*** Christmas wishes 2015 ***

To all the physical science teachers and learners in Lejweleputswa, all subject adviser colleagues in the province and district and all other readers of this blog; may all of you have a lovely Christmas with lots of blessings and joy. It is such a special time of the year. Enjoy it!

"Old" technology can keep up with times

A lesson to those who often look down at "old" things. US bomber aircraft first built in 1960 are still used today. Here is a picture of one of them, the Memphis Belle.

Picture from http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-33766644

The full article is available here.

WhatsApp versus SMS: What does it cost?

All of us use WhatsApp and SMS. Look at this interesting article about the costs involved.

Adjustment of marks in grade 10 and 11 for physical sciences: November examination

An important circular that addresses the adjustment of marks in grades 10 and 11 for the recent November examinations in physical sciences is available here.

Submission of mark sheets for grades 10 and 11

Please email your spreadsheet (mark sheet) to your subject adviser as soon as you have finished the marking of the grade 10 and 11 November examinations.

Comments on November Grade 10 (P2)

Any comments on the above-mentioned paper or clarity on the memorandum?

The memo for this paper is available here.

Comments on November Grade 10 (P1)

Any comments on the above-mentioned paper or clarity on the memorandum?

The memo for this paper is available here.

Memo corrections and additions
See comments below.

Comments on November Grade 11 (P1)

Any comments on the above-mentioned paper or clarity on the memorandum?

The memo for this paper is available here.

Memo corrections and additions

Q7.3: This question cannot be solved. The refractive index of the cladding was not given, hence the solution in the memo is invalid. What action should you take? Ignore this question; don't mark it and use 147 as total for the paper.

Comments on November Grade 11 (P2)

Any comments on the above-mentioned paper or clarity on the memorandum?

The memo for this paper is available here.

November examinations for grades 10 and 11

From today, these grades will write their national common papers. Best wishes with this exercise to all our learners and teachers.

You are welcome to comment on anything concerning these papers, including clarity on the memoranda. Let us keep the comments applicable to a specific paper together.

On the day of writing, a post will appear at 08:00 with space for you to comment on a specific paper. If you struggle to enter your comment, you can also send an email to the blogmaster (address on home page - top to the left).

Are you interested in comments on the final grade 12 papers?

We hope to get useful comments on Friday's paper (6 Nov.) as well as the paper of today (9 Nov.).

If you are interested, go to the post on the physics paper. Just below it, you will find the comments. Same for the chemistry paper.

Comments: Chemistry paper of 9 November

As you know, we try to help our chief markers and internal moderators with information they can take along to enhance the scope and quality of national memo discussions. 

Would you please be so kind to scrutinise the chemistry paper of today, and send any comments you consider necessary for the above-mentioned purpose?

Don’t think your view is not important. Anything that can add value to the marking process and overall situation with question papers, is welcome. Don’t wait too long to send them; we have to have them before the national memo discussions commence and that is usually a few days after a paper is written.

You can post your comments below or you can email them. See email address on the left - almost at the top.

Best wishes with chemistry!

Best wishes to all candidates who are writing their final chemistry paper today.

hwscience.blogspot.com wish you the best!

Comments: Physics paper of 6 November

As you know, we try to help our chief markers and internal moderators with information they can take along to enhance the scope and quality of national memo discussions.

Would you please be so to send any comments about the physics paper of yesterday you consider necessary for the above-mentioned purpose? Learners are also welcome to comment.

Don’t think your view is not important. Anything that can add value to the marking process and overall situation with question papers, is welcome. Don’t wait too long to send them; we have to have them before the national memo discussions commence and that is usually a few days after a paper is written.

You can post your physics comments below or you can email them. See email address on the left - almost at the top.

Reminder: November Examinations (Physical Sciences) - Grades 10 and 11

In less than a week the national common examinations for the above-mentioned will commence.

Previous posts have dealt with this.

Click here for the 24th of September's post on this issue, and click here for the 7th of September's post.

Hope all schools are ready for these examinations! Best luck!

Best wishes with physics!

Picture from:
http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-
stock-photography-physics-image14094117

Best wishes to all candidates who are writing their final physics paper today.

hwscience.blogspot.com wish you the best!

Grade 12 examination papers for revision

A few colleagues in the country made available their September examination papers for grade 12. Learners can benefit a lot by working through these papers during their preparations for the final examinations of November 2015.

Except in the case of the Free State, Afrikaans copies are not available unfortunately. If there are colleagues who can assist us with Afrikaans copies, please email them to the webmaster. Email address is on the home page - to the left.

Another useful set of papers is those of June-July 2015. These papers were used for the supplementary examinations for private candidates in June/July, but the papers are CAPS oriented and can be used by the grade 12 learners. If there is any doubt whether a question is included in the grade 12 (school) examination, consult your examination guidelines.

Eastern Cape papers

• Paper 1
• Paper 1 Memo
• Paper 2
• Paper 2 Memo

Free State papers

• Paper 1 Afr
• Paper 1 Eng
• Paper 1 Memo
• Paper 2 Afr
• Paper 2 Eng
• Paper 2 Memo

Gauteng papers

• Paper 1
• Paper 1 Memo
• Paper 2
• Paper 2 Memo

North-West papers

• Paper 1
• Paper 1 Memo
• Paper 2
• Paper 2 Memo

Western Cape papers

• Paper 1
• Paper 1 Memo
• Paper 2
• Paper 2 Memo

June-July 2015

• Paper 1 Afr
• Paper 1 Eng
• Paper 1 Memo
• Paper 2 Afr
• Paper 2 Eng
• Paper 2 Memo

Asteroid 2015 TB 145 - how far from Earth on 31 October?

