Merry Christmas 2022

Merry Christmas to all the readers and followers of this website. May your day, 25th December 2022, be filled with things that are meaningful to you and your family. All my best wishes. Henry Welman

Holiday wishes for the school holiday

My best wishes to all the readers of this website, but especially to the teachers and learners, for the school holidays. Teachers, thank you for all the "extra miles" you have walked in the interest of our learners. Enjoy the holidays and rest creatively to build up your resources for 2023.

©Image from  https://pixabay.com

Surprises in life!

Surprises in life mean a lot! 

I was so surprised to discover a comment on this website made by an ex-learner quite some time ago. For some or other reason I did not see it until today. 

To this ex-learner of mine, whoever you are, Isa bin Marius, thank you so much! I am nearing the end of my career and such things really mean a lot. To read the comment, click here and scroll down to the bottom of the post. I also enjoyed reading his blog post, which I take the liberty of publishing here. It has appeared in https://contemplationsofarevert.blogspot.com.

Physics - The Roots

Science is a mind-bogglingly wide field of knowledge and research. These people called scientists have measured some wholly inconceivable things, and our present technology is all built on it. But, where did it start? How did we get from "googoo gaga" to knowing the temperature at the core of the Sun?

Well... let's retrace these steps, shall we? What did we know when we knew practically nothing?

Distance is the primary and most obvious thing to measure. Mathematics was basically built on that. One distance being added to another gave us addition. Adding equal distances repeatedly gave us multiplication. Deducting one distance fron another gave us subtraction, and dividing a distance into equal sub-units gave us division. So don't tell me primitive civilisations didn't do math...

Physical science is basically applied mathematics at this point. Also surface area and volume was well understood, since for instance a smaller container obviously contains less water or anything else than a larger one.

Directly related to volume is mass. This is so basic that explaining it would be an outright insult.

The next step is measuring the other constant, obvious factor of life: time. Days, seasons, seasonal cycles. These were then refined into time units more applicable to tasks. An hour as defined today did not exist until very recently, but they did develop a standard unit and sub-units over the course of time.

Next up, "fast" and "slow" was defined by relating the above two measurements. Speed is at times the difference between life and death. Thus, a faster hunter would be superior in gathering food, or escaping from a dangerous animal. The formula was not conceived, but the concept had been born. This also gave rise to the concept of acceleration.

While the formulae were defined later, space, time and mass was well understood on a practical use level. And every kinematic formula can be expressed in terms of only these factors. Take out one, and you're for the most part stuck without an answer.

In conclusion, I'd like to say we are most certainly no better informed than "cavemen" in terms of what we are working with. Our only advantage has ever been that each generation has left applications of this knowledge for the next generation to take for granted and build upon.

So, next time you see your science exam paper, or class test, be assured that your physics are all as simple as space, time and mass.

** A special thanks to Mr Henry Welman who had fed the love of physics in me between the age of 12 and 15.

Sasol's 6th Annual Technical Teacher's Conference

The 6th Annual Technical Teacher's Conference, taking place on 14 and 15 September 2022, will start in a few hours.

For those of you who have not yet registered, click here for the link to register. 

Click here for the programme.

Tips and Tricks for Examination Success

It is almost time for the September (and November) examinations for our grade 12 learners. Here are four booklets with tips and tricks to get the most out of your performance. Grade 10 and 11 learners will also benefit by reading the general issues.

Use the links below the picture to download your own copy of this.

Tips & Tricks for Physical Science in Afrikaans
Tips & Tricks for Physical Science in English

Tips & Tricks for Technical Science in Afrikaans
Tips & Tricks for Technical Science in English

Quantitative Error Analyses: 2022 June Examination Grade 12

 The quantitative error analyses for the grade 12 June examination are available. You will find it under "Pages" and then go to "Error analysis (Quantitative)" or click here. Follow the further links.

Teachers can use this data to identify areas to focus on for the final preparations for these learners.

Teacher Development Classes for Teachers by SAIP & CUT

This programme was cancelled for 2023 due to poor attendance by teachers. More news will follow about future plans.

The South African Institute of Physics (SAIP), in collaboration with the Central University of Technology (CUT), are doing virtual teacher development classes for our teachers on various topics. Although it is a project initiated as support to Free State teachers, other colleagues are welcome to join.

Click here for the full programme. The Zoom link is also embedded in the programme.

Are you ready for the Siyavula challenge?

Are you ready for the Siyavula Challenge?

Click here and click here for full details!

Enjoy!!

