Merry Christmas 2016

May you have peace, joy, and all the best during Xmas season 2016. Spend time with things and people that are dear to you and bring joy to everybody in need of it! May you also have a wonderful 2017!

Vertical projectile motion videos

Another post deals with the idea of jumping out of the International Space Station. My aim was to give you some ideas to stimulate your learners into thinking about projectile motion, although our curriculum (unfortunately) does not require 2D projectile motion.

Nevertheless, when you address vertical projectile motion, there is a substantial set of interesting facts involved and showing learners a video of the real thing helps a lot (while we are living in the 21st century).

The first video, as far as I know, to show free fall on the moon was the one taken during the Apollo 15 mission that took place from 27 to 31 July 1971. Commander David Scott dropped a hammer and a falcon feather to show that two objects, one heavy and one light, drop at the same rate if there is "no" friction. Although the quality of the video is not good, it was an amazing resource to use in my classes during the early eighties when I started to use it. It is still unique (taken on the moon) and you can download a copy here (size 2,2 MB).

Modern times bring more amazing video material and here is one you can download (21 MB). It shows an amazing facility in which a bowling ball and feathers are dropped in frictionless conditions; this time using high speed cameras to show the action in absolute detail. Compliments to the BBC for making such material to help physics teachers explaining abstract phenomena in our classrooms. Some advice though: Tell learners that the part following from 4:00 minutes deal with Einstein's relativistic motion and they should not mention any of that in their answers as we work with Newtonian mechanics!

While we are busy with issues dealing with gravity, here is a video (145 MB) to show what it looks like inside the International Space Station when a cloth soaked with water is wrung out. The demonstration was based on a question directed to the astronauts and one of them demonstrated it during a video conversation with learners. Look at what happens when something is so called "weightless", what surface tension can do, etc. Amazing visuals!

Jumping out of the ISS and free fall to Earth

(C) www.scienceabc.com

What would happen if an astronaut jumped out of the International Space Station in an effort to free fall to Earth? Have you ever wondered about this?

This is an interesting discussion point to stimulate learners' thinking when we deal with vertical projectile motion. Here is a link to an interesting article on this.

John Glenn passed away

John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth in 1962, passed away on Thursday, 8 Dec 2016. He was 95. 

He was also the oldest human to venture into space when, at the age of 77, he went on a space shuttle mission in 1998.

A profile of John Glenn is available here.

Schools close for teachers for 2016

Today schools close for our teachers in South Africa. I hope that all of you will have a good period of rest during which you can replenish your energy. We all need time to recuperate. Best wishes!

Beautiful memories and beautiful music

Do yourself the favour to go to this post on my FB page. From there, look at the video. It is so special! Today it came up as one of my good memories.

At 4:13 you see the remains, covered in perpex, of the space ship that had returned to Earth during one of the Apollo missions. If I remember correctly, this one is from the Apollo 11 mission, i.e. the one in which Amstrong, Aldrin and Collins had returned to Earth in July of 1969 after the first moon landing. This is the only part that returned to the earth from the 110 m high Saturn V rocket that had to lift everything against Earth's gravitational force. Remember that any object must have a minimum speed of 11,3 kilometre PER SECOND (read again!) before it can escape Earth's gravity. Perplexing technological miracles in the presence of heavenly music!

Pocket size mobile printer

How would you like to carry a small printer with you so that you can print any document anywhere from any device? Very soon it will be possible.

(C) http://www.zutalabs.com/

Zutalabs have developed a printer that can do this. With dimensions of a little more than 7 cm by 10 cm and a mass of about 350 g it is no problem to take it with you. Read more here and here.

Technology certainly make things interesting!

Last mission to the moon

Left to right:
Schmitt, Cernan (seated), Evans

Today (7 December), in 1972, Apollo 17, with astronauts Eugene Cernan, Ronald Evens and Harrison Schmitt, was launched. This was the final mission to the moon as part of NASA's Apollo programme. Read more here.

Emoji

Have you ever wondered about emoji characters? Why we have them? Where do they come from? How many are there?

An interesting article appeared in Afrikaans on Netwerk24. If you want to read it, here is a pdf copy. The full set of current emoji characters is available here.

Technical sciences: Start-up meetings in 2017

The dates for the technical science start-up meetings in terms one, two and three in 2017 will be as follows:

• 13 January 2017 (in Welkom)
• 21 April 2017 (in Bethlehem)
• 28 July 2017 (in Kroonstad)

Emails with the detailed invitation were sent to principals and teachers.

Comments on the grade 10 chemistry paper (P2)

Do you have any questions/comments related to the grade 10 chemistry paper?

