Natural Sciences
Mopani East District/ Oct - Nov Exams/ 2022
MOPANI EAST DISTRICT
GRADE 8
NATURAL SCIENCES
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022
NAME: ___________________________________________________________________
SCHOOL: _________________________________________________________________
CLASS: ___________________________________________________________________
ar 90
MARKS:
TIME: 2 hours
QUESTION PAPER
This question paper consists of 17 pages.
Page 1 of 17
Natural Sciences
Mopani East District/ Oct - Nov Exams/ 2022
INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION
1. Write your name, surname and class on the cover page of the question paper
that serves as an answer sheet.
2. Answer ALL questions in the space provided
3. This question paper consists of Section A and Section B
4. Allocation of marks:
Section A: 54 Marks
Section B: 36 Marks
5. This question paper consists of 7 Questions and 17 pages.
6. All drawings should be done in pencil and labeled in blue or black in
7. Write neatly and legibly.
Page 2 of 17
Natural Sciences
Mopani East District/ Oct - Nov Exams/ 2022
SECTION A: ENERGY AND CHANGE
QUESTION 1
1.1.
Four options are provided as possible answers to each question. Choose the
correct answer by writing down the letter of the correct answer in the space
provided.
1.1.1. Study the diagrams below very carefully and answer the question.
Suppose that all of the beakers shown above contain water. Which of the
beakers contains water molecules with the least amount of kinetic energy?
A. U
B. V
C. X
D. Y
__________
1.1.2. Which of the following would not be classified as transparent?
A. Glass
B. Clear plastic
C. Water
D. Clay
__________
Page 3 of 17
Natural Sciences
Mopani East District/ Oct - Nov Exams/ 2022
1.1.3. The objects that can emit light are said to be …
A. Opaque
B. Translucent
C. Luminous
D. Transparent
__________
1.1.4. The girl combs her hair with a plastic comb. The comb becomes negatively
charged. The comb is negatively charged because it has …
A. Gained electrons.
B. Gained protons.
C. Lost electrons.
D. Lost protons.
__________
1.1.5. Which one of the following electrical devices controls a flow of current through a
circuit?
A. A fuse
B. A switch
C. Light bulb
D. Resistor
__________
1.1.6. When would you have the most potential energy?
A. Walking up the hill
B. Jogging in the morning
C. Running up the hill
D. Sitting at the bottom of the hill
__________
(6 x 1)= 6
Page 4 of 17
Natural Sciences
Mopani East District/ Oct - Nov Exams/ 2022
1.2. Give ONE word for each of the following statements:
1.2.1. A circuit that provides only one path along which a current can flow.
____________________________________________________
(1)
1.2.2. An electrical component that opposes the flow of current in
a circuit.
____________________________________________________
(1)
1.2.3. A band of light in which all the colours of the rainbow are visible.
____________________________________________________
(1)
1.2.4. The bending of light when it travels from one medium into another of
different optical density
____________________________________________________
(1)
1.2.5. The type of energy stored in an object or system.
____________________________________________________
(1)
1.2.6. A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a material.
____________________________________________________
(1)
(6 X 1) = 6
Page 5 of 17
Natural Sciences
1.3.
Mopani East District/ Oct - Nov Exams/ 2022
Match Column A and Column B by writing the letter of the correct answer in the
spaces given.
Column A
Column B
1.3.1 The type of electrical circuit used in household
Answer
A. Electric
current
1.3.2 The resistant wire inside a light bulb that glows to
1.3.1.
_________
B. Electroplating 1.3.2.
produce light.
_________
1.3.3 The flow of charge
C. Electric spark
1.3.3
_________
1.3.4 The process of putting a layer of one metal on top
D. Filament
of another by means of electricity.
1.3.5 A flash of light produced by electric discharge
1.3.4
_________
E. Parallel
1.3.5
_________
1.3.6 Most electrical wires are made of this metal.
F. Series
1.3.6
_________
G. Copper
(6 x 1) = 6
QUESTION 2
2. Two charged objects A and B were brought closer to each other. Object A is
positively charged whereas object B has an unknown charge.
Page 6 of 17
Natural Sciences
2.1.
Mopani East District/ Oct - Nov Exams/ 2022
If the two objects repel each other, what is the charge on object B?
________________________________
2.2.
(1)
If the two objects attract each other, what is the charge on object B?
________________________________
2.3.
(1)
Complete:
Like charges 2.3.1. ____________ each other; and
unlike charges 2.3.2. _____________ each other.
(2)
(4 x 1) = 4
QUESTION 3
3. Circuit diagrams use standard symbols to represent each component of a circuit.
Study the following circuit diagram and answer the questions based on it.
3.1.
Are the light bulbs in the above diagram connected in (series or parallel)?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Page 7 of 17
(1)
Natural Sciences
3.2.
Mopani East District/ Oct - Nov Exams/ 2022
Give a reason for your answer above.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
3.3.
(1)
Explain why this type of connection in question 3.1. is
not suitable to be used in a house.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
(2)
3.4.
What do you think will happen to the brightness of the light bulbs if one cell is
added to the electric circuit?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
3.5.
(1)
Which component in the given circuit diagram is used to control the flow of
current?
