Term 2 - 2024

PHYSICS (232/1)
FORM FOUR (4)
Time: 2 Hours
Marking Scheme
INSTRUCTION TO THE TEACHER:
This marking scheme may not be the final draft. The author acknowledges that there
could be other perspectives of facts and so the teacher concerned is highly
encouraged to adapt it accordingly.

SECTION A (25 MARKS)

1. Figure 1, shows a Vernier caliper of zero error 0.02 cm being used for measuring the diameter of a
cylindrical container of height 10 cm. The scale reading of the Vernier is as shown alongside.

cm
0 5 10

Figure 1

a. Determine the diameter of the container (2 marks)

reading=3.7+ 0.02=3.72 cm;
actual diameter=3.72−0.02=3.70 cm;
b. Estimate the volume of a liquid which can completely fill the container (2 marks)
2
volume=π r h
3.70 3.70 3
3.142 × × × 10 ;=107.5 cm ; correct substitution and correct answer with units
2 2

2. State one factor that affects the turning effect of a force on a body. (1 mark)
 Magnitude of the force
 Perpendicular distance between pivot and line of action of force
1-mark max. (mark only the first response of the learner)

3. Figure 2 shows some air trapped by mercury in a glass tube. The tube is inverted in a dish containing mercury.

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 Figure 2

Given that the atmospheric pressure is 760 mmHg and the height of mercury column in the
tube is 600 mm, determine the pressure of the air trapped in the tube in mmHg. (2 marks)

atm . pressure=liquid pressure+ air pressure formula/sub

760=600+air pressure ;
Therefore, air pressure = 760−600=160 mmHg ; correct answer with units

4. Figure 3 shows drops of mercury and water on a glass surface, Explain the difference in the shapes
of the drops. (2marks)
Mercurywater
Glass surface

Figure 3
Cohesive force among mercury molecules is stronger than adhesive force between mercury
and glass molecules; in water, adhesive force between water and glass molecules is stronger
than cohesive force between water molecules;
5. A ball is thrown from the top of a cliff 20m high with a horizontal velocity of 10ms-1. Calculate the
distance from the foot of the cliff to where the ball strikes the ground. (3 marks)
1 2 1 2
h= g t ≡ 20= × 10× t → t=2 seconds ; award for time
2 2
R=ut → R=10 ×2 ;=20 m; formula/sub and the correct answer with units

6. Explain one advantage of mercury over alcohol as a thermometric liquid. (1mark)

Higher boiling point so it can measure higher temperature than alcohol;

7. A body of mass M is allowed to slide down an inclined plane. State two factors that affect its final
velocity at the bottom of the inclined plane. (2marks)
 Angle of inclination of the plane
 Vertical Height of the inclined plane
 Length of the plane
 Frictional force between the plane and the body
Maximum of two marks but consider only the first two responses of the learner

8. A stopwatch reads 08:10:84 and 09:10: 90 before and after an experiment respectively. Determine
the duration of the event in SI units. (2marks)
final time= ( 9× 60 ) +10.90=550.90 s award for either final/initial time
Initial time = ( 8 ×60 )+ 10.84=490.84 s ;

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 Time taken = 60.06 seconds ; correct answer with units
9. Explain the meaning of thermodynamics as a branch of physics. (1 mark)
The study of heat and its transformation to and from other forms of energy;

10.
a. State the Hooke’s Law. (1mark)
For an elastic material, extension is directly proportional to the stretching force provided
elastic limit is not exceeded;

b. Figure 4 shows identical spiral springs supporting a load of 90N. Each spring has a spring
constant k = 200N/m

Figure 4
Determine the total extension of the system (take the weight of the cross bars and springs to be
negligible) (2 marks)

−1 F 90
K 1=3 × 200=600 Nm ; so extension is: = =0.15 m
K 600

−1 F 90
K 2=2 ×200=400 N m −¿so extension is: = =0.225 m
K 400
award for either combined spring constant
total extension=0.15+0.225=0.375 m ; correct answer with units

11. Figure 5 shows a rectangular loop with a thin thread loosely tied and dipped into a soap solution.
Draw on the space provided what is observed when point A is
A punctured. (1mark)

thread
B

Figure 5

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12. Two horizontal strings are attached to a block, resting on a frictionless surface, as shown in figure 6.

F
100 N
support
Figure 6
A force of 100N pulls on one string. The block does not move. Find the value of the force, F on the
other string. (1 mark)

0=100 N +(−F ) therefore, F= 100N;

13. A wooden bench feels neither warm nor cold when touched by your bare hands. Explain this
observation. (2 marks)

Wood is a poor conductor of heat; it does not therefore take away heat from the hand hence no
change in body temperature;

SECTION B (55 MARKS)

14.
a) Explain why bodies in circular motion undergo acceleration even when their speed is constant.

