Name: ……………………………………………………Adm. No: ………………Class:……………..

232/1
PHYSICS
Paper 1
(THEORY)
.
Time: 2 Hours

FORM 3
TERM 2
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E)

PHYSICS
Paper 1
Time: 2 Hours

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:-
● Write your name, index number and class in the spaces provided above.
● This paper consists of two sections; A and B
● Answer all the questions in section A and B in the spaces provided
● All working must be clearly shown.
● Mathematical tables and electronic calculators may be used
● This paper consists of 11 printed pages. Candidates should check to ascertain that all pages are
printed as indicated and that no questions are missing.
● Candidates should answer the questions in English.
● Take g = 10N/kg

For Examiner’s Use Only:

Section Question Maximum Candidate’s

Score Score

A 1 – 13 25

14 11

15 9

B 16 11

17 11

18 13

1 | Page
 Total Score 80

SECTION A: 25mks (Answer all the questions)

1. State one assumption made when determining the size of a molecule in an oil drop experiment
(1 Mark)
- The drop is perfectly spherical any one = ✔1 Mark
- The layers/ patch is one molecule thick.
2. Air is blown into the horizontal tube as shown below.

(a) Indicate the levels of water in tubes A and B when air passes through the horizontal tube at a high
velocity . (1 Mark)

(b) Explain your observation in (a) above (1 Mark)

- In tube A, velocity of air above it is higher ✔than velocity of air
above tube B
- Therefore in table A, pressure is lower than tube B
3. Sketch a velocity – time graph of a body moving with uniform velocity. (1 Mark)

2 | Page
4. The figure below shows an empty wire glass.

a. How is its stability affected when filled with wine? (1 Mark)

- Stability is reduced ✔
b. Explain the observation in (a) above (1 Mark)
1
- The position of the centre of gravity is raised ✔ when more
weight is added on the upper side, reducing stability
5. State one factor that affects heat transfer in solids. (1 Mark)
- Length of the conductor
- Cross sectional area
any one=✔1
- Temperature difference of the source
- Nature of the material making the conductor.
6. The figure below shows a uniform bar of length 1 metre. Calculate the weight of the beam. (3 Marks)

3 | Page
 - Clockwise moments = Anti clockwise moments
0.4 ×20
0.1 ×W =0.4 m ×20 N ✔ W= ✔
0.1
W =80 N ✔

7. The figure below shows a u-tube containing the liquids X and Y. Given that the density of liquid X is
1.8g/cm3, calculate the density of liquid Y in g/cm3. (3 Marks)

ρ x h x g=ρ x h x g ✔

ρ x hx =ρ x hx
3
1.8 g/c m ×18 cm=ρ y × 8 cm ✔

4 | Page
 1.8 ×18
ρ y=
8
3
ρ y =4.05 g/c m ✔

8. Name one factor that affects surface tension. (1 Mark)

- Temperature
- Impurities
Any= ✔1
9. When a liquid is heated in a glass flask, its level first falls and then starts rising. Explain this observation.
(2 Marks)
- The level first dropped due to expansion of glass ✔1
- The level then started rising when the heat reaches the water. ✔1
10. The figure below shows two identical springs with negligible weight. The extension produced on the
system is 10cm

Determine the spring constant of each spring. (3 Marks)

combined spring constant=k 1 +k 2
for identical spring ,k e =2 k

f =2 ke ✔

30 N=2 k × 0.1m ✔

30 N
2 k=
0.1 m
2 k=300 N /m

k =150 N /m ✔

11. A body A of mass 2kg moving with a velocity of 5m/s collides with a body B of mass 30kg travelling at
2m/s in the opposite direction. If the collision is perfectly inelastic, find their common velocity after
collision. (3 Marks)

m1 u 1+ m2 u2=(m ¿ ¿ 1+ m2 )¿V✔

5 | Page
(2 kg × 5 m/ s)+(30 kg ×−2 m/s)=(30 kg+ 2 kg)V ✔

10 kgm/s−60 kgm/s=32 kgV

V =−1.56 m/s

moves∈t h e direction of 30 kg body

12. The figure below shows a velocity time graph for a trolley

From the graph, calculate the distance covered by the trolley in the first 10 seconds (2 Marks)
Distance = Area under the graph from 0-10seconds

Area= ( 6+10
2 )
× 25✔

8 ×25=200 m

Distance = 200m ✔

13. State the reason why gases are easier to compress than solids. (1 Mark)
● Gas particles have larger intermolecular distances than solids ✔

SECTION B: 55mks
14. a. State Hook’s law (1 Mark)

For a helical spring or any other elastic material, the extension is

directly proportional to the stretching force, provided that elastic limit is
not exceeded. ✔

b. The table below shows the extension produced in a spring by various forces.

