NATIONAL
SENIOR CERTIFICATE
GRADE 12
SEPTEMBER 2025
PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1
MARKS: 150
TIME: 3 hours
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Physical Sciences Grade 12 P1 Eastern Cape Mock 2025 QP
Grade 12 Physical Sciences Paper 1 question paper from the Eastern Cape Mock Exam 2025 (English), 22 pages. Read online or download the free PDF.
Physical Sciences · Grade 12 · Eastern Cape Mock Exam · 2025 · English. Question paper, 22 pages. Read online or download the PDF.
- Subject
- Physical Sciences
- Grade
- Grade 12
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- English
- Document type
- Question paper
- Year
- 2025
- Exam period
- Eastern Cape Mock Exam
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- 1
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- CAPS
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2 PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1 (EC/SEPTEMBER 2025)
INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION
1. This question paper consists of 10 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. You may use a non-programmable calculator.
5. Leave ONE line between TWO sub-questions, for example QUESTION 2.1
and QUESTION 2.2.
6. You are advised to use the attached DATA SHEETS.
7. Show ALL formulae and substitutions in ALL calculations.
8. Round off your FINAL numerical answers to a minimum of TWO decimal
places.
9. Give brief motivations, discussions, et cetera where required.
10. All diagrams are NOT necessarily drawn according to scale.
11. Write neatly and legibly.
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(EC/SEPTEMBER 2025) PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1 3
QUESTION 1: MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
Various options are provided as possible answers to the following questions. question
Choose the answer and write only the letter (A–D) next to the question numbers
(1.1 to 1.10) in the ANSWER BOOK, for example 1.11 D.
1.1 A student throws a basketball vertically upwards into the air. She catches the
ball 10 s later at the same height from which she threw it.
Which ONE of the following statements is INCORRECT with regards to the
above situation?
A The velocity of the ball decreases as it moves upwards.
B The velocity of the ball is zero when it reaches its maximum height.
C The ball returns to the student’s hands with the same speed with which
she threw the ball upwards.
D The acceleration of the ball as it goes upwards is equal to the acceleration
of the ball as it falls downwards but in the opposite direction. (2)
1.2 When a car moves at a constant velocity, it means that the net force acting on
the car is zero. This phenomenon is best explained by …
A Newton’s 1st law of motion.
B Newton’s 2nd law of motion.
C Newton’s 3rd law of motion.
D Newton’s law of Universal Gravitation. (2)
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4 PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1 (EC/SEPTEMBER 2025)
1.3 The diagram below shows a compressed spring between two trolleys, initially at
rest, on a horizontal, frictionless surface. Trolley A has a mass of 2 kg and trolley
B has a mass of 1 kg. A string holds the trolleys together.
The spring is cut and the trolleys move apart. In comparison to the magnitude of
the force the spring exerts on trolley A, the magnitude of the force the spring
exerts on trolley B is …
A half as great.
B twice as great.
C the same.
D four times as great. (2)
1.4 Two masses MA and MB are placed at a distance r apart. A third mass MC
3
experiences a ZERO resultant horizontal gravitational force when it is placed r
4
from MA on the line between MA and MB.
MA 3 MB
r
4
MC
r
The ratio of the two masses MA : MB are:
A 16 : 1
B 4:3
C 3:1
D 9:1 (2)
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(EC/SEPTEMBER 2025) PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1 5
1.5 An object moves in a straight line on a ROUGH horizontal surface. If the net
work done on the object is ZERO, then …
A the object moves at constant speed.
B the object has ZERO kinetic energy.
C the object moves with constant acceleration.
D there is no frictional force acting on the object. (2)
1.6 The siren of an ambulance travelling down a straight road at constant speed emits
sound waves of frequency 700 Hz. A man sitting next to the road notices that the
frequency (pitch) of the sound changes as the ambulance moves towards him.
Which ONE of the following frequency vs time graphs best shows the frequency
of the sound observed (heard) by the man?
(2)
1.7 Three small identical spheres, X, Y and Z are charged as shown in the diagram
below. The distance between sphere Y and Z is h.
For sphere Y to experience a ZERO resultant electrostatic force, the distance
between X and Y must be …
A 2 h.
B ½ h.
C ¼ h.
