Grade 10

Definitions and
Laws from Exam
guidelines

1
 Physics

Vectors and scalars

A vector is a physical quantity with magnitude and direction.

A scalar is a physical quantity with magnitude only.
A resultant vector is the single vector having the same effect as two or more
vectors together.

Motion in one dimension

One-dimensional motion is motion along a straight line

Position is relative to a reference point and can be positive or negative.
Distance is the total path length travelled
Displacement is the difference in position in space.
Average speed is the total distance travelled per total time.
Average velocity is the rate of change of position.
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.

Instantaneous speed and velocity and the equations of motion

Instantaneous velocity is the rate of change in position.

Instantaneous speed is the magnitude of the instantaneous velocity.

Energy

Gravitational potential energy of an object is the energy it has because of

its position in the gravitational field relative to some reference point.
Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses as a result of its motion.
Mechanical energy is the sum of the gravitational potential energy and kinetic
energy.
The law of the conservation of energy: The total energy of an isolated
system remains constant.
Isolated system: A system that does not interact with its surroundings
The principle of conservation of mechanical energy: The total mechanical
energy in an isolated system/in the absence of dissipative forces.

Transverse pulses on a string or spring

A pulse is a single disturbance in a medium.

A transverse pulse is a pulse in which the particles of the medium move at
right angles to the direction of motion of the pulse.
Amplitude is the maximum disturbance of a particle from its rest (equilibrium)
position.
The principle of superposition is the algebraic sum of the amplitudes of two
pulses that occupy the same space at the same time.
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Constructive interference is the phenomenon where the crest of one pulse
overlaps with the crest of another to produce a pulse of increased amplitude.
Destructive interference is the phenomenon where the crest of one pulse
overlaps with the trough of another, resulting in a pulse of reduced amplitude.
A transverse wave is a wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate at
right angles to the direction of motion of the wave
Wavelength is the distance between two successive points in phase.
Frequency is the number of wave pulses per second.
Period is the time taken for one complete wave pulse.
Crest is highest point (peak) on a wave.
Trough is lowest point on a wave.
Wave speed is the distance travelled by a point on a wave per unit time.
A longitudinal wave is a wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate
parallel to the direction of motion of the wave.
A compression is a region of high pressure in a longitudinal wave.
A rarefaction is a region of low pressure in a longitudinal wave.

Electromagnetic radiation

A photon is a packet of energy found in light.

Electrostatics

The principle of conservation of charge: The net charge of an isolated

system remains constant during any physical process.
The principle of charge quantization: All charges in the universe consist of
an integer multiple of the charge on one electron, i.e. 1,6 x 10-19 C.

Electric Circuits

Potential difference across the ends of a conductor is the energy transferred

per unit electric charge flowing through it.
Emf is the work done per unit charge by the source (battery).
Terminal potential difference is the voltage measured across the terminals
of a battery when charges are flowing in the circuit.
Current strength, I, as the rate of flow of charge.
Resistance is the ratio of the potential difference across a resistor to the
current in the resistor.
One ohm (Ω) is equal to one volt per ampere.

3
 Chemistry

Matter and classification

Brittle: Hard but likely to break easy.

Malleable: Ability to be hammered or pressed into shape without breaking or
cracking.
Ductile: Ability to be stretched into a wire.
Density: The mass per unit volume of a substance.
Boiling point: The temperature of a liquid at which its vapour pressure equals
the external (atmospheric) pressure.
Melting point: The temperature at which a solid, given sufficient heat,
becomes a liquid.
A homogeneous mixture is a mixture of uniform composition and in which all
components are in the same phase.
A heterogeneous mixture is a mixture of non-uniform composition and of
which the components can be easily identified.
An element is a pure substance consisting of one type of atom.
A compound is a pure substance consisting of two or more different elements.
A pure substance is a substance that cannot be separated into simpler
components by physical methods.
Electrical conductor: A material that allows the flow of charge.
Semiconductor: A substance that can conduct electricity under some
conditions, but not others, making it a good medium for the control of electrical
current.
Electrical insulator: A material that prevents the flow of charge.
A thermal conductor is a material that allows heat to pass through easily.
A thermal insulator does not allow heat to pass through it.

