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KCSE PHYSICS 2015

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PAPER 1

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SECTION A: (25 marks)

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Answer ALL the questions in this section in the spaces provided.

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1. Figure 1 shows part of the main scale of a vernier callipers.

34 cm

Insert the vernier scale to the main scale, to show a reading of 3.14 cm. (1 mark)

2. Figure 2 (a) shows the initial reading of a burette used to measure the volume of oil. After 50
drops of the oil were run out, the final reading was as shown in . Figure 2 (b)

Determine the volume of one drop of oil. (2 marks)

3. A spring extends by 6 cm when supporting a mass of 0.06 kg on earth. When the spring is used
to support the same mass on the moon, it extends by 1 cm. Determine the moon's gravitational
strength. (Take gravitational field strength on earth as 10 Nkg-1) (3 marks)

4. State two factors that determine the pressure at a point in a liquid. (2 marks)

5. A student wearing sharp pointed heeled shoes is likely to damage a soft wooden floor. Explain.
(2 marks)
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6. Figure 3 shows the arrangement of molecules in the three states of matter.

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(a) Name the process represented by the arrow. (1 mark)
(b) State the reason for the arrangement of molecules in state 3. (1 mark)

7. Two containers A and B of equal dimensions but different metals are fitted with identical glass
casings. The two containers initially at the same temperature are simultaneously filled with
boiling water. It is observed that the glass casing on A breaks earlier than the one on B. Explain
this observation. (2 marks)

8. Figure 4 shows a uniform metal rod balanced at it's centre by different forces.

Determine the value of T. (3 marks)

9. Figure 5 shows air flowing through a pipe of different cross-sectional areas. Two pipes A and B
are dipped into water.

Explain the cause of the difference in the levels of water in the pipes A and B. (2 marks)

10. A balloon is filled with hydrogen gas and then released into the air. It is observed that as it
rises higher into the air it expands. Explain why it expands. (2 marks)
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11. A person carrying a heavy luggage using one hand leans away from the luggage. State the

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reason for this. (1 mark)

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12. Figure 6 shows a glass tube with water fitted with two identical thermometers A and B. It is

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heated as shown.

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State with a reason which one of the two thermometers shows a higher temperature. (2 marks)

13. Mechanics is one of the branches of physics. State what it deals with. (1 mark)

SECTION B: (55 marks)

Answer ALL the questions in this section in the spaces provided.

14. (a) Figure 7 (drawn to scale) shows a section of tape after passing through a ticker timer
operated at a frequency of 50 Hz. The tape is attached to a trolley moving in the direction
shown.

(i) Determine the velocity between:

(I) P and Q; (4 marks)
(II) X and Y. (2 marks)

(ii) Determine the acceleration of the trolley. (3 marks)

(b) Two bodies of masses 5 kg and 8 kg moving in the same direction with velocities 20 ms-1
and 15 ms-1 respectively collide inelastically. Determine the velocity of the bodies after the
collision. (4 marks)

15. (a) Figure 8 shows a 200 g mass placed on a frictionless surface and attached to a spring.
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The spring is compressed and released. Given that the elastic potential energy of the
compressed spring is 2.7 X 10-2 J, determine the maximum speed with which the block moves

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after it is released. (4 marks)

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(b) In a wheel and axle system, state the advantage of having a large wheel diameter

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compared to the axle diameter for a frictionless system. (1 mark)

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(c) A body is released from a height h. Sketch a graph of potential energy against
kinetic energy as the body falls to the ground. (2 marks)

(d) Figure 9 shows a hydraulic lift system. The radius of the small piston is 3 cm while that
of the larger piston is 9 cm. A force of 90 N is applied to the smaller piston.

(i) maximum load that can be lifted. (3 marks)

(ii) efficiency of the system. (3 marks)

16. (a) Figure 10 shows an incomplete set up that can be used in an experiment to
determine the specific heat capacity of a solid of mass m by electrical method.

(i) Complete the diagram by inserting the missing components for the experiment to
work. (2 marks)
(ii) Other than temperature, state three measurements that should be taken.
(3 marks)
(iii) The final temperature was recorded as Ɵ. Write an expression that can be used to
determine the specific heat capacity of the solid. (2 marks)

(b) State three ways of increasing the sensitivity of a liquid-in-glass thermometer.

(3 marks)
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17. (a) Figure 11 shows a graph of pressure (p) against volume (v) for a fixed mass of a gas at

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In the space provided, sketch the corresponding graph of p against 1/v. (1 mark)

(b) Explain the pressure law using the kinetic theory of gases. (3 marks)

(c) 20 cm3 of a gas exerts a pressure of 760 mmHg at 25°C. Determine the temperature of
the gas when the pressure increases to 900 mmHg and the volume reduces to 15 cm3.
(4 marks)
(d) Figure 12 shows the path of a light ball projected horizontally.

The ball is then made to spin in an anticlockwise direction as it moves:

(i) on the same axis, sketch the new path of the ball. (1 mark)
(ii) explain how the ball attains the new path. (2 marks)

18. (a) Figure 13 shows a pendulum bob suspended by a thread moving in a horizontal circle.

(i) Name two forces acting on the pendulum bob as it moves. (2 marks)
(ii) State what happens to each of the forces when the angular velocity of the
pendulum bob is increased. (2 marks)

(iii) State two applications of uniform circular motion in daily life. (2 marks)
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(b) Figure 14 shows a block floating in water.

