SSS ONE

PAPER 3
PRACTICALS
(50 Marks)
Answer any two questions.
3
TIME ALLOWED : 2 4 hours
QUESTION ONE

a. A wooden block of mass mo = 100g is placed on a table connected to a

spring balance as illustrated in the diagram above. The spring when pull
horizontally records the value of the force F just sufficient to move the
block. Masses m = 200, 400, 600 and 800 g were placed on the block. In
each case, the corresponding value force F is read, recorded and shown in
table 1.
Mass 0 50 100 150 200
m(g)
Force 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
F(N)

M
i. Evaluate M = mo +2 m and R = 100 in each case.
ii. Tabulate your readings
iii. Plot a graph of F on the vertical axis and R on the horizontal axis.
iv. Determine the slope, s and intercept, c, of the graph.
v. What does the slope represents
vi. State two precausions taken to ensure accurate results.
b)(i) Define coefficient of static friction.
(ii) A body of mass 25kg, moving at 3ms−1 on a rough horizontal floor is
at rest after sliding through a distance of 2.50m on the floor. Calculate the
co-efficient of sliding friction. (Take g = 10 ms−2)

QUESTION TWO
a. The table below shows the motion of an object travelling along a
straight path.
Velocity 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 30 30 30 20 10 0
v(m/s)
Time 0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48
t(s)

i. Plot a graph of v on the vertical axis and t on the horizontal axis

ii. Evaluate the acceleration a, of the graph
iii.Evaluate the retardation r, of the graph.
iv.Evaluate the value of x such that x = a - r
v. Evaluate the distance s travelled for the whole journey
vi.Evaluate the average speed of the journey
b) (i) when a body said to move with uniform velocity.
(ii) A car travels at an average speed of 100 km/h. What distance does it
cover in 5 minutes,

QUESTION THREE

An illuminated lamp is placed equal distances between the two bulbs of

the thermometers A and B as illustrated in the diagram above. The bulb
of the thermometer A is covered with a shining silvery foil while that of
the thermometer B is covered with a dull black carbon paper. Each
thermometer reading is noted and recorded at equal time interval of 60
seconds for 5 minutes.
Fig. 2(a) shows the position temperature θ Ai of the thermometer A.
Fig. 2(b) shows the position temperature θ Bi of the thermometer B.
Fig. 2(c) shows the corresponding time t i where i = 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
i. Measure and record the real temperatures θ A .
ii. Measure and record the real temperatures θ B.
iii. Read and record the corresponding time t i.
iv. Tabulate your readings.
v. Plot a graph with θ B on the vertival axis and t on the horizontal axis.
vi. Draw the best fit curve.
vii. Give a reason for the observed difference in the thermometer
readings.
viii. State two precautions that are necessary to ensure accurate results
when performing this experiment.
(b)(i) Explain why the outer surface of a tea pot is brightly polished.
ii) State two methods of heat transfer

MARKS BREAKDOWN

Paper 1 = 25%
Paper 2 = 40%

Paper 3 = 35%
 SSS TWO
PAPER 3
PRACTICALS
(50 Marks)
Answer any two questions.
3
TIME ALLOWED : 2 4 hours
QUESTION ONE

You are provided with a stopwatch, a meter rule, a split cork, retort stand
and clamp, a pendulum bob, a piece of thread, and other necessary
apparatus.

i. Place the retort stand on a laboratory stool. Clamp the split cork.

ii. Suspend the pendulum bob from the split cork such that the point of
support P of the bob is at height H = 100cm above the floor Q. The bob
should not touch the floor and H should be kept constant throughout the
experiment.

iii. Adjust the length of the thread such that the center A of the bob is at a
height y= AQ= 20cm from the floor.

iv. Displace the bob such that it oscillates in a horizontal plane.

v. Take the time t for 20 complete oscillations.

vi. Determine the period T of oscillation and evaluate T 2.

vii. Repeat the procedure for four other values of y = 30cm, 40cm, 50cm,
and 60cm. In each case, determine T and T 2.
viii. Tabulate the results.

ix. Plot a graph of T 2 on the vertical axis and y on the horizontal axis,
starting both axes from the origin (0,0).

x. Determine the slope, s, of the graph and the intercept c on the vertical
axis.

xi. If in this experiment SR = c, calculate R.

x. State two precautions taken to ensure accurate results.

(b) i. The bob of a simple pendulum is displaced a small distance from

the equilibrium position and then released to perform simple harmonic
motion Identify where its:
(α ) kinetic energy is maximum
(β) acceleration is maximum

ii. An object of weight 120N vibrates with a period of 4.0s when hung
from a spring. Calculate the force per unit length of the spring. [g = 10
ms−2, π = 3.142]

QUESTION TWO

You are provided with a uniform metre rule, a knife edge, masses and
other necessary apparatus.

i. Suspend the metre rule horizontally on the knife edge. Read and record
the point of balance G of the metre rule. Keep the knife edge at this point
throughout the experiment.

ii. Using the thread provided, suspend the object labelled W at the 15 cm
mark of the metre rule.
iii. Suspend a mass M = 20 g on the other side of G. Adjust the position
of the mass until the metre rule balances horizontally again.

iv. Read and record the position Y of the mass M on the metre rule.

v. Determine and recod the distance L between the mass and G. Also,
determine and record the distance D between W and G.

vi. Repeat the procedure for four other values of M = 30g, 40g, 50g and
60g. In each case, ensure that W is kept constant at the 15cm mark and
the knife edge at G.

vii. Evaluate L−1 in each case. Tabulate your readings.

viii. Plot a graph of M on the vertical axis against L−1 on the horizontal
axis.

ix. Determine the slope, s, of the graph.

