GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU

STANDARD SEVEN
TERM - III
VOLUME - 3

SCIENCE
SOCIAL SCIENCE

A publication under Free Textbook Programme of Government of Tamil Nadu

Department of School Education

Untouchability is Inhuman and a Crime

www.tnpscjob.com
VII Std Science Term-3 EM Introduction Pages.indd 1 12-11-2019 15:02:48
 Government of Tamil Nadu

First Edition - 2019

(Published under New Syllabus in

Trimester Pattern)

NOT FOR SALE

Content Creation

The wise
possess all

State Council of Educational Research

and Training
© SCERT 2019

Printing & Publishing

Tamil NaduTextbook and Educational

Services Corporation
www.textbooksonline.tn.nic.in

II

www.tnpscjob.com
VII Std Science Term-3 EM Introduction Pages.indd 2 12-11-2019 15:02:49
 The Science textbook for standard Seven has been prepared following the
guidelines given in the National Curriculum Framework 2005. The book
enables the reader to read the text, comprehend
and perform the learning experiences with
PREFACE the help of teacher. The Students explore the
concepts through activities and by the teacher
demonstration. Thus the book is learner centric
with simple activities that can be performed by the students under the
supervision of teachers.

 The Third term VII Science book has Six

units. HOW
 Units planned as per the index given TO USE
including computer science. THE BOOK?
 Each unit comprises of simple activities and
experiments that can be done by the teacher through demonstration
if necessary student’s can perform them.
 Colorful info-graphics and info-bits enhance the visual learning.
 Glossary has been introduced to learn scientific terms.
 The “Do you know?” box can be used to enrich the knowledge of general science
around the world.
 ICT Corner and QR code has been introduced in each unit for the first time to enhance
digital science skills.

Lets use the QR code in the text books ! How ?

 Download the QR code scanner from the Google play store/ Apple App Store into
your Smart phone.
 Open the QR code scanner application
 Once the scanner button in the application is clicked, camera opens and then bring it
closer to the QR code in the text book.
 Once the camera detects the QR code, a URL appears in the screen.
 Click the URL and go to the content page.

III

www.tnpscjob.com
VII Std Science Term-3 EM Introduction Pages.indd 3 12-11-2019 15:02:49
 Unit Titles Page No. Month
1. Light 1 January

2. Universe and Space 24 February

3. Polymer Chemistry 42 February

4. Chemistry in Daily Life 65 March
5. Animals in Daily Life 81 March
6. Visual Communication 93 April

E - book Assessment DIGI links

Lets use the QR code in the text books ! How ?

• Download the QR code scanner from the Google PlayStore/ Apple App Store into your smartphone
• Open the QR code scanner application
• Once the scanner button in the application is clicked, camera opens and then bring it closer to the QR code in the text book.
• Once the camera detects the QR code, a url appears in the screen.Click the url and goto the content page.

IV

www.tnpscjob.com
VII Std Science Term-3 EM Introduction Pages.indd 4 12-11-2019 15:02:49
 Unit
1
Light

Mirage Phenomenon

Unbend Light
Cool Air
Bend Light

Observer
Warm Air
Ground

Mirage Hot Surface

Learning Objectives
The students will be able to
™™ understand that light is an energy
™™ differentiate natural and artificial light sources
™™ understand rectilinear propagation of light
™™ understand formation of shadows
™™ know reflection of light and its types
™™ know the laws of reflection
™™ understand the properties of the images formed in a plane mirror
™™ understand dispersion and spectrum
™™ understand synthesis of colors

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 1 11-11-2019 14:29:47
 Introduction Natural Sources of light
When you enter into a dark room, nothing Sources which emit light naturally are
is visible. The moment you switch on the light, known as natural sources of light. The Sun is the
everything in the room becomes visible. How primary and the major source of natural light.
do we see things with our eyes? When you look Stars also produce light, in the same way as the
at this book, the light falling on the book is Sun do. However, as they are much farther away
reflected and enters your eyes. Light is a type of than the Sun, the light from them are too weak.
energy that helps us to see all the things around The moon provides light, particularly in the
us. Light can be detected by the human eye. We night. Some living organisms have the ability
all know that light is essential for vision. Let us to produce light named by bioluminescence.
see more about light in this chapter It is the effect of certain chemical reactions
occurring in the organism. Fireflies, jellyfish,
Light is the only source of glow worm, certain deep sea plants and some
energy for plants. So, they microorganisms can emit light naturally.
entirely depend on light.
People and animals derive energy from Artificial Sources of light
carbohydrates, protein and fat through their Apart from the natural sources, light can
food. Plants produce food using the energy also be produced artificially. The different light
from Sun light, carbon-di-oxide and water sources that are able to produce light artificially
by the process called as Photosynthesis. can be put under three broad categories.
Sun light acts a vital role in the process of
photosynthesis. Is the moon a luminous
object?
The moon provides light as
well, but it cannot produce
light by its own. The light emitted by the
Moon is the light of the Sun reflected
towards the Earth. When we see the Moon,
we see only the Moon’s lighted part. Thus,
half of the moon is always facing the Sun and
receiving light from it. Hence, we receive
Sources of Light. light from the moon.
Objects which are able to emit light are
known as light sources. Light rays can come
from different sources. There are two types of
sources of light.
1. Natural sources of light
2. Artificial sources of light

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 2 11-11-2019 14:29:48
 Artificial sources are man – made light sources Properties of light
such as flame of candle, incandescent lamp,
In this section, we shall examine some
neon lamp, Sodium lamp etc.
properties of light. Light has some fundamental
1. Incandescent Sources: When certain objects properties as mentioned below
are heated to a high temperature, they begin to
™™ Rectilinear propagation of light
emit light. The glowing of hot iron rod is a kind
of Incandescent light. ™™ Reflection
Example: Candle, incandescent lamp. ™™ Speed
2. Gas Discharge Sources: Passing electricity
™™ Interaction of light with matter
through certain gases at a very low pressure
(discharging) can produce light . • T
ypes of material according to
permeability
Example: Neon lamp, Sodium lamp
• Formation of shadows

We often use a kind of gas- • Plane mirror and images

discharge lamp that uses
™™ Spectrum
fluorescence to produce visible
light. The electric current in the The path of light
gas excites mercury vapour, which produces
How does light travel?
short-wave ultraviolet light that then causes
a phosphor coating on the inside of the lamp • H
 ave you ever seen the scene of light
to glow in visible light. penetrating through the branches of
trees in denser forest?

• H
 ave you ever seen the path of sun light
entering through the hole of a cement
grill building?

• H
 ave you ever seen the path of a laser
light?

Light penetration through Light travels through the holes in

Laser beam
trees cement grill

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 3 11-11-2019 14:29:55
 ACTIVITY 1
Requirement: Three empty match boxes, pin, candle and wooden blocks.

Procedure: Arrange empty match boxes and wooden blocks as shown in the figure. First, you
make a hole in the inner tray of each match box such that all three holes are in the same spot.
Arrange the match boxes as shown in figure. Now, adjust the three inner trays in such a way that
the three holes are in a straight line. Place a lighted candle at one end of this arrangement and try
to see the flame of candle from a hole at the other end. Is the flame visible?
Now, arrange the trays such a way that they are not at the same height. Try to see the flame.
Is it visible? What does this activity tell you about the path of light?
Light travels in straight line, it cannot bend the path itself. This is called as the
rectilinear propagation of light. This is one of the most important property of light.

Pinhole Camera
Al-hasan -Haytham was a
scientific thinker who made Pin hole camera is a simple device which
important contribution to helps us to understand about the rectilinear
the understanding of vision, propagation of light
optics and light. He observed that light
X
coming through a tiny hole
travelled in straight lines
and projected an image onto Translucent
the opposite wall. Based on Screen

such experimentation, he O
Y’

concluded that vision is Pin Hole

Object Y
accomplished by rays coming from external X’
Box Inverted
luminous sources and entering the eye, Image

rather than through rays emitted from the

The above picture shows a model of a pin
eye as was then commonly believed. He is
– hole camera. O is small hole by a pin. XY is
the first one to experiment with light and
the object and Y'X' is the image of XY. As light
found important properties like the
travels in straight line, one light ray from X
rectilinear propagation of light.
travels along the XO strikes the screen X'.

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 4 11-11-2019 14:29:56
 ACTIVITY 2
Make your pin-hole camera
Requirement : Two rectangular pieces of thick paper, carbon paper, a semi-transparent paper,
adhesive
Procedure : Make two tubes using thick
paper as shown in figure. One tube should be
slightly smaller in diameter so that it can slide
into the other tube without leaving much gap
between the tubes. Fix a carbon paper to one side
of the tube of greater diameter. Make a hole with
a pin at the center of the carbon. Close one end
of the second tube with the butter paper. Slide the smaller tube into the bigger one such a way
that the butter paper is inside. Keep a lighted candle on a table and look through the hole with
black side towards the candle. If you go closer to the candle, you will see a smaller, but brighter
image. You can also change the image size by adjusting the tubes.
Use the pin­-hole camera to see things in sun light outside the window and see how good an
image you get. What are your observations about the image? Is it straight, inverted, bright and
sharp?

In similar way, another light ray staring

from Y and travels along YO strikes the screen Before the advancement
Y'. Similarly, all the rays in between X and Y of camera, Pinhole camera
fall on the screen between Y' and X'. Thus Y'X' was used to photograph
becomes the image of XY. The image produced movement of the sun over a
is temporary, if a simple paper is used. The
long period of time. This type of photography
image can be made permanent if the paper is
is known as solography and also be used
replaced by a photographic plate.
for observing and recording solar eclipses.
Reflection And it was also used to take photograph of
A mirror reflects our face. stationary objects.
A still water body like a pond
reflects the scenery around
it. When we see our face in
the mirror, we see the light rays from our face
bouncing off the surface of the mirror. How the
rays of the light are reflected?

Take a plane mirror. Cover it with black

paper. Cut a small slit as shown in the figure. If

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 5 11-11-2019 14:29:57
 you shine light on the mirror from a torch light Now, try keeping the mirror with slit and
or sunlight, you will get a small ray of light. We make the incident ray go along line 2. Now do
can use this to study the properties of light. we see that the reflected ray is along line 3?
Line BD, which is perpendicular the mirror
surface is called as normal. The angle between
the incident ray and the line BD is called
angle of incident. Similarly, the angle between
reflected ray and the normal is called as angle
of reflection.
Can you make out relationship between the
C
angle of incident ray and the angle of reflected
B
4 ray? Yes. Is it not obvious that the angle of
3 incident is same as the angle of reflection?
A 30º

1 60º 2
D Terms used in reflection of light.
P N Q
Angle of Angle of
Place a blank white sheet on a level ground Incidence Reflection
i r
out in the open. Choose a place where partly the
sheet gets sunlight and partly it is in shadow.
Hold the mirror with the slit facing the sun. You
Incident Ray Reflected Ray
can see a straight ray of light reflected from the
O
slit on the paper. Hold another mirror to reflect
Reflecting Surface
this ray. Observe well.
Incident ray: The ray of light that falls on the
The light falling on the mirror is called
surface of the reflection materials. In figure, PO
as incident ray and the light reflected is called
is the incident ray.
reflected ray..
Reflected ray: The ray of light that comes
Is there any relationship between the from the point when the incident ray falls on
incident ray and reflected ray? the reflection material. In the figure, OQ is the
Draw a straight line ABC and angles as reflected ray.
shown in the figure above. The line 1 is at 60O
Point of incidence : The point of which are
from BD, 2 at 30O from BD. Now , the line 4 at incident ray strikes the reflecting surface is the
60O from BD and line 3 at 30O from BD. The line point of incidence. In the figure ‘O‘ point of
BD is perpendicular, to ABC. Hold the mirror incidence.
along the line ABC. Use the mirror with slit and
Normal : The perpendicular line drawn from
make a ray go along the line 1 and reach the
the point of incidence to the plane of reflecting
mirror at point B. Observe where the reflected surface is called normal. In figure, ON is the
ray is? Is the reflected ray go along 4? normal.
6

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 6 11-11-2019 14:29:58
 Angle of incidence: The angle formed between i
P Q
the incident ray PO and the normal ‘ON’ is
angle of incidence. It is denoted by i r
Angle of reflection: The angle formed between X
430
the reflected ray OQ and the normal ON is
x D y
angle of reflection. It is denoted by i

Laws of reflection: a) Angle of incidence: i = 90 -43 = 47 °

1. The angle of incidence is always equal to b) angle of reflection r = i = 47°

the angle of reflection. i = r c) i + r = 47 + 47 = 94 °

2. The incident ray, the reflected ray and d) x = 90 - r = 90 - 47 = 43 °

the normal at the point of incidence lie
on the same plane.
ACTIVITY 3
Example 1 Make your own periscope : You can
In the figure, the incident ray makes 27° with use an empty agarbathi box and two plane
the normal, then find the angle of reflection. mirrors to make a periscope.
As shown in the figure below, two plane
D
A C mirrors are kept 45 degrees to horizontal.

270
?

x B y

Solution:
Angle of incidence = 27°
\ According to the laws of refelection, the
angle of refelection = Angle of incidence = 27°
Example 2:
A light ray strikes a reflective plane surface
at an angle of 43° with the plane surface.
As shown the figure above, the light rays
i. Find the angle of incidence.
from the distant object enter through the tube
ii. Find the angle of reflection.
at 1, and hit the mirror at 2. As the angle of
iii. Find the angle between the incident and
incident must be equal to angle of reflection,
the reflected ray
the reflected rays flow through the tube
iv. Find the angle between the reflected ray
downwards. As the light rays hit the mirror at
and the plane surface.
3 once again they are reflected. This reflected
Solution:
rays then travel out of the box to our eye. As you
We use the diagram shown below to answer
can see, periscope uses the laws of reflection.
the questions.

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 7 11-11-2019 14:29:58
 Types of reflection the normal in the same direction. Therefore a
On a mirror we can see our image, but not set of parallel rays striking the surface will be
on the wall. Why? Both the surface reflects light. reflected at an angle, but the rays themselves
Only because the reflected light comes to our will still remain parallel to each other.
eyes, we are able to see it. If the wall was not However ,consider a surface which is not
reflecting light, then we cannot see it. smooth. Such as the surface of a wall. What
happen when the light ray hits the rough
surface? Roughness of the wall means that
each individual ray meets a surface which has
a different orientation. The diagram below
We saw earlier that the light reflects off depicts the case. Five incident rays labelled as
surfaces in a very predictable manner, in A, B, C, D and E approach a surface. The normal
accordance with the law of reflection. The laws of line at each point of incidence is shown in black
reflection holds good for all surfaces irrespective and labelled with an N. In each case, the law of
of the shape. Vertical surfaces, angled surfaces, reflection is followed, resulting in five reflected
and even over the curved surfaces, the laws of rays labelled A', B', C', D', and E'. While the
reflection holds good. As long as we can draw incident rays were parallel to each other, the
the normal, perpendicular to the surface at the reflected rays are going in different directions.
point can be drawn, the angle of incidence at The result is that the rays of light are incident
that point will be equal to angle of reflection. upon the surface in a concentrated bundle and
are diffused upon reflection.

Diffuse Reflection
(Rough surface) Broadly, we can say that there are two types
of reflection. If the surface is smooth then we
have specular reflection. The parallel light rays
striking the surface gets reflected, yet individual
reflected rays remain parallel.
If the surface is rough, then we have
Specular Reflection
diffused reflection. Light rays, after reflection
(Smooth surface)
go in many directions.
The law of reflection is always observed
In fact during the day, our class room is
regardless of the orientation of the surface. If the
illuminated by sunlight . Walls and floors are
surface is smooth, and flat, all points on it have
exposed to diffused reflection. Suppose walls

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 8 11-11-2019 14:29:59
 Parallel rays Convergent rays Divergent rays

were smooth mirror like. Then sunlight entering Speed of light:

through the window will get bounced by the When lighting a bulb in a dark room, light
floor at an angle above towards the roof. And it spreads the whole room quickly. This is because
will never get reflected to left or right. That is left the light travels very fast. Light travels three
and right walls will remain dark. However walls lakh kilometers per second in air or vacuum. In
and floors are not smooth surfaces. Therefore, theory , nothing can travel faster than light
incident light from the window get bounced in
all directions that the whole room is illuminated Interaction of light with matter
with diffused light. Take a piece of clear glass, a paper and a
metal sheet. Shine a light from one side of each
Types of beam of light object and see if the light penetrate on the other
Generally light is not a single ray, but a side. Readily, we can see light enters and comes
bundle of rays which are called as a beam of out of the other end of clear glass, whereas the
light. light is bit dim through a paper. Light does not
pass through metal sheet. Depending upon
A light beam can be a bundle of parallel
permeability, materials can be classified into
rays, convergent rays or divergent rays. Let us
three categories.
look at the light coming from the Sun. The rays
of sunlight are parallel. Often the headlight of Transparent Material:
car gives parallel rays. However look at the rays Materials that allow light to pass through
of light coming out of a candle. Light rays go in completely are known as transparent material.
all directions, from the candle fire. These rays
Example: Eye glasses, clear drinking
are divergent. Light rays from a flash light is also
glass, clear water, face glasses used in buses.
divergent. Using lenses we can converge light
rays. Using a lens, you can focus sunlight at a Translucent Material:
point. That is what we are making the light rays Objects that allow light to pass through
to converge. partially are called translucent material. For
9

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 9 11-11-2019 14:30:02
 example, we cannot see the image of someone Opaque Material:
who stands behind a rough window glass, Materials that are not able to allow light
because it allows only a part of light from the to pass through, are called opaque material.
person. Example: Wall, thick card board, stone, etc.

ACTIVITY 4
Let’s categorize transparent material, translucent material and opaque material among the given
materials
(Clear plastic ruler, cellophane paper , some water in a glass jar, tissue paper, drinking glass,
beaker, tap water, kerosene, coconut oil, note paper, card board, milk, diluted milk, aluminum
foil, thick colored plastic lid, rough glass piece, measuring glass with water, wooden piece)
Place all the materials given above in the dark room. Focus a torch light on one side of each
material. Inspect the light coming out at the other side of each material and then classify the
materials in the table.
S. No Transparent Material Translucent Material Opaque Material

Shadows is called as umbra. When an opaque object is

placed in the path of light coming from a broad
How are shadows formed?
source of light, a small umbra will appear on the
As we saw earlier, light
screen and an illuminated shadow area appears
is obstructed by certain
around umbra. This illuminated shadow area
materials. Light travels in a
is called as penumbra. The penumbra always
straight line. Hence it cannot go around such
surrounds the umbra. The umbra is the darkest
objects. That is why we see shadow. Shadow is
part of a shadow. In this part, light rays are
always against, opposite side of light source. It
completely prevented by the opaque object. The
is caused by opaque objects that stop light from
lighter shade of shadow is the penumbra.
propagating.
Properties of shadow
Parts of shadow 1. All objects do not form shadows. Only opaque
When an opaque object is placed in the objects form shadows
path of light from a point source, a uniform dark 2. Shadows will be formed in the opposite side
shadow will appear on the screen. This is shadow of light source

10

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 10 11-11-2019 14:30:02
 3. It cannot be determined the characteristics of 5. Light source, opaque object are shadow all are
an object by its shadow. in a straight line.
4. The shadow will be always darker, whatever 6. The size of shadow depends upon the distance
may be the color of light rays between light source and object and the
distance between object and the screen.

Arrangement Activity Observation You Learn

Place a lighted A shadow Light rays are
Shadow bulb in front of a with a spot passing only
rectangular card light appears through the
Light Spot
board with a hole in the screen. hole and are not
Hole Screen at the center allowed by the
Lighted Bulb Card board
remaining part of
card board
Place a pencil in A shadow of The size of
the path of light pencil appears the shadow is
ray coming from in the screen proportional to
Shadow a bulb the size of the
Screen opaque objects.
Lighted Bulb Pencil

ACTIVITY 5
Requirement : A white screen, a cylindrical opaque object and three
bulbs in different sizes.
Use the three different size lamps and examine the umbra and
penumbra formed. Keep the distance between the lamp and the
cylinder, cylinder and the screen same. As the size of the lamps grow
smaller, the umbra region begins to enlarge. If the size of the lamp is
a point, then there will be no penumbra. There would be only umbra
shadow. Can you tell what the reason is for that?

