Training for technical sciences teachers: June 2017

From 28 to 30 June 2017 the teachers responsible for technical sciences in grade 11 in the Free State have met in Bloemfontein for a training session on thermodynamics. This training was a continuation of the training held at the end of 2016. 

This training on thermodynamics is accredited by SACE and teachers receive 15 professional points (CPTD) for completing all aspects of the training.

Cluster moderation of the June examination scripts, feedback on examination papers and the design of the practical assessment task's project were also done while the teachers were together.

Thanks to everybody who attended! We trust everybody is capacitated to teach this topic with success next term.

Here the teachers are busy with an experiment to determine the specific heat capacity of copper.

Fezile Dabi Electric Circuit Training

Teachers of Fezile Dabi district have done training on electric circuits offered by Dr Angela Stott.

SAASTE National Conference for 2017 postponed

The 2017 SAASTE National Conferences is postponed. Click here to read the official letter from the national president.

Physical sciences June examination P2: Gr 12 Additions/Corrections/Clarification to memorandum

Q8.3
Additional correct option.

Q2.4.1
In the Afrikaans translation the word "massa" must become "formule": "Organiese verbindings met dieselfde molekulêre formule, maar ..."

Q8.2.3(b)
Correct alternative

Physical sciences June examination P1: Gr 12 Additions/Corrections/Clarification to memorandum

Q3.3
Some learners might use an equation of motion plus Newton's second law of motion to solve this question. That is fine and can be accepted as follows:

Q5.2.2
Additional acceptable explanations are:

• Friction is present.
• A non-conservative force is present.
• Force F is present.
• The non-conservative for F is present.
• An applied force is present.

Q5.2.4

Two alternatives are shown in the memo for the calculation of work done by weight to be used in option 1. Here is a third alternative. It uses cos of 120 degrees being the angle between the vertical weight and the displacement along the inclined plane.

Q7.2 

The two charges differ in magnitude and the density of the field lines should be slightly different for the two charges. Please ignore this and accept a field pattern as in the memo, as well as one where the density of the field lines are different. If the general pattern is correct, award the first mark of the marking criteria and carry on marking the direction and the 90degrees.

Q4.1.1 and Q4.1.2
Keep in mind that the displacement is given by die area between the graph and the time axis, which in this case can be calculated with the help of either a trapezium or the combination of a triangle and rectangle. Q4.1.2 must be marked by taking into consideration what was done in Q4.1.1; i.e. there is positive marking from the graph to the calculation of area.

Here is an example of a graph with incorrect plotting.

All but one of the points are plotted incorrectly, and the mark for the best-fit line is given. Hence, 2/5.

Let us zoom in to the area that represents the displacement.

Here are three examples of the marking based on the above-mentioned.

Q8.3 and further
Typical of some electric circuit questions, there are sometimes various options to solve the questions. Click here to download a pdf file with extra solutions.

Q5.1.4
Another correct option.

Thank you for IBP broadcast

It was such a nice experience to get a direct message via Twitter from a learner as a response to the live IBP examination preparation broadcasts for physical sciences. 

Feedback is so important, and to help learners to do well in their examinations and achieve success is the core of being a teacher. 

The facilities offered by the UFS to do these IBP broadcasts are amazing. Thank you so much!

Technical sciences June Exam: Gr 11 Additions/Corrections/Clarification to memorandum

Cover page of memo
The cover page of the memo unfortunately shows 150 as total, which is incorrect. The total is 200 as displayed at the end of the memo.

Q9.1
Correction

Physical sciences June practical task: Gr 11 Additions/Corrections/Clarification to memorandum

Q3.4
The focus in this question was not on getting the correct unit per se; just to get the correct product from volume and pressure. Hence, 3 (which is the value in J) is also acceptable as an answer in addition to the 3000 (which is the value in mJ). Please note that learners do not need to state "3000 mJ". For that reason, if they state only "3", award the mark.

Physical sciences June practical task: Gr 10 Additions/Corrections/Clarification to memorandum

Q3.3
If number of drops appear on the y-axis with temperature on the x-axis, penalise one mark for not having the correct dependent variable (T) on the y-axis. The first mark of the marking criteria is the one that is then penalised.

June examination: Gr 11 Additions/Corrections/Clarification to memorandum

Please see the following additions/corrections/clarifications on the grade 11 examination memo of June 2017.

