ST STITHIANS BOYS’ COLLEGE GRADE 12 2022

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES

APRIL TEST
GRADE 12
PHYSICS

DATE: FRIDAY 8 APRIL 2022

MARKS: 130
TIME: 2 HOURS
EXAMINER: Physical Sciences Department
MODERATOR: Mr R Henning

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Please make sure that your question paper is complete. There are 12 pages.

2. Answer ALL the questions on the answer booklet provided.

3. RULE OFF USING A RULER BETWEEN MAIN QUESTIONS.

4. A Data Sheet is included in the answer booklet.

5. Two Graph Sheets are included in the answer booklet. These are to be used in
questions 2.6 and 3.4.

6. Read the questions carefully. Number your answers exactly as the questions are
numbered.

7. It is in your own interest to write legibly and to set your work out neatly.

8. Show all your working and give all calculated answers to 2 decimal places.

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ST STITHIANS BOYS’ COLLEGE GRADE 12 2022

QUESTION 1

For each of the following questions, four possible answers are given. Choose the
most correct answer and only write the QUESTION NUMBER and the LETTER of
the correct answer in the answer booklet.

1.1 A car is moving north at CONSTANT velocity. At this instant, which of these
physical quantities associated with the car must also be directed north?

A Velocity and momentum.

B Velocity and acceleration.
C Velocity, momentum and acceleration.
D Velocity, momentum, acceleration and net force.

1.2 Which of the following sets of graphs represent the same motion?

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ST STITHIANS BOYS’ COLLEGE GRADE 12 2022

1.3 During an experiment, two iron balls of mass m and 2m are dropped from the
same height at the same instant in the absence of air resistance. When they
are 1 m above the ground, they have the same …

A inertia.
B momentum.
C acceleration.
D potential energy.

1.4 The velocity versus time graph below represents the movement of an object
that is initially projected vertically upward. Ignore the effects of friction. The
maximum height that the object reaches above the projection point is given
by…

v
Velocity (m.s-1)

3t
t Time (s)

-2v

1
A 𝑣𝑡
2

B Zero
C 2𝑣𝑡
2
D 𝑣𝑡
3

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ST STITHIANS BOYS’ COLLEGE GRADE 12 2022

1.5 The force diagram below a container at rest on a slope.

W
30o

Which one of the following is correct for the magnitude of the frictional force?

A Ff = Fg sin 30o
B Ff = Fg cos 30o
C Ff = FN cos 30o
D Ff = FN sin 30o

1.6 The mass of a planet is twice that of the Earth. Its radius is half that of the
radius of the Earth. The gravitational field at the surface of the Earth is g. The
gravitational field at the surface of the planet is:

A g
B 2g
C 4g
D 8g

1.7 A 5 kg object, initially at rest, explodes into two pieces of masses 1 kg

and 4 kg respectively.
How does the speed of the 1kg piece compare to that of the 4kg?

A It is four times greater

B It is five times greater.
C It is one quarter as large
D It is one fifth as large

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ST STITHIANS BOYS’ COLLEGE GRADE 12 2022

1.8 The diagram below shows a cricket player moving his hands downwards from
position 1 to 2 to 3 while catching a ball.

2
3

Which ONE of the following statements CORRECTLY explains why the cricket
player moves his hands downwards?

A The impulse on the ball is decreased.

B The change in momentum of the ball is increased
C The change in momentum of the ball is decreased.
D The time it takes to change the momentum of the ball is increased.

1.9 An AC electric motor has a power rating of 1,2 kW. How much work is done
by the motor in 2 minutes?

A 1 200 J
B 24 kJ
C 600 J
D 2,4 kJ
[9 x 2 = 18]

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ST STITHIANS BOYS’ COLLEGE GRADE 12 2022

QUESTION 2

A ball is thrown vertically upwards from a height of 0,6 m above the ground. It
passes a bridge, which is 21 m higher than the point from which the ball was thrown.
The ball hits the surface of the bridge 3,1 s after it was thrown. The ball bounces
once and then comes to rest. Ignore the effects of air resistance. Assume that the
motion of the ball takes place in the vertical plane; there is no sideways motion.

2.1 Define the term displacement. (2)

2.2 What is the acceleration of the ball when it reaches its maximum height? (2)
2.3 Calculate the speed at which the ball was thrown. (4)
2.4 Calculate the maximum height reached by the ball above the ground. (4)
2.5 Is the collision between the ball and the surface of the bridge ELASTIC
or INELASTIC? Give a reason for your answer. (2)
2.6 Sketch a displacement-time graph for the complete motion of the ball,
from the instant it was thrown upwards until it comes to rest. Use the
surface of the bridge as the zero position. Indicate the following on the
graph and ensure critical values are shown on your graph:
• The position of the ball when it is thrown.
• The maximum height reached by the ball.
• The time at which the ball hits the bridge for the first time. (5)
[19]

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ST STITHIANS BOYS’ COLLEGE GRADE 12 2022

QUESTION 3

A ball X of mass 50 g is thrown vertically downwards with a kinetic energy of 2,704 J

from a point P, above the ground as shown below. At the same instant, a second
identical ball Y is dropped from a point Q, which is located below point P. Ball Y
strikes the ground with a velocity of 19,6 m·s -1. Both balls hit the ground at the same
time. Ignore the effects of friction and take downward direction as POSITIVE.

