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Gohar

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SC Key boo
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Unit-1 What is Science 3

Unit-2 Human Organ Systems 9

Unit-3 Transport in Humans and

16
Plants

Unit-4
Reproduction in Plants 21

Unit-5 Environment and Feeding

Relationships
26

Unit-6
Water 32

Unit-7
Structure of an Atom 37
Unit-8 Physical and Chemical
Changes and Processes 43
Unit-9
Transmission of Heat 48

Unit-10
Dispersion of Light 53

Unit-11
Sound Waves 59

Unit-12
Circuits and Electric
65
Current
Unit-13
Investigating the Space 70
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Unit
1 What is Science?

Exercise

Complete each of the following sentences by writing

the correct term.
i. Science is the system of acquiring knowledge through
observation and experimentation.
ii. A mathematician uses the method of calculation to
solve problems.
iii. Astronomers discover new stars and other heavenly
bodies.
iv. The study of force and energy is called physics.
v. The eraser was invented by Joseph Priestley.
vi. Zakariya Al-Razi introduced urinalysis and stool
tests.
Fill in the circle of the best option.
i. A person who studies and applies scientific method
in daily life.
m scientist m writer
m photographer m philosopher
ii. Scientists which discover new stars and other heav-
enly bodies are called:
m doctors m chemists
m chemistry m mathematics 
iii. The study of life is called:
m physics m biology 
m chemistry m mathematics
iv. The branch of science which deals with the study of
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

force, energy and motion of objects is called:

m physics  m chemistry
m biology m mathematics
v. Who studies plants, animals,microorganisms and
their behaviour?
m a chemist m a biologist 
m a geologist m a physicist
vi. Who developed sine, cosine and tangent tables.
m Al-Razi m Al-Dinawari
m Musa Al-Khawarizmi m Joseph Priestley
vii. Kitab Al-Mansuri and A-Hawi are written by:
m Al-Dinawari m Al-Razi 
m Al-Khwarizmi m Al-Haitham
viii. Who is the founder of modern algebra?
m Newton m Al-Dinawari
m Al-Khwarizmi  m Al-RAzi
ix. Oxygen gas was discovered by:
m Charles Darwin m Joseph Proust
m Marie Curie m Joseph Priestley
x. Who discovered radioactivity?
m Marie Curie  m Michael Faraday
m Joseph Priestley m Charles Darwin

Brain teasers.
i. What is science? Describe its main branches.
Ans: Science
Science is the system of acquiring knowledge through
observation and experimentation.
Main Branches of Science
There are four main branches of science chemistry,
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

physics, biology and mathematics. Each at some

point will use some of the ideas of the other.
Chemistry
Chemistry is the study of matter, the substance every-
thing is made of. A chemist studies
how different substances interact
with each other and what their struc-
ture is.
Physics
Physics is the study of force, energy
and motion of objects. A physicist
not only discovers the principles of
universe but also invents scientific
instruments or devices.
Biology
Biology is the study of life. Plants, animals and mi-
croorganisms all have signs of life. Biologists study
plants, animals, microorganisms and their behaviour.
They are also interested in the chemical processes tak-
ing place in living things.
Mathematics
Mathematics is the science of numbers. Anything
with numbers interests mathematicians. They use the
method of calculation to solve problems. The same
method is also used by a chemist, physicist or a biolo-
gist to solve a problem. Buildings, bridges, aeroplanes
and rockets are designed by the use of mathematical
calculations.
ii. What do you know about the contributions of Jo-
seph Priestly?
Ans: Joseph Priestley (1733-1804)
Joseph Priestly made many discoveries. Some are these:
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

1. He discovered that graphite (carbon) can conduct

electricity.
2. He described the properties of
carbon dioxide. His experiments
on carbon dioxide led to the in-
vention of soda pop
3. He was the first person to observe
respiration and photosynthesis in
plants. Joseph Priestley
4. He discovered 'nitrous oxide' of laughing gas.
5. He discovered oxygen gas. He also called it as
good air.
6. He invented the eraser we use to erase lead pencil
marks.
iii. Write contributions of the following scientists.
(a) Musa Al-Kwarzimi (b) Madame Curie
Ans: Muhammad Bin Musa Al-Khwarizmi (780-850)
Al-Khwarizmi was one of the most outstanding math-
ematicians known to history. Here is a brief list of his
achievements:
1. He is the founder of modern al-
gebra.
2. He wrote many books on this
subject including Kitab al-Jabr,
It was the first book on elemen-
Muhammad Bin Musa
tary algebra. Al-Khwarzimi
3. He introduced Arabic numerals.
4. He developed sine, cosine and tangent tables.
These tables were later translated by the West.
5. He also described the basic types of equations such
as: nx = m
6. He introduced the decimal position system, and the
concept of zero.
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

7. He and some other mathematicians of his time

were the first to map the globe.
Madame Curie (1867-1934
"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be under-
stood." (Madame Curie)
Madame Marie Curie was the first woman who re-
ceived two Nobel prizes, one in physics and another
in chemistry. Her few contributions in science are as
follows:
1. Marie Curie and her husband
Pierre Curie discovered radioac-
tivity (natural emission of radia-
tion) in radium.
2. During her work, Marie also dis- Marie Curie

covered that radiation could kill human cells. This

discovery led her to isolat radium for use in killing
tumors.
3. Marie became the first woman who was the direc-
tor of the physics Research Laboratory at Sorbonne
(France).
4. She designed the first mobile X-ray machine for
injured soldiers at battlefield.
5. Through her work on radioactivity, she can also be
thought of as the mother of the atomic bomb.
iv. How is Al-Razi an eminent Muslim scientist?
Ans: Muhammad Bin Zakariya Al-Razi (865-925)
Al-Razi was one of the most prolific
Muslim doctors. Some of his contri-
butions are:
1. He wrote over 200 books includ-
ing Kitab Al-Mansuri and Al-Ha-
Muhammad Bin
wi. These two books were related Zakariya Al-Razi
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

to medicines.
2. He classified substances as plants, animals and
minerals.
3. He found a treatment for kidney and bladder stones.
4. He explained the nature of various infectious dis-
eases like smallpox and measles.
5. He introduced the use of alcohol for medical pur-
poses.
6. He also introduced urinalysis and stool tests.
v. Describe the scientific contributions of Al-Dinawari.
Ans: Abu Hanifah Ibn Dawood Al-Dinawari (826-896)
Al-Dinawari was a great botanist (expert of plants) of
his time. He made many contributions in the field of
science. Some are as follows:
1. He wrote a bookon plants Kitab al-Nabat, in which
he described at least 637 plants.
2. He also discussed plant evolution from birth to death.
3. He described the phases of plant growth and the
production of flowers and fruits.

Science Fun

8
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Unit
2 Human Organ Systems

Exercise

Complete each of the following sentences by writing

the correct term.
i. The process of breaking down of food digestion
ii. Muscular contractions that move food peristalsis
iii. The grape-like clusters of tiny thin-
walled balloons in lungs alveoli
iv. The dome-shaped muscle at the bottom
of our chest diaphragm
v. The process of getting air into and out
of the lungs breathing

Fill in the circle of the best option.

i. The place where digested food is absorbed:
m small intestine m large intestine
m stomach m mouth
ii. What part of our body contracts and moves down
when we inhale?
m bronchioles m alveoli
mdiaphragm m kidneys
iii. Air is moistened, filtered, and warmed in the:
m oesophagus mnose
m mouth m stomach
iv. A large muscle that separates the chest cavity from
the abdominal cavity and helps in breathing:
m larynx m trachea
diaphragm
m m alveolus
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

v. Which produces juice for the final digestion of pro-

teins, fats and carbohydrates?
m mouth m large intestine
m pancreas m gallbladder
vi. The reverse process of peristalsis:
m breathing m burning
m vomiting m blood circulation

Brain teasers.
i. How does carbon dioxide produce in our body?
Ans: During respiration, carbon dioxide is produced in our
body.
ii. How is small intestine important in our digestive
system?
Ans: Our small intestine produce juices for final digestion
of food. Digested food is also absorbed in the small
intestine.
iii. Why are we provided with teeth?
Ans: Our teeth help to chew the food and grind it. In this
way, teeth help in the digestion of food.
iv. What are alveoli?
Ans: Alveoli are grapes like structures present in our lungs.
Exchange of gases between the red blood cells and sur-
rounding air takes place in alveoli.
v. Briefly describe the mechanism of breathing.
Ans: The process of breathing is completed in two steps:
Inhaling: When the intercostal muscles pull our ribs
outward and the diaphragm contracts, the air enters the
lungs. It is called inhaling.
Exhaling: When the intercostal muscles and dia-
phragm muscles relax, the air moves out of the lungs.
It is called exhaling.
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

vi. What measures can one take to prevent diarrhoea?

