Physical Sciences
CAPS Grade 12 Physical Sciences (Paper 1: Physics - Mechanics, Waves, Electricity; Paper 2: Chemistry - Organic, Equilibrium, Electrochemistry)
Official DBE "Mind the Gap" Study Guides
Free downloadable Department of Basic Education self-study textbooks and literature guides.
DBE Mind the Gap Study Guide: Physical Sciences: Physics
DBE Mind the Gap Study Guide: Physical Sciences: Chemistry
DBE Mind the Gap Study Guide: Fisiese Wetenskap Deel 1 Fieika
DBE Mind the Gap Study Guide: Fisiese Wetenskap Deel 2 Chemie
DBE Official CAPS Examination Guidelines (2021): Physical Sciences
Official CAPS Examination Structure
Standard paper durations and mark allocations prescribed by the Department of Basic Education (DBE).
Paper 1
150 marks, 3 hours: Mechanics (Newton, Momentum, Work/Energy) 65 marks; Waves/Sound/Light 15 marks; Electricity & Magnetism 45 marks; Matter & Materials 25 marks
Paper 2
150 marks, 3 hours: Organic Molecules 48 marks; Rates of Reactions & Chemical Equilibrium 42 marks; Acids & Bases 25 marks; Electrochemical Reactions 35 marks
CAPS Topics & Exam Mark Weightings
Topic-by-topic weightings and syllabus breakdown for Grade 12.
| Paper | Term | Topic Title | Exam Weighting | Scope / Overview |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Term 1 | Newton’s Laws & Applications of Forces | 25 marks (~16.7%) | Free-body diagrams, static and kinetic friction, Newton I, II and III, Universal Gravitation. |
| Paper 1 | Term 1 | Momentum & Impulse | 15 marks (~10%) | Conservation of linear momentum, elastic vs inelastic collisions, impulse as change in momentum, safety applications. |
| Paper 1 | Term 1 | Vertical Projectile Motion in 1D | 15 marks (~10%) | Motion in gravitational field, kinematic equations of motion, position-time, velocity-time, and acceleration-time graphs. |
| Paper 1 | Term 2 | Work, Energy & Power | 15 marks (~10%) | Work-energy theorem, conservative and non-conservative forces, conservation of mechanical energy, power and efficiency. |
| Paper 1 | Term 2 | Doppler Effect | 15 marks (~10%) | Apparent frequency shifts in sound and light waves, red-shift, applications in astronomy and ultrasound medical imaging. |
| Paper 1 | Term 3 | Electric Circuits & Internal Resistance | 20 marks (~13.3%) | Ohm’s Law, series and parallel networks, emf, internal resistance, lost volts, electrical power, and cost of electricity. |
| Paper 1 | Term 3 | Electrodynamics (Generators & Motors) | 20 marks (~13.3%) | Faraday’s Law of induction, Fleming’s rules, AC and DC generators, electric motors, alternating current (AC) rms values. |
| Paper 1 | Term 3 | Photoelectric Effect | 15 marks (~10%) | Dual nature of light, photon energy, work function, threshold frequency, cutoff wavelength, emission spectra. |
| Paper 2 | Term 1 | Organic Molecules & Nomenclature | 48 marks (~32%) | IUPAC naming, functional groups (alkanes, alkenes, haloalkanes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters), isomerism, physical properties, boiling point trends. |
| Paper 2 | Term 2 | Rates of Reaction | 20 marks (~13.3%) | Collision theory, Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution curves, catalysts, temperature, surface area, concentration effects, graphs. |
| Paper 2 | Term 2 | Chemical Equilibrium & Kc | 22 marks (~14.7%) | Dynamic equilibrium, equilibrium constant (Kc) calculations, Le Chatelier’s principle, industrial processes (Haber, Contact). |
| Paper 2 | Term 3 | Acids & Bases | 25 marks (~16.7%) | Lowry-Brønsted and Arrhenius definitions, strong vs weak acids, Ka and Kb, pH calculations, standard solutions, volumetric titrations. |
| Paper 2 | Term 3 | Electrochemical Reactions (Galvanic & Electrolytic) | 35 marks (~23.3%) | Redox reactions, standard reduction potentials table, galvanic cells, cell notation, salt bridge, standard conditions, electrolytic cells, electroplating, chloro-alkali process. |
Revision Study Notes & Worked Examples
High-yield CAPS definitions, formulas, and step-by-step worked solutions.
Physical Sciences: Newton’s Laws Cheat Sheet & Free-Body Vectors
Newton’s Second Law of Motion
"When a net force acts on an object, the object accelerates in the direction of the net force. The acceleration is directly proportional to the net force and inversely proportional to the mass of the object."
Formulas:
- \( F_{\text{net}} = ma \)
- Parallel component on an incline: \( F_{g\parallel} = mg \sin \theta \)
- Perpendicular component on an incline: \( F_{g\perp} = mg \cos \theta \)
- Normal force on an incline: \( N = mg \cos \theta \) (when no other vertical forces act)
- Friction force: \( f_k = \mu_k N \)
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Vertical projectile motion
3.3 Chapter summary
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Work
5.3 Work-energy theorem
6.1 Introduction
6.2 The Doppler effect with sound
6.3 The Doppler effect with light
8.1 What is chemical equilibrium?
8.2 The equilibrium constant
8.3 Le Chatelier's principle
9.1 Acids and bases
9.2 Acid-base reactions
9.3 pH
13.1 Revision of oxidation and reduction
13.2 Writing redox and half-reactions
Official Past Exam Papers & Marking Guidelines (78)
Filter by year or language and open any paper in our side-by-side split screen viewer.