3.1 Describe the term free fall. (2)

3.2 Calculate the time taken for ball Y to reach the ground. (3)
3.3 Calculate the speed with which ball X strikes the ground. (5)
3.4 On the same system of axes, sketch the velocity-time graph for the entire
motion of both balls X and Y. Indicate the following values on your graph:
• The time taken for the balls to strike the ground
• The initial and final velocity of ball X
• The initial and final velocity of ball Y (5)
[15]

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ST STITHIANS BOYS’ COLLEGE GRADE 12 2022

QUESTION 4

A 20 kg block, resting on a rough horizontal surface, is connected to blocks P and Q

by a light inextensible string moving over a frictionless pulley. Blocks P and Q are
glued together and have a combined mass of m.

A force of 55 N is now applied to the 20 kg block at an angle of 40° with the horizontal,
as shown below.

The 20 kg block experiences a frictional force of magnitude 5 N as it moves to

the LEFT at an acceleration of 0,15 m.s-2.

4.1 State Newton’s 2nd Law of motion. (2)

4.2 Draw a labelled free body diagram of the forces on the 20 kg block. (4)
4.3 Calculate the combined mass m of the two blocks, P and Q. (5)
4.4 At a certain stage of the motion, block Q breaks off and falls down.
How will each of the following be affected, when this happens? Choose
from INCREASES, DECREASES or REMAINS THE SAME.
4.4.1 The tension in the string. (1)
4.4.2 The velocity of the 20 kg block. Explain your answer. (3)
[15]

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ST STITHIANS BOYS’ COLLEGE GRADE 12 2022

QUESTION 5

5.1 The system below is in equilibrium and barely remains stationary. The angle
between T1 and the wall is 400.

T1

T2

T3

5.1.1 Draw a triangle of forces for the above system and include all
angles. (3)
5.1.2 Define normal force. (2)
5.1.3 Calculate the coefficient of static friction for the 15 kg block. (5)

5.2 The motor of the boat provides a pushing force to the boat by rotating its
propellers.

5.2.1 State Newton’s Third Law of motion. (2)

5.2.2 Describe the action-reaction pair that allows the propeller to drive
the boat forward through the water. (3)

5.3 A 200 kg rock lies on the surface of a planet. The acceleration due to gravity
on the surface of the planet is 5,8 m.s-2.
Calculate the mass of the planet if its radius is 720 km. (4)
[19]

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ST STITHIANS BOYS’ COLLEGE GRADE 12 2022

QUESTION 6

6.1 A goods train is being assembled in a yard. Car 2 with a mass of 92,000 kg
and moving at a speed of 1,3 m.s-1 collides with Car 1 of mass of 65,000 kg
that is moving at a speed of 0,80 m.s-1 as shown in the diagram below. The
two cars joined together after collision. Ignore the effects of friction.

6.1.1 State the law of conservation of momentum. (2)

6.1.2 Calculate the velocity of the cars after collision. (4)
6.1.3 Determine, by using appropriate equations, whether the collision
between the two cars are elastic or inelastic. (4)

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ST STITHIANS BOYS’ COLLEGE GRADE 12 2022

6.2 In the game of snooker, the cue strikes ball A of mass 0,40 kg with
a force of 65 N as shown in the diagram below. Ball A rolls across the table
and collides with ball B of mass 0,30 kg.

F = 65 N

The momentum against time sketch graph is drawn as shown above for
ball A from the moment it is struck by the cue (t = 0s), as it leaves the cue
(t = t1) and as it collides with ball B (t = 0,25s).

6.2.1 Define impulse. (2)

6.2.2 Use the information on the graph to:

(a) Calculate the value of t1. (4)

(b) Explain whether the table surface is smooth or rough. (3)
(c) Calculate the velocity of ball B immediately after the
collision. (4)
[23]

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ST STITHIANS BOYS’ COLLEGE GRADE 12 2022

QUESTION 7

A 2 kg box is released from rest at point P, 5 m above the ground. It slides down a
smooth frictionless curved track PQ. See the diagram below.

7.1 State the principle of conservation of Mechanical Energy in words. (2)

7.2 Calculate the speed of the box as it passes point Q. (4)

The box passes point Q and moves 10 m on a rough horizontal surface before
striking a barrier at point R at a speed of 4 m.s-1.

7.3 State the Work-Energy theorem. (2)

7.4 Calculate the work done by the frictional force. (3)
7.5 Calculate the magnitude of the frictional force acting on the block as it
slides across surface QR. (3)

The barrier exerts an impulse of 14 N.s to the LEFT on the box when the box
strikes the barrier. The impact lasts for 10 ms.

7.6 Calculate the change in kinetic energy of the box after striking the barrier. (4)
7.7 Calculate the average power the box experiences from the collision with
the barrier. (3)
[21]
TOTAL: 130

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