NATIONAL

SENIOR CERTIFICATE

GRADE 10

PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1
FINAL EXAMINATION

NOVEMBER 2023

MARKS: 100

DURATION: 2 hours

This question paper consists of 11 pages and a data sheet.

Physical Science (Grade 10) P1 NSC November 2023
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INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION

1. This question paper consists of EIGHT questions. Answer ALL the questions in
the ANSWER BOOK.

2. Start EACH question on a NEW page in the ANSWER BOOK.

3. Number the answers correctly according to the numbering system used in this
question paper.

4. Leave ONE line between two sub-questions, for example between

QUESTION 2.1 and QUESTION 2.2.

5. You may use a non-programmable calculator.

6. You may use appropriate mathematical instruments.

7. You are advised to use the attached DATA SHEET.

8. Show ALL formulae and substitutions in ALL calculations.

9. Round off your final numerical answers to a minimum of TWO decimal places.

10. Give brief motivations, discussions et cetera where required.

11. Write neatly and legibly.

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Physical Science (Grade 10) P1 NSC November 2023
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QUESTION 1: MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS

Four options are provided as possible answers to the following questions. Each question
has only ONE correct answer. Choose the answer and write only the letter (A–D) next
to the question number (1.1–1.5) in the ANSWER BOOK, for example 1.6 E.

1.1 If the distance between two consecutive compressions in a wave is decreased,

which ONE of the following will INCREASE when the wave speed is kept
constant?

A Amplitude

B Period

C Frequency

D Wavelength (2)

1.2 The position-time graph for a car travelling along a straight horizontal surface
is shown below.

GRAPH OF POSITION VERSUS TIME

Q
Position (m)

0 t1

Time (s)
Line PQ is a tangent to the curve at time t1.
Which ONE of the following is equal to the gradient of PQ?

A Average velocity over the period 0 to t1

B Instantaneous velocity at t1

C Average acceleration over the period 0 to t1

D Instantaneous acceleration at t1 (2)

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Physical Science (Grade 10) P1 NSC November 2023
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1.3 The kinetic energy of a trolley is E. What will the kinetic energy of the trolley be
if its velocity is tripled?

A 3E

B ⅓E

C 6E

D 9E (2)

1.4 The table below shows the changes in the velocity of a car in intervals of
4 seconds.

Time (s) 0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
Velocity (m.s-1) 0 7 14 21 28 28 28 28 28

Which ONE of the following is CORRECT for the acceleration of the car?
The acceleration of the car …

A increases initially for 16 s then remains constant.

B is initially constant for 16 s then becomes zero.

C is initially constant for 16 s and then decreases.

D increases initially for 16 s and then becomes zero. (2)

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Physical Science (Grade 10) P1 NSC November 2023
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1.5 Four identical resistors are connected as shown in the circuit diagram below.
Which ONE of the following relationships is correct for the readings on the
voltmeters?

VT

V1 V2 R4 V4

R1 R2

R3

V3

A V1 = V 2 = V 3

B VT = V 1 + V 2 + V 3 + V 4

C VT = V 3 + V 4

D V1 = V 3 (2)

[2 X 5 = 10]

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QUESTION 2 (Start on a new page.)

2.1 A section of a wave is represented below.

time = x seconds
A

0,3 m

The frequency of the wave is 2,5 Hz.

2.1.1 Is the above wave TRANSVERSE or LONGITUDINAL? (1)

2.1.2 Calculate the speed of the wave. (3)

2.1.3 Determine the time, “x”, between point A and point B on the graph. (3)

2.2 Ships use Sonar (Sound Navigation and Ranging) to map and measure the
depth of the ocean at different points. This is achieved by emitting sound waves
into the sea and detecting the reflected sound.

The sound wave emitted by the Sonar on a ship takes 0,8 seconds to reach
point P, which is on the seabed 1200 m below the ship. Q is a second point on
the seabed, as shown in the diagram below.

1200 m

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2.2.1 Calculate the speed of sound in seawater at point P. (3)

It is estimated that the speed of sound in seawater increases by 4,5 m.s -1 for
every 1°C increase in temperature.

2.2.2 The temperature of the seawater at point Q is 2°C higher than at

point P. When a sound wave is emitted directly above point Q, the
reflected sound wave is detected 2,5 seconds later.

Determine the depth of the sea at point Q. (4)

[14]

QUESTION 3 (Start on a new page.)

A photon of wavelength 2 x 10-7 m is located within the x-ray range of the

electromagnetic spectrum.

3.1 Write down the speed of this photon in a vacuum. (1)

3.2 Calculate:

3.2.1 The frequency of the photon. (3)

5.3.2 The energy of the photon. (3)

3.3 The wavelength of the photon is doubled. Will the penetrating ability of this
photon INCREASE, DECREASE or REMAIN THE SAME?
Explain the answer. (3)

[10]

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QUESTION 4 (Start on a new page.)

Two small identical Spheres, X and Y, carrying charges of – 6 x 10 -9 C and 8 x 10 -9 C

respectively, are suspended from a ceiling by means of light, insulated strings.

