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GOPAL JI MEMORIAL SCHOOL

Reoti, Ballia (U.P.) · Affiliated to CBSE · www.gjms.edu.in
SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER · Session 2026-27
SCIENCE (Standard) — Class IX · Code 086
Time Allowed: 3 HoursMaximum Marks: 80
General Instructions:
  1. This question paper consists of 34 questions in five sections — A, B, C, D and E. All questions are compulsory.
  2. Section A has 16 questions of 1 mark each (Multiple Choice Questions and Assertion–Reason type).
  3. Section B has 5 Very Short Answer (VSA) type questions of 2 marks each.
  4. Section C has 7 Short Answer (SA) type questions of 3 marks each.
  5. Section D has 3 Long Answer (LA) type questions of 5 marks each.
  6. Section E has 3 Source / Case-based integrated units of assessment of 6 marks each, with sub-parts.
  7. There is no overall choice. However, an internal choice has been provided in some questions of Sections B, C, D and E. A student has to attempt only one of the alternatives in such questions.
  8. Wherever necessary, neat and labelled diagrams should be drawn.
  9. Use of calculators is not permitted. Take g = 9.8 m s−2 and speed of sound in air = 340 m s−1 unless stated otherwise.

SECTION A — Objective / Assertion–Reason 16 × 1 = 16 marks

1.1 The number of chromosomes in the parent cell and the two daughter cells produced by mitosis is:
  1. halved in the daughter cells
  2. the same in parent and daughter cells
  3. doubled in the daughter cells
  4. random in each daughter cell
2.1 Which of the following tissues has dead cells at maturity and provides mechanical strength to mature plant parts?
  1. Parenchyma
  2. Collenchyma
  3. Sclerenchyma
  4. Aerenchyma
3.1 A solution contains 25 g of common salt dissolved in 100 g of water. The mass-by-mass percentage concentration of the solution is:
  1. 25%
  2. 20%
  3. 75%
  4. 12.5%
4.1 The isotope used as a fuel in nuclear reactors is:
  1. U-235
  2. C-14
  3. Co-60
  4. I-131
5.1 An object moving in a circular path at a constant speed has:
  1. constant velocity and zero acceleration
  2. changing velocity and non-zero acceleration
  3. zero velocity and constant acceleration
  4. constant velocity and constant acceleration
6.1 The SI unit of momentum is:
  1. kg m s−2
  2. kg m s−1
  3. N m
  4. kg m2 s−2
7.1 A body of mass 2 kg is lifted vertically through a height of 5 m. The work done against gravity is:
  1. 10 J
  2. 49 J
  3. 98 J
  4. 0.98 J
8.1 For a simple machine such as an ideal lever, the mechanical advantage is the ratio of:
  1. effort arm to load arm
  2. load arm to effort arm
  3. effort to load × velocity ratio
  4. output work to input work
9.1 The characteristic of a sound that allows us to distinguish between a shrill whistle and a low drumbeat is its:
  1. loudness
  2. quality (timbre)
  3. pitch (frequency)
  4. speed
10.1 Which pair below correctly matches the number of atoms in one molecule of the substance?
  1. Ozone — 2
  2. Sulphur (S8) — 4
  3. Phosphorus (P4) — 4
  4. Argon — 2
11.1 The kingdom to which organisms that are prokaryotic, unicellular and lack a well-defined nucleus belong is:
  1. Protista
  2. Fungi
  3. Monera
  4. Plantae
12.1 The process of unequal heating of the Earth's surface by solar radiation — more at the equator and less at the poles — is chiefly responsible for:
  1. the phases of the Moon
  2. global wind patterns and ocean currents
  3. radioactive decay in the mantle
  4. the tilt of the Earth's axis
13.1 A component that separates a mixture of two miscible liquids with a difference in boiling points of less than 25 °C is best done by:
  1. simple distillation
  2. fractional distillation
  3. separating funnel
  4. centrifugation
14.1 The relative atomic mass of an element is measured relative to:
  1. 1/12th the mass of a carbon-12 atom
  2. the mass of one hydrogen atom
  3. 1/16th the mass of an oxygen atom
  4. the mass of one proton exactly

Questions 15 and 16 are Assertion–Reason type. Choose the correct option:
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.  (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.  (c) A is true but R is false.  (d) A is false but R is true.