States of Matter and the Kinetic Molecular Theory

Melting: The process during which a solid changes to a liquid by the

application of heat.
Evaporation: The change of a liquid into a vapour at any temperature below
the boiling point
Freezing: The process during which a liquid changes to a solid by the removal
of heat.
Sublimation: The process during which a solid changes directly into a gas
without passing through an intermediate liquid phase.
Condensation: The process during which a gas or vapour changes to a liquid,
either by cooling or by being subjected to increased pressure.

4
Atomic structure
The atomic number is the number of protons in an atom of an element.
Isotopes is atoms of the same element having the same number of protons,
but different numbers of neutrons.
Relative atomic mass is the mass of a particle on a scale where an atom of
carbon-12 has a mass of 12.
State Hund's rule: No pairing in p orbitals before there is not at least one
electron in each of them.
State Pauli's Exclusion Principle: Maximum of two electrons per orbital
provided that they spin in opposite directions.
Periodic Table
Groups are the vertical columns in the periodic table.
Periods are the horizontal rows in the periodic table.
Atomic radius: Radius of an atom, i.e. the mean distance from the nucleus
to the border of the outer orbital.
Ionisation energy: Energy needed per mole to remove an electron(s) from
an atom in the gaseous phase.
First ionisation energy: Energy needed per mole to remove the first electron
from an atom in the gaseous phase.
Electron affinity: The energy released when an electron is attached to an
atom or molecule to form a negative ion.
Electronegativity: A measure of the tendency of an atom in a molecule to
attract bonding electrons.
Chemical bonding
A chemical bond is a mutual attraction between two atoms resulting from the
simultaneous attraction between their nuclei and the outer electrons.
A covalent bond is the sharing of electrons between atoms to form molecules.
Ionic bonding is the transfer of electrons to form cations (positive ions) and
anions (negative ions) that attract each other to form a formula-unit.
A formula-unit is the most simple empirical formula that represents the
compound.
An ion is a charged particle made from an atom by the loss or gain of
electrons.
An anion (negative ion) is a charged particle made from an atom by the gain
of electrons.
A cation (positive ion) is a charged particle made from an atom by the loss of
electrons.
Metallic bonding as the bond between positive ions and delocalised valence
electrons in a metal.
Valence electrons or outer electrons are the electrons in the highest energy
level of an atom in which there are electrons.

5
Physical and Chemical Change

A physical change is a change in which:

o No new substances are formed
o Energy changes are small in relation to chemical changes
o Mass, numbers of atoms and molecules as being conserved

A chemical change is a change in which:

o New chemical substances are formed
o Energy changes are much larger than those of the physical change
o Mass and atoms are conserved, but the number of molecules is not.

Endothermic reaction: Energy is absorbed during the reaction.

Exothermic reaction: Energy is released during the reaction.

Reactions in aqueous solutions

A polar molecule is having two oppositely charged poles and that it is also
known as a dipole.
An aqueous solution is a solution in which the solvent is water.
Dissociation is the process in which solid ionic crystals are broken up into
ions when dissolved in water.
Hydration: The process in which ions are surrounded with water molecules
Solubility: The maximum amount of a substance (the solute) that may be
dissolved in another (the solvent).
Solute: The dissolved substance in a solution – usually the substance present
in lesser amount
Solution: A homogenous mixture of two or more substances.
Solvent: The substance in a solution in which the solute is dissolved - usually
the substance present in greater amount
Conductivity is the ability of a material to conduct electricity.
An electrolyte is a solution that conducts electricity through the movement of
ions.

Quantitative Aspects of Chemical Change

One mole is the amount of substance having the same number of particles,
as there are atoms in 12 g carbon-12.
Relative atomic mass is the mass of a particle on a scale where an atom of
carbon-12 has a mass of 12.
Avogadro's number, NA, is the number of particles (atoms, molecules,
formula-units) present in mole (NA = 6,023 x 1023 mol-1).
Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance measured in g·mol-1.
An empirical formula is the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms in a
compound.

6
Water of crystallisation is water that is stoichiometrically bound into a crystal,
e.g. the H2O in CuSO4·5H2O.
Concentration is the number of moles of solute per cubic decimetre of
solution.
Avogadro's law states that, one mole of any gas occupies the same volume
at the same temperature and pressure.