Ans: We can prevent diarrhoea by following the tips given
below:
• Always wash your hands with soap after using the toilet.
• Wash all fruits and vegetables before cooking or eating.
• Don’t eat uncooked meat and eggs.
1. Explain the process of digestion of food in the mouth
and the stomach.
Ans: Human Digestive System
Breaking down food into simpler substances that our
body can use is called digestion. The parts of body that
take part in the process of digestion form the digestive
system. The process of digestion occurs in a long tube
called alimentary canal. It starts from the mouth and
ends at the anus.
Mouth
The process of digestion begins from our mouth. Our
teeth break the food into small pieces by cutting and
grinding. The tongue mixes food with saliva which is
secreted by salivary glands. Saliva starts the digestion
of carbohydrates (starch and sugar). After some time,
the food in the mouth becomes soft and moist. The
tongue pushes this food to the back of our mouth.
Our teeth are the main tools we use to break down food
in the mouth.
Stomach
Our stomach is a digestive organ with muscular walls. It
mixes the food with digestive juice. The digestive juice
begins the digestion of proteins (meat, egg, milk, pulses,
etc.). The food spends about four hours in the stomach.
The digestive juice in the stomach also contains an

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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

acid. The acid kills the germs present in our food. It

also helps in the digestion of proteins.
2. Describe the human respiratory system.
Ans: Human Respiratory System
All living things get energy by breaking down food
substances. We also need oxygen to break down the
food in every cell of our body. Our lungs take oxygen
from the air during respiration (breathing).
Breathing is the process that moves air in and out of
the lungs. Respiration is the process by which living
organisms use oxygen of air and food to produce ener-
gy. The parts of body used in the process of breathing
form the respiratory system.
Parts of Our Respiratory System
Our respiratory system consists of the nose and throat, the
wind pipe (trachea), the breathing muscles and the lungs.

Nose and Throat

The air enters our body through our nose or mouth.
Our nose has hair and mucous to clean, moisten and
warm the air.
The air enters the throat and passes through the larynx.
Our vocal cords are present in the larynx to produce
sound.
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Trachea (Windpipe)
Air passes from the larynx into the trachea or wind-
pipe. Our windpipe is made of C-shaped rings of carti-
lage. These rings keep our windpipe open. Mucous and
tiny hair in the trachea also filter the air.
Bronchi and Lungs
The trachea divides into two branches called bronchi
(singular bronchus). Bronchi carry air into the lungs.
Our lungs are the most important organs of the respi-
ratory system. In each lung the bronchus divides into
smaller tubes called bronchioles. At the end of each
bronchiole, tiny air sacs called alveoli are present. Al-
veoli are surrounded by blood capillaries. Oxygen of
the air passes through the walls of alveoli into the cap-
illaries. The red blood cells carry this oxygen to ev-
ery cell of our body. Cells in our body use oxygen and
food to produce energy and carbon dioxide. The blood
brings carbon dioxide back to the lungs. Carbon diox-
ide leaves our body when we breathe out.
3. Write notes on the following:
i. Constipation ii. Pneumonia
Ans: Constipation
Constipation is the painful or difficult passing of fae-
ces. During the period of constipation some persons
may pass faeces three or less than three times a week.
It is a common digestive disorder in Pakistan.
Causes of Constipation
Constipation is caused by taking food low in fibre, lack
of physical activity, not drinking enough water, delay
in going to the washroom, etc. We can avoid constipa-
tion by:
• adopting a proper lifestyle.
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

• taking regular exercise.

• eating lots of fibre food (fruit, vegetables and cereals).
• drinking plenty of water (at least 8 glasses everyday).
• going to the washroom when we have the urge.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection that affects the lungs. The
lungs are made of small sacs called alveoli, which are
filled with air. When a person has pneumonia, the alve-
oli are filled with pus, which makes breathing painful.
Pneumonia is the main cause of death in children
worldwide.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of pneumonia are cough, fe-
ver, nasal congestion, rapid breathing with wheezing
sound, chest pain, loss of appetite, etc.
Treatment
Visit your doctor as soon as possible to treat pneumo-
nia. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic medicine.
Vaccines can also be used to prevent pneumonia. Wash
your hands frequently to avoid germs. Use a tissue or
handkerchief when you cough or sneeze.

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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Science Fun

1. Pull the opening of a small balloon over one end of a

drinking straw. Use tape to attach the
balloon to the straw.
2. Cut the neck of a large balloon. Ask
your friend to hold a plastic bot-
tle whose bottom has been cut off.
Stretch the balloon over the cut end
of the bottle (use tape).
3. Push the end of the straw with the
small balloon into the mouth of the
bottle. Then use modeling clay to seal
the mouth of the bottle and to hold the
straw in place.
4. Pull down the large balloon and ob-
serve what happens to the small balloon.
5. Now push the large balloon and observe its effect on the
small balloon.
Can you explain the movement of your lungs with the
help of this activity?
Ans: Our lungs have no muscles. Two types of muscles
work during the breathing process ; the intercostal mus-
cles of ribs, and the dome-shaped diaphragm. The pro-
cess of breathing is completed in two steps:
Inhaling: When the intercostal muscles pull our ribs
outward and the diaphragm contracts, the air enters the
lungs. It is called inhaling.
Exhaling: When the intercostal muscles and diaphragm
muscles relax, the air moves out of the lungs. It is called
exhaling.

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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Unit
Transport in Humans and
3 Plants

Exercise

Complete each of the following sentences by writing

the correct term.
I. Blood vessels which carry
blood towards heart veins
ii. Blood vessels which supply
blood only to the heart coronary vessels
iii. Transports food in a plant body phloem

iv. Pores to exchange gases in

plants stomata
v. Transports water and minerals
from roots to leaves xylem

Fill in the circle of the best option.

I. Blood is carried away from the heart in:
m arteries  m veins
m nerves m ureters
ii. Where does the exchange of food, oxygen and
wastes occur in the human body?
m in arteries m in veins
m in capillaries  m in lymph vessels
iii. Why does the blood turn dark red as it circulates
through the body?
m It starts to clot.
m It gets old and dirty while flowing through the
body.
m The oxygen in it is replaced with carbon dioxide.
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

m The farther blood is from the heart, the more dark

red it is.
iv. The movement of prepared food from leaves to those
parts of plant body where it is needed is called:
m transpiration m translocation 
m osmosis m active transport
v. Which chamber of the heart receives the oxygenat-
ed blood from the lungs?
m right atrium m left atrium 
m right ventricle m left ventricle
vi. The loss of water by evaporation from plants is
called:
m translocation m transpiration 
m pressure flow m diffusion
Brain teasers.
i. What do you mean by oxygenated blood?
Ans: The blood which dissolves oxygen from the lungs is
called the oxygenated blood.
ii. What is the estimated size of our heart?
Ans: Our heart is about the size of our clenched fist.
iii. Which arteries carry deoxygenated blood from
heart to the lungs?
Ans: Pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood from
heart to lungs.
iv. Name at least two diseases that can damage our
kidneys.
Ans: High blood pressure and diabetes can damage our kid-
neys.
v. Which tissue does transport water in plants?
Ans: Xylem tissues transport water from roots to leaves in
plants.
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

vi. Name three parts of the circulatory system.

Ans: Heart, blood and blood vessels are the three main parts
of the circulatory system.
vii. Explain why it is important to circulate blood
through the body.
Ans: When the blood circulates throughout the body, it de-
livers oxygen and collects waste materials.
viii. How many chambers does the human heart have?
Give names.
Ans: Our heart has four chambers:
i. two atria ---- right atrium and left atrium.
ii. two ventricles ---- right ventricle, left ventricle.
1. Describe the structure of human heart.
Ans: Human Heart
Our heart is a muscular organ about the size of our
fist. The heart is found in our
chest. It pumps oxygen-poor
blood (deoxygenated blood)
to the lungs and oxygen-rich
blood (oxygenated blood)
to the body. There are four
chambers in our heart; two
upper chambers called atria
(singular atrium) and two
lower chambers called ventricles.
The ventricles of our heart are larger than the atria. Both
atria contract at the same time, and so the ventricles.
2. Compare the structures and functions of blood ves-
sels.
Ans: Blood Vessels
The blood travels throughout the body through blood
vessels. The three types of blood vessels are arteries,
18
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

capillaries and veins.

Arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood away
from the heart. Arteries have thick and flexible walls.
Most of the arteries carry oxygenated blood, but pul-
monary arteries carry deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
Arteries divide many times to smaller tubes, called
capillaries.
Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in the body.
They are so small that red blood cells flow through
them one cell at a time. Food and oxygen from the
blood of capillaries diffuse into the cells. Waste mate-
rials and carbon dioxide from the cells diffuse into the
blood of capillaries. Capillaries again join to form the
larger blood vessels called veins.
Veins are the blood vessels that bring blood back to
the heart. Most of the veins bring deoxygenated blood
back to the heart, but pulmonary veins bring oxygenat-
ed blood from the lungs to the heart.

