MINQUIZ 2009
PROVINCIAL COMPETITION
WRITTEN TEST
TIME ALLOWED: 45 MINUTES
NOTE: DO NOT OPEN UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.
NOTES

The test consists of 40 standard questions (split equally between Physical Science, Mathematics,
Minerals & Metallurgy, and General Knowledge in Science & Technology) and 5 OPTIONAL
bonus questions. The bonus questions will only count if there is a tie.

In the event of a TIE, the highest number of correct tie-breaker questions will be used to break the
tie. If there is still a tie after the tie-breaker questions, negative marking will be applied (so if you
are unsure of an answer and don’t want to risk negative marks in the event of a tie then it is
advisable to leave that question blank). If a tie still exists, then the winner will be determined by
means of a coin toss.

Only the ANSWER SHEET will be marked, and no workings or calculations need to be shown.

For each question, only ONE box on the multiple-choice answer sheet should be marked. The
boxes should be COMPLETELY SHADED to aid marking. If more than one box is selected, or
if no selection is made, no mark will be awarded for that question.

Negative marking will NOT apply (except if there is a tie).

You are advised to use a PENCIL so that you can make alterations.

No calculators allowed.

You may make use of the periodic table provided.

Please write your FULL NAME, SCHOOL, PROVINCE and CATEGORY (Gold or Platinum)
on the answer sheet in the spaces provided.

Please REMAIN SEATED until the end of the test.
Note the following constants
Avogadro’s Number NA = 6,02 x 1023
Absolute zero 0K = -273ºC
1. A man of mass 80 kg stands on a balance on the floor of a lift accelerating upwards at a constant speed of 2 m/s. What will be the reading on the balance in Newtons (N)? A. 640 N
B. 800N
C. 960 N
D. 0 N
Answer: C
Upward net force FR = F + W = 800 N + (80 kg X 2 m.s-2) =
960 N
2. Consider the velocity‐time graph for a moving particle given below. What is the particle’s acceleration when time t = 3 s? Answer: C
Acceleration = velocity = 5 ms-1
time
3s
= 1.67 m s-2
A. -10 m/s2
B. -5 m/s2
C. -1.67 m/s2
D. -15 m/s2
3. The diagram shows a velocity‐time graph for a car moving in a straight line. At point P the car is: A.
B.
C.
D.
moving with zero acceleration
climbing the hill
accelerating
stationary
Answer: C
4. Sound and light waves both: A. have similar wavelength
B. obey the laws of reflection
C. travel as longitudinal waves
D. travel through a vacuum
Answer: B
5. Light refracts when traveling from air into glass because light: A. intensity is greater in glass than in air
B. frequency is greater in glass than in air
C. density is greater in glass than in air D. frequency is greater in air than in glass
Answer: C
6. A resistor allows a current of 0.6 A to flow when connected to a 9.6 volt supply. What current would flow if the same resistor was connected to a 12.8 V supply? A. 0.8 A
B. 6.4 A
C. 22.4 A
D. 0.2 A
Answer: A
V = IR; R = V/I = 9.6 volts/0.6 amperes = 16 ohms, then 12.8 volts / 16 ohms = 0.8 amperes
7. A 1.2 m tall object is placed 2.0 m in front of a concave lens. The image is formed at 1.0 m from the lens. What is the size of the image formed? A. 2.4 m
B. 1.2 m
C. 0.3 m
D. 0.6 m
Answer: D
Concave lens magnification = image size = image distance
object size object distance
a=
1.0 m therefore a = 1.0m X 1.2 m = 0.6 m
1.2 m 2.0 m
2.0 m
8. The wire shown in the diagram is to be moved through a magnetic field. Which of the possible directions of movement shown A, B, C, or D would produce the largest induced emf? A.
B.
C.
D.
A B
C
D
Answer: A
9. Which of the following formulae does not represent a common compound? A. H3CO3
B. BaSO4
C. (NH4)2SO4
D. P2O5
Answer: A
10. The oxidation number of sulphur in the thiosulphate ion, S2O32‐ is: A. +3
B. -2
C. +2
D. -3
Answer: C
S 2O 3
+ 2s – 3(-2) = -2
2s = 6- 2 = +2
11. Which of the following pairs of elements are most likely to form a covalent compound? A. Ni, F
B. B, F
C. Li, F
D. Cu, F
Answer: B
Both are p-block elements
12. What is the change in the atomic number and the mass number of an atom when it emits an alpha particle? Answer: D
An alpha particle is a
A. atomic number increases by 2, mass number increases by 4.
positively charged
B. atomic number decreases by 2, mass number increases by 4
helium particle,
C. atomic number increases by 2, mass number decreases by 4
4
2+
2He .
D. None of the above
13. Who was the person to measure the charge on the electron? A. J. Thompson
B. M. Faraday
C. R. Millikan
D. W. Crookes
Answer: C
14. Two solutions are mixed, and a thermometer shows that the reaction mixture’s temperature has decreased. Which of the following statements is true? A. the chemical reaction is exothermic
Answer: B
B. the chemical reaction is endothermic C. the chemical reaction is releasing energy
D. the energy absorbed by the solution is equal to the difference in temperature
of the solutions
15. Electrolysis is the main extractive process for which element? A. Fe
B. Cu
C. Al
D. Zn
Answer: C
2
1
16. Factorize the following expression: 6 x 3  x 3  2 1
1
A.  2 x 3  1 3x 3  2 



