---
title: "NCERT Solutions Class 8 Science Pressure, Winds, Storms, and Cyclones"
url: https://www.swavid.com/science/class/8/chapter/pressure-winds-storms-and-cyclones/ncert-solutions
dateModified: 2026-10-07T16:15:02+00:00
---

# NCERT Solutions Class 8 Science Pressure, Winds, Storms, and Cyclones

This chapter's questions cover concepts related to pressure, force-area relationships, atmospheric and liquid pressure, wind formation, storms, thunderstorms, lightning, and cyclones.

Free PDF (10 pages): https://www.swavid.com/api/seo/pdf/ncert/science/class-8/swavid-ncert-solutions-class-8-science-chapter-6-pressure-winds-storms-and-cyclones-b9bcbe9e10.pdf

## Probe and ponder

### Question 1

*3 marks · Short answer*

Why are winds stronger on some days than on others?

**Solution**

1. Winds are caused by differences in air pressure between different regions.
2. Air moves from a region of high pressure to a region of low pressure.
3. The greater the pressure difference between two regions, the stronger is the wind speed.

**Answer:** Winds are stronger on some days because the pressure difference between regions is greater on those days.

> Common mistake: Stating that temperature alone causes wind without mentioning air pressure differences.

### Question 2

*3 marks · Short answer*

Why are water tanks usually placed at a height?

**Solution**

1. The pressure exerted by a liquid in a vessel depends on the height of its column.
2. As the height of the water column increases, the pressure at the bottom also increases.
3. Water tanks are placed at a height to increase the pressure in the taps, resulting in a good stream of water.

**Answer:** Water tanks are placed at a height so that the water column height increases, which increases the water pressure in the taps.

> Common mistake: Confusing water weight with height of the water column as the main factor for tap pressure.

### Question 3

*3 marks · Short answer*

Can air pressure really crush us?

**Solution**

1. Atmospheric pressure surrounding us is very large, equal to the force of gravity on an object of mass 225 kg over a 15 cm x 15 cm area.
2. We are not crushed under this weight because the pressure inside our bodies is also equal to the atmospheric pressure.
3. The internal pressure, caused by the movement of fluids and gases in our body tissues and organs, balances the pressure exerted from outside.

**Answer:** No, air pressure does not crush us because the fluid and gas pressure inside our bodies is equal to the atmospheric pressure and balances it.

> Common mistake: Forgetting that internal body pressure balances the external atmospheric pressure.

### Question 4

*3 marks · Short answer*

What causes storms and cyclones? If the Earth stopped rotating, would cyclones still form?

**Solution**

1. Storms are caused when warm and moist air rises, cools, and water vapour condenses, creating low-pressure areas into which cooler surrounding air rushes rapidly.
2. Cyclones are large spinning systems of clouds, winds, and rain that form over warm ocean waters due to continuous cycles of rising warm air and low-pressure creation.
3. The Earth's rotation causes the moving air to spin; if the Earth stopped rotating, organized rotating cyclones would not form because the rotation is necessary for the air to spin.

**Answer:** Storms are caused by rapid rising of warm moist air and rush of cooler air, and cyclones require Earth's rotation to spin; without rotation, cyclones would not form.

> Common mistake: Forgetting to mention the role of the Earth's rotation in making the winds spin to form a cyclone.

### Question 5

*3 marks · Short answer*

Share your questions

**Solution**

1. Students are encouraged to formulate their own scientific questions based on daily life experiences related to pressure and winds.
2. Questions can be framed around weather changes, fluid pressures, or atmospheric phenomena.
3. Discussing these questions helps in applying scientific concepts learned in the chapter.

**Answer:** This is an open-ended question for students to share their own questions based on observations of weather and pressure.

> Common mistake: Leaving the question blank instead of posing a relevant scientific query.

## Keep the curiosity alive

### Question 1

*1 mark · MCQ*

Choose the correct statement.
(i) Look at Fig. 6.21 carefully. Vessel R is filled with water. When pouring of water is stopped, the level of water will ____________________.

- the highest in vessel P
- the highest in vessel Q
- the highest in vessel R
- equal in all three vessels

**Part (i)**

1. The pressure exerted by a liquid depends only on the height of the liquid column and not on the shape or volume of the vessel.
2. Since the water columns in all connected vessels reach the same height, the water level will be equal in all three vessels.

Answer (i): (d) equal in all three vessels

**Answer:** (d) equal in all three vessels

> Common mistake: Thinking that wider vessels hold more water and therefore have a higher level.

### Question 1

*1 mark · MCQ*

Choose the correct statement.
(ii) A rubber sucker (M) is pressed on a flat smooth surface and an identical sucker (N) is pressed on a rough surface:

- Both M and N will stick to their surfaces.
- Both M and N will not stick to their surfaces.
- M will stick but N will not stick.
- M will not stick but N will stick.

