Name: …………………………………………………………………….…………….

Date………………Candidate’s Signature: ……….……. stream ....................Adm.no..................

PHYSICS
THEORY
Time: 2 hours
Form 2 OPENER TERM 2
Instructions to Candidates

• Write your name, admission number, class and signature in the spaces provided at the top
of the page. This paper consists of two sections; A and B.
• Answer ALL the questions in the spaces provided.
• Mathematical tables and electronic calculator may be used.
• All working MUST be clearly shown.
• This paper consists of 15 printed pages.
• Candidates should answer the questions in English and check to ensure that no question(s) is
missing.
FOR EXAMINER’S USE ONLY

SECTION QUESTIONS MAXIMUM SCORE CANDIDATE’S SCORE

A 1–13 25
14 11
15 12
B 16 11
17 10
18 11
TOTAL SCORE
80

This paper consists of 15 printed pages. Candidates should check and

ascertain that all questions are printed as indicated and that no questions
are missing. TURN OVER

SECTION A (25 MARKS)

Answer all the questions in this section in the spaces provided.

1. Figure 1 shows a section of a Vernier calipers used to measure the external diameter of a
tube. The Vernier calipers has a zero error of 0.3cm. Determine the actual diameter of
the tube. (1 mark)

Figure 1

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2. A student used a container of mass x grams in an experiment to determine the density of

a liquid. The following data was obtained:
Mass of empty container = xg
Mass of container when full of water = 80g Mass
of container when full of the liquid = 70g
3
The student obtained the density of the liquid to be0.8 ⁄ . If the density of water is

1 ⁄
3
(3 marks)
, determine the value of x.

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3. Figures 2 shows two layers, A and B, of ice of equal thickness formed in a frozen pond

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Figure 2

It is observed that layer B took longer to form even when the air above the pond
remained at the same low temperature. Explain this observation. (2 marks.)
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4. Figure 3 shows two containers filled with equal volume of hot water.

Figure 3

State, with a reason, in which container will water cool faster. (2 marks)
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5. Figure 4 shows a uniform horizontal beam of mass 5 kg pivoted at one end. The beam is
supported by a spring and loaded with a mass of 2 kg.

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 Figure 4

Calculate the tension in the spring when the beam is horizontal. (2 marks)
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6. The set up in figure 5 was used to compare the rates of diffusion of ammonia and
hydrochloric acid. In the experiment, cotton wool soaked in ammonia solution placed in
one end of a long tube and cotton wool soaked in hydrochloric acid in the other end. A
white ring forms in the tube as shown in the diagram.

Figure 5

State with a reason which gas diffused faster. (2 marks)

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7. When a person carries a load in one arm, the other arm swings away from the body and the
torso bends away from the load as shown in figure 6.

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 Figure 6

Explain why this is necessary. (2 marks)

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8. Oil accidentally spills in the sea and spread to form a monolayer film of area 2 × 1012 2
.

The oil molecule has a thickness of 5 × 10 −19

.Determine the volume of the oil that
spilt. (2 marks)
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9. A negatively charged rod is brought slowly towards the cap of a highly positively charged
leaf electroscope. State and explain the observation made. (2 marks)
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10. A person standing out in the garden at night is observed to have two shadows of different

sharpness. Explain this observation. (1 mark)

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 ……………………………………………………………………………………………
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11. The magnetic field lines between the poles of two bar magnets, X and Y, are shown
in Figure 7 below.

Figure 7

State with a reason which magnet is stronger. (2 marks).

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12. Figure 8 shows some water trapped on a canvas tent.

Figure 8

(i) Give a reason why water is trapped on the canvas. (1 mark)

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(ii) State and explain what is observed when soap is smeared at a point X on the lower side of
the canvas. (2 marks)
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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13. Explain why brakes fail in a hydraulic brake system when air gets in to the system.
(1 mark)
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SECTION B (55 MARKS)

Answer all the questions in this section in the spaces provided

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14. a) Other than being not visible give another reason why water is not a good barometric
liquid. (1 mark)
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b) State the principle of transmission of pressure in fluids. (1 mark)

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c) Figure 9 shows a hydraulic lift in a car repair workshop.

