NOVEMBER EXAMINATION

PHYSICAL SCIENCES
GRADE 10 - PAPER 1

Examiner: M Grobler Date: 14 November 2024

Moderator: C van Niekerk Time: 2 hours
Marks: 120

Learner’s name:
Educator's name: School:

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY:

1. This question paper consists of 21 pages and a Data Sheet of 2 pages.

Please check that your question paper is complete.

2. Read the questions carefully.

3. Answer ALL the questions on the questions paper.

4. Use the data and formulae whenever necessary.

5. Show your working in all calculations.

6. Appropriate units should be shown in the answer.

7. Answers must be expressed in decimal format.

8. Where appropriate, express answers to TWO decimal places.

9. It is in your own interest to write legibly and to present your work neatly.

10. ONE blank page (page 22) is included at the end of the paper. If you use this extra space,
number the questions answered correctly.

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8 Total

Mark
Moderated
Mark
Question Total 12 17 12 16 11 10 30 12 120
 GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

QUESTION 1 MULTIPLE-CHOICE

Answer these questions on the multiple-choice answer grid below, by making a X in the box
corresponding to the letter that you consider to be correct.

Here, option C has been marked as an example.

A B C D

1.1 A B C D

1.2 A B C D

1.3 A B C D

1.4 A B C D

1.5 A B C D

1.6 A B C D

1.1 Which ONE of the following combinations includes TWO scalar quantities and ONE
vector quantity?

A. Displacement, acceleration, speed

B. Speed, velocity, distance
C. Force, mass, acceleration
D. Displacement, acceleration, velocity

1.2 A car moves east, slows down uniformly, stops, changes direction and accelerates
uniformly. The car's velocity vs time graph will be best represented by:

A. B. C. D.

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GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

1.3 An object is released from the top of a frictionless inclined plane, AB, as shown
below.

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the total mechanical energy of the
object is CORRECT?

A. (Ep + Ek)A ˃ (Ep + Ek)B

B. (Ep + Ek)A ˂ (Ep + Ek)B

C. (Ep + Ek)A = (Ep + Ek)B

D. (Ep + Ek)A = -(Ep + Ek)B

1.4 Four identical balloons, each carrying a charge, are suspended from a ceiling, as
shown in the diagram below.

Balloon B is negatively charged.

Which combination is CORRECT regarding the charges on the balloons?

Sign of charge on A Sign of charge on C Sign of charge on D

A. - + -
B. + + +
C. - - -
D. + + -

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GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

1.5 All light bulbs are identical in the following circuits. In which circuit will the ammeter
reading be the greatest?

A. B.

C. D.

1.6 Which type of wave DOES NOT travel at 3 × 108 m·s-1 in a vacuum?

A. Radio
B. Gamma
C. Microwaves
D. Sound

[6 × 2 = 12]

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 GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

QUESTION 2

Theo drives a motorboat in still water across a dam directly from point A to a jetty at
point C, as shown in the diagram below.

Susan walks 240 m at an average speed of 1,5 m·s-1 across a bridge from point A to point
B and then jogs for 100 m from point B to meet Theo at the jetty at point C.

It takes Susan a total time of 3 minutes to get from point A to the jetty at point C.

The diagram is not to scale:

2.1 Define distance. (1)

2.2 Who travels the greater distance going from point A to point C? (1)

Choose the correct answer from: Theo, Susan, or they both travel the same
distance.

2.3 Calculate the time it took Susan to walk from point A to point B. (3)

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GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

2.4 Calculate Susan's average speed between point B and point C. (3)

2.5 Calculate the magnitude of Susan's displacement. (4)

2.6 Calculate Susan's average velocity from point A to point C. (5)

[17]

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 GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

QUESTION 3

A cyclist is riding WEST along a straight, level road.

The graph below shows how the velocity of the cyclist changes during a short journey.