Eclipses lunar eclipses are occurring that are due to

An eclipse is an incident, when any the property of light known as the rectilinear
astronomical object is partially or fully obscured propagation of light.
due to the placement of another astronomical
object in the presence of light. Thus, solar and

11

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 11 11-11-2019 14:30:03
 Solar eclipse Lunar eclipse
Solar eclipse occurs, when the moon arrives Lunar eclipse: Lunar eclipse occurs, when
between the sun (S) and the earth(E). The the earth (E) comes between the sun (S) and
shadow of the moon appears on the earth at A the moon (M). The earth prevents light coming
as shown in picture. Hence, those who are at from the sun and makes shadow on the moon.
the region A are unable to see the Sun instantly. This is lunar eclipse
This is solar eclipse. But, those who are at the
region B and C are able to see the sun partially. Lunar eclipse
Solar eclipse

S E M

TRY THIS

ACTIVITY 6

Surfaces Property of Image (Clearer / blurred)

Glass
Metal Sheet
Aluminum foil
White paper

12

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 12 11-11-2019 14:30:07
 Plane Mirror and Reflection
A polished (or) smooth surface (like glass)
which forms image by reflection is known as
mirror. A plane mirror is a mirror with a flat
reflective surface. A plane mirror makes an
Image of objects in front of it.

• The image is upright.

• The image and the object are the same size.
• The image is virtual.

•The image is laterally inverted. The

boy’s left hand is his image’s right
hand.

•We can determine the position of an

object’s image by drawing light rays.

a b
•The distance of the object from the mirror
is equal to the distance of the image from
the mirror (a=b).

The ray of light AO from the boy head The incident ray makes an
strikes the mirror at point O. AO is angle of incidence. i. with the
called the incident ray. perpendicular line ON.

Incedent ray
A i

N O

E r
Reflected ray

The light ray OA strikes the surface The lline, ON, perpendicular to
and is reflected as OE. OE is called the surface is known as the
the refelected ray. This ray makes an normal.
angle of reflection r with normal.

13

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 13 11-11-2019 14:30:08
 Optical fibre is a device that Receiver

works on the principle of total Optical Fibre Electrical

internal reflection by which light output signal
Transmitter
signals (huge data) can be transmitted from one
place to another place with a negligible loss of Light ray
trapped in the
energy in a very short time. It consists of a cable Electrical core of the fibre
input signal
having one or more thin flexible fibers with
a glass core through which light signals can be sent. Optical
fiber can be twisted and bent easily. When a light a ray of light
is incident at one end of the core of optical fiber, it suffers
total internal reflection at the many places inside the fiber
and emerges at the other end with negligible loss of energy.
The data or information in the form of pulses of light, can be
sent through bundles of optical fibers. Optical fibers have become very important in high-speed
communications, such as cable TV and high-speed broadband services. Fiber optic cables are able
to carry more signals than traditional copper cable telephone lines.

Real and virtual images

ACTIVITY 7
We have seen images being formed in a
There are eight letters in the word
pinhole camera and a mirror. Can we see what
EINSTEIN
is different in both of these images? Firstly, the
image of the pinhole camera was formed on a 1. Write the word in front of a plane mirror
screen. While the image made by the mirror shown in diagram
is not obtained on a screen. The images that 2. Write down how these letters appear in the
are obtained on a screen are called ‘real image’ mirror
and that which cannot be obtained on a screen
3. How many of these letters appear to be
‘virtual image’. Also notice that the image on
different, when the word is reflected?
pinhole camera was upside down. While the
mirror image was upright. 4. Write down the letters that appear to be
the same.
Properties of Image formed in a plane
mirror
Image formed in a plane mirror is upright
Image formed in a plane mirror is virtual
The image is of the same size as the object
The distance of the image from the plane
mirror is equal to the distance of the object
from the mirror
Image is laterally inverted.

14

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 14 11-11-2019 14:30:08
 15

www.tnpscjob.com
7th Std - Social Science Term III Economics Uni 1 EM.indd 11-11-2019 12.39.29 PM
 Colour the same time, our brain perceives white. This
Colour of sunlight : Light is a form of shows, white is not a colour at all. But, it is the
energy in the form of a wave that simulates that combination of all the colors of the visible light
retina of our eyes. Visible light is a spectrum of spectrum. If all the wavelength (colours) of
a number of waves with different wavelength visible light spectrum give appearance of white
range from 400nm to 700nm (1nm = 10-9 metre) similarly, the observe of all there wavelength of
each wave has a definite wavelength represents visible light, will lead appearance of black
a particular color. The band of visible light is What is prism?
VIBGYOR. A prism is an object made up of a
V - Violet transparent material, like glass or plastic that
has at least two flat surfaces that from an acute
I - Indigo
angle (less than 90O degrees).
B - Blue
G - Green
Y - Yellow
O - Orange
R - Red

Violet colour has shorter wavelength and

red color has longer wavelength.
ACTIVITY 8
When light ray of particular wavelength
(Colour) strikes the retina of our eye, our brain We have seen that white light is made of
perceives that specific colour. When all colors different colors and we can split white light.
of visible light strikes the retina of our eye at Is it possible to do the reverse? That is, can
you get white color by mixing colors? Try this
activity.
Why is the word
You need oil pastel and white paper.
“AMBULANCE” written
Take different oil pastel colors. Choose colors
backwards in ambulance
which are exactly seen on the rainbow. Apply
vehicle? This is due to
colors over each other on a white paper. Did
lateral inversion .The
you get white color?
phenomenon due to which
the left side of an object
appears to be right side
of the object in its image
in a reflecting medium
(mirror). so that drivers
see the word the right way
around in their rear-view mirror

16

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 16 11-11-2019 14:30:45
 Difference between the images formed in Pinhole camera and Plane mirror

Images formed by Pin hole camera Images formed in Plane mirror

The image is real The image is virtual
The image may not be equal to the size of the The image is equal to the size of the object
object
The image is inverted The image is erect

ACTIVITY 9
Let’s make a rainbow
You must surely have seen a rainbow in the sky. Why don’t you try making one at your class
room?
Place a flat but deep pan. Place this pan where there is
direct sunlight. Place a plain mirror in the pan as shown in the
diagram, so that you see sunlight reflected on you ceiling or on
a white wall. Next slowly pour water in to the pan. At particular
level of water, you will get a beautiful rainbow colors on the wall. If the colors are not clear adjust
the position of the mirror to bring it into focus. This arrangement of colors in sunlight is called
spectrum.

Why danger lights in vehicles are red in colour?

1. Red color is scattered the least by air molecules.

2. Red color has the highest wavelength of all the other colors. So red color
is able to travel the longest distance through air, fog.

When white light is passed through a prism white. Using this disc, one can explain that
as shown in the figure, the colors of the rainbow white is a combination of VIBGYOR
emerge from the prism.

Newton Disc:
Newton suggested a process of mixing
different colors to make white color by setting
an arrangement as shown figure below. Newton
Disc is a card board disc with seven equal
sectorscolored red, yellow,orange, green,
blue, indigo and violet. When the disc turned
quickly, the retina receives the sensation of
the spectrum simultaneously and disc appears

17

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 17 11-11-2019 14:30:46
 ACTIVITY 10

You need Gelatin papers of Red, Blue and Yellow. Fold each gelatin paper three times and
look different color objects listed below through each folded paper. Observe what color each
object has. Write your observations in the table.

Object Original color of Color through Color through Color through

object Red gelatin paper Blue gelatin Yellow gelatin
paper paper

Blue sky

Orange flower

Yellow banana

leaves

Brown trouser

White shirt

Black board

We know that white shirt will reflect white • Magenta, Cyan and yellow are called secondary
light and we have seen that white light consists colour.
of different colours. When we look at the white Colour Synthesis
shirt through the yellow gelatin paper, we see
it as yellow in color. From this, we can say that
the yellow gelatin paper did not allow any other
color except yellow to pass through. Similarly,
Additive Subtractive
we conclude that red gelatin paper allows only
Red Cyan
red light and blue gelatin paper allows only the
Green Yellow
blue light. Blue Magenta
White Black
Synthesis of colour
Synthesis of colour is the method of 1 Red + 1 Blue = Magenta
creating colour by mixing various proportion 1 Blue + 1 Green = Cyan
of two (or) three distinct colours of light. These 1 Green + 1 Red = Yellow
distinct colours are Red, Green and Blue called •Equal proportions of all three primary colour
as primary colours. create white.
• Equal proportions of two primary colour 1 Red + 1 Blue + 1 Green = White
create a secondary color.
18

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 18 11-11-2019 14:30:46
 floor and irregular reflection in wooden
EVALUATION table
c. regular reflection takes place in both
polished floor and wooden table
d. irregular reflection takes place in both
polished floor and wooden table

I. Choose the correct option 6. Choose the translucent substance from the
1. L
ight travels only in a . It is following
because of this property that a. glass b. wood
are formed c. water d. Clouds
a. curved line, shadows 7. Reflection occurs , when the light
b. straight line, shadows
a. about to reach a surface
c. straight line, reflection
b. approaches a surface
d. curved line and then straight line,

shadows c. passes through a surface

2. Light that hits a mirror gets d. None of these

a. Transmitted 8. Which of the following is the best reflector

b. Reflected of light?
c. Absorbed a. plastic plate
d. Refracted b. plane mirror
c. wall
3. Surface reflects the light
d. paper
well.
a. water 9. Sivarajan placed a meter stick in the
b. compact disc playground at 7.00 am in the morning. How
c. mirror will the shadow of the stick at noon look in
d. stone comparison to the one in the morning

4. Light is a form of a. There will be no shadow

a. matter b. Th
 e shadow will be longer and on the
opposite side as the sun
b. energy
c. medium c. Th
 e shadow will be shorter and on the
same side as the sun
d. particle
d. The shadow will be shorter
5. You can see your image in polished
floors, but not in wooden table because 10. The image formed by a pinhole camera is in-
verted because,

a. r egular reflection takes place in wooden a. light travels in straight lines

table and irregular reflection in polished b. light rays become laterally inverted as
floor they pass through a pinhole camera
b. regular reflection takes place in polished c. light rays pass through the pinhole

19

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 19 11-11-2019 14:30:46
 d. light rays get reflected 3. The image formed by the plane mirror is
11. Which of the following facts explain how laterally inverted, hence the image seen
shadows are formed? through the periscope is also laterally in-
verted
a. Light travels in straight lines
b. Opaque bodies do not allow light to pass 4. We see planets because they reflect light
through them from the sun
c. Reflection occurs at a smooth surfaces
like mirrors 5. We see a book because it reflects the light
d. Lateral inversion happens that falls on its surface
a. both A and B
6. The image formed in a pinhole camera is
b. both A and D
always inverted
c. both B and C
d. only A 7. The image formed in a pinhole camera is
always the same size as the object
II. Fill in the blanks
8. The image formed in a plane mirror is
1. A plane mirror produces a ____________ upside down
image
9. A plane mirror is opaque
2. A ____________ reflection helps us to see
the objects 10. A shadow is formed on the same side of the
object as the source of light.
3. The light ray gets ____________ when it
falls on any polished surface. 11. we are able to see things around us with the
help of regular reflection
4. Sunlight is a blend of ____________ colors
12. After passing through a prism, white light
5. The splitting of white light in to seven colors splits into a band of seven colours
is called ____________
IV. Match the following
6. The moon ____________ sun light
1. Rectilinear Primary source
7. The sunlight can be split into its constituent -
propagation of light
colors using ____________
Non-luminous
8. Reflection of light from rough surface is 2. Plane Mirror -
object
called ____________ reflection
3. Fire fly - Periscope
III. Say TRUE or FALSE 4. The Moon - Pinhole camera
1. The image of right hand in a plane mirror 5. Wide light source - Spectrum of light
looks like a left hand 6. Regular reflection - luminous object
7. The sun - Penumbra
2. Rainbow is formed by dispersion of which
8. Band of seven colors - Glossy surface
light by water drops

20

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 20 11-11-2019 14:30:46
 V. Answer the following questions in
Sources of Light Objects that reflect light
short
1. With the help of a diagram, state the laws of
reflection

2. Figure shows a pencil placed above a mirror

Pencil 13. A boy of height 1m 45 cm is standing in

Eye front of a long mirror at a distance of 2 m.
From this information, fill up the following
sentences:
a. The distance between the boy and his image
Mirror
is
a. Draw its image formed by the mirror
b. The height of the image is
b. S how how light rays from the object are
reflected at the mirror to form the image c. 
When the boy moves 1m forward, the
for the eye. distance between her and her image is

3. A person is looking at the image of a tree in

14. Draw a diagram of a pin hole camera
a mirror placed 3.5 m in front of him. Given
showing the rays of light passing between
that the tree is at 0.5 m behind his eyes. Find
the Object and its image
the distance between the image of the tree
and his eyes. What are needed to see an 15. Why is the writing on the front of an
object? ambulance back to front as shown in the
4. What are luminous objects? picture?

5. Is the moon a luminous object?

6. What are the three types of materials based

on the absorption of light?

7. What are the parts of shadow?

8. What are the properties of shadow?

16. Explain with examples, why some capital
9. What is plane mirror? letters look the same in a mirror but others
10. What is prism? are reversed.

11. What do you mean by visible light? 17. Two plane mirrors M1 and M2 are placed
perpendicular with each other, as shown in
12. Write the items given here in the correct
figure. The ray AB makes an angle 39 ° with
column (Stars, brick walls, plants, mirror,
the plane mirror M1, then
planets, electric light bulb,candle)

21

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 21 11-11-2019 14:30:46
 A 24. What is a shadow? What things are necessary
for the formation of a shadow?

B VI. Answer the following questions in

D detail
M1
1. What are regular and irregular reflection?
Explain with the help of diagrams

C 2. What are the difference between luminous

M2
and non-luminous objects? Give two
1. The reflected rays are , examples of each.

2. The incident rays are , 3. Write about two everyday situations that tell
you that light travels in a straight line.
3. What is the angle of incident corresponding
4. Differentiate between a reflection and a
to the ray BC?
shadow
4. What is the angle of reflection corresponding
5. What are the characteristics of an image
to the ray CD
formed in a plane mirror?
18. Rajan was playing with the mirror images of 6. Describe the pictures.
a clock. He looked at the clock in his room.
A
It was showing 1:40. Draw the position of
the hands on the real clock and on its mirror B
reflection. Write below the picture what
time each picture is showing.

19. What is reflection of light?

20. If a ray of light is falling on a plane mirror at 7. Define the following terms
an angle of 500 is formed, what will be the a. Incident ray
angle of reflection?
b. Reflected ray
21. What do you mean by lateral inversion? c. Normal
d. Angle of incidence
22. How do you obtain a spectrum of light?
8. Compare the images formed by plane mirror
23. Why do we see white color in Newton’s disc,
with that by pinhole camera
when we rotate it very fast?

22

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 22 11-11-2019 14:30:47
 ICT CORNER

LIGHT

Explore the activity to know about

law of reflection.

PROCEDURE :

Step 1: Type the following URL in the browser or scan the QR code from your mobile
to open the activity page.
Step 2: Click the torch to see how the light ray reflects off the mirror and drag the torch to
different angles. You can learn the angle of incidence at that point will be equal to
angle of reflection.
Step 3: Next Scroll down and select the prism. Click the torch how the prism changes the
path of the light ray.

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

Step 4

Light URL:
https://simpop.org/reflection/reflection.htm

*Pictures are indicative only

*If browser requires, allow Flash Player or Java Script to load the page.

23

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 1.indd 23 11-11-2019 14:30:50
 Unit
2
Universe and Space

Learning Objectives

The students are able to

™™ Explain the beginning of universe
™™ Know about galaxies and its types
™™ Recognise different constellations in the night sky
™™ Get information about the stars
™™ Distinguish between natural and artificial satellites.
™™ Understand the functions of ISRO

24

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 2.indd 24 09-11-2019 12:49:52
 Introduction to night, these drift. They wander across the sky,
“My goal is simple. It is a complete moving against the backdrop of stars. These are
understanding of the universe, why it is as it is called planets. Our ancestors observed this and
and why it exists at all.” they imagined a universe with the Earth at the
 —Stephen Hawking center, the stars in the distant background, and
Sun, Moon and the planets orbiting around us.
Starry night sky is a wonder which has
fascinated humans from time immemorial. Two observations supported the idea that
Our ancestors have observed and documented Earth was the center of the Universe. First,
the objects seen in the night sky. The field
from anywhere on the Earth, the Sun appears to
of study of the universe is called astronomy.
We know that there are billions and billions revolve around the Earth once in a day. While the
of stars in the universe, although only about Moon and the planets have their own motions,
2000 or so are visible to naked eye. Have they also appear to revolve around the Earth
you ever think of the size of our universe? The
about once per day. Even the celestial sphere
universe is unimaginably and infinitely big.
Universe is commonly defined as the totality of studded with stars appears to rise and set in the
everything that exists or is known to exist. Even evening, and make one complete rotation in a
though the spatial size of the entire universe year. Second, the Earth seems to be unmoving
is still unknown, it is possible to measure the
from the perspective of an earthbound observer;
observable universe.
it feels stationary.
The universe consists of galaxies, planets,
stars, meteorites, satellites and all other forms
of matter and energy. And it is a world of
wonder. Let us move into this world of wonder
to know more interesting facts about the place
of residence of our solar system.

GEO Centric Theory

Sky is a wonder. Sun, Moon, stars all appear
to rise in the East and move towards the west,
giving us an impression that all these objects are
going around the Earth. Just as in a moving bus
the distant mountains and trees appear to move
backwards, perhaps really Earth is spinning
and that is why Sun, Moon and stars appear to
go around the Earth. Does the Earth revolve
around the Sun, or the Sun revolves around the
Earth? How do you know about it?
When you look at the night sky you can see
lot of twinkling objects. But a few of them differ
from the others. They don’t twinkle and while
the other stars hold a fixed pattern from night
25

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 2.indd 25 09-11-2019 12:50:00
 As civilization progressed the early How moon exhibit phases
astronomers found two types of motion of Astronomers in ancient times also observed
celestial objects. Let us take the case of Moon. certain facts. The Purananuru (65) of Sangam
On a daily basis Moon appears to rise in the east literature, the poet Poet Kalathalaiyar singing
and set in the west. Thus, one can say that Moon in appreciation of Cheraman Peruncheralathan
is going around the Earth with a period of one says“
day. But for a careful observer, it was clear that
On the day when the full moon appears,
the Moon was also exhibiting another motion.
the sunand moon look at each other with their
Suppose, the Moon is appearing in the sky today
bright light. In the evening time, one sphere
near the star Asvini, tomorrow we will observe
hides behind the mountains.”
that the Moon is near the star Bharani, a star
On the full moon day, when the Sun is
east of Asvini. And the next day it will be near
setting in the west, precisely at the same time,
the star Kartikai, east of Bharani. After 27 days,
Moon rises at the East. That is both Sun and
moving little by little eastwards, the Moon again
Moon are in the opposite side. Likewise when
stations itself near asvini. Thus, everyday Moon
it is waning half moon, the Moon is rises when
appears to move from east to west in one day
it is midnight and the waxing half moon rises
where as it appears to go in a circle from west to
during noon. From such observations and
east in the background of stars in about 27 days.
modelling ancient astronomers could explain
These two motions were puzzling. Very why we have waxing and waning of moon.
soon astronomers like Aryabhata said that
Earth is spinning in its axis, that is the cause First
Quarter

of apparent daily motion from East to West. Waxing Waxing

Gibbous Crescent
Whereas the eastward motion of Moon in the
celestial sphere with a period of about 27 days,
was seen as the ‘actual’ motion of the celestial
New

SUN LIGHT
objects. Full

Thus, the geocentric model (also known

as geocentrism), that is a description of the Waning Waning
Gibbous Crescent

Universe with spherical and spinning Earth Third

Quarter
at the center and the Sun, Moon, stars, and
planets all orbits the Earth emerged in various
cultures. In Greece, this model was put forth
It is probably easier to understand the
by the Greek philosopher Plato and his disciple
waxing and waning of Moon in the order of
Aristotle in 6th century B.C. It was standardized
new moon & full moon and then how the first
by a Greeco Roman mathematician Ptolemy in
and third quarter moon (half moon) appear and
the 2nd Century A.D. A similar model is seen
then the phases in between.
in the Siddhanthic astronomy in India like
Aryabhateeyam of Aryabhata. Sun is the source of light. Sun light falls on
the spherical earth, but only on the side facing

26

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 2.indd 26 09-11-2019 12:50:01
 Sun. The opposite side of Earth is without sun moon and earth are at right angles)
sunlight. As the Earth spins day and night Once we understand those four key moon
follows as different parts of Earth appear before phases, the phases between them should be
the Sun. That is at all times one half of Earth is fairly easy to visualize.
illuminated by Sun and one half is in darkness.
The word crescent refers to the phases
Like wise at all times one half of Moon where the moon is less than half illuminated.
is illuminated by Sun and the opposite side is The word gibbous refers to phases where the
shroud in darkness. moon is more than half illuminated. Waxing
As shown in the above diagram, when the essentially means “growing” or expanding in
moon is positioned between the earth and sun, illumination, and waning means “shrinking”
notice all the illuminated part of Moon is away or decreasing in illumination. Note all so that
from Earth. Hence we cannot see any part of these discoveries could be made with naked
the illuminated side of the Moon. Only the dark eye. You do not need telescope or any modern
side of Moon is towards Earth. When the moon equipment.
is in this position, we have new moon.
Now look at the moon when it is behind the Saturn

Earth. Now the portion of the moon illuminated

by sun is totally towards Earth. The dark side is
Venus
away from the Earth. This means the moon will
appear to be round in the sky. This is full moon. Earth Jupiter

When the Sun, Earth and Moon are in 90 Sun Mercury

degree angle how will the moon appear to a Moon

person on the surface of the Earth? Now if you

look at the portion of moon facing Earth, we will
see half if it illuminated and half is dark side. Mars

Thus, the moon will appear as half moon. The

half moon during the waxing period is called
as first quarter and the half moon during the Epicycles
waning period is called as third quarter. (figure Moon going around Earth with 27 day
period nicely explained its motion. However
astronomers in ancient times faced problem in
Moon Lunar
Dichotomy explaining the motion of the then known five
3o Sun planets- Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and
90o 20 o
Saturn.

