Chapter 2.7 – Great Scientists
IN BETWEEN THE LESSON
Q1. Before you read further, guess what the passage is about.
Ans: The passage is probably about great scientists who were patient and persevering and did not let difficulties stop them from making important discoveries.
Q2. Listen, read and answer :
What were the odds against Faraday in his childhood?
Ans: Faraday was born into a poverty-stricken family in a dirty London suburb. He suffered from a speech defect as a child. Other children laughed at him and the teachers did not help him either. When he was twelve, his mother took him out of school. Thus his formal education ended.
Q3. What is meaning of :
(i) Reading became his obsession
Ans: He could think of nothing but reading all the time.
(ii) Electricity became a lifelong fascination.
Ans: He was tremendously interested in electricity throughout his life.
Q4. Think and answer :
Why do you think Faraday’s friend give him a free ticket to Davy’s programme?
Ans: Davy’s work was on chemicals and electrical lighting. Faraday’s friend probably knew about his fascination for the subject of electricity. Hence he felt that Faraday would be interested and gave him a free ticket to Davy’s programme.
Q5. Find the answer on this page:
What was the subject of Davy’s lecture?
Ans: The subject of Davy’s lecture was the ‘mysterious force of electric fluid’.
Q6. What actions and thought of Faraday show that he was inspired by Davy?
Ans: The actions and thoughts of Faraday that show that he was inspired by Davy are:
(i) Faraday was spellbound during Davy’s lecture.
(ii) He kept taking notes during the lecture.
(iii) He forgot to applaud.
(iv) He bound his notes into a book, meaning to gift it to Davy some day.
(v) He decided that he did not want to sell books but write his own books.
(vi) He tried to make Davy his mentor.
Q7. Guess the meaning of : mentor.
Ans: guide, advisor.
Q8. Why did Davy choose Faraday as his secretary?
Ans: A chemical explosion took place in Davy’s lab and he was temporarily blinded. He now needed an assistant with an excellent memory to help him. He was reminded of Faraday’s capabilities and decided to hire him as his secretary.
Q9. Was Davy fair in his treatment of Faraday?
Ans: No. Davy was never fair in his treatment of Faraday. He dismissed Faraday’s aspirations and advised him to stick to bookbinding.
Q10. How did Faraday respond to that treatment ?
Ans: Faraday was persistent in his efforts. He worked day and night and learnt as much as he could about Davy’s experiments. He was promoted and became a lab assistant, and even though much of his job now was just cleaning labs, he was not discouraged or frustrated. He was happy that he was still getting a chance to see Davy’s leading experiments.
Q11. What happens when an electric current is applied to a wire?
Ans: When an electric current is applied to a wire. It causes that wire to behave like a magnet.
Q12. Give one example each to show that
(i) Faraday was a good pupil.
Ans: Faraday was a good pupil because he solved the problem that Davy, his mentor, could not.
(ii) Davy was not a good mentor.
Ans: Davy was not a good mentor because he mocked Faraday and was also jealous of him later on.
Q13. An induction motor is a commonly used electrical machine. What examples of its use are given here?
Ans: Examples of the use of an induction motor: fans. air-conditioning, sewing machines, photographs, power tools, cars, trains and aeroplane engines.
Q14. Guess the meaning of : reverse engineer it.
Ans: to take something apart to see how it is made and how it works.
Q15. Write the idea behind an electrical generator.
Ans: If a magnet is moved. It can produce an electrical current, thus converting motion into electricity. This is the idea behind an electrical generator. This electrical generator can generate all kinds of power.
Q16. Try out the experiment of the iron filings and the magnet.
Ans: Students must do this on their own.
Q17. Why were Faraday’s drawing not accepted?
Ans: Faraday’s drawings were not accepted because he was unable to explain them in the form of mathematical equations, which was necessary.
Q18. Does it mean they were wrong?
Ans: No, they were not wrong but without the mathematical equations they were incomplete.
ENGLISH WORKSHOP
1. Write what is implied in the following sentences.
(a) But few know his inspirational life story, which is all about courage and fighting against the odds.
(What does it tell you about Faraday’s life?)
Ans: It tells us that Faraday’s life was very difficult. He did not get things easily, but had to face many difficulties. He had to work hard, fight frustration and discouragement to achieve his ambitions.
(b) Even then Davy did not have much hope for Faraday.
(What do the words ‘even then’ suggest?)
Ans: The words ‘even then suggest that in spite of Faraday’s hard work and obvious capabilities and intelligence. Davy believed that Faraday could not do anything in the field of science because of his social status and education.
(c) People started telling Davy that of all his discoveries, the best was Faraday himself.
(What does it suggest about Davy’s work?)
Ans: This suggests that Davy’s work was not very good or impressive.
2. Break the passage into convenient smaller sections. Give sub-headings or titles to each section.
Ans: Students must do this on their own.
3. List the different gadgets and instruments mentioned in the passage. Find more information about them (at least 3), using the internet.
Ans: Fan, air conditioners, sewing machines, power tools, cars, trains, airplane engines, induction motors, telescopes, Bavarian glass, microscopes, electrical generators, light bulbs.
(a) Cars:
Cars are machines that can carry us to different places. They have wheels that spin when we press the gas pedal. The engine, like a car’s heart, makes the wheels move and propels us forward. Some cars run on electricity, while others use gasoline. They have seats for people to sit and a steering wheel to control the direction. Cars also have lights to show where they’re going and brakes to stop.
(b) Sewing Machines:
Sewing machines are like superhero helpers for making clothes and other fabric things. They have a special needle that goes up and down, stitching the fabric together with thread. When you press the pedal, the needle starts sewing really fast. You guide the fabric, and the machine does the hard work. It’s like drawing with thread! People use sewing machines to create dresses, shirts, and even fun crafts. They make sewing much faster and easier than sewing by hand.
(c) Fans:
Fans are like gentle wind-makers that help us feel comfortable, especially on hot days. They have blades that spin when we turn them on. As the blades spin, they push the air around, creating a breeze that cools us down. Fans can be big or small, and they come in different shapes and colors. Some fans are quiet, while others make a soothing sound as they blow air.
4. Find out more about the following scientists with the help of the internet.
(a) Michael Faraday
Ans: Michael Faraday was a clever scientist who loved electricity and magnets in the 1800s. He discovered that moving magnets can make electricity, which helps power many things today, like lights and computers. He also made important words for science. His ideas about electricity and magnets led to cool inventions we use every day.
(b) Humphry Davy
Ans: Humphry Davy was a smart scientist in the 1700s who found new things like sodium and potassium. He made a special lamp to keep miners safe from explosions. Davy also learned about electricity and how it makes things stick together. He helped us understand more about chemicals and even made things safer for people working underground.
(c) Thomos Edison
Ans: Thomas Edison was an amazing inventor who made the light bulb, which brightens up our homes. He also created a machine that could record and play sounds, like the early version of music players. Edison had lots of ideas and got patents for many inventions, like batteries and cameras. His clever thinking changed the way we live and enjoy things.
(d) James Maxwell
Ans: James Maxwell was a super scientist who figured out how electricity and magnets work together in the 1800s. He said that light is a special kind of wave made by electricity and magnets dancing together. This idea helped create things like radios and TVs. His smart ideas are still used by scientists today to understand how the world works.
5. Language Study : Subject and predicate :
A word or a phrase in a sentence that shows who or what does the action, is the subject. In the following sentences, the underlined part is the subject.
The baby is laughing.
The glass fell from the table.
The predicate is the part of a sentence that tells us something about the subject. The underlined parts of the following sentences show the predicates in them.
The baby is laughing.
The glass fell from the table.