MURANG'A HIGH SCHOOL

PHYSICS FORM 3
NOV/DEC. HOLIDAY ASSIGNMENT – 2024

SET 1

1. What property of light is suggested by the formation of shadows? (1 mark)

2. You are provided with the following; A cell and holder, a switch, a rheostat, an
Ammeter, a voltmeter and connecting wires. Draw a diagram for a circuit that
could be used to investigate the variation of the potential difference across the cell
with the current drawn from the cell. (2 marks)

3. An un-magnetized steel rod is clamped facing North-South direction and then

hammered repeatedly for some time. When tested, it is found to be magnetized.
Explain this observation. (2 marks)

4. A lady holds a large concave mirror of focal length 1m, 80 cm from her face, state
two characteristics of her image in the mirror. (2 marks)

5. A girl brought a positively charged rod close to the cap of a gold leaf electroscope;
she observed that the gold leaf diverged further. Explain this observation.
(2 marks)

6. In an experiment using a ripple tank the frequency, f, of the electric pulse generator
was reduced to one third of its value. How does the new wavelength compare with
the initial wavelength?

7. Figure 1 shows a ray of light incident on the face of a water prism

Figure 1

Sketch the path of the ray as it passes through the prism. Critical angle for
water is 49o. (1 mark)

8. A heating coil is rated 100W, 240V. At what rate would it dissipate energy if it is
connected to a 220V supply? (3 marks)

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9. Figure 2 shows an object O placed in front of a concave lens with principal foci F
and F. Construct a ray diagram to locate the position of the image. (1 mark)

10. State the difference between X-rays and Gamma rays in the way in which they are
produced. (1 mark)

11. A 60 W bulb is used continuously for 36 hours. Determine the energy consumed.
Give your answer in kilowatt hour (Kwh). (2 marks)

12. A narrow beam of electrons in a cathode ray oscilloscope (CRO) strike the screen
producing a spot. State what is observed on the screen if a low frequency a.c.
source is connected across the y- input of the CRO. (1 mark)

13. In an experiment on photo-electricity using metal X, the graph shown in figure 3

was obtained. Use the graph to answer question 13.

Determine the minimum frequency Fo below which no photoelectric emission

occurs. (1 mark)

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14. You are provided with 12V a.c. source, four diodes and resistor. Draw a circuit
diagram for a full wave rectifier and show the points at which the output is taken.
(2 marks)
15. (a) Given a bar magnet, an iron bar and a string.

(i) Describe a simple experiment to distinguish between the magnet and the iron
bar.
(ii) State with reasons the observation that would be made in the experiment.
(2 marks)
(b) In an experiment to magnetize two substances P and Q using electric current,
two curves (graphs) were obtained as shown in figure 4.

Using the information in fig. 4 explain the differences between substances P and Q
with references to the domain theory. (6 marks)

(c) In the set up in figure 5, the suspended metre rule is in equilibrium balanced by
the magnet and the weight shown. The iron core is fixed to the bench.

(i) State the effect on metre rule when the switch S is closed. (1 mark)

(ii) What would be the effect of reversing the battery terminals? (1 mark)

(iii) Suggest how the set up in figure 5 can be adapted to measure the current
flowing in the current circuit. (3 marks)

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16. (a) (i) What is the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves?
(1 mark)
(ii) State two distinctions between the way sound waves and electromagnetic
waves are transmitted. (2 marks)

(b) A mine worker stands between two vertical cliffs 400 m from the nearest cliff.
The cliffs are X distance apart. Every time he strikes the rock once, he hears two
echoes, the first one after 2.55, while the second follows 2 s later. From this
information; calculation;

(i) The speed of the sound in air (2 marks)

(ii) The value of X (3 marks)

(c) In an experiment to observe interference of light waves a double slit is placed

close to the source. See figure 6

(i) State the function of the double slit (1 mark)

(ii) Describe what is observed on the screen. (2 marks)

(iii) State what is observed on the screen when

(i) The slit separation SIS2 is reduced. (1 mark)

(ii) White light source is used in place of monochromatic source. (1 mark)

17. (a) The diagram in figure 7 below shows a narrow beam of white light onto a glass
prism.