87o Moon in the background of stars moved

89o 2”40’
everyday eastwards nicely. However for example,
Earth if we were observing the motion of Mars from
January , it would appear to move eastward in

27

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 2.indd 27 09-11-2019 12:50:02
 the background stars. That is the position of astronomers like Tycho Brahe and Neelakanta
mars today will be near a star which is east of Somayaji.
the star near which it was yesterday. However Although, the model explained many
on June 28 , we will see a change. From that date phenomena there were number of mismatches.
the Mars would appear to move west rather The model was becoming messy.
than its normal eastward motion. This reversal
Arrival of telescope.
of direction of planets is called as ‘retrograde
motion’. If we continue to observe, on August Telescope was invented by Hans Lippershey
28 once again the Mars would appear to reverse but Galilio used it for studying the sky for the
the direction and again on its usual eastward first time. The telescope showed more universe
motion in the celestial sphere. Usually Jupiter is was than visible to naked eye. With his simple
brighter than Mars, however, around the period telescope matching toy telescopes of today,
of retrograde motion the Mars was much bright Galilio was able to see mountains on the Moon,
than other times; even brighter than Jupiter. small dim stars invisible to naked eye, sunspots
on the face of Sun. He was able to demonstrate
Other planets also exhibited number of
that the milky way, an hazy bright patch in the
puzzling behaviours. Venus and Mercury always
sky is nothing but thousands of stars huddled
appeared very close to Sun, and hence never
together, Jupiter had moons going around it
appeared in the midnight sky. The brightness
and Saturn had mysterious appendage which
of Jupiter also varied again when it exhibited
we now know as rings.
retrograde motion. For example in 2018, Jupiter
reversed its direction of motion on March 9, One of the most startling observations he
2018 and again resumed its normal eastward made was related to telescopic observation of
motion on July 11, 2018. Venus. This convinced him to accept the theory
The simple geocentric model, where of the Polish Astronomer Nicolus Copernicus,
planets go around the Earth could not explain that it is not Sun, planets and Stars that go
why the brightness of the planets changed, and around Earth, but it is Earth and other planets
why they reversed their directions. Change in that go around the Sun- heliocentric theory.
brightness and retrograde motion would be Heliocentric model.
impossible if we assumed that the planets were
Dissatisfied with the messy epicycle model
at the same distance at all times from Earth.
Nicolus Copernicus, radically proposed that the
To explain the puzzling phenomena model will become simple if we assume Sun is
astronomers in early times proposed a change at the center and all planets, including Earth, go
in the simple geocentric model. This is called as around it.
epicycle model.
Suppose, Earth and Mars are on the two
Ptolemy (2nd cent) in Greece, Aryabhatta sides of the Sun, then Mars would be far and
in India and others used the epicycle model appear dim, compared to when they are on the
to explain the motion of the celestial objects. same side. Earth orbit around Sun in 365 days,
Their models were improved by generation of whereas Mars takes 687 days. This implies at

28

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 2.indd 28 09-11-2019 12:50:02
 times Earth will overtake Mars. When the Earth accounting for the observed phases of the
is approaching and overtaking Mars, the Mars Venus.
would appear to exhibit retrograde motion.
In short all the observed phenomena could be
Full (almost)
explained in a simple way.
However how do we know that actually Sun is
Gibbous
at the center or not? Venus Sun
orbit Half
Galileo found that his observation of Venus
(at greatest
gave the observational evidence to support the elongation)

heliocentric theory. Galileo observed Venus

Earth Crescent
in 1610-1611 with a telescope. To naked eye,
Venus is just a gleaming bright spot. However,
through a telescope, the shape of the planet can Look at the above diagram. If the Venus
be seen. Galilio was startled to find like Moon was going around the Sun, and its orbit is inside
Venus too exhibited phases. The shape varied that of Earth, Venus would appear always near
from crescent to gibbous. Also, the size of the the Sun in the sky. It can never be seen in the
planet varied. When the planet was in gibbous midnight sky. Two when it is near the Earth,
phase the size was small, and when it was thin it would be brighter and bigger compared to
crescent the size was many folds higher. when it is on the other side of the Sun. Thirdly
only if the Venus is revolving around the Sun,
Crescent
it can exhibit gibbous phase, and the size of the
Sun gibbous phase smaller than the crescent phase.
If the Venus was revolving around the Earth, we
Crescent
Venus can never see the gibbous phase of the Venus and
orbit it would be seen only if it is orbiting tthe he Sun.
Crescent This clinching observational evidence proved
that at the least Venus orbited around the Sun.
Earth Crescent Further evidences collected by astronomers
using telescope and other advanced modern
As the Venus went around the epicycle, instruments gave enough evidence that all
as shown in the diagram Venus would exhibit planets revolve around the Sun.
phases. Also at times the planet would be nearer, If Galileo were around today, he would
making the apparent size grow bigger and at surely be amazed at exploration of our solar
times far making the apparent size smaller. system and beyond by ISRO, NASA, Russian
Thus, the variation in the brightness can also be space agency and others.
explained. Now we can observe planets orbiting
It became clear to Galilio that the geo- around other stars (called exoplanets), proving
centric epicycle model will not help in that not only planets orbit around the Sun in

29

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 2.indd 29 09-11-2019 12:50:03
 solar system, but all around the universe such The event when the matter confined in a
planetary systems exist. Who knows, in some of single point and began to expand is called ‘big
there could be life and in rare cases intelligent bang’. This is considered as the origin of our
life, like humans wondering and exploring universe as we know it.
universe. Imagine a future time when such life
meet us; how exciting and momentous it would
be!

Origin of the Universe

You are a student who
belong to a particular class
studying in VII std. In your
school, there might me many
section for VII std. Likewise, there are VI std Time

class, VIII std class and so on. All of them X

together make the school. Likewise, our Sun is Y

a star with a planetary system. Billions of such Singularity

stars consitute a system called as galaxy. The

name of our galaxy is, Milky Way. Like Milky The Big Bang Theory is the prevailing
Way, there are at least hundreds of billions of model of the evolution of the Universe. Under
galaxies in the Universe. this theory, space and time emerged together
about 14 billions of years ago. At that time, the
entire Universe was inside a bubble that was
thousands of times smaller than a pinhead. It
was hotter and denser than anything we can
imagine. Then it suddenly expanded. The
present Universe emerged .Time, space and
matter all began with the Big Bang.
How did all these come about? Where they
In a fraction of a second, the Universe grew
in existence always or was there a beginning?
from smaller than a single atom to bigger than
When we observed other galaxies we a galaxy. And it kept on growing at a fantastic
found a strange behavior. All the galaxies were rate. It is still expanding today. Over the next
appearing to move away from us. Further, three minutes, the temperature dropped below
farther they are faster they appear to move. 1 billion degrees Celsius. After 300 000 years,
Cosmologists , scientists who study the structure the Universe had cooled to about 3000 degrees.
and evolution of universe that is cosmos, reason Atomic nuclei could finally capture electrons to
that this imply at one point of time in the past form atoms. At that stage of the evolution of the
all matter was confined in a single point and Universe, it was filled with clouds of hydrogen
since then it has started to expand. and helium gas. Giant clouds of hydrogen and

30

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 2.indd 30 09-11-2019 12:50:03
 helium were gradually drawn to the places Building Blocks Of Universe.
where dark matter was most dense, forming As stated above universe is constituted
the first galaxies, stars, and everything else seen of galaxies, just as lot of houses in our locality
today. constitute a village or a city. We have lot of
We cannot see anything that happened things such as rooms, furniture etc. in our
during the first 300000 years of the Universe. homes. Likewise lot of stellar objects such as
Scientists try to work it out from their knowledge stars, planets, asteroids and meteors are the
of atomic particles and from computer models. building blocks of our universe.
The only direct evidence of the Big Bang itself is More to know
a faint glow in space, called cosmic microwave
Astronomical unit : The average distance
background.
between the Earth and the Sun is called an
As millions of years passed, the dense astronomical unit. It is denoted by ‘au’.
areas pulled in material because they had more 1 au = 1.496 x 108 km
gravity. Finally, about 100 million years after Light year : The distance travelled by light
the Big Bang, the gas became hot and dense in one year is called a light year. It is denoted
enough for the first stars to form. New stars by ‘ly’.
were being born at a rate 10 times higher than 1 ly = 9.4607 x 1012 km
in the present-day Universe. Large clusters of Parsec: A parsec is defined as the distance
stars soon became the first galaxies. at which one astronomical unit subtends an
angle of one arc second. It is denoted by
‘pc’
The Hubble Space Telescope and powerful 1 pc = 3.2615 ly = 3.09 x 1013 km
ground-based telescopes are now beginning
to find galaxies that were created about one Galaxies.
billion years after the Big Bang. These small A galaxy is a large
galaxies were much closer together than collection of stars or cluster
galaxies are today. Collisions were common. of stars and celestial bodies
Like two flames moving towards each other, held together by gravitational
they merged into bigger galaxies. Our Milky attraction. There are about
Way galaxy came together in this way. billions of galaxies in the universe. Most galaxies
range from thousand to ten thousand parsec in
diameter. As we have different types of houses
in a locality, the galaxies are also of different
types.
Types of galaxies
There are various types of galaxies such as
spiral, elliptical, barred spiral and irregular
Spiral Galaxy
Spiral galaxies consist of a flat, rotating

31

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 2.indd 31 09-11-2019 12:50:04
 disk containing stars, gas and dust, and a central Irregular Galaxy
concentration of stars known as the bulge. An irregular galaxy is a galaxy that does
These are often surrounded by a much fainter not have a distinct regular shape, unlike a spiral
halo of stars. Spiral galaxies are named by their or an elliptical galaxy, they are often chaotic in
spiral structures that extend from the center appearance, with neither a nuclear bulge nor
into the galactic disc. The spiral arms are sites any trace of spiral arm structure. About one
of ongoing star formation and are brighter than forth of the galaxies found so far are of this type.
the surrounding disc because of the young, hot
Cosmologists say that some irregular
stars that inhabit them.
galaxies were once spiral or elliptical galaxies
but were deformed by an uneven external
gravitational force. Irregular galaxies may
contain abundant amounts of gas and dust.

Elliptical Galaxy
An elliptical galaxy is a type of galaxy
having an approximately ellipsoidal shape and
a smooth image. Unlike flat spiral galaxies with
organization and structure, elliptical galaxies
are three-dimensional, without much structure,
and their stars are in somewhat random orbits Barred Spiral
around the center. Interestingly Stars found A barred spiral galaxy is a spiral galaxy
inside of elliptical galaxies are on an average with a central bar-shaped structure composed
much older than stars found in spiral galaxies. of Stars. Bars are found in approximately in
Elliptical galaxies tend to be surrounded by two-thirds to one third of all spiral galaxies.The
large numbers of globular clusters. Milky Way Galaxy, where our own Solar System
is located, is classified as a barred spiral galaxy.

32

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 2.indd 32 09-11-2019 12:50:07
 Milky Way Tucked inside the very center of the galaxy
is a monstrous black hole, billions of times
The Milky Way is the
as massive as the sun. Although, black holes
galaxy in which our solar
cannot be directly viewed, scientists can see
system is located. The
their gravitational effects as they change and
diameter of Milky Way is over
distort the paths of the material around it, most
100,000 light years. The Milky
galaxies, like our milkyway, are thought to have
Way includes stars smaller than our Sun as well
a black hole in their heart.
as many other stars that are thousands of times
bigger than the Sun. It includes many other Constellation
celestial bodies of gases, clouds of dust, dead A constellation is a recognizable pattern
stars, newly born stars, etc. It is also thought of stars in the night sky when viewed from the
to contain at least 100 billion stars. The galaxy Earth. International Astronomical Union has
that is closest to our Milky Way is Andromeda. classified 88 constellations to cover the entire
The descriptive “milky” is derived from the celestial sphere. Many of the old constellations
appearance from Earth of the galaxy – a band have Greek or Latin names and are often named
of light seen in the night sky formed from stars after mythological characters.
that cannot be individually distinguished by the
naked eye. In Indian mythology, this patch called
as Akasha Ganga. From the Earth, the Milky
Way appears as a band because its disk-shaped
structure is viewed from within. Galileo Galili
first resolved the band of light into individual
stars with his telescope in 1610. Until the early
1920s, most astronomers thought that the Milky
Way contained all the stars in the Universe.
Observations by Edwin Hubble showed that the
Milky Way is just one of many galaxies.
The Milky Way does not sit still, but is
constantly rotating. Our solar system is located Ursa Major (Saptha Rishi Mandalam) is
within the disk of the galaxy, about 27,000 a large constellation and it covers a large part
light years away from the centre of the galaxy. of the sky. The most striking feature of this
The solar system travels at an average speed constellation is a group of seven bright stars
of 828,000 km/h. Even at this rapid speed, the known as big dipper (seven Sages in Indian
solar system would take about 230 million years astronomy).
to travel all the way around the Milky Way. Ursa Minor in Lattin means ‘the little bear’
When the solar system was in the same spot as it lies in the northern sky. The Pole star – Polaris
it is now, there were no humans, no Himalayan (Dhrua) lies within this constellation. The main
mountain on Earth and the dinosaurs were group, ‘little dipper’, consists of seven stars and
roaming around the Earth. is quite similar to that found in Ursa Major.

33

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 2.indd 33 09-11-2019 12:50:08
 Orion was a hunter in Greek mythology.
The constellation comprises around 81 stars out
of which all but 10 are too faint to be seen with
naked eye.
Different constellations become visible
in the sky at different times in the year. This
happens due to the revolution of the Earth
around the Sun.
Unlike galaxy, constellations are mere
optical appearance and not real objects. In
galaxy stars are bound by gravity and constitute Satellites
a system. In a constellation, one star may be An object that revolves around a planet in
near and another very very far, but because they a stable and consistent orbit is called a satellite.
are in the same direction appear to be near to Satellites can be classified into two categories –
each other in the sky. natural and artificial.
Natural satellites
Name of Constellations
Indian Name English Name All natural objects revolving around a
Mesham Aeries planet are natural satellites. They are also called
Rishabham Taurus moons. Most moons are spherical, the ones
Midhunam Gemini
that are not usually asteroids or meteors that
Kadakam Cancer
Simmam Leo were captured by the strong gravity of a planet.
Kanni Virgo All planets except mercury and Venus in our
Thulam Libra solar system have moons. Earth has only one
Vrischikam Scorpio
moon- whereas planets like Jupiter and Saturn
Dhanusu Sagittarius
Makaram Capricorn have more than 60 moons.
Kumbam Aquarius
Meenam Pisces

Stars
A Star is a luminous heavenly body that
radiate energy. With naked eyes, we can see
nearly 3000 stars in the night sky and many
more with the help of a telescope. The stars
are remotely located and appear as tiny dots of
light. Their light travels long distances to reach
us. The atmosphere disturbances do not allow
light to reach us in a straight line path. Because Artificial satellites
of this the stars appear to twinkle. The Sun is Artificial satellites are man-made objects
the nearest star to the Earth. The next nearest placed in an obit to rotate around a planet –
star is Alpha Centauri usually the Earth. The world’s first artificial

34

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 2.indd 34 09-11-2019 12:50:13
 Spiral galaxies

Galaxy: Collection of Stars

Flat rotating disc

containing Stars.

Elliptical Launching
galaxies Satellites
figure
ISRO

Satellites
Objects revolving
around the planets
Three dimensional Milky
without structure way
Planets Stars
Irregular
galaxies
Objects revolving Luminous The galaxy
around the stars heavenly bodies in which
radiating light our solar
system is
located.
Irregular in shape
Origin of
Heliocentric Geocentric Universe
theory theory BIG BANG THEORY

Space and time

Sun is supposed Earth is supposed emerge together
to be at the centre to be at the centre about billions
of years ago

35

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 2.indd 35 09-11-2019 12:50:16
 satellite launched was Sputnik-1 by Russia, Formed in 1969, ISRO superseded the
Aryabhatta was the first satellite launched by erstwhile Indian National Committee for
India. These satellites are used in television and Space Research (INCOSPAR) established in
radio transmission, studying agriculture yield, 1962 by the Scientist Vikram Sarabhai. The
locating mineral resources, weather forecasting, establishment of ISRO thus institutionalized
locate different places on earth. space activities in India. It is managed by the
Department of Space, which reports to the
Prime Minister of India.

ISRO
The Indian Space
Research Organisation
ISRO built India’s first satellite, Aryabhatta,
(ISRO) is the space agency
which was launched by the Soviet Union on
of the Government of India
19 April 1975. It was named after the Indian
headquartered in the city of Bangalore. Its vision
astronomer Aryabhata. In 1980, Rohini
is to “harness space technology for national
became the first satellite to be placed in orbit
development while pursuing space science
by an Indian-made launch vehicle, SLV-3. ISRO
research and planetary exploration.”
subsequently developed two other rockets:
Know your Scientist the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) for
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (19 launching satellites into polar orbits and the
October 1910 – 21 August 1995) was an Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
Indian Americanastrophysicist who spent his
(GSLV) for placing satellites into geostationary
professional life in the United
orbits. These rockets have launched numerous
States. He was awarded the
communication satellites and earth observation
1983 Nobel Prize for Physics
with William A Fowler. His satellites. Satellite navigation systems like
mathematical treatment GAGAN and IRNSS have been deployed.
of stellar evolution yielded In January 2014, ISRO used an indigenous
many of the best current cryogenic engine in a GSLV-D5 launch of the
theoretical models of the later evolutionary GSAT-14.
stages of massive stars and black holes. The
Chandrasekhar limit is named after him. ISRO sent a lunar orbiter, Chandrayan -1,
Chandrasekhar worked on a wide variety of on 22 October 2008 and a Mars orbiter, Mars
physical problems in his lifetime. Orbiter Mission, on 5 November 2013, which

36

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 2.indd 36 09-11-2019 12:50:16
 entered Mars orbit on 24 September 2014, ™™ The universe consists of galaxies, planets,
making India the first nation to succeed on stars, meteorites, satellites and all other
its first attempt to Mars, and ISRO the fourth forms of matter and energy.
space agency in the world as well as the first ™™ The half moon during the waxing period
space agency in Asia to reach Mars orbit. On is called as first quarter and the half moon
18 June 2016 ISRO set a record with a launch during the waning period is called as third
of 20 satellites in a single payload. On 15 quarter.
February 2017, ISRO launched 104 satellites in
™™ The word crescent refers to the phases where
a single rocket (PSLV-C37) and created a world
the moon is less than half illuminated. The
record. ISRO launched its heaviest rocket,
word gibbous refers to phases where the
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-
moon is more than half illuminated..
Mark III (GSLV-Mk III), on 5 June 2017 and
placed a communications satellite GSAT-19 in ™™ The reversal of direction of planets is called
orbit. With this launch, ISRO became capable of as ‘retrograde motion’.
launching 4 ton heavy satellites. ™™ The geocentric theory followed by the
ISRO launched Chandran 2 on July 22, ancient people proposed that the Earth is
2019, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle at the centre and the sun and other planets
(GSLV-Mk III). It entered the Moon’s orbit on revolve around it.
August 20, 2019 and its lander landed on the ™™ The helio-centric theory states that the sun I
Moon on September 7. at the centre and the planets revolve around it

In 1989, Galileo Galilei ™™ Galilio gave the observational evidence to

was memorialized with the support the heliocentric theory
launch of a Jupiter-bound ™™ There are at least hundreds of billions of
space probe bearing his name. During its galaxies in the Universe.
14-year voyage, the Galileo space probe and
its detachable mini-probe, visited Venus, ™™ A galaxy is a large collection of stars or
the asteroid Gaspra, observed the impact cluster of stars and celestial bodies held
of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 on Jupiter, together by gravitational attraction.
Europa, Callisto, IO, and Amalthea. ™™ A constellation is a recognizable pattern of
In order to avoid the possible stars in the night sky when viewed from the
contamination of one of Jupiter’s moons, the
Earth.
Galileo space probe was purposely crashed
into Jupiter at the end of its mission in ™™ An object that revolves around a planet
September 2003. in a stable and consistent orbit is called a
satellite.