3. Describe that structure of a plant’s root permits the
movement of materials.
Ans: Structure of Roots
From the moment a seed grows, its root starts to search
water and minerals in the soil.
• Roots have branches that play an important role in
absorption of water.
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

• The root hair on the roots absorb water and minerals

from the soil.
• Roots have xylem tissues to move water and minerals
from the soil up through the stems, to the leaves.
• Phloem tissues in roots help to transport food.
Science Fun

Label the diagram.

left atrium

right atrium
valves

left ventricle
right ventricle

20
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Unit
4 Reproduction in Plants

Exercise

Complete each of the following sentences by writing

the correct term.
i. It protects a seed flower
ii. Male and female sex cells gametes
iii. The exchange of pollen grains between cross-
two plants of similar type pollination
iv. Most grasses are pollinated by wind
v. It is present in the ovary of the flower
and develops into seed ovule

Fill in the circle of the best option.

i. The part of a plant that forms seeds is the:
m stem m root
m leaf mflower
ii. When a bee visits a flower:
m Seeds stick to its body.
m Cones stick to its body.
m Pollen grains stick to its body.
m Fruit sticks to its body.
iii. Which structure is helpful to the pollen grains to
carry sperms to the ovary?
m cotyledon m carpel
m pollen tube m seed
iv. The sticky part of a flower is called:
m sepal m stamen
m ovary mstigma
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

v. Asexual reproduction involves:

m two gametes ma single parent plant
m only male sex cell m fertilization
Brain teasers.
i. Differentiate between asexual and sexual reproduc-
tion.
Ans: The type of reproduction in which a cell from only one
parent develops into offspring is called asexual repro-
duction.
The type of reproduction in which two gametes (one
from each parent) combine to form a zygote is called
sexual reproduction.
ii. What are the male and female parts of a flower?
Ans: Stamen is the male part of a flower. Carpel is the female
part of a flower.
iii. Define pollination.
Ans: The process by which pollen grains transfer from the
stamen to the stigma of a carpel in the flower is called
pollination.
iv. Name a few pollinators.
Ans: Insect, animals, air and water, etc. are a few pollinators.
v. Define a sperm and an egg.
Ans: A sperm is male sex cell.
An egg is the female sex cell.
vi. Which part of a seed develops into the first root?
Ans: The radical of a seed develops into the first root.
1. Write a detailed note on pollination in plants.
Ans: Pollination
A flower's colourful petals attract insects that pollinate the
flower. The transfer of pollen grains from the anther of a
flower to the stigma of the carpel is called pollination.

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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Kinds of Pollination
There are two kinds of pollination, i.e. self-pollination
and cross-pollination.
• The transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the
stigma of the same flower or another flower on the
same plant is called self-pollination. Pea, tomato, rice
plants, etc. are self-pollinated.
• The transfer of pollen grains from the anther of a flow-
er to the stigma of a flower on another plant of the
same kind is called cross-pollination. Poplar, willow,
apple, papaya trees, etc. are cross-pollinated plants. For
cross-pollination, the plants must grow flowers at the
same time. Cross-pollination usually happens in plants
near each other. Cross- pollination produces stronger
plants as compared to the self-pollination.
2. Explain fertilization in plants.
Ans: Fertilization in Plants
The surface of the stigma in a flower is sticky and
pollen grains stick to it. Here, a pollen tube grows out
from each pollen grain. Two sperms are present in this
pollen tube. The tube grows downward through the
style and enters the ovary. Pollen tube finally enters an
ovule and releases its sperms in it. One of the sperms
combines with the egg to form zygote.
The process of fusion of sperm with the egg is called
fertilization.

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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Changes after Fertilization

After fertilization, several changes take place in the
flower. The sepals, petals and stamens dry up and fall
off. The fertilized egg inside the ovary develops into em-
bryo. Ovules become seeds. The ovary grows large and
develops into a fruit. The fruit protects the seed or seeds.
3. Describe the structure of a seed.
Ans: Seed: After fertilization an ovule becomes a seed. The
embryo and its store of food are covered by a tough
seed coat.
The most important part of a seed is its embryo. Em-
bryo grows into a new plant. The embryo consists of
the following parts.
Radicle: This part of the embryo develops into the first
root of the new plant.
Plumule: This part of the embryo develops into the
first shoot (stem) of the new plant.
Cotyledons: This part of the embryo supplies food to
the growing young plant.

4. Write a note on fruit.

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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Ans: Fruit: The ripened ovary is called a fruit. The ovary

wall forms the fruit wall, called the pericarp. Inside
the ovary, ovules develop into
seeds. The matured fruit may
contain single or many seeds.
The pericarp has three layers in
most fruits like peaches and man-
goes.
• The outer layer is skin
• the middle layer is fleshy
• The inner layer is tough or hard. Some fruits have hard
and dry pericarp, e.g. nuts.
Science Fun

Label the parts of the flower and write the purpose of each part.

Stamen
2
Carpel
3

petal
1

1. Colourful petals attract insects to help in polination.

2. Stamens produce pollen grains which contain male
sex cells or sperms.
3. The Carpel contains ovules which have female sex
cells or eggs. Later, Ovules change into seeds.

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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Unit
5 Reproduction in Plants

Exercise

Complete each of the following sentences by writing

the correct term.
i. The basic source of energy for every
ecosystem The sun
ii. Any living thing in the environment biotic factor
iii. All the populations living in an area
make a community
iv. Several food chains overlap in a food web
v. Breakdown the bodies of dead animals
and plants decomposers

Fill in the circle of the best option.

i. The sunlight energy enters in an ecosystem through:
 plants  decomposers
 manimals  water
ii. Organisms that make their own food are called:
 producers  heterotrophs
 consumers  decomposers
iii. Bacteria and fungi are:
 decomposers  producers
 grazers  predators
iv. Which one is a producer in an ecosystem?
 lion  hawk
 plant  rat
v. Which organisms have maximum amount of ener-
gy in a food chain?
26
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

 primary consumers
 secondary consumers
 tertiary consumers producers
vi. A group of tigers living and reproducing in a forest
is an example of:
 a community a population
 an ecosystem  a habitat

Brain teasers.
i. What kinds of organisms are at the start of most
food chains?
Ans: Producers (green plants, algae, etc) are at the start of
most food chains.
ii. Name biotic factors of an ecosystem.
Ans: Plants, animals and decomposers (bacteria, fungi and oth-
er microorganisms) are the biotic factors of an ecosystem.
iii. How are producers, consumers and decomposers
related to each other?
Ans: Producers (plants, algae) produce their own food.
• This food is also used by consumers (animals, fungi).
• When producers and consumers die, decomposers
(bacteria and fungi) breakdown their bodies.
iv. Define an ecosystem.
Ans: An ecosystem is a system formed by the interaction of liv-
ing organisms and non-living things in an environment.
v. What do you mean by community in an ecosystem?
Ans: All the populations of organisms living in a particular
habitat make a community.
vi. Name the ways by which we can save our natural
resources.
Ans: How to Protect Habitats

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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Everyone can help protect habitats by saving the re-

sources. Reducing, reusing, and recycling are three
ways to save resources and protect ecosystem.
• Reduce means to cut down on the use of resources.
• Reuse means not to throw away things that can be
used again.
• Recycle means to make new things from the used
material.
1. What is a habitat? Describe its few kinds.
Ans: Habitat
The place where an animal or plant lives and repro-
duces is called its habitat. A habitat provides the things
an organism needs, i.e. food, water, shelter, etc. Many
populations of organisms live in each habitat.
Kinds of Habitats
Organisms live in different habitats. An organism has
special features to live in its habitat.
1. The Pond Habitat
A pond is an aquatic habitat which is rich in life. Plants
like algae, duckweed, water lily, etc. are found in wa-
ter. The animals like fishes, pond skaters, wolf spiders,
snails, frogs and microscopic organisms are also found
in the pond habitat.
2. The Desert Habitat
Deserts are the driest land areas. They receive very lit-
tle rainfall. Rainwater quickly drains away due to the
sandy soil. Some plants and animals have adapted to
the limited supply of water. Cacti, euphorbia, lizards,
snakes, kangaroo rats, camels, etc. are found in a desert
habitat .
3. The Grassland Habitat
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Grassland is a grassy, windy, partly-dry area. These

areas receive a medium amount of rain. The soil
found here is very fertile. Grasses are the producers
in a grassland habitat. Mostly grazing animals like the
sheep, goats, cows, antelopes, buffaloes, and deer are
a few examples that are found in a grassland. A few
flesh-eaters like cheetahs, foxes, wolves and a few
birds like owls, eagles, hawks, etc. are also found in
this habitat. Many kinds of insects are also found in
grasslands.
2. Describe factors that can bring daily and yearly
changes in the habitat.
Ans: The Factors Causing Changes in a Habitat
Light, temperature, air, soil and water are abiotic fac-
tors of the environment. Changes in these factors bring
changes in the populations of a habitat.
Sunlight is the basic source of energy on the Earth.
Plants use light energy to make their own food. All
forms of life on the Earth depend directly or indirect-
ly on green plants for food. Light intensity affects the
number of plants in a habitat.
Temperature can also bring change in the population
of a habitat. Any extraordinary rise or fall in tempera-
ture may disturb the habitat.
Water is essential for life. Where there is more water,
more organisms are found there. Availability of water
in a habitat can greatly influence its organisms.
Natural disasters such as droughts, floods, earthquakes,
etc. can bring changes in habitats.
A drought is a period when there is no rain for a long
time in an area. Most pond plants and animals die or
move to other ponds in case of a drought.
Sometimes lightning strikes a tree in a forest, causing
forest fires. Plants and trees are burned and destroyed.

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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Some animals die, others may move to safer places.

Earthquakes are sudden shocks of the Earth’s surface.
Earthquakes can change a habitat very quickly.
3. Describe adaptations of some aquatic animals to
live in their habitat.
Ans: Adaptations
An adaptation is a change in the organism’s body or be-
haviour that helps it to survive in its habitat. Organisms
that are not well adapted to their habitats may not survive.
Aquatic Habitats
Animals and plants living in aquatic habitats have such
body parts that help them
to live in water.
1. Streamlined body shape
is an important adaptation
for animals to move easily
through water.
2. Webbed feet of ducks, seagulls and frogs work like
ores to help move in water.
3. Floating plants like water hyacinth, duckweed and wa-
ter lily have floating leaves and submerged roots. Their
bodies contain air spaces. Their leaves have waxy cov-
ering to prevent water from collecting on them.
4. Explain a food chain and a food web with examples.
Ans: Food Chains and Food Webs
Organisms eat organisms and are in turn being eaten
by others. This feeding relationship among organisms
is called a food chain. Most food chains start with pro-
ducers like:
grass zebra lion
leaves caterpillar bird hawk
Green plants are producers so, they are the first in most
food chains. Animals that feed on plants are the second
30
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

in a food chain.
Food Web
An organism can be a part of many food chains. Sev-
eral food chains in an ecosystem overlap to form a net-
work called food web.
Example 1: A lion does not feed entirely on deer but
it also hunts cows and goats. Similarly owl and hawk
may also take different organisms as their food. So,
most animals feed on one or more than one kind of
animals. Therefore many food chains form a kind of
network or a food web.

