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ROCKFIELDS SENIOR SCHOOL

RAPTORS: Term III
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education

232 - PHYSICS PAPER: THEORY

FORM ONE
End Year Examinations – October 2024: 2 hours

Name……………………………………………………………………. Admission Number……….………Stream…………………

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

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Instructions to candidates
• Write your name, admission number and class in the spaces provided above.
• Sign and write the date of examination in the spaces provided above.
• This paper consists of two sections; I and II. Answer all the questions in sections I and II in
the spaces provided.
• All working must be clearly shown.
• Silent non programmable electronic calculators and KNEC mathematical tables may be used.
• Candidates should check the question paper to ascertain that all the pages are printed as
indicated and that no questions are missing.
• Candidate should answer the questions in English.

For Examiner’s Use Only

Section Questions Maximum score Candidate’s score

A 1 –12 25
13 13

B 14 12

15 11

16 10

17 09

Total Score 80

This paper consists of 12 printed pages. Students should check the question paper to ensure that all
the pages are printed as indicated and no questions are missing
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SECTION I (25 marks)

Answer all the questions in the spaces provided

1. Name the branch of physics that deals with the study of motion under the influence of
force. (1 mark)
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2. List down two precautions to observe in physics laboratory while handling electrical
circuits and equipment. (2 marks)
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3. State the SI unit of the following quantities:

Length…………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)

Time…………………………………………………………………….. (1 mark)

4. State TWO differences between mass and weight. (2 marks)

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5. Name two types of forces that determines the shape of a liquid drop on a solid surface.
(2 marks)
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6. Figure 1 below shows a measuring cylinder into which an irregular stone of mass 60.0g
has been immersed.

Figure 1

If the initial reading before immersing stone was 27 cm3. Find the density of the stone.
(3 marks)
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7. State the kinetic theory of matter (1 mark)

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8. A force of 500 N acts perpendicularly on an area of 2.5 m2. Determine the pressure produced.
(3 marks)
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9. The atmospheric pressure at a place was measured as 740mmHg. Calculate the

pressure at the place in Pascal. (density of mercury is 13.6g/cm3)
(3 marks)
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10. In the set up shown in figure 2 below it is observed that the level of water initially drops before
starting to rise. Explain this observation. (2 marks)

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

Temperature (oC)

12. The figure 2 below shows two identical copper plates; one painted black and the
other is painted white. The corks A and B are stuck to the plates using some wax
and a Bunsen flame is placed equidistant from the two plates.
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Cork A Cork B

Black plate
White
plate
Bunsen flame
Figure 2

State with reason the cork which is likely to fall off first from the plate after a few
minutes. (2 marks)
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SECTION II (55 marks)

Answer all the questions in the spaces provided

13. (a) Define pressure and state its SI unit. (2 marks)

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(b) State Pascal’s principle of transmission of pressure in fluids. (1 mark)

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(b) Figure 3 shows a hydraulic lift machine. The area of the smaller piston A is 0.01 m2 and that
of the larger piston B is 0.5 m2.

Figure 3

If the force applied to the smaller piston A is 60 N, determine:

(i) Pressure generated in the oil by the smaller piston. (3 marks)

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(ii) Pressure transmitted to the large piston B (1 mark)

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(ii) Maximum force that can be produced on the large piston B. (3 marks)

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(iii) State THREE properties of the fluid used in a hydraulic machine. (3 marks)

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14. (a) Physics is defined as the study of matter and its relation to energy.

(i) Define matter (1 mark)

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(ii) List the THREE states of matter (3 marks)

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(c) Figure 4 shows the set-up of apparatus that can be used to study Brownian motion of smoke

particles. To observe the motion, some smoke is enclosed in the smoke cell and then

observed through the microscope.

Microscope
Lens
Source of
light Smoke particles
Smoke cell

Figure 4
Explain the role of:

(i) Smoke particles (2 marks)

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(ii) Lens (1 marks)

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(iii) Microscope (1 marks)

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(b) State and explain the nature of the observed motion of smoke particles. (3 marks)
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(c) State what will be observed about the motion of the smoke particles if the temperature
surrounding the smoke cell is raised slightly. (1 mark)
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15. (a) Define temperature and state its SI unit. (2 marks)
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(b) The Figure 5 below shows a clinical thermometer which is not graduated.

X Y

(i) Name the parts of the thermometer indicated with letters: X and Y. (2 marks)
X………………………………………………………………………………………………
Y……………………………………………………..………………………………………..
(ii) State the use of the part labelled Y. (1 mark)
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(c) The figure 6 shows a paddle wheel placed in a beaker containing water. When the
water is heated at the point indicated, the wheel rotates.

Paddle wheel

water

Heat
Figure 6
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(i) Explain why the wheel rotates. (2 marks)

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(ii) Show in the diagram the direction in which the wheel rotates. (1 mark)
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(d) A vacuum flask is designed to keep a liquid hot for a long time. Explain how heat losses
are minimized in a vacuum flask. (3 marks)
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16. (a) Define density. (1 marks)

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

(i) The volume of the block. (2 marks)

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(ii) The density of the block expressed in SI units. (2 marks)

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(c) The mass of an empty density bottle together with its stopper is 24.8g. Its mass when
filled with water is 49.8g and 48.8g when filled with another liquid X.
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Determine the;
(i) Mass of water. (1 mark)
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(ii) Volume of water in the bottle, given that the density of water is 1 g/cm3.
(2 marks)
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(iii) Density of liquid X. (2 marks)

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17. (a) What is a thermometric liquid? (1 mark)

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

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(c) Figure 7 shows a solar water-heating panel on the roof of a house. Cold water flows into the
copper tubes, which are heated by solar radiation. Hot water flows out of the tubes and is stored
in a tank.

Figure 7
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Explain why;
(i) the tubes are made of copper (1 mark)
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(ii) The tubes are painted black. (1 mark)
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(d) Explain how a greenhouse gets warm. (3 marks)

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