#KathakwaSchool Physics Dept@2024 Tr.

Musyoka AM

ST PETER’S KATHAKWA SECONDARY SCHOOL

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education

231 PHYSICS FORM 1

TERM 1 - END-TERM – MARCH, 2024

TIME- 2HOURS
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Name…………………………………. Adm. No. …………. Date ……………

Candidate’s Signature……….……….

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

a) Write your name and admission number in the spaces provided above.
b) Answer ALL the questions in the spaces provided below each question using English
ONLY.
c) All working must be clearly shown; marks may be awarded for correct steps even if the
answers are wrong.
d) Mathematical tables and non-programmable silent electronic calculators may be used.
(Take acceleration due to gravity g=10ms-2 and Density of water 1g/cm -3)

FOR EXAMINER’S USE ONLY

Total Marks Student’s Evaluation
Score(𝒙⁄𝟏𝟎𝟎) (Remarks)

100
…………..This paper has 13 printed pages. Ascertain all questions and pages are printed.………………..
………………………………...Success and Happy Holidays………………….……………………..

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THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
 #KathakwaSchool Physics Dept@2024 Tr.Musyoka AM

SECTION I: Answer All The Questions In The Space Provided (30marks)

1. Briefly explain how physics is related to biology (2marsk)
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2. Explain briefly the first aid measure that should be taken in case of;
a) Cut. (1mark)
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b) Poisoning. (1mark)
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3. A student was pushing a box on the table as shown below.

Name the forces acting on the box. (3marks)

P. ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

M. …………………………………………………………………………………………………

N. …………………………………………………………………………………………………

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THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
 #KathakwaSchool Physics Dept@2024 Tr.Musyoka AM

4. A butcher has a beam balance and masses 0.5 kg and 2 kg. How would he measure 1.5 kg of meat
on the balance at once? (3marks)
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5. Name two kinds forces that determine the shape of a liquid drop on solid surface. (2marks)

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6. A sphere of radius 21.0 cm is mounted into a thin uniform wire of radius 0.7mm calculate the
length of the wire in meters. (take π =22/7) (4marks)

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THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
 #KathakwaSchool Physics Dept@2024 Tr.Musyoka AM

7. The swimmer below weighs 400N in water.

If the up thrust force is 300N.calculate its weight in air. (3marks)

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8. The Figure below shows a toy boat. A piece of soap is attached to end A and then the toy placed on
a surface of clean water.
A B

State the observation that would be made immediately. (1 marks)

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9. a). Name the right type of tape measure for measuring the following length: (3mks)
i). the length of a hockey field……………………………………….…………………………..
ii). the waist of a student……………………………………….…………………………………
iii). the length of a desk…………………………………………………………………………..
b). Distinguish between basic(fundamental)physical quantity and derived physical quantity. (2mks)
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THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
 #KathakwaSchool Physics Dept@2024 Tr.Musyoka AM

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10. a). State any two sources of error when using a meter rule to measure length. (2mrks)
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b). What one precautions should be observed when using a tape measure to avoid an error?
(1mrks)
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c). State any two advantages of electrical balance (top pan balance) over the beam balance
(mechanical type). (2mrks)

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THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
 #KathakwaSchool Physics Dept@2024 Tr.Musyoka AM

SECTION B (70 MARKS): Answer all the questions in the space provided
10.
a) Define the term density and give its SI unit. (2marks)
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b) The mass of 25cm3 of ivory was found to be 0.045kg. Calculate the density of ivory in SI
units. (3maks)
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c) 100cm3 of water of density 1g/cm3 is mixed with 400cm3 of ethanol of density 800kg/m3.
Calculate
I. The total volume of the mixture. (2marks)
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II. The total mass of the mixture. (2marks)
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III. The density of the mixture in SI units. (2marks)
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THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
 #KathakwaSchool Physics Dept@2024 Tr.Musyoka AM

d) The figure below shows the change in volume of water in a measuring cylinder when an
irregular solid is immersed in it.

160 cm3 160 cm3

120cm3 120 cm3

80cm3 80 cm3

40 cm3 40 cm3

0 cm3 0 cm3

Given that the mass of the solid is 268g, determine the density of the solid in SI units. (3 marks)
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11. Study the diagram bellow which is used to determine density of liquids and solids.

a) Name the apparatus above. (1mark)

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b) State ONE precautions when using the apparatus. (1mark)

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THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
 #KathakwaSchool Physics Dept@2024 Tr.Musyoka AM

c) In an experiment to determine the density of a certain solid M, using the above apparatus, the
following readings were obtained;
 Mass of the empty apparatus =20g
 Mass of apparatus full of water=70g
 Mass of apparatus, solid M =90g
 Mass of apparatus, solid M and water =110g.
Calculate;
i. Mass of water in the apparatus. (1mark)
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ii. Volume of the water in (i) above. (2marks)
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iii. Volume of the density bottle. (1mark)
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iv. Mass of solid M in SI unit. (2marks)
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v. Density of solid M in SI unit (3marks)
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THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
 #KathakwaSchool Physics Dept@2024 Tr.Musyoka AM

12.
a) Name one method used to determine volume of irregular shaped objects. (1mark)
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b) State two conditions under which the above method works. (2marks)
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c) The initial level of water in a burette was 32cm3. Some 20 drops of water each of volume 0.4cm3 are
added. Find its final reading. (2marks)
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d) A length of 550cm of them thread wraps around a cylindrical tin exactly 25times. Calculate the
radius of the cylinder in SU unit. (3marks)

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13.
a) Define the term force and state its SI unit (2marks)

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THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
 #KathakwaSchool Physics Dept@2024 Tr.Musyoka AM

b) State any THREE effects of force. (3 marks)

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c) Name the type of force that:

i. Attracts bodies toward the centre of the earth. (1mark)
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ii. Opposes motion between two surfaces in contact. (1mark)
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iii. Makes an object appear lighter when being lifted out of water. (1mark)
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iv. Attracts pieces of papers to a plastic ruler when the ruler is rubbed on hair. (1mark)
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v. Enables a body to move in a circular motion. (1mark)
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d) i). Differentiate between scalar and vector quantity. (2marks)

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THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
 #KathakwaSchool Physics Dept@2024 Tr.Musyoka AM

ii). Give two examples of:

I). Scalar quantity (2mrks)

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II) Vector quantity (2mrks)

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e) An object weighs 7N on earth where acceleration due to gravity is 10N/kg. Find the
acceleration due to gravity on another planet where the same object weighs 5N. (3 marks)
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14.
a) State two factors to consider when choosing a measuring instrument. (2marks)

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b) Define the following terms stating their SI unit;

i. Length. (2mark)
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ii. Volume. (2mark)

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THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
 #KathakwaSchool Physics Dept@2024 Tr.Musyoka AM

iii. Time. (2mark)

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iv. Mass. (2mark)
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c) Give the name of the error that occurs when the position of the eye is not perpendicular to the
metre rule scale. (1mark)

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d) State FOUR differences between mass and weight (4marks)

Mass Weight

e) Outline the procedure when using a metre rule. (3marks)

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