D 4 h. (2)
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6 PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1 (EC/SEPTEMBER 2025)
1.8 In the circuit diagrams shown below all resistors and cells are identical.
Which ONE of the following gives the correct comparison between the voltmeter
and ammeter readings in the circuit diagrams P and Q above?
VOLTMETER READING AMMETER READING
A VP ˃ VQ Ap ˃ A Q
B VP ˃ VQ Ap ˂ A Q
C VP ˂ VQ Ap = A Q
D VP = VQ Ap ˂ A Q
(2)
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(EC/SEPTEMBER 2025) PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1 7
1.9 Two strong magnet bars are arranged with the north and south poles facing each
other as shown in the diagram below. A current-carrying conductor carries
conventional current into the plane of the paper is placed between the poles of the
two magnets.
R
SOUTH P Q NORTH
S
The conductor will experience a force towards …
A P.
B Q.
C R.
D S.
1.10 Which ONE of the following graphs best represents the relationship between the
maximum kinetic energy of the emitted photo-electrons and the intensity of the
incident radiation?
(2)
[20]
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8 PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1 (EC/SEPTEMBER 2025)
QUESTION 2 (Start on a NEW page.)
A block A of mass 5 kg, is connected by a light inextensible string of negligible mass
over a light, frictionless pulley to block B, with a mass of 3 kg. Block A slides horizontally
on a rough surface, while block B accelerates vertically downwards at 2 m·s-2 as shown
in the diagram below. (Ignore air friction)
2.1 State Newton’s First Law of motion in words. (2)
2.2 Draw a free-body diagram showing ALL the forces acting on block B. (2)
2.3 Give a reason why block B is accelerating downward. (1)
2.4 Calculate the:
2.4.1 Magnitude of the frictional force acting on object A (5)
2.4.2 Coefficient of kinetic friction between block A and the surface (3)
2.5 Identify ONE, Newton’s Third Law, action-reaction force pair that is acting on
block B. (2)
[15]
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(EC/SEPTEMBER 2025) PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1 9
QUESTION 3 (Start on a NEW page.)
A ball A, is thrown vertically downwards, with an initial speed of 2,5 m.s-1, from a point
X above the ground. At the same instant, a second identical ball B is dropped from a
point Y which is located 5,2 m below point X.
BALL A
X
5,2 m
BALL B
Y
GROUND
Both balls hit the ground at the same time. Ignore the effects of air friction.
3.1 Define the term free fall. (2)
3.2 Calculate the:
3.2.1 Time taken by the balls to hit the ground (5)
3.2.2 Velocity with which ball A strikes the ground (3)
3.3.3 Height of point Y above the ground (3)
3.3 On the same system of axes, sketch the relevant velocity-time graphs for the
entire motion of both balls A and B.
• Indicate on your graph the corresponding velocity and time values.
• Label your graphs. (4)
[17]
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10 PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1 (EC/SEPTEMBER 2025)
QUESTION 4 (Start on a NEW page.)
A truck of mass 4 000 kg is travelling at 32,17 m∙s−1 to the right on a straight horizontal
road. At the same time a car of mass 2 000 kg is travelling at 25 m∙s−1 in the same
direction ahead of the truck as shown in the diagram below.
The truck collided with the car and the two vehicles stick together and move as one
unit. Ignore the effects of friction.
4.1 State the principle of conservation of linear momentum in words. (2)
4.2 Calculate the velocity of the truck-car-system immediately after the collision. (4)
4.3 Is the collision between the truck and the car ELASTIC or INELASTIC? (1)
4.4 On impact the truck exerts a force of magnitude F on the car.
4.4.1 Will the magnitude of the force that the car exerts on the truck, on
impact, be GREATER THAN, LESS THAN or EQUAL TO, F? (1)
4.4.2 Name and state a relevant physics law that explains the answer to
QUESTION 4.4.1. (3)
[11]
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(EC/SEPTEMBER 2025) PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1 11
QUESTION 5 (Start on a NEW page.)
A constant force F is applied to a crate of mass 20 kg to move it upwards along a
frictionless inclined plane. The speed of the crate at point A and point B is 13,5 m·s-1 and
12,2 m·s-1 respectively. The distance between point A and point B is 4,2 m as shown in
the diagram below.