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 Table of Cations

Hydrogen 𝐻+ Beryllium 𝐵𝑒 2+ Aluminium 𝐴𝑙 3+ Chromium(VI) 𝐶𝑟 6+

Litium 𝐿𝑖 + Magnesium 𝑀𝑔2+ Chromium(III) 𝐶𝑟 3+ Manganese(VII) 𝑀𝑛7+

Sodium 𝑁𝑎 Calcium 𝐶𝑎2+ Iron(III) 𝐹𝑒 3+

Potassium 𝐾+ Barium 𝐵𝑎2+ Cobalt(III) 𝐶𝑜 3+

Silver 𝐻𝑔+ Tin(II) 𝑆𝑛2+

Mercuty (I) 𝐻𝑔+ Lead(II) 𝑃𝑏 2+

Copper(I) 𝐶𝑢+ Chromium(II) 𝐶𝑟 2+

Ammonium 𝑁𝐻4+ Manganese(II) 𝑀𝑛2+

Iron(II) 𝐹𝑒 2+

Cobalt(II) 𝐶𝑜 2+

Nickel(II) 𝑁𝑖 2+

Copper(II) 𝐶𝑢2+

Zinc 𝑍𝑛2+

8
 Table of Anion

Fluoride 𝐹− Oxide 𝑂2−

Chloride 𝐶𝑙 − Peroxide 𝑂2 2−
Bromide 𝐵𝑟 − Carbonate 𝐶𝑂3 2−
Iodide 𝐼− Sulfide 𝑆 2−
Hydroxide 𝑂𝐻 − Sulfite 𝑆𝑂3 2−

Nitrite 𝑁𝑂2 − Sulfate 𝑆𝑂4 2−

Nitrate 𝑁𝑂3 − Thiosulfate 𝑆2 𝑂3 2−

Hydrogen carbonate 𝐻𝐶𝑂3 − Chromate 𝐶𝑟𝑂4 2−

Hydrogen sulfite 𝐻𝑆𝑂3 − Dichromate 𝐶𝑟2 𝑂7 2−

Hydrogen sulfate 𝐻𝑆𝑂3 − Manganate 𝑀𝑛𝑂4 2−

Dihydrogen phosphate 𝐻2 𝑃𝑂4 − Oxalate (𝐶𝑂𝑂)2 2−

Hypochlorite 𝐶𝑙𝑂− Hydrogen Phosphate 𝑂2 2−

Chlorate 𝐶𝑙𝑂3 − Nitride 𝑁 3−

Permanganate 𝑀𝑛𝑂4 − Phosphate 𝑃𝑂4 3−
Acetate / Ethanoate 𝐶𝐻3 𝐶𝑂𝑂− Phosphide 𝑃3−

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Solubility Table

Soluble compounds Exceptions

Almost all salts of 𝑁𝑎+ , 𝐾 + and
𝑁𝐻4+
All salts of 𝐶𝑙 − , 𝐵𝑟 − and 𝐼 −  Halides of 𝐴𝑔+ , 𝐵𝑎2+ and 𝑃𝑏 2+
Compounds containing 𝐹 −  Fluorides of 𝑀𝑔2+ , 𝐶𝑎2+ , 𝑆𝑟 2+ ,
𝐵𝑎2+ and 𝑃𝑏2+
Salts of:
Nitrate, 𝑁𝑂3 −
Chlorate, 𝐶𝑙𝑂3 −
Perchlorate, 𝐶𝑙𝑂4 −
Acetate, 𝐶𝐻3 𝐶𝑂𝑂−  𝐾𝐶𝑙𝑂4 , potassium perchlorate
Salts of sulphate, 𝑆𝑂42−  Sulphates of 𝑆𝑟 2+ , 𝐵𝑎2+ and
𝑃𝑏 2+

Insoluble compounds Exceptions

All salts of:  Salts of 𝑁𝐻4+ and alkali metal
Carbonate, 𝐶𝑂32− cations
Phosphate, 𝑃𝑂43−
Oxalate, (𝐶𝑂𝑂)2 2−
Chromate, 𝐶𝑟𝑂42−
Sulfate, 𝑆 −
Most metal hydroxides 𝑂𝐻− and
oxides, 𝑂2−
Formula, chemical names and common names