15.1 Assertion (A): Water is called a universal solvent.
Reason (R): Water can dissolve a very large number of substances, both ionic and polar covalent.
16.1 Assertion (A): A passenger tends to fall backward when a bus suddenly starts moving.
Reason (R): The inertia of rest of the passenger's body keeps its lower part at rest while the bus moves the feet forward.

SECTION B — Very Short Answer (VSA) 5 × 2 = 10 marks

17.2 State any two structural differences between a plant cell and an animal cell.
18.2 A car accelerates uniformly from rest to a speed of 20 m s−1 in 8 s. Calculate (a) its acceleration and (b) the distance travelled in this time.
19.2 Define echo. What is the minimum distance from a reflecting surface required to hear a distinct echo in air at 22 °C? (Speed of sound = 344 m s−1; persistence of hearing = 0.1 s.)
OR
Distinguish between the audible range, infrasound and ultrasound, giving the frequency limits of each.
20.2 An atom of an element has 17 protons, 17 electrons and 18 neutrons. Write (a) its mass number and (b) its electronic configuration, and state whether it will tend to gain or lose electrons.
21.2 Name the two types of biogeochemical cycles and give one example of each. Briefly state why these cycles are important for life on Earth.

SECTION C — Short Answer (SA) 7 × 3 = 21 marks

22.3 Draw a neat, labelled diagram of a plant cell showing any six of the following parts: cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, chloroplast, vacuole, mitochondrion. State one function of the chloroplast.
23.3 (a) State Newton's second law of motion and derive the relation F = ma from it.
(b) A force of 15 N acts on a body of mass 3 kg initially at rest. Find the velocity acquired by the body after 4 s.
24.3 Calculate the molecular mass of (a) H2SO4 and (b) Ca(OH)2. (Atomic masses: H = 1, O = 16, S = 32, Ca = 40.) Also state what is meant by one mole of a substance.
OR
Define valency. Using the concept of valency, write the chemical formulae of (i) aluminium oxide, (ii) sodium sulphate and (iii) calcium chloride.
25.3 Three types of muscular tissue are found in the human body. Name them and state one location and one distinguishing feature of each.
26.3 A machine raises a load of 200 N through a height of 4 m in 10 s.
(a) Calculate the work done by the machine.
(b) Calculate the power of the machine.
(c) If the machine is a system of pulleys with a velocity ratio of 4 and an efficiency of 80%, find its mechanical advantage.
27.3 Describe an activity to show that a mixture of iron filings and sulphur can be separated by a physical method, while the compound iron sulphide (formed on heating) cannot. Mention one observable difference between the mixture and the compound.
OR
Describe, with a labelled sketch, how you would separate a mixture of common salt, sand and ammonium chloride into its three components. Name the property exploited at each step.
28.3 (a) Distinguish between asexual and sexual reproduction, giving one example of each.
(b) Name the mode of asexual reproduction seen in Hydra and in Planaria.

SECTION D — Long Answer (LA) 3 × 5 = 15 marks

29.5 (a) Derive the three equations of uniformly accelerated motion, v = u + at, s = ut + ½at2 and v2 = u2 + 2as, using a velocity–time graph.
(b) A train starting from rest attains a velocity of 72 km h−1 in 5 minutes. Assuming uniform acceleration, find (i) the acceleration and (ii) the distance travelled by the train.
OR
(a) State the law of conservation of momentum and derive it from Newton's third law for two colliding bodies.
(b) A bullet of mass 20 g is fired with a velocity of 150 m s−1 from a gun of mass 5 kg. Calculate the recoil velocity of the gun.
30.5 (a) Explain how sound propagates through air in terms of compressions and rarefactions.
(b) Define wavelength, frequency and time period of a sound wave, and derive the relation v = fλ.
(c) A source produces 40 compressions and 40 rarefactions in 0.4 s. If the wavelength of the wave is 1.5 m, calculate the frequency and the speed of the sound wave.
31.5 (a) Describe the process of transpiration and name the tissue and structures responsible for it in plants.
(b) Draw and label a diagram of xylem and phloem as the two components of complex permanent (vascular) tissue, and state one function of each.
OR
(a) What are meristematic tissues? Distinguish between apical, lateral and intercalary meristems on the basis of their location and role in plant growth.
(b) Give two ways in which meristematic cells differ from permanent cells.

