts on the water. (b) Which is greater, and by how much?
19.
A thunderstorm is coming. Which of these are safe and which unsafe: lying flat on wet ground; staying inside a closed car or bus; going inside a building; standing under a tall tree? Explain how lightning forms.
20.
Holes are made at three heights in a tall bottle of water, the lowest 9 cm from the base. (a) From which hole does water spurt farthest? (b) Why? (c) Use this to explain why dams have wide bases and tanks are kept high.
AmbifulWorksheets
Practice that never repeats
CBSE · Class 8 · Science

Answer key

Pressure, Winds, Storms, and Cyclones · AW-8S-PRS-2026-V1 · For parents — fold back or tear off before handing the sheet to your child.

QAnswerWorking
1(d) force acting on a unit area—
2(a) 400 Pa2000 ÷ 5 = 400
3(c) 14,000 Patotal area = 4 × 0.5 = 2 m2; 28000 ÷ 2 = 14000
4(c) increases pressure by making the area small—
5(a) crouching low in an open area—
6(d) 101,200 Pa1012 × 100 = 101,200
7(a) 9 mb1006 − 997 = 9
8(a) holding an umbrella with a metal rod—
9Force acting per unit area; pascal (N/m2).—
10(a) increases (b) decreases—
11(a) unsafe (b) unsafe—
1250 Pa500 ÷ 10
13standing: 14,000 Pa; lying: 1,400 Pa700 ÷ 0.05; 700 ÷ 0.5
14100,000 Pa; 1,000 mb1000 × 100
15(a) land breeze (b) land breeze—
16253 km23 × 11
17To increase pressure we reduce area: knives are sharpened, nails are pointed. To decrease pressure we increase area: bags have broad straps, porters use a cloth ring, buildings have wide foundations.—
18(a) A: 466.7 Pa; B: 700 Pa (b) B, by 233.3 Papressure = total weight ÷ area
19Safe: staying inside a closed car or bus; going inside a building. Unsafe: lying flat on wet ground; standing under a tall tree. Charges separate in tall clouds as ice and water droplets rub; when they become large, electricity sparks through the air as lightning, heating it so it expands with a thunderclap.—
20(a) The lowest hole (b) Liquid pressure increases with the depth of liquid above. (c) The pressure is greatest at the bottom of a dam, so it must be strongest there; a high tank gives water more pressure at the taps.—