Science Fun

Look at the following food web and answer the questions

given below.

i. Name the producer in the food web.

Ans: seaweed
ii. From where the producer gets energy?
Ans: The Sun
iii. Name three consumers in the food web.
Ans: mino, fish, oyster
iv. Write down two food chains in this food web.
Ans: 1. Seaweed minnow fish
2. Seaweed oyester fish seagull

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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Unit
6 Reproduction in Plants

Exercise

Complete each of the following sentences by writing

the correct term.
i. Large sheets of ice are called
glaciers
ii. The process of removal of impurities of water
purification of water
iii. Rivers, lakes and ponds are the sources of
fresh water
iv. Harmful and unwanted substances in water
water pollution
v. Toxic gases in the air react with rain water to make
acid rain
Fill in the circle of the best option.
i. Drinking water sources can be contaminated by:
m natural materials
m run-off from fields and roads
m forests m mountains
ii. What percentage of the Earth’s water supply is
fresh water?
m 3% m 5%
m 10% m 15%
iii. We can get the purest form of water:
m by boiling water
m by distillation process
m from tube-wells m from rivers

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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

iv. Heavy mechanical complexes use a large amount of

water for:
m cooling m freezing
m washing m wasting
v. Which one is not the source of water pollution?
m human wastes m industrial wastes
m fertilizers mrain water

Brain teasers.
i. Why is fresh water important?
Ans: • We drink fresh water.
• Plants need fresh water.
• Many animals and plants can only live in fresh water.
ii. Where is most of the fresh water found?
Ans: Most of the fresh water is found in glaciers. Glaciers
are the large sheets of ice.
iii. Why is the most of the Earth’s water salty?
Ans: About 97% of Earth's water is found in oceans. Water
in the oceans has dissolved salts. That is why, most of
the Ear's water is salty.
iv. If water runs downhill to the seas, what are some
ways that fresh water becomes polluted?
Ans: During its downhill movement several harmful sub-
stances can mix with the fresh water. These harmful
substances make the fresh water polluted.
1. Explain how water is the most essential part of life.
Ans: Water for Life
All living things need water to survive.
• Plants, fish, insects, birds and other animals all need
water to grow.
• Green plants must have water to make food during
33
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

photosynthesis. Some plants and animals live only in

water.
• Aquatic animals use oxygen dissolved in water. Aquat-
ic plants use carbon dioxide dissolved in water.
• Our body also needs water. Water makes up about two-
thirds of our body. Water helps us in several ways.
• Water helps to digest our food. It helps to remove waste
products from our body.
• Water keeps our body cool in hot weather by sweating
which is mainly water.
• We might be able to live for a month without food. But
we cannot survive without water for more than a week
2. What makes our water impure?
Ans: Sources of Water Pollution
Here are some major sources of water pollution.
Human Wastes: People release sewage into drains
which carry it to rivers. Sewage from houses contains
fat, toilet wastes, food particles, detergents, harmful
bacteria, etc. These human wastes not only cause dis-
eases in human beings and also destroy aquatic life.
Industrial Wastes: Industries release a large number
of toxic chemicals into rivers and canals. Smoke and
toxic gases released from industries also cause the rain
water to become acid rain. These chemicals can kill
fish and other aquatic animals and plants.
Fertilizers: Farmers use fertilizers and pesticides in
their crops. The rainwater carries these chemicals to
water resources and cause water pollution. This pollut-
ed water is not fit for aquatic plants and animals.
3. How can we preserve water?
Ans: Conservation of Water

34
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

There is only a limited amount of fresh water on Earth,

so we must save it.
• Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth or take wa-
ter in a tumbler.
• Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl. Don’t wash dish-
es under running water.
• Only use washing machine with a full load.
• If you have a lawn, water it early in the morning or late
in the afternoon.
• Check regularly the leaks in water pipes and get them
repaired immediately.
• Paper mills, oil refineries, chemical industries heavy
mechanical complexes and nuclear power plants
should conserve water by:
1. reducing water use. 2. recycling of water.
3. reusing water.
4. Describe a few methods to clean water.
Ans: How To Clean Water
The process of removing impurities from water is
called purification of water. We can use following
methods to purify water.
1.By Filtration
In laboratory, we can purify water by this method on
small scale. Impure water is passed through a filter pa-
per. Suspended particles and insoluble salts are left on
the filter paper whereas clear water is obtained in the
beaker.
2. By Boiling
Boiling is the safest way to purify water. In villages,
people can easily use this method to purify their drink-
ing water. Bacteria, germs and other microorganisms
35
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

present in water are killed by boiling water for 15 to 30

minutes. The water is cooled before drinking.
3. By Chlorination
If boiling is not possible we can add liquid house hold
bleach to the water. Bleach contains chlorine. For this
purpose, place the water in a clean container. Add
proper amount of bleach or chlorine to make it pure.
4. Use of Potash Alum
We can add potash alum to the water to purify it. Sand,
clay and other suspended impurities of water will settle
down. Water will be pure after decantation.

Science Fun

1. Take some amount of salt water in the glass bowl. Put

a small cup in middle of the bowl.
2. Cover the bowl with plastic sheet. Use tape to hold the
plastic sheet. Put a marble on
the plastic sheet.
3. Place the apparatus in sunlight
for several hours.
4. Remove the plastic sheet and
cup from the bowl. Let the wa-
ter evaporate from the bowl.
Observe the bottom of the small cup and the bowl.
i. What did you find in the bottom of the cup and the
bowl?
ii. From where did the water come in the cup?
Ans: i. We observed the salt in the bottom of the bowl.
ii. We observed clear water in the cup.

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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Unit
7 Structure of an Atom

Exercise

Complete each of the following sentences by writing

the correct term.
i. Two or more atoms of the same element with a differ-
ent number of neutrons
isotopes
ii. The atomic particle with no charge
neutron
iii. It is the number of protons in an atom
atomic number
iv. An atom with positive or negative charge
ion
v. A molecule having one atom in it
mono atomic molecule
Fill in the circle of the best option.
i. An atom has no overall charge if it contains equal
number of:
m electrons and neutrons
m electrons and protons
m protons and neutrons
m positrons and neutrons
ii. Isotopes are found because atoms of the same ele-
ment can have different number of:
m protons m electrons
m neutrons m none of the above
iii. In the chemical formula CO2, the subscript 2 shows
which of the following?
37
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

m There are two oxygen ions.

m There are two oxygen atoms.
m There are two carbon atoms.
m There are two CO2 molecules.
iv. The atomic number of flourine (F) is 9. Its mass
number is 19. How many neutrons are
present in its atom?
m 7 m 8
m 9 m10
v. The number of electrons in N-shell can be:
m 2 m 8
m 18 m32

Brain teasers.
i. What does give the positive charge to the nucleus of
an atom?
Ans: The presence of positively charged protons in th nucle-
us of an atom, gives it positive charge.
ii. Define a cation and an anion.
Ans: • When an atom releases its one or more electrons from
the outermost shell, the number of protons increases.
The atom becomes a positive ion or cation.
• When an atom absorbs one or more electrons in its
outermost shell, the number of protones decreases.
The atom becomes a negative ion or onion
iii. What is chemical formula?
Ans: Describing a molecule in the form of symbols and va-
lencies is called the chemical formula.
iv. List the names, charges and locations of three kinds
of particles that make up an atom.
Ans:

38
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Name of Charge Location

particle
proton positive (+ve) Nucleus

Neutron nutral (No) Nucleus

Electrons negative arount the nucleus

v. How are the isotopes of an element alike and how
are they different?
Ans: • Isotopes of an element are same,because they have
equal number of protons, and electrons (atomic number).
• Isotopes of an element are different because they
have different number of neutrons (mass number)
vi. A chlorine atom has 17 protons and 18 neutrons. What
is its mass number? What is its atomic number?
Ans: Atomic number = 17
Mass number = 17p + 18n = 35
vii. Why the electrical charge on an atom is zero, or
neutral?
Ans: The number of positively charged protons is equal to the
number of negatively charged electrons. Neutrons have
no charge. That is why, an atom is a neutral particle.
1. Describe the structure of an atom.
Ans: Structure of an Atom
Atoms are made of even smaller particles called elec-
trons, protons and neutrons. The central part of the
atom is called the nucleus. Protons and neutrons are
present in the nucleus.
Electrons revolve around the nucleus. An electron has
negative charge. Its mass is extremely small.
A proton has positive charge. The number of protons
in an atom is equal to the number of electrons revolv-
ing around the nucleus. It has a mass 1837 times great-
39
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

er than that of electron.