_____________________________________
3.6.
(1)
Name the FOUR components in the diagram above?
1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
(4)
3.7. Name
FOUR household appliances which use the heating effect of electricity.
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Page 8 of 17
(4)
Natural Sciences
3.8.
Mopani East District/ Oct - Nov Exams/ 2022
Draw a line circuit diagram to represent the above.
(4)
3.9. Define the following terms:
1. Static electricity
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
(2)
2. Electric current
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
(2)
(22 x 1) = 22
Page 9 of 17
Natural Sciences
Mopani East District/ Oct - Nov Exams/ 2022
QUESTION 4
The given diagram indicates a light ray focused on point X on the plain mirror PQ. Study
the behavior of the light ray after striking point X as indicated on the diagram below and
answer the questions
4.1.
Name the light ray labelled A.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
4.2.
(1)
What is represented by the line labelled B?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
4.3.
(1)
Name the light ray labelled C.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
4.4.
(1)
Name the angle labelled D.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
Page 10 of 17
(1)
Natural Sciences
4.5.
Mopani East District/ Oct - Nov Exams/ 2022
Name the angle labelled E.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
4.6.
(1)
Name the point marked X
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
4.7.
(1)
What is the relationship between angle D and E?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
4.8.
(1)
State the law of reflection.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
(3)
(10 x 1) = 10
TOTAL SECTION A: 5 6
SECTION B: PLANET EARTH AND BEYOND
Question 5
5.1.
Four options are provided as possible answers to each question. Choose the
correct answer by writing down the letter of the correct answer in the space
provided.
Page 11 of 17
Natural Sciences
Mopani East District/ Oct - Nov Exams/ 2022
5.1.1. The galaxy in which our solar system is located is …
A. Andromeda
B. Milky Way
C. Sombrero
D. Whirlpool
__________
5.1.2. Stars are characterised by …
A. Reflecting the light from the Sun
B. Coming out at night
C. Emitting their own light
D. Absorbing light from the Universe
___________
5.1.3. The star at the centre of the Milky Way is ..
A. Pleiades
B. Alpha Centauri
C. Sun
D. Orion
____________
5.1.4. The Sun is a ball of extreme hot …
A. Hydrogen and Helium gases
B. Liquid and molten metal
C. Oxygen and Nitrogen gases
D. Gamma rays and X-rays
Page 12 of 17
_____________
Natural Sciences
Mopani East District/ Oct - Nov Exams/ 2022
5.1.5. What does SKA stand for?
A. Square Kilometre Area
B. Sequence Kilometre Array
C. Squire Kilometre Array
D. Solar Kilometre Area
______________
(5 x 1) = 5
5.2.
Supply a TERM for the following statements
5.2.1. The path followed by an object when it travels around another object in space.
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
(1)
5.2.2. A group of stars with a recognizable pattern and specific name.
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
(1)
5.2.3. An instrument that uses lens to make distant objects appear nearer.
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
(1)
5.2.4. The distance that light travels in one year.
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Page 13 of 17
(1)
Natural Sciences
Mopani East District/ Oct - Nov Exams/ 2022
5.2.5. The only planet known to support plant and animal life.
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
(1)
(5 x 1) = 5
QUESTION 6
Study the following diagram which represents the solar system.
6.1. Define a solar system
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ (3)
Page 14 of 17
Natural Sciences
Mopani East District/ Oct - Nov Exams/ 2022
6.2. Which FOUR planets are called terrestrial planets?
1. ____________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________
3._____________________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________________
(4)
6.3. Provide a reason why these planets are called terrestrial planets?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
(1)
6.4. Which planet has been downgraded and is no longer classified as a planet?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
(1)
6.5. Differentiate between asteroids and comets.
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Page 15 of 17
(2)
Natural Sciences
Mopani East District/ Oct - Nov Exams/ 2022
6.6. The Earth is part of the ‘habitable zone’ in the solar system. Mention TWO basic
conditions that makes the Earth a habitable zone to support the existence of plant
and animal life.
1. ________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________ (2)
(13 x 1) = 13
QUESTION 7
7.1.
Study the word given in the box and answer the question
Star; Galaxy; Universe; Constellation; Planet
7.1.1. Arrange the given words from the smallest to the largest.
1. ____________________
2. ____________________
3. ____________________
4. ____________________
5. ____________________
(5)
7.1.2. Where does the Universe end?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
7.1.3. Give a reason for your answer above.
______________________________________________________
Page 16 of 17
(1)
Natural Sciences
Mopani East District/ Oct - Nov Exams/ 2022
______________________________________________________
7.2.
(1)
Telescopes play an important role in observing objects in space. Two different
types of telescopes can be identified.
7.2.1. Mention the TWO types of telescopes you have studied.
1. ________________________________________
2. ________________________________________
(2)
7.2.2. Suggest TWO good conditions for looking into space.
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
(2)
7.2.3. Write TRUE or FALSE
(a) SALT is a multiple mirror reflecting telescope. _________ (1)
(b) MeerKAT is a radio telescope array.
_________ (1)
(6)
(13 x 1) = 13
TOTAL SECTION B: 3 6
GRAND TOTAL MARK: 9 0
______________________________________________________________________
Page 17 of 17