🌦️ Class 7 Social Science — Chapter 2: Understanding the Weather (Answers)
AP SCERT Class 7 Social Science Chapter 2 – Understanding the Weather is an important topic that explains the meaning of weather, its five main elements (temperature, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, wind and humidity), and the instruments used to measure them — thermometer, rain gauge, barometer, anemometer/wind vane and hygrometer. This free study material gives complete, easy-to-understand page-by-page answers for every "Let's Explore", "Think About It", "Don't Miss Out" activity and the end-of-chapter "Questions, Activities and Projects" (pages 70–98) from the AP SCERT 7th Class Social Studies Semester-1 EM/TM textbook (2026-27). Ideal for AP students, teachers preparing worksheets, and parents helping with homework, this guide also touches on weather forecasting, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Automated Weather Stations (AWS), and how weather affects daily life in Andhra Pradesh and across India — useful for APTET and DSC Social Studies aspirants revising pedagogy-linked content too.
📄 Page 70 — The Big Questions
Q1 How can we measure and monitor the weather around us?
We measure weather using special instruments — a thermometer for temperature, a rain gauge for rainfall, a barometer for air pressure, a wind vane and anemometer for wind, and a hygrometer for humidity. An Automated Weather Station (AWS) brings all these instruments together and records readings on its own, helping scientists monitor the weather all day and night without needing a person to be present.
Q2 How do weather predictions help us prepare for events like heavy rain, storms, drought and heat waves?
Weather predictions warn people in advance so they can stay safe. Fishermen can avoid going to sea during storms, farmers can plan sowing and harvesting, people can carry umbrellas or drink more water during heat waves, and the government can move people to safety before a cyclone or flood strikes.
📄 Page 72 — Let's Explore (Weather Words)
Q What are some of the words in your local language that you use to describe the weather?
This is a fun activity to try with family and classmates. In Telugu, some common weather words are: వేడి (vedi – hot), చలి (chali – cold), వర్షం (varsham – rain), మేఘావృతం (cloudy), తేమ (tema – humid) and గాలి (gaali – windy). Students can note down more such words used in their own homes and share them in class.
📄 Page 74 — Think About It & Let's Explore
Q1 Krishna in Visakhapatnam tells Amir in Kashmir that it is chilly after rain. How will Krishna explain to Amir how cold it is?
Krishna cannot just say "it is chilly," because "chilly" means something different to Amir in Kashmir than to Krishna in Visakhapatnam. Krishna should tell Amir the exact temperature reading in degrees Celsius (°C), since a number on a thermometer means the same thing everywhere — unlike words such as "cold" or "chilly," which depend on what a person is used to.
Q2 What do you think could be some other reasons to measure the weather more precisely?
Precise weather measurement helps farmers decide when to sow or harvest crops, helps pilots and ship captains travel safely, helps hospitals prepare for heat-stroke or cold-related cases, helps people plan outdoor events, and helps disaster management teams get ready in advance for floods, cyclones or droughts.
📄 Page 76 — Let's Explore (Ask the Elders)
Q Talk to elders in your neighbourhood and ask them how they predict the weather. What signs do they observe? Document any sayings in your regional language that refer to weather prediction.
This is a home activity. Elders often watch signs such as ants carrying eggs to higher ground, frogs croaking loudly, or a change in wind direction to predict rain. A common Telugu saying is "ఉరుములు మెరుపులు వస్తే వర్షం వస్తుంది" — meaning "if there is thunder and lightning, rain is expected." Students should note down what they learn by talking to their own grandparents or neighbours.
📄 Page 80 — Don't Miss Out & Let's Explore
Q1 Can you think of a reason why rain arises from the sun?
The sun heats water in oceans, rivers and lakes, causing it to evaporate and rise into the sky as water vapour. This vapour cools down high in the atmosphere and condenses into clouds, which later fall back to Earth as rain. So without the sun's heat, this water cycle — and rain — would not happen.
Q2 Here's a chart of the temperatures of a city in Madhya Pradesh. What is the maximum temperature recorded in the week shown here? What is the minimum? Calculate the range.
| Date | Max Temp (°C) | Min Temp (°C) |
|---|---|---|
| 28.02.2025 | 29 | 16 |
| 01.03.2025 | 30 | 15 |
| 02.03.2025 | 31 | 17 |
| 03.03.2025 | 32 ⭐(Max) | 18 |
| 04.03.2025 | 30 | 17 |
| 05.03.2025 | 28 | 14 ⭐(Min) |
| 06.03.2025 | 29 | 15 |
Maximum temperature = 32°C (on 03.03.2025) | Minimum temperature = 14°C (on 05.03.2025)
Range = Maximum − Minimum = 32°C − 14°C = 18°C
Q3 If Krishna said it was 20°C in Visakhapatnam and he was feeling a little cold, what do you think Amir's reaction to Krishna's statement might be?
