DABIL SECONDARY

PHYSICS BANK OF QUESTIONS

FORM ONE
TOPIC ONE; Introduction to physics
1. choose the most correct answer
i. People who study physics are known as
A. physikos B. scientists C. physicists D. philosophers C
ii) Physics is;
A. a quantitative science B. an experimental science C. the most basic science
D. analytical science B
iii. Which of the following best describes why the knowledge of physics is
necessary to understand all other sciences
A. physics explains how energy passes from one object to another
B. physics explains how gravity works D
C. physics explains the motion of objects that can be seen with the naked eye
D. physics explains the fundamental aspects of the universe
iv .The following set represents set of branches of physics except;
A. Agribusiness, mechanics and molecules
B. Heat, mechanics and electricity A
C. Biophysics geophysics, chemo physics and astrophysics
D. Wave , physics of the atom and radionuclides
2. State the fve importance of studying physics in your daily life
Answer
i) The study of physics enables a person to answer questions about physical
properties of matter.
ii) Physics enables us to acquire knowledge and skills in diferent professions
such as engineering, nursing and teaching.
iii) Physics helps to understand the working principles of home appliances
such as electric iron, thermos fask and television

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iv) Physics enables us to acquire knowledge and skills that are applied in
designing of instruments like car jacks, engines and pulleys
v) Physics helps to answer questions like why some materials are attracted
by magnets and why the sky looks blue?.

3. Describe four areas where physics is applied

Answer
The following are the areas where physics is applied;
i) In hospitals
ii) In industry
iii) At home
iv) In transport
4. What is the importance of mathematics in physics?
(Answer; the importance of mathematics in physics is that mathematical
relations are used in expressing physics concepts.
Example, force (f) is directly proportional to extension (e)
Fαe
F = ke
5. Some of the transport vessels that rely on the laws of physics are
i)………… ii) ………………. Iii) …………….. iv……………..
Answer
i. ship ii) Aeroplane iii) car iv) motorcycle
1. Explain how you will apply physics in your daily life.
Answer
i) I will apply physics in transport to design vessels used in transportation
like bicycle and motorcycle.
ii) I will apply physics in industry to design instruments like sawmills used
for cutting wood and crane used for lifting heavy loads
iii) I will apply physics at home to construct simple machinery tools used to
simplify work like hammers, car jacks and door handles.

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iv) I will apply physics in hospital to operate machines like x-rays and
ultrasound.
6. Describe any four branches of physics
Answer
i) Mechanics
- Is the branch of physics that deals with objects either stationary or in
motion under the infuence of force on them
ii) Heat
-Is the branch of physics that deals with efects of heat supplied to an
object such efects include expansion and change of state
Note. Heat is the form of energy that can be transferred from one point to
another with diferent in temperature.
iii) Geophysics
- Is the branch of physics which deals with the study of the interior and
exterior structure of the earth.
iv) Astronomy
- Is the branch of physics which deals with the study of the universe and
everything in it.

7. Write the application of physics in the following areas; hospital, transport, aviation
and meteorological agencies
Answer
In hospital
- machines used in hospitals for treatment and diagnosis of various
diseases like x-ray and ultrasound are designed using knowledge and
skills of physics, also people who operate those machines must have
knowledge of physics.
In transport
- Vessels used in transportation like aero plane, train and ship are made by
using knowledge and skills of physics

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In meteological agencies
- meteological agencies use an instrument like rain rain gauge to measure
rainfall which is designed and constructed using the knowledge of
physics. Also they use wind vane which is constructed by using the
knowledge of physics to measure direction of the wind.
Note. Meteology deals with the study of weather and climate while
meteological agencies are people dealing with weather and climate
In aviation
- Aviation refers to fying using aeroplanes, helicopters, balloons and all
activities related to fight.
In aviation; balloons, engines of aeroplanes and helicopters are made
using the knowledge of physics.
9. Physics is a fun subject .What does the statement mean?
Answer
Physics is fun subject, this statement means physics enable us to enjoy
through studying practically, also the knowledge of physics is used in
sports and games to design instruments like exercise machine, ball and
bouncing castles
10. Name any six celestial objects that you can observe in a clear night sky.
(Answer; The following are the celestial objects I can observe in a clear
night sky; stars, moon, asteroids, comets, galaxy and meteors

TOPIC TWO: INTRODUCTION TO LABORATORY PRACTICE

1. Choose the most correct answer
i. When large body of experimental evidence supports or does not support a
hypothesis, what May hypothesis eventually be considered?
A. Observation B. insight C. conclusion D. law A
ii. Which of the following best describes a variable?
A. A trend that show an exponential relationship
B. Something whose value can change over multiple measurement B

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C. A measure of how much a plot line changes along y-axis
D. Something that remains constant over multiple measurement
2. Fill in the blanks below
i. first aid is the immediate assistance given to a victim before getting professional
medical help
ii. Take the victim to hospital If he or she does not regain consciousness
3. Briefly answer the following questions
a) What is physics laboratory
b) List ten laboratory rules
c) Name fve items found in frst aid kit and state their uses
d) Why is necessary to wear gloves when giving frst aid to a bleeding person?
(Answer: In order to prevent direct contact with victim’s blood)
4. Outline fve features of good laboratory
Answer
A good physics should have the following features
i) Water supply
ii) Electricity supply system
iii) Drainage system
iv) Well ventilated
v) Enough light
5. What should you do in the laboratory in the event of the following situations?
a) You need to carry out an experiment but there is no body in the laboratory?
(Answer; I ask permission from a teacher or laboratory technician)
b) You have just fnished your physics experiment for a day
(Answer: I will clean the working area)
c) Your partner is cut by glass during the experiment
(Answer; I will report the accident to the teacher)
d) You want to burn waste papers
(Answer; I will burn the waste papers out of the laboratory)
e) Your partner breaks a beaker

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(Answer; I will report to the teacher or laboratory technician)
f) One of your partners suggests that you take the apparatus out of the laboratory in
order to fnish experiment at home
(Answer; I will not take the apparatus out of the laboratory because it is
not allowed according to the laboratory rules)
g) Your partner wants to insert bare wire in an electric plug
(I will advise him/her that bare wire cannot be inserted in an electric plug
because it can cause electric shock)
6. Identify warning signs that are found within your school environment, on the road
and at home
Answer
Warning signs found within school environment
I) fammable, found on containers with spirit and kerosene)
ii) Fragile, found on box with beaker and test tubes
iii) Corrosive, found on bottles with concentrated acids
Warning signs found on the road
i. Road signs
ii. Danger of an electric shock found on electric transmission wires
Warning signs found at home
i) fammable , found in containers with petrol and kerosene
ii) fragile, found on containers with delicate material like glass cups
iii) Danger of an electric shock, found in houses with electric fence

7. How to give frst aid to victim to a victim of ;

a) Electric shock
b) cuts
c) Burns
8. Briefly explain the importance of forming hypothesis before doing an experiment.
(Answer: Help to make prediction a testable statement that describes what
you think the outcome of an investigation will be.)

