Natural sciences
Final examination
SEKHUKHUNE SOUTH
NATURAL SCIENCES
FINAL EXAMINATION
TERM 4
GENERAL EDUCATION AND
TRAINING
GRADE 8
Time: 2 hours
Marks: 90
N.B. This question paper consists of 10 pages.
INSTRUCTIONS TO LEARNERS
1.
2.
3.
4.
Answer all questions.
Read all questions carefully before answering.
Rule off after each question.
Write neatly and legibly.
1
Term 4
Natural sciences
Final examination
Term 4
Question 1
Four options are provided as possible answers to each of the following questions. In
each question, only ONE answer is correct. Choose the correct answer and indicate
your choice by writing ONLY the correct letter next to the number e.g., 1.1 B
1.1 It is the nearest star to the Earth.
A
Alpha Centauri
B
The moon
C
The Sun
D
Mercury
(1)
1.2 Which statement best describes Earth's movement in relation to the sun?
A
The sun revolves around the Earth
B
The sun and Earth revolve around each other
C
The Earth revolves around the sun
D
The sun and Earth revolve around other planets
(1)
1.3 Which planet has the shortest day?
A
Jupiter
B
Mars
C
Mercury
D
Earth
(1)
1.4 What is the Sun, and the collection of planets and smaller objects that orbits around it
called?
A
B
C
D
A milky way
The solar system
Asteroids
Dwarf planet
(1)
1.5 Which one of the following is not a feature or characteristic to distinguish one planet
from another?
A
B
C
D
Colour
Temperature
Shape
Size
(1)
2
Natural sciences
Final examination
Term 4
1.6 A 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)
1.7 A Perspex strip was rubbed with a piece of cloth and became positively charged. The
correct explanation for why the Perspex strip became positively charged is that:
A
the Perspex strip got extra protons from the cloth
B
the Perspex strip got extra protons due to friction
C
protons in the Perspex strip were created as a result of friction
D
the Perspex lost electrons to the cloth due to friction
(1)
1.8 How can you tell when an object is being discharged?
A
Heat is released and can be felt
B
Light is released and you can feel a shock
C
Static electricity gives off many colours
D
The object begins to spin rapidly when it is shocked
(1)
1.9 On what weather condition is static electricity most obvious?
A
dry and non-humid day
B
cold and wet day
C
hot and rainy day
D
warm and humid day
(1)
1.10 What energy conversion takes place inside an electrical cell?
A
Chemical energy into solar energy.
B
Chemical energy into electrical energy.
C
Electrical energy into potential energy.
D
Electrical energy into light energy.
3
(1)
Natural sciences
Final examination
Term 4
Questions 1.11 - 1.13 are based on the diagram below.
1.11 The following planets are the gas giants
A
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune
B
Saturn, Mars, Venus and Mercury
C
Earth, Jupiter. Uranus and Neptune
D
Venus, Mercury, Earth and Uranus
(1)
1.12 Which planet has the lowest average temperature?
A
Mercury
B
Earth
C
Neptune
D
Mars
(1)
1.13. Which planet in our Solar System is closest to the Sun?
A
Neptune
B
Mercury
C
Earth
D.
Saturn
13 x1 [13]
Question 2
Match the term/concept in COLUMN B with the information from COLUMN A by writing
only the letter (A to J) next to the corresponding number (2.1 to 2.5) on the answer sheet.
4
Natural sciences
Final examination
COLUMN A
2.1 It is the nearest easily visible star to the sun
2.2 It has a diameter of about 13 light hours
2.3 A component made of material that opposes the flow of electrical
current in an electric circuit.
2.4 It is one of the billions of galaxies scattered across the Universe
2.5 Icy dusty objects, orbiting the Sun at great distances
Term 4
COLUMN B
A. Resistor
B. Comets
C. Fuse
D. The Solar System
E. Alpha Centauri
F. Asteroids
G. The Milky Way
5x1 [5]
Question 3
Give one word or phrase for the following statements.
3.1 A movement or flow of charge in a closed, conducting circuit.
(1)
3.2 A conducting pathway for electricity with a number of components connected together. (1)
3.3 It is used by astronomers to measure distance in space.
(1)
3.4 A resistant wire inside a light bulb that glows to produce light.
(1)
3.5 Most electrical wires are made of this metal.
(1)
5 x1 [5]
Question 4
State whether the following statements are true or false.
