SECTION B (40 MARKS)

41(a) State two reasons why mercury is preferred to alcohol as a thermometric

liquid. (02 mark)
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(b) In a liquid in glass thermometer, the pressure of the gas at 0 0C is 20 cmHg.
and at 100 0C is 27 cmHg. Determine the room temperature if the pressure at this
temperature is 21.4 cmHg. (02 marks)
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42(a) Define the joule. (01 mark)
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(b) The work done to move a body through a distance of 15 m is 3000 J. Find the
force that acts on the body. (03 marks)
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43(a) What is meant by the term lateral inversion as applied to mirrors? (01 mark)
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(b) State two properties of an image formed in a concave mirror when the object
is between the focal point and the mirror. (02 marks)
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(c) Explain briefly why a convex mirror is preferred to other mirrors as a driving
mirror. (01 mark)
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44(a) State the principle of floatation. (01 mark)
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 (b) A cube of edge 1.1 m floats in a liquid of density 1200kgm-3 with a third of it
submerged, find the density of the material of the cube. (02 marks)
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45(a) State the principle of moments. (01 mark)

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(b) A uniform metre rule is balanced at the 20 cm mark when a load of 3.8 N is
hang at the zero mark as shown below. Find the mass of the metre rule. (03 marks)

0 cm 20 100

2.8 N
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46(a) Define a ductile material. (01 mark)
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(b) State two ways of reducing the notch effect from spreading in a piece of
wood. (01 mark)
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(c) A load of 12 N stretches a spring of natural length, 20 cm by 80 mm. Find the
Page 9
length of the spring when a force of 9 N replaces the 12 N force. (02 marks)
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47(a) What is meant by upper fixed point of a thermometer? (01 mark)
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(b) The figure below shows a type of thermometer.

Copper
Sensitive galvanometer
.................. Iron
..................
..................
..................
..................

Water-ice mixture

(i) Name the type of thermometer. (01 mark)

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(ii) State the physical property it uses to measure temperature. (01 mark)
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(iii) What is the use of the galvanometer? (01 mark)
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48(a) State Archimedes principle. (01 mark)
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(b) A body whose weight in air is 52 N, weighs 40 N in a water. Determine the
volume of water displaced.(density of water = 1000 kgm-3) (02 mark)
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(c) A balloon is filled with hydrogen and sealed. Explain what happens when the
balloon is released in air. (01 mark)
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49 In the figure below a pulley system used to raise a load.
(i) State the velocity ratio of the system. (01 mark)
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(ii) Find how far the load is raised if the effort
moves down by 450 cm. (01 mark)
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Effort
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(iii) Calculate the effort required to raise a load
of 1800 N if the mechanical advantage of
the system is 6. (01 mark)
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Load

(iv) Calculate the efficiency of the system. (01 mark)
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50(a) Define the term pressure. (01 mark)
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(b) The difference between the atmospheric pressure at the top and bottom of a
mountain is 10000 Nm-2. If the density of air is 1.25 kgm-3. Calculate the height of the
mountain. (02 marks)
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(c) Give two applications of Pascal’s principle. (01 mark)
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 SECTION C (20 MARKS)

Attempt ONE question from this section.

Question 51

(a) (i) Define energy and state its SI unit. (02 marks)

(ii) State the principle of conservation of energy. (01 mark)

(b) Differentiate between potential energy and kinetic energy. (02 marks)

(c) A pendulum bob of mass 0.2 kg is pulled through a vertical height of 4 cm.
Calculate.
(i) The maximum potential energy gained. (02 marks)

(ii) The speed of the bob when the bob is released. (03 marks)

(d) Explain why a swinging pendulum eventually comes to rest after sometime.
(01 mark)
(e) (i) Describe an experiment to determine the thickness of an oil molecule
(04 marks)
(ii) State two assumptions made in e(i) above. (02 marks)

(iii) In an experiment to determine the thickness of an oil molecule. The
radius of an oil drop is given to be 0.025 cm, and the diameter of the circular
patch of the same drop on water surface is 130 mm. Calculate the thickness of
the oil molecule. (03 marks)

Question 52

(a) Define efficiency of a machine. (01 mark)

(b) Draw a block and tackle system with 2 pulleys in the upper block and one
pulley in the lower block in which an effort, E is applied to raise the load, L.
(i) Indicate the force acting on the string. (02 marks)

(ii) What is the velocity ratio of the system? (01 mark)

(iii) How far will the load move if the effort moves by 2.4m. (02 mark)

(iv) What effort will just raise the load of 900 N if the mechanical advantage
is 2.4. (03 mark)

(v) Determine the efficiency of the pulley system. (03 mark)
Page 12

(vi) Draw a sketch graph to show how the mechanical advantage of the
pulley system varies with load. (01 mark)

(vii) Give two examples of where the pulley systems are used. (01 marks)

(c) (i) State the principle of moments. (01 mark)

(ii) Describe an experiment to determine the mass of a metre rule using a

known mass and the principle of moments. (04 mark)

ASSIGNMENT (SECTION D)
Read and make notes about friction. Include in your notes: the types of friction, experiment to
determine friction coefficient, dangers of friction, advantages of friction, how friction can be
increased, how friction can be minimised.
References: Physics for Today and tomorrow, Abbot, any other O level physics text books.