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OR
(Help to design the experiment and the expected results)
9. State six classes of fre and their most appropriate fre extinguishers
10. Why it is important for all apparatus used in the electrical experiments to be
thoroughly dried? Explain
(Answer: In order to avoid electric shock)

11. a) what is a scientifc method?

b) Use a diagram to name all the steps involved in scientifc investigation.
c) As part of their study, form two students were asked to fnd out whether girls
in their class perform better than boys in physics. If you were one of them
i. ask the questions
(Answer: Are the girls in the class perform better than boys?)
iii. Propose the hypothesis
(Answer: Girls in the class perform better than boys)
iv. Carry out an experiment to test your hypothesis
(Answer: Providing the examination)
65% of girls performed well while 20% of boys performed well the
examination
v) Draw a conclusion from your experiment.
(From the experiment, girls in the class perform better than boys)
12. Draw the following apparatus and state its uses:
a) Beaker b) micrometer screw gauge c) spring balance
Answer
a

- Used to heat liquids

-Used to measure volume of liquids

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b) - used to measure diameter of very small objects like
wire and ball bearing

c) -used to measure force/weight of an object

13. A student investigated the strength of diferent fridge magnets by putting small
sheets of paper between each magnet and the fridge door. The student measured
the maximum number of sheets of paper that each magnet was able to hold in place.
Why was it important that each small sheet of paper had the same thickness?
(Answer: So that there is only one independent variable to compare results
for each magnet)
Before starting investigation, the student wrote the following hypothesis, “The
bigger the area of a fridge magnet the stronger the magnet will be” The student’s
results are given below in table
Fridge magnet Area of magnet in mm2 Number of sheets of paper
A 40 20
B 110 16
C 250 6
D 340 8
E 1350 4

Give one reason why the results from the investigation do not support the student’s
hypothesis.
(Answer: The results do not support the student’s hypothesis because the
magnet with the biggest area was not the strongest)
Note. It is common misunderstanding that bigger magnets should be
stronger. This is not the case as the results show that magnet A was the
strongest despite having the smallest area.
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TOPIC THREE: MEASUREMENT
1. Choose the most correct answer
i. To measure length using a metre rule, wrong position of the eye leads to;
A. Parallax error A
B. Eye error
C. Zero error
D. Metre error
ii. Which of the following instruments is most suitable for measuring the internal
diameter of 100ml beaker?
A. State is changed B. vernier caliper C. measuring tape D. External caliper
B
iii. A cuboid with length 3cm, width 4cm, and height 10 cm is made from wood. the
actual volume of a cuboid is;
A. 120 cm3 B. 240 ml C. 120 m3 D. 240 cm3 A
2. a) Diferentiate between the mass and volume of a substance
b) Figure below shows a measuring cylinder containing water before and after a
stone is immersed. What is the volume of the stone?

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Solution
Volume of the stone = final volume of water – initial volume of water
= 600cm3- 300cm3 = 300cm3
The volume of stone is 300cm3
3. a) Figure below shows a metre rule being used to measure the text book.

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What is the appropriate length of a book?
Solution
The appropriate length of a book = 24.9cm – 22cm = 2.9cm
= 2.9cm
b) Explain why it is advised to start at the mark beyond 1 cm when taking
measurement using a metre rule
(Answer: Because the metre rule may be corroded at the edge and it will be
difficult to get an accurate reading)

4. A physics student obtained the following results for the diameter of the same wire
from an experiment: 0.35mm, 0.36mm and 0.34mm. Calculate the diameter of the
wire.
Solution
The diameter of the wire is obtained by finding the average of
Diameter 0.35mm, 0.36mm and 0.34mm.
= 0.35mm + 0.36mm + 0.34mm
3
= 0.35mm
Diameter of the wire is 0.35mm

5. A rectangular block measures height 1.00cm, width 2.50cm and length 4.00cm.
a) What instrument was used to measure the sides of the rectangular block?
(Answer: The instrument used to measure the sides of the rectangular
block is vernier caliper)
b) Calculate the volume of the rectangular block.
Solution
Volume of rectangular block = length x height x width
= 4cm x 2.5cm x 1cm
= 10cm3
The volume of the rectangular block is 10cm3

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6. When a piece of wood is put in a graduated cylinder containing water, the level of
water rises from 17.7cm3 to 18.5cm3. Find the volume of the wood
Solution
Given
Initial volume of water = 17.7cm3
Final volume of water = 18.5cm3
Volume of the wood = final volume of water – initial volume of water
= 18.5cm3- 17.7cm3 = 0.8cm3
The volume of the wood is 0.8cm3
7. A piece of copper of volume 5.1cm3 has a mass of 41.6g. Calculate the density and
relative density of copper.
Solution
Given
Mass of copper (m) = 41.6g
Volume of copper (v) 5.1cm3
Density = m/v
= 41.6g/5.1cm3 = 8.16g/cm3
Relative density R.D = density of copper
Density of water
R.D = 8.16g/cm3
1g/cm3

= 8.16
The relative density of copper is 8.16

8. A stone has mass of 112.5g when the stone is totally immersed in water contained
in measuring cylinder, displaced water from 50cm3 to 95cm3. Find the density of
the stone.
Solution
Given
Mass of stone m = 112.5g
Volume of stone =final volume of water – initial volume of water

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= 95cm3 – 50cm3 = 45cm3
Volume of stone = 45cm3
Density of the stone = mass of stone
Volume of stone

= 112.5g = 2.5g/cm3
45cm3

The density of the stone is 2.5g/cm3

9. The mass of an empty density bottle was 50g. When flled with a certain liquid of
volume 20cm3 its mass became 75g. fnd
a) Density of liquid
b) Relative density of liquid
Solution
a) Given
Volume of liquid v = 20cm3
Mass of empty bottle = 50g
Mass of bottle+ liquid = 75g
Mass of liquid = mass of bottle with liquid- mass of empty bottle
= 75g- 50g = 25g
Density = m/v
= 25g/20cm3 = 1.25g/cm3
The density of the liquid is 1.25g/cm3
B) The relative density of liquid
= density of liquid
Density of water

= 1.25g/cm3
1g/cm3
The relative density of liquid is 1.25

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10. The mass of density bottle is 18g when empty, 44g when full of water and 39.84g
when full of liquid X. Determine
i. The relative density of liquid
ii. The density of liquid X
i. Solution
Mass of empty bottle M0 = 18g
Mass of bottle with liquid x M1 = 39.84g
Mass of bottle with water M2 = 44g
Relative density of liquid y = mass of liquid x
Mass of an equal volume of water
Mass of liquid x = M1 – M0
Mass of an equal volume of water = M2 – M0
R.D = M1- M0
M2- M0

