P535/1

Physics
Paper 1 (Theory)
April/May 2024
1
2 Hours
2

MEBU EXAMINATIONS CONSULT

UGANDA LOWER SECONDARY CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION
END OF TERM 1 ASSESSMENT 2024
SENIOR THREE

PHYSICS

PAPER 1 (THEORY)

TIME: 2 HRS: 30 MIN

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

This paper consists of seven (7) scenario-based items carrying equal marks with two
sections A and B. Section A consists of only three (3) compulsory items.
Section B has two parts I and II, each containing two (2) items.
You are required to attempt any one (1) question from each part of section B. Any
additional question(s) attempted shall not be marked.
Silent non-programmable scientific calculators may be used.
You may lose marks if you do not show your working or if you do not use appropriate S.I
units.
Poor handwriting and untidy work shall lead to loss of marks.
At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
Where necessary, assume;
 Acceleration due to gravity, g = 10 ms-2
 Density of water = 1000 kgm-3
 Specific heat capacity of water = 4200 Jkg-1K-1
 Speed of light in vacuum , C = 3.0 x 108 ms-1

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 SECTION A: (COMPULSORY)

Item 1

A long time ago, solar eclipses were considered as a message from the gods since the people
in that age dwelt so much in the spiritual realm than the scientific world. However, with the
development of science and technology, eclipses can now easily be explained
scientifically instead of spiritually. Whenever eclipses occur, many people gather out in open
places to watch the beautiful view of the heavenly bodies as they align themselves in a
beautiful display.

However, in most remote areas of Uganda some people still observe the eclipse directly
using naked eyes not aware of the risk they are exposing their eyes to in the long run. The
science club of your school has taken an initiative to always once in a while go out into the
community and teach the community members about scientific facts. This year you are
expected to go out during the day an eclipse is expected to occur to. You are expected to
organize for the presentation about eclipses.

Task

As a student of physics and science club at the school, you are required to organize for the
presentation about eclipses that you will use to address the community members on the
day the eclipse is expected to occur. Conclude your presentation by recommending the best
safe ways to watch an eclipse. (You may include ray diagram illustrations). (20
scores)

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 Item 2

Carpenters in your area have been poorly designing boats with no knowledge of density in
relation to sinking. Therefore, water accidents are rampant and people have lost their lives
and property. You have been selected to advise a carpenter who is supposed to make a boat
of density 580 kgm-3 using the following materials below.

 3100 kg of timber whose density is 620 kgm-3.

 Volume of Aluminum is 3 m3.

Task

Prepare an advisory report to the carpenter and the users of the boat on the recommended
mass of Aluminium to be used and the maximum load the boat should carry. (20
scores)

Item 3

New vision

Sad news!!! Sad news!!! Sad news!!!

Today in the morning at Fountain of Hope Junior School, two pupils were found dead in a
down tank which is 10 meters long below the ground. The head teacher was arrested
immediately and the Vision Group interacted with him and says that, the pupils were
fetching water from the tank using a rope tied on the jerrycan which had a capacity of
containing water up to the weight of 10 kg.

The government is taking a step of closing the school tomorrow and to arrest all the
teachers.

Support materials

 A rope.

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 The same jerrycan.
 A metallic bar or a long moderate piece of wood.
 Wheel of the bicycle.

Task

Help the school come up with a simple machine they can use at the moment to protect it
from being closed. Show all the necessary steps and illustration of this machine. Also guide
the pupils on how to operate the machine using the least possible energy. (20 scores)

SECTION B:

(ATTEMPT ANY ONE QUESTION FROM EACH PART)

PART I

Item 4

Ibrahim was driving under a light drizzle towards Jinja at 45 kmh-1. 2 km after leaving
Mukono town, motorcycle rider suddenly skidded off the road 85 m in front of the car.
Ibrahim immediately applied his brakes but it was a useless move. There was an accident
but fortunately enough, no one sustained injuries.

The slammed onto the motorcycle despite the vigorous application of brakes. Soon after the
police arrived at the accident scene and carried out their own Observations and
measurements.

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(a) .By simply looking at the car tyres, why did the Police Officers conclude that the car was in
bad mechanical condition, yet the car was fairly new as it was only one year old?
(04 scores)

(b) What was the problem between the tyres and the road? (04 scores)

(c) What should the tyres have looked like? (02 scores)

(d) .What should have been the case between the tyres and the road for a car in good
mechanical condition? (05 scores)

(e) From the above scenario, how is friction useful? (05 scores)

Item 5

Senior Two students of Fountain of Hope High School visited a textile industry at Kalangala
Island. They used MV Kalangala Ferry to cross the lake to the Island. On the Ferry, they
loaded all their cargo including the School Bus. They were all amused to see that the ferry
could not sink.

On reaching the industrial site, they observed the following:

 Sharp knives being used to cut the cotton bales.

 Factory trucks being lifted up on a hydraulic machine for servicing and maintenance.
 Overhead tanks supplying water to the different sections of the factory.
 Sprinklers watering flowers in the backyard of the factory.
 Small aircrafts (helicopters) airlifting cargo and employees to the mainland.
 Workers using vacuum cleaners to remove dust from carpets.

These learners were eager to understand how all these activities were possible and what
principles they operate on.

Supposing you are an industry tour guide, write a detailed explanation for each of the above
observations including why the ferry did not sink and how the aircraft is able to fly.
(20 scores)

Part II

Item 6

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 A uniform metallic rod of length 4.0 m pivoted at its Centre is used at a children’s play
resort. If a boy of mass 48 kg sits 1.5 m from one end. Another boy of mass 40 kg wants to
seat at a distance of 0.6 m from the Centre on the other end to balance with the boy at the
other end.

Support material

Task

Help the guide at the play resort to direct the learners on how to play the game safely. Also
analyze what would happen to the beam if one end of the rod was heated by a considerably
hot flame when the boys are off the simple machine so that safety is ensured during plays.
(20 scores)

Item 7

A musician of mass 60 kg putting on high heels is found to make contact area with the
ground of 0.002 m2 per heel.

(a) Determine the total pressure she would exert when;

(i) Standing on both feet. (03 scores)

(ii) Walking. (02 scores)

(b) .What one danger can you identify concerning the choice of shoes by the musician in (a)
above towards;

(i) Herself. (01 score)

(ii) The surface (floor) she walks on. (01 score)

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 (c) A student pushes a drawing pin into wooden board. The area of contact of pin with the
finger is 5.0 m2. The student pushes with a force of 26 N and pin has a very small
mass.

(i) Calculate the pressure exerted by the finger on the drawing pin. (02 scores)

(ii) Explain why the drawing pin penetrates into the wooden board but not into the finger.
(02 scores)

(d) You are provided with a 1.5 liter mineral water bottle, cellotape, water, sharp pin and basin.
Explain how you can demonstrate and conclude the effect of depth on pressure in liquids.
(05 scores)

(e) Explain why after sometime a person carrying a heavy parcel using a thin string feels pain.
(04 scores)

***THE END***

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