Q4.2
If a free-body diagram is not drawn (= the dot is not shown), maximum 4/5.

The orientation of each force, in addition to the correct label and arrow, must be correct to earn a mark. For example: If F is drawn horizontal, no mark for F.

Q5.2.3
A correct alternative, with positive marking from 5.2.2:

Q10.1.1
Check the missing tick:

June examination: Gr 10 Additions/Corrections/Clarification to memorandum

Please see the following additions/corrections/clarifications on the grade 10 examination memo of June 2017.

Q3.6
Please correct memo; the answer is "solid".
Motivation:

At the time (indicated by the red dotted line) when X changes into a gas, water is still a solid substance; check position of blue circle.




Q4.9.2
If learners use X instead of Mg it is acceptable as in the following:

Q6.4
Some learners might realise the missing product X is water and work from that idea. That is fine, but they must show the following flow of scientific thinking to have the five marks awarded.

Example: Coefficient of water is not given; one mark is then lost for that and one mark for the final answer.

Q7.2.1
Accept "Succession of rarefactions (tick) and compressions (tick)" as an alternative correct answer.

Q7.2.2
We want to teach learners the importance of substituting SI units. Hence, 1/4 for the following; despite the correct answer, conversions were neglected.

Provincial SBA moderation - June 2017

The latest information about dates when the provincial SBA moderation will take place is as follows:

Gr 10: 1-5 June 2017
Gr 11: 9-13 June 2017
Gr 12: 17-21 June 2017

Click here to download the internal memo from examinations in which you find the venues and other detail.

A previous post had indicated the schools sampled for grade 10 moderation.

Grade 10 Physical Science Olympiad

The grade 10 physical science olympiad was written today. A few schools sent in pictures of their learners working on the questions!

Akademia

Bahale

Concordia

Hentie Cilliers

Kagisano

Taiwe

Theunissen

Welkom-Gimnasium

Welkom High

Welkom Sekondêr

Winburg

Correction: Examination guidelines for grade 12

Recently it was discovered that the 2017 national examination guidelines for grade 12 are not correct. Please revert back to the previous version (2014). It is available under "Pages" (see left) and then "Examinations: Examination Guidelines and Diagnostic Reports". Click here to go there directly.

Textbook correction

Answer Series 3-in-1 (Grade 12; 2014 edition)
Page 1.56, exercise 9, number 1.2

The value for work done by friction must be substituted as -50 000 J. Answer is 2,53 m.

SAASTE conference 2017

Teachers of physical, natural and technical sciences, life sciences, agricultural sciences and earth sciences!

The SAASTE Conference will take place from 17 to 21 July 2017 at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein. Depending on availability of funds and the number of interested parties, the plan is to sponsor teachers in the above-mentioned subjects with R900, accommodation and travelling. If you are interested, download the following material:

• SAASTE poster
• Commitment form
• Registration form, call for presentations and programme

Submit your commitment form directly to Miss Nel as soon as possible, but on or before 16 June 2017. Arrangements for sponsorships and transport can only be made once the number of interested parties is known. Teachers who will be sponsored will still be responsible for their own membership fees to SAASTE.

You are also invited to participate as a presenter at this conference. The downloaded documentation gives the detail and if uncertain, contact the organisers directly.

Provincial SBA moderation - May 2017 - Grade 10

The following schools were selected for provincial SBA moderation of grade 10.

Please ensure that material is prepared and submitted as required by the examination section.

Olympiad for grade 10

The first physical science olympiad for grade 10 will take place this year. Teachers have been informed about the way in which it will take place, but the official circular (LTA 10 of 2017) is available now. Please download it here and scrutinise in order to have the full details. The first phase, in which an olympiad question paper is written, will DV take place on 22 May 2017. The final phase, which will be a provincial quiz, will DV take place on 13 and 14 October 2017.

We see forward to this exciting event for our grade 10 learners. It is compulsory for all of them to write. All question papers will be provided to schools by the provincial head office.

Best wishes!!

IBP broadcast schedule for term two (Update)

The schedule for regular IBP broadcasts was updated yesterday. Click here to download it.

IBP broadcast schedule for term two

The broadcast schedule for this term's IBP is available.

Click here to download the schedule for the examination preparation broadcasts (green cells) as well as memo discussions (turquois cells).