5.1 Draw a labelled free-body diagram showing ALL the forces acting on the crate
while it is moving up the incline. (3)
5.2 Is mechanical energy conserved during this motion? Write down YES or NO and
briefly explain the answer. (2)
5.3 Write down the name of the conservative force that acts on the crate. (1)
5.4 Give a reason why the normal force does no work on the crate during its
movement up the incline. (1)
5.5 In which direction does the net force act on the crate as it moves up the incline?
Write only FROM A TO B or FROM B TO A. (1)
5.6 Use energy principles to calculate the magnitude of the force F. (5)
[13]
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12 PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1 (EC/SEPTEMBER 2025)
QUESTION 6 (Start on a NEW page.)
A car that is initially at rest has its radio playing music. The diagram below (not drawn to
scale) represents the sound wave fronts arising from a musical note of frequency 440 Hz,
spreading out from the car.
The speed of sound in air is 330 m·s-1
Stationary source
6.1 Calculate the wavelength of the sound wave. (3)
6.2 What is the frequency of the note as heard by an observer at point A? (1)
The car now moves at a constant speed of 8 m·s-1. The wave fronts reach the stationary
observer at A as shown in the diagram below.
Moving source
6.3 State the Doppler effect in words. (2)
6.4 At what speed are the wave fronts progressing towards the observer? (1)
6.5 Calculate the frequency of the note as heard by the observer at point A. (5)
[12]
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(EC/SEPTEMBER 2025) PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1 13
QUESTION 7 (Start on a NEW page.)
In the diagram below, a point charge, Q2, with a charge of -5 nC is placed 8 mm east of
an identical point charge Q1. Point X is a distance d east of Q2.
7.1 Define the term electric field at a point in words. (2)
7.2 Draw an electric field pattern between Q1 and Q2. (3)
7.3 The electric field at point X, due to ONLY Q1, is 5,22 x 105 N·C-1 west.
Calculate the distance d. (4)
A third charge Q3 of -6 nC is now placed 12 mm due north of charge Q1 as
shown in the diagram below.
7.4 State Coulomb’s law in words. (2)
7.5 Calculate the magnitude of the net electrostatic force experienced by
charge, Q1 due to the presence of the other two charges Q2 and Q3. (6)
[17]
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14 PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1 (EC/SEPTEMBER 2025)
QUESTION 8 (Start on a NEW page.)
Grade 12 learners conducted an experiment to determine the INTERNAL RESISTANCE
of a battery. The learners were divided into two groups:
Group 1 used battery 1 with an internal resistance r1.
Group 2 used battery 2 with an internal resistance r2.
The results of each group are shown in the graph below:
8.1 Explain why the voltmeter reading across the battery decreases as the current
increases. Use appropriate equation(s) in Physics in your explanation. (4)
8.2. Which group, 1 or 2, used a battery with greater internal resistance? (1)
8.3 Use the graph to determine the internal resistance of the battery used by
learners in group 1. (3)
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(EC/SEPTEMBER 2025) PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1 15
Three resistors, 4 Ω, 8 Ω and Rx are connected to a battery as shown in the circuit
diagram below. When switch S is open the reading on the voltmeter is 12 V. When
switch S is closed the reading on the voltmeter is 10 V and the reading on the
ammeter is 1,5 A.
8.4 State Ohm’s law in words. (2)
In the circuit diagram above, switch S is now closed.
8.5 Calculate the resistance of the unknown resistor Rx. (6)
8.6 Calculate the internal resistance of the battery.
After a while, the 4 Ω resistor gets hotter than the 8 Ω resistor. (3)
8.7 Fully explain this observation. (3)
[22]
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16 PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1 (EC/SEPTEMBER 2025)
QUESTION 9 (Start on a NEW page.)
Graphs of the current and potential difference outputs of an AC generator are shown
below.
9.1 Define the term root mean square value (rms) of an AC voltage. (2)
9.2 Write down the energy conversion that takes place in an AC generator. (1)
9.3 Give ONE reason why AC voltage is preferred to DC voltage for everyday
use. (1)
9.4 Calculate the average power output of this generator. (6)
[10]
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(EC/SEPTEMBER 2025) PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1 17
QUESTION 10 (Start on a NEW page.)
The diagram below shows a circuit in which a photocell is irradiated alternately
with red and blue light to demonstrate the photo-electric effect.
10.1 An ammeter reading is recorded when the photocell is irradiated with red
light. Give an explanation for this observation. (2)
Blue light with the same intensity as the red light is now used to irradiate the metal
in the photocell. How will this affect the following?
