GRADE 12 · NSC 2026
PHYSICAL
SCIENCES
PAPER 1 · PHYSICS
Summary Notes for the November 2026 NSC Final Exam
Know exactly what Paper 1 will ask, and the exact wording that earns
the marks.
✓ All 33 definitions word-for-word, key words ✓ The questions that come back every year,
underlined counted paper by paper
✓ Answer formats that earn full marks, topic by ✓ 32 tricky past-paper questions, with worked
topic twins in fresh numbers
✓ Examiner traps flagged in red on every topic ✓ The marking rules: formula, substitution, units,
positive marking
★ Written by a matric student who got 7 distinctions in the 2026 prelims, built with AI help from 12 real past papers
and memos.
GDE Sept 2022–2025 · GDE June 2025 & 2026 · DBE Nov 2024 & 2025 · DBE May/June 2026 · KZN Sept 2025 · MP Sept 2026 · EC
Sept 2026 (memos where published) · plus the DBE Examination Guidelines
150 3h 10 44
MARKS EXAM QUESTIONS PAGES
W H E R E T H E 1 5 0 M A R KS L I V E (DBE Examination Guidelines)
65 55 15 15
Mechanics Electricity & magnetism Waves Matter
Physical Sciences P1 (Physics) · NSC 2026 · For personal study only. Do not redistribute. p. 1 of 44
,S TA R T H E R E
The questions that keep coming back
Paper 1 is the most predictable paper you will write. Across the four papers dissected question by question for this pack,
the same topics sit in the same order, for roughly the same marks, and they reward the same answer format. Learn
these formats and you have most of the paper before you open it.
TOPIC / QUESTION TYPE HOW OFTEN WHERE (PAPER · Q) MARKS ANSWER FORMAT THAT EARNS THE MARKS
★ Electric circuits with in 4 of 4 papers GDE Sep 25 Q8 · GDE 17–20 Redraw for the switch state → Rext → I from ε =
internal resistance (the Sep 24 Q8 · DBE Nov 25 I(R + r) → work back. Two switch states = two
biggest structured question) Q8 · GDE Jun 26 Q10 equations.
★ Newton’s laws with a free- in 4 of 4 papers Q2 in all four 15–17 Law in words · dot FBD, every arrow labelled ·
body diagram and friction Fnet = ma per body, with the N line shown.
★ Vertical projectile motion in 4 of 4 papers Q3 (Sep 25, Sep 24, Nov 15–21 State the positive direction · a = g all flight ·
(two objects, bounce, v–t 25) · Q4 (Jun 26) graphs labelled A and B, parallel lines.
graph)
★ Definitions and laws “in 10 items in Jun 26 GDE Jun 26 Q2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 20 Word-for-word from the Examination Guidelines;
words” (2 marks each) 5.1, 6.1, 6.3, 7.1, 8.1, 9.1, one mark lost per missing key word.
10.2.1
Work, energy & power in 4 of 4 papers Q5 (Sep 25, Sep 24, Nov 12–13 Wnet = ΔK, one term per force with its cos θ ·
(“energy principles only”) 25) · Q6 (Jun 26) then a conclusion sentence.
Doppler effect (calculation + in 4 of 4 papers Q6 (Sep 25, Sep 24, Nov 10–13 Full formula · signs chosen so approaching gives
red shift / graph) 25) · Q7 (Jun 26) a higher f · graph intercept = fs.
Momentum & impulse in 4 of 4 papers Q4 (Sep 25, Sep 24, Nov 11–13 Σpbefore = Σpafter with signs · same Δp, longer Δt
(collision + “softer object”) 25) · Q5 (Jun 26) ⇒ smaller F.
Electrostatics (Coulomb’s law, in 4 of 4 papers Q7 (Sep 25, Sep 24, Nov 13–15 Magnitudes into kQ₁Q₂/r² · direction by
electric field) 25) · Q8 + Q9 (Jun 26) attract/repel · add or subtract.
Electrodynamics (generator, in 3 of 4 papers Q9 (Sep 25, Sep 24, Nov 13–17 Name the conversion + the ring · Vrms = Vmax/√2
motor, rms) 25) · average power uses rms.
