NYANDARUA COUNTY TRIAL EXAM

2023
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education

232/3 Paper 3
Physics (Practical)
Trial 4 – Time 2 hours

Name …………………………………………….……… Adm Number………………………….

Candidate’s Signature ………………….…...………. Date ……………………………………

TRIAL 4
Instructions to candidates
1. Write your name, index number, school and date in the spaces provided above
2. Sign and write the date of the examination in the spaces provided above
3. Answer all the questions in the spaces provided
4. All writings must be shown in the spaces provided
FOR EXAMINER’S USE ONLY
Question 1
Maximum score
Candidate score

Question 1
2023
b (i)
1

c
b (ii)
1

e (i)
d
7

e (ii)
e (i)
5

e (iii)
e (ii)
3

h (i)
e (iii)
3

h (ii)
TOTAL
20

TOTAL
Maximum score 1 7 5 2 2 3 20
Candidate score

This is an educational empowerment

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Question One
You are provided with the following
- Two cells of 1.5V each
- Nichrome wire labeled W mounted on a metre rule
- An ammeter (0 – 1.5A) or (0 - 2.5A)
- A cell holder
- Voltmeter (0 – 5V)
- 8 connecting wires atleast 4 with crocodile clips (or a jockey)
- A switch
- A metre rule
Proceed as follows:
(a) Connect the circuit as shown in the figure 1 below.
Figure 1
S

A
100cm long nichrome wire, W

A B

(b) (i) Connect the end of A and point B when AB = 100cm across the terminals
as shown in the figure 1 above.
Close the switch and measure both current I and p.d, V across the wire AB
Current I A
P.d, V V
(ii) Measure the emf of the cell, E = V

(c) Reduce the length AB as shown, 100cm, 70cm, 60cm, 50cm, 40cm, 30cm and 20cm. In
each case record the current (I) and the corresponding values of p.d (V)
(d) Enter the length as shown in the table 1 below:
Table 1
Length AB (cm) 100 70 60 50 40 30 20
Current I (A)
p.d (V)
E – V (V)

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 (e) Complete the table
(i) Plot a graph of (E – V) against I (A) (5 marks)

(ii)Determine the gradients of the graph (3 maraks)

(iii)Given the equation, E = V =Ir, determine the internal resistance of each cell (3marks)

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Question Two
Part A
You are provided with the following apparatus
- A wooden metre rule
- 10cm long cotton thread
- Masses, two of 10g and two of 20g
- Knife edge – 20cm high
Proceed as follows
(a) Arrange the apparatus as shown in figure 2 below
(b) Balance the metre rule on the edge and adjust the metre rule until it balances horizontally
when there is no mass on it. The knife edge is now at the position of (cog)
(c) Record the position of (cog)
Position of c.o.g = cm

Figure 2

(d) Now hang a mass on the metre rule by use of the thread at 1cm mark. Adjust the knife
edge until the metre rule balances again at new mark. Record the length d1 and the
corresponding length d2.
(i) Repeat the procedure for different masses and complete the table 2 shown below.
Table 2
Mass, m(g) 10 20 30 40 50 60
Distance d1 (cm)
Distance d2 (cm)
Mass (m) x distance d2
=md2

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(ii) Plot a graph of md2 against d1 (5marks)

(iii) Calculate the slopes of the graph

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Part B
You are provided with the following apparatus
- A lens
- A lens holder
- A candle
- A white screen
- A metre rule
Procedure
(e) Set up the apparatus as shown in the figure 3 below:

(f) Starting with u = 30cm adjust the position of the screen to obtain a sharp image of the
candle. Record value of V in the table shown below:
(g) (i) Repeat the procedure above for u = 20cm and complete table below:
Table 3
u (cm) v (cm) v
M=
u
20
30
(2marks)
v
(ii) Given that the focal length of the lens satisfies the equation, f = determine
1+ m
the average value of the focal length

THIS IS THE LAST PRINTED PAGE

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