ZERAKI ACHIEVERS EXAM

TERM 2-2021
PHYSICS(QUESTION PAPER)
FORM 2
2 HOURS
Name………………………………………………….
Adm No……………………………………………
School………………………………………………
Class……………………………………………………
Sign……………………………………………………
Date………………………………………………….
Instructions to candidates
• Write your name and class in the space provided.
• This paper consists of two sections; SECTION A and B
• Answer all the questions in the spaces provided
• ALL working MUST be clearly shown.
• Mathematical tables and electronic calculators may be used
• Take: Acceleration due to gravity: g = 10m/s2 and density of mercury = 13600kgm-3
Candidates should check the question paper to ascertain that all the pages are printed as
indicated and that no questions are missing.
For Examiner’s Use Only
Section Question Maximum Score Candidate’s Score
A 1 – 11 25
12 09
13 13
B 14 10
15 09
16 10
17 04
Total Score 80
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 SECTION A (25 MARKS)

1. The diagram below shows a micrometer screw gauge with its jaws closed.

The instrument was used to measure the diameter of a wire. Find the actual

diameter of the wire if the reading on the instrument was 3.78mm. (3 mark)

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2. What is studied in waves as a branch of Physics? (1 mark)

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3. State the kinetic theory of matter. (1 mark)

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 4. The figure 1 below shows the level of mercury and water in a beaker.

Explain the difference in the shape of the meniscus. (2 marks)

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5. The diagram below shows two bulbs P and Q painted white and black

P White Q Black

heater
X Y
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ZERAKI PHYSICS DEPT 2021

 Explain what happens when the heater is turned on for 5 minutes? (2 marks)

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6. In a certain pinhole camera, the screen is 10cm from the pinhole. When the pinhole is

placed 6m away from a tree, a sharp image of a tree 16cm high is formed on the screen.

Find the height of the tree. (3 marks)

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7. A faulty mercury thermometer reads 400C and 1200C when placed in pure ice and steam

from boiling water respectively. Determine the actual temperature when this thermometer

reads 600C. (3 marks)

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 8. A positively charged sphere is suspended by an insulating thread. A negatively charged

conductor Is suspended near it. The conductor is first attracted, after touching the sphere,

it is repelled. Explain this observation (2 marks)

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9. The figure below shows a uniform plank of length 6.0m acted upon by the forces shown.

If the plank has a weight of 300 N.

Calculate the tension T in the string (3 marks)

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ZERAKI PHYSICS DEPT 2021

 10. State three ways in which the strength of an electromagnet can be increased. (3 marks)

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11. Explain the cause of the bright specks in constant random motion as observed in Brownian

experiment using a smoke cell. (2marks)

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 SECTION B (55 MARKS)

12. (a) Figure below shows an object placed in front of a concave mirror. Complete the ray

diagram to show the position of the image. (3 marks)

b) the figure below shows an image formed when an object is placed in front of

a mirror. Name one application of this set up. (1 mark)

c) In an experiment to find the focal length of a concave mirror, a student

obtained the graph shown below.

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 d) Find the slope of the graph. (2 marks)

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𝑣
e) Use the formulae 𝑀 = 𝑓 − 1 to find focal length f of the mirror used.

(3 marks)

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13. (a) Explain why walking on a murram road in bare feet is more painful than walking on

sand. (2 marks)

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(b) A rectangular block measures 10cm x 5cm x 4cm and has a mass of 2.2kg.

(i) If the gravitational field intensity is 10N/kg, find the weight of the block. (2 marks)

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 (ii) determine the area of the smallest face of the block. (2 marks)

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(iii) Calculate the maximum pressure will the block exert on a surface. (3 marks)

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(iv) A person’s lung pressure as recorded by a mercury manometer is 90 mm Hg.

Express this pressure in SI units. (3 marks)

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c) State Pascal’s principle of transmission. (1 mark)

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 14. When a drop of olive oil of radius 1.26mm is placed on the surface of water, it

spreads out to form a circular film of diameter 42cm. Calculate;

(a) The volume of the olive oil drop in m3 (Take p = 22/7) (3 marks)

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(b) Using the value of (a) above, estimate the thickness of the film. (3 marks)

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(c) Explain why lycopodium powder is sprinkled on the surface of water before

the oil is dropped on it. (1 mark)

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(d) State three assumptions made when finding the thickness of the film formed.
(3 marks)
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 15. (a) State the basic law of magnetism. (1 mark)

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(b) Give a reason why repulsion is the surest way for testing a magnet. (1 mark)

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( c) The diagram below shows a nail being magnetized

i. Name the pole created at the sharpest point of the nail. (1 mark)

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ii. Explain in terms of domain theorem the phenomenon that is taking place

in the nail. (1 mark)

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 iii. Give a reason why the strength of the electromagnet above cannot be

increased beyond a particular level. (1 mark)

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(d) The figure below shows two steel bars being magnetized through stroking

method and placed close to each other.

Show on the diagram the polarities created on the ends of the two steel bars.

(4 marks)

16. (a) Define center of gravity of a body. (1 mark)

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b) In the thin triangular laminar ABC shown in figure below, determine geometrically the

centre of gravity (2 marks)

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 (c) Use simple sketches to show the three states of equilibrium. (3 marks)

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(d) State two factors affecting stability of body (2 marks)

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e) Name two applications of stability (2 marks)

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17. (a) Define the term electric current. (1 mark)

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(b) The figure below shows a simple cell being used to light a bulb
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 i. Name the defects experienced by the two electrodes.

Copper electrode ………………………………… (1 mark)

Zinc electrode ………………………………… (1 mark)

ii. State one way of minimizing the defect in the zinc electrode above
(1 mark)
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