10.2 The kinetic energy of the photo-electrons (Write down only INCREASE,
DECREASE or STAYS THE SAME.) (1)
10.3 The ammeter reading. (Write down only INCREASE, DECREASE or
STAYS THE SAME.)
Fully explain your answer. (4)
10.4 The wavelength of the blue light used in the demonstration is 4,5 x 10-7 m.
Calculate the threshold frequency (cut-off frequency) of the metal used in
the photo cell if the average speed of an emitted photo-electron is equal to
4,78 x 105 m·s-1. (6)
[13]
TOTAL: 150
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18 PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1 (EC/SEPTEMBER 2025)
DATA FOR PHYSICAL SCIENCES GRADE 12
PAPER 1 (PHYSICS)
GEGEWENS VIR FISIESE WETENSKAPPE GRAAD 12
VRAESTEL 1 (FISIKA)
TABLE 1: PHYSICAL CONSTANTS/TABEL 1: FISIESE KONSTANTES
SYMBOL/
NAME/NAAM VALUE/WAARDE
SIMBOOL
Acceleration due to gravity /
g 9,8 m•s-2
Swaartekragversnelling
Universal gravitational constant /
G 6,67 × 10-11 N•m2.kg-2
Universelegravitasiekonstant
Mass of earth / Massa op aarde M 5,98 × 1024 kg
Radius of earth / Radius van aarde RE 6,38 × 106 m
Speed of light in a vacuum / Spoed van lig in ʼn
c 3,0 × 108 m•s-1
vakuum
Planck's constant / Planck se konstante h 6,63 × 10-34 J•s
Coulomb's constant / Coulomb se konstante k 9,0 × 109 N•m2•C-2
Charge on electron / Lading op elektron e -1,6 × 10-19 C
Electron mass / Elektronmassa me 9,11 × 10-31 kg
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(EC/SEPTEMBER 2025) PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1 19
TABLE 2: FORMULAE/TABEL 2: FORMULES
MOTION/BEWEGING
v f = vi + a t Δx = v i Δt + 21 at 2 or/of Δy = v i Δt + 21 at 2
v + vf v + vf
v f = v i + 2ax or/of v f = v i + 2ay
2 2 2 2
Δx = i Δt or/of Δy = i Δt
2 2
FORCE/KRAG
Fnet = ma p= mv
fsmax = µsN f k = µk N
Fnett = p
w = mg
p = mv f − mv i
Gm 1 m2 M
F = 2 g = G d2
d
WORK, ENERGY AND POWER/ARBEID, ENERGIE EN DRYWING
W = Fx cos U = mgh or/of E P = mgh
Wnet = K or/of Wnet = Ek
1 1
K= mv 2 or/of Ek = mv 2
2 2
K = K f − K i or/of Ek = Ekf − Eki
W
Wnc = K + U or/of Wnc = Ek + Ep P=
t
Pav = Fv
WAVES, SOUND AND LIGHT/GOLWE, KLANK EN LIG
1
v=f T=
f
v vL v vL c
fL = fs fL = fb E = hf or/of E = h
v vs v vb
E = Wo + Ek(max) where/waar
1 1
E = hf and/en W0 = hf 0 and/en E k (max) = 2
mv max or/of K max = mv max
2
2 2
ELECTROSTATICS/ELEKTROSTATIKA
kQ 1Q 2 kQ
F= E=
r2 r2
W F
V= E=
q q
Q
n=
qe
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20 PHYSICAL SCIENCES P1 (EC/SEPTEMBER 2025)
ELECTRIC CIRCUITS/ELEKTRIESE STROOMBANE
emf ( ε ) = I(R + r)
V
R=
I
emk ( ε ) = I(R + r)
Rs = R1 + R2 + ...
1 1
= +
1
+ ... q=I t
R p R1 R 2
W
W = Vq P=
Δt
W = VI t
P = VI
W= I2R t
P = I 2R
W= V Δt
2
V2
R P=
R
ALTERNATING CURRENT/WISSELSTROOM
𝐼 I Paverage = Vrms I rms / Pgemiddeld= Vwgk I wgk
𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥 / I wgk = maks
√2 2 Paverage = I rms
2
R / Pgemiddeld= I 2wgkR
Vmax 2
Vrms = / Vwgk =
Vmaks
V2 Pgemiddeld=
Vwgk
Paverage = rms /
2 2 R R
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