Photoelectric effect & spectra in 3 of 4 papers Q10 (Sep 25, Sep 24, Nov 13–15 hf = W₀ + Ek(max), everything as energy ·
(always last) 25) intensity → number, frequency → Ek.
“INCREASES / DECREASES / in at least 3 of 4 e.g. DBE Nov 25 Q2.4 & 2–5 The word on its own line, then one cause-and-
REMAINS THE SAME — Q8.5 · GDE Sep 25 Q5.3 effect link per mark. No calculation if told not
explain” & Q8.3.2 · GDE Jun 26 to.
Q5.3
Universal gravitation as a full in 1 of 4 papers GDE Jun 26 Q3 (also 15 r is centre to centre · diameter ≠ radius · F ∝ 1/r²,
question MCQs) track factors.
Where the counts come from. “In X of 4” counts the four papers this pack dissected question by question and mark by mark: GDE Preparatory
September 2025, GDE Preparatory September 2024, DBE NSC November 2025 and GDE June 2026 (the June paper was re-checked against the
paper itself for this edition). The June 2026 paper stopped at circuits, which is why electrodynamics and photoelectric show 3 of 4. The
INCREASES/DECREASES row counts only papers where this pack cites one (GDE Sept 2024 was not checked for it), so it may be higher. ★ = the
four highest-value patterns. Each topic is unpacked, with its full answer format, inside the pack.
Physical Sciences P1 (Physics) · NSC 2026 · For personal study only. Do not redistribute. p. 2 of 44
,CONTENTS
What is inside
Sixteen sections in paper order. The mark weight is what that topic has been worth in the papers analysed. Tags:
★ ASKED EVERY YEAR HIGH MARKS EXAMINER TRAP
1 How Paper 1 is built — the official 65/55/15/15 split 150 4
and the ten-question spine
2 How the marks are actually given — formula / EXAMINER TRAP every calc 6
substitution / answer, units, positive marking
3
The definitions bank — all 33, word-for-word, key ★ ASKED EVERY YEAR HIGH MARKS ~20 8
words underlined
4 The answering phrasebook — six question types and ★ ASKED EVERY YEAR every Q 12
the answer format for each
5 Newton’s laws & friction — Q2, free-body diagrams, ★ ASKED EVERY YEAR EXAMINER TRAP 15–17 15
the normal-force line
6 Universal gravitation — centre-to-centre distances, EXAMINER TRAP 0–15 17
inverse square
7 Vertical projectile motion — two objects, bounce ★ ASKED EVERY YEAR HIGH MARKS 15–21 18
graphs, “above the ground”
8 Momentum & impulse — collisions, explosions, the ★ ASKED EVERY YEAR 11–13 20
contact-time argument
9 Work, energy & power — the work–energy theorem, ★ ASKED EVERY YEAR 12–13 22
cos θ, “will it pass point C?”
10
Doppler effect — signs without memorising cases, ★ ASKED EVERY YEAR 10–13 24
two-reading trick, red shift
11 Electrostatics — Coulomb, fields, field patterns, ★ ASKED EVERY YEAR 13–15 26
charge sharing
12 Electric circuits — internal resistance, the parallel- ★ ASKED EVERY YEAR HIGH MARKS 17–20 28
branch chain
13 Electrodynamics — generators, motors, rms, cost of HIGH MARKS 13–17 30
electricity
14 Photoelectric effect & spectra — the last question, 13–15 32
and the easiest marks on the paper
15 The tricky questions — 32 real questions that look EXAMINER TRAP HIGH MARKS 32 Qs 34
worse than they are, and how to beat them
16 Three hours: how to spend them — a time plan, and EXAMINER TRAP 180 min 43
twelve ways to lose marks for nothing
H OW TO R E A D T H E B OX E S I N S I D E
★ Repeated question — comes back, with citations · Answer format — the structure that earns the marks · ⚠ Examiner trap —
where marks disappear · Key definition — learn it word-for-word. Citations read DBE Nov 2025 Q8.5 = paper, question.