= 39.84g – 18g
44g – 18g

= 21.84g/26g = 0.84
The relative density of liquid x is 0.84
iii. Relative density = density of liquid x
Density of water
Density of liquid x = relative density x density of water
= 0.84 x 1g/cm3 = 0.84g/cm3
The density of liquid x is 0.84g/cm3
11. In an experiment to determine the relative density of liquid Y, form one physics
students obtained the following results after various measurements
Mass of empty bottle = 15g
Mass of bottle + liquid Y = 35g
Mass of bottle + water = 40g
Volume of bottle = 25cm3
Calculate
a) The density of water in Kg/m3
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b) The density of liquid Y in Kg/m3
c) The relative density of liquid
Solution
a) mass of water = (mass of bottle + water) – mass of empty bottle
= 40g – 15g = 25g
Mass 0f water = 25g
Volume of water = volume 0f the bottle = 25cm3
Density of water = mass of water/ volume of water
= 25g/25cm3 = 1g/cm3
Density of water is 1g/cm3
b) given
Mass of liquid y = (mass of bottle + liquid y) – mass of empty bottle
= 35g – 15g = 20g
Volume of liquid y= volume of bottle = 25cm3
Density of liquid y = mass of liquid y
Volume of liquid y

= 20g/25cm3 = 0.8g/cm3
The density of liquid y is 0.8g/cm3
c) Relative density of liquid y = density of liquid y
Density of water
3
= 0.84g/cm
1g/cm3

The relative density of liquid y is 0.84

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12.

12. What is the correct reading for the micrometer screw gauges shown in fgure below

Solution
Main scale/ sleeve scale = 7.5mm

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Thimble scale reading = 38 divisions x 0.01mm = 0.38mm
Reading = main scale reading + thimble scale reading
= 7.5mm + 0.38mm
Reading = 7.88mm

13. Determine the diameter of an object using vernier caliper below

Solution
Main scale = 0.3cm
Vernier scale = 5 divisions x 0.01cm = 0.05cm
Total reading = main scale + vernier scale
= 0.3cm + 0.05cm = 0.35cm
The diameter of an object is 0.35cm
14. a) The density of water is 1000kg/m3. What does it imply?
Answer
It imply that 1 cubic metre (m3) of water has a mass of 1000kg
b) The length of one side of a metal cube is 5.22cm and its mass is 65.8g. What is
the density of a cube?
Solution
Mass of a cube = 65.8g
Length of a cube = 5.22cm
Cube has equal sides
Volume of a cube = length x length x length
= 5.22cm x 5.22cm x 5.22cm = 142.24cm 3
Volume of a cube V = 142.24cm3
Density of a cube = mass
volume

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= 65.8g
142.24cm 3

Density of a cube is 0.46g/cm3

15. If the volume of an object is increased while its mass is held constant, what
happens to its density?
Answer
If the volume of an object is increased at constant mass its density
decreases.
Note. Density varies inversely proportional to volume
16. If a 200g solid lead ball is placed in a eureka can flled with water, what
volume of water will overflow?
Solution
Given
Mass of solid ball = 200g
Density of water = 1g/cm3
Volume of water that will overfow when ball is placed in eureka can
=?
From
Density of water = mass
Volume
1g/cm3 = 200g
Volume = 200cm3
Volume of water is 200cm3
17. The diameter of a solid sphere is measured by using a micrometer screw
gauge shown in the fgure below.

If the mass of the sphere is 0.45g. What is the density of the metal used to
make the sphere?
Solution
First step find the diameter of the solid sphere
Main scale = 4.5mm
Thimble scale = (31divions x 0.01mm) = 0.31mm
Total reading = main scale + thimble scale
= 4.5mm + 0.31mm = 4.81mm
Diameter of a solid sphere = 4.81mm = 0.481cm
Radius of solid sphere = 0.481 = 0.241cm
2

Second step, find the volume of solid sphere

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V = 4πr3
3
= 4 x 3.14 x (0.241cm)3
3
V = 0.0586cm3
Density of the sphere = mass
Volume
= 0.45g
0.0586cm3
Density of solid sphere is 7.7g/cm3

TOPIC FOUR: FORCE

1. Match item in column A with its corresponding item in column B. Then write the
latter of the correct response in the provided space.
Column A Answer Column B
1. Stretching B A. Efect of magnet on iron
2. Attraction A B. Force in string
3. Friction D C. Compression of rigid
material such as spring
4. Viscosity E D. Rough surface
5. Restoring C E. motion in fluid

2. Fill in the blanks in the following items.

a) Force is an external agent which pull/push or tends to change the state of rest or
uniform motion of a body.
b) The force of gravity always attracts objects towards the earth.
c) The force of electromagnetic force attracts pieces of paper
d) Electromagnetic force can pull objects made of iron
Note: electromagnetic force includes electric and magnetic forces, it is
attractive or repulsive in nature.
e) Frictional force always opposes the motion of a body
3. A falling object is pulled down by the earth. The earth is pulled up by the object.
Why doesn’t the earth move?
(Answer; the earth doesn’t move because the earth has large mass
compared to that of an object)

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4. If an object weighs 30N on the earth. What is its mass?
SOLUTION
Given
Weight (W) = 30N
Force due to gravity (g) = 10N/kg
W = mg
M = W/g
= 30N
10N/kg
= 3kg
Mass of an object on the earth is 3kg

5. If an object has mass of 200g on the earth, how much would it weigh on the moon?
( given force due to gravity is 1.67N/Kg)
Solution
Mass of an object on the earth = mass of an object on the moon = 200g
Mass of an object on the moon = 200g = 0.2kg
Note. Mass of an object is constant at any place
Force due to gravity on the moon g = 1.67N/kg
W = mg
= 0.2kg x 1.67N/kg
= 0.334N
The moon would weigh 0.334N
6. An object weighs 200N on the earth. What would be its mass on the moon? Given
gearth = 10N/kg
Solution
Given
Weight on the earth = 200N
gearth= 10N/kg

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Weight of an object on the earth = mass of object on the earth x force due
to gravity
w = mg
m = w/g
= 200N
10N/kg
= 20kg
Mass on the earth = 20kg
Mass of object on the earth = mass of an object on the moon = 20kg
Mass of an object on the moon is 20kg

7. How much do you weigh on the earth? Would you weigh the same on the moon?
Explain your answer.
Solution
Am weigh 650N on the earth, I will not weigh the same on the moon
because the force of gravity on the moon is less than that on the earth
8. (a) Give four differences between mass and weight
(b. A man has a mass of 70kg. Determine
(i) His weight on earth
(ii) His weight on the moon
Given gearth = 10N/kg, gmoon = 1.67N/kg
Solution
i. Weight of man on earth = mass of man x gearth
= 70kg x 10N/kg
= 700N
Weight of man on earth is 700N
ii) Weight of man on the moon = mass of man x gmoon
= 70kg x 1.67N/kg
= 116.9N
Weight of man on the moon is 116.9N

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Note: mass is constant at any place, thus mass of man on the earth is the same as mass of
man on the moon
9. Is an astronaut in space completely weightless? Explain your answer.
(Answer: Yes, An astronaut in space is completely weightless due to absence of gravity)
10. Estimate your mass on the earth. If you are standing on the moon, do you think your mass on the
moon will be the same? Discuss your answers
(I have mass of 60kg on the earth, if I stand on the moon the mass remain the same since
mass is constant at any place)
11. From figures below identify the force(s) that are acting
a) Force ……
(Answer: force of gravity)

c) Forces are …… and ………

(Weight and normal force/reaction)

c. Forces are…. And …….

