Grade 12 Physics Term 1 Exam 2024/25

Study Guide and Revision Sheet

Unit: Physics
Duration: 2 hr.
Calculators: Allowed (no sharing)
Date of Exams:
Boys -6.12.14
Girls -11.12.24

Learning Targets:

Unit 1: Rotation and Unit 2: Oscillation

• Understand the concept of torque

• Define pivot point
• Identify the conditions necessary for an object to be in rotational equilibrium.
• Apply the principle of torque equilibrium to solve problems involving pivots.
• Understand the analogy between the kinematic equations for uniform angular acceleration and linear
acceleration.
• Derive and use equations for angular displacement, angular velocity, and angular acceleration.
• Calculate unknowns using the angular kinematic equations.
• Describe the general behaviour of a spring-mass system in SHM using qualitative terms.
• Analyze the motion of an SHM system using displacement, velocity, and acceleration graphs.
• Define and explain Hooke’s Law.
• Measure the spring constant for different springs using force and extension data.
• Calculate the elastic potential energy stored in a spring using the formula Ep=1/2 kx2
• Calculate the period of pendulum and spring
• Calculate wave speed, frequency and period

Content:

Torque:

• Torque is the rotational equivalent of force.

• Formula: τ= r×F×sin(θ), where:
o r is the distance from the pivot (lever arm),
o F is the applied force,
o θ\theta is the angle between the force and the lever arm.
 • Units: Torque is measured in Newton-meters (Nm).
• Maximum torque occurs when θ=90, i.e., the force is applied perpendicularly to the lever arm.

Factors Affecting Torque:

• Distance from Pivot: Increasing the distance from the pivot point (lever arm) increases the torque for the
same force.
• Force Applied: The greater the force applied, the larger the torque.
• Angle of Force: The effectiveness of the force in generating torque depends on the angle between the force
and lever arm. Torque is maximum at 90°.

Rotational Equilibrium:

• An object is in rotational equilibrium when the net torque acting on it is zero.

• Condition: For an object to be in rotational equilibrium, the clockwise torques must equal the
counterclockwise torques.
• This means there is no angular acceleration, and the object will either remain at rest or rotate at constant
angular velocity.

Pivot Point:

• The pivot point (or axis of rotation) is the point around which an object rotates.
• In practical problems like a seesaw, wrench, or door, the pivot point is crucial in calculating the torque.

Relationship Between Torque and Vehicle Performance:

• Torque in vehicles is responsible for the rotation of the wheels, influencing acceleration and performance.
• Higher torque allows for better acceleration, especially at lower speeds.

Angular Motion:

• Angular velocity (ω) is the rate of change of angular displacement (measured in rad/s).
• Angular acceleration (α\alphaα) is the rate of change of angular velocity (measured in rad/s²).
• Formula for angular velocity with constant acceleration: ω=ω0+αt
• Formula for angular displacement: θ=ω0t+1/2αt2

Key Concepts to Memorize

1. Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM):

o In SHM, acceleration is maximum at maximum displacement from the equilibrium position.

o The period of a simple pendulum depends on its length, not on mass or amplitude.

o Frequency and period are inversely related: T=1/f

2. Torque:

o Torque is produced when a force acts at an angle to the lever arm.

 o The direction of the torque vector is perpendicular to the plane formed by the force and lever arm.

o Torque (τ) is calculated as τ=r⋅F⋅sin(θ)

3. Wave Properties:

o Wave speed (v) is related to frequency (f) and wavelength (λ) by the equation v=fλ

o The speed of sound is an example of a mechanical wave, while light is an example of an

electromagnetic wave.

o As frequency increases, wavelength decreases if wave speed remains constant.

4. Hooke's Law:

o Hooke's Law states that the force exerted by a spring is proportional to the displacement from its
equilibrium position: F=−kx

5. Rotational Dynamics:

o Angular displacement (θ), angular velocity (ω), and angular acceleration (ααα) are related through
kinematic equations.

o The total energy in a system undergoing SHM is the sum of kinetic energy (KE) and potential energy
(PE).

Problem Solving

1. Torque on a Lever:
o A force of 80 N is applied at a distance of 0.25 m from the pivot point. What is the torque generated
by this force?

2. Balancing a Beam:
o A 5 kg mass is hanging at a distance of 3 meters from a pivot. What force must be applied 2 meters on
the opposite side to keep the beam in equilibrium?
DOK 3: Application of Concepts

1. Torque on a Door:
o A door is being pushed with a force of 35 N at a distance of 0.6 m from the hinge, and another person
applies 50 N at 0.4 m. Calculate the net torque and determine the direction of the rotation.
2. Seesaw Equilibrium:
o A child weighing 400 N sits 2 m from the center of a seesaw. How far must a second child weighing
300 N sit on the other side to balance the seesaw?

Scenario: A disc starts from rest and accelerates with an angular acceleration of 3 rad/s23 \, rad/s^23rad/s2.