A neutron has no charge. This neutral particle is also
found in the nucleus of an atom. The mass of a neutron
is almost equal to the mass of a proton.
2. What is an ion? How ions are formed?
Ans: Ion
An atom with positive or negative charge is called an
ion. For example, sodium ion (Na+), chloride ion (Cl-),
oxide ion (O2-), copper ion (Cu2+), etc.
How are ions formed?
When an atom releases its one or more electrons from
the outermost shell, the number of protons increases.
It becomes a positive ion or cation. When an atom ab-
sorbs one or more electrons in its outermost shell, the
number of electrons increases. It becomes a negative
ion or anion. Positive ions and negative ions attract
each other to form compounds. See the table. Example
How is sodium chloride (NaCl) formed?
1 One electron transfers from 2 After losing one electron,
sodium atom to chlorine atom. sodium atom becomes sodium
Sodium atom has 1 electron in ion (Na+). The chlorine atom
its outermost shell. Chlorine gains one electron to become
atom has 7 electrons in its chloride ion (Cl-).
outermost shell.
Na
+Na Cl
Cl
Sodium ion Chloride ion
3 Negative and positive ions attract each other to form
sodium chloride (NaCl).

40
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

3. Define the term isotope. Write about the applications

of isotopes in the fields of medicine and agriculture.
Ans: Isotopes and their Uses
The atoms of the same element having same atomic
number but different mass numbers are called isotopes.
Isotopes are of great importance in the fields of medi-
cine and agriculture.
1. + of plants.
Carbon–14 is used to calculate the age
2. Nitrogen–15 is used to study the effects of nitrogenous
fertilizers in plants.
3. Sodium–24 is used to study circulation of blood.
4. Phosphorus–32 is used in treatment of blood cancer
and bone diseases.
5. Chromium–51 is used to study red blood cells in pa-
tients with blood deficiency.
6. Iron-59 is used to study absorption of iron in human
body.
7. Cobalt–60 is used in cancer treatment.
8. Iodine–131 is used to treat a disease called goiter.
4. State The Law of Constant Composition and give
examples.
Ans: Law of Constant Composition
In the late1700, a French scientist Joseph Proust stud-
ied the chemical compounds and presented The Law of
Constant Composition. The law states that the compo-
sition of a compound is always the same regardless
of how the compound was made or obtained.
Water can be obtained from many sources (river, well,
sea, etc.), but its composition is always the same. There
are 2 atoms of hydrogen and 1 atom of oxygen present
in a molecule of water (H2O).
41
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

water (H2O)

Science Fun

Make formulae of the following:

Silver chloride AgCl
Sodium oxide Na2O
Aluminium chloride AlCl3
Hydrogen sulphide H2S
Magnesium fluoride MgF2
Sodium phosphide Na3P

42
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Unit
8 Physical and Chemical Changes
and Processes
Exercise

Complete each of the following sentences by writing

the correct term.
i. A change in size, shape or state of matter
physical change
ii. Results in new substances with different properties
Chemical change
iii. Farmers use to increase crop production
fertilizers
iv. A compound containing only carbon and hydrogen at-
oms
hydrocarbon
v. A polymer that can be easily moulded
plastic
Fill in the circle of the best option.
i. Burning a match stick is an example of a:
m physical change mchemical change
m change in pressure m change of colour
ii. Which one is a physical change?
m frying an egg
m breaking a wooden stick
m burning of candle m toasting bread
iii. An example of a chemical change is:
m boiling of water m evaporation of water
m burning of paper m melting of ice
iv. The red colour of a rose turns brown. It is a:

43
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

m physical change mchemical change

m reversible change m sudden change
v. The vegetable oil is changed into banaspati ghee
(solid fat) by the addition of:
m nitrogen m carbon
m oxygen mhydrogen
vi. A chemical change results in a:
m loss of matter m solution
m phase change
m different kind of matter

Brain teasers.
i. What is meant by a physical change?
Ans: A change in the state, size, shape or colour of a sub-
stance, is called a physical change.
ii. Define a chemical change.
Ans: A change in which new substances are formed is called
a chemical change.
iii. Give an example to show that people change the en-
vironment.
Ans: To construct new roads and housing societies, people
clear the land and cut forests. In this way, they change
the environment.
iv. What is hydrogenation?
Ans: The addition of hydrogen ion to oils in the presence
of nickel, is called hydrogenation. the oil changes into
solid fat.
v. What is a plastic?
Ans: A plastic is any material that can be moulded into any
form. It is a very large molecule or polymer.
1. Explain with examples that a chemical change

44
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

brings change in the properties of a substance.

Ans: Chemical Changes
A chemical change is one in which a new substance
is formed.
• Chemical changes are permanent and are not easy to
reverse.
• Burning of paper, rusting of iron, turning of milk into
yogurt, cooking of food, etc. are some examples of
chemical changes.
• Coal is carbon. When we burn coal, it changes into
smoke, energy and ash. So, burning of coal is a chem-
ical change because new substances are formed during
this process.
2. Write brief notes on:
i. Plastics ii. Change of vegetable oil into fat
Ans: Plastics
Plastics are also the result of chemical changes. A
plastic is any material that can be moulded into any
form.
• Plastics are very large molecules made from many
smaller molecules called monomers. That is why plas-
tics are also called polymers (long molecules made
from smaller molecules). Monomers are obtained from
crude oil. Polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), etc.
are some examples of plastics.
• By heating, plastics can be moulded into a number of
shapes, we can find it in toys, cups, bottles, utensils,
etc. Plastics do not decay and therefore are a cause of
pollution. Recycling is the best way to deal with pollu-
tion caused by plastics.
Change of Vegetable Oil into Fat
A chemical process called hydrogenation changes veg-
45
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

etable oil into solid fat (Banaspati ghee).

• When hydrogen is passed through vegetable oil in the
presence of nickel, it converts into solid fat. This pro-
cess is called hydrogenation.
• Vegetable oil is liquid while fat (ghee) is solid at room
temperature. A large amount of heat is used to bring
about this chemical change.
Vegetable oil + Hydrogen Banaspati ghee (fat)
3. How are fertilizers useful and harmful for us?
Ans: Fertilizers
Farmers use certain substances to increase the fertility
of the soil. A substance which adds minerals to the soil
is called a fertilizer. It may be a natural fertilizer or
a chemical fertilizer. Chemical fertilizers are prepared
in factories. Many chemical changes take place during
their preparation. Most fertilizers supply nitrogen (N),
phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) elements to the
soil (known as NPK).
Harmful Effects of Improper Use of Fertilizers
In case of excess spreading, some fertilizers are not
absorbed by the plants. These fertilizers may reach
into canals and rivers causing water pollution and en-
courage the growth of algae. During the manufacture
of chemical fertilizers a lot of fossil fuel such as coal
and natural gas is used, due to which our fossil fuel
reserves are reducing quickly.
4. Explain reversible and irreversible changes with
examples.
Ans: Reversible and Irreversible Changes
A change that can go forwards or backwards is called a
reversible change. It is a temporary change. We can get
the same thing again.
46
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Examples: Melting of ice into liquid water, switching

on a tube light, increase of heartbeat during running,
mixing of salt in water, wetting a dry cloth, etc. are
reversible changes.
• A change that cannot go back is called an irreversible
change. It is a permanent change. We cannot again get
the thing in its original form.
Examples: Turning of milk into yogurt, mixing of Plas-
ter of Paris with water, burning of paper and wood, rotting
egg or fruit, etc. are examples of irreversible changes.

Science Fun

1. Take some amount of glue in the cup. Add a few drops

of blue ink to the glue and mix.
2. Add water to the glue and spoon
stir the mixture thoroughly
with the spoon.
3. Add borax to the mixture
as you stir it. Observe the
glue + water+
changes in the appearance of borax + ink
the mixture. Continue add-
ing the borax until no more
liquid is visible.
4. Pick up the material and give it different shapes.
• Can you compare the new compound with plastic?.
Ans: Yes, the new compound can be compared with the
plastic.

47
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Unit
9 Transmission of Heat

Exercise

Complete each of the following sentences by writing

the correct term.
i. The transfer of heat by movement of molecules from
place to place
convection
ii. It can maintain the temperature of drinks
vacuum flask
iii. The transfer of heat by direct contact of molecules
conduction
iv. The surface which absorbs and radiates heat better
black
Fill in the circle of the best option.
i When we sit in the sun we are heated by:
m convection m conduction
m radiation m convection current
ii. Warm air rises because of:
m light mconvection
m conduction m radiation
iii. A metal spoon is placed in a cup of hot water. The
spoon gets warm by:
m conduction m convection current
m radiation m convection
iv. In a vacuum flask, the vacuum prevents the trans-
fer of heat by:
m conduction m convection
m radiation m air
v. When warm water rises in a lake and cold water
sinks, what is happening?
48
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

m conduction mconvection
m radiation m mixing
vi. Heat energy can be transferred well by conduction
from one material to another only if
both are:
m solids m liquids
m gases m all the three
vii. Which colour is a good reflector of heat?
m red m black
m blue mwhite

Brain teasers.
i. Why do we use cooking pots made of metals?
Ans: Metals are good conductors of heat, so we use metal
cooing pots to cook food.
ii. What is a convection current?
Ans: The upward and downward movement of molecules of
water or particles of air due to heat is called a convec-
tion current.
iii. Which surfaces do absorb maximum heat?
Ans: Dark-coloured surfaces absorb maximum amount of
heat from their surroundings.
iv. Why do we use woollen clothes and blankets during
winter days?
Ans: Woolen clothes and blankets slow down the transfer of
heat because they trap air inside them. The air is a bad
conductor of heat. We feel warm in woolen clothes and
blankets during cold winter days.
v. What is the advantage of gliding flight for a bird?
Ans: A lot of energy of birds is saved during gliding. They
do not move their wings up and down during such
flight. They rest on convection currents of air.
1. What is convection? How does it occur?
Ans: Convection