3.1 Describe the motion of the cyclist from C to Z. (2)

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GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

3.2 Using the graph, calculate the acceleration of the cyclist for the time interval AB. (3)

3.3 Using the graph, determine the distance traveled by the cyclist between (3)
Y and Z.

3.4 Use the axes provided to draw an acceleration-time sketch graph for the cyclist's (4)
journey. Clearly label A, B, Y, C and Z. Only use the time scale on the x-axis, no
scale is needed on the y-axis.

[12]

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 GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

QUESTION 4
-1 -1
Two cars, A and B, are moving at speeds of 15 m·s and 30 m·s in the same direction. They
are side by side when both drivers observe an obstruction ahead of them, as shown in the
diagram below.

-2
Both drivers apply their brakes and accelerate at -4,5 m·s until both cars come to rest.
Ignore the reaction time of the drivers.

4.1 Define acceleration. (2)

4.2 Calculate the:

4.2.1 Time it takes car A to come to rest. (4)

4.2.2 Stopping distance of car A. (4)

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GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

4.3 Which car, A or B, has the longer stopping distance? Support your answer with a (4)
calculation.

4.4 What conclusion can be made about the relationship between speed and stopping (2)
distance?

[16]

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 GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

QUESTION 5

A man, with a mass of 68 kg, jumps off a bridge which is 20 m

above the surface of the water, as shown in the diagram.
Ignore the effects of air resistance.

5.1 Calculate the man's gravitational potential energy just before he jumps from the (3)
bridge.

5.2 State the Principle of Conservation of Mechanical energy. (2)

5.3 Use the Principle in Question 5.2 to calculate the velocity of the man at a height of (6)
12 m below the bridge.

[11]

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GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

QUESTION 6

Two spheres of identical size, and on insulated stands, have the charges QM = +3 nC and
QN = -5 nC, respectively. They are a short distance apart.

6.1 How many electrons are in excess or shortage on sphere M? (4)

6.2 State whether the electrons were transferred TO or FROM sphere M in order to give (1)
it the charge of +3 nC.

6.3 The two spheres are now brought together so that they touch and then are (2)
separated again. What is the final charge on sphere N?

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GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

6.4 What kind of Electrostatic force exists between the two spheres after touching? (1)

Answer only ATTRACTION or REPULSION.

6.5 In which direction did the charges move between the spheres when they touched, (1)
from M to N or from N to M?

6.6 Give a reason for your answer in Question 6.5. (1)

[10]

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 GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

QUESTION 7

7.1 In the circuit below R1 = 4 Ω and R2 = 2 Ω. The resistance of the wires, battery and ammeter
can be ignored.
When both switches, S1 and S2, are closed, the reading on V2 = 4 V.

7.1.1 Define current. (2)

7.1.2 Calculate the effective parallel resistance. (2)

7.1.3 Calculate the reading on ammeter A2 when both switches are closed. (3)

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GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

7.1.4 Calculate the current through the light bulb when both switches are closed. (3)

7.1.5 What happens to the brightness of the bulb when switch S 2 is opened? (1)

Write only: BRIGHTER, DIMMER, STAYS THE SAME or GOES OUT.

7.1.6 Explain your choice in Question 7.1.5. (2)

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GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

7.2 A simple 12 V circuit is set up as shown below, with an unknown resistor R.

The resistance of the wires, battery and ammeter can be ignored.

7.2.1 Calculate the work done by the battery in 2 minutes. (3)

7.2.2 Calculate the resistance of R. (6)

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GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

7.2.3 Will the reading on A2 be GREATER THAN, LESS THAN or EQUAL TO the (1)
reading on A1?

7.2.4 How would the reading on A1 change if the 3 Ω resistor was removed from (1)
the circuit, leaving a gap in its place?

Write only INCREASE, DECREASE or NO EFFECT.

