INSTRUCTION.

Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

1. a) Mechanics is one of the branches of physics state what it deals with. (1mk)
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b) Name the branch of physics that deals with:
i) Propagation of energy through space. (2mks)
……………………………….

ii) Behaviour of light as it traverses various media.

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c) One basic laboratory rule is proper dressing. Give an example of proper dressing. (1mk)
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2. Name two instruments for measuring volume of liquids. (2mks)
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3. Fig 1 shows a measuring cylinder.

a) Record the reading of volume, V1 of liquid in the measuring cylinder. (1mk)

b) Determine the reading on the measuring cylinder after 5 drops of water each of volume
0.6cm3 are added. (2mks)

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 c) Mark the new reading of volume, V2 on the diagram. (1mk)
4. The mass of a density bottle is 20g when empty and 45g when full of water. When full of
mercury its mass is 360g.
a) i. Calculate the mass of water that fills the density bottle. (2mks)

ii. Calculate the mass of mercury that fills the density bottle. (1mk)

b) i. Given that the density of water is 1g/cm3, calculate the volume of water that fills the density
bottle. (2mks)

ii. Give the volume of mercury that fills the density bottle. (1mk)

iii. Calculate the density of mercury. (2mks)

5. a) Define force and state its SI unit. (2mks)

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b) Differentiate between cohesive and adhesive forces. (2mks)

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6. List two factors affecting surface tension. (2mks)
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7. A body weighs 65N. Calculate its mass (g= 10N/Kg) (2mks)

8. Define pressure giving its SI unit. (2mks)

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9. Fig 2. Below shows a liquid manometer being used to measure gas pressure contained in a small
bag.

i. Name the pressure acting on surface of water at: (2mks)

X …………………………………………

Y ………………………………………….

ii. State why pressure at X is equal to pressure at Z. (1mk)

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 ………………………………………………………………………………………………
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iii. If h=10cm, atmospheric = 103000N/m2 and density of water is 1000kg/m3, determine the
pressure of the gas in the small bag. (3mks)

10. State two properties of the hydraulic brake fluid. (2mks)

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11. Figure below shows a lift pump.

a) Name the valve that opens and the one that closes when the piston is pulled upwards.
(2mks)
Opens ………………………………

Closes……………………………..

b) Explain why valve Y closes when the piston is pushed downwards.

(2mks) …………………………………………………………………………
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 12. a) State the kinetic theory of matter. (1mks)
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The figure below shows a set up used to study motion of smoke particles in air.
State the purpose of:

i. Apparatus A…………………………………………………………………… (2mks)

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ii. Lens …………………………………………………………………………..

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b) Give two reasons why smoke particles are preferred in this experiment. (2mks)
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c) State and explain the nature of observed motion of the smoke particles. (2mks)
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13. Figure below shows bimetallic strip at room temperature and the same strip at 100oC.

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 i. Compare linear expansivity values of the two metals. (2mks)

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ii. State how the two metals are joined together. (1mk)
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iii. State one application of the bimetallic strip. (1mk)

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14. Give a reason for each of the following.
i. In building and construction steel metal is used to reinforce concrete. (2mks)
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ii. Ordinary glass tumbler breaks when hot water is poured in it. (2mks)
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…
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15. State one advantage of alcohol over mercury when used as a thermometer liquid. (1mk)
………………………………………………………………………………………….

16. Convert the following; (3mks)

a. 298K to oC.

b. -100C to K

c. 00C to K

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

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18. State three factors that affect rate of heat transfer by conduction of a given metal conductor.
(3mks)
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19. Explain why metals conduct heat faster than non-metals. (2mks)

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 20. Give a reason why two thin blankets are warmer than one thick blanket. (1mk)
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…….

21. Give two differences between mass and weight. (4mks)

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22. Complete the following basic physical quantities table. (3mks)

Basic physical quantity SI unit Symbol
Electric current Ampere A
Amount of substance mol
Thermodynamic temperature

23. The figure below, ammonia gas and an acid gas diffuse and react to form a white deposit
on the walls of the glass tube, the deposit forms nearer end B.