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(Answer: weight and buoyant force/ upthust)

d) Forces are ………….. And …………….

(Answer: weight and friction)

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12. Suppose that the force on a spring balance is unreadable. When a 150g object is
hung from the scale the pointer moves down a distance of 3cm as shown in the
fgure below.

The object is then placed on a table and reattached to the spring balance as shown
in fgure below

The scale is then pulled to the right and at the moment the object begins to move,
the pointer is found to have moved 1.2cm to the left. What is the force between the
object and the table?

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TOPIC FIVE: ARCHIMEDES PRINCIPLE AND LAW OF FLOATATION
1. Explain the following terms;
a) Floating b) sinking c) Up thrust d ) Actual weight e) Apparent weight
Answer
a) Floating – Is the tendency of an object to remain on the surface of fuid
b) Sinking – Is the tendency of an object to fall or drop to lower levels in a
fuid
c) Upthust – Is an upward force acting on a body when immersed in a fuid
d) Actual weight – Is the weight of a body in air
e) Apparent weight – Is the weight of a body in a fuid
18. An object weighs 60N when in air and 40N when immersed in water. What is its ;
a) Upthrust b) Relative density c) density
Solution
a) Upthrust = weight in air – weight in water
= 60N – 40N = 20N
Upthrust is 20N
b) Relative density R.d
R.d = weight in air
Upthust

= 60N =3
20N
The relative density is 3

c) Density
R.d = density of substance
Density of water

3 = density of substance

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1g/cm3
Density of substance is 3g/cm3
19. An object is hung from a spring balance it. If it weighs 40N in air and 30N when
immersed in water
a) Calculate upthrust on the object
b) Determine the weight of the displaced water
c) What is the mass of the displaced water
d) What is the volume of displaced water
e) Calculate the relative density of the object
f) Calculate the density of the object
Solution
a) Uphrust on the object = weight in air – weight in water
= 40N – 30N = 10N
Upthrust is 10N
b) Weight of displaced water = upthust
Weight of displaced water is 10N
c) Mass of displaced
From
Weight of displaced water = mass of displaced water x force due to gravity
W = mg
10N = m x 10N/kg
M = 1kg
Mass of displaced water is 1kg
d) Volume of displaced water
From
Density of water = mass of displaced water
Volume of displaced water
Density of water = 1000kg/m3

1000kg/m3 = 1kg
Volume of displaced water

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= 1/1000 = 0.001m3
Volume of displaced water is 0.001m3
e) Relative density of an object
R.D = Real weight/weight in air
Upthrust
R.D = 40N
10N
=4
The relative density of an object is 4
f) Density of an object
R.D = density of an object
Density of water

4 = density of an object
1000kg/m3
Density of an object is 4000kg/m3
20. In an experiment to determine the relative density of liquid, a solid Q weighed as
follows.
Weight in air----- (W0) = 8.6N
Weight in water (W1) = 6.0N
Weight in liquid (W3) = 5.4N
Calculate
i. Relative density of liquid ii. Density of liquid
Solution
i. Relative density = upthrust in liquid
Upthrust in water
Upthrust in liquid = weight of stone in air W0 – weight in liquid W3
Upthrust in water = weight of stone in air W0 – weight in water W2
R.d = W0 – W3
W0 – W2

= 8.6N – 5.4N
8.6N – 6.0N

= 3.2N

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2.6N

= 1.23
The relative density of liquid is 1.23
ii. Density of liquid
R.d = density of liquid
Density of water

1.23 = density of liquid

1g/cm3
The density of liquid is 1.23g/cm3
21. A) state law of floatation
Answer
Law of fotation states that “A foating body displaces its own weight of the
fuid in which it foats”
b) A ship has mass of 1000tonnes and floats in sea water of density 1023.6kg/m 3.
Calculate the amount of water displaced
Solution
Given
Mass = 1000tonnes = 1,000,000kg since
1 tone = 1000kg
Density of sea water = 1023.6kg/m3
Amount of water displaced means volume of water displaced
From
Mass of sea water displaced = Mass of a ship = 1,000,000kg
Mass of sea water displaced = 1,000,000kg
Density of water = mass of sea water displaced
Volume of sea water displaced

1023.6kg/m3 = 1,000,000kg
Volume of sea water displaced

Volume of sea water displaced or amount of water displaced =976.94m 3

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY
22. Listed below are the dimensions and mass of various objects. Identify one that
would float on water.
a) A 5cm cube with mass of 200g
b) A solid sphere with radius of 5cm and mass of 200g
c) A rectangular solid with dimensions of 10cm x 5cm x 2cm and mass of 200g
d) A solid cylinder whose height is 10 cm. base radiuses is 3cm and mass is 200g.
Solution
The object that would foat on water is the one with lower density than the
density of water
a) Density of cube = mass of cube
Volume of cube
Cube has equal sides
Volume of cube = l x l xl
= 5cm x 5cm x 5cm = 125cm 3
Volume of cube = 125cm3
Mass of cube = 200g
Density = 200g/125cm3
=1.6g/cm3
b) Density of solid sphere of radius 5cm and mass of 200g

Volume of sphere = 4πr3

3

= 4x 3.14x (5cm)3
3

Volume of solid sphere = 523.3cm3

Density of sphere = 200g
523.3cm3 =
0.38g/cm3

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

The density of solid sphere is 0.38g/cm3
c) Density of rectangular solid with dimensions 10cm x 5cm x 2cm and mass
of 200g
Density = mass/volume
Volume of rectangular solid = l x h x b
= 10cm x 5cm x 2cm
V= 100cm 3
Density = 200g
100cm3

= 2g/cm3
d) The density of solid cylinder with height of 10cm , radius of 3cm and mass
of 200g
Volume of cylinder = πr2h
= 3.14 x (3cm)2 x 10cm = 282.6cm3
Density = 200g
282.6cm3