Amir lives in Kashmir, where winter temperatures fall much lower than 20°C. So he would likely find 20°C quite warm or even pleasant, not cold at all. He might be surprised and say that 20°C actually feels comfortable to him — showing that words like "cold" are relative, but an exact number like 20°C gives both of them the same, common understanding.
📄 Page 82 — Let's Explore (Make a Rain Gauge)
Q Make a rain gauge as shown in the diagram. Record rainfall for a month and calculate the average rainfall for every week. Comment on the variation.
This is a hands-on activity. Use a funnel and a measuring cylinder to build a simple rain gauge, place it on flat, open ground away from trees and buildings, and note the rainwater collected at the same time every day for a month.
Average weekly rainfall = (Sum of daily readings for that week) ÷ 7.
After finding the average for all four weeks, compare them — students should observe and write whether the rainfall increased, decreased, or stayed roughly the same as the month went on.
📄 Page 84 — Think About It (Atmospheric Pressure)
Q Why do you think it would be important to measure atmospheric pressure? Who are the people most likely to use such measurements?
Measuring atmospheric pressure helps meteorologists spot a "depression" or low-pressure system early, which can develop into a storm or cyclone — giving people time to prepare. It is mainly used by meteorologists and weather scientists, but also by pilots, sailors and mountaineers, since pressure changes affect flying, sailing, and how much oxygen is available at high altitudes.
📄 Page 86 — Think About It (Seeds and Wind)
Q Have you seen seeds like these flying in the wind? What would happen to the seeds if there was no wind?
Yes — light, fluffy seeds like dandelion seeds are carried by the wind so they can travel far away from the parent plant. If there was no wind, these seeds would simply fall straight down near the parent plant. This would make it much harder for the plant species to spread and grow in new areas.
📄 Page 88 — Let's Explore & Think About It (Humidity)
Q1 Where do you think humidity is likely to be more, Kochi or Jaipur? If we had to compare the humidity level between Kochi and Machilipatnam, how would we do it?
Kochi is likely to have higher humidity than Jaipur because it is a coastal city near the sea, where more water evaporates into the air, while Jaipur is inland and far from large water bodies. To compare Kochi and Machilipatnam precisely (since both are coastal), we should use a hygrometer in both places and compare their exact relative humidity (%) readings instead of just guessing.
Q2 If the humidity in Delhi is 52% while in Kochi it is 84%, in which of the two places are wet clothes likely to dry faster? Where are you likely to sweat more?
Wet clothes will dry faster in Delhi, because its lower humidity (52%) means the air can still absorb more water vapour, so water evaporates quickly. In Kochi, the air is already more saturated with moisture (84%), so sweat cannot evaporate easily from our skin — this means we are likely to sweat more in Kochi and feel stickier there.
📄 Page 94 — Let's Explore (Weather Warning Map)
Q1 Discuss, in pairs, different situations in which weather predictions are helpful. Make a list. How many different categories of situations have you been able to identify?
Sample list: (1) Farmers deciding when to sow or harvest, (2) Fishermen deciding whether it's safe to go to sea, (3) Airlines planning safe flight schedules, (4) People deciding whether to carry an umbrella or wear warm clothes, (5) Schools/offices deciding about holidays during heavy rain or heat waves, (6) Disaster teams preparing for cyclones or floods, (7) Farmers protecting crops from frost or hail, (8) Event organisers planning outdoor functions. Most pairs should be able to identify around 5 to 8 categories through discussion.
Q2 Study the India weather warning map (19 May 2024) and answer:
a) What do you observe happening on that day? What weather conditions is the IMD alerting people to?
The map shows several different warnings across India on the same day — including heat waves, hot & humid conditions, thunder & lightning, strong surface winds, heavy rain and ground frost — showing how differently the weather behaves in different parts of the country at the same time.
b) Which states have warning signs?
The northern hilly region (Jammu & Kashmir/Ladakh) and the far southern tip (Kerala and southern Tamil Nadu) are shown in red (Warning); several central, western and north-eastern states appear in orange (Alert); and most of the rest of India is shown in yellow (Watch). (Students should match this to the exact colours shown on the map in their own textbook.)
c) Which parts of India are likely to be free from severe weather?
Any state shown in green (No Warning) on the map would be free from severe weather that day. Since almost the whole map is coloured yellow, orange or red on 19 May 2024, it shows that nearly all parts of India needed to stay alert at some level.
d) Which states are likely to face heat wave conditions?
The heat wave icon appears mainly over the northern and central plains (around Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and neighbouring states), which are marked in orange/red — showing these regions were likely to face heat wave conditions.
e) What are the causes for warning in Tripura and Lakshadweep?