Correction of Printing Error

On page 62 of the Terms & Definitions for grade 12 (P2) was a typing error. Learners should correct the typing error in their books. The e-version on this website is correct. It is available here. Follow links from there to the sub-folder "Terms & Definitions". Refer to the pictures below for more detail.

  

How to use Siyavula

The staff at Siyavula has prepared posters to make it easy for teachers how to use the Siyavula resources. The first three posters look like this and below the pictures are links that you can use to download A4 size posters for youself.

Poster 1

Poster 2

Poster 3

Revision Material for Grade 12 Learners

22 final examination papers from DBE and IEB, with worked-out memoranda, explanations and an index to quickly find what you want to revise, are now available to grade 12 learners.

Contact Mrs Engela Steynberg at engelasteynberg@gmail.com

for more information.

Enjoy your exam preparation!

Online Teaching and Resources

The universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch offer online support material and other services to high school learners and teachers. Click the links below to go to the two websites for more information.

https://www.uctonlinehighschool.com/

https://www.suadvantage.co.za/

Easter 2022

©Image by Gerd Altmann
https://pixabay.com/users/geralt-9301/

I wish all my readers a blessed Easter Weekend. Enjoy it with your families and make it meaningful. May everything that begins on this day of renewal be a reason for great joy throughout the year.

Happy Easter!

Tchaikovsky's house destroyed by Russian army in Ukraine

This is not a music website but I have thought of making you aware of the tragic destruction of Tchaikovsky's house in north-east Ukraine.

According to an article on the Classic FM website, the house was recently destroyed by the Russian army. 

What a sensible loss due to the greed, power, and immeasurable lack of sophistication by some politicians. What you destroy can never be replaced; maybe repaired. Think of what was done during the bombing of Dresden in February 1945, and there are many other examples of how human beings destroy history, culture, and much more. This treasure in Ukraine has now become the prey of such senseless actions as well. What is the message for us in our country?

Click here to read the original article. It contains valuable further links, inter alia a link to a recording of Tchaikovsky's voice. You can also click here for a pdf copy of the Classic FM article.

November 2021 NSC Exam's Marking Guidelines

DBE has recently published the marking guidelines of the above-mentioned examination papers. Hence, it is also available on this website, or on the DBE website where other subjects are also available.

How Much Pi Do You Really Need? from Prof Rhett Allain

© https://www.freepik.com

Prof Rhett Allain from the Southeastern Louisiana University has written a wonderful article about "pi" with very interesting applications for physical science teachers. Click here for a pdf copy of the article, or click here for the original article in which further interesting links are found.

Drawing diagrams, circuit diagrams and chemical apparatus

I have updated this article on 26 October 2020. Scroll down for new information about Circuit Diagram.

Setting professionally-looking question papers are very important. Apart from the content and related issues, a good layout and neat, informative diagrams are necessary to have a professionally looking question paper.

The drawing facilities of MS Word are quite amazing and can take you a long way. The more you practise and using your imagination, the better you get at drawing diagrams. The downside is that it is time-consuming and one cannot always address all situations satisfactory. This post deals with a few hints to draw diagrams in your question papers.

Shapes in MS Word
Die following diagram was done by using MS Word and it gives a good idea of what is possible.

The rocket on the left was drawn by using different kinds of shapes, adding shadows and putting them together. The top and bottom halves were separated for the rocket on the right-hand side. You can actually draw fantastic diagrams with MS Word's drawing facilities; just use your imagination and go for it!

Graphs in MS Excel
When it comes to graphs where accurate readings are important, you cannot get better than MS Excel or perhaps Google Sheets. For this, I prefer Excel. Compile the necessary values with an applicable formula and use the spreadsheet's ability to draw a graph. Copy and paste as a picture into your question paper. Here is an example of something I have done for the vertical motion of two balls.

Chemsketch
During a visit to the Maryland State Department of Education in the USA in 2005, I was introduced to Chemsketch. Since then I have introduced numerous people to this. What an amazing piece of software! It can draw the structural formulae for organic compounds and it can even give you the IUPAC name of a structure. For learners, this is very useful to practise and name their structures. Using Chemsketch to draw the following structural formula takes a fraction of the time compared to what it takes by using MS Word.

Chemsketch is available free of charge on the internet; currently from
https://www.acdlabs.com/resources/freeware/chemsketch. You can also search for Chemsketch, download, install and there you go. It is distributed by ACD Labs. Chemsketch can also be used to draw chemical apparatus, etc. It has amazing pictures of apparatus.

TinyCAD
For years, I was searching for something (free) to draw electric circuits with. I can do it with MS Word, but it is time-consuming. A few years ago I found TinyCAD at https://sourceforge.net/ and this helps me to rather quickly draw something like this.

