Explain how soil is formed.
Soil is the thin layer of materials covering the earth’s surface and is formed from the weathering of rocks or differentiation from the parent rock. It is made up mainly of minerals particles 50%, 5% soil organic materials, 20% air and 25% water.
Formation of Soil:
Soil is formed from parent's rocks by the process of weathering. In weathering, rocks are broken down very slowly by the physical (temperature, exfoliation, water, glaciers etc.) and the chemical methods (hydrolysis, oxidation, reduction etc.) to form tiny rock particles. These tiny rock particles then mix up with humus to form fertile soil which is known as humification process. And, then release of organically bound nutrients occurs that changes into the inorganic form that are available to plants and microbes; this process is known as mineralization.
Sketch the cross section of soil and label the various layers.
Solve the following crossword puzzle with the clues given:
Across
2. Plantation prevents it.
5. Use should be banned to avoid soil pollution.
6. Type of soil used for making pottery.
7. Living organism in the soil.
Down
1. In desert soil erosion occurs through.
3. Clay and loam are suitable for cereals like.
4. This type of soil can hold very little water.
5. Collective name for layers of soil.
Match the items in Column I with those in Column II:
Column I Column II
(i) A home for living organisms (a) Large particles
(ii) Upper layer of the soil (b) All kinds of soil
(iii) Sandy soil (c) Dark in colour
(iv) Middle layer of the soil (d) Small particles and packed tight (v) Clayey soil (e) Lesser amount of humus
How is clayey soil useful for crops?
List the differences between clayey soil and sandy soil.
Razia conducted an experiment in the field related to the rate of percolation. She observed that it took 40 min for 200 mL of water to percolate through the soil sample. Calculate the rate of percolation.
In addition to the rock particles, the soil contains
(i) air and water
(ii) water and plants
(iii) minerals, organic matter, air and water
(iv) water, air and plants
Explain how soil pollution and soil erosion could be prevented.
The water holding capacity is the highest in
(i) sandy soil
(ii) clayey soil
(iii) loamy soil
(iv) mixture of sand and loam
State similarities and differences between the laboratory thermometer and the clinical thermometer.
State differences between acids and bases.
Classify the changes involved in the following processes as physical or chemical changes:
(a) Photosynthesis
(b) Dissolving sugar in water
(c) Burning of coal
(d) Melting of wax
(e) Beating aluminium to make aluminium foil
(f ) Digestion of food
Name the elements that determine the weather of a place.
Fill the missing word in the blank spaces in the following statements:
(a) Wind is——————air.
(b) Winds are generated due to —————— heating on the earth.
(c) Near the earth’s surface __________air rises up whereas ___________ air comes down.
(d) Air moves from a region of ——— pressure to a region of ———.
Why does an athlete breathe faster and deeper than usual after finishing the race?
Match structures given in Column I with functions given in Column II.
Column I Column II
(i) Stomata (a) Absorption of water
(ii) Xylem (b) Transpiration
(iii) Root hairs (c) Transport of food
(iv) Phloem (d) Transport of water
(e) Synthesis of carbohydrates
Fill in the blanks:
(a) Production of new individuals from the vegetative part of parent is called_____________.
(b) A flower may have either male or female reproductive parts. Such a flower is called_____________.
(c) The transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of the same or of another flower of the same kind is known as _____________.
(d) The fusion of male and female gametes is termed as _____________.
(e) Seed dispersal takes place by means of _____________, _____________ and _____________.
Classify the following as motion along a straight line, circular or oscillatory motion:
(i) Motion of your hands while running.
(ii) Motion of a horse pulling a cart on a straight road.
(iii) Motion of a child in a merry-go-round.
(iv) Motion of a child on a see-saw.
(v) Motion of the hammer of an electric bell.
(vi) Motion of a train on a straight bridge.
Why do organisms need to take food?
Explain why rusting of iron objects is faster in coastal areas than in deserts.
Write one similarity and one difference between the nutrition in amoeba and human beings.
Given below is a crossword puzzle based on this lesson. Use hints to fill in the blank spaces with letters that complete the words.
Down Across
(D) 1 : Thorough washing (A) 1 : Keeps warm
2 : Animal fibre 2 : Its leaves are eaten by silkworms
3 : Long thread like structure 3 : Hatches from egg of moth
Describe the process of neutralisation with the help of an example.
Fill in the blanks:
(a) The main steps of nutrition in humans are __________, __________, __________, _________ and __________.
(b) The largest gland in the human body is __________.
(c) The stomach releases hydrochloric acid and ___________ juices which act on food.
(d) The inner wall of the small intestine has many finger-like outgrowths called _________.
(e) Amoeba digests its food in the ____________ .
Suppose the two photographs, shown in Fig. 13.1 and Fig. 13.2, had been taken at an interval of 10 seconds. If a distance of 100 metres is shown by 1 cm in these photographs, calculate the speed of the blue car.
The rear view mirror of a car is a plane mirror. A driver is reversing his car at a speed of 2 m/s. The driver sees in his rear view mirror the
image of a truck parked behind his car. The speed at which the image of the truck appears to approach the driver will be
(i) 1 m/s (ii) 2 m/s
(iii) 4 m/s (iv) 8 m/s
Which of the following statements is not correct?
(i) Forests protect the soil from erosion.
(ii) Plants and animals in a forest are not depedent on one another.
(iii) Forests influence the climate and water cycle.
(iv) Soil helps forests to grow and regenerate
Micro-organisms act upon the dead plants to produce
(i) sand (ii) mushrooms (iii) humus (iv) wood
Outline your role as an active citizen in relation to sanitation.