Comments on the grade 10 physics paper (P1)

Do you have any questions/comments related to the grade 10 physics paper?

Comments on the grade 11 chemistry paper (P2)

Do you have any questions/comments related to the grade 11 chemistry paper?

Comments on the grade 11 physics paper (P1)

Do you have any questions/comments related to the grade 11 physics paper?

Best wishes for tomorrow and Monday for grade 10

Best wishes to our grade 10 learners who write their final examination papers tomorrow and Monday.

Do your utmost best in these examinations!! We wish you all our support and good wishes for success!

Comments on the grade 12 chemistry paper (P2)

Do you have any comments related to the grade 12 chemistry paper that has been written today (Monday)? Please give it to support the memo discussion.

Comments on the grade 12 physics paper (P1)

Do you have any comments related to the grade 12 physics paper that was written on Friday? Please give it to support the memo discussion.

Tomorrow another post will be available to comment on the chemistry paper. Please comment as well.

Best wishes for tomorrow and Monday

Best wishes to our grade 12 and 11 learners who write their final examination papers tomorrow and Monday.

Do your utmost best in these examinations!! We wish you all our support and good wishes for success!

Videos for revision

(C) https://openclipart.org/detail/75865/televisiontv

Want to see some revision videos to help you prepare for your examinations? 

Have a look at this post of Tekkie Tonic HTS Welkom. Follow the link for the videos from there.

Question papers for revision

Previous question papers for revision are available here.

Anyone of the following labels (look on the left-hand side for Labels) will bring you back to this post if you cannot trace it in future: Question, Question paper and Revision.

Alternatively, look under Pages on the left-hand side. One of them is Question papers from where you can download what you need.

Reminder: Check out the examination tips, definitions, etc,

Don't forget to look at the examination tips, definitions, etc. for your final preparations. Go to this post to find the link to download them.

Examination dates for November examinations

Remember that the dates are available on this website. Look to the left for "//// Pages \\\\". One of them is called "Dates for formal assessment tasks ..." and there you will find the dates.

Have you heard about the five-second rule? Is your kitchen floor the most dirty place? Here is an interesting article about this.

(C): www.nytimes.com

IBP: Examination preparation

The IBP broadcast schedule for examination preparation for our grade 12 learners has been announced on Facebook.

Watch on 3 and 4 November when the physical science broadcasts will take place. The picture gives more detail of broadcasts for all subjects. You can also click here to see the Facebook entry.

Training for technical sciences teachers

54 teachers across the Free State that are responsible for teaching technical sciences have gathered in Bloemfontein from Monday to Friday (26-30 September). They have prepared for 2017 when technical sciences will be phased in in grade 11. 

Apart from addressing content, assessment and classroom management issues by the subject advisers, all the teachers have received apparatus to do the required practical work of this course. Some of these activities are displayed below.

Gr 10 September Physical Science Control Test: Comments

Reminder: For more information, read the comments at the bottom as well. If they do not open automatically on your device, click on "... comments" to open them.

Gr 11 September Physical Science Control Test: Comments

Reminder: For more information, read the comments at the bottom as well. If they do not open automatically on your device, click on "... comments" to open them.

Q1.5
Answer is B

Q2.1
A third mark is needed. Add it to the first sentence: "The magnitude ... (Q2)."

Q2.3
Mark the question out of two marks as a unit. Total of question two is then nine and total of paper is then 100.

Q3.2
Award the first mark for the correct shape (meaning field lines spread radially around charge with field lines touching the charge).
Second mark for symmetry (meaning eight equally distributed field lines).
Third mark (as indicated in memo) on direction.

Q3.3
Think of mark allocation as follows:
First mark on the idea that the net field is equal to zero.
Second mark for the formula of electric field (one form or another).
Third mark: We cannot award another mark for the zero. Move this mark to the denominator of the first calculation, i.e. (0,2 - x)square.

Q5.3
Units in answers should be watt.

Q7.1
Here is a correct alternative with mark allocation:

Gr 10 September Technical Science Control Test: Comments

You are welcome to post comments, questions, suggestions, alternatives, etc. about the paper and memorandum. I will ask the examiner to respond to it.

Gr 12 Sept Physical Science Examination P1: Comments

To avoid confusion, the majority of comments were removed, as the questions were addressed during the memo discussion. 

In summary, just the following to emphasize certain answers:

Q1.9: Answer is A (there is no internal resistance drawn in the circuit).

Q3.5: The time axis must move upwards in option 1 so that position is zero at t = 0. In option 2 the time axis must move downwards so that position is zero at t = 0. In both tables for marking criteria, the last row must change to: "Top of cliff not ...".