49
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

The transfer of heat in which molecules of a medium

actually move to the source of heat energy to absorb
heat and then move away from it, is called convection.
How convection occurs
Convection occurs in liquids and gases only because
their molecules can move freely. The molecules of a
solid are held closely together. They cannot move free-
ly, therefore, convection is not possible in solids.
The upward and downward movement of molecules of
water or air is called a convection current.
Winds
Winds and ocean currents are examples of effects of
convection.
The heat of the Sun heats up the surface of the Earth
and the air near it also gets hot. The air expands and gets
Ocean currents are also set up due to convection of heat.
Water of the hot regions of an ocean gets hot, it expands
and gets lighter, but water in the colder regions remains
cold and heavy. Hot water moves along the surface of the
ocean towards the colder regions. The cold water flows
below the surface of the ocean towards the hot regions. In
this way, ocean currents are set up.
2. Write a few everyday applications of conduction of
heat.
Ans: Everyday Applications of Conduction of Heat
Conduction plays an important role in our lives.
1. Cooking utensils, electric kettle, iron, soldering iron,
etc. are made of metals to conduct heat quickly. Their
handles are made of plastic or wood which are bad
conductors.
2. Woolen clothes and blankets slow down the trans-
fer of heat. It happens so because the wool traps air
in it. The air is a bad conductor of heat.
3. Double-pan windows are used in buildings to slow
the transfer of heat. Air between the two layers of
50
Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

glass acts as an insulator.

4. Thermos bottles use air or a vacuum to slow the
transfer of heat by conduction.
3. Write a note on a vacuum flask.
Ans: The Vacuum Flask
The vacuum flask is a container which can keep hot
things hot and cold things cold. The vacuum flask re-
duces the rate of transfer of heat by all the three ways,
i.e. conduction, convection and radiation.
Explanation: The vacuum flask (thermos flask) is ac-
tually two thin glass or metal bottles, one inside the oth-
er. Air between
the glass walls
is removed to
create vacuum.
The vacuum
prevents the
transfer of heat
by conduction
and convection. The walls of both bottles are coated
with aluminium on the vacuum side. These silvered
(like a mirror) and smooth glass walls prevent transfer
of heat by radiation. The mouth of the flask is made
from a bad conductor such as cork or plastic. A little
amount of heat may be lost by conduction through the
mouth. The thin walled glass bottle is protected by
keeping it in a metal or plastic container.
4. Write brief notes on:
i. Ocean currents and winds
ii. Gliding flight of birds
Ans: Ocean currents and winds
Winds and ocean currents are examples of effects of
convection.
The heat of the Sun heats up the surface of the Earth
and the air near it also gets hot. The air expands and gets
Ocean currents are also set up due to convection of heat.
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Water of the hot regions of an ocean gets hot, it expands

and gets lighter, but water in the colder regions remains
cold and heavy. Hot water moves along the surface of the
ocean towards the colder regions. The cold water flows
below the surface of the ocean towards the hot regions. In
this way, ocean currents are set up.
The Gliding Flight of Birds
Convection currents also take place in atmosphere. The
heat from the Sun warms the air near the ground. The
warm air expands and becomes lighter in weight. As
warm air rises, colder air rushes in to fill its place near the
ground. This process continues. Birds like eagles, hawks,
vultures and gulls take advantage of this phenomenon.
They enjoy gliding. During gliding flight a bird does not
move its wings, but glides on air currents. A lot of energy
of birds is saved during gliding.
Science Fun

Read each clue. Write the answers in the blanks and then
fill in the crossword puzzle.

Across
1. The flow of energy through a liquid or a gas convection
2. The flow of energy by direct contact conduction
5. Good conductors of heat Metals
Down
3. Transfer of thermal energy Heat
4. Major source of heat Sun
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Unit
10 Dispersion of Light

Exercise

Complete each of the following sentences by writing

the correct term.
i. The bending of light, when it enters from one medium
to another
refraction of light
ii. The angle of incidence at which maximum refraction
occurs
critical angle
iii. The ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to its speed in
another medium
refractive index
iv. The splitting of white light into its component co-
lours
dispersion of light
Fill in the circle of the best option.
i. When a light ray passes from one medium to anoth-
er at an angle:
m reflection occurs mrefraction occurs
m refraction does not occur
m reflection does not occur
ii. Which of the following objects does not refract light?
m a microscope m a magnifier
m a camera ma mirror
iii. The splitting of white light into its component co-
lours is called:
m dispersion of light m reflection of light
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

m total internal reflection m mirage

iv. A ray of light strikes at an angle on one side of a
air
rectangular glass block. glass
Which diagram shows the right path of the light ray?
m m
m m
v. We see a mirage due to the:
m reflection of light
m total internal reflection
m dispersion of light
m refraction of light
vi. A coin in the bowl becomes visible when water is
added. It is because of:
m reflection of light mrefraction of light
m total internal reflection m dispersion of light
Brain teasers.
i. What happens, when light travels from glass into
air at an angle?
Ans: When light travels from glass into air at an angle it
moves away from the normal. the angle of refraction is
greater than the angle of incidence.

ii. What is refractive index?

Ans: Refractive index is the ratio of the speed of light in
vacuum to its speed in the medium.
iii. How can you calculate the refractive index of water?
Ans: We can calculate the refractive index of water by using
the following equation.
Speed of light in water
Refractive index (water) =
Speed of light in vacuum
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iv. What happens when the primary colours of light

are mixed in equal proportions?
Ans: When primary colours of light are mixed in equal pro-
portion, white light is obtained.
v. Why do we see colours of different objects?
Ans: Every object reflects the particular colour of light into
our eyes. For example, green grass reflects green co-
lour of light and it looks green.
vi. Define critical angle.
Ans: The angle of incidence whose relevant angle of refrac-
tion is 90°, is called the critical angle.
vii. State the laws of refraction.
Ans: Laws of Refraction
There are two laws of refraction:
1. The incident ray, the refracted ray and the normal at the
point of incidence, all lie in the same plane.
2. The ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to its speed in
another medium is always constant.
1. Define refraction of light. Discuss the effects of re-
fraction with examples.
Ans: Refraction
Light travels at different speeds in different mediums.
Light travels the fastest through the vacuum.
When light passes from one transparent medium to
another, it changes its speed and direction (or bends).
This bending of light is called refraction. But, when
light falls perpendicular to the surface of the medium,
it does not change its direction.

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Examples of Refraction
You may have seen some of these scenes around you:
• the shallow bottom of a water tub which is
actually deep
• a puddle of water on the road on a hot,
sunny day
• a beautiful rainbow in the sky after rain
All these scenes are the result of refrac-
tion of light.
2. Define total internal reflection. Explain the phe-
nomenon of mirage.
Ans: Total Internal Reflection
When light passes from glass or water to air (denser
to rarer medium), it bends away from the normal. But
when angle of incidence (i) is greater than the critical
angle ‘C’, the light rays reflect in the same denser me-
dium. This phenomenon is called total internal reflec-
tion.
Total internal reflection takes place only when:
1. Light passes from a denser medium (water or
glass) to a rarer medium (air).
2. The angle of incidence of all rays must be greater
than the critical angle of that denser medium.
Mirages
A Mirage is an image of some distant object which
appears to us due to the refraction and total internal
reflection of light.
The air higher up is cooler than the air near the road.
Light travels faster when it reaches the warmer air. The
light rays bend as they travel downward due to refrac-
tion. Near the ground where air is even more warm, the
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

light rays travel almost parallel to the ground but con-

tinue to bend in other direction (total internal reflec-
tion). When we see these bending light rays, our brain
assumes that the rays have travelled in a straight line.
These rays seem to us as reflecting from water. As a
result, we see a mirage. Desert travelers often observe
mirages.
3. What is dispersion of light? Why does white light
get dispersed?
Ans: Dispersion of Light
Sunlight is often called white light, although it is a
combination of different colours. We can see these co-
lours in a rainbow. These colours are red, orange, yel-
low, green, blue, indigo and violet.
We can also split white light into its colours by passing
it through the prism. The band of seven colours ob-
tained is called spectrum of white light. The splitting
of white light into its component colours is called dis-
persion of light.

Why does White Light get Dispersed?

When a beam of light enters a prism, all the colours
of white light refract at different angles– it causes the
white light to split into its component colours. Red
light bends the least. Violet light bends the most and
refracts by the largest angle. In this way, white light
disperses into its component colours. When this spec-
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

trum is again passed through another prism as shown

below , a beam of white light is obtained.

Science Fun

1. Take a short, opaque plate and place a coin at its bot-

tom.
2. Position yourself in such a way that the coin is just not
visible to you.
3. Ask your partner to pour water into the plate until you
can see the coin clearly.
What happens?
When the coin is not visible to you, the rays of light trav-
elling from the coin in a straight line are not able to en-
ter your eyes.
These rays are
blocked by the
edge of the
plate. As soon as water is poured in the plate, the change of
medium occurs. Now light has to travel from water into air.
Due to refraction of light it bends to enter your eyes. The
coin is now visible to you due to refraction.

