JCE General Science (Syllabus 43) case studies
JCE General Science (Syllabus 43) · Put your knowledge to work in context.
This page is an independent study guide for the Junior Certificate General Science examination, commonly linked to Syllabus 43 within Botswana's Junior Certificate (JCE) framework. It is written for candidates preparing for a school-leaving science qualification and for teachers or parents supporting that preparation. The JCE General Science (Syllabus 43) case studies are 5 cases and about 2,855 words.
1Bean seedlings on a windowsill: can light really slow growth?
A learner investigates whether light intensity affects the growth of bean seedlings. Twelve seedlings from the same packet are planted in identical pots of the same soil and watered 20 cm³ every second day.
617 words, about 3 min2Yeast, sugar and a balloon with a hole
A learner tests how sugar concentration affects gas production by yeast. Five flasks each contain 10 g of yeast and 50 cm³ of water at 35 °C, plus sugar: 0 g, 2 g, 4 g, 6 g and 8 g.
587 words, about 3 min3Two acids, two learners, one unfair comparison
Two learners compare hydrochloric acid and ethanoic acid, each 0.50 mol/dm³, reacting with marble chips (calcium carbonate). Each uses 20 cm³ of acid at 22 °C with excess marble, collecting gas in a 250 cm³ syringe.
551 words, about 3 min4Bright or long-lasting: choosing a lamp circuit
A learner builds lamp circuits with a 6.0 V battery pack and two identical bulbs marked '6.0 V, 0.30 A'. In arrangement 1 the bulbs are connected one after the other and the ammeter reads 0.15 A; both glow dimly.
541 words, about 3 min5Power for a rural vaccine clinic
A rural clinic needs 4.0 kWh of electricity every day, and its vaccine fridge must never rise above 8 °C for more than 30 minutes. Option A is a 1.5 kW solar array with a 6.0 kWh battery bank; it delivers about 5.0 kWh per day in the dry season but only 1.8 kWh per day during the three-month rainy season.
559 words, about 3 min