Points to Remember ™™ The Indian Space Research Organization

(ISRO) is the space agency of the
™™ The field of study of the universe is called
Government of India headquartered in the
astronomy.
city of Bangalore.

37

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 2.indd 37 09-11-2019 12:50:16
 The Missile Man Of India
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (1931-2015)

Abdul Kalam started his school education in

Government school at Rameswaram. He was very He assisted his relative, a news paper
much interested in science and mathematics during agent during his childhood to meet his
his school days educational expenditure

During
a field visit in his school
days, Kalam wondered about
the flying of birds and clarified
his doubts from his teachers. This
incident acted as an impetus for
him to become a scientist and He got graduate degree in Physics in 1954.
an aircraft engineer Then, in 1955, he joined MIT, Chennai to
pursue his course on Aerospace Engineering

He took charge as the Director of Indian

After completing his studies at MIT, he
Defence Research Development Organisation
designed an aircraft named ‘Nandhi’ using
indigenous materials with the help of indigenous and the scientific advisor to the Defence
technologists, He operated that flight himself Ministry of India in 1983

38

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 2.indd 38 09-11-2019 12:50:21
 India for the first time experimented nuclear
explosion test named ‘Smiling Buddha’ in 1974.
Kalam was one among the sixty Aeronautical
Engineers in this project

Kalam successfully launched the ‘Rohini-1’

satellite using the India’s first satellite
launch vehicle SLV-3 in 1980. He acted as the
Project Director when the missiles Thrishul,
Agni,Prithvi, Nag and Akash were designed
in the Indian Defence

Abdul Kalam played a vital role in the nuclear Kalam worked in five missile projects of India.
explosion test project in Pokran named He was the most important behind the designing
“Operation Sakthi” in 1999. The credit that
defence rocket of India
the India has become a nuclear power goes
to him

The missile man who quoted “Man needs difficulties

because to enjoy the success they are needed to and
The Government of India awarded him the you have to dream before your dreams can come
Bharatha Ratna. He was the President of true” lives among us even after his death. Let’s also
India during the period from 2002-2007 sacrifice for the country like him

39

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 2.indd 39 09-11-2019 12:50:24
 III T
 rue or False – If False give the
EVALUATION correct answer
1. On a full moon day, when the Sun is setting
in the west, moon rises in the West.
2. The word crescent refers to the phases where
I Choose the correct answers the moon is less than half illuminated.
1. The moon takes _________ days to 3. Galilio accepted the Geo-centric model.
complete one revolution around the Earth 4. Our Milky Way galaxy is identified as an
a. 25 b. 26 c. 27 d. 28 elliptical galaxy.

2. If the Moon is appeaing in the sky today 5. The planet Venus in our solar system doesn’t
near the star Karthikai , the position of the have a moon.
Mon after 27 days is near the star IV Match the following
a. Bharani b. Karthikai 1. Rohini - GSLV-Mark III
c. Rohini d. Asvini 2. GSAT-14 - GSLV Mark III M1
3. Telescope was invented by 3. GSAT-19 - SLV-3
a. Han Lippershey b. Galilio 4. Chandrayaan-2 - PSLV-XL C25

c. Nicolus Coppernicus d. Ptolomy 5. Mangalyaan - GSLV-D5

4. The galaxy containing young and hot stars is

V Analogy
a. elliptical galaxy b. irregular galaxy
1. Older stars : elliptical galaxies :: younger
c. cluster d. spiral galaxy stars :---------------
5. With the launch of this satellite, ISRO became 2. Nearest galaxy : Andromeda :: Nearest star
capable of launching 4 ton heavy satellites. :-------- -------.
a. GSAT- 13 b. GSAT- 14 VI Very short answer
c. GSAT- 17 c. Way par GSAT- 19
1. The word --------------- refers to the phases
II. Fill in the blanks. where the moon is less than half illuminated
(cresent / gibbous)
1. Waxing of moon means _________
2. --------------- and --------------- planets
2. Heliocentric model is proposed by
never appear in the mid-night sky.
_________
3. Number of days taken by the Mars to orbit
3. _________ is the prevailing model of
around the Sun.
Evolution of the Universe
4. In which phase does the size of the planet
4. _________ is a large constellation which
Venus is small?
covers a large part of the sky.
5. The only evidence of the big bang theory is
5. _________ is the first satellite launched by
India 6. The galaxy which contains abundant
amount of gas and dust is _________

40

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 2.indd 40 09-11-2019 12:50:24
 7. Which country launched the world’s first 2. Write short notes on constellations.
artificial launch vehicle? IX. HOT Question
VII Short Answer Questions Neelan and Mala are having a conversation
1. What is epicyclic model? about our Universe. Neelan is telling our earth
2. Name the four different types of galaxies. will be the only planet in the entire Universe
3. What is constellation? to have a life with. But, Mala is opposing his
4. Give the expansions of PSLV and GSLV view by citing certain points. What would be
VIII Answer in Detail the argument of Mala. Do you support Mala?
1. Explain the waxing and waning phases in Justify your stand.
Venus

ICT CORNER
UNIVERSE AND SPACE

Let us know about Universe

and space

PROCEDURE :
Step 1: Use the URL or scan the QR code to open the activity page.
Step 2: Click the start button and then Click anywhere to open side bar.
Step 3: Click the top most icon in the side bar then Click the RUN INTRO button to see the
various views of the solar system and universe
Step 4: Click the bottom most search icon in the side bar to search a particular planet,
constellation, stars and Spacecraft.
Step 5: By dragging the mouse left ,right, up and down you can see the various views and
scroll the Mouse to zoom in and zoom out .
Step 6: Click the play button to see the solar system in year wise.

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4

Universe and Space URL:

https://www.solarsystemscope.com/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.com.eu.inove.sss2

*Pictures are indicative only

*If browser requires, allow Flash Player or Java Script to load the page.

41

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 2.indd 41 09-11-2019 12:50:29
 Unit
3 Polymer Chemistry

Learning Objectives

™™ Recognize various types of fibres

™™ Conduct activities to learn the characteristics of synthetic fibres
™™ List the advantages and disadvantages of synthetic fibres
™™ Differentiate between thermoplastics and thermo-setting plastics
™™ Identify various types of plastics based on the resin codes
™™ Realize the impacts of plastics on humans, animals and the environment.
™™ Recall the different methods and hierarchy of disposing waste based on the 5R principle
™™ Explore the complexities of bio-plastics
™™ Gather information about plastic eating bacteria
™™ Learn about glass and its types and uses

42

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 42 12-11-2019 14:43:10
 Introduction
Polymer chemistry has a positive impact C

on your everyday life. Many of the materials H

you use are linked to polymer chemistry. When Monomer Polymer
you get ready for school, you wear clothes,
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is a common
shoes, brush your teeth and take a school bag.
plastic used for water pipes. The monomer and
Did you ever ask yourself what these items
polymers of PVC is shown below.
are made of? They are created from fibres.
Fibres are made up of long chains of natural or H H H H HHH H
...+ C C + C C ... C C C C ...
synthetic polymers. Cl Cl
H H Polymerisation
H CI H CI
As a society, we are consuming more and
monomer monomer polymer
more. The more things we buy the more things
we throw away. 30 years ago, most of the waste
in Tamil Nadu was biodegradable or easily
recyclable. Today it is more complex. Many of ACTIVITY 1
the materials we use are non-biodegradable
and difficult to recycle. For example, in the Compare the following things.
past people used many natural materials such Ice cubes and a polythene bag. In both
as cotton, silk and jute fibres. Today we use the materials, there are large number
a lot of synthetic materials such as plastics. molecules combined together. Are both
In this lesson you will learn about polymers, polymers?
different types of fibres, plastics and the waste
we produce and how we should manage it.
3.2 What Are Polymers?
The word ‘Polymer’ is of
Greek origin. ‘Poly’ means
many and ‘mer’ means basic
smaller unit. Polymers are
very long chains made of
repeating smaller molecules 3.2.1 Polymer
called ‘monomers’ that are joined together Polymers can be classified into natural and
by covalent bonds and the process is called synthetic polymers. Can you imagine that your
polymerization. The diagram below shows how body produces and you are made up of natural
repeating monomers join to form a polymer: polymers? The most familiar polymers that we
use in our daily life are man-made and synthetic.
3.2.2 Natural Polymers
Natural polymers are found in living
Monomers Polymer systems that include proteins and carbohydrates

43

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 43 12-11-2019 14:43:12
 in our bodies and cellulose in wood and paper. products. We have already seen that polymer
They play a very important role in living things such as the Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) is
to provide structural materials and molecules made up of many monomers joined together.
needed for life processes. Ethylene and propylene are the building block
Protein polymers are made from amino monomers that make up many different types
acid monomers (20 different kinds of amino of plastics.
acids). Different combinations of the amino
acid monomers create many different protein H CH3 H H
polymers. Examples of protein polymers include
C C C C
DNA, enzymes, silk, skin, hair, fingernails,
feathers and fur.
H H H H

Propylene and Ethylene

Based on the nature of the monomers, the

way they are arranged in the polymer and the
characteristics of final polymer.
There are grouped into different categories
such as fibres, plastics, proteins. Let us study
about few of them in the following sections.

3.3 Fibres
Examples of carbohydrate polymers
include cellulose, chitin and lignin found in We wear clothes, use bags, rope, blankets,
plants. Cellulose is made of sugar molecules etc. in our daily life. They are made of fibres.
and is the main component of cotton used in Once upon a time, people used natural fibres
clothing. Chitin is found in the cell walls of fungi such as cotton and wool. Nowadays, we use a
such as mushrooms and exoskeletons of insects lot of synthetic fibres. All natural and synthetic
such as crabs and spiders. Lignin consists of a fibres are polymers.
network of polymers and is important in giving
Observe the difference between the natural
structure to plants.
and synthetic fibres:
3.2.3 Synthetic Polymers
Natural Coconut Rope vs. Nylon Fishing rope
Synthetic polymers are man-made
polymers produced by using raw materials
from petroleum oil and gas. Plastics are
synthetic polymers. When oils and gases
are processed to make petrol, ethylene and
propylene monomers are removed as by-

44

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 44 12-11-2019 14:43:14
 3.3.1 Natural and Synthetic Fibres weather. Today, a large variety
Fibres are long strands of polymers of natural fibres are still grown
interwoven to form linear, string-like structures. and processed such as cotton,
Fibres that are obtained from plant or animal silk, and wool. Natural fibres
sources are called natural fibres. Examples can be spun into filament,
include cotton, coconut fibre, hair, wool and thread or rope. Then they can
silk. Fibres that are made using raw materials be woven, knitted, matted or bondedand are
from petroleum are synthetic fibres. Examples used to make clothing, containers, insulation
include polyester, acrylic and nylon. Historically, materialand many other products we use in our
humans used natural plant fibres and animal daily life. Three main sources of natural fibres
fur for shelter, clothing and protection from the are : (i) Animal (e.g.) wool and silk.
Natural wool

Silk

Plants

Cotton Jute Flax

Minerals

Glass fibre
45

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 45 12-11-2019 14:43:18
 The discovery of making synthetic fibres collected from wood or bamboo pulp is treated
out of petrochemicals has replaced the use of with several chemicals. First sodium hydroxide
many natural fibres. Synthetic fibres such as is added followed by carbon disulphide. The
nylon, polyester and acrylic are used to make cellulose dissolves in the chemicals added to it
many different plastic items you use in your and produces syrup called Viscose. Viscose is
daily life such as clothing, blankets, tooth forced through a spinneret (a device made of
brushes and stuffing in cushions. metal plates with very tiny holes) into a solution
3.3.2 Types and Uses of dilute sulphuric acid. This produces silk-like
threads that are cleaned with soap and dried.
Silk: Natural Fibre
This new fibre is called rayon.
Natural silk fibres are obtained from
Some types of rayon are made from the
boiling the cocoons of silk worms from specific
short cotton fibres left on cottonseeds after
species of moths. There are four types of natural
ginning. Rayon is cheaper than silk, can be
silk: Mulberry silk, Tasar silk, Muga silk and
woven like natural silk fibre and can be dyed in
Eri silk. Most of the mulberry silk worldwide is
a wide variety of colours. It can be mixed with
produced in India. Silk is one of the strongest
cotton to make bed sheets or with wool in the
natural fibres and has many uses such as
production of carpets and home furnishing
clothing, carpets and parachutes.
products. Rayon is also found in sanitary
products, diapers, bandages and gauze for
dressing wounds.
Nylon: Synthetic Fibre
Nylon is the first fully processed synthetic
fibre. It was popular during the Second World
War for the use of parachutes and rope materials
for climbing. Nowadays, nylon has replaced
natural silk in many textiles, and has become
one of the most commonly used synthetic fibres.
Nylon fibre is strong, elastic and light. It
islustrous and easy to wash, which has made it
popular for the clothing industry.We use many
Rayon: A Semi-synthetic Fibre
products made from nylon such as socks, ropes,
In the 19th century scientists were tents, toothbrushes, car seatbelts, sleeping bags,
successful in producing the first artificial silk curtains, etc. Nylon thread is actually stronger
known as rayon. The first rayon factory in India than a steel wire.
was established in Kerala in 1946. Rayon is a
man-made fibre, but it is not considered fully
synthetic as it is made out of natural cellulose
collected from wood pulp. The cellulose that is

46

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 46 12-11-2019 14:43:22
 Arrange the threads in the order of increasing
Nylon is very strong and can be
strength.
used for rock climbing!
…………………………………………………
Nylon is a plastic polymer ……………………………
made of chemical units called polyamides. ………
olyamides are made with monomers –
What do you infer from
hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid. Solid
the above activity?
chips of these polyamides are melted and
……………………………
forced through a heated spinneret which has
very, very tiny holes. Which type of fibre is the
strongest?
……………………………
Which type of fibre is the
weakest?
Iron clamp with a
Parachute mountaineer …………………………… hold weights

Polyester and Acrylic:

ACTIVITY 2 Synthetic Fibres
How Strong is Nylon? Polyester is another synthetic fibre. It
Take an iron stand with a clamp. Take can be drawn into very fine fibres that can be
samples of cotton, wool, nylon and silk woven like any other yarn. Polyester is sold in
threads of about 50cm in length. the name of polycot, polywool, terrycot, etc.
First tie cotton thread to the stand so Polycot is a mixture of polyester and cotton;
that it hangs freely from it. At the free end, Polywool is a mixture of polyester and wool.
attach a CD as plate so that weights can be PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) is a very
placed on it. Add weights starting from 10 familiar form of polyester. It is used for making
grams one by one, untilthe thread breaks. water and soda bottles, utensils, films and wires
Note down the total weight required to break amongst many other useful products. Many of
the cotton thread. Repeat the same activity the clothes we wear are made out of polyester
with the wool, silk and nylon threads. fibres. Fabrics made from this fibre do not get
NOTE: All the varieties of threads should be wrinkled easily and are easy to wash making
of same thickness. polyester fabrics suitable for dress materials.

Fill the data in the following table

S.No Type of thread/fibre Total weight required to break the thread (in g)
1 Cotton
2 Wool
3 Silk
4 Nylon

47

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 47 12-11-2019 14:43:24
 We wear sweaters and use shawls and of the production of plastics. They are available
blankets in the winter. Many of these are not in a variety of colours. Synthetic fibres are more
made from natural wool although they appear durable and affordable which has contributed to
to resemble wool. These are prepared from their widespread use.
another type of synthetic fibre called acrylic.
The wool obtained from natural sources is quite
expensive, where as clothes made from acrylic
are relatively cheap because they are a byproduct

ACTIVITY 3
Identify The Fibre : Let us do an activity. Look at the images below and identify and write
down the name of the different types of fibre observed.

Jute Cotton Silk saree

Rayon material
Wool Polyester

ACTIVITY 4
Synthetic or Natural Fibres : The teacher can give the learner a piece of each and every type of
fibre. The learner can feel the fibre and write down the name of the fibre and state whether it is
natural or synthetic fibre.
S.No Name of the fibre Type of the fibre– Natural /Synthetic

We have done four activities so far. Which activity helped you better to identify the
type of fibre? ……………………………………………………………….................................
(Both the use of familiar images as well as touch can help us to identify the different types of fibres.
Right!) We have learned about fabrics such as polyester, nylon and acrylic and their common uses.
These synthetic fibres are polymers which we will learn about later in this chapter.

48

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 48 12-11-2019 14:43:27
 Characteristics of Synthetic Fibres
ACTIVITY 5
Burning A Piece of natural fibre and a synthetic Fibre
Note: This activity should be performedonly by the teacher.
Take a piece of cotton cloth and a piece of polyester cloth. Both the pieces of cloth can be of
same size (2cm x 2cm is enough). Hold the pieces of cloth using tongsto protect yourself from the
flame and heat. Burn both the pieces of cloth one by one and see what happens when they burn.
What do you observe while the cotton cloth burns?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
What do you observe while the polyester cloth burns?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
You must have noticed that natural (cotton) fibresburn very differentlycompared tosynthetic
(polyester) fibres.
The cotton cloth will burn when it is held in flame. On the other
hand, the synthetic polyester cloth will melt on burning. This is one
of the disadvantages of wearing clothes madeout of synthetic fibres.
If a synthetic cloth comes into contact with fire the fabric melts and
sticks to the body causing severe burns. Therefore, one should not
wear synthetic clothes while cooking or working in a laboratory. Cotton Laboratory Coat

ACTIVITY 6
Wetting A Cotton Cloth And An Umbrella Cloth
We use an umbrella on rainy days. What kind of umbrella do we use?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Can you use an umbrella made of cotton?
Let us do an activity to see why we do not use a cotton umbrella to protect ourselves from the rain.
Take a piece of cotton cloth of approximately 10 cm X 10 cm size and a piece of nylon or
polyester cloth 10 cm X 10 cm in size from an old unusable / untorn umbrella. Ask four students
to hold the four corners of the piece of cotton cloth and pour a glass of water over it. Then ask four
students to hold the piece of umbrella cloth and pour a glass of water over it. Compare the effect of
water on the piece of cotton cloth and umbrella cloth and record your observation in the notebook.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Which of these fabrics allows water to pass through?
Cotton cloth or Umbrella cloth (nylon or polyester) Now ask the students to put both the
pieces of cloth in the hot sun to dry. Which of these fabrics dries the fastest? The cotton cloth or
the umbrella cloth? ………………………………………...

49

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 49 12-11-2019 14:43:27
 This is because most synthetic fibres absorb very
Synthetic fibres are made from
little moisture and do not allow air circulation
the byproducts of processing
making them hot and uncomfortable to wear.
petroleum oil and gas. You
will learn about fractional distillation of If you could recall that we already found
petroleum in your higher classes. out that synthetic fibres are made out of
petrochemicals and last in the environment
for a very long time. The disadvantage is that
they break down into very small pieces called
microplastics which cause pollution to soil and
water bodies such as rivers, lakes and oceans.

3.4 Plastics
3.3.3 Advantages of Synthetic Fibres Ask yourself what is the
first plastic thing you touched
Do you ever think about why some of your
today! Maybe it was your
clothing does not need ironing and looks bright
alarm clock or the filling in
and colourful for many years? This is because
your pillow or the synthetic clothes that you
they are made from synthetic fibres such as
were wearing. Almost everything around us
polyester and the advantages are that they do
today is plastic. You have seen water and oil in
not wrinkle easily and they keep their colour
polythene pouches. Right! In the past, people
and brightness for a much longer time than
used to bring milk, oil and other liquids from a
natural fibres such as cotton.
shop in vessels made of materials such as metal
A lot of materials such as fishing nets are and glass. Think about what the containers,
made from synthetic fibres. One of the main buckets, mugs, chairs and tables used in the past
advantages of using synthetic fibres such as were made of? What do we use today to make
nylon, is that they are stronger than many many of these products?
natural fibres such as silk or wool. For example
Plastic as a material has taken over and
a trampoline is made of woven synthetic fibres.
replaced metal and wood which were previously
These fibres are strong and elastic which gives it
used. Plastics have also replaced many glass
the properties to bounce.
items. If we continue to write the list of everyday
3.3.4 Drawbacks of Synthetic Fibres items that are made of plastic, it will be endless!
We have already learned that it is safer to Why is plastic so popular? What are the different
use cotton clothing instead of synthetic clothing uses of plastic? What are the various types of
when a person is cooking or working in a plastics? Let us now learn about plastics:
laboratory. This is because one disadvantage Plastics have helped us to make
of synthetic fibres such as polyester is that they advancements in technology, building,
are not heat resistant and catch fire easily. In healthcare, transport and food safety. Plastics
summer it is better to wear clothing that is made have completely occupied our life because of
out of cotton materials rather than synthetic.