Physical Sciences P1 (Physics) · NSC 2026 · For personal study only. Do not redistribute. p. 3 of 44
, SECTION 1
150
How Paper 1 is built
Physical Sciences Paper 1 is Physics only. Chemistry (organic, rates, equilibrium, acids and bases,
electrochemistry) is Paper 2 and does not appear here at all. The mark split below is not a guess or a pattern
spotted in old papers: it is printed in the DBE Examination Guidelines, section 2.5.
The official weighting of prescribed content
CONTENT AREA MARKS WHAT SITS INSIDE IT
Mechanics 65 Newton’s laws & friction · Newton’s law of universal gravitation · momentum & impulse · vertical
projectile motion · work, energy & power
Electricity & 55 Electrostatics (Coulomb, electric field) · electric circuits with internal resistance ·
magnetism electrodynamics (generators, motors, AC/rms)
Waves, sound & 15 Doppler effect with sound, and red shift as evidence for an expanding universe
light
Matter & materials 15 Photoelectric effect · emission and absorption spectra
Mechanics + electricity = 120 of 150 marks. Eighty percent of this paper is those two blocks.
The weighting of cognitive levels
LEVEL WHAT IT MEANS SHARE OF P1 ≈ MARKS
1 Remembering — recall a definition, a law, a unit 15% 22
2 Understanding — explain, describe, interpret a graph 35% 53
3 Applying and analysing — the standard calculations 40% 60
4 Evaluating and creating — multi-step, “is the surface frictionless?”, “will it pass point C?” 10% 15
A N SW E R F O R M AT — what that table means for your revision
Half the paper — levels 1 and 2, about 75 marks — is recall and explanation: definitions, law statements, free-
body diagrams, “choose INCREASES / DECREASES / REMAINS THE SAME and explain”, graph sketches. None
of it needs a hard calculation. Learn the definitions bank (Section 3) and the phrasebook (Section 4) properly
and you collect marks that many candidates simply throw away.
Physical Sciences P1 (Physics) · NSC 2026 · For personal study only. Do not redistribute. p. 4 of 44
PHYSICAL
SCIENCES
PAPER 1 · PHYSICS
Summary Notes for the November 2026 NSC Final Exam
Know exactly what Paper 1 will ask, and the exact wording that earns
the marks.
✓ All 33 definitions word-for-word, key words ✓ The questions that come back every year,
underlined counted paper by paper
✓ Answer formats that earn full marks, topic by ✓ 32 tricky past-paper questions, with worked
topic twins in fresh numbers
✓ Examiner traps flagged in red on every topic ✓ The marking rules: formula, substitution, units,
positive marking
★ Written by a matric student who got 7 distinctions in the 2026 prelims, built with AI help from 12 real past papers
and memos.
GDE Sept 2022–2025 · GDE June 2025 & 2026 · DBE Nov 2024 & 2025 · DBE May/June 2026 · KZN Sept 2025 · MP Sept 2026 · EC
Sept 2026 (memos where published) · plus the DBE Examination Guidelines
150 3h 10 44
MARKS EXAM QUESTIONS PAGES
W H E R E T H E 1 5 0 M A R KS L I V E (DBE Examination Guidelines)
65 55 15 15
Mechanics Electricity & magnetism Waves Matter
Physical Sciences P1 (Physics) · NSC 2026 · For personal study only. Do not redistribute. p. 1 of 44
,S TA R T H E R E
The questions that keep coming back
Paper 1 is the most predictable paper you will write. Across the four papers dissected question by question for this pack,
the same topics sit in the same order, for roughly the same marks, and they reward the same answer format. Learn
these formats and you have most of the paper before you open it.
TOPIC / QUESTION TYPE HOW OFTEN WHERE (PAPER · Q) MARKS ANSWER FORMAT THAT EARNS THE MARKS
★ Electric circuits with in 4 of 4 papers GDE Sep 25 Q8 · GDE 17–20 Redraw for the switch state → Rext → I from ε =
internal resistance (the Sep 24 Q8 · DBE Nov 25 I(R + r) → work back. Two switch states = two
biggest structured question) Q8 · GDE Jun 26 Q10 equations.