Density of solid cylinder is 0.7g/cm3

Therefore, the object that would foat on water is solid sphere because it
has lowest density of 0.38g/cm3
23. An object floats in water with 40% of its volume submerged.
a) If the object was placed in methanol with density of 0.79 g/cm 3, what percentage of
the volume would be submerged?
Solution
Weight of an object = upthrust in water = upthust in methanol= weight of
liquid displaced
Upthrust in water = weight of water displaced
Upthrust in methanol = weight of methanol displaced
Weight of water displaced Ww = weight of methanol displaced Wm
Weight = mass x force due to gravity
Mwg = Mmg

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

Mass = density x volume
PwVwg = PmVmg
Volume of object submerged in water =volume of water displaced = 40% of
the whole volume of an object = 40%Vo or 0.4Vo
1g/cm3x0.4 Vo x g = 0.79g/cm3 x Vm x g
Vm/Vo = 0.4/0.79
= 0.506 x 100% = 50.6%
Percentage of volume would be submerged is 50.6%

b) If it were placed in carbon tetrachloride with a density 1.58 g/cm 3, what percentage
of its volume would be submerged?
Weight of an object = upthrust in water = upthrust in tetrachloride =
weight of liquid displaced
Upthrust in water = weight of water displaced
Upthrust in carbon tetrachlorid =weight of carbon tetrachloride displaced
Weight of object =weight of water displaced = weight of carbon
tetrachloride displaced
Mw g = Mc g
PwVw g = PcVc g
But volume of water displaced Vw = volume of object submerged in water =
40%Vo or 0.4Vo
1g/cm3 x 0.4Vo = 1.58g/cm3 x Vc
Vc/Vo = 0.4/1.58
= 0.2531 x 100%
=25.31%
Percentage of volume would be submerged is 25.31%

24. Icebergs are hazardous to shipping because so much of their volume is below the sea
level. If the density of sea water is 1025Kg/m3 and the density of ice is 919 Kg/m3
what percentage of iceberg is below the water level?

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

Solution
Weight of iceberg = upthrust
But upthrust = weight of liquid displaced after immersing iceberg
Weight of iceberg = weight of water displaced
Wi = W w
Mig = Mwg
PiVi g = PwVwg
PiVi = PwVw
919kg/m3 x Vi = 1025kg/m3 x Vw
Vi/Vw = 919/1025 = 0.8965
0.8965 x 100%
=89.7%
The percentage of iceberg below the water level is 89.7%
10. a) draw a well labeled diagram of hydrometer
c) Why the stem of hydrometer is made thin?
(Answer: The stem is made thin to allow great change in height for a small
change in density)
d) The hydrometer below shown is used to measure the densities of liquid between 1
g/cm3 and 0.8 g/cm3. Assume the density of water = 1 g/cm3 the cross-section area of
the stem is 0.5 m2 and the height of the stem above the liquid level is16cm.
Determine the volume of hydrometer below 1.0 mark (Answer: V = 32cm3)

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

Solution
Weight of hydrometer at 1 mark when immersed in water= weight of water
displaced
Wh =Ww
= Mwg but Mw = density x volume
= pvwg

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

Vw = volume of water displaced when hydrometer is immersed to a
1mark =volume of hydrometer below 1 mark (v2)
Wh= 1g/cm3 x V2 x g …………. (i)
Weight of hydrometer at 0.8 mark when immersed in water = weight of
water displaced
Wh = W w
Wh = Mwg but Mw = density x volume
= pvwg
Vw = volume of water displaced when hydrometer is immersed to a 0.8
mark = volume hydrometer from 0.8 mark and below (Vh)
Wh = pvhg
Volume of hydrometer at 0.8 mark Vh = volume of stem (Vs) + volume of
hydrometer below 1 mark (V2)
Vh = Vs + V2
Wh = p x (Vs + V2) x g
Volume of the stem (Vs) = area of stem A x length of stem L
= Al
= 0.5cm2 x 16cm = 8cm3
Vs = 8cm3
Wh = 0.8g/cm3 x (8cm3 + V2) x g ………….. (ii)
Weight of hydrometer when immersed in water at 1 mark ( Wh) = weight of
hydrometer when immersed at 0.8 mark
1g/cm3 x V2 x g = 0.8g/cm3 x (8 + V2)
V2= 6.4 + 0.8V2
0.2V2 = 6.4
V2 = 32cm2
The volume of hydrometer below 1.0 mark (V2) is 32cm2

10. An object with volume of 150cm3 is found floating in water with 60% of its
volume submerged. What is the density of the object?

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

Solution
Weight of object = uphtrust in water = weight of water displaced
Mo x g = Mw x g
PoVo g =PwVw g
PoVo = PwVw
Po x 150cm3 = 1000kg/m3 x 60% x 150cm3
Po = 1000kg/m3 x 0.6
= 600kg/m3
The density of an object is 600kg/m3

25. a) (i) State Archimedes’ principle

(ii) A metal cube weighs 1∙ 0N in air and 0 ∙ 8N when totally immersed in water.
Calculate the volume of the cube and its density.
Answer
a) Archimedes principle states that “when a body is totally or partially
immersed in a fuid experiences an upthrust which is equal to the weight
of fuid displaced by the object”
b) Solution
Upthrust = weight in air – weight in water
= 1.0N – 0.8N
= 0.2N
Upthrust = weight of water displaced
Weight of water displaced = 0.2N
Weight of water displaced = mass of water displaced x force due to gravity
W = mg
But mass = density (P) x volume of water displaced (v)
W = pvg
V= w/pg
V= 0.2N
1000kg/m3 x 10N/kg

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

Volume of water displaced is 0.00002m3
b) A boat and canoes which are used in transport and fshing do not sink in water.
Name and state the law which make this possible.
(The law which make this possible is the law of foatation, which states
that “a foating body displaces its own weight in which it foats”)
12. A buoy of volume 40litres and mass 10kg is hold in position in sea water of

3
density 1.04g/cm3 by a light cable fxed to the bottom so that of the volume of
4
buoy is below the surface of the sea water.
a) Name the three forces that keep the buoy in equilibrium and state the direction
which acts by drawing diagrams.
b) Determine the tension in the cable.
c) Briefly explain the function of the prismoll line on a ship.
Solution

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

a)
The three forces acting on a buoy are weight (W), upthrust (U) and Tension
in a cable (T)
b) To determine tension in a cable
Weight of a buoy = mg
W = 10kg x 10N/kg
= 100N
Weight of a buoy = 100N
Upthrust acting on immersed part of buoy = weight of sea water displaced
Weight of water displaced = mass of water displaced x g
Volume of a whole buoy = 40litres
Volume of buoy below the surface of water = ¾ x 40litres = 30litres
Volume of water displaced = volume of immersed part of buoy below the
surface of sea water = 30litres

