MUSINGU HIGH SCHOOL

FORM TWO
APRIL HOLIDAY ASSIGNMENT
PHYSICS

1. The micrometer screw gauge represented by figure 1 has thimble scale of 50 divisions
What is the reading shown ( 1 mk)

2. What measurable quality is associated with colors of light? ( 1 mk)

3. State two factors that should be controlled in manufacturing a cylindrical container of

uniform thickness, which should normally be in a standing position?
4.

Figure 2 shows a U tube containing two liquids L1 and L2 of densities 0.8 g cm-3 and 1.8 cm-3
respectively in equilibrium. Given that h2 = 8 cm determine the value of h1 (3mks)
5. A small nail may pierce an inflated car tyre and remain there without pressure reduction in the
tyre. Explain this observation ( 2 mks)
6. Give a reason why a concrete beam reinforced with steel does not crack when subjected to
changes in temperature ( 2 mks)
7. Give a reason why heat transfer by radiation is faster than heat transfer by conduction

8. A vertical object placed on a bench is observed to have three shadows of different sharpness, in
different directions. Explain this observation ( 3 mks)
9. State the law of electrostatic charges ( 1 mk)
10. The pitch of the note produced by a wire depends on the tension in the wire. State the other
factor that effects the pitch ( 1 mk)
1

22. A lady holds a large concave of facal length 1 m, 80 cm from her face, state two characteristics
Page

of her image in the mirror ( 2 mks)

23. State how the pressure in a moving fluid varies with the speed of the fluid ( 1 mk)
26. A house in which as cylinder containing cooking gas is kept unfortunately catches fire. The
cylinder explodes. Give an explanation for the exposition (2mks)
28. An observer A is in a moving vehicle with a siren on while an observer B is stationary on the
side of the road. State the difference between the sound heard by A and B as the vehicle
approaches B at a high constant speed (2mks)
29. A solid copper sphere will sink in water while a hollow copper sphere of the same mass many
float. Explain this observation ( 2 mks)
30. The moment of the weight of vertical door does not significantly affect the moment of the force
required to open the door. Give a reason for this ( 1 mk)
31. What causes electromagnetic damping in a moving coil galvanometer ( 1mk)
37. In the Brownian motion experiment, smoke particles are observed to move randomly. Explain
how this motion is caused ( 2 mks)
38 (a) Given a bar magnet, an iron bar and a string
(i) Describe a simple experiment to distinguish between the magnet and the iron bar
(ii) State with reasons the observation that would be made in the experiment
(b) In an experiment to magnetize two substances P and Q using electric current, two curves (
graphs) were obtained as shown in figure 1

Using the information in Fig 1 explain the difference between the substances P and Q with
references to the domain theory ( 6 mks)

1. Figure 1 shows a measuring cylinder, which contains water initially at level A. A solid of
mass 11 g is immersed in the water, the level rises to

Determine the density of the solid. (Give your answer to 1 decimal place)
2

1. Figure 2 shows a rigid body acted upon by a set of forces. The magnitudes of the forces
Page

are as follow
 F1 = 3N1, F2 = 6N, F3 = 3N, F4 = 4 N1, F5 = 3N and F6 = 3 N

Identify the couple among these forces

2. Give a reason why the weight of the body varies from place to place
3. A butcher has a beam balance and masses 0.5 kg and 2kg. How would he measure 1.5 kg
of meat on the balance at once?
4. The height of the mercury column in a barometer at a place is 64cm. What would be the
height of a column of paraffin in barometer at the same place? (Density of paraffin = 8.0
x 102 kgm-3)
5. The number of molecules in 18cm3 of a liquid is 6 x 1023. Assuming that the diameter of
the molecules is equivalent to the side of a cube having the same volume as the
molecule. Determine the diameter of the molecule.
6. Explain why a glass container with thick walls is more likely to crack than one with a
thin wall when a very hot liquid is poured into them.
7. State the reason why water spilled on a glass surface wets the surface
8. Figure 3 shows two aluminium containers, A and B placed on a wooded table. A and B
have equal volumes of hot water initially at the same temperature.

9. Figure 4 shows two point objects A, and B, placed in front of a mirror M

Sketch a ray diagram to show the positions of their images as seen by the eye.
10. Figure 5 shows two charged identical conduction spheres on insulting stands. Each cross
represents a charge. The spheres are briefly brought into contact and then separated.

Sketch in the space provided the diagrams of the spheres showing charge distribution
after separation
11. Name a device used to convert light energy directly into electrical energy
12. Figure 6 shows a beam AB supported at points A and B. A large F is applied on the beam
as shown. Mark on the diagram, the position X, where a notch is likely to appear.
3
Page
13. Distinguish between soft and hard magnetic materials
14. A current of 0.5A flows in a circuit. Determine the quantity of charge that crosses a point
in 4 minutes.
15. Figure 7 shows an incomplete circuit of an electromagnet. Complete the circuit between
X and Y drawing the windings on the two arms of the core such that A and B are both
North poles when switch S is closed. Indicate the direction of the current on the windings
drawn.

16. An observer watching a fireworks displays sees the light from an explosion and hears the
sound 2 seconds later. How far was the explosion from the observer?
17. Water flows in a horizontal smooth pipe. State the changes that would be observed in
the nature of the flow if the speed of the water is steadily increased from low to a high
value

By Mr Oloo B
4
Page