SECTION E — Source / Case-based Questions 3 × 6 = 18 marks

32.6
J.J. Thomson's experiments with cathode-ray tubes established the existence of the electron, a negatively charged sub-atomic particle. Rutherford's α-particle scattering experiment then showed that most of an atom is empty space, with a tiny, dense, positively charged nucleus at its centre. Niels Bohr later proposed that electrons revolve around the nucleus only in certain fixed circular paths called shells, or energy levels (K, L, M, N…), and that the maximum number of electrons in a shell is given by 2n2. Isotopes are atoms of the same element having the same atomic number but different mass numbers.
  1. State the maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated in the M shell. 1
  2. Write the distribution of electrons in a magnesium atom (Z = 12) among its shells, and state its valency. 2
  3. Define isotopes and explain, using chlorine (Cl-35 and Cl-37 in the ratio 3 : 1), why the average atomic mass of chlorine is 35.5 u. 3
OR (for part c only)
3 State the three postulates of Rutherford's nuclear model of the atom and mention one drawback of this model.
33.6
When a moving body is brought to rest by friction, its kinetic energy is not destroyed but transformed into other forms such as heat and sound — energy is only transformed, never created or destroyed. A common school experiment uses a simple pendulum to demonstrate this: as the bob swings, energy shifts continuously between potential and kinetic forms, and the total mechanical energy stays (nearly) constant. The kinetic energy of a body of mass m moving with speed v is ½mv2, while its gravitational potential energy at a height h is mgh.
  1. State the law of conservation of energy. 1
  2. A pendulum bob of mass 0.5 kg is raised to a height of 0.2 m and released. Calculate its potential energy at the highest point and its speed at the lowest point (take g = 9.8 m s−2). 3
  3. In a real pendulum the bob eventually comes to rest. Explain where the mechanical energy has gone, and name the practical experiment a Class IX student performs to verify energy conservation. 2
34.6
The Earth behaves as a single interconnected system in which energy from the Sun and matter in the air, water, rocks and living things are constantly exchanged. Solar radiation drives the water cycle and, through the unequal (differential) heating of land, oceans and the atmosphere, generates winds and ocean currents. The carbon, nitrogen and water cycles keep essential elements moving between the living and non-living parts of the biosphere. In recent decades, human activities — burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and excess use of fertilisers — have disturbed these natural cycles, raising atmospheric carbon dioxide and altering the climate.
  1. Name the ultimate source of energy that drives almost all processes in the Earth system. 1
  2. Explain how differential heating of the Earth's surface leads to the formation of winds. 2
  3. Describe any three human activities that disturb the natural biogeochemical cycles, and for each, state one harmful consequence. 3
OR (for part c only)
3 Draw a simple labelled diagram of the water cycle showing evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection, and state the role of solar energy in driving it.
— END OF PAPER —
MARKING SCHEMEfor teachers
Science (Standard, 086) · Class IX · 2026-27 · Max Marks 80 · Award full marks for any scientifically correct, equivalent answer.

SECTION A — Objective / Assertion–Reason 16 × 1 = 16

1. (b) the same in parent and daughter cells. 2. (c) Sclerenchyma. 3. (b) 20%  [25/(25+100) × 100 = 20%]. 4. (a) U-235.
5. (b) changing velocity and non-zero acceleration  (direction of velocity keeps changing). 6. (b) kg m s−1. 7. (c) 98 J  [W = mgh = 2 × 9.8 × 5 = 98 J]. 8. (a) effort arm to load arm.
9. (c) pitch (frequency). 10. (c) Phosphorus (P4) — 4. 11. (c) Monera. 12. (b) global wind patterns and ocean currents.
13. (b) fractional distillation. 14. (a) 1/12th the mass of a carbon-12 atom.
15. (a) Both A and R true and R is the correct explanation of A. 16. (c) A is true but R is false  (the passenger tends to fall backward, but the reason as stated inverts the parts — the feet move with the bus while the upper body stays at rest due to inertia of rest; the given R is incorrect, hence option c). (Accept (a) if the board's official key treats R as a valid explanation; award mark for correct reasoning shown.)