Figure 9

The hydraulic fluid transmits the pressure caused by piston A, equally to each of the
four pistons holding up the car supports. The pressure throughout the fluid is the same.
A force of 1000 N on piston A is just enough to raise the car.

Determine;
I. The pressure caused by piston A on the hydraulic fluid. (2 marks)
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 ……………………………………………………………………………………
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II. The total upward force caused by the fluid. (3 marks)
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III. The weight of each of the two car supports is 1000 N. Calculate the mass of the
car. (2 marks)
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c) State two properties to be considered when choosing the hydraulic fluid used in this system.

(2 marks)

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15. a) A solar panel is mounted on the roof of a house. Figure 10 shows a section
through part of the solar panel.

enovatekcseapp highschoool.co.ke
 Figure 10

A pump makes water circulate through the copper pipes. The water is heated by passing
through the solar panel. (a) give a reason for the following;

(i) the pipes are made of copper. (1 mark)

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(ii) the pipes and the metal backing sheet are painted black. (1 mark)
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(iii) an insulating material is attached to the metal backing sheet. (1 mark)

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b) The water in the set up in figure 11 is heated until it starts boiling.

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 Figure 11

It is observed that the reading of thermometer A is higher than that of thermometer B.

Explain this observation. (2 marks)

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c) Differentiate between heat and temperature. (2 marks)

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 d) Figure 12 shows an inverted flask fitted with a capillary tube dipped into a water
which is at room temperature.

Figure 12

Explain what is observed when the flask is held with warm hands. (3 marks)
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e) Figure 13(a) shows a setup with identical glass bulbs P and Q, filled with air and connected
by a U-tube containing

Figure 13

In figure 13(b) shows the same setup after an electric heater placed in the space between P and
Q, is switched on for a few minutes. Explain the possible cause of the differences in oil levels
in figure 13(b). (2 marks)
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16. a.) Figure 14 below show a mirror with the lower end pivoted to a wall and the other end
suspended using a flexible rubber band 20cm long such that it makes an angle of 35 with the wall.
°

Figure 14

In a hot afternoon, the rubber band stretches by 22.12mm, a ray of light strikes the mirror
horizontally. Calculate the angle between the horizontal and the new reflected ray.

(3 marks)
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b.) State two differences between images formed by pinhole camera and a Plane mirror. (2marks)
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 c.) Figure 15 shows an object O placed between plane mirrors inclined at right angles.

Figure 15

Determine the number of images formed. (2 marks)

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d) Describe the image formed by a plane mirror. (2 marks)

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e.) A student placed three cards each with a small hole at the Centre in a straight line as
shown below.

Figure 16

(i) State the aim of the experiment. (1 mark)

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(ii) If one of the cards was displaced slightly to the left, state what would be observed. (1 mark)

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17. a.) Figure 17 shows two insulated and uncharged metal spheres X and Y in contact. A
positively charged rod is held near X and then the spheres are moved apart.

Figure 17

i. In the space provided on the right side of figure 2, draw diagrams to show the charge
on X and Y. (2 marks)
ii. Identify the method of charging used in figure 17 above. (1 mark)

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b.)A car battery requires topping up with distilled water occasionally.

(i) State why topping up is necessary. (1 mark)
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(ii) State why distilled water is used. (1 mark)
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(iii) Give one advantage of alkaline battery over lead acid accumulator. (1 mark).
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 c.) Calculate the amount of charge passing through a point in a circuit if a current of 5A
flows for 1.5 minutes. (3 Marks)
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d.) Give a reason why it is not advisable to smoke a cigarette near a charging battery.
(1 mark)

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18. a.) State two properties of magnets. (2marks)

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b.) Given a bar magnet, a steel bar and a string describe a simple experiment to
distinguish between the magnet and the steel bar. (3 marks)

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 c.) Figure 18 shows a magnetic material being magnetized

Figure 18

Identify the polarities of X and Y. (2mks)

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d.) The figure below shows two pins hanging from a magnet. Explain why they do not hang
vertically downwards.
(2 marks)

Figure 19

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e.) Figure 20 shows a graph of magnetization against magnetizing current for two materials
A and B

Figure 20

I. State with a reason, the material which is more suitable for use in a transformer to
concentrate the magnetic fields. (2marks)

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#END#

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