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When the water is heated; it is observed that the block sinks further. Explain this observation.

(2 marks)
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PHYSICS PAPER 2

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SECTION A: (25 marks)

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Answer all the questions in this section in the spaces provided.

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1. Figure 1 shows three mirrors arranged at right angles to each other. A ray of light is incident on
one of the mirrors.

Complete the diagram to show the path of the ray after reflection on each of the mirrors.
(3 marks)

2. It is observed that when a charged body is brought near the cap of a positively charged
electroscope, the divergence of the leaf increases. State the type of charge on the body.
(1 mark)

3. State the reason for topping up a lead - acid accumulator with distilled water. (1 mark)

4 Figure 2 shows a soft iron bar AB placed in a coil near a freely suspended magnet.

Explain the observation made when the switch is closed. (2 marks)

5. State the reason why a convex mirror is preferred over a plane mirror for use as a driving
mirror. (1 mark)

6 State two ways in which the strength of an electromagnet can be increased. (2 marks)

7 State two differences between electromagnetic waves and mechanical waves.(2 marks)
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8. Figure 3 shows straight waves incident on a diverging lens placed in a ripple tank to reduce its

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depth.

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Complete the diagram to show the waves in both the shallow region and beyond the lens.
(2 marks)

9. A ship in an ocean sends out an ultra sound whose echo is received after 3 seconds. If the
wavelength of the ultra sound in water is 7.5 cm, and the frequency of the transmitter is
20 kHz, determine the depth of the ocean. (3 marks)

10. A nail at the bottom of a beaker containing glycerine appears to be 6.8 cm below the surface
of glycerine. Determine the height of the column of glycerine in the beaker. (take the refractive
index of glycerine as 1.47) (3 marks)

11. State one application of thermionic emission. (1 mark)

12. Figure 4 shows a cathode ray entering into a region between two charged plates.

Complete the diagram to show the path of the ray in the field.(1 mark)

13. When a transformer is connected to an ac source, the output voltage is found to be 24 V. If

the power input is 200 W, determine the output current. (Assume the transformer is 100%
efficient). (3 marks)
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SECTION B: (55 marks)

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Answer all the questions in this section in the spaces provided.

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14. (a) State two factors that affect photoelectric emission. (2 marks)

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(b)Light of wavelength 4.3 x 10-7m is incident on two different metal surfaces, nickel and

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potassium. (Take speed of light as 3.0 x 108 ms-1 and planks constant h as 6.63 x 10-34Js).

(i) Determine the energy of the incident radiation. (3 marks)

(ii) If the work function of nickel is 8.0 x 10-19J and that of potassium is 3.68 x 10-19J, state
with a reason from which of the two metals the given light will eject electrons.
(2 marks)
(iii) Determine the velocity of the emitted electrons from the metal surface in b(ii).
(Take the mass of an electron as 9.1 x 10-31 kg). (3 marks)

15 (a) State two factors that determine the resistance of a metallic conductor. (2 marks)
(b) Explain how a fuse safeguards electrical appliances against excessive currents.
(2 marks)
(c) A hair dryer is rated 2.5 kW, 240 V.
(i) Determine whether a 10 A fuse may be suitable for the hair dryer.(3 marks)
(ii) Determine the cost of using the hair dryer for 3 hours if the cost of electricity is
Ksh 0,80 per kilowatt hour. (2 marks)

16. (a) It is observed that alpha (a) particles have a lower penetrating power than beta(β)
particles. Explain this observation. (2 marks)
(b) A radioactive substance has a half life of 12 years. Determine the time it would
take to decay to 12.5% of its original value. (2 marks)
(c) A Geiger Muller (GM) tube is used for detecting radiations from a radioactive
source. State the function of:
(i) the mica window; (1 mark)
(ii) bromine gas in the tube. (1 mark)

(d) (i)In a diffusion chamber, explain why some of the tracks formed are observed to be;
(I) Short, (2 marks)
(II) Straight. (2 marks)
(ii) State two advantages of using a GM tube instead of a diffusion cloud
chamber to detect radiations from radioactive substances. (2 marks)

17. (a) State three factors that affect the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor. (3 marks)
(b) Figure 5 shows the circuit used to charge a capacitor C.
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(i) State what would be observed on the following when the switch is closed:

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(I) the milliammeter; (1 mark)

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(II) the voltmeter; (1 mark)

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(ii) Explain how the capacitor gets charged. (3 marks)

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(iii) State the purpose of the resistor R. (1 mark)

(iv) On the axes provided, sketch the graph of voltage (V) against time (t). (2 marks)

18 (a) Three resistors of resistance 2 ῼ, 3 ῼ. and 4 ῼ. are to be connected to a cell such that they
have the least effective resistance.
(i) Draw a circuit diagram to show how they can be connected to achieve this.(2 marks)
(ii) Determine the least effective resistance of the three resistors. (3 marks)

(b) A real object of height 1 cm placed 50 mm from a converging lens forms a virtual image
100 mm from the lens.
(i) Determine the;
(I) focal length of the lens; (3 marks)
(II) magnification. (2 marks)

(ii) On the grid provided draw to scale the ray diagram for the set up, to show how the
image is formed. (3 marks)