(1mark)

The change in the direction of velocity constitute the acceleration;

b) A particle moving along a circular path of radius 5cm describes an arc of length 2cm every
second. Determine:
i. Its angular velocity. (1mark)

s 2 0.4 −1
θ= = =0.4 rad therefore, ω= =0.4 rad s ;
r 5 1

ii. Its periodic time. (2marks)

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 2π 2π
ω= =T = ;=15.71 seconds;
T 0.4

correct substitution and correct evaluation in seconds

c) A stone of mass 150g is tied to the end of a string 80cm long and whirled in a vertical circle at
2rev/s. Determine the maximum tension in the string. (3marks)
−1
ω=2 πf =2 π × 2=12.57 rad s ; award for correct angular velocity

2 2
F c =mr ω =0.15 × 0.8× 12.57 =18.96 N ; correct value of force

Maximum tension = weight + F c =1.5+18.96=20.46 N ; correct answer in newton

d) State one factor affecting centripetal force (1mark)

 Mass of the object in circular motion
 Radius of the circular path
 Velocity of the object
(mark only the first response of the learner)

e) State the principle of conservation of linear momentum (1 mark)

For a system of colliding bodies, the total linear momentum before and after the collision
remains a constant;

f) A bullet of mass 60g is fired horizontally with a velocity of 200 m/s into a suspended stationary
wooden block of mass 2940g. Determine:
i. Common velocity of both the bullet and the block, if the bullet embedded into the block.
(2
marks)
momentum before collission=momentum after collission
( 0.06 × 200 ) + ( 2.94 × 0 )=3 V ; formula or substitution
12
12=3 V therefore, V = =4 m/s ; correct answer with units
3

ii. Height to which the block rises. (2 marks)

2
1 2 0.5 × 4
mgh= m v ; → h= =0.8 m ; formula/sub; correct answer with units;
2 10

15.
a) State two factors that affect the boiling point of a liquid (2 marks)

 Impurities;
 Pressure;

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b) 100g of a liquid at a temperature of 100 C is poured into a well lagged calorimeter. An electric
heater rated 50W is used to heat the liquid. The graph in figure 7 shows the variation of the
temperature of the liquid with time.

Figure 7
(i) From the graph, determine the boiling point of the liquid (1 mark)

800C ;

(ii) Determine the heat given out the by the heater between the times t = 0.5 minutes and t = 5.0
minutes (3 marks)

time= (5−1.5 ) ×60=210 seconds ;

heat ( energy )= power × time=50 ×210 ;=10500 J ;

c) From the graph determine the temperature change between the times t = 0.5 minutes and t = 5.0
minutes, hence determine the specific heat capacity of the liquid (3 marks)

Change in temperature = 80−20=60 oC ;

Heat energy absorbed = mc ∆θ → 10500=0.1× c × 60 ;formula or substitution
10500
c= =1750 J/kg K ; correct answer with units
0.1 ×60

d) 1.8 g of vapor was collected from above the liquid between the times t= 3.5 minutes and t= 4.5
minutes. Determine the specific latent heat of vaporization of the liquid (4 marks)

Heat energy supplied by the heater = heat energy spent to vaporize the liquid ;

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 m Lv =50 ×1 ×60 ; ; correct substitutions for both energy supplied and absorbed

3000
Lv = =30,000 J/kg ; correct answer with correct units
0.1

16.
a) State the law of floatation (1 mark)

A floating body displaces its own weight of fluid in which it floats;

b) Figure 8 below shows a simple hydrometer

A bulb ;

B lead-shots ;

Figure 8
i. Identify the parts labelled A and B (2 marks)

See above for labelling

ii. State the purpose of the part labelled B (1 mark)

It enables the hydrometer float upright ;

c) How would the hydrometer be made more sensitive? (1 mark)

Using a narrower glass-stem ;

d) Describe how the hydrometer is calibrated to measure relative density (3 marks)

Float the hydrometer in a liquid of known relative density and mark level of the liquid on
the stem;
Float the hydrometer again in another liquid of known relative density and mark its level
on the stem;
Divide the length between the marks into equal divisions and label it accordingly ;

e) Figure 9 shows a cork floating on water and held to the bottom of the beaker by a thin thread.
i. Name the forces acting on the cork (3 marks)

 Tension ;
 Up-thrust ;
 Weight ;
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 Figure 9
ii. Describe how each of the forces mentioned in (i) above changes when water is added
until the container is completely filled (3 marks)
 Tension increases ;
 Up-thrust increases ;
 weight remains constant ;

17.
a) Figure 10 shows a graph of pressure against volume for a fixed mass of a gas at constant
temperature.
p
Pressure, p

Volume, v 1
v
Figure 10
1
In the space provided, sketch a graph of pressure, p against (1 mark)
v

b) Explain the pressure law using the kinetic theory of matter (3 marks)

When a gas is heated, its molecules gain kinetic energy and move about faster; since
volume is constant, the molecules will bombard the wall of the container with greater
momenta. The total rate of change of momentum (force) will therefore increase; the
resulting force per unit area (pressure) will therefore increase;

c) 20cm3 of a gas exerts a pressure of 760mmHg at 250C. Determine the temperature of the gas
when the pressure increases to 900mmHg and the volume decreases to 15 cm3. (3 marks)

p 1 v 1 P2 v 2
= ; formula
T1 T2

760× 20 900 ×15

= ; ≡ T =¿264.7k; Correct substitution and answer with units
298 T

18.
a) Define the term velocity ratio of a machine (1 mark)
The ratio of effort distance to load distance;

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b) The figure 11, below shows part of the hydraulic lift system. State any property of the liquid
under which the hydraulic system works (1 mark)

 Incompressible
 High boiling point and low freezing point
 Non-corrosive
Award one mark for any correct response

Figure 11
c) The hydraulic lift machine above has velocity ratio 45 and it overcomes a load of 4500 N when
an effort of 135 N is applied. Determine:
i. The mechanical advantage of the machine (2 marks)
LOAD 4500
M . A= = ;=33.33 ; correct substitution and correct answer
EFFORT 135

ii. Efficiency of the machine (3 marks)

M.A
∩= × 100; formula
V .R
33.33
≡∩= × 100 ; substitution
45
→ ∩=74.07 % ; correct evaluation in %
iii. The percentage of work that goes to waste (1 mark)
100−74.07=25.93 % ;

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