Consider the following statements regarding earthquake protection in buildings: 1. In highly seismic areas, the use of heavy construction material is preferred over mud or timber. 2. Cupboards and shelves should be fixed to the walls. 3. Fire fighting equipment is unnecessary in tall buildings during earthquakes. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The correct option is (b). Explanation Earthquake protection measures in buildings are designed to minimize damage caused by ground shaking. The underlying physical principle is based on inertia and Newton’s Second Law of Motion ($F=ma$). Since the force exerted on a structure during an earthquake is proportional to its mass, lighter structures experience less force. Statement-wise Analysis: - Statement 1 is Incorrect. In highly seismic areas, the use of lightweight materials such as mud or timber is preferred over heavy construction materials. Heavy materials increase the mass of the structure, leading to greater inertial forces during shaking, which heightens the risk of collapse and severe injury. - Statement 2 is Correct. Due to inertia, loose objects tend to remain at rest or move independently when the building shakes. Cupboards, shelves, and heavy furniture should be firmly fixed to the walls to prevent them from toppling over and causing injuries to occupants. - Statement 3 is Incorrect. Earthquakes often damage electrical wiring and gas pipelines, leading to short circuits and fires. Therefore, functional fire fighting equipment is absolutely necessary in tall buildings to handle secondary fire hazards caused by the quake. Key Takeaway: Earthquake safety relies on reducing structural mass to minimize inertial forces and securing loose fixtures to prevent mechanical injuries.

NCERT Class 8 Science — Chapter 3: Some natural phenomena

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Consider the following statements regarding earthquake protection in buildings:

In highly seismic areas, the use of heavy construction material is preferred over mud or timber.
Cupboards and shelves should be fixed to the walls.
Fire fighting equipment is unnecessary in tall buildings during earthquakes.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

A1 only
B2 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is (b).

Explanation

Earthquake protection measures in buildings are designed to minimize damage caused by ground shaking. The underlying physical principle is based on inertia and Newton’s Second Law of Motion ($F=ma$). Since the force exerted on a structure during an earthquake is proportional to its mass, lighter structures experience less force.

Statement-wise Analysis:

Statement 1 is Incorrect. In highly seismic areas, the use of lightweight materials such as mud or timber is preferred over heavy construction materials. Heavy materials increase the mass of the structure, leading to greater inertial forces during shaking, which heightens the risk of collapse and severe injury.
Statement 2 is Correct. Due to inertia, loose objects tend to remain at rest or move independently when the building shakes. Cupboards, shelves, and heavy furniture should be firmly fixed to the walls to prevent them from toppling over and causing injuries to occupants.
Statement 3 is Incorrect. Earthquakes often damage electrical wiring and gas pipelines, leading to short circuits and fires. Therefore, functional fire fighting equipment is absolutely necessary in tall buildings to handle secondary fire hazards caused by the quake.

Key Takeaway:
Earthquake safety relies on reducing structural mass to minimize inertial forces and securing loose fixtures to prevent mechanical injuries.

Your note

More from Chapter 3: Some natural phenomena

With reference to the history of understanding electrical charges, consider the following statements: 1. The ancient Greeks knew that amber attracts light objects like hair when rubbed with fur. 2. Benjamin Franklin proved that lightning and sparks from clothes are two completely different phenomena. 3. The realization of the similarity between lightning and sparks from clothes took approximately two thousand years to occur. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Consider the following statements regarding the charging of objects by rubbing: 1. A plastic refill does not acquire any electric charge when rubbed with polythene. 2. When a plastic comb is rubbed with dry hair, both the comb and the hair get charged. 3. The electrical charges generated by rubbing are static in nature. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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With reference to the interaction between charged objects, consider the following statements: 1. A charged balloon repels another charged balloon. 2. A charged refill repels a charged balloon. 3. A charged refill attracts another charged refill. Which of the statements given above are correct?

easy

By convention, what is the nature of the electric charge acquired by a glass rod when it is rubbed with silk?

easy

Consider the following statements regarding the nature of electric charges: 1. Charges of the same kind repel each other. 2. Charges of different kinds repel each other. 3. A charged glass rod attracts a charged plastic straw rubbed with polythene. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Keep practising Chapter 3: Some natural phenomena

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The correct option is (b).

Explanation

Statement-wise Analysis:

Statement 1 is Incorrect. In highly seismic areas, the use of lightweight materials such as mud or timber is preferred over heavy construction materials. Heavy materials increase the mass of the structure, leading to greater inertial forces during shaking, which heightens the risk of collapse and severe injury.
Statement 2 is Correct. Due to inertia, loose objects tend to remain at rest or move independently when the building shakes. Cupboards, shelves, and heavy furniture should be firmly fixed to the walls to prevent them from toppling over and causing injuries to occupants.
Statement 3 is Incorrect. Earthquakes often damage electrical wiring and gas pipelines, leading to short circuits and fires. Therefore, functional fire fighting equipment is absolutely necessary in tall buildings to handle secondary fire hazards caused by the quake.

Key Takeaway:
Earthquake safety relies on reducing structural mass to minimize inertial forces and securing loose fixtures to prevent mechanical injuries.