1. Angular Velocity Calculation:

o What will be the angular velocity after 5 seconds?
2. Angular Displacement:
o How many radians will the disc have rotated in this time?
3. Continued Motion:
o If the disc maintains this angular velocity for an additional 6 seconds after the initial acceleration, how
many total radians will it have rotated by the end of the 11-second period?

Torque Questions:

1. Basic Concept of Torque:

o A wrench is used to tighten a bolt. If a force of 40 N is applied perpendicular to the wrench at a
distance of 0.25 meters from the pivot, what is the torque applied to the bolt?
2. Torque and Equilibrium:
o A beam is balanced at its center. A 50 N weight is placed 2 meters from the pivot on the left side.
How far from the pivot on the right side should a 25 N weight be placed to keep the beam in rotational
equilibrium?
3. Torque and Angular Acceleration:
o A disk with a radius of 0.5 meters is subjected to a torque of 15 Nm. If the moment of inertia of the
disk is 2.5 kg·m², what is the angular acceleration of the disk?
4. Torque and Force Angle:
o A 20 N force is applied at a 30-degree angle to a door 0.8 meters wide. What is the torque produced
by this force?
5. Multiple Forces on a Lever:
o A 10 N force is applied 1 meter from the pivot of a seesaw, and a 5 N force is applied 2 meters from
the pivot on the opposite side. Is the seesaw in equilibrium? If not, which direction will it rotate?

Rotational Motion Questions:

1. Angular Velocity and Revolutions:

 o
A Ferris wheel rotates at a constant speed and completes one revolution in 20 seconds. What is its angular
velocity in radians per second?
2. Angular Displacement:
o A merry-go-round accelerates uniformly from rest and reaches an angular velocity of 2 rad/s in 5 seconds.
What is the angular displacement during this time?
3. Rotational vs. Linear Quantities:
o A rolling disk with a radius of 0.5 meters moves without slipping. If the disk’s angular velocity is 3 rad/s,
what is the linear velocity of a point on the rim of the disk?

Rotational Kinematics Questions:

1. Angular Acceleration:
o A wheel starts from rest and accelerates at a constant angular acceleration of 3 rad/s². How many
revolutions does the wheel complete in the first 4 seconds?
2. Relationship Between Linear and Angular Quantities:
o A cylinder with a radius of 0.2 meters rolls down a hill. If the cylinder’s angular velocity is 5 rad/s at
the bottom of the hill, what is its linear velocity?
3. Time for Angular Motion:
o A fan is rotating at 10 rad/s and comes to rest after decelerating at 0.5 rad/s². How long does it take for
the fan to stop?
4. Kinematic Equation for Angular Motion:
o A turntable accelerates from 2 rad/s to 8 rad/s over 3 seconds. What is its angular acceleration, and
what is the angular displacement during this time?
5. Comparing Angular and Linear Motion:
o A solid sphere is rolling down an incline. If the sphere starts from rest and covers a distance of 2
meters in 4 seconds, what is the angular acceleration of the sphere?

More practice problem

Q1:
1. Define torque and describe its relationship with the pivot point in rotational motion.

o Torque:

o Pivot Point:

2. Recall Hooke's Law and explain how it relates force and extension in a spring.

o Hooke's Law:
Q2: A beam of length 8 meters is balanced on a pivot located 3 meters from its left end. A 40 N weight hangs 2 meters
from the left end, and a 20 N weight is placed 2 meters from the right end.
1. Calculate the torque produced by each weight about the pivot.

o Torque calculations:

2. Determine if the beam is in rotational equilibrium based on your torque calculations.

o Equilibrium analysis:

3. If the beam is not in equilibrium, calculate the additional weight and placement required to achieve rotational
equilibrium.

o Additional weight and placement:

Q3: A rotating disc starts from rest and has an angular acceleration of 3 rad/s². After 8 seconds, it reaches an angular
velocity.
1. Calculate the angular velocity ω of the disc after 8 seconds and the total angular displacement θ covered in
this time.

o Angular velocity and displacement calculations:

2. If the disc experiences a sudden change that reduces its angular acceleration by one-third, determine the new
time required to cover an additional 150 radians under the new angular acceleration.

o New time calculation:

3. Discuss how the total time to cover 400 radians would change if the initial angular acceleration had been 6
rad/s² instead of 3 rad/s².

o Total time discussion:

Q4: A spring with a spring constant of 150 N/m is attached to a 6.0-kg mass and is stretched 3.0 m before being
released.
(a) Using Hooke's Law, demonstrate how the acceleration a of the mass-spring system relates to the spring’s
displacement x by the proportion a∝−x
• Demonstration:

(b) What is the displacement of the mass when the acceleration is -36 m/s²?
• Displacement calculation:

Q5: The kinetic energy vs. displacement for a mass on a spring is shown in the graph below.
(a) Determine the maximum velocity of the mass.
• Maximum velocity:

(b) Sketch the potential energy and determine the total energy of the system.
• Total energy:
(c) Calculate the spring constant k of the spring.
• Spring constant:

(d) Determine the acceleration of the mass at x=2.0 cm.

• Acceleration calculation:
Good Luck! ●