NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science (Exploring Society) Chapter 2: Understanding the Weather (NCERT 2026–27)

These Class 7 Social Science Exploring Society Chapter 2 solutions cover Understanding the Weather from Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1), the NCF-2023 textbook (2026–27 reprint). The chapter belongs to the theme India and the World: Land and the People and explains what weather is, the five elements of weather (temperature, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, wind and humidity), the instruments used to measure each of them, how a weather station and an Automated Weather Station work, and how weather prediction helps us prepare for events like heavy rain, storms, droughts and heat waves. Below you get step-by-step answers to all Questions and activities, clear notes on key terms, extra practice, MCQs, Assertion–Reason and FAQs.

Class: 7 Subject: Social Science Book: Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1) Chapter: 2 Theme: India and the World: Land and the People Session: 2026–27
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Class 7 Social Science Exploring Society Chapter 2 – Overview

Chapter 2, Understanding the Weather, begins with the idea that weather is the state of the Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place. The atmosphere is the layer of gases (air) around the Earth, and almost all weather happens in its lowest layer, the troposphere. The chapter identifies five elements of weather — temperature, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, wind and humidity — and shows why we need a common standard to measure them (recall the Krishnan–Amir conversation). It then introduces the main weather instruments: the thermometer (temperature), rain gauge (precipitation), barometer (atmospheric pressure), wind vane and anemometer (wind), and hygrometer (humidity). These instruments are brought together at a weather station, and modern Automated Weather Stations (AWS) record data automatically between maintenance visits. Finally, the chapter explains how meteorologists study long-term data to forecast the weather and issue warnings (like the IMD colour-coded alerts), which help people prepare for floods, cyclones, droughts and heat waves.

Weather instruments: thermometer, rain gauge, barometer, wind vane, cup anemometer and hygrometer
Original illustrative instrument guide. Designs vary. A cup anemometer measures speed; a wind vane indicates where wind comes from. One hectopascal (hPa) equals one millibar (mb). Tap to view at full size.

Key Concepts & Terms

Weather: the state of the Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place — described using words like hot, cold, rainy, cloudy, humid, snowy or windy.

Atmosphere & troposphere: the atmosphere is the layer of gases (air) surrounding the Earth. Its lowest layer, the troposphere, is where plants, animals and humans live and where almost all weather happens; it is 6–18 km thick (thinner at the poles, thicker over the tropics).

The five elements of weather: Temperature (how hot or cold the atmosphere is), Precipitation (rain, snow, sleet or hail falling from the sky), Atmospheric pressure (the weight of the air above us), Wind (the movement of air — speed and direction), and Humidity (the amount of water vapour in the air).

Precipitation types: rain, snow, sleet (frozen or partly frozen rain) and hail (small hard balls of ice that fall like rain). Water vapour is water in gaseous form.

Temperature scales: the Celsius (°C) and Fahrenheit (°F) scales; for example 15°C is the same as 59°F. Range = maximum temperature − minimum temperature; Mean daily temperature = (maximum + minimum) ÷ 2.

Weather instruments: thermometer (temperature), rain gauge (rainfall, in mm), barometer (atmospheric pressure, in millibars — standard sea-level pressure is about 1013 mb; 1 mb = 1 hPa), wind vane / wind sock (wind direction) and anemometer (wind speed, in km/h), and hygrometer (humidity).

Relative humidity: humidity measured as a percentage — 0% means no water vapour and 100% means air saturated with water vapour. Dry weather is usually 20–40% and humid weather 60–80%.

Forecast & meteorology: to forecast is to predict or find out in advance (here, the weather). Meteorology is the systematic study of weather and its evolution, the basis for weather forecasting.

Weather station & AWS: a weather station brings all the instruments together for regular readings; an Automated Weather Station (AWS) is a self-operating system that uses sensors to record weather data automatically; people still maintain and calibrate the equipment.

Other key terms: ambient (of the immediate surroundings), acclimatise (adjust to a new climate or condition), depression / low-pressure system (a sharp drop in pressure that can grow into a storm or cyclone), and the India Meteorological Department (IMD), set up in 1875, which issues colour-coded weather warnings.

“Questions and activities” — Full Solutions

The four end-of-chapter tasks follow NCERT, pp. 42–43. These are ClearStudy model answers, not an official NCERT answer key. The historical weather chart is an exercise, not a current forecast.

