PRECIOUS BLOOD KAGWE GIRLS SECONDARY SCHOOL

FORM 4 TERM 1 2025 0PENNER EXAMS

231/ 1 - Physics - Paper 1 (Theory )
Time -:2 hours

Name …………………………...........................................…………………ADM N.

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CLASS ………………….…...………..

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
(i) Write your name, admission number and class in the spaces provided above.
(ii) Sign and write the date of examination in the spaces provided above.
(iii) This paper consists of TWO sections: A and B.
(iv) Answer ALL the questions in sections A and B in the spaces provided.
(v) ALL working MUST be clearly shown.
(vi) Non-programmable silent electronic calculators and KNEC mathematical tables may be used.
(vii) Candidates should check the question paper to ascertain that all the pages are
printed as indicated and that no questions are missing.

For Examiner’s Use Only

Section Question Maximum Student’s

Score Score
A 1 – 12 25
13 09
14 12
B 15 10
16 10
17 07
Total Score 80

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Turn over
 SECTION A (25 MARKS)
1. The diagram below sshows a section of a micrometer screw gauge . Give the reading shown
(2mks)

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2. In an experiment to determine the density of liquid X, a student obtained the following date:
- Mass an empty density bottle = 55.0g.
- Mass of the density bottle + water = 80.0g.
- Mass of the density bottle + liquid x = 70g.
Determine the density of liquid x (density of water is 1000kg/m3) (3mks)

3. (a) State the Pascals principle. (1mk)

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(b) If the cross-sectional area of the output piston in a hydraulic device is ten times that of the
imput pistons area, by how much will the device multiply the input force? (1mk)
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4. Two beakers contains equal volumes of water and ethanol. A crystal of potassium
permanganate is placed in the liquids at the bottom of each of the beakers. In which beaker
will the diffusion be faster given that the two liquids are at the same temperature? Explain.
(2mks)
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5. The figure 4.0 shows a rod made of wood on one end and metal on the other end suspended freely with a
piece of thread so that it is in equilibrium.

Thread
Metal Wood

Heat
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The side made of metal is heated with a bunsen burner flame. State with a reason, the side to which the rod
is likely to tilt. (2 marks)
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6. Clouds consist of very small drop of water. Explain why although water is much denser than
air clouds do not seem to fall. (1mk)
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7. Dams which hold water reservoirs are thick at the base than at the top.
Explain (1mark)
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8. Figure 3.0 shows a brick of mass 8.0kg standing upright on the ground as shown.

What is the pressure it exerts on the ground ? (g = 10Nkg-1) (3 marks)

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9. The Figure below shoes three toiy animals hanging from a rod . The rod hangs from the
ceiling by a string tied at the centre of the rod. The system is in equilibrium

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 Using principle of moments calaculate the weight of oy elephant (3mks)

10. Figure below shows a loop of cotton thread tied onto a wire frame. The figure is dipped into a
soap solution and withdrawn.

Loopofthread

A
Soapfilm
Wireframe

Illustrate the shape of the loop of thread when part A is broken by touching it with a hot needle.
(1 marks)
11. he diagram in fig 5.0 shows a section of a pipe with different cross-sectional area.

A Pipe
48cm² B 2cm²

If water flows with a velocity of 10m/s in section A, what would be the velocity of water in section B ?
(2marks)
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12. The figure below shows a U – tube containing two liquids L1 and L2 of densities 0.5g/cm3 and
0.8g/cm3 respectively floating on a water surface. If the system is in equilibrium, determine the
ratio h1: h2 (3mks)

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SECTION B(55 marks)

13. (a) Define the term mechanical advantage of a machine. (1mk)

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(b) Figure 11 shows a pulley system being used to raise a load.

This pulley system has an efficiency of 75%.

(i) Determine the velocity ratio of the system. (1mk)
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(ii) Calculate the mechanical advantage of the pulley system. (2mks)

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(iii) What effort is required to raise a load of 240kg? (2mks)
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(iv) Calculate the work done by a person using this machine in raising a load of 120kg
through a vertical distance of 2.5m (3mks)
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(c) Give two reasons to explain why the efficiency of a machine cannot be 100%.
(2mks)

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14. a) A boy throws a tennis ball vertically upwards from a truck moving at a constant velocity.
Give the reason why the ball lands back exactly the same point where it was projected.
(1 mark)
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b) Define impulse in terms of momentum. (1 mark)
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c) A trailer of mass 30 tonnes travelling at a velocity of 72km/h rams onto a stationary bus of
mass 10 tonnes. The impact takes 0.5 seconds before the two vehicles move off together at a
constant velocity for 15 seconds. Determine:
i) the common velocity (3 marks)
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ii) The distance moved after the impact (2 marks)
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iii) the impulsive force on the trailer on impact (3 marks)
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d) Give reasons why a safety seat belt used in a vehicle:

i) Should have a wide surface area (1
mark)
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ii) Should be slightly extensible (1
mark)
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15. (a) A motor car tyre is inflated so that the pressure is2 x 105 Nm-2 at a temperature of 17oC.
During a journey the tyre heats up to 47oC, what will be the new pressure? (Assume
that the tyre does not expand) (3mks)
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(b) Table 1 shows the results from Boyles Law experiment

Pressure (atmosphere) 1 1.3 1.5 1.8 2.3 2.6 3.2 3.7

Length of air column, L 41 30 27.5 22 18 16 12.5 11.0

(mm)
1
/L x 10-2 (mm-1)

(i) Complete the table by filling in the values of the last two rows (2mks)
(ii) Plot a graph of pressure against 1/L on the grid provided (4mks)
(iii) Estimate the pressure of the air column when the length of the air is zero (2mks)

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 16. The Figure below shows a graph of velocity against time for a moving body

(a) (i) Describe the motion between O and A (2mks)

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(ii) Determine the acceleration between A and B (2mks)
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(b) A body moving initially at 50ms-1 decelerates uniformly at 2ms-2 until it comes to rest .

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 What distance does it cover from the time it started to decelerate (3mks)
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(c) The initial velocity of a body of mass 50kg is 10ms-1. A constant resultant force of 15N
is then applied. How long will it take before the kinetic energy doubles (3mks)
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17. a) Explain why it is advisable to use a pressure cooker at high altitude. (2marks)
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b) Water of mass 3.0kg initially at 200C is heated in an electric kettle rated 3.0kW. The water is
heated until it boils at 100oC (take specific heat capacity of water = 4200Jkg-1k-1, heat capacity
of the kettle = 450Jkg-1 and specific latent heat of vaporization of water = 2.3MJkg-1j.

Determine:
(i)The heat absorbed by the water. (2 marks)

(ii)The heat absorbed by the electric kettle. (2 marks)

(iii)The time taken for the water to boil. (2marks)

(iv)How much longer it will take to boil all the water. (3marks)

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