Gr 12 September Physical Science Examination P2: Comments

Teachers, for your convenience, you can download an updated memo for chemistry here.

Teachers - here is an opportunity to own a very nice house in Riebeeckstad, not far from either Riebeeckstad High School or Koppie Alleen Primary School. A well-established family home with very nice facilities!

Gr 12 September Physical Science Practical Task: Comments

You are welcome to post comments, questions, suggestions, alternatives, etc. about the paper and memorandum. I will ask the examiner to respond to it.

IBP memo broadcasts and cluster marking: Grade 12 September 2016 examination

The IBP broadcasts of the grade 12 September examination memoranda will DV be as follows:

Physics (P1): 19 September from 13:00 to 15:00
Chemistry (P2): 20 September from 13:00 to 15:00

Cluster marking and moderation will take place after the broadcasts until 16:30.

Please attend at any of the following IBP centres nearest to you (Name of person in charge is in brackets):

Akademia (Mr Sello)
Aramela (Miss Motau or Mr Leeuw if Miss Motau is not available)
Concordia (Mrs van den Heever)
DTDC (ERC) (Mr Nkone)
Iphateleng (Mr Hlwempu)
Kheleng (Mr Mabitse)
LA Wesi (Mr Moremi)
Leseding (Miss Motaung)
Mamello (Mr NS Mofokeng)
Oziel Selele (Mr Nzunga)
Rainbow (Mr TN Moreki)
Rearabetswe (Mrs Moahludi)

District SBA moderation (by subject advisers)

The finalisation of SBA moderation in Lejweleputswa is scheduled to take place from 11 October 2016. All schools are involved in this activity.

Please study this general circular from Head Office in this regard. In addition to the circular, specific and important arrangements will be emailed to schools in due course.

Newsletter for physical sciences

The third newsletter for physical science is available. Click here to go the Newsletter page and download from there. Important arrangements about the forthcoming examinations is available.

Exam tips, definitions, etc.

Exam tips, definitions, etc. are available here. 

Provincial SBA moderation - September 2016

The following schools were selected for provincial SBA moderation in September.

Grade 12

• Concordia
• Hanover
• Kagisano
• Kgololosego
• Lenakeng
• Rearabetswe
• Reatlehile
• Refihletse
• Seqhobong
• Tikwana
• Welkom Sekondêr

Grade 11

• Bahale
• Diphetoho
• Iphateleng
• LA Wes
• Lebogang
• Lekgarietse
• Naledi-ya-Botshabelo
• Phehello
• Repholositswe
• Rheederpark
• Unitas

Grade 10

• Kutloanong
• Mamello
• Matseripe
• Mophate
• Mosala
• Nanabolela
• Oziel Selele
• Rainbow
• Senzile
• Teto
• Welkom High

Moderation material must be submitted at the Examination Section at Kopano Building. Please contact them if you have any enquiries about delivery.

Why does a paper cut hurt so much?

(C) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_cut

Read here!

Free State Physical Science Convention: Who attended?

Learners and teachers who were invited based on their olympiad results.

St Andrews Welkom
Mrs A Smit & Megan Papp (gr 11)

Back: Megan Papp (gr 11 St Andrews) and
from St Dominics: Mrs M Lamprecht & Jared Tavares (gr 11)
Front: Elizabeth de Vries (gr 11 St Dominics)

Lebogang Secondary School
Top: Kabelo Kelane (gr 11) & Mr TD Khumalo
Bottom: Mr M Lenyora & Lehlohonolo Makhetha (gr 12)

Bothaville High School: Micaela de Caires (gr 12) and Mr H Muller

Harmony High School: Xolisa Monye (gr 12) and Thapelo Mahloko (gr 11)
with Messrs NS Mofokeng (HOD) and MA Monnane (Princ) 

JC Motumi Secondary School: Mrs MM Moahludi (HOD)
and Lihle Mvana (Gr 12)

Lephola Secondary School: Miss TB Tshabalala and Tlotliso Skalk (gr 12)

Rearabetswe Secondary School: Mrs SM Phumo and Teboho Setebe (gr 12)

Welkom-Gimnasium: Sybrand and Magriet van Sittert (gr 11)
and Hallelujah Shketa (gr 12)

Learners and teachers who were invited based on their projects.

Riebeeckstad High School: Zani Benson and Mr S Klue 

Welkom-Gimnasium:
Top: Pukki and Robert Bristow, Sebastiaan van Blommenstein and Connie Kele
Bottom: Hanli Vorstman and Cherise Basson