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Unit
11 Sound Waves

Exercise

Complete each of the following sentences by writing

the correct term.
i. The lower portion of a transverse wave
trough
ii. The highness or lowness of a sound
pitch
iii. The distance a wave covers in one second
speed
iv. A compression and a rarefaction combine to form
longitudinal wave
v. A material thing through which a wave travels
medium
Fill in the circle of the best option.
i. When a wave travels through a medium:
m particles are transferred from one place to the
other
m energy is transferred from one place to the other
m particles and energy both are transferred from
one place to the other
m nothing happens
ii. The speed of sound in air is:
m greater than that of light
m 100 kilometres per hour
m 100 metres per hour
m 330 metres per second

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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

iii. A sound wave is a:

m transverse wave mlongitudinal wave
m standing wave
m sometimes transverse and sometimes longitudinal
iv. Objects that vibrate slowly have a pitch that is:
m high m loud
m soft mlow
v. Sound waves travel more quickly through:
m solids m gases
m space m liquids

Brain teasers.
i. Sketch a transverse wave and label a crest, a trough,
a wavelength, and amplitude.
Ans:
crest

trough
A transverse wave

ii. Define the wavelength of a longitudinal wave.

Ans: The distance between two adjacent compressions or
rarefactions, is called the wavelength of a longitudinal
wave.
iii. Name a few devices that use different sounds in our
everyday life.
Ans: We use many devices which produce different sounds.
For example, the sound of a doorbell tells us that some-
one is at the door. Sirens, telephones, radios, security
system alarms, smoke detectors and stereo players, etc.
produce different sounds.
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iv. What makes some sounds louder than others?

Ans: Amplitude makes some sounds louder than other.
v. What is the relationship between frequency and
pitch?
Ans: Pitch and frequency of a sound are directly proportion-
al to each other. The higher the frequency, the higher
the pitch is.
vi. How does sound travel?
Ans: Sound travels through some medium. The medium can
be a solid (metal wire), liquid (water) or gas (air).
1. Compare transverse waves and longitudinal waves.
Ans: Transverse Waves
A wave in which particles of the medium move per-
pendicularly to the direction of the wave is called a
transverse wave. Waves that are produced in water are
transverse waves.
• The part of the transverse wave where the particles of
the medium are above the normal position is called
crest, while the part of the wave below the normal po-
sition is called trough.

Longitudinal Waves
A wave in which particles of a medium move back and
forth, parallel to the direction of the wave is called a
longitudinal wave.
The parts of a longitudinal wave, where particles of the
medium are compressed together, are called compres-
sions. The parts of a longitudinal wave, where particles
of the medium are spread out, are called rarefactions.
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2. What type of waves are sound waves, and how do

they transfer sound energy?
Ans: Sound Waves
A sound wave traveling through air is a an example of
a longitudinal wave.
When a drummer
beats a drum, the
surface of the drum
vibrates and creates
a disturbance in the
air beside it.
When the drumhead
moves to the left, it
compresses the particles of air and create a compres-
sion. When the drumhead moves to the right, the par-
ticles of the air on the right move farther apart, creat-
ing a rarefaction. These compressions and rarefactions
travel through the air as longitudinal waves. When the
disturbance in the air reaches our ears, we hear the
sound of the drum.
3. Describe loudness and pitch of the sound.
Ans: Pitch and Loudness
Pitch
The voice of a girl is more shrill than the voice of the
boy. This difference is due to the pitch. A shrill sound
is called a high pitch sound, whereas a less shrill sound
is called a low pitch sound. Pitch is the highness or
lowness of a sound. Pitch of the sound depends on the
frequency of the sound wave. The higher the frequen-
cy, the higher the pitch is.
Loudness
Sometimes, we need to shout in a louder voice. We
have to use an extra energy. Loudness is related to the
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

amplitude of a sound. The larger the amplitude, the louder

the sound. Loudness helps us to distinguish a soft sound
from a loud sound of the same frequency.
4. Write brief notes on:
(i) Audible frequency range (ii) Speed of sound
Ans: Audible Frequency Range
The word audible means ‘able to be heard’. Our ears
cannot hear sounds of all frequencies. The range of fre-
quencies which a person can hear is known as audible
frequency range.
A healthy human ear can hear sounds of frequencies
from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. It is the audible frequency
range for humans. Different animals have different au-
dible frequency ranges.
Audible Frequency Ranges of Different Animals
Animals Frequency Animals Frequency
range (Hz) Range (Hz)
dog 20--45,000 dolphin 150-- 150,000
cat 45 -- 64,000 bat 2,000 -- 110,000
cow 23 -- 35,000 elephant 1 -- 20,000
Speed of Sound
Light travels much faster than sound. Different waves
travel at different speeds. The distance a wave covers
in unit time is called its speed. Speed is measured in
metre per second. Sound travels at different speeds in
different mediums.
Audible Frequency Ranges of Different Animals
Medium State of matter Speed (m/sec)
air gas 330
water liquid 1,500
brick solid 3,600

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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

wood solid 3,800

steel solid 6,000
Science Fun

• Rotate the wheel of your bicycle as shown in the figure.

• Touch a piece of cardboard to the
spokes of the rotating wheel and listen
to the sound produced.
• Now increase the speed of rotating
wheel and again listen to the sound
produced.
We observe that on increasing the
speed of the wheel, the sound becomes more shrill due to
increase in its frequency. In other words we can say that the
pitch of the sound has increased.

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Unit
12 Sound Waves

Exercise
Complete each of the following sentences by writing
the correct term.
i. The circuit provides only one path for the current
series circuit
ii. One unit on our electricity meter
kilo watt hour (kwh)
iii. The unit of potential difference
volt
iv. The unit of electric current
ampere
Fill in the circle of the best option.
i. Electric current is the:
m flow of atoms m flow of protons
m flow of electrons m flow of neutrons
ii. The potential difference in a circuit between two
points is measured in:
m volts m amperes
m watts m coulombs
iii. Which one is an insulator?
m copper mglass
m iron m aluminium
iv. Resistance of a conductor depends on:
m thickness of the wire m length of the pipe
m voltage of the electrical source
m speed of the flow of charges
v. The device to measure potential difference in a cir-
cuit is called:
m ammeter mvoltmeter
m barometer m thermometer
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

vi. When there are more than one path for a current to
flow, the circuit is called:
m series circuit mparallel circuit
m open circuit m closed circuit
Brain teasers.
i. What is an electric current?
Ans: The flow of charges through a conductor is called an
electric current.
ii. What causes the current to flow in an electrical cir-
cuit?
Ans: Potential difference causes the charges to flow in an
electrical circuit.
iii. What are the functions of an ELCB?
Ans: An ELCB is an electromagnetic switch. It quickly
turns off the power when the current flowing through
the Earth wire exceeds the limit. If some one tries to
use a faulty electric appliance, an ELCB breaks the cir-
cuit at once.
iv. Compare fuses and circuit breakers. Which one is
easier to use?
Ans: Fuses and circuit breakers are used for the same pur-
pose. But, replacing the blown out fuse again and again
is not a pleasant experience. A circuit breaker works
like a fuse, but it does not blow out. It just breaks the
circuit by tripping.
v. What is the main difference between a series circuit
and a parallel circuit?
Ans: In a series circuit, there is only one path for the current
to flow. In a palled circuit, there are more than one
paths for the current to flow.
vi. How does increasing the potential difference affect
the current?

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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Ans: By increasing the potential difference, we can experi-

ence the flow of charges for a longer time. Charge will
flow as long as there is a potential difference between
the two points.
1. Describe series and parallel circuits in detail.
Ans: Electric Circuits
An electric circuit is a complete path along which
charges flow.
There are two main kinds of circuits, i.e. series circuits
and parallel circuits.
Series Circuits
If all the components are connected one after another
in a single loop, then it is a series circuit. In a series
circuit, there is only one path for the current to flow.
The amount of current which flows through each com-
ponent (bulb) of the circuit is the same.

Disadvantage of the Series Circuits

There is a disadvantage of the series circuit:
• There is only one path for the current to flow. A break
at any part of the circuit stops the flow of current in the
whole circuit.
Parallel Circuits
If the components are connected in two or more loops,
then it is a parallel circuit. In a parallel circuit, there
are more than one path for the current to flow. The cur-
rent flowing through different branches of a parallel
circuit may be the same or different. But the current in
each branch is less than the total current flowing out
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

from the electrical source (battery).