SECTION E

THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS FROM THE UNEB QUESTION BANK.

1. Question one paper two 1997 (Friction and moments)
2. Question one paper two 2015 (Pressure)
3. Question one paper two 2014 (Moments and Archimede's principle)
4. Question one paper two 2013 (Machines)
5. Question one paper two 2011 (Equilibrium and floatation)

Points to note, section A is entirely what was done during the end of year exam, the
student is encouraged to use the notes books and text books and make corrections
and further revision.

Section C is also what was done in the end of year exam, the student attempted one
question during the exam and is encouraged to re do both questions this time.

Suggested work plan: One day for section A and B and then 1 - 2 questions per day
for other sections until all the work is done.

NOTE: PRINT ALL THE PAGES BUT ARRANGE IN ORDER OF PAGE NUMBERS
AT THE BOOT OF EACH PAGE BEFORE STAPLING.

THE STUDENT WILL HAND IN THE WORK ON THE SECOND DAY OF

TERM 1 2018.
For any further information and clarification, consult the sender of this message.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Page 13


Name ……………………………………………....................Class……….......H’se………

HOLIDAY ASSIGNMENT FOR TERM 3 2017

S.2 PHYSICS

INSTRUCTIONS

• Attempt all questions in sections A and B and ONE question from section C.

• Write the letter corresponding to the correct alternative in the square box on the
right of each question in section A.

• Write the correct answer in the spaces provided at the end of every question in
section B.

• Write the answers on the answer sheets attached for the question you choose in
section C

• Use acceleration due to gravity = 10 ms-2

• Density of water = 1000 kgm-3

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

MCQ 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Section C MARKS

Page 1
 SECTION A
1. Which one of the following liquids has abnormal expansion?

A. Water B. Paraffin
C. Mercury D. Alcohol

2. Pressure in solids depends on

A. density of the material. B. mass of the solid.

C. volume occupied. D. area of contact.

3. A needle floats on the surface of water because of

A. adhesion. B. viscosity.
C. surface tension. D. capillary attraction

4. Which one of the following diagrams shows capillary depression in a liquid?

A B C D
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5. The SI unit of volume of liquids is

A. litres. B. metre cubed.

C. decimetre cubed. D. millilitres.

6. Images formed by diverging mirrors are

A. Laterally inverted. B. Magnified.

C. Virtual. D. Real.

7. Which of the following are second class levers?

(i) See saw.
(ii) Wheel barrow.
(iii) Pair of tongs.
(iv) Nut cracker.
A. (i) and (ii) only. B. (ii) and (iii) only.
C. (iii) and (iv) only. D. (ii) and (iv) only.

Page 2
8. The figure below shows an incident ray of light at an angle of 140 to the
reflecting surface. Find the angle between the incident ray and the reflected ray.

Normal

140

A. 280 B. 1520
C. 760 D. 1660

9. Which one of the following is not a primary source of energy?

A. Dry cell. B. The sun.
C. Water. D. Wind

10. A force of 12 N increases the length of an elastic string by 5 cm. Find the force
which increases the length by 2 cm.

A. 0.83 N B. 4.80 N
C. 6.00 N D. 10.00 N

11. The strength of a bridge can be improved by

(i) Reinforcing the concrete to be used
(ii) Designing a structure that is stronger in compression than in tension.
(iii) Designing a structure that is stronger in tension than compression.
A. (i) only B. (ii) only
C. (i) and (ii) only D. (i) and (iii) only

12. A solid measures 5 cm by 4 cm by 10 cm. If the mass of the solid is 0.8 kg, find
its density in kgm-3.
0.8 x 106 0.8
A. 5 x 4 x 10 B. 5 x 4 x 10 x 106

5 x 4 x 10 x 106 106
C. D.
0.8 5 x 4 x 10 x 0.8
13. A car radiator is painted black and filled with water because
(i) Black bodies are good absorbers of heat.
(ii) Water facilitates heat transfer by convection.
(iii) Water is a poor conductor of heat.
A (i) and (ii) only B. (i) and (iii)
C. (iii) only D. (ii) only
Page 3
14. A body of mass 3 kg is moving at a constant speed of 16 ms-1. Calculate the
kinetic energy of the body.

A. 384 J B. 19.0 J
C. 13.0 J D. 72 J

15. A smoke cell is used to demonstrate a phenomenon called

A. diffusion B. brownian motion

C. capillarity. D. surface tension

16. A ball dropped vertically downwards hits the ground with a speed of 40 ms-1.
Find the height through which the bulb falls.

A. 2.0 m B. 4.0 m
C. 80.0 m D. 400.0 m

17. Which of the following factors enable(s) a small effort to lift a large load in a
hydraulic press?
(i) Pressure is transmitted equally in all directions.
(ii) Small piston produces high pressure.
(iii) The load experiences a large force.