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

1litre = 1000cm3
30litres = ?
V = 30,000cm3
Mass of water displaced = 1.04g/cm3 x 30,000cm3 = 31200g
Mass = 31200g = 31.2kg
Weight of water displaced = mg
= 31.2kg x 10N/kg
= 312N
But upthrust = weight of water displaced = 312N
Since U>W
Tension (T) = Upthrust (U) – weight of a buoy (W)
T=U–W
= 312N – 100N = 212N
Tension in a cable is 212N
26.Suppose a 60kg woman floats in fresh water with 97% of her volume submerged
when her lungs are full of air. What is her average density? Take the density of
water to be 1000kg/m3
Solution
Weight of woman = upthrust in water = weight of water displaced
Wwoman =Wwater displaced
Mwoman x g = Mwater displaced x g
Pwoman x Vwoman x g = Pwater displaced x Vwater displaced x g
Pwoman x Vwoman = 1000kg/m3 x 97%Vwoman
Pwoman = 970kg/m3
The average density of woman is 970kg/m3

TOPIC 6: STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF MATTER

Choose the most correct answer
1. Which of the following statement is not true?

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

a) Matter is anything which has mass and occupies space D
b) The particle theory of matter states that matter is made up of a large number of
tiny and discrete particles
c) The kinetic energy of particles in matter increases as if its temperature
increases.
d) The particles in all kinds of matter are identical
2. Which one of the following items shows the correct comparison of the average
kinetic energy of the particles in solid, liquid and gas for a given substance?
a) Solid> liquid > gas B
b) Solid < liquid < gas
c) Solid = liquid = gas
3. Which one of the following statement is not true about the particles in gas?
a) The particles in gas move at high speed
b) The collision between the gas particles and the wall of the container is elastic
c) The gas particles move randomly in all direction D
d) The gas particles are arranged in regular patterns
4. The particle theory of matter states that “matter is made up of a large number of
tiny and discrete particles” which one of the following phenomenon supports this
hypothesis?
a) Brownian motion
b) The shape of the solid is fxed A
c) Difusion of bromine gas is vapour
d) The volume of a substance increases when it transforms from liquid into gas.
5. a) Distinguish between solid and liquid states
b. Explain why water has indefnite shape?
C, State kinetic theory of matter
Answer
a) Solid state is the one in which particles are closely packed to each other in
fixed position while liquid state is the one in which particles are slightly
farther apart to each other and do not have fixed position.

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

b) Water has indefinite shape because its molecules/particles are slightly
farther apart to each other and do not have fixed position.
c) Kinetic theory of matter states that “All matter are made up of very small
particles that are in constant motion”

6. a) state Hooke’s law and express it in mathematical form

Answer
Hooke’s states that “within elastic limit the extension is directly
proportional to the force applied”
Mathematically
Fαe
F = ke
Whereby; F – force applied
K – Spring constant
e- Extension
b. An object with mass of 500g is hung from the spring with a force constant of
20N/m. fnd its extension.
Solution
Data given
Mass of an object M = 500g = 0.5kg
Spring constant k = 20N/m
Required to find extension e =?
From
F = ke but F = mg
F= 0.5kg x 10N/kg = 5N

5N = 20N/m x e
e= 5N
20N/kg = 0.25m

The extension is 0.25m

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

7. a) Explain why water wets glass while mercury does not.
(Answer: Because water have strong adhesive force between water and
glass molecules than cohesive force while mercury have strong cohesive
force between mercury molecules than adhesive force)
b. Explain how the knowledge of adhesion and cohesion is useful in daily life?
Answer
Adhesion and cohesion is useful in daily life as follows
i. Helps to stick two diferent objects because of adhesive efects of tape or
glue
ii. Helps to know that adhesive forces are the sources of friction between
surfaces
iii. Helps to know how Cohesion assists in the transport of water in plants and
animals by following one molecule to pull others along it.
iv. Helps to know how the bodies of plants and animals use the cohesion
tissue to repair damage
v. Helps to make Ink that stick on paper because of adhesive forces between
ink and paper molecules

8. A) Explain why mosquitoes can manage to walk on the surface of water?

Answer
Mosquitoes can manage to walk on the surface of water due to surface
tension on the surface of water
b. Explain why when washing clothes, we use a soap/detergent.
(Answer: Because the detergent lower/ decreases the surface tension of
water, hence water penetrate and spread more in clothes and remove dirty
particles)

9. a. Diferentiate between capillarity and surface tension.

Answer

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

Capillarity is the ability of liquid to rise or fall in a narrow tube while
surface tension is the ability of the surface of a liquid to behave like fully
stretched elastic skin.
b. Which phenomenon is taking place when kerosene rises up a wick?
(Answer: The phenomenon which is taking place is capillarity)
10. Distinguish between osmosis and difusion
Answer
Osmosis is the movement of a solvent from a region of low concentration
to a region of high concentration through semipermeable membrane while
difusion is the movement of particles from a region of high concentration
to a region of low concentration
11. On the basis of kinetic theory of matter explain;
a) Why gas has neither defnite shape nor volume
(Answer: because its particles are farther apart from each other)
b) Why liquid has defnite volume but no defnite shape
(Answer: liquid has definite volume because particles of liquid are slightly
farther apart to each other while liquid has no definite shape because
particles in liquid do not have a fixed position which means they are free
to move)
c) Why solid has defnite shape and volume
(Answer: Because particles in solid are so close together)
12. A) Give reason! Why ink of pen stick on paper?.
(Answer: Because of adhesive force between ink and paper molecules)
c) Why hot soup is tastier than cold soap?
(Answer: Because hot soup has low surface tension which enable soup to
spread over larger surface area on the tongue)
d) Explain why the smell of rotten body is felt at a bit far distance?
(Answer: Because of difusion where by particles move from the region of
high concentration to the region of low concentration)

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

TOPIC 7: PRESSURE
1. Choose the most correct answer
i. Pressure can be defned as:
a) The spread out of force over the length
b) The concentration of a force on a surface area B
c) The spread out of area
d) The product of force and area
ii. One pascal is the pressure generated by;
a) Force of 1N on 1m2
b) Force of 1 Kg on m2 A
c) Force of 1N on 1000cm2
d) Force of 1N on 1cm2
iii. An object immersed in liquid in a tank experiences an upthrust. What is the
physical phenomenon that causes the upthrust?
a) The density of a body difers from that of liquid
b) The pressure in liquid increases with depth B
c) The density of liquid increases with depth
d) The value of g increases with depth
Iv. Water flls the four vessels P, Q, R ,S of diferent shape to the
same height as shown in the fg, below