50

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 50 12-11-2019 14:43:28
 their characteristic qualities. Plastics have many simple article such as a thin plastic carry bag.
positive qualities such as lightweight, strong You use this bag for a very short time and then
and they can be moulded into complex shapes. throw it in a dustbin. Many of these carry bags
They are also flexible and waterproof and some do not get recycled and they litter and pollute
plastics are even UV resistant. Plastics are also our environment for a long time.
cheap and convenient for us to use. Now that If you want to learn more about plastic
you have discovered why plastics are so popular, which is used for the wrong application then
let us find out more about the different uses of you can refer to the Government of Tamil
plastics. Nadu’s ban on one-time use and throwaway
Health care items plastics (Environment and Forests Department,
T.N. G.O. No: 84, dated 25/06/2018, with effect
from 1st January 2019).

It is estimated that every year

we use a trillion plastic carry
bags (2 million a minute)
around the world and out of which only 1
Items that are waterproof or UV resistant to 3% are recycled.

3.4.1 Uses of plastics

There are different types of plastics that Plastic has been around for
are excellent materials when they are used for less than 200 years. Edmund
the right application. For example, let us take a Alexander Parkes was the
syringe that is made from a type of plastic called creator of the first plastic called ‘Parkesine’.
polypropylene. These syringes do not have to be
sterilized and reused; hence they provide a high
standard of hygiene and eliminate the risk of
spreading diseases.
Just as plastic is a material that can be used
for a good application, it can also be used for
the wrong application. Think about the different Edmund Alexander
items you use that are plastic. For example, a

51

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 51 12-11-2019 14:43:33
 ACTIVITY 7
Right and wrong application of plastics
Look at the list of eight plastic items. Decide which fourplastic itemsare used for the right
application and which four are used for the wrong application by filling in the chart below:
Plastic items: straws, helmets, cutlery, thin carry bags, syringes, electrical wires,tea cups and blood
bags

Straws Helmets Cutlery Thin carry bags

Syringes Electrical wires Tea cups Blood bags

Right application Wrong application

3.4.2 Types of plastics for making polythene carry bags which are
The plastics we use in our daily life are also commonly used. When you burn a polythene
made up of polymers. All plastics do not have carry bag, it melts and turns into liquid along
the same type of arrangement of units. In some with the production of an offensive odour, a
articles, the arrangement of a monomer is linear, bright flame and soot. Another example is a
and in some other items, the arrangement of PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) bottle, when
articles is cross-linked. Depending on the type we fill it with boiling water, it gets deformed.
of arrangement, we have two main types of Plastics which can be easily softened and bent
polymers – thermoplastics and thermoset. Let when heated are known as thermoplastics.
us see what these are! These plastics can be modified and turned into
Thermoplastics : Polyethylene (also called another plastic item through the process of
polythene) is an example of a plastic. It is used recycling.

52

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 52 12-11-2019 14:43:38
 Thermoset : On the other hand, there are polymers, let us find out more about the different
some plastics, which once they are moulded, types of plastics that you use in your daily life.
cannot be softened through heating them. These Plastics are very useful in our daily life but some
are called thermosetting plastics. Bakelite and types contain dangerous chemicals.
melamine are some examples of thermosetting Did you know that there are many different
plastics. Bakelite is a poor conductor of heat types of plastics?
and electricity. It is used for making electrical
You can tell these plastics apart by searching
switches and handles of various utensils.
for a resin code. The resin codes are a universal
Melamine resists fire and can tolerate heat. It is
way of categorising different types of plastic,
used for making floor tiles and fabrics that resist
which helps us separate plastics so that it is
fire.
easier to recycle them. How can you identify the

Thermo softening Thermosetting resin code? Where can you find the resin code
(thermoplastic) (thermoset)
on a plastic item?
Look at the chasing arrow triangle-shaped
symbol on the bottom of a bottle, on the brand
label sticker or on the lid of a container. What
• Tangled polymer chain • Polymer chains held together
• No cross – links between chains by strong covalent cross-lined number is marked in the centre of the triangle?
• Weak forces of attraction banding does that not break on heating
between chains • Remains hard when heated What letters (acronym) are below this? This is
• Soften when heated
what we call a resin code.
If the number is 1 within the
chasing arrow triangle and/or
has the acronym PET or PETE,
then it is a type of plastic which
is called PET. Now that you have
found out that the bottle has a specific resin
code, let us see what gives the bottle and other
Example of thermoplastic: PET water bottles plastic products certain qualities. Different
chemicals (additives) are added to plastic to
give them various qualities and characteristics,
for example flexibility, strength, softness or
transparency. There are some chemicals that
are used in plastics that are dangerous for our
health, animals and the environment. For
example, Polyvinyl Chloride- PVC resin code
Example of thermoset plastic: electrical switches #3 has heavy metals such as cadmium and lead
which are toxic chemical which are harmful to
3.4.3 Resin code of plastics
your health. Polystyrene- PS resin code #6 has
Now that you have learnt about the differences
styrene which is a toxic chemical known to
between Thermoplastic and Thermosetting
cause cancer.

53

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 53 12-11-2019 14:43:40
 PLASTIC RESIN CODE CHART
Plastic resin codes can be found on the label or bottom of most plastic items.
It is a number or acronym found in the middle of a chasing arrow triangle.
There may be other numbers or letters on the plastic items, but these are not resin codes.

RESIN CODE OTHER NAMES COMMON ITEMS ABOUT

This plastic is designed to be used

Umbrella, sports clothing, warm only ONCE. Reusing PET plastic can
01 PETE, fleece jackets/sweaters, rope, sails, release a chemical called antimony
Polyester polyester fibre made into sleeping which is not good for your health.
bags. Polyester is the most widely used
PET synthetic fibre for clothes.

Cement/rice/cow food sacks,

crocheted/woven tiffin bags, rope, Considered one of the safer plastics.
fishing nets, shade nets/structures, It is light, very strong and has
02 PEHD fibre reinforced concrete (taken from excellent impact strength.
plastic cans), bulletproof material- It is an effective moisture barrier.
vests (Ultrahigh Molecular Weight It is widely recycled.
HDPE Polyethylene- UHMW).

PVC fibres/Vinyon fibres are used to

make shower curtains, outdoor
fabrics, raincoats, boots, fishing The most toxic plastic. Vinyon has
03 V, Vinyl nets, synthetic yarns, children’s good resistance to weathering and
clothing & blankets. Vinyl is used for fire.
stickers on clothing, dress costumes
PVC and fake leather.

PELD, Heavy-duty sacks, Considered one of the safer plastics.

04 artificial grass/turf for football.
LLDPE It is very flexible and soft but strong.

LDPE

Disposable absorbent articles-

diapers, wet wipes for cleaning. Considered one of the safer plastics.
Ropes, carpets, clothing, for filtration, Nonwoven PP fabrics are made so
05 battery separators & geotextiles that they can be used in disposable
(drainage and erosion control). products that you usually throw away
PP micro-fibers are added to concrete after one use.
PP to stabilise the mix.

One of the unsafe plastics as it has

Thermocol, EPS Pens, rulers, throwaway tea & juice toxic chemicals. Most PS in the world
06 XPS and HIPS cups, plates and cutlery and toys. is made for one-time use/throwaway
food and drink packaging.
PS

PC: baby bottles & food containers.

This code includes all plastic types
Polycarbonate (PC), ABS: helmets & car bumpers.
that do not fit into the resin codes 1- 6.
acrylonitrile butadiene Acrylic: fibre optical cables & paints.
PC and ABS are two of the unsafe
07 styrene (ABS), acrylic Bioplastics: plastic bags & tableware.
plastics and are considered toxic.
(AC), bioplastics, nylon, Nylon: clothes, kites & toothbrush
When you see a #7 plastic try to know
polyurethane (PU), etc. bristles.
OTHER more before buying and using it.
PU: mattress foam & shoe soles.

The company did not follow the

rules and mark what type of plastic
NO CODE Does not have resin was used. It could be harmful but you
Can be any plastic item.
code or an acronym do not have the information to know
for sure. Avoid using plastic
without a resin code.

© WasteLess, Auroville 2019

54

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 54 12-11-2019 14:43:40
 ACTIVITY 8
Identify the different types of plastics
Collect different kinds of plastic products and look carefully for the resin code and/or acronym
on them.With the help of the resin code chart,mark the resin code number, acronym, if you think it
is a safer, unsafe or questionable (when you cannot find the resin code on the article) type of plastic.
What resin codes do you find? Is the resin code safer,unsafe or questionable?

Product Resin code number Acronym Category of safety Use of product

Look at the resin code chart on the previous is that they do not decompose or biodegrade.
page to find out more about the different types This leads to large amounts of waste that will
of plastic, what are common items and which not disappear and end up accumulating and
plastics are safe and unsafe for us, animals and polluting the environment.
the environment. A lot of one-time use plastic such as
Look at the resin code chart to find out polythene bags and food packaging that are
more about the different types of plastic, the thrown away are responsible for littering
common items and the plastics that are safe and the environment and clogging drains.
unsafe for us, animals and the environment. Standing water breeds mosquitoes that can
3.4.4 Impacts of plastics spread diseases such as malaria, dengue and
Plastics are cheap, light weight, strong chikungunya and also lead to flooding.
and durable and have contributed to a range of
Why do you think some animals eat plastic?
advances and benefits to our modern life. But
Many animals confuse plastic for food and eat
the increase in the use of plastics, particularly
it by accident. When left over food is thrown
the one-time use and throwaway plastics has
away it is often packed in plastic. Animals
serious impacts on the environment, animals
smell the leftover food and eat the plastic
and our health.
by accident. For example animals in urban
areas, particularly cows, often eat polythene
plastic bags by accident as they contain food
waste. Can you imagine the consequences?
……………………….…………………………

…………………………………………………

A lot of the plastic waste we use such as

plastics bags, bottles and straws end up in the
oceans. Plastics in the ocean are exposed to
We have seen garbage dumps with
sunlight, water and the physical movement of
different plastics. One big problem with plastics

55

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 55 12-11-2019 14:43:40
 the waves, which breaks it down in tiny pieces
called microplastics. Some microplastics are
also found in household products. Examples
are microbeads that can be found in toothpaste,
face wash and body scrubs. Microbeads are
washed down in drains and end up in the soil,
rivers, lakes and the ocean Microbeads are
washed down in drains and end up in the soil,
rivers, lakes which cause pollution.

3.4.5. PLA Plastics

Can you see how much plastic litter
Microplastics in the Ocean
pollutes our environment? How nice would
Many birds eat plastic items and small
it be if a material that had similar qualities to
pieces of plastic, which are covered in algae.
plastic could be biodegradable, be absorbed by
Once in the stomach of animals, plastics cannot
the soil and give nutrients to the soil!
be digested and this decreases the amount of
space for food and can lead to starvation. In We have seen that
2015, plastics were found in 90% of seabirds. synthetic clothes are made
from plastic. Every time we
wash synthetic clothes, small fibres called
microfibers escape and end up in the soil,
streams, rivers and oceans.
Dangerous pollution called Persistent
Organic Pollutants (POPs) floating in the
ocean sticks to these small pieces of plastic
making them toxic. Marine animals such
We have already read that Government as shrimp and fish often eat microplastics,
of Tamil Nadu has banned one-time use and confusing them for their natural source of
throwaway plastics such as plastic carry bags, food. The toxins build up in these animals
plates, straws and water pouches. This is an and move up the food chain and can end up
indication that important efforts are taking place in our bodies. Microplastics can be found
to reduce negative consequences of plastics on in the food we eat, the water we drink, and
the environment. the air we breathe.

56

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 56 12-11-2019 14:43:41
 Yes, scientists have thought about waste. Plastic waste ends up being recycled,
alternatives to synthetic plastics and have found incinerated, landfilled, dumped or ends up
Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) –a substitute for some littering our environment. It is estimated that
types of plastics. Poly Lactic Acid or polylactide from all the plastic waste ever produced, 79%
is compostable and bioactive thermoplastic. is in landfills, dumps or in the environment,
This polymer is obtained from plant starch such 12% has been incinerated and only a small 9%
as corn, sugarcane and pulp from sugar beets. is recycled.
PLA is a biodegradable material. It is useful Let us learn more about what happens with
for making food packaging, garbage bags and the plastic waste. One way to look at plastic
disposable table ware. disposal is the 5R Principle – Refuse, Reduce,
Reuse, Recycle and Recover. We have already
learned about the waste pyramid and how the
different methods of waste disposal can be seen
in terms of the best option to the least favourable
in this order: Refuse (Avoid), Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle, Recover (Compost and Incinerate) and
PLA food containers Tea bags
Landfill.
3.4.6. Various methods of disposing plastics Refuse (Avoid)
Plastics are everywhere! Our increasing The best thing to do is to avoid using plastic
consumption and production of plastic waste products. One-time use throwaway plastics can
needs a solution. Let us find out more about often be avoided. For example, we can carry
how and where plastic waste is disposed of and cotton or jute bags when we go shopping and
the better methods of disposing plastics. say no when a shopkeeper offers us a plastic bag.
Organic waste such as the peels of
vegetables, fruits and food remains can get
broken down by bacteria in the soil to create a
rich source of nutrients in the form of compost.
A material that gets decomposed through
natural processes and action by bacteria is
called biodegradable.
Plastics do not decompose by natural
processes and action of bacteria and are Reduce
therefore not biodegradable. It is important
Reducing the amount of plastic we use is
for us to separate our biodegradable and
important. Before buying a plastic product we
non-biodegradable waste and dispose of
can check to see if there are any substitutes
them separately. A lot of the plastic produced
or alternatives that can be used. If we use
globally is designed to be used only once and
fewer plastics, we will create less plastic waste.
thrown away, creating a large amount of plastic
However, even if we try to reduce the amount of
57

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 57 12-11-2019 14:43:42
 plastics we use and throw away, it is impossible Open burning releases toxic pollutants into the
to stop using plastics completely. air and soil, which are harmful to our health,
Reuse animals and the environment. Burning plastics
at high temperatures in incinerators and
If possible products made of plastics can
trapping the gases and collecting the toxic ash
be used again and again. For example, if we
is widely used to produce energy. This is often
have a plastic bag in good condition, instead of
seen as a positive way to deal with plastic waste.
throwing it away we can use it again the next
However, burning plastics releases super toxic
time we go for shopping. If we have a plastic
gases, and the remaining ash contains toxic
product and if you do not feel like using it again,
chemicals and heavy metals. Burning of plastics
we can give it to others instead of throwing it
is not a good solution, as we end up wasting
out.
non-renewable resources and produce super
Recycle toxic chemicals that are difficult to store or
It is better to recycle dispose safely.
plastic waste. Separating
plastic waste and making
sure it gets recycled is good
as it turns waste materials
into something new. Then
it will not be thrown away in landfills, open
dumps or ending up as litter in the environment.
Many thermoplastics can be recycled. They can
Compost your organic waste
be softened by heating and can be made into Open burning and incineration
another article by recycling, but thermosetting
plastics cannot be recycled. Recycling of plastics
is challenging and it is important to know that
plastics cannot be recycled forever. There are so
many different types of plastics, which are often
mixed together making it difficult to separate
them back into the original material. Every time
plastic is melted and recycled it loses quality,
this is called ‘downcycling’. Recycling of plastic
waste cannot be the only solution to plastic
pollution.
Recover (Compost And Incinerate)
Solid waste can be converted into resources
such as electricity and compost through thermal
and biological means. Burning plastics in a large
furnace or in the open is bad for the environment.

58

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 58 12-11-2019 14:43:45
 Landfill to degradable plastics? Degradable plastics
Plastic waste often ends up in landfills that breakdown into tiny pieces called microplastics
are huge holes where waste is buried to keep and these stay in our environment for a very
it separate from the environment. This is the long time. It is very important to understand
most common way for plastics to be disposed that degradable plastics do not breakdown
of around the world. Plastics make up 7-13% of completely in the environment! Scientists have
waste that is sent to landfills on a global scale. found that microplastics in the ocean are really
Plastics in landfills can still lead to pollution of bad and it is likely that these tiny pieces in the
the air, soil and groundwater. Over time landfills soil are also harmful.
can degrade, and the toxic chemicals in certain Compostable plastics are derived from
plastics can leak out into the environment. renewable resources such as corn, sugar cane,

A recipe for PLA a compostable

Liquid plastic!
Clay from
garbage What you need
Lining
i) 1 tablespoon of corn starch
ii) 
1 teaspoon of vegetable glycerin
(available at the pharmacy)
Lining
iii) 1 teaspoon of vinegar (5% acidity)
Layers Layers iv) 4 Tablespoons of water.
of of v) Cooking spoon
soil garbage
vi) Cooking pot
LANDFILL vii) Stove
viii) Aluminium foil
Method
3.4.7. Biodegradable plastics Mix the water with the starch in a
cooking pot. Add the vinegar and the
The concept of biodegradable plastics or
glycerin. Mix all the ingredients on
bio-plastics was first introduced in the 1980s.
medium heat. Make sure you continuously
Based on the nature of degradation, there are
stir. The mixture should turn from liquid
two main types of plastics: degradable plastic
white into a clear gel. When it begins to
and compostable plastic.
bubble, then it is ready and should be taken
Degradable plastics are made from off the stove.
petroleum oil or gas which is the same as
Spread the gel onto the aluminium
conventional plastics. The difference is that they
foil. Let it cool down for one hour. You
have a chemical or additive added to them to
can then shape the material to form a cup
make them breakdown faster than conventional
or bowl. Let the article you made cool for
plastics when they are exposed to sunlight,
another 24 hours before you try and use it.
oxygen or water. What do you think will happen

59

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 59 12-11-2019 14:43:45
 avocado seeds or shrimp shells. Compostable complex! A big issue is the scale of the plastic
plastics can be broken down completely by pollution problem. We consume and produce
microbes and turned back into food for plants- such large quantities of plastics and this is only
carbon dioxide, methane, water and other increasing. The scale of the bacteria breaking
natural compounds. down plastics is much slower and will therefore
3.4.8. Plastic Eating Bacteria not solve the crisis we are facing.

In 2016, scientists from Japan tested Another limitation is that it is restricted to

different bacteria from a bottle recycling plant PET resin code #1 plastics, which currently is
and found that Ideonellasakaiens is 201-F6 one of the most recyclable plastics world wide.
could digest the plastic used to make single-use It will not be a feasible solution to the issue of
drinks bottles that are made of polyethylene the large quantities of non-recyclable low-grade
terephthalate (PET). The bacteria works by plastics which are polluting the environment.
secreting an enzyme known as ‘PETase’, that That is why it cannot be the solution to plastic
breaks down plastic into smaller molecules. pollution on its own!
These smaller molecules are then absorbed by 3.5. Glass – Types And Uses
the bacteria as a food source. The working of the Glass can be found
enzyme is diagrammatically shown below: wherever we look; a glass
window or glass mirror or
glass light bulb. Glass is one
Breaks down PET
into terephthalic acid of the world’s oldest and most
& ethylene glycol versatile human created materials. Glass is the
only material that can be recycled over and over
again without losing its quality. Glass is bit of
sis I.sakaieness
aien adheres to a riddle. It is hard enough to protect as, but it
k PET film
I . sa shatters with incredible ease. It is made from
opaque sand, yet, it is completely transparent.
Most surprisingly, it behaves like a solid
Eats the terephthalic
acid & ethylene glycol material, but it is also a sort of weird liquid in
disguise!
Glass is prepared by heating (SiO2) silicon-
di-oxide until it melts, say to about 1700◦C
and Sodium Carbonate is added to it. Then it
is cooled down really fast. When SiO2 silicon-
di-oxide melts, the silicon and oxygen atoms
break out of their crystal structure. If we cooled
Although the discovery of the bacteria it slowly, the atoms would slowly line up back
breaking down plastics is seen as a potential into their crystalline arrangement. But if we
solution to the plastic pollution – it is still very cool the liquid fast enough, the atoms of the

60

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 60 12-11-2019 14:43:45
 silica will be halted in their tracks, they won’t ™™ Fibres can be natural or synthetic.
have time to line up, and they will be stuck
™™ Our increasing consumption and
in any old arrangement, with no order to the
production of waste has negative impacts
arrangement of the atoms. We call materials
on humans, animals and the environment.
like this as amorphous. At this stage, glass is
linear in arrangement inorganic in nature and ™™ Nylon is a synthetic fibre made from
has a structure very similar to glass and they are petrochemicals oil and gas.
considered as polymers.
™™ Polycot is a mixture of polyester and cotton,
In a commercial glass plant, sand is mixed Polywool is a mixture of polyester and wool.
with waste glass (obtained from recycling
™™ Synthetic fibres melt on burning while
collections), soda ash (sodium carbonate) and
cotton fibres catch fire on burning.
limestone (calcium carbonate) and heated in a
furnace. The soda ash reduces the sand’s melting ™™ Polymers are very long chains made
point and produces a kind of glass that would of repeating smaller molecules called
dissolve in water. The limestone is added to monomers that are joined together with
stop that happening. The end product is called different types of bonds.
soda-lime-silica glass. It is the ordinary glass we
™™ Plastics that get deformed easily on heating
see all around us.
and can be bent are known as thermoplastics.
Usually, other chemicals are added to
change the appearance or properties of the ™™ Plastics that do not get deformed easily on
finished glass. For example, iron and chromium heating and cannot be bent are known as
based chemicals are added to the molten sand thermosetting plastics.
to make green-tinted glass. ™™ There are many different types of plastics.
Oven-proof borosilicate glass (widely Some of which are safe or unsafe for us. We
sold under the trademark PYREX) is made by can find out what type of plastic an item is
adding boron oxide to the molten mixture. by identifying the resin code or acronym
found on it.
Adding lead oxide makes from a sandwich
or laminate of multiple layers of glass and plastic ™™ Poly Lactic Acid or polylactide is a
bonded together. biodegradable and bioactive thermoplastic.
Toughened glass used in car winds hields ™™ The management of plastics can be
is made by cooling molten glass very quickly to considered by the 5R Principle – Refuse,
make it much harder. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and `Recover as
Points to Remember well as to Landfill.