(i) What is the name of the phenomenon represented in the diagram? (1 mark)
(ii) Name the colour at X and Y. (2 marks)
(iii) Give a reason for your answer in part (ii) above. (1 mark)
(iv) What is the purpose of the slit? (1 mark)

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 (b) Figure 8 below shows the path of ray of yellow light through a glass prism. The
speed of yellow light in the prism is 1.8 x 108 m/s

(i) Determine the refractive index of the prism material

(Speed of light in vacuum, C = 3.0 x 108 m/s) (3 marks)

(ii) Show on the same diagram, the critical angle C and hence determine its value.
(3 marks)

(iii) Given that r = 31.2o, determine the angle O. (3 marks)

18. (a) X-rays are used for detecting cracks inside meta’ beams

(i) State the type of the X-rays used.

(ii) Give a reason for your answer in (i) above.

(b) Figure 9 shows the features of an X-ray tube

(i) Name the parts labelled A and B. (2 marks)

(ii) Explain how a change in the potential across P changes the intensity of the X-
rays produced in the tube. (2 marks)

(iii) During the operation of the tube, the target becomes very hot. Explain how this
heat is caused. (2marks)
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 (iv) What property of lead makes it suitable for use as shielding materials?
(1 mark)

(c) In a certain X-ray tube, the electrons are accelerated by a Pd of 12000V.

Assuming all the energy goes to produce X-rays, determine the frequency of the
X-rays produced.
(Plank’s constant h = 6.62 x 10-34 is and charge on an electron, e = 1.6 x 10-19C).
(3 marks)

SET 2

1. The figure below shows a micrometer screw gauge that has a zero error of +0.02.
State the actual reading of the micrometer screw gauge. (1 mark)

2. In the figure below, the U-tube contains two immiscible liquids P and Q. If the
density of Q is 900 kg.m3 and that of P is 12000 Kg.m3, calculate the height of
liquid Q. (3 marks)

3. A body is acted upon by a force of 10N towards the right hand side and 6N
towards the left hand side. What is the resultant force? (2 marks)

4. The difference between the ice point and steam point on a liquid thermometer is
30cm. What temperature is recorded when the mercury thread is 12 cm.
(2 marks)

5. Water flows through a horizontal pipe of cross-sectional area of 40 cm2. If the

speed at the constriction is 4 ms-1, calculate the mass flux
(Density of water = 1000 Kg.m3) (3 marks)

6. In terms of intermolecular forces, explain the difference between liquid and

gaseous state. (2 marks)

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 7. The diagram below shows two similar cups of tea containing equal volumes of hot
tea at the same level. It was observed that the rate of cooling was the same in the
two cups. Explain.

8. The figure below shows a vessel resting on a horizontal bench.

State and explain the effect on the stability of the vessel when it is filled with
water. (2 marks)

9. What does it mean to say the density of water is 1g/cm3? (1 mark)

10. State any two possible ways of increasing velocity ratio of wheel and axle.
(2 marks)

11. (a) Under what conditions can a feather and a stone released from the same height
land on the ground at the same time? (1 mark)

(b) On the axis below, sketch displacement time graph for an accelerating body.
(1 mark)

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12. The figure below shows four equivalent springs with negligible weight, the weight
of the rod R is 20N. Given that the spring constant is 5 N/m. Calculate the load L
which causes an extension of 28 m to the system. (3 marks)

13. (i) A stone thrown vertically upwards from the base of a mountain with an initial
velocity of 100 m/s. The stone just stopped as the apex and came back. Another
boy projected a stone horizontally from the top of the mountain. Calculate:-

(a) Height of the mountain. (2 marks)

(b) Time taken for the stone to follow the trajectory. (2 marks)

(c) The range if the horizontal velocity is 20 m/s. (2 marks)

(d) Calculate the impulse of force produced when a table is pulled for 3s by a
constant force of 10N towards the right and then for 2s by a constant force of 20N
towards the left. (2 marks)

(e) The figure below shows a tape from a trolley accelerating at 5 m/s2 and the
timer is vibrating at 100Hz.

