Grade 12 · Physical Sciences · Physics, Paper 1 · CAPS
Electrostatics – Grade 12 Physical Sciences (Physics, Paper 1)
What Electrostatics covers, how it is examined in Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Physics), the 5 sections to study and how long it takes – plus live online lessons when you get stuck.
- Study sections
- 5
- Exam-style questions
- 9
- Marks of practice
- 86
- Study time
- ≈ 4 h 40 min
What it covers
Electrostatics is about charges at rest. You apply the conservation and quantisation of charge when charged spheres touch and separate, use Coulomb's law for the force between point charges, and add the forces from several charges that lie in a straight line or form a right angle. The topic ends with electric fields: drawing field patterns and calculating how strong the field is at a chosen point due to one or more charges.
How it is examined
- Paper
- Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Physics) – Friday 30 October 2026, 09:00 (3 hours, 150 marks)
- Weighting
- Electricity & magnetism ≈ 55/150 (electrostatics typically ≈ 12–15 marks, plus MCQs)
- Questions
- In a typical paper you will find it in Questions 7–8 of Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Physics), with multiple-choice items in Question 1 as well.
Question numbers and mark splits are typical, not fixed – they vary a little from year to year.
Sections to study
- Charge: conservation, quantisation and charge sharing25 min
- Coulomb's law25 min
- Net force on a charge: three charges in a line35 min
- Net force at right angles (2D vector addition)40 min
- Electric field40 min
Study time
| Notes and worked examples5 sections | 2 h 45 min |
|---|---|
| Exam-style questions9 questions · 86 marks × 1,2 min per mark | 1 h 45 min |
| Topic quiz | 10 min |
| Total | ≈ 4 h 40 min |
Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Physics) is written on Friday 30 October 2026 at 09:00.
What you get in the portal
- 9 exam-style questions on Electrostatics (86 marks in total), each with a full marking memo
- Worked examples with diagrams and step-by-step calculations for each of the 5 sections
- Tutor notes added to sections and questions – for the whole class or just for you
- A topic quiz, mock papers and a study plan that counts down to Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Physics)
Notes, worked examples, questions and memos open once the tutor approves your account – usually with your first confirmed lesson.
Stuck on Electrostatics? Book a one-on-one lesson.
R250 per hour – 60, 90 or 120 minutes, online from anywhere in South Africa. Pick Electrostatics as your topic; you pay by EFT only after the tutor confirms.
Related Physics P1 topics
- Electric Circuits
- Electrodynamics: Generators, Motors and AC
- Photoelectric Effect and Spectra
- Newton's Laws and Applications
All Grade 12 Physical Sciences topics, weighting and study time
Questions about Electrostatics
How many marks is Electrostatics worth in the matric exam?
In Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Physics) (3 hours, 150 marks) the usual weighting is: Electricity & magnetism ≈ 55/150 (electrostatics typically ≈ 12–15 marks, plus MCQs). In a typical paper you will find it in Questions 7–8 of Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Physics), with multiple-choice items in Question 1 as well. The exact marks change a little from year to year.
How long does it take to study Electrostatics?
About 4 h 40 min: 2 h 45 min for the notes and worked examples in its 5 sections, 1 h 45 min for the 9 exam-style questions (86 marks) at exam pace of 1,2 minutes per mark, and a 10-minute quiz.
When is the Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Physics) exam in 2026?
Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Physics) is written on Friday 30 October 2026 at 09:00 and lasts 3 hours (150 marks), according to the DBE’s 2026 NSC timetable. Confirm the date with your school, because the DBE can amend the timetable.
Can I get online lessons for Electrostatics?
Yes. Create a free account in the Adventuity portal, request a one-on-one online lesson of 60, 90 or 120 minutes (or a seat in a group class) and choose Electrostatics as your topic. You pay by EFT only after the tutor confirms the booking.