™™ Fibres are long strands of molecules ™™ Ideonellasakaiensis 201-F6 is a bacteria

interwoven to form linear, string-like discovered by scientists that digests plastic
structures that can be woven, knitted, resin code #1 PET used to make single-use
matted or bonded. drinks bottles.

61

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 61 12-11-2019 14:43:45
 II. Fill in The Blanks
EVALUATION 1. _________ is an example of polyester fabric.
2. _________ are used to identify different types
of plastics.
3. A_________ is a long chain made up of many
I. Choose the correct answers repeated small units called monomers.
1. The first man-made fibre is _________ 4. A natural fibre is called ________
a) Nylon b) Polyester 5. A natural fibre obtained by boiling cocoons is
c) Rayon d) Cotton called_________
2. Which of the following is the strongest? III. True or False
___________ 1. A lot of plastic pollutes our environment.
a) Rayon b) Nylon 2. Refuse (avoid) is the best way to manage
c) Acrylic d) Polyester plastic.
3. When you place a natural fibre in a flame 3. It is good to wear clothes made of synthetic
it____________ fibres while cooking.
a) melts b) burns 4. Degradable plastics break down into tiny
c) gets nothing d) explodes pieces called microplastics.
4. A synthetic fibre which has similar 5. Cotton is a natural polymer.
properties to wool is ____________
IV. Match the Following
a)Nylon b) Polyester
A B
c) Acrylic d) PVC
Nylon Thermoplastic
5. A good application of plastic is the use of
PVC Thermosetting plastic
____________
Bakelite Fibre
a) Blood bags b) Plastic cutlery
Teflon Wood pulp
c) Plastic straws d) Plastic carry bag
Rayon Non-stick cookwares
6. ____________ is a non-biodegradable
material
V. Arrange in Correct Sequence
a)Paper b) A plastic bottle
1. Mix water, starch, vinegar and glycerin in a
c) Cotton cloth d) Wool cooking pot.
8. PET is the acronym for ____________ 2. Let the article cool for 24 hours before we
a) Polyester use it.
3. Shape material to form a cup or bowl.
b) Polyester and terylene
4. Continuously mix on medium heat until the
c) Polyethylene terephthalate
liquid turns clear.
d) Polyetheneterylene

62

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 62 12-11-2019 14:43:45
 5. When the liquid begins to bubble it is ready non-biodegradable and cotton cloth is
to be taken off the stove. biodegradable.

6. Spread the gel onto aluminium foil and cool. 3. A: It is good to avoid plastics.
R: Plastics end up polluting the environment.
VI. Analogy
VIII. Crossword
1. Cotton: natural : Polyester: ____________
Across
2. PLA spoon : compostable : Plastic spoon :
1. Fibre that is used as synthetic wool.
____________
2. A plastic used for making water bottles.
3. Nylon :melts on heating : Silk:____________
3. A long chain made of small
VII. Assertion and Reason repeatingmonomers.
1. A: Vegetable peels buried in the soil 4. Another name for this semi-synthetic fibre
disappear within two weeks. is artificial silk.
R: Vegetable peels are compostable. Down
2. A: It takes a very long time for nylon clothes 5. A type of fibre that is naturally obtained from
to breakdown into microfibers but cotton a cocoon.
clothes need only six months to decompose. 6. A synthetic fibre classified as polyester.
R: Nylon made out of petrochemicals is 7. A polymer used for making rope.

1 C L I

2 P 6 E E

3 O R

4 A 7 N

63

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 63 12-11-2019 14:43:45
 IX. Very Short Answer XIII. i) Fill in the blanks
1. What is the chemical name of the polymers
What is the first

that make up cotton? plastic item that

you touched this
morning?

2. What gives plastic different qualities and

Look at the What is the
characteristics? classroom and list
down the items
Things
material that
you use for
we use carrying your
that are made of
plastics lunch and for
3. It is not advisable to burn plastic and carrying
water?

synthetic fabrics. Why? List out the

type of fabrics
you have as

4. A bucket made of plastic does not rust like a clothes

bucket made of iron. Why?

ii) Look at the following picture and explain
5. Why is it better to avoid the use of plastic
what is happening.
products?

6. Give two examples of thermosetting plastics.

7. What is the 5 R principle?

X. Short Answer
1. What does the term biodegradable mean?
2. What kind of fabric is suitable to dress-up
and play in the summer?
3. How do plastics impact animals and the
environment?

XI. Long Answer

iii) 
Read the following information and
1. List the advantages and disadvantages of convert them into a graph to compare the
synthetic fibres. countries and the amount of plastic they
2. Suggest safe methods of disposing plastics. use.

XII. HOTS China contributes the highest share - that

1. The Tamil Nadu Government has banned is around 28%, of the total plastic used globally.
the use of one-time use throwaway plastics. Indonesia uses 10%, both the Philippines and
Why do you think this is important? Vietnam use 6% each; Thailand uses 3.2%,
Egypt 3%, Nigeria 2.7% and South Africa 2%.
2. A plastic bag dumped in the soil stays
without breaking down for 500 years. If a
new generation starts in every 30 years, how
many generations would it take to see the
plastic bag finally broken down?

64

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 3.indd 64 12-11-2019 14:43:46
 Unit
4 Chemistry in Daily Life

Learning Objectives

™™ Understand the meaning of Medicines, Antibiotics, Analgesics, Antiseptics,

Antihistamines, Antacids and Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS).
™™ Understands combustion and its types
™™ Recognizes flame and its structure.

Introduction to 3% among thousands of refugees.  An Indian

During the Bangladesh liberation war, doctor, Dilip Mahalanabis, had to manage the
Therapy with Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) shortage of saline bottles and coup up with
in 1971 reduced cholera death rates from 50% the dehydration faced by the refuges. Dr. Dilip

65

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 4.indd 65 09-11-2019 12:47:05
 Mahalanabis showed the efficacy of ORS in the intestinal wall. Up to 20 liters of water
cholera cases among Bangladeshi refugees is secreted and very nearly as much is
(1971-72). Further field trial during the cholera reabsorbed every 24 hours. This mechanism
epidemic in Manipur attested to its efficacy, ORS allows the absorption of soluble metabolites
has since saved the lives of millions of children into the bloodstream from digested food.
around the world. However when a person becomes sick, due
Look at the above information. What do to diarrhea, water is expelled and the body is
you infer from this? Now you get the curiosity not able to retain the liquid balance. This is
to know about ORS and its function. Don’t you? called as ‘dehydration’. It is not the diarrhea
In addition to this, let us know about some of
that kills, but the dehydration’ resulting from
the common medicines and how do they work.
the infection that kills. If more than 10% of
In the normal healthy intestine, there the body’s fluid is lost death occurs.
is a continuous exchange of water through

UNICEF/WHO norms the O.R.S should be prepared as follows

S.No. New ORS grams/Litre % New ORS mmol/litre

Sodium chloride 2.6 12.683 Sodium 75
Glucose, anhydrous 13.5 65.854 Chloride 65
Potassium chloride 1.5 7.317 Glucose, anhydrous 75
Trisodium citrate, dehydrate 2.9 14.146 Potassium 20
Citrate 10
Total 20.5 100.00 Total Osmolarity 245

4. 1 Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) For example, only with adequate sodium
ORS (Oral Rehydration concentration in the intestinal wall, water can
Solution) is a special be absorbed by it through a process known
combination of dry salts that as osmosis. If there is inadequate salt in the
is mixed with safe water. It can intestinal wall the body will not be able to
help to replace the fluids lost absorb water.
due to diarrhea. In a state of The saline bottle directly transfers water
diarrheal disease there is imbalance and much and sodium into the blood stream. However, for
more water is secreted than reabsorbed causing the saline water is administered through mouth,
a net loss to the body which can be as high as intestinal wall, is a not able to absorb neither
several liters a day. In addition to water loss, water nor sodium. Dr. Dilip Mahalanabis
sodium and potassium are also lost. found that if glucose (sugar) is added to the salt
Certain concentration of sodium (Na) solution, then all the three- water, sodium and
is needed for proper functioning of the body. glucose are absorbed by the body.

66

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 4.indd 66 09-11-2019 12:47:05
 During diarrhea the intestine is still able Through the process of osmosis, the salts and
to absorb glucose molecules. Thus, the ORS sugars pull water into your bloodstream and
solution uses the glucose molecules to enable speed up rehydration.
the sodium to be is carried through by a co-
4. 2 Antacid
transport coupling mechanism. ORS is an
Acidity is a set of symptoms caused
effective treatment for 90 – 95% of patients
by excess production of acid by the gastric
suffering from diarrhea, regardless of the cause.
glands of the stomach. Your stomach naturally
As the water is replaced balance is attained
produces gastric or hydrochloric acid (HCl) to
saving the patience in most cases.
help digest and break down food. Acidity issues
Let us see homely made of ORS, be very arise when there is excess production of this
careful to mix 6 level teaspoons of sugar and acid due to triggers such as acidic foods, spicy
1/2 level teaspoon of salt dissolved in 1 litre of food, alcohol, dehydration and stress. When
clean water. Too much sugar can make diarrhea acidity occurs, the excess acid may move up
worse. Too much salt can be extremely harmful from your stomach to your esophagus.
to the child. Making the mixture a little too
The lining of your stomach with a pH of
diluted (with more than 1 litre of clean water)
1 to 3 is designed as such to withstand a high
is not harmful.
acidic environment.
When we have acidity or heartburn, we
are administered a class of medicines known
as antacids. They are actually weak bases. As
learned in chemistry, when a base is mixed with
an acid a neutralization reaction occurs. When
antacids are consumed, it creates a chemical
reaction in the stomach lowering the acidity
and makes the digestive acids less corrosive and
damaging.
Most of the common antacids are
ORS
Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3), Calcium
Hand Zinc
Carbonate (CaCO3), Magnesium Hydroxide
Washing
(Mg (OH)2), Magnesium Carbonate (MgCO3)
and Aluminium Hydroxide Al(OH)3.
Protection of Food
The chemical reaction created when
Vitamin Child from
A diarrhea Magnesium Hydroxide neutralizes HCI in the
stomach and intestine
Fluids
Vaccination
Sanitation

67

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 4.indd 67 09-11-2019 12:47:05
 “mold juice” was capable of killing a wide variety
of harmful bacteria, such as streptococcus,
Esophagus

Stomach
meningococcus and diphtheria bacillus.
Lower
esophageal contracted
sphincter

A and stomach
Acid
contents back up
into esophagus

4. 3 Antibiotics
Ages ago, there was a time
where even a small infected
wound can cause death in And that was how the world’s first antibiotic
human beings. The discovery of antibiotics – penicillin – was discovered. Fleming named
changed all. Now armed with antibiotics, many the mould penicillum notatum, from which
deadly infectious diseases can be tackled, which the antibiotic penicillin was isolated. However,
once meant to cause serious illness and death. Fleming was not the first using moulds and
other living micro organisms to treat infections.
The discovery of antibiotics was an
Thousands of years ago, the ancient Egyptians,
accident, which happened in 1928 while a
had used mouldy bread to treat infected wounds.
British bacteriologist, Dr. Alexander Fleming
Similar practices were observed among ancient
was involved in research on staphylococcus
Greeks, Serbians and even among Indians.
bacteria. This bacterium was meant to cause
While these were perhaps partially effective,
deadly diseases such as pneumonia, sour throat,
their efficacy is nowhere near the modern
etc. The discovery happened while he was
antibiotics.
culturing the bacteria on a nutrient agar media
in a Petri dish. He went on a holiday carelessly Naturally, many micro organisms and
leaving the dish in his laboratory table without plants synthesize chemicals which are toxic
cleaning and sterilization. in nature to protect them from invading
organisms. The biosynthesized chemicals
After several days, when he returned back,
isolated from the plants/micro organisms and
he observed the growth of mould (kind of
used as medicines against infectious diseases.
common fungus, which grows on stale bread/
These substances were called as antibiotics.
cheese) on a part of the Petri dish. He also
Ex: Chloramphenicols, tetracyclines, Penicillin
observed that there was no bacterial growth
derivatives, cephalosporin’s and their
surrounding the mould, which indicated that
derivatives. Today, many infectious diseases in
something in the mould had prevented the
the world are rare due to the advancement in
growth of bacteria in the culture medium. On
antibiotic research.
further research, Fleming identified that the

68

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 4.indd 68 09-11-2019 12:47:06
 Analgesics or pain killers are the pain-
Antibiotics don’t work
suppressing chemicals released by the body.
for viruses like cold and the
flu. They suppress the feeling of ‘pain’. This analgesics
drug selectively relieves pain by acting either in
However, the over use of antibiotics makes CNS (Central Nerves System) or on peripheral
it inactive or less effective. Antibiotic resistance pain mechanism, without significantly altering
is defined as the ability of the microorganisms consciousness.
to resist the effects of an antibiotic to which When we are affected by fever, often we are
they were once sensitive. Thus the antibiotics administered Paracetamol. Paracetamol interact
become less effective and we are forced to either with the receptors and reduce the intensity of
consume a larger dose or shifting towards the pain signals to the brain, also suppresses the
use of other virulent variants of antibiotics. release of substances, called prostaglandins that
Thus the research on antibiotics is of great increase pain and body temperature.
importance to combat the virulent and mutated
microorganisms. 3. Brain interprets
the messages as 4. Brain
4.4 Analgesics: pain sends pain
suppressing
Injury, burn, pressure from sharp objects chemicals and
and other conditions cause pain in our body. 2. Pain messages triggers other
move through responses
The unpleasant feeling may be a burning peripheral nerves
sensation in the tissue around the injury, and up the spinal
cord
throbbing headache or ache of arthritis. Back
pain, neck pain, joint pain, headaches, pain
from nerve damage, pain from an injury and
pain related to diseases are some of the most
common pains.

The unpleasant emotion of ‘pain’ is created

in the brain and not at the spot of the injury. If
1. Pain source
the pain is severe, say from burn, the impulse
sent to brain trigger immediate response.
Reacting to the signal from the brain, muscle
pull our hand from the fire. Anesthetics
The first local anesthetic
Reacting to the message received from the
was cocaine was isolated
pain spot, the brain sends back messages that
from coca leaves by Albert Niemannin
initiate healing process. It can trigger to release
Germany, 1860.
pain suppressing chemical and additional flow
of additional white blood cells and platelets to
help repair tissue at an injury site.

69

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 4.indd 69 09-11-2019 12:47:06
 Traditional anti inflammatory agents Normally little fever is good as it helps to
arrest the growth of infection. However if the
internal body temperature exceeds 105°F, this
may cause damage to our body protein and the
brain may experience seizures and delirium.
The prolonged high fever may also cause death.
Peppermint Catnip
These are classified as follows, Antipyretics (anti - against and pyretic
-Feverish) are chemical substances that reduce
i) Non – narcotic (Non – additive) analgesics
fever. They suppress the release of prostaglandin
Eg.Aspirin
and reduce fever. The most common and well
ii) Narcotic drugs. E.g. codeine known anti pyretic is paracetamol. Other
4.5 . Antipyretic: antipyretics and anti inflammatory agents
include Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac.
In normal course our body temperature
is ranges from 98.4 to 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. 4.6 Antiseptic
When the temperature goes above this level Antiseptics are substances applied to the
it is called fever. Most common cause of fever exterior of a body that kill or inhibit microbes
is infection. Bacteria and virus cannot thrive and infective agents. Antiseptics can be effective
above a certain temperature. To defend the against one or a combination of bacteria, fungi,
invading virus and bacteria the immunity viruses or other microorganisms.
system increases the body temperature.
Once infection is sensed, the immune
1. Dettol
system releases a chemical called pyrogen.
Mixture of chloroxylenol and
These pyrogens released into bloodstream terpincol
reaches the hypothalamus, present at the basal
part of the brain. The function of Hypothalamus
is to control the body temperature. Sensing the
pyrogens, hypothalamus increases the body
temperature by releasing a chemical called 2. Tincture
Iodine + 2 to 3% alcohol – Water mixture
prostaglandin.
Soap, Iodoform,
phenolic solutions,
ethanol, Boric acid, are
examples.

Natural antiseptics
1. Garlic, 2. Turmeric 3. Aloevera

70

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 4.indd 70 09-11-2019 12:47:09
 Difference between Antiseptic and Disinfectants
Antiseptic Disinfectants
1. All antiseptic are disinfectants. All disinfectants are not antiseptic
2. It can be applied on the live tissues, It can be apply on in animate object,
For example. skin / Mucous For example. Surface, lab working tables, floor.

4.7 Antihistamine Medicine:

Anti histamines are defined as drugs that Medicines are used to treat the disease and
combat the histamine in the body that are to improve our health.
used for treating allergic reactions and cold
symptoms. Histamine is a chemical messenger ந�ோய்நாடிந�ோய்முதல்நாடிஅதுதணிக்கும்
involved in number of complex biological வாய்நாடிவாய்ப்பச்செயல் – திருவள்ளுவர்
reactions. When a foreign body such as pollens There is a Kural,
enters the body, the immune system believes
“Diagnose the disease and understand its seeds;
those substances to be harmful and generates
Identify the cause and make sure it succeeds”.
the release of histamine. When histamine is
released, it will interact with the histamine
receptors on the cell surface or within a target cell
and cause changes in the bodily functions. This
stimulates many smooth muscles to contract,
such as gastrointestinal tract and bronchi. In
certain smooth muscles, they cause relaxation
of blood capillaries which increase the flow of
lymph and its protein content and lead to the
formation of edema (redness and rashes).

The science or practice of the diagnosis,

treatment, and prevention of disease. There are
many ways to intake the medicine.
1. Oral use
2. External use
Antihistamines or histamine receptor
3. Injections (Intra muscular/Intra venous)
antagonists oppose selectively all the
pharmacological effects of histamines. For, The medicines we take treat our disease and
Ex. Diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, lead us to a good health.
cimetidine. The adverse effects of antihistaminics
are mouth dryness and sleepiness.

71

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 4.indd 71 09-11-2019 12:47:12
 ‘I know I should ‘I know medicine can (Water)
never take any be dangerous if you take
medicine that isn’t the wrong amount. It All combustion reactions are exothermic;
meant for me tells you on the label that is they release heat.
how much to take
Ignition Temperature:
The minimum temperature at which a
substance catches fire and burns is called its
Always use ignition temperature.
medicines A substance will not catch fire and burn
safely! if its temperature is lower than its ignition
temperature. Different substances have different
ignition temperatures.
‘I only take Substances which have very low ignition
medicines when ‘I know it is
a grown up I important temperature and can easily catch fire with a
trust gives them ‘I know medicines to store
flame are called inflammable substances. E.g.
to me medicines
are NOT sweets out of reach Petrol. Alcohol, LPG (Liquefied Petroleum
and that they can of younger
be harmful Gas), CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), etc.
children
Flame
Combustion
Can you guess what is
common in rusting or iron,
burning coal and the flame
of candle? They all undergo
a chemical reaction known
as combustion. Combustion is a chemical
reaction that occurs in the presence of a fuel
and an oxidizing agent that produces energy,
usually in the form of heat and light. Flame is actually a chemical reaction.
What we call as ‘burning’ is really a To be specific, the flame is a mixture of gases
combustion reaction. In fact combustion is (vaporized fuel, oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon
one of the first chemical reactions intentionally monoxide, water vapor, and many volatile
harnessed by humans. Any reaction that materials) and so is matter. The light and heat
involves reaction with oxygen is called oxidation produced by the flame is energy, not matter. But
reaction. In the combustion of hydrocarbon fire is a matter.
with oxygen, typically carbon dioxide and water
Fact
are produced.
Fire chemical Reaction
CH4+2O2 → CO2+2H2O+Heat energy
Oxygen + Heat + Fuel = Fire
(Hydrocarbon) (Oxygen) (Carbon dioxide)
72

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 4.indd 72 09-11-2019 12:47:13
 Flame and its structure Substances which do not vaporize during
burning do not produce flames e.g. coal.

