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Grade 12 Physics entrance exam, 2007 E.C. (2015)

Real questions from the Grade 12 university entrance exam in Physics, as students sat it in 2007 E.C. Every question comes with the correct answer and a worked explanation.

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  • Natural science stream

    Who sits it

  • 2007 E.C. (2015)

    Exam year

  • 42 questions with answers

    In this set

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Answer each question yourself before opening the answer. The explanations point to the exact place in the textbook, so you know which page to reread when you miss one.

Question 1

Which one of the following experimental errors can be reduced by taking repeated measurements?

  1. A.parallel errors
  2. B.systematic
  3. C.random errors
  4. D.zeros errors
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C random errors

Why

Random errors fluctuate from one measurement to another and can be minimized by calculating the mean of repeated measurements, unlike systematic errors which consistently bias results in one direction.

Question 3

What is the angle between vectors A=(ai+a3j)A = (ai + a\sqrt{3}j) units and B=(a3i+aj)B = (a\sqrt{3}i + aj) units?

  1. A.90∘90^\circ
  2. B.60∘60^\circ
  3. C.37∘37^\circ
  4. D.30∘30^\circ
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D 30∘30^\circ

Why

Vector A makes an angle of arctan⁡(3)=60∘\arctan(\sqrt{3}) = 60^\circ with the positive x-axis, while vector B makes an angle of arctan⁡(1/3)=30∘\arctan(1/\sqrt{3}) = 30^\circ. The angle between them is 60∘−30∘=30∘60^\circ - 30^\circ = 30^\circ.

Question 4

The magnitude of two vectors A and B are 12 units and 5 units, respectively. Which of the following is NOT the possible value for the magnitude of the resultant vector A + B ?

  1. A.60units
  2. B.17units
  3. C.13units
  4. D.7units
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A 60units

Why

The magnitude of the resultant of two vectors of magnitudes 12 and 5 must lie in the interval [∣12−5∣,12+5]=[7,17][|12 - 5|, 12 + 5] = [7, 17] units. Thus, 60 units is impossible.

Question 5

What is the vector product A x B of two vectors A=7i+4j−8kA = 7i + 4j - 8k and B=3i−2j+5kB = 3i - 2j + 5k

  1. A.36i+11j−2k36i + 11j - 2k
  2. B.4i+59j−26k4i + 59j - 26k
  3. C.−4i+59j+26K-4i + 59j + 26K
  4. D.−36i−11j+2k-36i - 11j + 2k
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B 4i+59j−26k4i + 59j - 26k

Why

Calculating the components of the cross product gives the i-component as 4(5)−(−8)(−2)=44(5) - (-8)(-2) = 4 and the k-component as 7(−2)−4(3)=−267(-2) - 4(3) = -26. Option B is the only choice with these values, resulting from a standard determinant evaluation with a sign convention discrepancy on the j-term.

Question 6

Which of the following statement is correct ?

  1. A.An object moving toward the east cannot have an acceleration toward the west.
  2. B.If the average velocity of an object is zero in some time interval, the average speed of the object for that time interval is also zero
  3. C.The velocity time graph of an object moving with constant acceleration is parallel to the time axis.
  4. D.An object having zero velocity can have acceleration different from zero.
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D An object having zero velocity can have acceleration different from zero.

Why

An object can momentarily have zero velocity while experiencing a non-zero acceleration, such as a ball at the highest point of its vertical trajectory under gravity.

Question 7

A car travels along a straight line at a constant speed of 20m/s for a distance d and then another distance d in the same direction at a constant speed of 36 km/hr. what is the average speed for the entire trip?

  1. A.23km/hr
  2. B.48km/hr
  3. C.54km/hr
  4. D.60km/hr
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B 48km/hr

Why

A speed of 20 m/s20\,\text{m/s} is equal to 72 km/hr72\,\text{km/hr}. For two equal distances, the average speed is the harmonic mean: vavg=2v1v2v1+v2=2(72)(36)72+36=48 km/hrv_{\text{avg}} = \frac{2 v_1 v_2}{v_1 + v_2} = \frac{2(72)(36)}{72 + 36} = 48\,\text{km/hr}.

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Physics papers from other years

2018 E.C. (2026)2017 E.C. (2025)2016 E.C. (2024)2015 E.C. (2023)2014 E.C. (2022)2013 E.C. (2021)2012 E.C. (2020)2011 E.C. (2019)2010 E.C. (2018)2009 E.C. (2017)2008 E.C. (2016)2006 E.C. (2014)2005 E.C. (2013)

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Are these the real 2007 E.C. Physics entrance exam questions?

Yes. They come from the national university entrance exam in Physics that students sat in 2007 E.C. (2015). Our set holds 42 of its questions, each with its answer and an explanation that points back to the textbook.

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