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

In this case the water pressure
A. on base R is the greatest base pressure
B. on base S is greater than on base P
C. on base Q and base R is the same C
D. on base P is less than on base S
E. on base Q is the least base pressure

2. A) Why feet of elephant cannot sink on soft soil even if it is large in size?
Answer
Because large feet of elephant has large area over which the pressure
exerted on soft soil become minimum
b) Why it is easy to cut meat by using sharp knife than blunt knife?
Answer
It is easy to cut meat by using sharp knife because a sharp knife has small
area over which the pressure exerted is maximum
3. a) name two factors in which the pressure in liquids depends
b) Why are dam walls constructed thicker at the bottom than at the top?
Answer
a) pressure in liquids depends on
i. depth/height
ii. density
b) Because the pressure at the bottom is greater than at the top hence it is
made thicker to withstand the greater pressure at the bottom

4. A can holds water with a constant depth of 0.5m. The surface of the water is
exposed to the atmosphere. What is the pressure on the bottom of the can? (g =
10N/kg, atm pressure = 101.3kpa)
Answer
Given

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

Height/depth of water h = 0.5m
Density of water p = 1000kg/m3
g. =10N/kg
Pressure due to liquid = pgh
= 1000kg/m3x 10N/kg x 0.5m = 5000N/m2
Pressure due to liquid = 5000N/m2 = 5000Pa
1kPa = 1000Pa
? = 5000Pa
=5kPa
Pressure at the bottom of can = pressure of liquid + atmospheric pressure
= 5kPa + 101.3kPa = 106.3kPa
The pressure at the bottom of the can is 106.3kPa
5. a) A submarine has a surface area of approximately 82000m 2. If it is travelling at a
depth of 300m in the ocean. What is the total force on the submarine “s outer hall?
Use density of sea water = 1025 kg/m3.
Solution
Pressure = density x acceleration due to gravity (g) x height
P = 1025kg/m3 x 10N/kg x 300m
P = 3075000N/m2
P = F/A
F= PA
= 3075000 x 82000
F = 2.52 x 1011N
b. Winds in the atmosphere blow from regions of high atmospheric pressure towards
region of low atmospheric pressure. Would you expect winds to blow from warm
regions to cooler one or from cooler to warmer areas?
Answer
I would expect wind to blow from cooler region to warmer region because
in cooler region the atmospheric pressure is higher than in warmer
region.

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

Note. Pressure of air depends on density of air, in warmer region the air
expand and the volume of air increase as a result the density decrease.
Decrease in density of air result into decrease of atmospheric pressure.

6. a) state Pascal’s principle

c) In hydraulic brake system, the piston in the master cylinder has a diameter of 2cm
and the piston in the slave cylinder has a diameter of 3.5cm. The brake pedal is
pushed down 10cm with a force of 50N. How far do the brake shoes move and with
what force do they press against the brake drum?
Answer
a) Pascal’s principle states that “Any external pressure applied to the surface
of an enclosed liquid will be transmitted equally throughout the liquid”

b) Solution
Given
Diameter of piston in master cylinder = 2cm
Its area (A1) = πd2
4
= 3.14 x (2cm)2
4
A1 = 3.14cm2
Diameter of piston in slave cylinder = 3.5cm

Its area (A2) = πd

4

A2= 3.14 x (3.5cm)2

4

A2 = 9.62cm2
Distance moved by brake pedal in master cylinder D1 = 10cm
Distance moved by brake shoes in slave cylinder D2 = ?
From

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

A1/A2 =D2/D1
3.14cm2 = D2
9.62cm2 10cm

D2= 3.26cm
Force applied in brake pedal in master cylinder F1 = 50N
Force to press the brake shoe in slave cylinder F2= ?
F1/A1 = F2/A2
50N = 3.14cm2
F2 9.62cm2

F2 = 153.18N

7. a) How can the pressure of a gas be measured?

Answer
Pressure of a gas can be measured using manometer. Manometer is filled
with liquid of known density. When one end is connected to a gas the
liquid level falls in one arm and rises in another arm which is open.
Change in height of liquid is caused by pressure of a gas
Pressure of gas (P1) = pressure change of liquid ( P ) + Atmospheric
pressure (P2)

b) The open end of rubber tubing of a mercury manometer is placed

in a fluid of density 1.2 g/cm3. The mercury in the manometer rises by 3cm. What is
the depth of the fluid at the end of rubber tubing? (Density of mercury = 13.6 g/cm 3.

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

7. A can holds water with a constant depth of 0.5m. Hole A is punched in the can 0.1m
below the surface of the water and the hole B is punched 0.4m from the surface.
From which hole will the water spurt to the furthest? Explain the answer.
Answer
A hole B will spurt water to the furthest because the pressure of water at
that hole is maximum due to great depth/height
8. a) Explain why a person experiences nose bleeding at high altitude?
b. The pistons of hydraulic press have their areas given as 3 x 10 -4m2 and 2 x 10-2m2
respectively. If the smaller piston is pushed down
with a force of 120N. What is the force required to push the larger piston.
Answer
a) Because at high altitude the atmospheric pressure is low while the blood
pressure of a body is high which causes blood capillaries to burst
b) Given
Area of smaller piston A1 = 3x 10-4m2
Area of larger piston A2 = 2 x10-2m2
Force on smaller piston F1= 120N
Force on larger piston F2 =?
From Pascal’s principal of pressure transmission
Pressure in smaller piston P1 = pressure in larger piston P2
P1 = P2

F1 = F2
A1 A2
120N = F2
3x10-4m2 2 x 10-2m2
F2 = 8000N
Force on the larger piston is 8000N
9. i) A fsh swims at a depth of 25m below the surface of water. Calculate liquid
pressure acting on the fsh if the water has a density of 1.2g/cm 3

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

Solution
Given
Depth of water at which swims h = 25m
Density of water p = 1.2g/cm3 = 1200kg/m3
g. = 10N/kg
Liquid pressure = pgh
= 1200kg/m3 x 10N/kg x 25m
= 300,000N/m2
Liquid pressure acting on fish is 300,000N/m2
(ii) Smaller piston of a hydraulic press has an area of 30 cm 2 and pushed downward
with a force of 100 N. If the area of the larger piston is 750 cm 2, fnd the weight
which can be supported.
Solution
Area of smaller piston A1 = 30cm2
Area of larger piston A2 = 750cm2
Force on smaller piston F1 = 100N
Weight on larger piston F2 =?
From Pascal’s principle
P1 = P2

F1 = F2
A1 A2

100N = F2
2
30cm 750cm2

F2 = 2500N
The weight that can be supported in larger piston is 2500N
10. A hydraulic lift has a piston with area of 0.02m2 and 0.1m2 as shown in the figure below. A car
with weights of 5000N sits on the platform mounted on a large piston.
a) How much force that must be applied to piston I to lift the car

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

b) How far must piston1 be pushed downward to raise the car 0.3m?