Hottest Outer zone of complete

part combustion (blue)

Moderately
Middle zone of Partial
hot
combustion (yellow)

Least hot Innermost zone of unburnt

wax vapours (black)

Wax Candle
Which is the festival of light? What is the
specialty of that festival? Yes. We will light more Structure of a Candle flame
lamps to decorate the houses. Won’t we? Now A candle flame has three main zones, they
how do the lights glow? Yes, with flame. are
i. The outer zone – complete combustion of the
fuel takes place and the colour of the flame
is blue and is the hottest part of the flame. It
is the non-luminous part of the flame.
ii. The middle zone -partial combustions of the
fuel takes place and the colour of the flame
is yellow and is moderately hot part of the
flame. It is the luminous part of the flame.
iii. The inner zone: There are unburnt vapours
Here is an experiment with colorful flame
of the fuel and the colour is black and is
• White flame – Epsom salt (MgSO4)
least hot part.
• Violet flame – Lithium Chloride
• Indigo flame – Potassium Chloride Finger inside the Why is the candle flame
straight?
• Blue flame – Bleaching powder flame
• Green flame – Borax powder
• Yellow flame – Calcium chloride
• Orange flame – Table salt
• Red – Strontium chloride
Teacher shows the experiment with these salts A candle flame is caused
soaked in alcohol and makes fire. by vapour burning above the
candle. This burning vapour
Flame:
is hotter than the surrounding air and is
Flame is a zone of combustions of a
therefore less dense. So, by the principle of
combustible substance. Substances which
convection, it “rises” so the flame is always
vaporize during burning produce flames.
upwards
E.g. Wax, Kerosene etc.

73

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 4.indd 73 09-11-2019 12:47:14
 Chemistry in
Daily Life Slow
Combustion
Fast
Combustion
Spontaneous
Combustion
Incomplete
Combustion
Formation of coal
Combustion

Materials burns White phosphorus

with oxygen to
give light and Flame
heat

stomach naturally
produces gastric
or hydrochloric Fight against
acid (HCl) to help
digest the diseases
To cure diseases
through scientific
c id method
nta Feeling may be a
burning sensation
A Antibi
otic
in the tissue around
the injury
e
in ic al
am Med An
ist S al ges An
tise
ntih OR ics pti
c
A

Special
combination
of dry salts that
is mixed with safe water.
Treating allergic
reactions and cold
symptoms

Antiseptics are
substances applied
to the exterior of a
body that kill or
inhibit microbes

74

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 4.indd 74 09-11-2019 12:47:17
 Calorific value of different fuels Calorific value = Heat produced / Amount
Fuel Calorific Value (kJ / kg) of fuel used for burning in kJ/kg
If 4.5kg of fuel is completely burnt and the
Cow dung cake 6000-8000 amount of heat produced stands measured at 1,
Wood 17000-22000 80,000 kJ what is its calorific value.
Coal 25000-33000 Calorific value = 1, 80,000 / 4.5 = 40,000 KJ/Kg

Petrol 45000 Types of combustion

There are three main types of combustion.
Kerosene 45000
They are,
Diesel 450000
Rapid combustion: It is a combustion
Methane 500000 process in which a substance burns rapidly and
CNG 50000 produces heat and light with the help of external
heat. E.g. Burning of LPG.
LPG 55000
Spontaneous combustion: Is combustion
Biogas 35000-40000 process in which a light without the help
Hydrogen 150000 of external heat.eg. Phosphorus burns
spontaneously at room temperature.
The amount of heat energy produced on
Explosion: It is a type of combustion in
complete combustion of 1kg of fuel is called
which a substance burns suddenly and produces
its calorific value. The calorific value of a fuel
heat, light and sound with the help of heat or
is expressed in a unit called kilo joule per
pressure. E.g. Explosion of crackers.
kg (kJ/kg)

More Environmental Impacts CO- Leads to respiratory problem

CO2- Global warming
SO2/NO2 – Acid Rain

Remedies

75

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 4.indd 75 09-11-2019 12:47:19
 Fire control:
ACTIVITY
The Fire Triangle
What happens when you add with these
chemicals?
Sugar + Potassium permanganate+
Glycerin.

EN

HE
YG

AT
OX
FUEL
Characteristics of good fuel Experiment: QR code videos
Make your own fire extinguisher
™ Readily available
™ Cheap The conditions necessary for producing fire are,
™ Easy transport and store ™ Fuel
™ Air (to supply oxygen)
™ Burns at moderate rate
™ Heat (to raise the temperature of
™ Produce large amount of heat
™ the fuel beyond its ignition temperature)
™ Do not leave behind any undesirable Fire can be controlled by removing any one
substances. or more of these conditions.
™ Does not cause pollution. Fire extinguisher:
A fire extinguisher cut off the supply of Air
or bring down the temperature of the fuel or
both and controls the fire.
How do fire extinguishers work?

Slow combustion:
Slow combustion is a form of combustion
which takes place at low temperatures.
Respiration is an example of slow combustion.

76

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 4.indd 76 09-11-2019 12:47:19
 Portable fire extinguishers apply an Types of fire extinguisher:
extinguishing agent that will either cool burning The most common types of fire
fuel, displace or remove oxygen, or stop the extinguishers are,
chemical reaction so fire cannot continue to
™™ Air pressurized water extinguishers,
burn. When the candle of an extinguisher is
compressed, it opens and inner canister of high ™™ Carbon-di-oxide extinguishers.
pressure gases forces the extinguishing agent ™™ Dry chemical powder extinguishers.
from the main cylinder through a siphon tube
and out the nozzle. A fire extinguisher works
much like a can of hair spray.
The different types of extinguisher tackle different types of fire
Class A Class B Class C Class D Electrical Class F

Combustible Flammable Flammable Flammable Electrical Deep fat

Type materials Liquids Gases metals Equipment fryers Comments
(e.g. paper (e.g. paint (e.g. butane (e.g. lithium (e.g. computer (e.g. chip
& wood) & petrol) & methane) & potassium) & generators) pans)

X X X X X
Do not use on
Water liquid or electric
fires

Foam
X X X X Not suited to
domestic use

X
Can be used
Dry powder safely up to 1000
volts

X X X X
CO2 Safe on both high
and low voltage

X X X X
Use on extremely
Wet chemical high
tempertures

Fire extinguishers can be broadly classified into five types:

1. Water, 2.Foam, 3.Dry Powder, 4.CO2, 5.Wet Chemical.
The classes of fire
There are five classes of fire: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class E.

Class A fires – Combustible materials: caused by flammable solids, such as wood, paper,
and fabric
Class B fires  – Flammable liquids: such as petrol, turpentine or paint
Class C fires  – Flammable gases: like hydrogen, butane or methane
Class D fires  – Combustible metals: chemicals such as magnesium, aluminum or potassium
Class E fires  – Typically a chip-pan fire
Electrical fires  – Electrical equipment: once the electrical item is removed, the fire changes
class

77

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 4.indd 77 09-11-2019 12:47:20
 Points to remember
™™ Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) is a EVALUATION
mixture of electrolytes, sugar, and water
taken by mouth to absorb water and
electrolytes in the body and properly restore
the electrolyte and find balance lost by I Choose the correct answers
excessive sweating, vomiting or diarrhea, 1. A drug effective in the treatment of
pneumonia, and bronchitis, is _________
™™ ORS is an effective treatment for 90 – 95% of
patients suffering from diarrhea, regardless a. Streptomycin b. Chloramphenicol
of the cause. c. Penicillin d. Sulphaguanidine

™™ Antacid is one that neutralize stomach acid 2. Aspirin is ___________

a. Antibiotic b. Antipyretic
™™ Medications, drugs, substances used to treat
and cure diseases, and to promote health. c. Sedative d. Psychedelic
3. __________ are that neutralize stomach
™™ Some micro organisms and plants produce
acid.
their own toxic substances. These substances
those help to destroy other living things are a. Antacid b. Antipyretic
called as antibiotics. c. Analgesic d. Antihistanics

™™ The chemical process in which a substance 4. The lowest temperature at which a substance
reacts with oxygen to produce heat is called catch the fire is called its ________
combustion a. Boiling point
b. Melting point
™™ Flame is a zone of combustion of a
c. Critical temperature
combustible substance. Substances which
vapourise during burning produce flames. d. Ignition temperature.
E.g. Wax, Kerosene. 5. Which is the hottest part in the flame of
candle _________
™™ The minimum temperature at which a
substance catches fire and burns is called its a. Blue b. Yellow
ignition temperature. c. Black c. Way part

™™ The amount of heat energy produced II. Fill in the blanks.

on complete combustions of 1. Penicillin was first discovered by _________
1kg of fuel is called its calorific value.
2. World ORS Day is _________
™™ A fire extinguisher cut off the supply of air 3. Combustion is a chemical reaction in which
or bring down the temperature of the fuel or and substance react with _________

™™ both and controls the fire. 4. In the presence of water, the ignition
temperature of paper is _________

78

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 4.indd 78 09-11-2019 12:47:20
 5. Fire produced by oil cannot be controlled by 6. How many types of combustion are there?
_________ 7. What are the essential requirements for
III T
 rue or False – If False give the producing fire?
correct answer
VII Short Answer Questions
1. Antibiotics does work for viruses like cold
and 1. Why should not medicines be taken without
2. Analgesics are the substances that lower the consulting doctors?
temperature during fever. 2. Why do antiseptics differ from disinfectants?
3. All fuels form flame. Give one example of each.
4. Oxygen is necessary for combustion
3. What is ignition temperature?
5. Burning wood and coal causes pollution of
air. 4. If 4.5kg of fuel is completely burnt and
amount of heat produced stands measured
IV Match the following at 1, 80,000 KJ what is the calorific value.
1. Antipyretic - reduce pain
VIII Answer in Detail
Analgesic - reduce body
2. 1. Explain briefly about antibiotic and
temperature
analgesic?
Antacid - spontaneous
3.
combustion 2. Make labeled diagram of a candle flame.
4. Phosphorus - ORS Solution
Carbon – di – - leads to respiratory IX. Picture based question
5.
oxide problem.

V Analogy
1. Inner zone of flame : :---------------, outer
zone of flame : :---------------
2. Tincture: :---------------, cistamine : :--------
-------.
VI Very short answer
1. First viral disease detected in human being
was :--------------- (Yellow fever / dengue
fever) Arul and Aakash were doing an experiment
2. :---------------, :--------------- , :-------------- in which water was to be heated in a beaker.
are called green house gases (Fleming / lenis Arul kept the beaker near the wick in the yellow
pastor) part of candle flame. Aakash kept the beaker in
3. Name a substance which can be used as an the outer most part to the flame. Whose water
antiseptic as well as disinfectant? will get heated in a shorter time?

4. What are the main constituents of dettol? Websites:

5. Name the unit in which the calorific value of http://memorize.com/medical-terminology-
a fuel is expressed? prefixes.

79

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 4.indd 79 09-11-2019 12:47:20
 ICT CORNER

CHEMISTRY IN DAILY LIFE

Explore the activity to know about

Flame test.

PROCEDURE :

Step 1: Use the URL or scan the QR code to open the activity page.
Step 2: Use the platinum wire to scoop up chemicals, and then put them in the flame to
see how each chemical changes the flame’s colour.
Step 3: Press the space bar to select the new chemical.

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

Step 4

Chemistry in daily life URL:

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/138778000/

*Pictures are indicative only

*If browser requires, allow Flash Player or Java Script to load the page.

80

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 4.indd 80 09-11-2019 12:47:23
 Unit
5
Animals in Daily Life

Learning Objectives

™™ To know animals are used as food and for making clothes

™™ To know how wool and silk is produced
™™ To understand the hazards of silk and wool industries and learn how to
avoid it
™™ To gain knowledge about AHIMSA (or) Peace silk
™™ To understand the importance of Animal protection and their maintenance

81

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 5.indd 81 09-11-2019 12:46:19
 Introduction 5.1 Animal Products used as food:-
In earlier class you have studied how plants Milk
are used in our daily life. Now you are going to Milk is white liquid food produced by the
learn how animals are useful in our daily life. mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary
Animals are closely associated with human source of nutrition for infant mammals. We use
beings in their daily life. They are the greatest milk in our daily life for the following.
gift of nature. They are of great economic
™™ Milk is the daily essential product which is
importance to our nation. Animals contribute
obtained from animals like cows, buffaloes
many things for our use, as food, clothing and
goats and camels.
transportation. Let us learn the importance of
animals and how to protect and maintain them.

ACTIVITY 1

Some of the food items are given below. Find out their ingredients and sources.

S.No Food Item Ingredients Sources

Chicken Animals
Spices
1 Oil/Ghee Plants/Animals
Curry leaves
Coriander leaves
Fish
Spices
2 Oil/Ghee

Lemon
Milk
Tea leaf/Coffee nut
3 Water
Sugar
Oil/Ghee
Sugar
Milk
4
Nuts
Flavour
Honey
Rice
Egg
5 Spices
Oil
Coriander leaves

82

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 5.indd 82 09-11-2019 12:46:22
 ™™ Milk is necessary in our daily diet to prepare
ACTIVITY 2
tea, coffee, ice creams, chocolates, sweets
and other related products. Can you distinguish a fresh egg from
a rotten one?
™™ Highly recommended nutritive food
containing protein and calcium are made 1. Take a bowl of water.
from milk like, Paneer, Cheese, Cream,
2. Put the egg in the bowl.
Butter, Ghee and curd.
3. Observe now, the fresh egg will sink.
But the rotten egg will float.

Honey
Curd Ghee Where from honey comes,
Eggs or how it is produced? Have
you seen a beehive where
Eggs are laid by female birds of many
many bees are seen buzzing about? Bees
different species to produce their young ones
collect nectar (sweet juices) from flowers,
like hen, duck, turkey and ostrich. We use these
convert it into honey and store in their
in our daily life for the following.
honey comb.
™™ They are used in our daily diet to get
™™ Honey is a sweet liquid produced by
energy and good health.
honey bees from the nectar of flowers.
™™ It is highly nutritious and rich in protein. It is extracted from beehives by us.
™™ Eggs have 6 grams of high-quality
™™ Raw organic wild honey is extracted
protein. A protein packed breakfast
from selected hives by tribal honey
helps to sustain mental and physical
hunters, who collect it from jungles.
energy throughout the day. Consuming
egg daily is good for any age people. ™™ Honey has more medicinal values and
highly nutritious food.

Beehive
Eggs

Honey
oozing out

Egg omlet

83

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 5.indd 83 09-11-2019 12:46:24
 Poultry Farming
ACTIVITY 3
Poultry farming is the process of raising
Aim : To find out the purity of honey domesticated birds such as chicken, duck,
Materials required : Water and honey. turkey and geese for the purpose of getting meat
and egg for food. Poultries are reared in large
Procedure : Take a glass of water, add a
numbers and chickens being the most common
drop of honey to it. Observe carefully.
one. Chickens are broadly of two types.
Inference : If the drop of honey reaches the
1. Layers (egg laying chickens)
bottom without dissolving, then the honey
is pure. If the drop of honey dissolves 2. Broilers (one’s that are reared for meat)
before reaching the bottom then the honey Poultry farming requires safe and sufficient
is impure. space (wired gages) for the birds. Plenty of water,
proper ventilation and regular feed that is rich
The worker bees collect the in proteins, fats and vitamins. Poultry feed is
nectar from the flowers. comprised of maize, wheat, millet and rice bran
They nourish the young in mashed form and ground nut cakes.
ones and repair the bee hive
Diseases
and also protect it.
Poultry birds suffer from various diseases
caused by some microbes. It is important to keep
their shelters clean and get the birds vaccinated
Meat
against common diseases. Some of the common
Meat is animal flesh that is eaten as food.
diseases of poultry birds are the following.
Most often it is used to describe skeletal muscle
and fat that is found with it. Some people eat Salmonellosis
Caused by bacteria
the flesh of animals such as chicken, sheep, (diarrhoea)
rabbit, pig, goat, camel, buffalo (beef), fish, crab,
Ranikhat disease,
prawn, lobster and many more. Caused by virus
(Fowl pox)
™™ Animal meat is considered as the part of diet
Aspergilleses Caused by fungus
by most of the people.
™™ Meat consumption is considered essential
for its nutritive values. Especially chicken
breeding is done in large scale in the form of
poultry farming for economic purpose.

Poultry Farm
Meat Chicken

84

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 5.indd 84 09-11-2019 12:46:27
 5.2 Animal products used as clothing Why such kind of clothing is preferred by
Animal hair has a great them?
demand. The hair from
goat and sheep is used for
manufacturing woollen
clothes, shawls and blankets,
mufflers and socks. Similarly
horse hair is used as bristles in small painting
brushes. Even fur of animals including the skin
is used to make warm and modern style clothes.
Animal Fibres
Some fabric fibres such as cotton, jute, silk
are called natural fibres. Cotton and jute are Wool is the fibre derived from the fur of
examples of plant fibres. Wool and silk fibres are animals of the Caprinae family principally
examples of animal fibres. Wool is obtained from sheep. The hair of other mammals like goat,
the fleece of sheep or goat. It is also obtained yak, alpaca and rabbit may also be called wool.
from the hair of rabbit, yak and camel. Silk fibre Mostly, wool is produced from the outer coat
is obtained from the cocoon of silkworm. of sheep. The processing of wool involves five
Wool major steps. They are as follows Shearing,
What type of clothes are being used by Grading (or) Sorting, Washing (or) Scouting,
people of snow capped region? Carding and Spinning.

Sheep
Shearing Washing

Carding Spinning
85

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 5.indd 85 09-11-2019 12:46:32
 Shearing:- The flesh of the sheep is Silk
removed from its body. This is called shearing. Have you ever attended marriage functions?
Grading (or) Sorting:- The fleece What type of dresses the bride and bridegroom
from the same sheep may be different from wear? What is it made up of?
different parts of the body. It is sorted out
into separate piles of similar nature. This is
known as Grading (or) Sorting.
Washing (or) Scouting:- The sheared skin
is washed thoroughly with soap (or) detergents
to remove dirt, dust and grease.
Carding:- The dried wool is carefully
removed. These fibres then passed through the Silk is the secretions of the silk moth. Silk is
rollers which are covered with fine sheet of thin obtained from the cocoon of silk worms, which
wire teeth. This process arranges the wool into a feed on the mulberry leaves. Silk worms live
flat sheet called a web. for a very short time, only about two months.
During this period they pass through four stages
Spinning:- The web is drawn into narrow
of development. They are eggs, caterpillars,
strand and then passed through spinning
cocoon and adult moth. These stages are called
machines. The spinning machines twist the
as life cycle of a silk worm.
strands into yarn. The yarn is wound to form
balls of wool. This yarn is either weaved into The cultivation and production of silk is
fabric (or) retained for knitting. known as Sericulture. An adult female silk moth
lays about 500 eggs. The eggs are then kept in
Characteristic features of wool
cold storage for six weeks.
™™ It is resistant to heat, water, wear and tear. The eggs are placed in the
™™ It absorbs moisture. incubator. After about ten
™™ Wool insulates against cold. So wool is a days, the eggs hatch out and
good insulator. the larvae spend the next 35
™™ It does not wrinkle easily. days eating mulberry leaves.

