PHYSICS
PHYSICS
Page 1 of 4
SECTION A (70Marks)
Answer all questions from this section.
1. a) Apply the method of dimension to
(i) Derive an expression for the lift force of a helicopter due to the spinning of
blades in air. (04marks)
1
(ii) Check the correctness of the equation𝐾𝐸𝑟𝑜𝑡 = 2 𝐼𝜔2, where 𝐾𝐸𝑟𝑜𝑡 is the
rotational kinetic energy, I is the moment of inertia of a rotating body and
𝜔 is the angular speed of a rotating body (03marks)
b) The frequency of vibration of a body in a horizontal platform is given by
𝑔
𝑓 = √4𝜋2𝑥, where x is the amplitude and 𝑔is the acceleration due to gravity. Find
the value of g from the following readings: frequency f= (1.58±0.01)𝐻𝑧
Amplitude 𝑥=(10 ± 0.01)𝑐𝑚
4. a) Briefly explain why it is difficult to move a cycle with its brakes on (03marks)
b) i) Explain with the help of relation, how the angle of banking depends
on the mass of the vehicle? (02marks)
ii)A stone of mass 0.6kg tied to a rope of length 0.7m revolves along a
circular path in a vertical plane. To what height the stone will rise if
the rope breaks the moment the velocity is directed upwards? provided that,
tension on the rope is 48N (05marks)
Page 2 of 4
5. a) i) What is a thermometric property of a material? (02 marks)
ii) Why water is preferred as a cooling agent in many automobile engines?
(02 marks)
b) i) Briefly explain what you understand by the term temperature gradient
(01 mark)
ii)The ends of a straight uniform metal rod are maintained at temperature of 1000C
and 200C. Draw sketch-graph of the variation of the temperatures of the rod
along its length when the surface of the rod
• Lagged
• Coated with soot
• Polished
Give a qualitative explanation of the form of graph (05marks)
6. (a) what happens to the energy added to an ideal gas when it is heated
i) At constant volume (02 marks)
ii) At constant pressure (02 marks
(b) A particular resistance thermometer has a resistance of 30Ω at
the ice point, 41.58Ω at the steam point and 36.18Ω when immersed in a
boiling liquid. A constant volume gas thermometer gives the following readings:
1.33x105Pa, 1.81x105Pa and 1.58x105Pa at the same three temperatures.
Calculate the temperature, at which the liquid is boiling,
i) On the scale of the resistance thermometer (03 marks)
ii) On the scale of the gas thermometer (03 marks)
SECTION B (30Marks)
Answer two (2) questions from this section.
8. (a)i) Explain the fundamental principle of transformer and how they are
used to step up or step-down voltage in electrical systems? (02marks)
ii) Explain the concept of efficiency of transformer and provide an
example to illustrate how improving the efficiency of transformer
positively influences energy conservation and cost savings in electrical
systems. (03marks
b)i) Distinguish between an e.m.f of a cell and potential difference. (02marks)
ii)A battery consisting of 10 cells in series has two cells reverse connected
by mistake E.M.F of each cell is 1.5V and internal resistance 0.1Ω. The
value of external resistance is 4Ω. Find the reduction in current due to
the two cells being reverse connected (03marks)
c) i) State Kirchhoff’s laws of electric circuits (02marks)
ii) Find the current in each resistor in Figure 1: (03marks)
Page 3 of 4
Figure 1
9. a)i) Why insulators do not conduct electricity under ordinary condition?
Explain in terms of energy band theory. (03marks)
ii)Under what condition a semiconductor diode behaves as an open
switch? (01mark)
b)i) Distinguish between breakdown voltage and knee voltage as applied
to PN junction. (02marks)
ii) Figure 2 shows a LED circuit. The LED has a minimum drop of
1.5V and a maximum drop of 2.3V. If the supply voltage is 10V
and 𝑅1 = 470𝑘𝛺. What is minimum and maximum value of current
in a LED circuit? (04marks)
Figure 2
d) i) List three types of transistor configuration. (03marks)
ii)Why is collector of a transistor made wider than emitter and base?
(02marks)
10. a) i) What is meant by a logic gate? (01 mark)
ii) Explain two functions of logic gate ( 02 mark)
b)i) What are three logic gates that make up all digital circuits? (03 marks)
ii)Construct the truth table from the logic gates shown in Figure 3 (05 marks)
Figure 03
c) i) How many NAND gates are required to make a NOT gate? 01 marks
ii) How can you implement a NOT gate using transistors? (03marks)
Page 4 of 4