SECTION B — VSA 5 × 2 = 10

17. Any two (1 + 1): Plant cell has a rigid cell wall (animal cell lacks it); plant cell has plastids/chloroplasts (absent in animal cells); plant cell has a large central vacuole (small/absent in animal cells); centrioles usually absent in higher plant cells. (½ each for two valid pairs, rounded to 2.)
18. (a) a = (v − u)/t = (20 − 0)/8 = 2.5 m s−2 (1). (b) s = ut + ½at2 = 0 + ½ × 2.5 × 82 = 80 m (1). (Accept s = ½(u+v)t = ½ × 20 × 8 = 80 m.)
19. Echo = the repetition of a sound caused by reflection of sound waves from a distant obstacle/surface (1). Minimum distance: total path = v × t = 344 × 0.1 = 34.4 m; minimum distance = 34.4/2 = 17.2 m (1).
OR — Audible range: 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz; Infrasound: below 20 Hz; Ultrasound: above 20,000 Hz (2 marks; ⅔ each).
20. (a) Mass number = protons + neutrons = 17 + 18 = 35 (1). (b) Electronic configuration = 2, 8, 7; the element (chlorine) has 7 valence electrons and will tend to gain 1 electron to complete its octet (1).
21. Two types: gaseous cycles (e.g. carbon cycle / nitrogen cycle) and sedimentary cycles (e.g. phosphorus cycle) — or name water & carbon cycles (1). Importance: they recycle essential elements/nutrients between the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components, keeping matter available for life and maintaining the balance of the biosphere (1). (Accept naming any two valid cycles + reason.)

SECTION C — SA 7 × 3 = 21

22. Correct, neat labelled plant-cell diagram with any six parts (cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, chloroplast, vacuole/mitochondrion) — 2 marks (label + neatness). Function of chloroplast: it contains chlorophyll and is the site of photosynthesis, where light energy is used to make food (glucose) — 1 mark.
23. (a) Newton's 2nd law: the rate of change of momentum of a body is directly proportional to the applied force and takes place in the direction of the force (1). Derivation: F ∝ (mv − mu)/t = m(v−u)/t = ma ⇒ F = kma; taking k = 1, F = ma (1). (b) a = F/m = 15/3 = 5 m s−2; v = u + at = 0 + 5 × 4 = 20 m s−1 (1).
24. (a) H2SO4 = 2(1) + 32 + 4(16) = 2 + 32 + 64 = 98 u (1). (b) Ca(OH)2 = 40 + 2(16 + 1) = 40 + 34 = 74 u (1). One mole = amount of substance containing 6.022 × 1023 (Avogadro number) particles / equal to its formula mass in grams (1).
OR — Valency = combining capacity of an element (the number of electrons lost, gained or shared) (1). (i) Al2O3, (ii) Na2SO4, (iii) CaCl2 (½ + ½ + ½, rounded to 2).
25. (1 mark each, name + location + feature): Striated / skeletal muscle — attached to bones/limbs; cylindrical, multinucleate, striped, voluntary. Smooth / unstriated muscle — walls of stomach, intestine, blood vessels; spindle-shaped, uninucleate, involuntary. Cardiac muscle — walls of the heart; branched, uninucleate, striated, involuntary, rhythmic.
26. (a) W = F × d = 200 × 4 = 800 J (1). (b) P = W/t = 800/10 = 80 W (1). (c) Efficiency = MA/VR ⇒ MA = efficiency × VR = 0.80 × 4 = 3.2 (1).
27. Activity (any correct description, 2): a magnet moved through the iron+sulphur mixture attracts and removes the iron filings (physical separation) — the mixture retains the properties of its constituents; after heating, iron sulphide (FeS) forms, a new compound whose components can no longer be separated by a magnet. Observable difference (1): the mixture is attracted by a magnet / evolves no gas with dilute acid, whereas the compound FeS is not magnetic and gives a smell of rotten-egg gas (H2S) with dilute acid.
OR — Sublimation to remove ammonium chloride (on heating it sublimes and is collected) (1); add water to dissolve salt, filter to separate insoluble sand (1); evaporate/crystallise the filtrate to recover salt (1). Labelled sketch expected.
28. (a) Asexual: single parent, no gametes/fusion, offspring identical (e.g. binary fission in Amoeba); Sexual: two parents, fusion of gametes, variation in offspring (e.g. in flowering plants/humans) (2, ½ per valid point). (b) Hydra — budding; Planaria — regeneration / fragmentation (1).

