PHYSICS EXAM

FORM TWO
END OF TERM 2 – 2023

MARKING SCHEME:
1. Explain the following: (2mks)
i) Wet floors and wet roads are dangerous to walk on.
Water reduces friction.

ii) Racing cyclist usually wears smooth tight clothes.

To reduce resistance due to air motion.

2. Convert each of the following from Kelvin to oC. (2mks)

a) 0 K
0 – 273 = -273oC

b) 167 K.
167K – 273K = -110oC.

3. A mixture consists of 40cm3 of water and 60cm3 of liquid x. If the densities of

water and liquid x are 1.0g/cm3 and 0.8g/cm3 respectively. Calculate the
density of the mixture. (3mks)
𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒅 𝒙 + 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓
𝑫𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 =
𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒅 𝒙 + 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓

(𝟎. 𝟖 × 𝟔𝟎) + (𝟏. 𝟎 × 𝟒𝟎)

=
𝟒𝟎 + 𝟔𝟎

𝟒𝟖 + 𝟒𝟎
= = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟖𝒈/𝒄𝒎𝟑
𝟏𝟎𝟎

4. The air pressure at the base of a mountain is 75.0cm of mercury while at the
top 60.0cm of mercury. Given that the average density of air is 1.25kg/cm3
and the density 13600kg/m3, calculate the height of the mountain. (4mks)
Pressure at top of mountain.
0.60 x 13600 x 10
= 81600N/m2
Pressure at base of mountain
0.75 x 13600 x 10
= 102000N/m2
Pressure diff. 102000 – 81600 = 20400N/m2
Pressure due to column of air – 20400 N/m2
ha 𝝋𝒂 g = 20400
𝟐𝟎𝟒𝟎𝟎
ha = 𝟏.𝟐𝟓×𝟏𝟎 = 𝟏𝟔𝟑𝟐𝒎

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 5. (a) Define Brownian motion and its cause. (2mks)
This is the constant random movement of particles caused by the
uneven bombardment / collisions of gas or liquid particles.

(b) Differentiate the three states of matter with relation to intermolecular space
and intermolecular force. (3mks)
In solids particles are closely paused therefore the intermolecular space
is negligible and has strong intermolecular force. Liquids have a small
intermolecular space and force is not strong as in solids. Gases have
very weak intermolecular force therefore intermolecular space is wide.

6. (a) Define temperature. (2mks)

This is the degree (extent) of hotness or coldness of a body on some
chosen scale.

(b) State the reason why in construction, concrete beams are reinforced with
steel. (2mks)
They are reinforced because they expand at the same rate and have
almost the same linear expansivity.

(c) Explain three effects of anomalous expansion of water. (3mks)

i. Weathering of rocks.
ii. Freezing of lakes and ponds.
iii. Bursting of water pipes.

7. State the advantages of mercury over alcohol as thermometric liquid.(3mks)

i) Can measure high temperatures of upto 357 oC
ii) Is a good thermal conductor.
iii) Expand regularly.
iv) Does not wet glass.
v) Is easily visible.

8. (a) State the three modes of heat transfer. (3mks)

• convection.
• radiation
• conduction

(b) State three factors affecting thermal conductivity. (3mks)

• Temperature difference between ends of conductor.
• Length of the conductor.
• Cross-section area of conductor.
• Nature of the material.

(c) Explain why the ventilators for a room are put near the roof and not near
the floor. (2mks)

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 - Air expelled by the room occupants is warm and less dense. It rises up
and through the ventilation holes. Cool fresh air flows into the room to
replace the risen warm air.

9. State the laws of reflection. (2mks)

- Angle of incidence i equals to the angle of reflection r.
- The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal at the point of
incidence all lie on the same plane.

10. Explain two dangers of electrostatics. (2mks)

i) Sparks and fires.
ii) Electric shock.
iii) Lightining.

11. State two applications of electrostatics. (2mks)

- Electrostatic precipitator
- Spray painting
- Photocopier.

12. List three methods of demagnetizing a permanent magnet. (3mks)

- Hammering
- Heating
- Electrical method.

13. What is the reading indicated by the micrometer screw gauge below.
(3mks)

0 1 2 3 4
30 Sleeve reading 4.50mm
𝟐𝟓
25 Thimble scale =𝟏𝟎𝟎
= 0.25mm
20
Reading = 4.50 + 0.25
= 4.75mm

14. A uniform metal rod of length 80cm and mass 3.2kg is supported
horizontally by the two vertical spring balances C and D. Balance C is 20cm
from one end while balance D is 30cm from the other end. Find the reading on
each balance. (3mks)

C D
50cm
20cm 30cm

30cm 20cm

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 When pivot at C:
Then C.M = (30 x 32) Ncm
A.C.M = 50D
𝟗𝟔𝟎 𝟓𝟎𝑫
C.M = A.C.M => 𝟓𝟎 = 𝟓𝟎
D = 19.2N

C + D = 32N
C = 32 – 19.2
= 12.8N
Reading on C = 12.8N
Reading on D = 19.2N

15. A convex mirror of focal length 9cm produces an image on its axis 6cm
from the mirror. Determine the position of the object. (3mks)
f = -9cm (Convex mirror)
v = -6cm
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
=𝒖+𝒗
𝒇
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
=𝟔+𝒖
−𝟗
𝟏 𝟏 −𝟏 𝟏
=𝟔+ = 𝟏𝟖
𝒖 𝟗
u = +18cm object is real and 18cm in front of the mirror.

16. Explain how an electric bell works. (3mks)

When circuit is closed, electromagnet induces magnetism in the soft
iron strip, which then attracted to the poles of the electromagnet. The
hammer attached to the armature thus strikes the gong.

17. Two very light identical springs P and Q are arranged as shown below.

P Q

4.8N

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 A weight of 4.8N is supported by the spring. Given that each spring has a
spring constant of 10N/cm; determine the total extension of springs P and Q.
(3mks)
Soln
Kp = nK1
= 2 x 10N/cm
= 20N/cm
𝑭 𝟒.𝟖𝑵
F = ke => e = =
𝒌 𝟐𝟎𝑵/𝒄𝒎
= 0.24cm.

18. Differentiate between transverse waves and longitudinal waves.(2mks)

Transverse waves, the vibration of the particles is a right angles to the
direction of wave travel while longitudinal waves, the vibration of the
particles is in a direction parallel to the direction of the wave travel.

19. The figure below shows a wave form in a string.

5
(cm)

5
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 (cm)
2
-5

Given that the speed of the wave is 10m/s. With reference to this wave motion,
determine;
a) Wavelength. (1mk)
= 40cm.

b) Amplitude. (1mk)
= 5cm

c) Frequency. (2mks)
𝑣 = 𝝀𝒇
𝒗 𝟏𝟎𝒎/𝒔
𝑓 = 𝝀 = 𝟒𝟎×𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝒎
= 25𝐻𝑧
d) Period of the oscillation. (2mks)
𝟏
𝑻=𝒇
𝟏
𝟐𝟓

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 = 0.04s
20. What is the relationship connecting frequency, wavelength and velocity
of sound in air? (1mk)
𝒗 = 𝝀𝒇
21. A person standing 49.5m from the foot of a cliff claps his hands and
hears an echo 0.3 seconds later. Calculate the velocity of the sound in air.
(3mks)

𝒗𝟐𝒅 𝟒𝟗.𝟓×𝟐
𝑇 = 𝒔 = 𝟎.𝟑 = 𝒔
𝒗 = 𝟑𝟑𝟎𝒎/𝒔

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