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 a. State which gas diffused faster. (1mk)
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b. Explain how the rate of diffusion depends on the density of a gas. (2mks)
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c. Explain the effect of performing the experiment above at a higher temperature
(2mks)
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1) (i)Define length (1mk)

(ii) Outline three steps that you should follow when measuring length using a metre rule
(3mks)

2) (i) What is a basic quantity? (1mk)

(ii) State two examples of a basic quantity and their SI units (2mks)

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3) A plot of land is represented on a map by an area of 48.5cm2. If the scale on the map is 1:5000,
determine the actual area of the land in square metres (3mks)

4) When a narrow tube is dipped in a beaker containing water, the water rises up the tube.
a) What is the name given to this effect? (1mk)

b) Explain the observation (1mk)

5) State the two factors affecting the surface tension of a liquid. (2mks)

6) The atmospheric pressure at a place was measured as 740mm of mercury. Calculate the pressure at
the place in Pascals. (density of mercury is 13.6g/cm3) (3mks)

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7) Explain how a drinking straw works when used to drink a liquid. (2mks)

8) State the kinetic theory of matter. (1mk)

9) (a) In the smoke cell experiment, the smoke is observed to be in a random motion. Explain the cause
of the motion (1mk)

(b) State and explain the effect on the motion when the temperature of the smoke cell is increased
(2mks)

10) (i) What is diffusion? (1mk)

(ii) State the factors affecting the rate of diffusion of a gas (2mks)

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11) State any three differences between mass and weight (3mks)

12) An object has a mass of [Link] is the weight of the object at the moon surface? (gravitational
intensity of the moon is a third that of the earth) (2mks)

13) The water level in a burette is 40.6cm³. 50 drops of water each of volume 0.2cm³are added to the
water in the burette. What is the final reading of the burette? (3mks)

14) On the axis provided, sketch a graph of volume against temperature of water from 0o to 20oC.
(2mks)
Volume (cm3)

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Temperature (oC)
15) It is easier to detect a bad smell from a gaseous substance than a solid substance. Explain
(1mk)

16) a) Define pressure (1 mark)

b) (i) State Pascal’s principal. (1 mark)

(ii) The figure below represents a section of a hydraulic machine. The area of Pistons A and B are
0.03m and 0.5m respectively. A force of 60N is applied on the piston.
2

Determine the:

I. Pressure exerted on oil by piston A (2mks)

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 II. Maximum force that can be lifted by the system (2mks)

(iii) Give two reasons why oil and NOT water is selected for use in the system in (ii)
above (2mks)

17) The figure below shows a circuit diagram of a device for controlling the temperature in a room.

Brass

Iron

i) Explain the purpose of the bimetallic strip. (2 marks)

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 ii) Describe how the circuit controls the temperature when the switch is closed.
(3 marks)

18) (a) The figure below shows two identical copper plates one painted black and the other is white.
The corks are stuck to the plates using some wax and a Bunsen flame is placed equidistant from
the two plates.

Cork Cork

Black plate
White
plate

Bunsen
flame
Which cork is likely to fall off first from the plate? Give reason for your answer (2mks)

(b) The figure below shows a paddle wheel placed in a beaker containing water. When the water is
heated at the point indicated, the wheel rotates.

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 Paddle wheel

Water

HEAT
i. Explain why the wheel rotates (2mks)

ii. State the direction in which it rotates (1mk)

(c) A vacuum flask is designed to keep a liquid hot for a long time. Explain how heat losses are reduced
in a vacuum flask (3mks)

19) (a) Define density (1mk)

(b) A solid block measures 25cm by10cm by 8cm. if the block has a mass of 3.2kg, calculate:

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 i) The volume of the block (2mks)

ii) The density of the block expressed in SI units (3mks)

(c) The mass of an empty density bottle together with its stopper is 24.8g. The bottle weighs 49.8g
when filled with water. When the bottle is emptied and filled with another liquid, it weighs 48.8g.
Determine the density of the liquid. (3mks)

20) (a) What is a thermometric liquid? (1mk)

(b) State any three qualities of a good thermometric liquid (3mks)

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 (c) Give any two advantages that mercury has over alcohol as a thermometric liquid (2mks)

(d) Explain how each of the following can be increased in a liquid-in-glass thermometer:
(i) Sensitivity (1mk)

(ii) Accuracy (1mk)

21) (a) State the laws of reflection (2mks)

(b) Two plane mirrors are inclined at an angle of 600. How many images do the mirrors form?
(2mks)

(c) State one application of a plane mirror (1mk)

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