★ Newton’s laws with a free- in 4 of 4 papers Q2 in all four 15–17 Law in words · dot FBD, every arrow labelled ·
body diagram and friction Fnet = ma per body, with the N line shown.
★ Vertical projectile motion in 4 of 4 papers Q3 (Sep 25, Sep 24, Nov 15–21 State the positive direction · a = g all flight ·
(two objects, bounce, v–t 25) · Q4 (Jun 26) graphs labelled A and B, parallel lines.
graph)
★ Definitions and laws “in 10 items in Jun 26 GDE Jun 26 Q2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 20 Word-for-word from the Examination Guidelines;
words” (2 marks each) 5.1, 6.1, 6.3, 7.1, 8.1, 9.1, one mark lost per missing key word.
10.2.1
Work, energy & power in 4 of 4 papers Q5 (Sep 25, Sep 24, Nov 12–13 Wnet = ΔK, one term per force with its cos θ ·
(“energy principles only”) 25) · Q6 (Jun 26) then a conclusion sentence.
Doppler effect (calculation + in 4 of 4 papers Q6 (Sep 25, Sep 24, Nov 10–13 Full formula · signs chosen so approaching gives
red shift / graph) 25) · Q7 (Jun 26) a higher f · graph intercept = fs.
Momentum & impulse in 4 of 4 papers Q4 (Sep 25, Sep 24, Nov 11–13 Σpbefore = Σpafter with signs · same Δp, longer Δt
(collision + “softer object”) 25) · Q5 (Jun 26) ⇒ smaller F.
Electrostatics (Coulomb’s law, in 4 of 4 papers Q7 (Sep 25, Sep 24, Nov 13–15 Magnitudes into kQ₁Q₂/r² · direction by
electric field) 25) · Q8 + Q9 (Jun 26) attract/repel · add or subtract.
Electrodynamics (generator, in 3 of 4 papers Q9 (Sep 25, Sep 24, Nov 13–17 Name the conversion + the ring · Vrms = Vmax/√2
motor, rms) 25) · average power uses rms.
Photoelectric effect & spectra in 3 of 4 papers Q10 (Sep 25, Sep 24, Nov 13–15 hf = W₀ + Ek(max), everything as energy ·
(always last) 25) intensity → number, frequency → Ek.
“INCREASES / DECREASES / in at least 3 of 4 e.g. DBE Nov 25 Q2.4 & 2–5 The word on its own line, then one cause-and-
REMAINS THE SAME — Q8.5 · GDE Sep 25 Q5.3 effect link per mark. No calculation if told not
explain” & Q8.3.2 · GDE Jun 26 to.
Q5.3
Universal gravitation as a full in 1 of 4 papers GDE Jun 26 Q3 (also 15 r is centre to centre · diameter ≠ radius · F ∝ 1/r²,
question MCQs) track factors.
Where the counts come from. “In X of 4” counts the four papers this pack dissected question by question and mark by mark: GDE Preparatory
September 2025, GDE Preparatory September 2024, DBE NSC November 2025 and GDE June 2026 (the June paper was re-checked against the
paper itself for this edition). The June 2026 paper stopped at circuits, which is why electrodynamics and photoelectric show 3 of 4. The
INCREASES/DECREASES row counts only papers where this pack cites one (GDE Sept 2024 was not checked for it), so it may be higher. ★ = the
four highest-value patterns. Each topic is unpacked, with its full answer format, inside the pack.
