ZERAKI SCHOOL - 2024

PHYSICS
FORM 2 TERM II END-TERM EXAMS

Name ……………………………………………… Adm. No ……………………

Stream..........................

Instructions to candidates
a) Write your name and admission number in the spaces provided above.
b) This paper consists of two sections A and B.
c) Answer all the questions in sections A and B in the spaces provided.
d) All working must be clearly shown.
e) Silent non-programmable electronic calculators may be used.
f) Students should check the question paper to ascertain that all the pages
are printed as indicated and that no questions are missing.
g) Students should answer the questions in English.

For Examiner’s Use Only

Section Questions Maximum Candidate’s

Score Score
A 1-13 25
14 10
B 15 12
16 11
17 11
18 11
Total Score 80

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 SECTION A: (25 marks)
Answer all the questions in this section in the spaces provided.
1. State what is studied under Electricity and Magnetism as a branch of Physics. (1 mark)
It deals with relationship between electric field and magnetic field and their applications in
the working of motor, microphones, electro-magnets etc
2. Figure 1 below shows two setups by a student using identical lamps and thermometers.

Figure 1

If the lamps are switched on for the same duration, state which setup is thermometer
reading a higher temperature? (2 marks)
Set up (i) has a higher temperature. 
In (i) heat reaches the bulb through radiation  while in (ii) the convectional current are
insufficient.
3. Differentiate between a fundamental quantity and a derived quantity. (1 mark)
Fundamental Physical Quantities are quantities that cannot be obtained from other physical
quantities while Derived Physical Quantities are quantities obtained by multiplication or
division of other physical quantities. 
4 In an experiment to determine the density of certain solid B, the following readings were
obtained using a density bottle;
Mass of empty density bottle = 9 g
Mass of the density bottle + some solid B = 99 g
Mass of the density bottle + solid B + water to full =135 g
Mass of the density bottle + Water = 88 g

Calculate the density of solid B. (Take density of water to be 1g/cm3) (4 marks)

𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑 𝐵 = 99 − 9 = 90𝑔

𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 88 − 9 = 79𝑔

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = = = 79𝑐𝑚 = 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑; 135 − 99 = 36; 79 − 36 = 43

𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝐵 = = = 2.0930 𝑔⁄𝑐𝑚 

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 5. State one way of making the surface tension of water higher. (1 mark)
Lowering temperature,  Removing impurities

6. A mercury barometer reads 640 mmHg at a raised point and normal pressure of
760 mmHg at the sea level. If the density of mercury is 13.6 g/cm3 and that of air is
1.3 kg/m3, determine the altitude of the point. (3 marks)
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛
760 − 640
( ) × 13600 × 10) = ℎ × 1.3 × 10
1000

. × ×
ℎ= = 1255.3846𝑚
. ×

7. State two conditions that must be met by a horizontal rod acted upon by several forces in
order to be at equilibrium. (2 marks)
Sum of clockwise moments must be equal to sum of anticlockwise moments 
Total upward forces must be equal to total downward forces.
8 State the role of lycopodium powder in the Oil Drop Experiment. (1 mark)
It breaks surface tension
It clearly shows the extent of spread of the oil drop

9. In the spaces provided below, sketch two cones resting on a flat illustrating stable
equilibrium and unstable equilibrium. (2 marks)

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 10. A student added water to capacity into a bottle and then kept it in the refrigerator for a
day. He realized that the bottle developed a crack after that duration. Explain. (2 marks)
When water freezes, it expands in volume. 
If the water in the bottle is completely filled to the top, there is no room for the ice to expand
within the confines of the bottle. This expansion exerts pressure on the walls of the bottle,
leading to cracks or even a rupture in the bottle 
11. Explain why heat transfer by radiation is faster than by convection or conduction.
(2 marks)
Heat transfer by radiation does not require any medium. 
Heat transfer by conduction requires a medium to transfer. which is also prone to disturbances
caused by collisions.
Therefore, the transfer of heat using electromagnetic waves is faster than conduction
12. State Coulomb’s Law for charges. (1 mark)
It states that like charges repel, unlike charges attract. 

13. Figure 2 shows an object pin in front of a concave mirror.

Draw a ray diagram to show how the image is formed. (3 marks)

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 SECTION B: (55 marks)
Answer all the questions in this section in the spaces provided.
14. (a) Define the term ‘particulate nature of matter’ (1 mark)
Particulate nature of matter therefore refers to the existence of matter in very tiny particles. 
(b) Explain why it is possible to add salt to water without a substantial change in its
volume. (2 marks)
The salt particles occupy the small intermolecular spaces of water molecules.  This
behavior of salt suggests that matter is made up of very tiny particles. 
(c) Brownian motion of smoke particles can be studied by using the apparatus shown
in Figure 3.

Figure 2

To observe the motion, some smoke is enclosed in the smoke cell and then
observed through the microscope. State the role of:
(i) Lens (1 mark)
The converging lens is used to focus/ concentrate converge the light to the
smoke cell thereby illuminating the smoke
(ii) Microscope (1 mark)
The microscope assists the observer see the illuminated smoke particles clearly 

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 (iii) State and explain the observation made. (3 marks)

The bright specks are observed moving randomly in the smoke cell.  The bright specks are the
smoke particles which scatter / reflect light shining on them.  They move randomly due to
continuous collision with invisible air particles which are in continuous random motion. 

