Directorate: Curriculum FET

PHYSICAL SCIENCES
REVISION BOOKLET and
MARKING GUIDELINES
TERM 1

Grade 11

This revision program is designed to assist you in revising the critical

content and skills covered during the 1st term. The purpose is to
prepare you to understand the key concepts and to provide you with
an opportunity to establish the required standard and the application
of the knowledge necessary to succeed in the NCS examination.
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The revision program covers the following topics:

1. Forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion. Pg. 2 – 8

• Questions 1 - 5 Pg. 3 – 8

2. Forces and Newton’s Law of Universal Gravisitation. Pg. 8 – 9

• Questions 6.1 – 6.2

Marking guidelines Pg. 6 – 21

Newton's laws and application thereof.

• The normal force, N, is the force or the component of a force which a surface exerts
on an object with which it is in contact, and which is perpendicular to the surface.

• The frictional force, f, is the force that opposes the motion of an object and which
acts parallel to the surface.

• The static frictional force, fs, is the force that opposes the tendency of motion of a
stationary object relative to a surface.

• Define kinetic frictional force, fk, as the force that opposes the motion of a moving
object relative to a surface.

• Newton's first law of motion: A body will remain in its state of rest or motion at
constant velocity unless a non-zero resultant/net force acts on it.

• Newton's second law of motion: When a resultant/net force acts on an object, the
object will accelerate in the direction of the force at an acceleration directly
proportional to the force and inversely proportional to the mass of the object.

• Newton's third law of motion: When one body exerts a force on a second body, the
second body exerts a force of equal magnitude in the opposite direction on the first
body.

Read and learn the above statements and laws which underpin this section on
Newton’s laws. Do only the first question and verify your answers and method with the
marking guidelines at the end of the document.
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QUESTION 1

Block A, which is at rest on a horizontal rough surface, is used as an anchor

to hold block B, with a mass of 56 kg, in the air at a certain height above the
ground. The two blocks are connected with rope R, which makes an angle of
35° with the vertical. Block B is suspended from the ceiling with cable C.
Refer to the diagram below.

C A
35 °
R

56 kg B

Block A experiences a frictional force of magnitude 200 N. The system is stationary.

1.1.1 Define the term resultant vector. (2)

1.1.2 What is the magnitude of the resultant force acting on block B? (1)

1.1.3 Draw a labelled free-body diagram indicating all the forces acting on (3)
block B.

1.1.4 Determine the horizontal component of the force in rope R. (1)

1.1.5 Calculate the vertical component of the force in cable C. (4)

1.1.6 Calculate the angle θ between the cable and the ceiling. (2)

[13]

Revise the section on vectors and bearing as this forms the basis of vector diagrams.
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Attempt question 2 before you confirm the answers on the marking guidelines.

QUESTION 2

Three forces, P, Q and R, of magnitudes 500 N, 200 N and 300 N respectively, act
on a point O in the directions shown in the diagram below.

The forces are NOT drawn to scale.

P = 500 N

y
10 ο
Q = 200 N

30 ο
O x
60 ο

R = 300 N

2.1.1 Refer to the information in the diagram above and give a reason why forces
P, Q and R are classified as vectors. (2)

2.1.2 Determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant force, either by
CALCULATION or by ACCURATE CONSTRUCTION AND
MEASUREMENT.
(Use scale 10 mm = 50 N.) (8)
[10]
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QUESTION 3
The Grade 11 experiment is suggested as Newton’s second law. The relationship
between the net force and acceleration. This practical is examinable.

Learners investigate the relationship between net force and acceleration by

pulling a trolley across a surface which is slightly inclined to compensate for
friction. The trolley is connected to different masses by a string of negligible
mass. The string passes over a frictionless pulley. Refer to the diagram below.

trolley
tape

ticker - timer
mass

Ticker-tape attached to the trolley passes through the ticker-timer. The

acceleration of the trolley is determined by analysing the ticker-tape. The
results of the net force produced by the different masses and the acceleration
of the trolley were recorded in the table below.