1. Match the instrument with the weather element it measures.

ANSWER The instruments and the elements they measure are matched below:
Instrument usedElement of the Weather
(1) Hygrometer(d) Humidity
(2) Anemometer(c) Wind direction and speed
(3) Barometer(b) Atmospheric pressure
(4) Thermometer(e) Temperature
(5) Rain gauge(a) Precipitation
So: 1–(d), 2–(c), 3–(b), 4–(e), 5–(a).
Scientific clarification: option (c) is the textbook match for anemometer. A simple cup anemometer measures speed; a separate wind vane measures the direction from which the wind blows. Some combined instruments measure both.

2. Jyotsna is deciding what clothes to pack for her school trip to Mumbai in June. She looks at the weather forecast, which predicts 29°C and 84% humidity. What would be your advice to her?

ANSWERAt 29°C and 84% relative humidity, the air is warm and very humid. Sweat evaporates slowly, so Jyotsna may feel sticky and uncomfortable.Pack light, loose, breathable clothes, spare clothes and rain protection. June is a monsoon month in Mumbai, so she should check the actual rain forecast before travelling. High relative humidity alone does not prove that rain will fall.

3. Imagine that a small group of students is setting up a rain gauge. Here are some options for the site. 1. The school vegetable garden. 2. The terrace of the school building. 3. Open ground with elevated platform. 4. Compound wall of school. 5. Verandah of the school laboratory. Discuss in your group and finalise the site. Write down the reasons for your decision.

ANSWEROption 3, open ground with a low, level, stable platform, is a reasonable choice if no buildings, trees or walls obstruct the rain. The gauge must remain upright and its rim horizontal. Keep it low enough to limit wind effects, with protection against splashing.A terrace or wall can expose the gauge to disturbed winds and splashes; a verandah roof blocks rainfall. A vegetable garden can also work if it has a clear, level patch away from plants and watering. The actual site conditions matter more than the label.Record at the same time each day and empty the collector after each reading. A funnel-type gauge needs a scale calibrated for its collecting area; the water height inside a narrow tube is not automatically the rainfall depth.

4. Below is a chart taken from IMD, Jammu and Kashmir. Looking at the data available, write a short script to report the weather conditions in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir on the date shown. (Hint: Cover the temperature range, maximum and minimum temperatures, humidity, precipitation, etc.)

ANSWERRead ACT as actual, NOR as normal, and DEP as departure from normal. R/F means rainfall; S/N means snowfall; TR means a trace. A dash means no value is supplied, not zero. Keep the morning-ending and daytime precipitation periods separate.
Actual observations, 1 February 2024 (NCERT p. 43)
StationMax °CMin °CRange °CRain 08:30–17:30 (mm)Snow 08:30–17:30 (cm)Rain: 24 h ending 08:30 (mm)Snow: period ending 08:30 (cm)RH at 08:30 / 17:30 (%)
Srinagar6.50.26.3TR0.013.42.489 / 89
Qazigund3.2-0.43.611.810.036.222.097 / 90
Pahalgam1.1-4.15.26.08.019.423.096 / 96
Kupwara5.1-0.75.80.50.021.910.097 / 94
Kukernag2.6-1.44.012.08.035.230.096 / 97
Gulmarg-2.6-7.65.08.26.3535.235.076 / 100
Muzaffarabad8.55.62.9——25.8—93 / —
Sample script: “This is the weather report for 1 February 2024 using the textbook’s evening chart. Muzaffarabad recorded the highest maximum, 8.5°C. Gulmarg had the lowest minimum, −7.6°C, and its maximum remained below freezing at −2.6°C. Srinagar recorded 6.5°C and 0.2°C, giving the largest daily range: 6.5 − 0.2 = 6.3°C. From 08:30 to 17:30, Kukernag recorded the largest rainfall, 12.0 mm, while Qazigund recorded the greatest snowfall, 10.0 cm. In the earlier period ending at 08:30, Qazigund had 36.2 mm rainfall and Gulmarg had 35.0 cm snowfall. The reported relative humidities ranged from 76% to 100%; Gulmarg reached 100% in the evening. Several stations therefore experienced very cold, humid conditions with precipitation.”Check: Gulmarg’s range is −2.6 − (−7.6) = 5.0°C. Rainfall in millimetres and snowfall in centimetres are different measurements and must not be added directly.

Extra Practice Questions

These questions and MCQs are ClearStudy practice, separate from the NCERT exercise.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. What is weather?

ANSWERWeather is the state of the Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place. It is described using words such as hot, cold, rainy, cloudy, humid, snowy or windy, which together tell us how the elements of weather are behaving at that moment.

Q2. Name the five elements of weather.

ANSWERThe five elements of weather are temperature, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, wind and humidity. Together they define the weather of a particular place, and each is measured with a special instrument.

Q3. How is the range of temperature and the mean daily temperature calculated?

ANSWERThe range of temperature is the maximum temperature minus the minimum temperature over a period (usually 24 hours). The mean daily temperature is the maximum temperature plus the minimum temperature of the day divided by two.