**Part (ii)**

1. A rubber sucker requires a smooth flat surface to create an airtight seal and reduce air pressure inside the cup.
2. On a rough surface, air leaks in from the gaps, preventing the formation of a low pressure region, so only sucker M will stick.

Answer (ii): (c) M will stick but N will not stick.

**Answer:** (c) M will stick but N will not stick.

> Common mistake: Assuming all surfaces allow rubber suckers to create a vacuum.

### Question 1

*1 mark · MCQ*

Choose the correct statement.
(iii) A water tank is placed on the roof of a building at a height 'H'. To get water with more pressure on the ground floor, one has to

- increase the height 'H' at which the tank is placed.
- decrease the height 'H' at which the tank is placed.
- replace the tank with another tank of the same height that can hold more water.
- replace the tank with another tank of the same height that can hold less water.

**Part (iii)**

1. The pressure exerted by a liquid in a vessel depends directly on the height of its column.
2. Increasing the height H increases the water column height, thereby increasing the pressure of water at the taps on the ground floor.

Answer (iii): (a) increase the height 'H' at which the tank is placed.

**Answer:** (a) increase the height 'H' at which the tank is placed.

> Common mistake: Confusing tank capacity with water height in determining pressure.

### Question 1

*1 mark · MCQ*

Choose the correct statement.
(iv) Two vessels, A and B contain water up to the same level as shown in Fig. 6.22. $P_A$ and $P_B$ is the pressure at the bottom of the vessels. $F_A$ and $F_B$ is the force exerted by the water at the bottom of the vessels A and B.

- P_A = P_B, F_A = F_B
- P_A = P_B, F_A < F_B
- P_A < P_B, F_A = F_B
- P_A > P_B, F_A > F_B

**Part (iv)**

1. Since the water level is the same in both vessels, the pressure at the bottom depends only on height, so $P_A = P_B$.
2. Force equals pressure multiplied by area ($F = P \times A$). Since vessel B has a larger base area than vessel A, the force exerted at the bottom of B is greater ($F_A < F_B$).

Answer (iv): (b) $P_A = P_B, F_A < F_B$

**Answer:** (b) $P_A = P_B, F_A < F_B$

> Common mistake: Assuming equal pressure means equal force at the bottom irrespective of area.

### Question 2

*1 mark · True or false*

State whether the following statements are True [T] or False [F].
(i) Air flows from a region of higher pressure to a region of lower pressure.
(ii) Liquids exert pressure only at the bottom of a container.
(iii) Weather is stormy at the eye of a cyclone.
(iv) During a thunderstorm, it is safer to be in a car.

**Part (i)**

1. Air always moves from a region of higher pressure to a region of lower pressure.

Answer (i): True

**Part (ii)**

1. Liquids exert pressure not only at the bottom but also on the sides and in all directions.

Answer (ii): False. Liquids exert pressure at the bottom, on the sides, and in all directions of a container.

**Part (iii)**

1. In the eye of a cyclone, the weather is calm, whereas the surrounding region experiences strong winds and heavy rainfall.

Answer (iii): False. The weather is calm at the eye of a cyclone.

**Part (iv)**

1. A metal car provides a safe shield against electrical discharges during lightning due to its conducting shell.

Answer (iv): True

**Answer:** True / False statements

> Common mistake: Thinking the eye of a cyclone has the most violent weather.

### Question 3

*3 marks · Short answer*

Fig. 6.23a shows a boy lying horizontally, and Fig. 6.23b shows the boy standing vertically on a loose sand bed. In which case does the boy sink more in sand? Give reasons.

**Solution**

1. The boy sinks more in sand when standing vertically (Fig. 6.23b) than when lying horizontally (Fig. 6.23a).
2. Pressure is defined as force per unit area ($P = \frac{\text{Force}}{\text{Area}}$).
3. When standing, the boy's weight acts on a smaller surface area (the area of his feet), resulting in higher pressure and greater sinking into the loose sand.

**Answer:** The boy sinks more when standing vertically because his weight acts on a smaller area, creating higher pressure.

> Common mistake: Stating that weight changes depending on posture.

### Question 4

*3 marks · Numerical*

An elephant stands on four feet. If the area covered by one foot is $0.25\text{ m}^2$, calculate the pressure exerted by the elephant on the ground if its weight is $20000\text{ N}$.