A. (i) only B. (i) and (ii) only.

C. (i) and (iii) only. D. (i),(ii) and (iii).

18. The below figure shows a u-tube containing mercury, a column of water of
density 1000 kgm-3 and a column of paraffin of density 800 kgm-3.
Find the length of the water column if the length of the paraffin column is
15 cm.

15 cm
Paraffin h Water

Mercury

A. 12.00cm. B. 18.75cm.
C. 1.25cm. D. 0.80cm.

Page 4
19. A bottle has a mass of 1.3 kg when filled with oil and mass of 0.9 kg when half
filled with the same oil. If the volume of the bottle is 500 cm3, find the density
of the oil in gcm-3

A 0.80 B 1.60
C 1.80 D 2.60

20. A person of mass 20 kg develops a power of 20 W on climbing steps in 120 s. If

each step is 0.2 m high, find the number of steps.
120 x 20 200 x 0.2
A. B. 20 x 10 x 0.2 20 x 120

20 x 0.2 20 x 20
C. D.
20 x 120 20 x 120
21. A person stands 5 m away from a plane mirror. Find the distance that the
person must move in order to be 2 m away from the image in the mirror.

A. 1 m B. 3m
C. 4 m D. 7m

22. A force of 60.0 N produces an extension of 15 cm in a spring. Find the

extension produced in the spring by a force of 12.0 N.

A. 4.8 cm. B. 7.5 cm.

C. 10.8 cm. D. 3.0 cm.

23. Which one of the following optical devices can be used as a solar concentrator?

A. Concave mirror. B. Concave lens.

C. Convex mirror. D. Glass prism.

24. The force which holds the molecules of water together is called

A. gravity. B. adhesion.
C. cohesion. D. electrostatic.

25. Which one of the following is a derived unit?

A. Newton. B. Kilogram.
C. Metre. D. Seconds.

26. Fluid pressure can be measured using a

A. barometer. B. manometer.
C. hydrometer. D. lactometer.

Page 5
27. In a domestic hot water supply system, hot water in a boiler flows to the taps
by convection because

A. hot water is less dense, and therefore rises.

B. hot water is denser than cold water, therefore it sinks.
C. cold water is prevented from mixing with hot water.
D. warm water displaces cold water.

28.

Spring balance

Block

...........................
............................
............................
............................
............................
........................... Water
............................
...........................
...........................

The figure below shows a spring balance supporting a block being lowered
into a beaker containing water. When the block is immersed in water, the
reading of the spring balance

A. Reduces. B. Increases.
C. Become zero. D. Remain constant.

29. Solids are not easily compressed because their molecules,

A. are far apart. B. are closely packed.

C. vibrate about their mean positions.
D. have strong adhesive forces between them.

30. Sucking a drink out of a bottle using a straw is only possible if the atmospheric
pressure on the surface of a liquid is
(i) less than the air pressure inside your mouth
(ii) equal to the air pressure inside your mouth
(iii) greater than the air pressure inside your mouth
A. (i) only B. (ii) only
C. (iii) only D. (i),(ii) and(iii).

31. The lowest possible temperature on a kelvin scale is called the

A ice-point. B steam-point.
C absolute zero. D dew-point.
Page 6
32. The principle of conservation of energy states that
A. energy is ability to do work.
B. energy is composed of kinetic and potential energy.
C. energy will always be converted from one form to another.
D. energy cannot be created or destroyed but it can be changed from one
form into another.
33. The energy which a body has by reason of its motion is
A. potential energy B. kinetic energy
C. chemical energy D. Internal energy
34. The most suitable instrument for measuring the outer diameter of a test tube is
A. A ruler.
B. A tape measure.
C. Vernier calipers.
D. Micrometer screw gauge
35. Which of the following are all brittle materials …
A leather , rubber, thread
B clay, glass, wood
C glass, cast iron, straws
D rubber, polythene, copper lime
36. The size of the image formed by a pin hole camera can be increased by …….
A moving the object far away from the pin hole
B increasing the size of the pin hole
C moving the object nearer the pin hole
D reducing the size of the pin hole
37. A rectangular block of metal weighs 3N and a measures (2 x 3 x 4)cm3. What is
the greatest pressure it can exert on a horizontal surface.

A. 5.0 x 103 Pa B. 2.5 x 103 Pa

C. 3.75 x 103 Pa D. 7.5 x 10-1 Pa

38. Which of the following is the use of a hydrometer ..

A. Used to measure density of liquids
B. Used to measure up thrust
C. Used to measure atmospheric pressure
D. Used to measure force exerted by a liquid

39. In a divergent beam , the

A. intensity of light rays is constant with distance .
B. intensity of light rays increases with distance
C. intensity of light rays decreases with distance
D. light rays converge to a common point

40. Radiation in a thermos flask is minimized by...

A. Cork B. Vacuum.
C. Felt pad D. Silvered glass walls.

Page 7