4.1. Electrons move from one object to another through friction.
(1)
4.2.Copper has a very low resistance to electric current
(1)
4.3.SALT is at Sutherland in South Africa
(1)
4.4. There are 9 planets and 4 dwarf planets
(1)
4.5. Kinetic energy is the energy of movement
(1)
5 x1 [5]
Question 5
Study the following circuit diagram and answer the questions that follow: This circuit
diagram consists of two cells, four ammeters marked A1, A2, A3 and A4 and two identical
bulbs; each bulb has the resistance of 2Ω.
5
Natural sciences
Final examination
Term 4
5.1 What is the main output of this system?
(1)
5.2 Compare the brightness of the bulbs. Explain your answer.
(2)
5.3 What happens if the bulb connected to A3 is removed?
(2)
5.4 What is the relationship between the ammeter readings on A1 and A4? Explain your
answer.
(3)
5.5 Compare the readings in A1, A2 and A3.
(3)
5.6 Explain how a fuse works in a circuit.
(2)
5.7 Electrolysis is used to electroplate metals. Give one advantage of electroplating.
(2)
[15]
Question 6
6.1. Explain the difference between an open switch and a closed switch.
(4)
6.2. How does resistance affect the flow of an electrical current in a series circuit?
(4)
6.3. What does LED stand for?
(1)
6.4. When a prism was placed on white paper and beam of light shone through the silt in the
cardboard, several colours showed up on the paper. Name these seven colours.
(1)
6.5. Write a definition for photoreceptors.
(2)
[12]
Question 7
Study the diagram below and answer the questions based on it.
6
Natural sciences
Final examination
Term 4
7.1 Identify the light ray labelled A.
(1)
7.2 Identify the light ray labelled C.
(1)
7.3 What does the line labelled B represent?
(1)
7.4 Which letter represents the angle of incidence?
(1)
7.5 Which letter represents the angle of reflection?
(1)
7.6 Describe the relationship between angles X and Y.
(2)
7.7 Study the diagram below and answer the questions that follow.
7.7.1 What do we call the change of direction when light enters or leaves a transparent
medium?
(1)
7.7.2 The light ray passes from one medium (the air) into another medium (a glass block).
Is this medium more or less dense than air? Give a reason for your answer.
(3)
7.7.3 What angle does the letter Z represent on the diagram?
(1)
[12]
Question 8
7
Natural sciences
Final examination
Term 4
Distances of each planet from the Sun.
Planet
Mercury
Distance from Sun
(million km)
57,9
Distance from the Sun in
light hours or minutes
3.2 light minutes
Venus
108.2
6.0 light minutes
Earth
149.6
8.3 light minutes
Mars
206.6
12.7 light minutes
Jupiter
740.5
43.3 light minutes
Saturn
1352.6
1.3 light hours
Uranus
2741.3
2.7 light hours
Neptune
4444.5
4.2 light hours
8.1 How far away from the Sun is Earth in light minutes?
(1)
8.2 How long does light take to travel from the Sun to the Earth?
(1)
8.3 What does the answer to (2) imply about our view of the Sun?
(2)
8.4 How many times further away from the Sun than the Earth is Neptune?
(2)
8.5 How far away from the Sun is Neptune in light hours?
(1)
8.6 Give two conditions that support life on Earth?
(4)
[11]
Question 9
8
Natural sciences
Final examination
Term 4
The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) is the largest single
optical telescope in the southern hemisphere and among the largest
in the world. It has a hexagonal primary mirror array 11 metres
across, comprising 91 individual 1m hexagonal mirrors.
SALT is situated at the South African Astronomical Observatory
(SAAO) field station near the small town of Sutherland, in the
Northern Cape province, about 400 km from Cape Town. SALT is
funded by a consortium of international partners from South
Africa, the United States, Germany, Poland, India, the United
Kingdom and New Zealand. The telescope has been in full science
operation since 2011 and is realizing its huge potential as Africa’s
Giant Eye on the Universe.
9.1 Give two ways in which people of the area and other South Africans benefit from having
this large observatory in Sutherland.
(4)
9.2 Explain how an optical telescope works.
(4)
9.3 Suggest two reasons why the SALT is located in Sutherland.
(4)
[12]
(TOTAL 90)
9