QX = - 6 x10-9 C X Y QY = 8 x10-9 C

4.1 State the principle of quantization of charge. (2)

4.2 Calculate the difference between the number of protons and electrons in
Sphere X. (3)

The spheres are brought into contact and are then separated.

4.3 State the principle of conservation of charge. (2)

4.4 Calculate the new charge on Sphere Y. (3)

[10]

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QUESTION 5 (Start on a new page)

A battery consisting of 3 identical cells of unknown emf is connected to four resistors, as

shown in the circuit diagram below.

A1

12 V

2Ω
2Ω

R4 V R3
2A
A2 6Ω
R1

12Ω
R2

The voltmeter reads 12 V, while ammeter A2 reads 2 A.

5.1 Define the emf of a battery in words. (2)

5.2 Calculate the:

5.2.1 Effective resistance of the parallel combination (3)

5.2.2 The reading on ammeter A1 (3)

5.2.3 Energy transferred to the resistor R3 in 2 minutes (5)

5.2.4 EMF of each cell (3)

5.3 A fifth resistor, R5, is now connected in parallel to R4.

5.3.1 Will the emf of the battery INCREASE, DECREASE OR REMAIN

THE SAME? (1)

5.3.2 Will the reading on A1 INCREASE, DECREASE OR REMAIN THE

SAME?
Give a reason for the answer. (2)
[19]

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QUESTION 6 (Start on a new page)

A forklift starting from Point X needs to pick up a package from Point Y, which is due
east from Point X.

The package is thereafter transported to a table, which lies 350 metres due west
of Point X. The entire trip takes the driver 2 minutes to complete.

W E

S
350 m X Y
6.1 Define the term average velocity in words. (2)

6.2 Calculate the average velocity of the forklift for the entire motion. (3)

6.3 The average speed of the forklift is 3,75 m·s-1.

Determine the position of Point Y relative to Point X. (4)
[9]

QUESTION 7 (Start on a new page)

7.1 A car C and a van V are both travelling at a constant velocity of 25 m.s-1 east,
on different lanes along the same horizontal road. The driver of the car follows
the van, keeping a distance of 5 metres between them. Seeing a box on his
lane, the driver of the van brakes and slows down uniformly to stop in 5
seconds.

N
V
Box W E

5m
C S

7.1.1 Calculate the acceleration of the van whilst slowing down. (3)

7.1.2 If the car continued at its original motion, how far ahead of the van
will the car be when the van stops? (5)

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7.2 After passing the box, the van takes off from rest and accelerates uniformly at (3)
4m·s-2 for 8 seconds. It thereafter travels at a constant velocity of X m·s-1 for a
further 4 seconds as shown in the graph below.

X
Velocity (m·s-1)

0
8 12 Time (s)
t4

7.2.1 USE THE GRAPH to determine the value of X. (3)

7.2.2 Sketch the acceleration vs time graph for the 12 seconds

represented in the graph above.
Indicate the relevant time and acceleration values on the graph. (3)
[17]

QUESTION 8 (Start on a new page)

A 4kg steel ball is pushed from rest from the top of a frictionless ramp of unknown height,
h at point A. It passes point B, which is 1 metre above the ground at a velocity of
5,422 m·s-1. The ball eventually reaches the ground at point C.

h
1m

C
8.1 Calculate the mechanical energy of the ball. (4)

The magnitude of the velocity doubles as the ball rolls from Point A to Point C.

8.2 State the principle of conservation of mechanical energy in words. (2)

8.3 Determine the height h of the ramp. (5)

[11]
TOTAL: 100

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DATA FOR PHYSICAL SCIENCES GRADE 10
PAPER 1 (PHYSICS)

TABLE 1: PHYSICAL CONSTANTS

NAME SYMBOL VALUE
Acceleration due to gravity g 9,8 m.s-2
Speed of light in a vacuum c 3,0 x 108 m·s-1
Planck's constant h 6,63 x 10-34 J·s
Charge on electron qe -1,6 x 10-19 C
Electron mass me 9,11 x 10-31 kg

TABLE 2: FORMULAE
.
WAVES, SOUND AND LIGHT

1
𝑣 = 𝑓𝜆 or 𝑐 = 𝑓𝜆 𝑇=
𝑓
ℎ𝑐
E = hf 𝐸=
𝜆

ELECTROSTATICS

𝑄1 + 𝑄2
𝑄 = 𝑛 × 𝑞𝑒 𝑄=
2

ELECTRIC CIRCUITS

1 1 1
𝑄 = 𝐼 × ∆𝑡 = + + ⋯.
𝑅𝑝 𝑅1 𝑅2
𝑊
𝑅𝑠 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 + ⋯ 𝑉=
𝑄

MOTION

1
vf = vi + a∆t ∆x = vi ∆t + a∆t2
2
vf + vi
vf 2 = vi 2 + 2a∆x ∆x= ( ) ∆t
2

WORK, ENERGY AND POWER

U = mgh or Ep = mgh 𝐾 = 1⁄2 𝑚𝑣 2 or 𝐸𝑘 = 1⁄2 𝑚𝑣 2

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