7.3 In an experiment, the following circuit was used. The data measured is shown in the
table and plotted on the graph.

Current (A) Voltage (V)

0,12 0,6
0,26 1,3
0,34 1,7
0,40 2,0

7.3.1 Write an investigative question for this experiment. (2)

7.3.2 State the dependent variable for this investigation. (1)

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GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

7.3.3 Determine the gradient of the graph. (2)

7.3.4 What does the gradient of the graph represent? (1)

[30]

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 GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

QUESTION 8

Waves carry energy from one place to another. A person on a boat ride noticed a buoy
bobbing up and down on the waves.

A graph of a wave is shown below:

8.1 What is the amplitude of the wave shown above? (1)

8.2 This wave has a frequency of 0,33 Hz. Explain what this means. (2)

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 GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

During the boat trip, the passenger struggled with shortness of breath and was admitted to the
hospital. The doctor decided to perform an X-ray of her lungs to try to determine the cause of the
problem. X-rays are part of the electromagnetic spectrum and have a frequency of 1,42 × 1018 Hz
in this case.

8.3 Give one property of electromagnetic waves that makes it unique compared to other (1)
waves.

8.4 X-rays carry energy in discrete packages of energy.

8.4.1 What is the name of these "packages of energy" of which X-rays are made? (1)

8.4.2 Calculate the energy of one of these 'packages of energy' for X-rays. (3)

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 GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

8.5 The following table shows some other forms of electromagnetic waves and their
corresponding wavelengths and frequencies:

Radiation Wavelength (m) Frequency (Hz)

X-rays 2,11 × 10-10 1,42 × 1018

Ultraviolet light 3,00 × 10-7 1,00 × 1015

Visible light 5,13 × 10-6 5,85 × 1013

Infrared light 4,05 × 10-5 7,41 × 1012

Radio waves 6,21 × 102 4,83 × 105

8.5.1 A transmitting station transmits high frequency television waves and much (2)
lower frequency radio waves.

Between the transmitting station and a remote house is a mountain.

Explain why the people in the house can pick up the radio signals, but have
poor television reception.

8.5.2 Explain why UV light causes sunburn and skin damage while visible light does (2)
not.

[12]

TOTAL 120

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 GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCE PAPER I NOVEMBER COMMON EXAM 2024

ADDITIONAL SPACE (ALL QUESTIONS)

REMEMBER TO CLEARLY INDICATE AT THE QUESTION THAT YOU USED THE ADDITIONAL SPACE
TO ENSURE THAT ALL ANSWERS ARE MARKED.

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 EXAMINATION DATA SHEET FOR THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES (GRADE 10 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  108 ms–1
Magnitude of charge on electron e 1,6  10–19 C
Planck's constant h 6,6  10–34 Js

TABLE 2 PHYSICS FORMULAE

MOTION

𝒗+𝒖
v = u + at OR 𝒔=( 𝟐
) 𝒕 OR

vf = vi + a∆t 𝒗𝒇 +𝒗𝒊
∆𝒙 = ( ) ∆𝒕
𝟐

v 2 = u2 + 2as OR 𝟏
𝒔 = 𝒖𝒕 + 𝒂𝒕𝟐 𝑶𝑹
𝟐
vf 2 = vi 2 + 2a∆x
𝟏
∆𝒙 = 𝒗𝒊 ∆𝒕 + 𝒂(∆𝒕)𝟐
𝟐

FORCE, WORK, ENERGY AND POWER

𝟏
F=ma Ep = mgh 𝑬𝒌 = 𝒎𝒗𝟐
𝟐
 ELECTRIC CIRCUITS

𝒒 𝑾
𝑰= 𝑽= 𝒒
𝒕

𝑽 𝑾
𝑹= 𝑷= or W = Pt
𝑰 𝒕

Rs = R1 + R2 + … 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= + +⋯
𝑹𝒑 𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐

W =VIt or W = I 2Rt or 𝑽𝟐
𝑾= t
𝑹

P = VI or P = I 2R or 𝑽𝟐
𝑷=
𝑹

WAVES

hc
c =f E = hf or E=