2026 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Eng)
2026 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Eng)
2026 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Afr)
2026 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Afr)
2025 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Eng)
2025 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Eng)
2025 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Afr)
2025 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Afr)
2025 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Eng)
2025 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Eng)
2025 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Afr)
2025 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Afr)
2025 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Sept Trial)
2025 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Sept Trial)
2024 Physical Sciences Paper 1 Physics (NSC Nov Eng)
2024 Physical Sciences Paper 2 Chemistry (NSC Nov Eng)
2024 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Afr)
2024 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Afr)
2024 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Eng)
2024 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Eng)
2024 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Afr)
2024 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Afr)
2024 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Sept Trial)
2024 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Sept Trial)
2024 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Sept Trial)
2024 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Sept Trial)
2023 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Nov)
2023 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Nov)
2023 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Afr)
2023 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Afr)
2023 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Eng)
2023 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Eng)
2023 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Afr)
2023 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Afr)
2023 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Sept Trial)
2023 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Sept Trial)
2023 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Sept Trial)
2023 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Sept Trial)
2022 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Eng)
2022 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Eng)
2022 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Afr)
2022 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Afr)
2022 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Eng)
2022 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Eng)
2022 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Afr)
2022 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Afr)
2022 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Sept Trial)
2022 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Sept Trial)
2022 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Sept Trial)
2022 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Sept Trial)
2021 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Eng)
2021 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Eng)
2021 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Afr)
2021 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Afr)
2021 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Eng)
2021 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Eng)
2021 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Afr)
2021 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Afr)
2020 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Eng)
2020 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Eng)
2020 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Afr)
2020 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Afr)
2019 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Eng)
2019 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Eng)
2019 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Afr)
2019 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Afr)
2019 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Eng)
2019 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Eng)
2019 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Afr)
2019 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Afr)
2018 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Eng)
2018 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Eng)
2018 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Afr)
2018 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Afr)
2018 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Eng)
2018 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Eng)
2018 Physical Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Afr)
2018 Physical Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Afr)
Practice Quizzes for Physical Sciences
Matric Physical Sciences Paper 1: High-Yield MCQ Drill
10 NSC-style practice multiple-choice questions written for this platform (not taken from a specific exam paper). You have 15 minutes. Memo explanations unlock on completion.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2026 Physical Sciences P1 (2026 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
3 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2026 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Physical Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2025 Physical Sciences P2 (2025 NSC October/November National Examination)
3 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2025 NSC October/November National Examination Physical Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2025 Physical Sciences P2 (2025 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
3 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2025 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Physical Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2025 Physical Sciences P1 (2025 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
3 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2025 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Physical Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2024 Physical Sciences P2 (2024 NSC October/November National Examination)
3 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2024 NSC October/November National Examination Physical Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2024 Physical Sciences P1 (2024 NSC October/November National Examination)
3 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2024 NSC October/November National Examination Physical Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2024 Physical Sciences P2 (2024 NSC May/June Supplementary Examination)
5 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2024 NSC May/June Supplementary Examination Physical Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2024 Physical Sciences P1 (2024 NSC May/June Supplementary Examination)
3 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2024 NSC May/June Supplementary Examination Physical Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2025 Physical Sciences P2 (2025 September Provincial Preparatory (Trial) Examination)
3 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2025 September Provincial Preparatory (Trial) Examination Physical Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2023 Physical Sciences P2 (2023 Oct/Nov Final NSC (National DBE))
4 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2023 Oct/Nov Final NSC (National DBE) Physical Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2023 Physical Sciences P1 (2023 Oct/Nov Final NSC (National DBE))
3 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2023 Oct/Nov Final NSC (National DBE) Physical Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2023 Physical Sciences P2 (2023 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
4 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2023 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Physical Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2022 Physical Sciences P2 (2022 NSC October/November National Examination)
5 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2022 NSC October/November National Examination Physical Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2022 Physical Sciences P1 (2022 NSC October/November National Examination)
3 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2022 NSC October/November National Examination Physical Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2022 Physical Sciences P2 (2022 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
4 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2022 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Physical Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2022 Physical Sciences P1 (2022 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
6 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2022 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Physical Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2021 Physical Sciences P2 (2021 NSC October/November National Examination)
3 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2021 NSC October/November National Examination Physical Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2021 Physical Sciences P1 (2021 NSC October/November National Examination)
3 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2021 NSC October/November National Examination Physical Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2021 Physical Sciences P2 (2021 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
5 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2021 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Physical Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2020 Physical Sciences P2 (2020 NSC October/November National Examination)
6 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2020 NSC October/November National Examination Physical Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2020 Physical Sciences P1 (2020 NSC October/November National Examination)
5 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2020 NSC October/November National Examination Physical Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2019 Physical Sciences P2 (2019 NSC October/November National Examination)
4 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2019 NSC October/November National Examination Physical Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2019 Physical Sciences P1 (2019 NSC October/November National Examination)
3 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2019 NSC October/November National Examination Physical Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2019 Physical Sciences P2 (2019 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
7 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2019 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Physical Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2019 Physical Sciences P1 (2019 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
7 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2019 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Physical Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2018 Physical Sciences P2 (2018 NSC October/November National Examination)
4 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2018 NSC October/November National Examination Physical Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2018 Physical Sciences P1 (2018 NSC October/November National Examination)
5 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2018 NSC October/November National Examination Physical Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2023 Physical Sciences P1 (2023 September Provincial Preparatory (Trial) Examination)
3 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2023 September Provincial Preparatory (Trial) Examination Physical Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2023 Physical Sciences P2 (2023 September Provincial Preparatory (Trial) Examination)
3 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2023 September Provincial Preparatory (Trial) Examination Physical Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2022 Physical Sciences P2 (2022 September Provincial Preparatory (Trial) Examination)
3 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2022 September Provincial Preparatory (Trial) Examination Physical Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.