1
1



B.  2 x 3  1 3x 3  2 



1
1



C.  2 x 3  1 3x 3  2 



2
2



D.  2 x 3  3  x 3  2 



Answer: C
17. Which value of x will yield the minimum value of x in x2 – 2x A.
B.
C.
D.
+1 -2
2
-1
18. The roots of the equation x
A.
B.
C.
D.
Answer: A

2
3
 4  0 are: –⅛
+¼
+8
+⅛
Answer: D
19. What is the next number in the series 1 ; 2 ; 3 ; 5 ; 8 ; …. A.
B.
C.
D.
11
20
13
10
Answer: C
20. Determine a if the point (‐2; 1/9) is a point on the graph defined by y = ax. A. 3
B. 9
2
C. –3
2
D. 9
Answer: A
21. The area of a rectangle is 65 square units and the perimeter is 28 units. Which set of equations would be valid to calculate the dimensions of the rectangle if the one side is x units and the other side one unit more? Answer: D
A. x  x  1  28
&
x  1x  65
B. 2 x  2  28
C. 2 x  2  14
D. x  x  1  14
&
&
&
x 2  65
x 2  65
x 2  x  65
22. If 2.2x + 8 = 0 then x = …
A.
B.
C.
D.
Answer: B
-2
None of the above
½
½
23. What is 2010 in Roman Numerals? A.
B.
C.
D.
Answer: C
MMXVV
MXM
MMX
MXX
4
24. Rationalize the denominator 4  14 A.
B.
C.
D.
4  14
8  2 14
2  14
4  14
Answer: B
25. A boy can paint a room in 3 hours and his dad can do it in 2 hours. How long will it take if they paint it together? A.
B.
C.
D.
1 h 12 min
5h
1 h 30 min
2 h 30 min
Answer: A
26. If 6x+1 = 3x+1 then x = … A.
B.
C.
D.
0
–1
1
½
Answer: B
27. What are the chances of flipping a coin 4 times and getting at least 2 tails? A.
B.
C.
D.
8/16
9/16
10/16
11/16
28. If tan A = 1 then tan 2A = A
2
B
1
C
½
D
None of the above
Answer: D
Answer: D
20 1 1 1
; ; ; ;?
29. Find the missing number: 48 3 4 6
1
5
1
B.
12
1
C.
7
10
D.
24
A.
Answer: B
30. If the area of the triangle is equal to 8 3 cm and PQ = PR determine the value of QR Answer: B
.
A.
B.
C.
D.
2
4
4
8
2
2
3
2
31. The United Nations has proclaimed 2009 as the International Year of: A. Geology
B. Physics
C. Astronomy
D. Chemistry
Answer: C
32. In which two layers of the atmosphere does the temperature decrease with increasing altitude? A. Troposphere and Mesosphere
B. Stratosphere and Thermosphere
C. Troposphere and Thermosphere
D. Mesosphere and Stratosphere
Answer: A
33. Which one of the following molecules is a Greenhouse gas? A.
B.
C.
D.
Nitrogen
Neon
Water Vapour
Oxygen
Answer: C
34. What is happening currently as the ice in the Arctic regions of Siberia melts? A. Large scale flooding
B. Increased sea levels
C. Heavy rainfall
D. Increase of methane in atmosphere
Answer: B
35. What is happening currently to the glacier Sermeq Kujalleq (also known as Jakobshavn Isbræ) in Greenland? A. It is slowing down
B. It remains stationary
C. It is advancing
D. It is retreating
Answer: D
36. What is the name of the ancient mining site found in the Kruger National Park? A. Mapungubwe
B. Makapansgat
C. Masorini
D. Sibudu Cave
Answer: C
37. What layers of the earth make up the Lithosphere? A. The earth’s crust and the very top of the mantle
B. The earth’s crust and the entire mantle
C. The earth’s crust and the layer of air particle just above it.
D. The earth’s crust only
Answer: A
38. Which of the following elements is the most abundant in the earth’s crust? A. Aluminium
B. Magnesium
C. Calcium
D. Iron
Answer: A
39. What type of rock is marble? A. Intrusive Igneous
B. Sedimentary
C. Metamorphic
D. Extrusive igneous
Answer: C
40. What is the process of dissolving powdered ores called? A. Milling
B. Filtering
C. Elution
D. Leaching
Answer: D
END OF STANDARD QUESTIONS
Bonus Question
NOTE: These questions will only be considered should there be a tie in the first 40 questions
above.
41. For the reaction given by the equation below, which species is oxidized? Pb(s) + PbO2 (s) + H2SO4 (aq) → 2PbSO4 (aq) + 2H2O (l)
A. Pb(s)
B. PbO2 (s)
C. PbSO4 (aq)
D. H2SO4 (aq)
Answer: A
42. What is the missing number in the series: 9 ; 3 ; 15 ; 7 ; 12 ;  ; 13 ; 5 ; 17 ; 11 ?
A. 8
B. 2
C. 11
D. 1
Answer: A
43. Find the general expression for the following pattern: 12 ; 14; 18; 24 ; ……
A. Tn  n 2  n  10
B. Tn  2n 2  n  9
C. Tn  2n  2n  12
2
D. Tn  n 2  n  12
Answer: D
44. From which mineral is Phosphate mined? A.
B.
C.
D.
Bauxite
Haemetite
Fluorapatite
Ilmenite
Answer: C
45. What is the first step in the reaction used to extract iron from iron oxide? A. The oxidation of coke
B. The production of carbon monoxide
C. The reaction of silicon oxide with lime
D. The oxidation of carbon monoxide
Answer: A
Periodic Table of the Elements