(iv) State and explain what will be observed about the motion of smoke
particles if the temperature surrounding the smoke cell is raised slightly.
(2 marks)
If temperature is raised, the movement will be faster. The particles move faster due to increased
kinetic energy. 
15. (a) Define the term moment of force. (1 mark)
It is defined as the product of the force and the perpendicular distance between the point of support
(pivot or fulcrum) and the line of action of the force
(d) State one application of antiparallel forces. (1 mark)
I. Forces applied on a wheel spanner when tightening or loosening a nut
II. Forces applied when opening a water tap
III. Forces applied on the steering wheel of a car when going round a bend
IV. Forces applied on bicycle handle 

(e) The figure 4 shows a device for closing a steam outlet. The area of the piston
is4.0 × 10 𝑚 and the pressure of the steam in the boiler is 2.0 × 10 𝑁𝑚 .
Determine the weight W that will just hold the bar in the horizontal position
shown. ( 4mks)

Figure 3

𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 = 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 × 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎; (2 × 10 ) × (4 × 10 ) = 80𝑁

𝐴𝑡 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑢𝑚, 𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠
= 𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠
𝑤 × 0.16 = 80 × 0.5
𝑊 = 250𝑁

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 (f) Explain why car mechanics have a preference for carjacks with long handles.
(1 mark)

The long handle allows the mechanic to apply little force since; 𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 × 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
(g) A uniform meter rule of mass 150 g is pivoted freely at the 0 cm mark. Determine
the force to be applied vertically upwards at the 60 cm mark to maintain the rule
horizontal. (3 marks)

𝐴𝑡 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑢𝑚, 𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠

= 𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠
0.5 × 1.5 = 0.6 × 𝐹
𝐹 = 1.25𝑁

(h) Locate the position of the C.O.G. of the body given. (2 marks)

16. (a) Differentiate between magnetic and non-magnetic materials. (1 mark)

Magnetic materials are those that can be attracted by magnets while Non-magnetic materials are
those that cannot be attracted by a magnet. 

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 (i) Four bars of metal A, B, C and D are tested for magnetism. B attracts both A and
C but not D. D does not attract A, B or C. A and C sometime attract one another
and sometimes repel one another. What conclusion can you draw about?
(a) Bar A-Is a magnet
(b) Bar B-Is a magnetic material
(c) Bar D- Is a non-magnetic material (3 marks)

(j) State the Motor Rule. (1 mark)

“If the thumb, first and second fingers are held mutually at right angles with the first finger
pointing the direction of magnetic field, the second finger in the direction of current, then the
thumb points in the direction of force” 
(k) Explain how shape of the core affects strength of an electromagnet. (2 marks)
A U-shaped core produces a stronger magnet than a straight core. The U-shaped core produces
more extension for a given current that the straight core since it attracts the iron bar with two
poles
(l) State two uses of a charged electroscope. (2 marks)
Uses of Electroscope
1. Detecting the presence of charge on a body
2. Measuring the insulating properties of an object(material) 
3. To measure the quantity of charge on a charged body
4. testing the sign of charge on a charged body
(d) Determine how much charge flows in a circuit if 2 mA current passes in 2.5
minutes. (2 marks)

𝑄 = 𝐼𝑡
(2 × 10 ) × (2 × 60) = 0.24𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑠

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 17. (a) Define the following terms as used in optics; (4 marks)
(i) Paraxial rays.

These are rays which are close and parallel to the principal axis while marginal rays are those that
are parallel but not close to the principal axis. 
(ii) Principal axis of a convex mirror.

This is the line passing through the pole and the center of curvature of the
curved mirror
(iii) Pole.
This is the geometrical center of the mirror. 
(iv) Focal length.
This is the distance from the pole of the mirror to its principal focus. 
(b) State one effect of rectilinear propagation of light. (1 mark)
Formation of shadows/eclipses. 
The figure 6 below shows an incomplete periscope.

Figure 4

(a) Draw the second mirror. (1 mk)

(b) Complete the diagram to show how the eye views the object. (2 mks)

(c) State and explain the disadvantage of this periscope. (1 mk)

The image is inverted

(d) State and explain an advantage of using glass prisms rather than plane mirrors
in a periscope. (1mk)
The image generated is brighter and clearer. This is because due to thickness of the
mirror glass, multiple internal reflections cause blurring images. This does not occur
in a prism

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 (c) State two ways the pinhole camera can be modified to take still photographs.
(2 marks)
The pin-hole camera can be modified as follows in order to take photographs:
Should be painted black on the inside to eliminate reflection of light. 
Translucent screen to be replaced by light-tight lid with photographic film fitted on the inside. 
Should be covered with a thin black card which acts as a shutter
18. (a) A butcher has two masses; 2 kg and 0.5 kg. Explain how he can weigh 1.5 kg of
beef at once from a beam balance. (2 marks)
The butcher will balance the meat and the 0.5 kg mass on one side of the beam balance and
2 kg mass on the other side of the beam balance. By so doing, when the beam balances
then the amount of meat measured will be exactly 1.5 kg as required
(b) Figure 7 shows a machine.

Figure 5

(i) State the name of the machine. (1 mark)

Hydraulic lift. 
(ii) Name the principle governing its functioning. (1 mark)
Pascal’s principle states that pressure applied at one part in a liquid is transmitted equally to all other
parts of the enlarged liquid

(iii) Determine the maximum load that can be raised by the machine if the
liquid used had a density of 1200 kg/m3 . (3 marks)
𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑚 1 = 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑚 2

+ ℎ𝜌𝑔 = 
400 𝐹
+ (0.15 × 10 × 1200) = 
10 × 10 100 × 10
𝐹 = (401,800) × (100 × 10 ) = 4018𝑁

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 (iv) State three properties of liquid Y.

(a) It should not corrode parts of the system

(b) It should be highly incompressible
(c) It should have a low freezing point and high boiling point. 

(v) State an advantage of force pump over lift pump. (1 mark)

a) It enables a continuous flow of water. 

b) The height to which it can raise does not depend on atmospheric

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