**Solution**

1. Given: Total weight of the elephant (Force, $F$) = $20000\text{ N}$, Total area covered by four feet ($A$) = $4 \times 0.25\text{ m}^2 = 1\text{ m}^2$.
2. Formula: $\text{Pressure} = \frac{\text{Force}}{\text{Area}}$
3. Substitution: $\text{Pressure} = \frac{20000\text{ N}}{1\text{ m}^2}$
4. Result: $20000\text{ N/m}^2$

**Answer:** $20000\text{ N/m}^2$ (or $20000\text{ Pa}$)

> Common mistake: Forgetting to multiply the area of one foot by 4 to get the total area covered by all four feet.

### Question 5

*3 marks · Numerical*

There are two boats, A and B. Boat A has a base area of $7\text{ m}^2$, and 5 persons are seated in it. Boat B has a base area of $3.5\text{ m}^2$, and 3 persons are seating in it. If each person has a weight of $700\text{ N}$, find out which boat will experience more pressure on its base and by how much?

**Solution**

1. Given for Boat A: Base area $A_A = 7\text{ m}^2$, Number of persons = $5$, Weight of each person = $700\text{ N}$
2. Total force on Boat A ($F_A$) = $5 \times 700\text{ N} = 3500\text{ N}$
3. Pressure on Boat A ($P_A$) = $\frac{F_A}{A_A} = \frac{3500\text{ N}}{7\text{ m}^2} = 500\text{ N/m}^2$
4. Given for Boat B: Base area $A_B = 3.5\text{ m}^2$, Number of persons = $3$
5. Total force on Boat B ($F_B$) = $3 \times 700\text{ N} = 2100\text{ N}$
6. Pressure on Boat B ($P_B$) = $\frac{F_B}{A_B} = \frac{2100\text{ N}}{3.5\text{ m}^2} = 600\text{ N/m}^2$
7. Difference in pressure = $600\text{ N/m}^2 - 500\text{ N/m}^2 = 100\text{ N/m}^2$

**Answer:** Boat B will experience more pressure on its base by $100\text{ N/m}^2$ (or $100\text{ Pa}$).

> Common mistake: Dividing the weight by area incorrectly or forgetting to calculate the total force for all persons in each boat.

### Question 6

*3 marks · Short answer*

Would lightning occur if air and clouds were good conductors of electricity? Give reasons for your answer.

**Solution**

1. Normally, air acts as an electrical insulator and prevents opposite charges built up in clouds and the ground from meeting.
2. When static electric charges build up to a very large amount, the insulating property of air breaks down, causing a sudden flow of charges which produces lightning.
3. If air and clouds were good conductors, charges would continuously flow and neutralize as soon as they formed, preventing any massive buildup of static charge and thus lightning would not occur.

**Answer:** No, lightning would not occur because good conductors would allow charges to neutralize continuously instead of building up to a large extent.

> Common mistake: Stating that lightning would occur faster, misunderstanding the role of air as an insulator.

### Question 7

*3 marks · Short answer*

What will happen to the two identical balloons A and B as shown in Fig. 6.24 when water is filled into the bottle up to a certain height. Will both the balloons bulge? If yes, will they bulge equally? Explain your answer.

**Solution**

1. When water is filled into the bottle up to a certain height, both balloons will bulge.
2. Yes, both balloons will bulge equally because the pressure exerted by a liquid depends only on the height of the liquid column, not on the shape or width of the container.
3. Since the height of the water column above both balloons is the same, the pressure at the bottom of both sides is equal.

**Answer:** Both balloons will bulge equally because liquid pressure depends on the height of the water column, which is equal for both.

> Common mistake: Assuming that a wider part of the bottle will cause a larger bulge due to more volume or weight of water.

### Question 8

*3 marks · Short answer*

Explain how a storm becomes a cyclone.

**Solution**

1. As ocean water gets heated, warm and moist air rises, creating a low-pressure area, and water vapour condenses releasing heat into the atmosphere.
2. This released heat warms the surrounding air, making it rise further and creating an even lower pressure, which causes surrounding air to rush in.
3. The Earth's rotation causes this moving air to spin rapidly, resulting in a very low-pressure area surrounded by high-speed winds and clouds, which is called a cyclone.

**Answer:** A storm becomes a cyclone when continuous heating, condensation, and the Earth's rotation create a spinning system of high-speed winds around a very low-pressure center.

> Common mistake: Forgetting to mention the role of Earth's rotation in making the winds spin.

### Question 9

*3 marks · Short answer*

Fig. 6.25 shows trees along the sea coast in a summer afternoon. Identify which side is land— A or B. Explain your answer.

**Solution**

1. Side A is land.
2. During a summer afternoon, land gets heated faster than water, causing the air above the land to become warmer, lighter, and rise to create a low-pressure area.
3. Cooler air from the sea rushes towards the land as sea breeze, which pushes and bends the trees towards side A (land).

**Answer:** Side A is land because during a summer afternoon, sea breeze blows from the sea towards the land, bending the trees towards the land.