Q4. Why does atmospheric pressure decrease as we climb a mountain?

ANSWERAs we climb higher, there is less air above us, so the air becomes thinner and the weight of the air pressing down (the atmospheric pressure) is lower. There is also less oxygen, which is why people may feel breathless, dizzy or tired at high altitudes.

Q5. What is an Automated Weather Station (AWS)?

ANSWERAn Automated Weather Station is a self-operating system that uses various sensors to measure and record weather data — temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, precipitation and atmospheric pressure — accurately and on time, automatically, while still requiring installation, calibration and maintenance. Such stations are used in agriculture, aviation, navigation and environmental monitoring.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Describe the main weather instruments and the element each one measures.

ANSWEREach element of weather is measured with a special instrument. The thermometer measures temperature; many use a coloured liquid that expands when heated, while digital thermometers can automatically record readings; accuracy depends on the instrument and its calibration. The rain gauge measures precipitation: rain falls through a funnel into a cylinder fitted with a scale that shows the depth of water collected in millimetres. The barometer measures atmospheric pressure in millibars; standard sea-level pressure is about 1013 mb. A low-pressure system is lower than its surroundings; one reading alone does not identify a depression. For wind, the wind vane (or weather vane) shows the direction from which the wind is blowing, while the anemometer, with its rotating cups, measures wind speed in kilometres per hour. The hygrometer measures humidity, the amount of water vapour in the air, as relative humidity. A weather station brings all these instruments together for regular readings.

Q2. How did people predict the weather before modern instruments, and how do meteorologists do it today?

ANSWERFrom early times, humans closely observed Nature and learnt to read her signals to forecast the weather. Signs like birds flying low, ants carrying their eggs to higher ground, squirrels gathering nuts, frogs croaking loudly, or pine cones opening and closing gave warning of coming rain or storms. This traditional knowledge was passed down from generation to generation, and even today many people in India use such signs, especially to predict the arrival of the monsoon. In the last few centuries, scientists developed instruments to measure the elements of weather with great precision. Today, meteorologists collect data from thermometers, rain gauges, barometers, anemometers, hygrometers and Automated Weather Stations over long periods, then study this data using scientific methods to predict how the weather will behave after a few hours, days or even weeks. These forecasts allow governments to prepare for disasters such as floods, cyclones, droughts and heat waves.

Q3. Why is humidity an important element of weather, and how does it affect daily life?

ANSWERHumidity is the amount of water vapour present in the air, and it depends on factors like temperature, wind, pressure and location. It is measured as relative humidity, where 0% means no water vapour and 100% means the air is saturated; dry weather is usually 20–40% and humid weather 60–80%. Humidity matters because it controls how fast water evaporates. When humidity is high, the air already holds plenty of water vapour, so sweat and wet clothes dry slowly and we feel hot and sticky — this is why a place like Kochi feels more uncomfortable than a drier place like Jaipur at the same temperature. High humidity is also important in industries such as food processing, and museums control it at suitable, stable levels for the materials in their exhibits. The hygrometer is the instrument used to measure humidity.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. Weather is best defined as:

(a) the average condition over 30 years    (b) the state of the atmosphere at a particular time and place    (c) the temperature of the sea    (d) the rotation of the Earth

2. Almost all weather phenomena take place in which layer of the atmosphere?

(a) Stratosphere    (b) Ozone layer    (c) Troposphere    (d) Tropopause

3. Which instrument is used to measure rainfall?

(a) Barometer    (b) Hygrometer    (c) Anemometer    (d) Rain gauge

4. The instrument that measures wind speed is the:

(a) wind vane    (b) anemometer    (c) thermometer    (d) barometer

5. Atmospheric pressure is generally measured in:

(a) millimetres    (b) degrees Celsius    (c) millibars    (d) kilometres per hour

6. Which term describes an organised cyclonic low-pressure disturbance?

(a) heat wave    (b) depression    (c) clear sky    (d) high-pressure system

7. Small, hard balls of ice that fall from the sky like rain are called:

(a) sleet    (b) hail    (c) snow    (d) dew

8. If the relative humidity is 84%, the weather can be described as:

(a) very dry    (b) moderately dry    (c) very humid    (d) freezing

9. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) was set up in the year:

(a) 1857    (b) 1875    (c) 1905    (d) 1947

10. The mean daily temperature is calculated by:

(a) maximum − minimum    (b) (maximum + minimum) ÷ 2    (c) maximum × minimum    (d) maximum + minimum

Answer key: 1-(b), 2-(c), 3-(d), 4-(b), 5-(c), 6-(b), 7-(b), 8-(c), 9-(b), 10-(b).