Extension (cm) 0 0.3 0.7 1.10 1.5 1.9 2.4

Force (N) 0 1.0 1.9 3.0 4.1 5.0 8.0

i. Plot a graph of force against extension. (5 Marks)

6 | Page
 ii. From the graph, determine the spring constant. (3 Marks)

Gradient = Spring constant

5−2
K= ✔
1.85−0.75

3
K= ✔
1.1

K=2.73 N /cm ✔

iii. What force would cause an extension of 1.2cm on the spring? (2 Marks)

Force = Ke

F = 2.73N/cm X 1.2cm✔
7 | Page
F = 3.276 N✔

15. The figure below shows a block tackle system

(a) State the velocity ratio of the system (1 Mark)

3 ✔

(b) Mark the direction of tension in the springs (1 Mark)

All vertical tensions✔1

(c) If an effort of 2N is applied, calculate the mechanical advantage of the system. (3 Marks)

Load
MA= ✔
Effort

4.5 N
MA= ✔
2N

MA=2.25 ✔

(d) Calculate the efficiency of the system. (3 Marks)

MA
Efficiency= ×100 % ✔
VR

2.25
×100 % ✔
3

Eff =75 % ✔

(e) Explain why the efficiency of the system is less than 100%. (1 Mark)
- Weight of the pulley blocks/ dead weight ✔1
- Friction
16. A body of mass 2kg is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of 14m/s. Determine;
8 | Page
 (a) The maximum height reached by the body (3 Marks)
2 2
V =U −2 g h ✔

V =0
2
U 2gh
2
14 =2× 10 ×h✔

196
h=
20

h=9.8 m ✔

(b) Its velocity after 0.5 seconds. (3 Marks)

V =u−¿✔

V =14 m/s−(10× 0.55)✔

V =14−5

V =9 m/s ✔

(c) The time taken to reach maximum height. (3 Marks)

V =u−¿✔

O=14 m/s−10 t

10 t=14 ✔

14
T= =1.4 seconds✔
10

(d) Calculate the net force acting on the ball as it moves upwards if it experiences an air resistance of
8N. (2 Marks)

Net force =mg− Air resistance

¿(2 kg ×10 N /kg)−8 N ✔

¿ 20 N−8 N

¿ 12 N ✔

17. a. State the Newton’s 2nd law of motion (1 Mark)

The rate of change of momentum of a body is directly proportional to

the force applied and take place in the direction of the force ✔

b. A lady of mass 90kg is standing on the floor of a lift. Determine the reading on the weighing
machine when
i. Lift is at rest (2 Marks)

9 | Page
 At rest Reaction=mg

10 N
¿ 90 Kg × ✔
kg

¿ 900 N ✔

ii. Lift is moving upwards with an acceleration of 3m/s2 (2 Marks)

R=mg+ma

¿ ( 90 ×10 )+(90 × 3) ✔

¿ 900 N +270 N

¿ 1170 N ✔

c. Two masses of 4kg and 2kg are connected by a light string passing over a frictionless pulley as
shown below.

Calculate the acceleration of the masses when left to move freely. (3 Marks)

Net force =40 N−20 N =20 N ✔

Force=Mass × acceleration

20 N=6 kg × a ✔

20 N 2
a= =3.33 m/ s ✔
6 kg

d. A block of mass 35kg is pushed along a horizontal surface whose frictional force is 20N. If the force
moving the block is 100N, calculate the co-efficient of friction between the block and the surface.
(3 Marks)

10 | Page
 F
μ= ✔
R
20 N
μ= ✔
350 N

μ=0.06 ✔

18. The figure below shows a hydraulic brake system.

A force of 20 N is applied on the foot pedal connected to a master piston of area 0.05m2. This causes a
stopping force of 500N on one wheel. Calculate.
a. Pressure in the master cylinder (3 Marks)

force
Pressure= ✔
area

20 N
¿ 2✔
0.05 m
2
Pressure=400 N /m ✔

b. Area of the slave piston. (3 Marks)

Pressure istransmitted equally

400 N 5000 N
= ✔
m
2
Area

5000
Area= ✔
400
2
Area=12.5 m ✔

c. Velocity ratio of the system. (3 Marks)

Area of t h e load piston
V . R= ✔
Area of effort piston

12.5
V =R= ✔
0.05

11 | Page
¿ 250 ✔

d. Give two reasons why oil is used in the hydraulic brake system. (2 Marks)
- Incompressible ✔1
- Does not corrode the system ✔1
e. State two factors affecting pressure in liquids. (2 Marks)
- Density
- Depth of the liquid Each = ✔1

12 | Page