SECTION D — LA 3 × 5 = 15

29. (a) From a velocity–time graph (straight line from u to v over time t): slope = a ⇒ v = u + at (1). Area under graph = distance = ut + ½at2 ⇒ s = ut + ½at2 (1). Eliminating t gives v2 = u2 + 2as (1). (Full marks require the graph and derivation steps.) (b) v = 72 km h−1 = 20 m s−1, t = 5 min = 300 s. (i) a = (20 − 0)/300 = 0.0667 m s−2 (≈ 1/15 m s−2) (1). (ii) s = ½(u+v)t = ½ × 20 × 300 = 3000 m = 3 km (1).
OR — (a) Law: in the absence of an external force, the total momentum of a system is conserved (1). Derivation from 3rd law: F12 = −F21 ⇒ m1(v1−u1)/t = −m2(v2−u2)/t ⇒ m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2 (2). (b) By conservation: 0 = mbulletvbullet + mgunV ⇒ V = −(0.020 × 150)/5 = −0.6 m s−1, i.e. recoil speed 0.6 m s−1 opposite to the bullet (2).
30. (a) A vibrating body pushes air particles together to form regions of high pressure/density (compressions) and, on moving back, creates regions of low pressure/density (rarefactions); these travel outward as a longitudinal wave, so sound needs a material medium (2). (b) Wavelength (λ) = distance between two consecutive compressions/rarefactions; frequency (f) = number of oscillations per second; time period (T) = time for one oscillation, T = 1/f. Since speed = distance/time = λ/T = fλ ⇒ v = fλ (1½). (c) 40 compressions + 40 rarefactions = 40 full waves in 0.4 s ⇒ f = 40/0.4 = 100 Hz; v = fλ = 100 × 1.5 = 150 m s−1 (1½).
31. (a) Transpiration = loss of water vapour from the aerial parts (mainly leaves) of a plant through stomata, controlled by guard cells; it aids the ascent of water and cools the plant (2). (b) Labelled diagram of xylem (tracheids, vessels — conduct water & minerals upward, provide mechanical support) and phloem (sieve tubes, companion cells — transport food/sugars) — 3 marks (diagram 2 + functions 1).
OR — (a) Meristematic tissue = tissue of actively dividing cells (1). Apical — at root/shoot tips, increases length; Lateral (cambium) — along sides, increases girth; Intercalary — at the base of leaves/internodes, contributes to length (3, 1 each). (b) Meristematic cells: small, thin-walled, dense cytoplasm, no/small vacuole, capable of division; permanent cells are larger, often vacuolated and do not normally divide (1, any two differences).

SECTION E — Source / Case-based 3 × 6 = 18

32. (a) M shell: 2n2 = 2(3)2 = 18 electrons (1). (b) Mg (Z = 12): 2, 8, 2; valency = 2 (2 — configuration 1, valency 1). (c) Isotopes = atoms of the same element with the same atomic number but different mass numbers (1). Average atomic mass of Cl = (35 × 3 + 37 × 1)/(3 + 1) = (105 + 37)/4 = 142/4 = 35.5 u (2).
OR (c): Rutherford's postulates — most of the atom is empty space; the entire positive charge and nearly all the mass is concentrated in a tiny central nucleus; electrons revolve around the nucleus (2). Drawback: a revolving (accelerating) electron should continuously radiate energy, spiral into the nucleus and make the atom unstable — which is not observed (1).
33. (a) Law of conservation of energy: energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form to another, and the total energy of an isolated system remains constant (1). (b) PE at top = mgh = 0.5 × 9.8 × 0.2 = 0.98 J (1½). At the lowest point all PE → KE: ½mv2 = 0.98 ⇒ v2 = 2 × 0.98/0.5 = 3.92 ⇒ v = 1.98 m s−1 (≈ 2 m s−1) (1½). (c) The mechanical energy is gradually converted into heat and sound due to air resistance and friction at the support (1); the experiment is verifying the conservation of energy using an oscillating simple pendulum (1).
34. (a) The Sun / solar radiation (1). (b) The Sun heats land, water and air unequally; warm air over strongly heated regions becomes lighter and rises, creating low pressure, while cooler air over less-heated regions sinks (high pressure); air flows from high to low pressure, and this horizontal movement of air is wind (2). (c) Any three (1 each = activity + consequence): burning fossil fuels → excess CO2 → global warming/climate change; deforestation → less CO2 absorption + soil erosion; excess fertiliser use → nitrogen/phosphate run-off → eutrophication of water bodies; industrial emissions → acid rain (3).
OR (c): Labelled water-cycle diagram (evaporation → condensation → precipitation → collection) — 2 marks; solar energy provides the heat that evaporates water from oceans/land, driving the whole cycle — 1 mark.
Marks tally — A 16 + B 10 + C 21 + D 15 + E 18 = 80