Physical Sciences P1 (Physics) · NSC 2026 · For personal study only. Do not redistribute. p. 2 of 44
,CONTENTS
What is inside
Sixteen sections in paper order. The mark weight is what that topic has been worth in the papers analysed. Tags:
★ ASKED EVERY YEAR HIGH MARKS EXAMINER TRAP
1 How Paper 1 is built — the official 65/55/15/15 split 150 4
and the ten-question spine
2 How the marks are actually given — formula / EXAMINER TRAP every calc 6
substitution / answer, units, positive marking
3
The definitions bank — all 33, word-for-word, key ★ ASKED EVERY YEAR HIGH MARKS ~20 8
words underlined
4 The answering phrasebook — six question types and ★ ASKED EVERY YEAR every Q 12
the answer format for each
5 Newton’s laws & friction — Q2, free-body diagrams, ★ ASKED EVERY YEAR EXAMINER TRAP 15–17 15
the normal-force line
6 Universal gravitation — centre-to-centre distances, EXAMINER TRAP 0–15 17
inverse square
7 Vertical projectile motion — two objects, bounce ★ ASKED EVERY YEAR HIGH MARKS 15–21 18
graphs, “above the ground”
8 Momentum & impulse — collisions, explosions, the ★ ASKED EVERY YEAR 11–13 20
contact-time argument
9 Work, energy & power — the work–energy theorem, ★ ASKED EVERY YEAR 12–13 22
cos θ, “will it pass point C?”
10
Doppler effect — signs without memorising cases, ★ ASKED EVERY YEAR 10–13 24
two-reading trick, red shift
11 Electrostatics — Coulomb, fields, field patterns, ★ ASKED EVERY YEAR 13–15 26
charge sharing
12 Electric circuits — internal resistance, the parallel- ★ ASKED EVERY YEAR HIGH MARKS 17–20 28
branch chain
13 Electrodynamics — generators, motors, rms, cost of HIGH MARKS 13–17 30
electricity
14 Photoelectric effect & spectra — the last question, 13–15 32
and the easiest marks on the paper
15 The tricky questions — 32 real questions that look EXAMINER TRAP HIGH MARKS 32 Qs 34
worse than they are, and how to beat them
16 Three hours: how to spend them — a time plan, and EXAMINER TRAP 180 min 43
twelve ways to lose marks for nothing
H OW TO R E A D T H E B OX E S I N S I D E
★ Repeated question — comes back, with citations · Answer format — the structure that earns the marks · ⚠ Examiner trap —
where marks disappear · Key definition — learn it word-for-word. Citations read DBE Nov 2025 Q8.5 = paper, question.
Physical Sciences P1 (Physics) · NSC 2026 · For personal study only. Do not redistribute. p. 3 of 44
, SECTION 1
150
How Paper 1 is built
Physical Sciences Paper 1 is Physics only. Chemistry (organic, rates, equilibrium, acids and bases,
electrochemistry) is Paper 2 and does not appear here at all. The mark split below is not a guess or a pattern
spotted in old papers: it is printed in the DBE Examination Guidelines, section 2.5.
The official weighting of prescribed content
CONTENT AREA MARKS WHAT SITS INSIDE IT
Mechanics 65 Newton’s laws & friction · Newton’s law of universal gravitation · momentum & impulse · vertical
projectile motion · work, energy & power
Electricity & 55 Electrostatics (Coulomb, electric field) · electric circuits with internal resistance ·
magnetism electrodynamics (generators, motors, AC/rms)
Waves, sound & 15 Doppler effect with sound, and red shift as evidence for an expanding universe
light
Matter & materials 15 Photoelectric effect · emission and absorption spectra
Mechanics + electricity = 120 of 150 marks. Eighty percent of this paper is those two blocks.
The weighting of cognitive levels
LEVEL WHAT IT MEANS SHARE OF P1 ≈ MARKS
1 Remembering — recall a definition, a law, a unit 15% 22
2 Understanding — explain, describe, interpret a graph 35% 53
3 Applying and analysing — the standard calculations 40% 60
4 Evaluating and creating — multi-step, “is the surface frictionless?”, “will it pass point C?” 10% 15
A N SW E R F O R M AT — what that table means for your revision
Half the paper — levels 1 and 2, about 75 marks — is recall and explanation: definitions, law statements, free-
body diagrams, “choose INCREASES / DECREASES / REMAINS THE SAME and explain”, graph sketches. None
of it needs a hard calculation. Learn the definitions bank (Section 3) and the phrasebook (Section 4) properly
and you collect marks that many candidates simply throw away.
Physical Sciences P1 (Physics) · NSC 2026 · For personal study only. Do not redistribute. p. 4 of 44
