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ZIMBABWE SCHOOU EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL

General Certificate of Ed\ication Advanced Level

PHYSICS . [..
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:pAPER 3 Theory

II JUNE 2015 SE~SION

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Additional materials:
Answer paper .
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Scientific Calculator and I or Mathematical tables ;
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Ruler (mm)
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TIME 50 minutes
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l! INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
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l Write your name, Centre number and candidate nuA~ber in the spaces provided on the I .

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answer paper/answer booklet. · i\· · ···.: ::. ' ··· ,l ' . I ·.

Answer three questions. :t i ..: .

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Question 1 is compulsory. . · . ;\ i;,.
Answer any other two from the remaining questions. .
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Write.your answers on th~ separate answer paper p~tvided.

· Ifyou. us~ more than o~e sheet of paper, fasten the~ eets together.
All workmg for numencat answers must be shown~ ! /.

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. INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES . il
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The number of marks is g~ven in brackets at the d of each question Of part question.
II You are reminded of the need for good English and lear presentation in your answers.
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l Candidates are advised to spend 25 minutes on ques ion 1. ' ..

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I I This question paper consists of 7 printed pages and l blank pag~.

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©ZIMSEC J2015
·copyrighi: Zimbabwe School Examinations Council, J20l5 .
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Answer question 1 and any other 2 from the remaining questions.
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1 (a) (i)
.' . A force-extension graph for a spring which obeys Hooke' s law·was
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observed that :
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' 1. : ' •'. th~ piohed poihts did not follow a straight line .
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2. ; the irltercept Was not zero : · , ·

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Explain whether or n a systematic error can be eliminated by

averaging rep~ated re .·dings.
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(b) (i)
State Newton's third aw of motion .

-· A stone falls t~wards the earth but the earth does ~_?ot move up
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; towards the stone. :
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.! State, with reasons, bether Newton's third law is obeyed in this

case.
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(c) (i) '
State the three prope ;ties of an image formed by a plane mi~ror.
(ii)
A ray of light ~nter~ ·I.as..s from air.i The angie of i;1cidence is
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r:~gle of glass:
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(d) (i)
1. Define:the terW gravitaiion~l field strenkth.
2.. Give•an expr~sion for d1e gravitational field strengtll,
g, at a height,/l'l, above the surface of the: earth and
explain all thj /symbols ~sed . . .
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(ii) . . I. ; . .
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-Explain why ; i'; ~ . ·
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t~e gravitatio~kl field strength at the top of the building

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· 2. the acc~Jerati9h of the object at the top of the bujlding
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2 (a) (i) State the relationship bet'Veen power and e,nergy.
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(ii) Deduce the base units.of power. : :· .
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(b) . f. ; ' ,.

At a school science exhibition , a student de~igned a model of a

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hydroelectric power station shown in Fig. 2.1 (not to scale).

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water out

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DescribetM·main energy changes:, hich tak~ place when the
tap is opent;~·· : ; . i . . :. , ·.
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The 20 W rtirhp operates normally . hen the tap is opened and .
water flows~out at 3 kgs- 1 •
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Calculate !thb·
1. pqtet1tial energ.y lost by the ·'"
ater per unit time,

. effic):~ ncy of tl~e model . . ' )

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(c)
Explain why a hydrhelectric power station would be, preferable to a ·:
thermal power statioi1~ · · · :i · ~I · ·

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3 (a} State the equation for simple harmonic motion, explaining the si.gnificance
of the signs·and \symbo(s
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in the equation. ., · ; . . . · [3]

(b) A loaded closed of mass , m, and cross-sectional area, A, floats in

! ·, equilibrium· wit~ •.. w .... ~····· :l, under the surface'of a liquid of density, pi The
t~$t-fub~ is pre~~ed in the liqui~ a distance, f•as in Fig.3.l and \
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with si~ple harm01~.ic motion.

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(ii) Deterrhine' an ssion for! the period of the test-tube. .;
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Define total intef.n(~ireflection.
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(f) With the ~icl:of a diagram !_describe!llow light travels through an . · ·
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(c). Explain why the r~·~ ; colour is usyd in break~own triangle reflecto~s .. ,;[2]
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