Chemical Name Formula Common Name

Acids
Hydrogen chloride 𝐻𝐶𝑙 Hydrochloric acid
Hydrogen nitrate 𝐻𝑁𝑂3 Nitric acid
Dihydrogen sulfate 𝐻2 𝑆𝑂4 Sulfuric acid
Dihydrogen sulfite 𝐻2 𝑆𝑂3 Sulfurous acid
Dehydrogen carbonate 𝐻2 𝐶𝑂3 Carbonic acid
Oxides
Calcium oxide 𝐶𝑎𝑂 Quicklime
Potassium oxide 𝐾2 𝑂
Copper(II) oxide 𝐶𝑢𝑂
Mercury(II) oxide 𝐻𝑔𝑂
Lithium oxide 𝐿𝑖2 𝑂
Lead(IV) oxide 𝑃𝑏𝑂2
Magnesium oxide 𝑀𝑔𝑂
Iron oxide 𝐹𝑒3 𝑂4 Magnetite
Iron(II) oxide 𝐹𝑒𝑂 Ferrous oxide
Ferric oxide / Hematite /
Iron(III) oxide 𝐹𝑒2 𝑂3
Rust
Sodium oxide 𝑁𝑎2 𝑂
Phosphorus pentoxide 𝑃2 𝑂5
Carbon dioxide 𝐶𝑂2
Sulfur dioxide 𝑆𝑂2
Hydrogen oxide 𝐻2 𝑂 Water
Carbon monoxide 𝐶𝑂
Trioxygen 𝑂3 Ozone
Nitrogen oxide 𝑁𝑂2
Hydroxides
Calcium hydroxide 𝐶𝑎(𝑂𝐻)2 Slaked lime
Potassium hydroxide 𝐾𝑂𝐻 Bite potash
Magnesium hydroxide 𝑀𝑔(𝑂𝐻)2 Milk of magnesia
Sodium hydroxide 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 Caustic soda
Carbonates
Potassium carbonate 𝐾2 𝐶𝑂3 Potash
Barium carbonate 𝐵𝑎𝐶𝑂3
Calcium carbonate 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 Marble, limestone, chalk
Magnesium carbonate 𝑀𝑔𝐶𝑂3
Sodium carbonate 𝑁𝑎2 𝐶𝑂3 ∙ 10𝐻2 𝑂 Washing soda / Soda ash
Sodium hydrogen Baking soda /
𝑁𝑎𝐻𝐶𝑂3
carbonate bicarbonate of soda

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Chemical Name Formula Common Name
Nitrates
Calcium nitrate 𝐶𝑎(𝑁𝑂3 )2
Potassium nitrate 𝐾𝑁𝑂3 Saltpetre
Silver nitrate 𝐴𝑔𝑁𝑂3
Sodium nitrate 𝑁𝑎𝑁𝑂3 Chile saltpetre
Sulfates
Magnesium sulfate 𝑀𝑔𝑆𝑂4 ∙ 7𝐻2 𝑂 Epsom salt
Barium sulfate 𝐵𝑎𝑆𝑂4
Copper(II) sulfate 𝐶𝑢𝑆𝑂4 ∙ 5𝐻2 𝑂
Calcium sulphate 𝐶𝑎𝑆𝑂4 ∙ 2𝐻2 𝑂 Gypsum
Potassium sulphate 𝐾2 𝑆𝑂4
Sodium sulphate 𝑁𝑎2 𝑆𝑂4
Zinc sulphate 𝑍𝑛𝑆𝑂4
Iron(II) sulfate 𝐹𝑒𝑆𝑂4
Chlorides
Barium chloride 𝐵𝑎𝐶𝑙2
Sodium chloride 𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙 Table salt
Potassium chloride 𝐾𝐶𝑙
Copper(II) chloride 𝐶𝑢𝐶𝑙2
Copper(I) chloride 𝐶𝑢𝐶𝑙
Silver chloride 𝐴𝑔𝐶𝑙
Calcium chloride 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑙2
Iron(II) chloride 𝐹𝑒𝐶𝑙2
Iron(III) chloride 𝐹𝑒𝐶𝑙3
Bromides
Potassium bromide 𝐾𝐵𝑟
Lead(II) bromide 𝑃𝑏𝐵𝑟2
Sodium bromide 𝑁𝑎𝐵𝑟
Silver bromide 𝐴𝑔𝐵𝑟
Iodides
Potassium iodide 𝐾𝐼
Lead(II) iodide 𝑃𝑏𝐼2
Sodium iodide 𝑁𝑎𝐼
Silver iodide 𝐴𝑔𝐼