For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.

A-R 1. Assertion: We need a common standard, such as the Celsius scale, to measure temperature.

Reason: What feels ‘cold’ to one person may feel ‘pleasant’ to another, so personal feeling alone cannot convey how cold it is.

A-R 2. Assertion: Atmospheric pressure is lower on a high mountain than in the plains.

Reason: There is less air above at higher altitudes, so the air is thinner and presses down with less weight.

A-R 3. Assertion: Wet clothes dry faster on a day with very high humidity.

Reason: When the air already holds a lot of water vapour, water evaporates more slowly.

A-R 4. Assertion: Accurate weather predictions help save lives during cyclones.

Reason: Forecasts allow governments to warn fishermen and evacuate coastal areas in advance.

A-R 5. Assertion: A wind vane is used to measure how strong the wind is.

Reason: A wind vane has a rotating arm with a pointer and a tail that turns to show the direction of the wind.

Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(A), 3-(D), 4-(A), 5-(D).

In-text activities and worked calculations

Temperature table, p. 33: the weekly highest maximum is 32°C (3 March) and the lowest minimum is 14°C (5 March), so the overall range is 18°C. Daily ranges are 13, 15, 14, 14, 13, 14 and 14°C. For 3 March, mean daily temperature = (32 + 18) ÷ 2 = 25°C.

Common standards: “cold” depends on experience, but 20°C gives Krishnan and Amir a shared measurement. Precise forecasts help plan farming, travel, outdoor events, fishing and emergency responses.

Humidity comparison, pp. 37–38: compare hygrometer readings taken at the same time. At the same temperature and similar airflow, clothes are likely to dry faster in Delhi at 52% relative humidity than Kochi at 84%. Slower sweat evaporation in Kochi makes skin feel wetter.

Rain and the Sun: solar energy drives evaporation; vapour can later condense into clouds and fall as precipitation. To find mean daily rainfall for a seven-day week, add all seven daily readings, including zero-rain days, and divide by 7.

Weather warnings: use the dated map on p. 40 with its own colour and symbol legends: green—no warning; yellow—stay updated; orange—be prepared; red—take action. It is a historical map for 19 May 2024, not today’s warning.

Pressure clarification: the textbook’s “below 1000 mb” statement is a simplified example, not a universal definition. Pressure is naturally low at high altitude. IMD classifies cyclonic disturbances using circulation and wind intensity as well as pressure. IMD cyclone operational guidance.

Exam Tips & Common Mistakes

How to write a clear answer

Memorise the five elements of weather and their instruments as matched pairs — temperature/thermometer, precipitation/rain gauge, atmospheric pressure/barometer, wind/wind vane & anemometer, humidity/hygrometer. Learn the two formulas (range = max − min; mean daily temperature = (max + min) ÷ 2) and practise the chart-reading question by finding the highest, lowest and widest-range values. Remember key numbers — standard sea-level pressure ≈ 1013 mb, dry air 20–40% and humid air 60–80% humidity, IMD set up in 1875 — and the difference between a wind vane (direction) and an anemometer (speed).

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Confusing weather (one place at one time) with climate (the long-term pattern) — the chapter is only about weather.
  • Mixing up the wind vane (measures direction) with the anemometer (measures speed).
  • Thinking high humidity makes clothes dry faster — it makes them dry slower.
  • Assuming atmospheric pressure is always high in the plains — it can drop sharply into a depression.
  • Confusing sleet (frozen or partly frozen rain) with hail (hard balls of ice).
  • Forgetting to keep a rain gauge in an open, flat, stable spot, away from walls and trees.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chapter 2 of Class 7 Social Science Exploring Society about?

Chapter 2, Understanding the Weather, explains what weather is, the five elements of weather (temperature, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, wind and humidity), the instruments used to measure each of them, how weather stations and Automated Weather Stations work, and how meteorologists forecast the weather to help us prepare for events like heavy rain, storms, droughts and heat waves.

What are the five elements of weather and which instruments measure them?

The five elements are temperature (thermometer), precipitation or rainfall (rain gauge), atmospheric pressure (barometer), wind — direction by a wind vane and speed by an anemometer — and humidity (hygrometer). A weather station brings all these instruments together for regular readings.

What is the exercise heading for Chapter 2 of Exploring Society?

The end-of-chapter exercise in Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1) Chapter 2 is headed Questions and activities and contains 4 numbered questions, all answered step by step on this page.

Reviewed 10 October 2026 against NCERT Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Grade 7 Part 1, Chapter 2, pp. 27–43 (2026–27 reprint). Browse all Class 7 Social Science chapters.

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