14. (a) Two gear-wheels have 80 teeth and 20 teeth and they lock with each other.
They are fastened on axis of equal diameter such that equal weight of 150 N
attached to the string around the axle will just raise 450 N on the other axles.
Calculate:-

(i) The mechanical advantage. (2 marks)

(ii) The velocity ratio. (2 marks)

(iii) The efficiency of this machine. (2 marks)

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 (b) (i) A loudspeaker is a transducer. Explain. (1 mark)

(ii) The velocity ratio. (2 marks)

(iii) The efficiency of this machine. (2 marks)

(b) (i) A loudspeaker is a transducer. Explain. (1 mark)

(ii) Explain the energy change that occur when a man climbs the mountain.
(1 mark)

(c) Calculate the total power in lifting 0.2 Kg of metal cane containing 2000 cm3 of
ice onto a lorry as shown below within 4s. (SlQ = 0.9 g/cm3) (3 marks)

15. (a) What is meant by specific latent heat of vaporization? (1 mark)

(b) In an experiment to determine the specific latent heat of vaporization of water,

steam at 100oC was passed into water contained in a well lagged copper
calorimeter.
The following measurements were made:-
Mass of calorimeter = 50g
Initial mass of water = 70g
Initial temperature of water = 5o C
Final mass of water + calorimeter + condensed steam = 123g
Final temperature of mixture = 30oC
Specific heat capacity of water = 4200 JKg-1K-1
Specific heat capacity of copper = 390 JKg-1 K-1

I. Determine the:-
(i) Mass of condensed steam (2 marks)

(ii) Heat gained by water and calorimeter. (2 marks)

II. Given that L is the specific latent of heat of vaporization of steam:

(i) Write an expression for the heat given out by steam. (1 mark)

(ii) Determine the value of L. (2 marks)

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 (b) The pressure P1 of a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature, T = 300 K is
varied continuously as depicted in the graph below

From the graph:

(i) Determine the volume of the gas when the pressure read 2.5 x 105 Pa.
(2 marks)

(ii) Given that Pv = 2RT where R is a constant, use the graph to determine R.
(2 marks)

16. (a) State the law of floatation. (1 mark)

(b) A block of wood of mass 80 Kg floats in water with 0.6 of its volume in water.
Calculate the number of rods each 20 g that can be placed on the block so that its
top is level with the surface of water. (4 marks)

(c) The diagram in figure below shows a wooden block of dimensions 50 cm by

40 cm by 20 cm held in position by a string attached to the bottom of a swimming
pool. The density of the block is 600 Kgm-3.

(i) State the three forces acting on the block and write an equation linking them
when the block is stationary. (2 marks)

(ii) Calculate the tension on the string. (3 marks)

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 (d) The figure below shows a metal rod AB of length 2 m horizontally balanced
while supported by a pivot and a string.

Determine the mass of the metal rod if the tension is 15 N. (3 marks)

17. (a) The figure below shows asses A, B and C placed at different points on a
rotating table. The angular velocity W, of the table can be varied

(i) State two factors that determine whether a particular mass slides off the table
or not. (2 marks)

(ii) It is found that the masses off at angular velocities WA, WB and WC respectively.
Arrange the values of WA, WB and WC in decreasing order. (1 mark)

(b) A block of mass 200g is placed on a frictionless rotating table while fixed to the
centre of the table by a thin thread. The distance from the centre of the table to
the block is 15 cm. If the maximum tension the thread can withstand is 5.6 N,
determine the maximum angular velocity the table can attain before the thread
cuts. (4 marks)

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SET 3
TOPIC 1
LINEAR MOTION
1. Sketch a velocity – time graph showing the motion of a ball vertically upwards
with an initial velocity of u.
2. Calculate the acceleration shown by the tickers-tape that was made using a ticker
timer vibrating at 50HZ.`

3. What is the difference between speed and velocity?

4. A mass is projected horizontally from height of 5m above the ground with a
velocity of 30m/s.
Calculate:
a) The time taken to reach the ground.
b) The horizontal distance traveled before hitting the ground.
c) The vertical velocity with which the mass hits the ground.

