PHYSICS PAPER 2
PHYSICS PAPER 2
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SECTION A (25 MARKS)
Answer all the questions in this section in the spaces provided.
1. State the property of light that causes the formation of shadows. [1 mark]
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2. Name the radiation represented by A. [1 mark]
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3. A plastic rod is rubbed with a piece of cotton and it is observed that the rod acquires a negative charge.
The same cotton is brought near the cap of a positively charged electroscope.
i. State the observation made on the leaf of the electroscope. [1 mark]
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ii. Explain the observation [2 marks]
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4. The figure below shows three capacitors connected between two points A and B. If the voltage across
AB is 100V.
1.3 μF
A B
2.0 μF
0.7 μF
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5. Explain why it is not advisable to leave a lead acid accumulator in the discharge condition for a long
time. [2 mark]
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Sketch the wave fronts of the wave after passing the opening. [1 mark]
7. A person standing behind a wall hears a bell ringing although he cannot see the bell. Explain.
[2 marks]
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8. The figure below shows a cross wire strongly illuminated with a bright electric bulb placed behind a
screen. A concave mirror of focal length 20 𝑐𝑚 is placed in front of the screen. The position of the
mirror is adjusted until a sharp image of the cross-wire is formed on the screen.
(a) Determine the distance between the mirror and the screen. [1 mark]
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(b) The image formed is real. State any other characteristic of the image formed in this case. [1 mark]
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9. Sketch the resultant field pattern around the following current carrying conductors and show the
direction of the forces acting on the conductor. [1 mark]
N S
10. A soldier standing some distance from a wall blows a whistle and hears its echo one second later. How
far is the wall from the soldier? (Speed of sound in air = 330 m/s) [2 marks]
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11. The diagram in figure below shows the screen of a CRO displaying the waveform of a certain a.c.
signal.
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12. State on reason why a CRO is more accurate in measuring voltage over ordinary voltmeters.
[2 marks]
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13. A house is supplied with 240V from a power source which is fitted with a 13 A safe fuse. Determine the
maximum number of 60W bulbs that can be fitted in the house. [2 marks]
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SECTION B (55 MARKS)
Answer all the questions in this section in the spaces provided.
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Determine the current in the primary coil if the bulb is operating normally. [3 marks]
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d) Explain why long-distance power transmission is done at a very high voltage. [1 mark]
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Cathode
(metal cylinder)
High +
potential
–
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ii. Explain how the radiation entering the tube through the window is detected by the tube.
[3 marks]
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iii. State the purpose of the halogen vapour. [1 mark]
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d) While determining the half-life of a certain radioactive material, a graph of variation of the number of
atoms against time was drawn as shown below.
70
60
50
40
Number of atoms (× 102)
30
20
10
10 20 30 30 40 50 60 70
Time in minutes
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e) A radioactive nuclide of mass number A, and atomic number Z, emits a beta particle, an alpha particle
and gamma rays. State the mass number and atomic number of the new nuclide. [2 marks]
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16. a) Explain the difference between a conductor and a semiconductor using the energy band theory.
[2 mark]
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d) Explain how a pure silicon can be changed into an n-type semiconductor. [2 marks]
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e) The figure shows a circuit used for a full wave bridge rectification.
B
D1 D4
C
A
D3 D2
To CRO
C R
D
(i) Insert the missing diodes to make the circuit complete. [1 mark]
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(iii) On the axes provided below sketch a voltage – time display of the output observed on the C.R.O.
[2 marks]
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17. (a) State one property of X-rays, which makes it possible to be used in X-ray photography. [1 mark]
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E.H.T
– +
Lead Target
Cooling
Shielding
fins
P
Oil
Q
A Filament B
Electron X-rays
beam
A........................................................................................................................................................
B........................................................................................................................................................
(ii) Explain the effect of increasing the potential difference across PQ. [3 marks]
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(iii) State the property of lead metal makes it suitable for use as shielding material in the X-ray tube.
[1 mark]
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(c) The work function of a sodium metal is 2.46 eV. Determine the threshold frequency for this metal.
(1eV= 1.6 x 10-19J and h= 6.62 x 10-34Js). [3 marks]
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(d) The graph below is a sketch of photo current against the potential difference across the terminals of
a photocell when radiated with light of frequency f and intensity t.
On the same axes sketch the graph of the photo current against the potential difference (P.d) when
the photocell is radiated with light of higher frequency but lower intensity as the one shown above.
[1 mark]
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18. a) A light ray passes from crown glass of refractive index of 1.52 into water of refractive index 1.33 at
an angle of incidence of 40° as shown below.
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c) An object is placed 20 cm in front of a concave lens with a focal of 15 cm. Determine the position of the
image formed. [3 marks]
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