 

If there is something I cannot do with TinyCAD, I add it by using MSWord after I have pasted the diagram as a picture into MSWord. TinyCAD is also available free of charge.

Chemix
From the above, I was basically covered with diagrams although I wanted to have something else to draw chemistry equipment with too. Then I discovered Chemix at https://chemix.org/. It is an online drawing app to draw test-tubes, flasks, etc. You can save your drawings online or just copy and paste a drawing to your question paper (I like to use the snipping tool of Windows). Here is something I have put together as an example.

 

I am missing something here and there, but the speed and easiness getting a diagram done is a huge bonus. Anything that I need extra is done by MS Word; don't forget about the apparatus in Chemsketch as well. All these facilities can complement one another when you use them together. 

Circuit Diagram
Since I wrote this article in December 2018, I found another online app to draw electric circuit diagrams. It is called Circuit Diagram and is available at https://www.circuit-diagram.org/editor/. It is also easy to use. You can create a profile, save your diagrams for future use, and you can download them your circuits as png or svg images. As with TinyCAD, I draw certain parts of the diagram with this app, but I prefer to draw things like voltmeters and ammeters with MS Word in order to use more descriptive labels when needed. Here is something I have done with Circuit Diagram.

I trust you find this helpful. If you know of useful software to help us in our work as physical and technical science teachers, let me know. Send an email; look at the top left of the home page for detail.

Updated Info from Dr Angela Stott

Do not miss out on all the wonderful opportunities, activities, training and teaching offered by Dr Angela Stott.

Click here to access all the updated information, and follow the links from there (scroll down) to access all the other information.

Dr Stott - you are a star!

Thank you on behalf of all the teachers and learners!

More Generous Grading in the 2022 Examinations

An interesting article about more generous grading of the 2022 examinations in the UK has appeared on https://www.bbc.com/news/education-60241364.

The similarities between the UK Covid problems and what we have experienced locally is nice reading material. Note the fact that marks awarded by teachers at the end of 2020 and 2021 were substantially higher than the normal results obtained in the case of examinations. 

The fact that learners wrote the usual national examinations in South Africa in grade 12 was actually a good decision to avoid large statistical discrepancies between the marks of different years.

This shows how important it is to make learners aware that SBA marks are very important to help them. Even tasks such as informal tests, that do not count for SBA, are important to prepare them for those tasks that DO count for the SBA. The value of practical work is very high. Therefore, it should NEVER be neglected.

A pdf copy of the article is available here.

Diagnostic Report of the November 2021 NSC Examination

The above-mentioned report has appeared on the DBE website.

 
Parts one and three deal with Physical Science and Technical Science respectively. Teachers are invited to download and scrutinise these reports. A few sets of additional and alternative information will be available that compliments the information of the Free State marking reports. The latter refers specifically to data that has been obtained from Free State learners. The Diagnostic Report refers to data obtained nationally. Click here to go to the page where you can download them.

Part two (languages) of the Diagnostic Report can be downloaded from the DBE Website. Currently, it is available under "Resources" and then "Reports".

Study Guides of DBE

Remember that DBE has developed a set of study guides for Physical and Technical Sciences (and other subjects). They are available on the DBE website at

https://www.education.gov.za/SelfStudyGuidesGrade10-12.aspx

Some of these documents have already been loaded on the hard drives distributed to schools. Others can be downloaded with the above-mentioned link.

Join an International Exchange Programme

A great opportunity for school learners to participate in an international exchange programme. Click here to get more information and put yourself into the opportunity! Teachers, please guide your learners to get all the information.

Marking Reports, Free State Assessment Guidelines and Examination Guidelines

Teachers, remember to download your documents as requested at start-up meetings.

Grade 12 Marking Reports for November 2021 and Examination Guidelines are available under "Pages" and then "Examinations (TEACHERS) ...", or you can click here to go there.

The 2022 editions of the Free State Assessment Guidelines are available under "Pages" and then "Free State Assessment Guidelines", or you can click here to go there.

Matric Results of 2021

Well done teachers, learners, and everybody

involved with the good results

of the Free State.

Reports of the NSC Examination of 2021

Diagnostic Reports (Internal Moderators' Reports) for Physical and Technical Sciences can be found here.

General reports can be found here.

Welcome Back to All Teachers: 2022

Welcome back to schools, Colleagues.

On behalf of the whole team of subject advisers, I want to wish you well for 2022. May it be a good year, and one thing I hope will happen, is that we return to as normal a year as possible.

Our best wishes to you!

Best Wishes for 2022