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Pakistan International School (English Section) Riyadh, K.S.A

Physics Department – Summer Vacation Task 2022
For Grade 8 promoted from Grade 7
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The school bell may stop ringing, but summer is a great time for all kinds of
learning opportunities. Here are some fun and informative tasks for you to keep
your concepts fresh through the summers.

Task # 1 – What happens to beams of light when they pass from one kind of
material to another?

Materials
 tall clear glass or plastic container
 water
 pencil
Directions
 Fill 1/2 of the container with water.
 Place a pencil in the water.
 Observe the container.
 Describe what you see.
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 Explain why the pencil seemed “out of shape”.

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 What would happen if a layer of oil is added on top of the water before
adding the pencil? Search the internet and explain your answer.
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The experiment above explains the effects of “Refraction”. Observe up to 3 more

real life examples and enlist them as follows:
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2. _____________________________________________________________
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3. _____________________________________________________________
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Complete the path, the light beam takes:

Search the internet and find out at least 3 ways refraction is good for us and 3 ways
it causes problems.

Advantages Disadvantages
1.

2.

3.
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Task # 2 - Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet!

When white light is shown on a prism it spreads into a spectrum of colors. Use the
internet to study what other ways can white light be spread into a spectrum.
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Elaborate why does the light spread into a spectrum of colors.

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Observe real time and search the internet and find 3-4 practical uses of convex and
concave lenses.
Concave lens Convex lens
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Task # 3 - What happens when light hits an object?

Materials
 Transparent object (clear plastic cup, glass, water, etc.)
 Translucent object (tinted plastic cups, waxed paper, sunglasses, etc.)
 Opaque object (aluminum foil, cardboard, etc.)
 Flashlight, Mobile phone torch
 Plastic plate

Experiment
1. Shine the light on each object one by one making sure the distance of the
torch to the object is 5 cm (Keep the plastic plate 10 cm behind the object).
2. Record your results.
3. Shine the light on each object one by one making sure the distance of the
torch to the object is 15 cm (Keep the plastic plate 10 cm behind the object).
4. Record your results

Results – Using your knowledge of umbra and penumbra shadows study the
shadow produced on the plate for each object. Also study the effect of taking the
light source farther.

5 cm 15 cm
Transparent: Transparent:

Translucent: Translucent:

Opaque: Opaque:
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Task # 4 – How fast do we drive?

Next time you go for a ride find out your average speed!

Materials
 Timer
Experiment
1. Before leaving look at the cars panel and record the number of kilometers as
D1.
2. Start the timer.
3. When you reach your destination record the distance run again as D2.
4. Calculate your average speed
5. Repeat for up to two more trips and record in the table given
6. Observe and explain how would the result be effected if you stopped in the
middle of the way?
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D1 / km D2 / km Total distance Total time Average

covered / km taken / hr. Speed /

Trip 1
Trip 2
Trip 3
Trip 4
Trip 5

If the distance measured in kilometers and time in hours, comment on the unit used
for speed.
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Task # 5 – Is it the pitch or the loudness?

Use your knowledge of pitch and loudness and observe the different kinds of
sounds using everyday household items.

Record your observations and according to the sound predict if the sound has a
high pitch? low pitch? if its loud? Or will you have to listen to it again!?

Try using different type of materials (Metal Forks, Plastic spoons, glass, wood etc.)
and observe the difference in sound for each

Object 1 Object 2 Observed Pitch Observed Loudness Comments

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.
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Task # 6 – Refresh!

Try solving these questions just to refresh your memory about circuits.

Question 1) Find the total resistance in each of the following:

a)

b)
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Question 2) If a pd of 10V is applied to the two resistors. Calculate

a) The combined resistance
b) The current flowing in the main circuit
c) The current flowing across 4 Ohms resistor

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Task # 7 – Good Luck!