The icons near Tripura (north-east India) and Lakshadweep (island region) point to heavy rainfall along with thunder and lightning, which are common weather hazards in these regions during this season.
📝 Page 96 — Questions, Activities and Projects
Q1 Match the instrument with the weather element it measures.
| 1) Hygrometer | ➜ d) Humidity |
| 2) Anemometer | ➜ c) Wind direction and speed |
| 3) Barometer | ➜ b) Atmospheric pressure |
| 4) Thermometer | ➜ e) Temperature |
| 5) Rain gauge | ➜ a) Precipitation |
1 → d 2 → c 3 → b 4 → e 5 → a
Q2 Explain in your own words why people who climb mountains might sometimes need supplemental oxygen.
As we climb higher up a mountain, atmospheric pressure drops and the air becomes thinner, so there is less oxygen in each breath we take. This is why climbers at very high places (like Khardung La, about 5600 metres high) can feel breathless, dizzy or tired. They carry supplemental oxygen so their bodies keep getting enough oxygen to function properly.
Q3 Krishna's case study:
a) What is meant by weather?
Weather is the condition of the Earth's atmosphere at a particular time and place. It keeps changing from day to day and includes things like temperature, rainfall, wind, humidity and air pressure.
b) Why do people choose different types of clothes in winter and summer?
In winter, the temperature is low, so people wear thick woollen clothes to stay warm. In summer, the temperature is high, so people wear light cotton clothes that keep them cool and comfortable. This shows how our bodies and habits respond to changes in weather.
Q4 Uma is packing for her school trip to Mumbai in June. The forecast predicts 29°C and 84% humidity. What would be your advice to her?
Since 84% humidity is quite high, Uma should pack light, breathable cotton clothes instead of heavy or synthetic fabrics, as cotton absorbs sweat and keeps her cooler. She should also carry an umbrella or raincoat, because June is the start of the monsoon season in Mumbai, and high humidity with 29°C usually means muggy weather with a good chance of rain.
Q5 [Application Activity] Choose the best site to set up a rain gauge from the given options and give reasons.
| Option | Suitable? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| i. School vegetable garden | ✗ No | Plants and leaves nearby can block rain from falling straight in. |
| ii. Terrace of the school building | ✓ Good | Open and elevated, away from obstructions. |
| iii. Open ground with elevated platform | ✓ Best | Open to the sky and raised, so no obstruction or splash-back — most accurate reading. |
| iv. Compound wall of the school | ✗ No | Not flat or stable; wind can disturb the gauge. |
| v. Verandah of the school laboratory | ✗ No | The roof blocks rain from directly entering the gauge. |
Final decision: Option (iii) Open ground with an elevated platform is the best site, since it is completely open to the sky, away from any obstruction, and raised above the ground — giving the most accurate rainfall reading. Option (ii), the terrace, is a good backup choice.
📝 Page 98 — Question 6 (IMD Weather Script)
Q6 Using the IMD Jammu & Kashmir chart (01-02-2024 evening), write a short script to report the weather conditions in different parts of J&K.
| Station | Max Temp (°C) | Min Temp (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Snowfall (cm) | Humidity 1730 hrs (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Srinagar | 6.5 | 0.2 | TR | 0.0 | 89 |
| Qazigund | 3.2 | -0.4 | 11.8 | 10.0 | 90 |
| Pahalgam | 1.1 | -4.1 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 96 |
| Kupwara | 5.1 | -0.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 94 |
| Kukernag | 2.6 | -1.4 | 12.0 | 8.0 | 97 |
| Gulmarg | -2.6 | -7.6 | 8.2 | 6.35 | 100 |
| Muzafarabad | 8.5 | 5.6 | 25.8 | – | 93 |
🎙️ Weather Report Script — Jammu & Kashmir, 1st February 2024
"Good evening, viewers! Here is today's weather report for Jammu and Kashmir, brought to you by the India Meteorological Department.
Srinagar recorded a maximum of 6.5°C and a minimum of just 0.2°C today, giving a temperature range of about 6.3°C. It was colder in Pahalgam, where the minimum dropped to -4.1°C, but the coldest spot of the day was Gulmarg, where temperatures fell to a chilly -7.6°C — well below normal for this time of year!
On the rainfall and snowfall front, Kukernag received the highest rainfall at 12.0 mm along with 8.0 cm of snow, while Gulmarg received 8.2 mm of rain and 6.35 cm of fresh snow. Srinagar saw only a trace amount of rainfall today.
Relative humidity stayed high across the valley, ranging from 76% in Gulmarg in the morning to as high as 100% by evening — keeping the air quite moist. Overall, it was a cold, snowy and humid day across Jammu and Kashmir. That's all for today's weather update!"