> Common mistake: Confusing sea breeze with land breeze and choosing the wrong direction for the afternoon wind.

### Question 10

*5 marks · Long answer*

Describe an activity to show that air flows from a region of high pressure to a region of low pressure.

**Solution**

1. Take two similar balloons made of thin rubber and a drinking straw.
2. Insert one end of the straw into one balloon and secure it with a rubber band or thread so that air does not leak.
3. Inflate the second balloon, hold its mouth with your fingers to prevent air from escaping, insert the free end of the straw into its neck, and secure it with a rubber band.
4. Observe that the air pressure inside the inflated balloon is higher than in the uninflated balloon.
5. When the mouth is released, air moves from the inflated balloon (high pressure region) to the uninflated balloon (low pressure region) until pressures become equal and both balloons attain the same size.

**Answer:** Air moves from a region of high air pressure to a region of low air pressure.

> Common mistake: Forgetting to mention that air stops flowing once the pressures in both balloons become equal.

### Question 11

*3 marks · Short answer*

What is a thunderstorm? Explain the process of its formation.

**Solution**

1. A storm accompanied by lightning and thunder is called a thunderstorm.
2. When land gets heated, warm and moist air rises to create a low-pressure area, and cooler air from surrounding high-pressure areas rushes to take its place.
3. As the rising air expands and cools, moisture condenses to form clouds, and heavy water drops come down as rain while strong winds blow upwards and downwards.

**Answer:** A thunderstorm is a storm accompanied by thunder and lightning, formed by rising warm, moist air creating clouds, heavy rain, and strong winds.

> Common mistake: Not explaining how warm air rises and cools to form clouds during the process.

### Question 12

*3 marks · Short answer*

Explain the process that causes lightning.

**Solution**

1. Strong winds blowing upwards and downwards inside clouds cause rubbing between water droplets and ice particles, creating static electric charges.
2. Positively charged lighter ice particles move to the upper part of clouds, while negatively charged heavier water droplets occupy the lower part, causing charge separation.
3. When the build-up of charges becomes very large, the insulating property of air breaks down, resulting in a sudden flow of charges that produces a bright flash of light called lightning.

**Answer:** Lightning is caused by the sudden flow of electric charges through air when opposite charges build up within clouds or between clouds and the ground.

> Common mistake: Confusing the upper and lower parts of the cloud regarding positive and negative charges.

### Question 13

*3 marks · Short answer*

Explain why holes are made in banners and hoardings.

**Solution**

1. High-speed winds are accompanied by a reduced air pressure.
2. When strong winds blow over banners and hoardings, a low-pressure area is created in front of them while higher pressure remains behind.
3. Making holes in banners allows wind to pass through easily, reducing the pressure difference and preventing the banners from getting torn or blown away.

**Answer:** Holes are made in banners and hoardings to let wind pass through, which reduces the pressure difference and prevents them from getting torn by high-speed winds.

> Common mistake: Stating that holes increase the weight instead of explaining how they reduce the pressure difference.

## Frequently asked questions

### How many total questions are there in NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Science Chapter 6?

This chapter contains a total of 21 questions divided into different sections for practice. There are 5 questions under Probe and ponder and 16 questions under Keep the curiosity alive. You can find step-by-step answers for all of these on this SwaVid page.

### Which topics are covered in the exercise questions of this Class 8 chapter?

The questions cover important concepts like atmospheric pressure, wind formation due to pressure difference, liquid pressure, and the formation of storms and cyclones. They also explore practical phenomena such as sea breeze, land breeze, and lightning. SwaVid provides detailed solutions for all these topics on this page.

### Which is the hardest question type in this chapter and how should I approach it?

Numerical and long-answer questions involving pressure calculations and cyclone formation are often considered the hardest by students. To approach them, you should first understand the underlying physics principles like force and area, and then structure your steps clearly. SwaVid's solutions on this page break down these difficult problems into easy steps.

### How can I write answers to score full marks in exams for this chapter?

To score full marks, write your answers in clear points and define scientific terms accurately when explaining concepts like air pressure or wind currents. Drawing labeled diagrams for phenomena like land breeze and sea breeze also helps fetch better marks. You can refer to the expert-written answers on this SwaVid page to learn the right formatting.

### Is the free PDF for these Class 8 Science Chapter 6 solutions available?

Yes, the complete free PDF for these NCERT solutions is available on this page for the 2026-27 academic session based on the new NCERT book. You can easily download or view the step-by-step guide right here to help with your exam preparation.

## Related pages

- [Class 8 Science chapters](https://www.swavid.com/science/class/8)

Solutions written by SwaVid, a personal AI tutor for Class 6 to 10 Maths and Science. Practise this chapter free: https://www.swavid.com/start/student