5. The data in the table below represents the motion over a period of 7 seconds.
Time s 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
D is m 0 20 40 60 80 95 105 110

a) Plot on graph paper a graph of displacement (y-axis) against time.

b) Describe the motion of the vehicle for the first 4 seconds.
c) Determine the velocities at 4.5s and 6.5s. Hence or otherwise determine the
average acceleration of the vehicle over this time interval.

6. a) A body accelerates uniformly from initial velocity, U to the final

velocity V, in time t, the distance traveled during this time interval
is S. If the acceleration is shown by the letter a, show that;

i) V = U + at ii) s = ut + ½ at2 iii) V2 = U2 + 2 as

b) A body initially moving at 50m/s decelerates uniformly at 2m/s until it

come to rest. What distance does it cover from the time it started to
decelerate?

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7. An object dropped from a height h attains a velocity of 6m/s just before hitting
the ground, find the value of h.

8. The figure shows a speed-time graph for part of the journey of a motorcar.

Determine the distance the car travels in the first 40 seconds.

9. a) the figure below shows the displacement time graph of the motion
of a particle.

State the nature of the motion of the particle between:

i) A and B
ii) B and C
iii) C and D

b) Determine the total distance moved by the body. (3mks)

10. An airplane is flying horizontally over a camp at 250m/s and drops a pack. How
far from the camp will the pack land if the plane was flying 300m above the
ground?

11. a) An object is projected vertically upwards at a speed of

15ms-1. How long will it take to return to the same level of
projection? (2mks)

b) A bullet is fired horizontally from a cliff at a velocity 100ms-1.

It takes 10 seconds to hit the ground.

i) Sketch the graph of height against time for the motion. (2mks)
ii) Calculate the height of the cliff. (2mks)
iii) What is the horizontal distance moved from the cliff when the
bullet hits the ground. (3mks)
iv) Determine the velocity and direction with which the bullet hits
the ground. (2mks)
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 c) The pattern below shows oil leakage on a path at the rate of 10 drops per second
from a lorry.

i) Calculate the initial and final velocity. (3mks)

ii) Calculate the acceleration of the lorry. (3mks)
iii) Give one difference between limiting and dynamic forces of friction.
(1mk)
d) The figure 7 below shows two blocks of masses M1 = 1.5kg and
M2 = 2.0kg which are in contact with frictionless table surface.

A force F = 7N acts on the bodies, determine the force on mass M2.(3mks)

(f) Distinguish between the terms `uniform velocity’ and `uniform acceleration’
(2 marks)

12. The figure below shows a section of a ticker tape. The dots were made at a
frequency of 50 Hz.

Determine the acceleration of the trolley pulling the tape. (3 marks)

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13. (a) A bullet of mass 150 g moving at an initial velocity of 80 m/s strikes a
suspended block of mass 2.5 Kg.

(i) If block swings from point A to B. Determine the vertical displacement between
A and B. (2 marks)

(ii) What observations are you likely to observe on the block after collision?
(2 marks)

14. The figure below shows a car with a dummy driver before and after a collision test.

(a) The mass of the dummy driver is 90 Kg. The impact time to reduce the
dummy’s speed from 45 ms-1 to zero is 1.2 seconds: (3 marks)

(b) Calculate the average force on the dummy during impact. (3 marks)

(c) State the main energy transformation during the collision. (3 marks)

(d) Calculate how much of the dummy’s energy is transformed during the collision.
(3 marks)

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