On 31 October 2015 asteroid 2015 TB 145 will fly past Earth at the safe distance of about 499 000 km. In terms of celestial terms, it is quite close to Earth and will just miss Earth. Read more about this asteroid and other fascinating asteroid information.

Error analyses for September exams: Grade 12

The spreadsheets for the error analyses were sent to teachers and HODs. Please enter the data and email them back to your subject adviser by the due date. 

Exam ready in 60 minutes

Look at the following hints from Cheryl Weston about success in the coming examinations. This is an extract from a presentation done by her.

Technical Sciences CAPS training

Teachers who are going to teach Technical Sciences in 2016 have attended their CAPS training from 5 to 8 October 2016 in Bloemfontein.

This subject will be phased in from 2016 in grade 10 in technical and comprehensive schools. The training was done by a group of the Free State Physical Science Subject Advisers, Miss Janetta Nel (CES for Science and Technology) and Dr Angela Stott.

Scroll down and click the links below for more information.

Powerpoint presentations

• Forces
• Resultant and equilibrant
• Moment of a force
• Beams, shear forces and bending moments
• Simple machines

MS Word documents
Bear in mind that some of the questions in the activities were done for stimulation, and they are not applicable to learners. 

• Activity: Free-body diagrams
• Experiment: Law of moments
• Activity: Law of moments

Pictures of the teachers during training

• Investigating the law of moments
• Working with electric circuits
• Our teachers are participating

During the training we once again came under the impression of the wonderful opportunity we have as physical and technical science teachers to expose learners to the wonders of science. A few teachers requested the piece that was used one morning for the opening. Hence, here it is:

Precious Father, thank You for allowing us to benefit from the beauty of all that Your hand has created. Thank You for our seas, forests, and skies. Thank You for all the beautiful and fragrant plants, and for the power and wonder of every animal. Thank You for the seasons and the rains that keep our earth reproducing. We will wake the dawn with our song. O Lord, our Lord, Your majestic Name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. When we look at the night sky and see the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars you set in place; what are mortals that You should think about them, human beings that You should care for them? The highest heavens and the earth and everything in it all belong to You. We are blessed to be the recipients of all the beauty that surrounds us and testifies of Your awesome glory.
*** Taken from The Prayer Institute (https://myprayerinstitute.wordpress.com/2012/10) ***

Technical Science CAPS training: Our teachers participating

Technical Science CAPS training: Teachers investigate electric circuits

Technical Science CAPS Training: Teachers investigate the law of moments

Deadline for mark sheets: Grade 12

Grade 12 marks for the September examinations must be submitted today, 30 September.  

• Email your grade 12 spreadsheet(s) to your subject adviser.
• Submit your marks to the management section in the format they require.

Memo comments: Grade 12 September P1 (Physics)

*** Latest info ***

Q8.1.2: Suggested mark allocation for this solution.

*** Previous info: Until 24 Sept ***

Q5.1.3: The negative displacement value in this question is problematic, due to an error in the question. However, follow the memorandum as it is, and bear in mind the following:

(*)  There is positive marking from the displacement value into the calculation of the angle.

(*)  If a learner uses the negative displacement value in the calculation for the angle, accept it based on positive marking. A negative angle as answer will then be obtained, which can be accepted.

Q5.2: This following option is acceptable.

Q3.4: If axes are not labelled; ignore.

Q5.1.1: "Left" or "to the left" are not acceptable as directions.

Q5.1.2: Negative marking is applicable.

Q5.2: Equations of motion not allowed; energy principles must be used.

Q6.2.1: Negative marking is applicable.

Q8.2.4: Negative marking is applicable.

Q10.2.2: Negative marking is applicable.

Workshops by Dr Angela Stott on electric circuits

On 18 and 19 September teachers from math, science and technology (MST) schools in Lejweleputswa attended two days of training on electric circuits. Dr Angela Stott prepared the training material and presented the training. Each teacher received a kit with components to build electric circuits, supplemented by a laminated teacher guide and a set of answers.

The group after the price-giving
function on day two. Price winners
in the front row.

The workshop was an excellent example of inquiry based teaching and learning, and teachers got a very good example of the methodology of presenting electric circuits. A pre-test and post-test were written and prices were awarded to the winners.

We thank the following institutions and persons for making the workshop possible:

• Free State Department of Education for the sponsorship.
• Miss Janetta Nel, CES for Science and Technology, for the initial idea, administration and head office negotiations.
• Messrs Henry Welman and Motseki Sefo, subject advisers in Lejweleputswa, for the local arrangements and communication with teachers.
• Mr Pieter Swanepoel, principal of HTS Welkom, for providing a nice training venue at the school's hostel.
• Mr Francois Crauwkamp, housemaster of the hostel, and his staff for preparing the venue and for the most delicious lunches and refreshments.
• Dr Angela Stott for her energetic and motivating example of how a teacher should teach, for the quality of her training material and for the general support Free State physical science teachers get from her.

*** Enjoy pictures of the event. ***

Dr Angela Stott in action!

We are working ...

We are social ...

We are rewarded ...

*** General price winners ***

*** Top scorers in post-test ***

The top lady: Mrs L A Silinga of Rearabetswe
with Dr Stott

Top (joint 3rd place)
Dr Stott with Messrs MG Ntsane (Tikwana)
and TS Moremi (Mosala)
Bottom (joint 2nd place)
Dr Stott with Messrs RT Mokgothu (Concordia)
and LS Moeti (Mosala)

1st place: Mr TI Ketime (Leseding) with Dr Stott