NET FORCE (N) a (m∙s-2)

0,3 0,36
0,6 0,73
0,9 1,09
1,2 1,45

3.1.1 Write down a hypothesis for this experiment. (2)

3.1.1.1 Identify the independent variable. (1)

3.1.1.2 Identify the controlled variable. (1)

3.1.2 Use the graph paper on the ANSWER SHEET and draw a graph of the
acceleration versus net force. (4)

3.1.3 Calculate the gradient of the graph. (3)

2.1.4 Use the gradient of the graph calculated in QUESTION 3.1.3 to

determine
the mass of the trolley. (2)
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QUESTION 4

A constant force, F, pulls a 50 kg block at a constant speed over a rough

horizontal surface, AB, as shown in the diagram below. The coefficient of
kinetic friction (μk) between the block and the surface is 0,4.

o
50 kg 20

A B

4.1.1 Draw a labelled free-body diagram showing ALL the forces acting on the
block. (4)

4.1.2 State Newton's first law of motion in words. (2)

Calculate the magnitude of the:

4.1.3 Force F (6)

4.1.4 Normal force (2)

4.1.5 Frictional force (2)

The same constant force, F, is now applied to the block over the same rough horizontal
surface as before, but in the direction shown below.

F
o
20
50 kg

A B

4.1.6 Give a reason why the block will move slower than before. (2)
[18]
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QUESTION 5

5.1 In the diagram below, a 2 kg block is connected to a 1 kg block by

means of a light inextensible string. The blocks are pulled up an
inclined plane, which forms an angle of 28o to the horizontal. The
sides of the blocks which touch the inclined plane have the same
area.

30 N

1 kg
2 kg
o
28

The kinetic frictional force between the 1 kg block and the inclined
plane is 4 N while the kinetic frictional force between the 2 kg block
and the inclined plane is 8 N.

5.1.1 Draw a labelled free-body diagram showing ALL the forces acting
on the 1 kg block. (5)

5.1.2 State Newton's second law of motion in words. (2)

5.1.3 Calculate the magnitude of the tension in the string connecting the
blocks. (5)

The two blocks are interchanged so that the SAME 30 N force is now
acting on the 2 kg block along the inclined plane, as shown in the diagram
below.

30 N

2 kg

1 kg
28 o

5.1.4 How will the acceleration of the system change? Write down only
INCREASE, DECREASE or REMAIN THE SAME. (1)
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5.1.5 How will the tension in the string connecting the two blocks
change? Write down only INCREASE, DECREASE or REMAIN
THE SAME. (1)

Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation.

• Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation: Each body in the universe attracts every
other body with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses
and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centres.

• Weight Is the gravitational force the Earth exerts on any object on or near its
surface.

QUESTION 6

Two satellites orbiting the Earth are situated on opposite sides of the Earth. Satellite A
has a mass of 3 800 kg and Satellite B has a mass of 4 500 kg. Satellite A is at a height
of 25 000 km above the surface of the Earth.

Earth

Satellite A
Satellite B

6.1.1 State Newton's Universal Gravitational Law in words. (2)

6.1.2 Explain the term weightlessness. (2)

6.1.3 Calculate the force between the Earth and Satellite A. (4)

6.1.4 What distance above the surface of the Earth should Satellite B be
to experience the same force towards the Earth as Satellite A?

Choose from: GREATER THAN, LESS THAN or EQUAL TO the

distance above the Earth. Explain how you arrived at the answer. (4)
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Question 6.2

Gravitational force exists between the sun and the Earth.

6.2.1 State Newton's law of Universal Gravitation in words. (2)

6.2.2 The mass of the sun is 330 000 times greater than that of the Earth. The
distance between the centres of the sun and the Earth is 1,38 x 10 9 m.
Calculate the gravitational force that the sun exerts on the Earth.
(4)

6.2.3 How will the gravitational force that the Earth exerts on the Sun compare to
the answer to QUESTION 6.3.2? Write only GREATER THAN, LESS THAN
OR
EQUAL TO. Give a reason for the answer. (2)
[8]
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QUESTION 1

1.1.1

1.1.2

1.1.3

1.1.4

1.1.5

1.1.6
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QUESTION 2

2.1.1

2.1.2
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QUESTION 3.1

3.1.1

3.1.1.1

3.1.1.2

3.1.2
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3.1.3

3.1.4
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QUESTION 4

4.1.1
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4.1.2

4.1.3

4.1.4

4.1.5

4.1.6
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QUESTION 5

5.1

5.1.2
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5.1.3

5.1.4

5.1.5
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QUESTION 6
6.1.1

6.1.2

6.1.3
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6.1.4
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QUESTION 6.2

6.2.1

6.2.2

6.2.3