Uses of wool Life cycle of butterfly

Caterpillar
Wool is a multifunctional fibre with a range
of diameters that makes it suitable for clothing, Egg
household fabrics and technical textiles. Two
third of wool is used in the manufacture of
garments including sweaters, dresses, coats and
Pupa
active sportswear. Blended with other natural (cocoon)
(or) synthetic fibres wool used as adds drape
and crease resistance blankets, anti-static and Adult Emerging
noise absorbing carpets. Butterfly Butterfly

86

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 5.indd 86 09-11-2019 12:46:33
 1. Which came 2. The eggs
first the silk worm hatches as a
or the egg tiny larva

3. The
silkworm
eat 50,000
times its
initial weight
if mulberry
leaves and
grows

5. Inside the cocoon

6. Cocoons, the caterpillar
are boiled or changes in to pupa
4. The silkworm
steamed to
spin a cocoons
kill the pupa
around itself
and loosen
the Sarasin
that holds the
cocoons

7. Individual 8. Spun into 9. Thread is

filaments are thread woven into
unraveled fabric

The silk worms spend about five days together to form a thread large enough for
producing silk and spinning its cocoon of a weaving. The silk thread is cleaned, dyed, woven
single long thread. The cocoons are boiled to into fabric.
make it easier to unwind the silk and kill the Characteristic features of Silk
pupae inside. If the silk moths were allowed ™ It is very soft, comfortable and versatile
to hatch, the long silk fibres will get turned by ™ It can be easily dyed.
the hatching of moth. Cocoons are unwind ™ It is the strongest natural fibre.
and then the individual silk filament is reeled ™ It has a poor resistance to sunlight exposure.
87

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 5.indd 87 09-11-2019 12:46:33
 Uses of Silk with the live stock during hair processing.
Silk has natural beauty and elegance. It gives The symptoms are fever, cough and shortness
comfort in warm weather and warmth during of breath, similar to a typical pneumonia.
colder months. It is used in the manufacture Sometimes it may leads to nausea, vomiting and
of classical and high fashion clothes, modern diarrhoea.
dresses particularly silk sarees, the elegant of Treatment
beautiful dresses. It is also used in household ™™ Pencillin or Ciprofloxacin is given as the
for making wall hangings, curtains, rugs and best medicine for treatment of anthrax.
carpets. It is also being used in the manufacture
™™ The spread of the disease is controlled by
of surgical threads for sutures.
vaccination of animals and by burning or
India is the world’s second burial of infected animal’s carcases.
largest silk producing ™™ It is the duty of the employer to take care of
country. Kancheepuram, the industrial workers by providing hygienic
Thirubhuvanam and and well ventilated work place.
Arani are famous places for silk Sericulture and Ahimsa silk ( Peace silk)
production in Tamil Nadu.
Sericulture or silk farming is the cultivation
of silk worm to produce silk. It is the rearing of
5.3 Hazards in Silk and Wool Industry
silk worms to obtain silk.
Hazard is any industry has the potential
to cause injury, ill health or damage to human Ahimsa silk
being and their property or the environment. It is also known as Peace silk. In 1992,
Hazards in Silk Industry Kusuma Rajaiah, a Government officer from
Andhra Pradesh state of India proposed ahimsa
Generally, the workers in silk industry
way of silk production for the making silks
affected with arthritis is they stand for a long
without killing the silkworm. It involves a
time reeling the silk into yarn. They also
humane method specifically letting the worms
develop back pain and visionary problem and
to hatch and then using the vacant cocoons.
skin injuries. Some time they may suffer from
respiratory problem like asthma and bronchitis Traditional silk manufacturing methods
due to poor ventilated area of their work. involve boiling the cocoons of the silk worms
and then sorting out the threads, which is used
Similarly, hazards in wool industry the
later in silk production. It has been supported
workers are exposed to various chemicals and
by many people who are interested in the welfare
detergents which causes allergies of the skin.
of animals.
They also get infected to anthrax bacterium
which leads to fatal dead disease called the 5.4 Animal protection
sorters disease. and maintenance
Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis by Protecting animals is like
handling contaminated animal hair and contact protecting our own children

88

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 5.indd 88 09-11-2019 12:46:33
 Animals used as food Animals used as Cloth
An animal raises for its flesh Animals skin is used for making
and products are consumed woolen dresses and some leather
by human is called animal food. goods.

PRAWN

CRAB LEATHER BAG

Types of Wool
PANEER Alpaca, Fiber, Moheir, Cashmere and
AND Lambs Wool
CHEESE FISH Types of Silk
Eri Silk, Muga and Spider Silk
Ahimsa Silk
The Hindi word Ahimsa means Poultry Farming
non-violence. It is used to describe Poultry farming - domestically or
this innovation because the fabric commercially primarily for meat,
is manufactured in a process where eggs and also for features
Silkworms are not killed.

Ahimsa Silkworm and cocoon HEN

EGGS

Animal protection
and maintenance
Protecting an animal’s
welfare means providing
for its physical and
mental needs.

89

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 5.indd 89 09-11-2019 12:46:42
 or parent. They are living things similar to
human beings. As an elite, most intelligent and EVALUATION
responsible human being on the planet, it is our
duty to protect all the living organisms on earth.
The human tendency and conscience towards
the animals should be considerate to protect
and safe guard the animals, hence as human it I. Choose the correct answers
becomes a great responsibility and obligatory to 1. is the daily essential product
protect the animals. which is obtained from cattle.
a) Egg b) Milk
c) Both of them d) None of them
2. Eggs are rich in .
a) Protein b) Carbo hydrate
c) Fat d) Acid
3. Which parts of the goat and sheep is used
for manufacturing clothes.
a) Leg b) Hand
c) Hair d) Head
Study of breeding
4. The cultivation and production of silk is
of animals and their
known as .
maintenance is called
Animal Husbandary a) Horticulture b) Floriculture
c) Agriculture d) Sericulture

The Ministry of Environment, Forest 5. Sorter’s Disease is otherwise known as

and Climate change has released four New .
Gazette Notifications under the Prevention of a) Asthma b) Anthrax
Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 to regulate dog
c) Typhoid d) Cholera
breeders, animal marketers, aquarium and pet
fish owners. This progress has come about as a II. Fill in the blanks.
joint effort by animal protection groups. With 1. Proteins and is rich in milk.
the protection of animals we actually protect 2. is extracted from bee hives.
ourselves and protect the environment. So we
3. Anthrax is caused by .
have to love and protect the animals and treat
them as our family members. 4. is the strongest natural fibre.
5. Peace silk was produced in the year .

90

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 5.indd 90 09-11-2019 12:46:46
 III. True or False – If False give the 2. Write about any three uses of silk.
correct answer 3. What are the common diseases that are
1. Animals are the greatest gift of nature. found in Poultry?

2. Horse hair is used as bristles in small VIII. Answer in Detail

painting brushes. 1. Write about Ahimsa Silk.
3. Wool is the fibre derived from the silk worm. 2. Write about the hazards of silk industry.
4. Ahimsa silk is otherwise known as Mulberry
3. What are the major steps involved in this
silk.
wool factory.
5. Pencillin is the best medicine for curing 4. Write the uses of the wool.
Anthrax.
IX. HOTS
IV. Match the following
1. Silk fiber is used to manufacture parachute.
1. Cocoons - Meat Why?
2. Peace silk - Poultry 2. Honey is recommended for all. Why? What
3. Broilers - Silk worm is its significance.

4. Sweet Liquid - Andhra pradesh X. Assertion and Reasoning

5. Goat - Honey 1. Assertion : Wool is the fibre derived from
the fur of animals.
V. Analogy
Reason : Animals like goat, Yak, Alpaca and
1. Water : pipe : Electric current ::
rabbit yields wool.
2. Copper : conductor : wood ::
a. Both Assertion and reasoning is correct
3. Length : metre scale : current ::
4. Milli ampere: micro ampere: 10-3A :: b. Assertion is correct but reason in wrong

VI. Very short answer c. Assertion is wrong but reason is correct

1. Write about any two dairy products. d. Assertion and Reason are incorrect
2. What are the two types of fibres that are 2. Assertion : Pencillin or ciprofloxacin
obtained from animals? Reason : These medicines cures cow pox.
3. What is shearing? a. Assertion is correct Reason is wrong
4. Write the symptoms of Anthrax
b. Assertion is wrong reason is correct
5. Define – Sericulture
6. How should we treat animals? c. Assertion is wrong reason is also wrong

7. Who invented the Ahimsa silk? d. Assertion is correct and reason is correct.

VII. Short Answer Questions

1. What are the characteristics of wool? Give
any three.

91

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 5.indd 91 09-11-2019 12:46:46
 ICT CORNER

ANIMALS IN DAILY LIFE

This activity helps the students to

know about the farming and how
to do the milking.

PROCEDURE :

Step 1: Type the URL link given below in the browser or scan the QR code. A page opens.
Press Play button.
Step 2: A farm scene will come. Come along with that a hand.
Step 3: According to the instruction of the hand sow crop for cow then feed the cow.
Step 4: Follow the instruction of the hand you will end up with milk.

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

Step 4

Animals in daily life – cow farm and milking URL:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.playnfun.cowfarmday

*Pictures are indicative only

*If browser requires, allow Flash Player or Java Script to load the page.

92

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 5.indd 92 09-11-2019 12:46:46
 Unit
6
Visual Communication

Learning Objectives
After learning this lesson, the students will be able to
™™ know how to create a document through the LibreOffice software
™™ explore their creative thinking
™™ learn how to align and format the document

Introduction Impress (presentations)

Impress provides all the common
In this chapter, the students will learn to multimedia presentation tools, such as special
use the software LibreOffice effects, animation, and drawing tools.
LibreOffice is a powerful and free office Drawing (vector graphics)
suite, used by millions of people around the
world. It’s clean interface and feature-rich tools Draw is a vector drawing tool that can
help you unleash your creativity and enhance produce everything from simple diagrams or
your productivity. LibreOffice includes the flowcharts to 3D artwork.
following components.
Base (database)
Text Document: Base provides tools for day-to-day database
Writer (word processor) Writer is a feature- work within a simple interface. It can create and
rich tool for creating letters, books, reports, edit forms, reports, queries, tables, views, and
newsletters, brochures, and other documents. relations, so that managing a relational database
is much the same as in other popular database
Calc (spreadsheet) applications.
Calc has all of the advanced analysis, Math (formula editor)
charting, and decision making features expected
from a high-end spreadsheet. It includes over Math is the LibreOffice formula or
300 functions for financial, statistical and equation editor. You can use it to create complex
mathematical operations, among others. equations that include symbols or characters
not available in standard font sets.

93

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 6.indd 93 12-11-2019 14:37:14
 How to get the software
Versions of LibreOffice for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X can be downloaded free from
http://www.libreoffice.org/download.

TEXT DOCUMENT
In this chapter, we will discuss about the word processing. You can use it to type letters, reports
and other documents. This lesson introduces you to the Word window. You use the Word window to
interact with Text Document.

Managing Documents
This section of the lesson explains how to open a new/existing document, save a document,
renaming a document and closing an opened document. There are several ways to create a new
document, open existing documents and save documents in Word.

Create a New Document

To create a new document, do any one of the following methods:
1. Click the New Document button on the menu bar.
2. Choose File→New command from the menu bar.
3. Press CTRL+N keys on the keyboard.

Open an Existing Document

To open an existing document, do any one of the following methods:
1. Click the Open File button on the menu bar.

94

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 6.indd 94 12-11-2019 14:37:15
 2. Choose File→Open command from the menu bar.
3. Press CTRL+O keys on the keyboard. Each of the above method will show the Open dialog
box. Choose the file and click the Open button.

Save a New/Existing Document

To save a new/existing document that is opened, follow any one of the following methods:
1. Click the Save button on the menu bar.
2. Select File→Save commands from the menu bar.
3. Press CTRL+S keys on the keyboard.

If the document is already named and saved earlier, it will simply save the document. On the
other hand, if the file is a new document then it will prompt you by opening ‘Save As’ dialog box. Select
the folder where you want to place your document. Type the name of the document in File Name and
then click OK. You can also save a document by choosing File→Save As commands on the menu bar.

Close the Document

Close the current document by selecting File→Close command on the menu bar or click the Close
icon if it is visible on the Standard toolbar.

Printing a Document
To print a document or selected pages follow the steps given below:
1. Open the document to be printed.
2. Choose File → Print command on the menu bar.

95

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 6.indd 95 12-11-2019 14:37:15
 The Print dialog box will open. Select the Options like print range, Number of copies, Printer
name etc. See that printer is switched on and the paper is available in the printer tray.
3. Click OK.

Print Preview
Print preview provides a way to see how your document will look when printed. You can see
several pages at once. It is similar to Print Layout View. An advantage of Print preview is that it has its
own toolbar. The toolbar allows you to easily view multiple pages and change the magnification of the
screen. You can also edit your document in print preview mode. To switch to print preview, use one
of these methods:
1. Click on the Print preview in the file menu.
Or Press CTRL+Shift+ O keys.

EXIT TEXT DOCUMENT

When finished you can close all the files, and quite the Word program by selecting File→Exit
command on the File menu bar.

Selecting Text
Even though the document is built up by typing one character at a time, while editing and
formatting one always work with words, lines, paragraphs and sometimes with the whole document.
For this purpose one should learn how to select the text. Once the text is selected, change can be made
to that text. The text can be moved, copied and made as bold. The font and colour of the text can also
be changed. For selecting text, the mouse or the keyboard can be used.

96

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 6.indd 96 12-11-2019 14:37:15
 Selecting Text with Mouse
Following steps are to be followed:
1. Insertion point is moved to the start of the text to be selected.
2. The left mouse button should be clicked, held down and dragged across the text to be selected.
3. When the intended text is selected, the mouse button should be released.

Selecting Text with Keyboard

Following are the steps to be followed:
1. Insertion point is moved to the start of the text to be selected.
2. The Shift key is pressed down and the movement keys are used to highlight the required text.
3. When the Shift key is released, the text is selected.

Cut and Copy

The main difference between Cut and Copy is that cut removes the selected data from its original
position while copy creates a duplicate of the original content. 

Moving the Text

The selected text can be easily cut and pasted in the required location. Following steps are to be
followed.
1. The text to be moved to a new location is selected.
2. Edit → Cut is selected or in the tool bar is selected to cut the selected text.
3. Insertion point is moved to the place where the text is to be pasted.
4. Edit → Paste is selected or in the tool bar is selected to paste the text in the new location. The
text can also be pasted in this way to another or another type of document.

97

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 6.indd 97 12-11-2019 14:37:15
 The following keyboard shortcuts can be used to move text.
Ctrl + X → to Cut
Ctrl + V → to Paste

Copying the Text

1. The text to be copied is selected.
2. Edit → Copy is selected or is clicked.
3. The insertion point is selected where the copy of the text should appear and is clicked.
The following keyboard shortcuts can also be used for copy and paste:
Ctrl + C → to Copy
Ctrl + V → to Paste

Formatting Options
Almost all the formatting options are available under Format menu. LibreOffice Writer also
conveniently provides buttons for the most commonly used options. But before these options can be
used, the text on which they are to be used has to be selected. Once the desired portion of the text is
selected then depending on the need any one of the following buttons are clicked:

Click B to make text Bold.

Click I to make text Italic.

Click U to make text Underlined.

The same can also be achieved by clicking on Format → Character

Alternatively Ctrl + B, Ctrl+I and Ctrl+U keys can be used to make the selected text bold, italic
and underlined respectively.

Changing the Fonts

A font is a set of characters and numbers in a certain style. Each font looks different from other
fonts.

Click the down arrow in the Fonts Combo box of font tab in Character dialog box.
Use Format →Character to open the Character dialog box.
From the list of available fonts, click the required one.
The text changes to the selected font.

98

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 6.indd 98 12-11-2019 14:37:15
 Font Size
The size of the text is also important. The same size of the text cannot be used for a legal document,
and an advertisement material.
Click the down arrow in the Size combo box of Fonts tab in Character dialog box.
The text changes to the selected font size.

Changing the Font Colour

A different colour for selected text can be used. Colour printers are becoming more and more
popular. With the help of a colour printer, some splash can be added to the documents by changing
the colour of text.
To use a different text color, select the text and click the arrow in the
Font Colour icon. A colour palette is displayed from which the required colour can be selected.
Alternatively, select the text and click on the Font color icon, to apply the current colour of the
Font Colour.

Paragraph Alignment
Paragraph alignment refers to the appearance of the left and right sides of the paragraph. By

99

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 6.indd 99 12-11-2019 14:37:15
 default, Word aligns paragraphs to the left. You can align paragraphs in Word so the right sides are
symmetrical. This is called right alignment. You can also align them so you center the lines with even
space on both sides. This is called center alignment. Finally,  you can justify the alignment, which
aligns both the left and right sides.
Four types of alignment can be selected, and the best way to make a change is to use the Formatting
toolbar.

Following steps are used:

To change the alignment of one paragraph, first click within that paragraph.
To change the alignment of several paragraphs, select the ones needing change.

Changing Page Orientation

Usually the length of a document will be more than the width. This orientation is called portrait.
But in some of the documents the width will be more than the length. This type of orientation is called
landscape. The default orientation is portrait.
To change the orientation or paper size, the following steps are used:
• The Format Page option is clicked.
Click the Page tab, if necessary.

• Select the necessary paper format from the Format drop-down list in the Page. Format section.
Or enter the values in the Width and Height spin boxes.
• For changing the orientation Portrait or Landscape radio buttons are used.
Changing Margins Using Rulers
If the user is not having the exact value for the margins then the Ruler option on the View menu
can be used to change the margins.

100

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 6.indd 100 12-11-2019 14:37:15
 Following steps are used in this method:
• If the ruler is not displayed in the screen, View → Ruler option is clicked.
• The gray area of the ruler indicates the margin’s top area.
• The mouse pointer is then moved in between the gray and white area of the ruler.
• When the pointer is in the right spot, it changes into a line with arrows on both sides
• The margin guide is dragged to a new location.

EVALUATION

I. Choose the correct answer.

1. The Keyboard shortcut is used to copy the selected text
a) Ctrl+c b) Ctrl+v
c) Ctrl+x d) Ctrl+A
2. The Keyboard shortcut is used to cut the selected text
a) Ctrl+ c b) Ctrl+v
c) Ctrl+x d) Ctrl+A
3. How many types of page orientation are there in Libre office Writer?
a)1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 4
4. If the ruler is not displayed in the screen, _______ option is clicked.
a) View-> ruler b) view-> task
c) file-> save d) edit->paste
5. The menu is used to save the document
a) File-> open b) file-> print
c) file-> save d) file->close

II. Answer the following Questions.

1. What is the use for Text document software?
2. What is selecting text?
3. How to close a document?
4. What is right alignment?
5. How to open an existing document?

101

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 6.indd 101 12-11-2019 14:37:15
 Authors List - VII Science - Term 3

Academic Advisor
Advisory Committee & Chairperson
Dr. P. Kumar,
Dr. T.V. Venkateswaran
Joint Director (Syllabus)
Scientist, DST, Vigyanaprasar,
SCERT, Chennai-6
New Delhi.
Dr. Mazher Sulthana Authors
Professor & Head (Rtd.), N. Ramesh Babu
P.G. Department of Zoology, BT Asst., PUMS, Attanthangal, Sholavaram, Thiruvallur Dt.
Presidency College, Chennai.
Dr. M.N. Thanuja
Reviewers BT Asst. GHSS, Devarsholai, The Nilgiris.
Dr. V. Sivamadavi
Associate Professor, Dr. N. Vidhyageetha
Bharathi Women's College, Chennai. Lecturer - DIET Aduthurai, Thanjavur.

Dr.G.Ramesh L.Sundaram,
Assistant Professor in chemistry BT Asst, Pums, Bagyanagar, Ooty,
Dr.Ambadkar Govt.Arts College The Nilgiris.
Vyasarpadi, Chennai.
M. Ananthan
Dr. G. Rajalakshmi BT Asst., GHS, Servaikaranpatti, Dindigul.
Assistant Professor, Mr. Ribhu Vohra
Department of Botany, Waste less, Auroville, Puduchery.
Bharathi Women's College, Chennai.
M. Tamilarasi
Experts & Coordinators PGT (Retd.), St. Joseph GHSS, Vadugarpet, Lalgudi, Trichy.
D. Prabakaran
N. Manikandan
Assistant Professor,
BT Asst., GHS, Rasingapuram, Theni.
SCERT, Chennai.
S. Rajesh N. Balusamy
B.T. Asst. GHSS, Vanganoor, HM (Retd.), Corporation Hr. Sec. School, Peelamedu,
Thiruvallur. Coimbatore.
S. Surenthiran
Content Readers
Computer Instructor, Govt Higher Secondary School,
D. Perumal Raj Mathavalayam, Kanniyakumari Dt.
BT Asst.,
PUMS, Manickamangalam, Valaingaiman
ICT Coordinators
Block, Thiruvarur.
N. Kalpana
M. Mohanapriya
Municipal Higher Secondary School,
PGT. Asst., GHSS, Govindakudi, Thiruvarur
Kumar Nagar, Tirupur District.
Dt

Art and Design Team QR Code Management Team

R. Jaganathan
Illustration S.G.T. (SPOC)
Gopu, Depak, Vinoth, Velmurugan, Promoth PUMS Ganesapuram - Polur, Thiruvannamalai Dist.
Layout Design S. Albert Valavan Babu
V.S. Johnsmith B.T. Asst., G H S, PerumalKovil,
Petchimuthu kailasam Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram.
Info Graph M. Murugesan
V. Srinivasan B.T. Asst., PUMS, Pethavelankottagam,
Valasaravakkam, Chennai.
Muttupettai, Thiruvarur
Wrapper Design
Kathir Arumugam
QC
Manohar Radhakrishnan
Co-ordination
Ramesh munisamy
Typing
M. Sathya
New Perunkalathoor.

102

www.tnpscjob.com
VII STD Science Term-3 EM unit 6.indd 102 12-11-2019 14:37:15