Advantage of a Parallel Circuit Over a Series Circuit

A parallel circuit has an advantage over a series circuit.
• There are more than one path for the current to flow.
A break in any branch of the circuit stops the current
flowing through that branch only.
2. Explain heating and chemical effects of the current.
Ans: Effects of an Electric Current
We can see several effects of electrical energy in our
everyday life.
Heating Effect of Current
When electric current flows through a metal wire, it
makes it hot. Light is also produced when a wire be-
comes very hot. We use many appliances in our homes
that convert electric current to heat.
Chemical Effect of Current
An electric current can chemically affect the materi-
als. When a current flows through a solution, it can
break up the solution into its components. This process
is called electrolysis. Electricity is also used to coat a
metal object with a thin layer of another metal. This
process is called electroplating.
3. Write notes on:
i. Resistance ii. Electrical Power
iii. MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers)
Ans: i. Resistance
Electric current flows through some things better than
others do. The measurement of how well something
conducts electricity is its resistance.
Resistance is the hindrance to the flow of current. During
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

its journey through an electric circuit, the charges collide

countless times with atoms within the conductor (wire). It
creates resistance. The unit of resistance is ohm.
The resistance of a wire depends on length of the wire
and thickness of the wire.
ii. Electrical power
Electrical power is the rate at which a device converts
electrical energy into another form of energy. Its unit is
watt (W).
One kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the amount of energy
used up when an electrical appliance of 1,000 watt
works for 1 hour.
MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers)
Replacing the fuse again and again is not a pleasant
experience. An MCB is a small electromagnet switch
that works like a fuse but it does not blow out. It just
breaks the circuit by tripping.
Science Fun

1. Connect a battery, a key and two 1.5V bulbs in a series

circuit. Draw a picture of your circuit in your notebook.
2. Switch off the key. Add another bulb
in the series with the other two bulbs.
Switch on the key.
3. Replace one of the light bulbs with a
burned-out light bulb.
i. How does the brightness of the light
bulbs change in step #2?
ii. What happens to the other lights in
the circuit in step #3?
Ans: i. When we add another bulb in the series circuit, the
brightness of other bulbs decreases.
ii. When we add a burned-out light bulb in the circuit,
other bulbs also stop to glow.

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Unit
13 Sound Waves

Exercise

Complete each of the following sentences by writing

the correct term.
i. An oval-shaped galaxy is called
elliptical galaxy
ii. A cluster of stars with a definite pattern
constellation
iii. A large group of stars, gas, and dust
galaxy
iv. The last stage of a low-mass star’s life
black dwarf
v. A device that is able to make far away objects appear
close
telescope
Fill in the circle of the best option.
i. Star distances are usually measured in:
m metres m kilometres
m light-years m yards
ii. Bright stars may appear dimmer than others be-
cause they are:
m older mfarther away
m younger m closer to the Earth
iii. The last stage in the life of a massive star is:
m black hole m black dwarf
m white dwarf m red giant
iv. When great amount of energy is produced in a pro-
tostar, then a protostar is called:
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

m a supergiant ma star

m a neutron star m a black hole
v. A cluster of stars present in a nebula include red
stars, blue stars, yellow stars and white stars. Which
stars are most like the Sun?
m red myellow
m blue m white
vi. Our neighbouring galaxy is named as:
m Cepheus mAndromeda
m Canis Major m Taurus

Brain teasers.
i. Are blue stars young or old? How can you tell?
Ans: Blue stars are the hottest stars in the universe. They
emit greater amounts of heat and light as compared
to red, yellow and white stars. We can say that blue
stars are younger, because older stars have lost much
of their energy.
ii. Name one observation that supports the Big Bang
Theory.
Ans: Edwin Hubble found that distant galaxies in every di-
rection are going away from us with a very high speed.
This observation is acceptable if the universe began in
a huge explosion.
iii. List in order, the four stages in the life cycle of a
low-mass star.
Ans: i. Nebula ii. protostar iii. red giant
iv. white dwarf v. black dwarf
iv. How do constellations differ from galaxies?
Ans: Aconstellation is a pattern in which we see a few stars.
A galaxy is a group of billions of stars, nabulae, planets
and dust, etc.
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

v. How do scientists think the universe began?

Ans: Scientists think that the universe began with a tremen-
dous explosion called the Big Bang. This explosion
started the expansion of the universe.
vi. What type of star ends its life cycle as a black hole?
Ans: A massive star ends its life cycle as s black hole.
vii. For how many years will the Sun be a red giant?
Ans: Brightness of Stars
The brightness of a star depends on two factors:
1. distance of the star from the Earth
2. amount of energy the star emits
viii. On which factors does the brightness of a star depend?
Ans: A light year is a measure of distance that light covers in
one year with a speed of about 300,000 kilometres per
second.
ix. What is a light-year?
Ans: A light-year is a measure of distance that light covers in
one year with a speed of 300,000 kilometres per second.
x. What galaxy our Sun belongs to?
Ans: Our Sun belongs to the Milky Way galaxy.
1. Explain the Big Bang Theory of the origin of the
universe.
Ans: The Big Bang Theory
According to Islam and other Ibrahimic religions, uni-
verse was created by Allah (Almighty). According to
the Holy Quran, Allah (Almighty) said and the
universe was created ( ) . Scientists have been pre-
senting different theories of creation of the universe
from time to time. One of these theories is “The Big
Bang Theory”. According to this theory:
• About 10 to 20 billion years ago, the universe was
packed into one giant fireball. Then a tremendous ex-
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

plosion started the expansion of the universe. This ex-

traordinary explosion is known as the Big Bang. This
explosion hurled matter and energy in all directions.
• After the Big Bang, the universe assumed the form of
huge clouds of extremely hot, expanding and contract-
ing gases. With the passage of time, stars and galaxies
are formed.
The Big Bang theory was first proposed in 1927 by a
priest, George Lamaitre of Belgium. This theory was
supported by the discoveries of Edwin Hubble and No-
bel Prize-winning scientists Arno Penzias and Robert
Wilson.
2. Describe the life cycle of a low-mass star.
Ans: The Life of Stars
Science has told us that the universe is finite, with a
beginning, a middle and a future. Stars have life cycles
too. A star is also born, changes, and then dies. The
lifespan of a star is measured in billions of years.

Birth of a Star
We have studied that great clouds of gasses and dust
are present in galaxies. Each of these clouds is called
a nebula. Stars are born in nebulae (singular nebula).
A nebula collects more dust and gas during its travel
through space. The gas and dust particles are packed
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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

into a hot spinning ball of matter. Such a ball of hot

matter is called a protostar. With the passage of time, a
protostar becomes hot enough to produce great amount
of energy. At this stage a protostar is called a star. A
star like the Sun emits light and heat all the time.
Death of a Star
The matter of a star is converting into energy. This ra-
diant energy is released into space. Our star (the Sun)
is dying. Let us see, how:
Red Giant Stage
Our star (the Sun) has passed five billion years while
emitting energy. After the next five billion years, the
hydrogen in the core of the Sun may be used up. The
Sun will start to collapse. Its core will become denser
and hotter and the Sun will swell in size. It will become
a red giant. The Sun will be a red giant for only about
500 million years.
Dwarf Stage
By and by the Sun in the form of red giant will cool
and gravity will make it collapse inward. Our star will
become a white dwarf at this stage. Eventually, the
Sun will become a burn-out black chunk of very dense
matter. It will not emit light any more. This last stage
of a star's life is called a black dwarf.
3. Describe the three main types of galaxies.
Ans: Galaxies
A galaxy is a very large group of stars, nebulae, gas-
es, dust and planets. A galaxy may contain billions of
stars. Our solar system is the part of the Milky Way
galaxy.
There are many types of galaxies in the universe. Sci-
entists classify galaxies in three main types on the ba-
sis of shape.
Spiral Galaxies

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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

A galaxy that has a flat disklike shape with a bulge

in the centre is called a spiral galaxy. Spiral galaxies
may have a few or many spiral or curved arms. A large
amount of dust and gases is present in these galaxies.
The Milky Way and Andromeda are spiral galaxies.
Elliptical Galaxies
These are oval shaped galaxies. These galaxies do not
rotate as spiral galaxies around their axis. An ellipti-
cal galaxy contains less amounts of dust and gases as
compared to a spiral galaxy. Trillions of stars may be
present in an elliptical galaxy. New stars cannot form
in most elliptical galaxies. Most of them contain only
old stars.
Irregular Galaxies
These galaxies have no definite shape. The stars in an
irregular galaxy do not appear to be grouped in any set
shape. These galaxies have many shapes and sizes. The
Clouds of Magellan, is an irregular galaxy. It is a very
small galaxy near the Milky Way. These galaxies are
not very common.
4. Write notes on: i. Star Distances
ii. Safety methods to use when observing the Sun
Ans: Star Distances
The stars are very far away from us. They are also at
great distances from each other. Distances between
stars are so great that they cannot be measured in kilo-
metres. Instead, we use light-years to express the dis-
tance in the universe.
A light-year is a measure of distance that light covers
in one year with a speed of 300,000 kilometres per sec-
ond. It seems that a light-year is a very long distance.
The Sun is our closest star in our galaxy. The next clos-
est star Proxima Centauri is 4.2 light-years away from
us. We can also say that light of this star will take 4.2
years to reach the Earth.

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Gohar Science 7 NE Key book

Safety Tips for Observing the Sun

The Sun emits dangerous radiation. Viewing directly
into the Sun can damage our eye sight. Make sure the
safety of your eye before viewing the Sun.
1. A pinhole or small opening is used to view the image
of the Sun on a screen placed a half metre or more be-
yond the opening.
2. Use two or three sheets of X-Rays film for viewing the
Sun.
Remember! No filter is safe for use with any optical
device, i.e. telescope, binoculars, etc.
Science Fun

1. Join the thin lens on one end of the small tube with the
help of scotch tape.
2. Now join the thick lens on one end of the
large tube with the help of scotch tape.
3. Slide the open end of the small tube into
the large tube to make a telescope (see the
picture).
4. Hold your telescope, and look at an object
through one lens. Then turn the telescope
around, and look through the other lens.
Slide the small tube in and out of the large tube to focus
the object.
i. What did you observe as you looked through thin lens and
thick lens?
ii. Using your observations, tell which lens you should look
through to observe the stars.
Ans: i. The thick lens makes the objects to look more close
than through a thin lens.
A thick lens has greater focal length as compared to a thin
lens.
ii. We can use both the lenses in combination observe the
stars.
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