ZIMBABWE SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL

General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level

PHYSICAL SCIENCE 5009/4

PAPER 4 Alternative to Practical

NOVEMBER 2010 SESSION 1 hour

1. Fig. 1. shows the apparatus used to illustrate the electrolysis of
concentrated sodium chloride.

Fig. 1.

(a) (i) On the diagram, show by means of an arrow, the

conventional direction of flow of current . [1]

(ii) Which electrode I or II is t he anode? Explain your

answer.
Anode ________________________________

Explanation ________________________________

__________________________________________ [2]

(iii) Name a suitable material that can be used for both

electrodes.
________________________________________ [1]
(b) When the current was passed through the electrolyte, a choking
and irritating smell was detected. The blue litmus paper turned
red then white.

(i) What two properties of the substance at electrode 1 are

shown .

1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________ [2]
 (ii) Write the half equation for the reaction taking place at
electrode 1.
________________________________________ [1]

(iii) Name any three substances that are produced during the
reaction .

1. ___________________________________
2. ___________________________________
3. ___________________________________ [3]
[Total: 10]

2. Fig 2. shows the apparatus used in an experiment to investigate the

speed of a reaction. Pellets of a substance were dropped into the liquid
and a gas was produced.

Fig. 2
(a) Why was cotton wool plug placed in the mouth of the conical
flask?
______________________________________________ [1]
(b) The results of the investigation are shown in Table 2.

Time/min 2 4 6 8 10 12
Loss in 0.48 0.27 0.14 0.12 0.11 0.11
mass/g
 (i) Plot a graph of loss in mass against time on the grid
provided.

[4]
(ii) Use your graph to estimate the loss in mass after 3
minutes.
______________________________________ [1]

(ii) Sketch on the same axis, the curve you would expect if
the investigation was repeated using an equal mass of the
powdered substance.

Explain the shape of the graph.

________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________ [3]
(b) State one other way of making the reaction between a solid and
a liquid faster.
_____________________________________________ [1]
[Total: 10]

3. (a) Fig 3.1 shows two pairs of charged rods.

 Fig. 3.1

(i) On each pair of charged rods, draw an arrow indicating

the direction in which each suspended rod will move
when the other rod is brought closer. [2]

(iii) What conclusion do you deduce from these results?

_________________________________________
_________________________________________ [2]
(b) Fig 3.2 shows a negatively charged flexible plate.

Fig 3.2
Charged polythene and glass rods were each brought close to the
metal cap as shown in Fig 3.3.
 Fig 3.3
(i) What is the effect on the angle θ between the plates, of bringing
the two rods near the cap?
Effect on A ____________________________________
Effect on B ___________________________________ [2]
(ii) Explain what charge each rod possesses.

Polythene rod __________________________________

______________________________________________

Glass rod ____________________________________

______________________________________________ [4]
[Total: 10]

4. Fig 4.1 shows the apparatus used in an experiment to determine the

voltage produced by different electrodes.
 Fig 4.1
After sometime, the voltmeter reading decreases.

(a) (i) State why the reading falls.

________________________________________ [1]

(ii) Describe how the original voltage of the cell can be

restored.
________________________________________
________________________________________ [2]
(iii) State the effect of replacing zinc with iron.

_____________________________________________ [1]

(iv) Give two other disadvantages of this type of cell

1. _________________________________________
2. _________________________________________ [2]

(b) Fig. 4.2 shows an experiment set up to show what happens

when heat falls on two different surfaces.

Fig 4.2
(i) State the main process by which heat travels from the
burner to the surfaces.
_________________________________________ [1]

(ii) State and explain the observation after a short time.

Observation
_________________________________________

Explanation
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________ [3]
[Total: 10]