4
x. Evaluate D

xi. State two precautions taken to ensure accurate results.

(b)(i) State the principle of moments.

(ii) Define centre of gravity

QUESTION THREE

i. Connect the circuit as shown in the diagram above.

 ii. With the key K closed, read and record the voltmeter reading V 0
iii. Set the resistance R in the resistance box equal to 1Ω
iv.  Close the key, read and record the potential difference V on the
voltmeter.
v. Evaluate R−1 and V −1 .
vi. Repeat the procedure for five other values or R = 2Ω, 3Ω, 4Ω, 5Ω
and 6Ω.
vii. Tabulate your readings.
viii. Plot a graph with V −1 on the vertical axis and  R−1 on the horizontal
axis.
ix. Determine the slope, s, of the graph and the intercept, c, on the
vertical axis.
x. Evaluate c−1
xi. State two precautions taken to obtain accurate results.

(b) (i) Mention and state the law on which the experiment in 3(a) is
based.

(ii) A piece of resistance wire of diameter 0.2mm and resistance 7 Ω has

22
resistivity of 8.8 ×10−7Ωm. Calculate the length of wire. [ π= 7 ]

MARKS BREAKDOWN

Paper 1 = 25%

Paper 2 = 40%

Paper 3 = 35%
 SSS THREE

PAPER 3
PRACTICALS
(50 Marks)
Answer any two questions.
3
TIME ALLOWED : 2 4 hours

QUESTION ONE

You are provided with a pendulum bob, a metre rule, a stop watch, a
retort stand with clamp and other necessary appartus.

(i) Suspend the pendulum bob from the clamp as illustrated in the
diagram.
(ii) Adjust the pendulum bob slightly such that AC = L = 90 cm.

(iii) Displace the pendulum bob slightly such that it oscillates in a vertical
plane.

(iv) Measure and record the time t for 20 complete oscillations.

(v) Evaluate T and √ L.

(vi) Repeat the procedure for four other values of L = 80 cm, 70 cm, 60
cm and 50 cm.

(vii) Plot a graph with T on the vertical axis and √ L on the horizontal axis.

(viii) Determine the slope, s, of the graph.

2
4π
(ix) Evaluate g = 2
s

(x) State two precautions taken to ensure accurate results.

(b) (i) Determine from your graph, the period of the pendulum for L =
75cm

(ii) A simple pendulum bob is set into simple harmonic motion.

Sketch a diagram of the set up and indicate on it: the position of:

(a) maximum velocity;

(b) maximum acceleration of the bob.

QUESTION TWO
You are provided with a set of masses M, a meter rule, a knife edge and
other necessary apparatus.

(i) Balance the meter rule on the knife edge and determine its centre of
gravity G.

(ii) Suspend the mass M = 50g at the point A = 5cm mark of the metre
rule and balance the whole arrangement on the knife edge.

(iii) Read and record the balance point K and determine the distance X
between A and K.
1
(iv) Evaluate X .

(v) Repeat the procedure with masses M = 70g, 90g, 110g, 130g and
1
150g. In each case, read K and determine X and X .

(vi) Tabulate your results.

1
(vii) Plot a graph with M on the vertical axis and X on the horizontal axis
starting both axes from the origin (0,0).

(viii) Determine the slope, s, of the graph.

1
(ix) From your graph, read and record the value of M when X = 0.

(x) State two precautions taken to obtain accurate results.

(b)(i) Define moment of a force about a point.

(ii) Two parallel and opposite forces of 20 N each act on a body. If the
perpendicular distance between the forces is 0.5 m, calculate the
magnitude of the moment of the couple.

QUESTION THREE

You are provided with a battery of e.m.f. E, a key K, a voltmeter, a

standard resistor  R0  = 2 Ω, a resistance box R, and some connecting
wires.

i. Measure and record the e.m.f. E of the battery.

i. Set up a circuit as shown in the diagram above with the key open.

iii. Set the resistance on the resistance box to R = 2 Ω.

iv. Close the key, read and record the potential difference V on the
voltmeter.

v. Evaluate V −1

vi. Repeat the procedures for five other values of R = 5 Ω, 10 Ω,12 Ω,15
Ω and 20 Ω. In each case, record V and evaluate V −1 

vii. Tabulate the results.

viii. Plot a graph with R on the vertical axis and V −1 on the horizontal
axis, starting both axes from the origin (0,0).
ix. Determine the slope, s, of the graph and the intercept c on the vertical
axis.

x. Calculate α  and β from the equations s =  R0 α  and c= −¿β).

xi. State two precautions taken to obtain accurate results. 

(b)i. Define the potential difference between two points in an electric

circuit.

ii. Explain why the emf of a cell is greater than the p.d. across the call
when it is supplying Current through an external resistance.

MARKS BREAKDOWN

Paper 1 = 25%

Paper 2 = 40%

Paper 3 = 35%