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Formula, chemical names and common names of organic compounds
Organic
Chemical Name Common Name
compound
Methane 𝐶𝐻4 Natural gas
Ethane 𝐶2 𝐻6
Ethene 𝐶2 𝐻4 Ethylene
Ethyne 𝐶2 𝐻2 Acetylene
Propane 𝐶3 𝐻8
Propene 𝐶3 𝐻6 Propylene
Butane 𝐶4 𝐻10
Octane 𝐶8 𝐻18 Petrol
Methanol 𝐶𝐻4 𝑂 Methyl alcohol
Ethanol 𝐶2 𝐻6 𝑂 Ethyl alcohol
Methanoic acid 𝐶𝐻2 𝑂2 Formic acid
Acetic acid /
Ethanoic acid 𝐶2 𝐻4 𝑂2
Vinegar
Glucose 𝐶6 𝐻12 𝑂6
Sucrose 𝐶12 𝐻22 𝑂11 Sugar

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 Preferred Alternative Unit
Quantity symbol Unit name symbol
symbol
mass m kilogram kg
position x, y metre m
displacement  x,  y s metre m
metre per
velocity vx, vy u, v m∙s-1
second
metre per
initial velocity vi u m∙s-1
second
metre per
final velocity vf v m∙s-1
second
metre per
acceleration a second per m∙s-2
second
metre per
acceleration
g second per m∙s-2
due to gravity
second
time (instant) t second s
time interval t second s
energy E joule J
kinetic energy K Ek joule J
potential
U Ep joule J
energy
work W joule J
force F newton N
weight w Fg newton N
wavelength λ metre m
hertz or per
frequency f ν Hz or s-1
second
period T second s
metre per
speed of light c m∙s-1
second
charge Q, q coulomb C
potential
 V, V volt V
difference
emf E ε volt V
current I, i ampere A
resistance R ohm Ω

14
Information sheets – Paper 1 (Physics)

TABLE 1: PHYSICAL CONSTANTS

NAME/NAAM SYMBOL VALUE

Acceleration due to gravity g 9,8 m·s-2
Speed of light in a vacuum c 3,0 x 108 m·s-1
Planck's constant h 6,63 x 10-34 J·s
Charge on electron e -1,6 x 10-19 C
Electron mass me 9,11 x 10-31 kg

TABLE 2: FORMULAE

MOTION

𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑎∆𝑡 ∆𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖 ∆𝑡 + 12𝑎∆𝑡 2
𝑣𝑓 + 𝑣𝑖
𝑣𝑓2 = 𝑣𝑖2 + 2𝑎∆𝑥 ∆𝑥 = ( ) ∆𝑡
2

WORK, ENERGY AND POWER

𝑈 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ or 𝐸𝑝 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ 𝐾 = 12𝑚𝑣 2 or 𝐸𝐾 = 12𝑚𝑣 2

WAVES, SOUND AND LIGHT

𝟏
𝒗 = 𝒇𝝀 𝑻=
𝒇
𝒉𝒄
𝑬 = 𝒉𝒇or 𝑬 =
𝝀

ELECTRIC CIRCUITS
1 1 1
𝑄 = 𝐼Δ𝑡 = + + . ..
𝑅𝑝 𝑅1 𝑅2
𝑊
𝑅𝑠 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 + . .. 𝑉=
𝑄

15
Information sheets – Paper 2 (Chemistry)

TABLE 1: PHYSICAL CONSTANTS

NAME SYMBOL VALUE

Standard pressure p 1,013 x 105 Pa
Molar gas volume at
Vm 22,4 dm3∙mol-1
STP
Standard temperature 
T 273 K
Charge on electron e -1,6 x 10-19 C
Avogadro's constant NA 6,02 x 1023 mol-1

TABLE 2: FORMULAE

𝑚 𝑁
𝑛= 𝑛=
𝑀 𝑁𝐴
𝑛 𝑚 𝑉
𝑐= OR 𝑐 = 𝑛=
𝑉 𝑀𝑉 𝑉𝑚

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