Solution
a) Force applied on piston1
From Pascal’s principle of pressure transmission
F1 = F2
A1 A2

F1 = 5000N
0.02m2 0.1m2

F1 = 1000N
The force on the piston1 is 1000N
b) Distance moved by piston1
From

D1 = A2
D2 A2

D1 = 0.1m2
0.3m 0.02m2

D1 = 1.5m
Distance moved by piston1 is 1.5m

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

27. a) Define the term pressure and state its SI- unit
b. Explain briefly a woman wearing pointed high heeled shoes can destroy a wooden
floor but an elephant cannot.
Answer
a) pressure is a force acting normally per unit area
Its SI-unit is Newton per square metre (N/m2)
b) A woman wearing high heeled shoes can destroy the wooden floor
because high heeled shoes has small area over which the pressure
exerted/produced on the wooden floor is maximum
12. A mercury barometer reads 760mmHg at the foot of the mountain 440m high. What
is the barometer reading at the top of the mountain, assuming the average value for the
density of air is 1.2kg/m3 and for mercury 13200kg/m3

Solution
The pressure change for a height h of fluid = hgÞ (the usual formula)
So pressure change for air = 440 x 1.2 x g
And pressure change for mercury= H x 13200 x g
Where H is the height of mercury. If H is the height which gives the same pressure
change as the air, from
H x 13200 x g = 440 x 1.2 x g
H = 0.04m =40mmHg
Therefore barometer reading at the top of the mountain = 760 – 40 = 720mmHg

13. A rectangular solid iron block has sides 1.0m x 0.6m x 0.5m and rests on a horizontal
flat surface. If the density of the iron is 8000kg/m3, calculate the maximum and minimum
pressure which the block can exert on the surface (given g = 10N/kg)
Solution
Given

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

Density of rectangular solid iron block = 8000kg/m3

0.5m 0.6m
1.0m
Volume of the rectangular block = l x w x h
= 1.0m x 0.5m x 0.6m
V = 0.3m 3
Density= mass/volume
Mass = density x volume
= 8000kg/m2 x 0.3m3
= 2400kg
Weight/force= mg
= 2400kg x 10N/kg
Force/weight of the block = 24000N
Maximum pressure =force/ minimum area
Minimum area = 0.5m x 0.6m = 0.3m2
Pmax =F/Amin
= 24000N/0.3m2
Maximum pressure = 80000N/m2
Minimum pressure= force/maximum area
Maximum area = 1m x 0.6m
= 0.6m2
Pmin = F/Amax
= 24000N/0.6m2
= 40000N/m2

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Minimum pressure = 40000N/m2
14. Explain why hitting an inflated balloon with a hammer will not cause it to burst
but sticking it with a pin will.
Answer
Hitting an infated balloon with a hammer will not cause it to burst
because a hammer has larger area as a result the pressure produced on
balloon when hit is minimum
15. Why do our ears pop when going on mountain? What is going on in our body and
why does yawning help to solve the issue?
Answer
Our ears pop when going on mountains because of diference in
atmospheric pressure between inside and outside the ear. This diference
happens due to decrease in pressure of outside air as we climb the
mountain.
Yawning helps to equalize the pressure of air inside and outside the ear
16. Explain why a diver at the bottom of a dam experiences greatest pressure?
Answer
A diver experiences greatest pressure at the bottom because there is high
water pressure at the bottom caused by large amount of water pushing
against the wall of a dam at the bottom.

TOPIC 8. WORK ENERGY AND POWER

1. What do you understand by the following terms
i. Work
ii. Energy
iii. Power
2. When is work said to be done?

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3. Calculate the work done in each case below. Indicate if the work is done on the
object or by the object.
a) A 10 Kg object is lifted to a height of 5m above the ground.
b) The object is held at a height of 5m for 7s
c) The object is lowered back to the ground.
4. A motor exerts a horizontal force of 200N in pulling a box 10m across a level floor.
How much work does the motor do?
5. An object is dropped and falls to the ground. Is there any work done while it is
falling? If so what force is responsible? Is the work done on or by the object?
6. A 1000 Kg car is travelling down the road at a speed of 15m/s. how much kinetic
energy does it have?
7. Rock A has a mass of 2Kg and a speed of 1m/s. Rock B has a mass of 1Kg and speed
of 2m/s. Which car has more kinetic energy?
8. In frst case yusuph applied a force of 5N on an object for 360 seconds and displaced
it by 1000cm. in the second case, yusuph applied force of 10N on the same object for
3 minutes and displaced it by 5m. In which case there is more work done?
9. a) state the law of conservation of energy
b. Explain why a rotating wonder wheel becomes hot after sudden stop?

10. A model car of mass 20Kg moves at a speed of 6m/s for 10s. fnd the power
developed by its engine.

11. How much power is required for a car 100 Kg in changing speed from 10m/s to
40m/s in 8s?

12. A man whose mass is 80 Kg walks up a flight of 25 steps each 20cm high in 10
seconds. Find the power developed by man in;

a) Kilowatts (KW)
b) Horse power (HP)

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13. (a) Explain the meaning of the following term
(i) Work ii. energy iii power
(b) Hydroelectric power change PE of water to KE in turbines, a battery changes to
electrical energy, hence state the law of conservation of energy
(c) Water pump lifts 1000kg of water through a vertical height of 5m in 2 seconds. Determine the
power of the pump in horse power.

TOPIC 09: LIGHT

1. Choose the most correct answer.

i. Light causes the sensation of heat
a) Sensation of heat
b) Sensation of sound
c) Sensation of sight
d) Sensation of torch
ii. Objects which emits lights of their own are called;
a) Non-luminous objects
b) Transparent objects
c) Translucent objects
d) Luminous objects
iii. Shadow is formed when light falls on
a) A transparent object
b) A luminous object
c) An opaque object
d) A translucent object
iv. Image formed by plane mirror is;
a) Virtual, behind the mirror and enlarged
b) Virtual, behind the mirror and of the same size as the object

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c) Real at the surface of the mirror and enlarged
d) Real, behind the mirror and of the same size as the object
2. Match each item from column A with its corresponding item in column B
Column A Column B
1. Bulb A. Flat surface
2. Light B. Luminous
3. Plane mirror C. Translucent
4. Umbra D. Periscope
5. Semi-transparent E. Partial shadow
6. Right angled mirror F. Non-luminous
7. Difuse G. 3 x 108m/s
8. Used in submarine H. Full shadow
9. Eyes see image due to I. Reflection of light
J. Dark room
K. Glow
L. Incident
M. Inverted images
N. Images are infnite
O. Upright images
P. Telescope
Q. Images are three
R. Reflected ray
S. Scattered

3. (a) Explain the meaning of the following terms

(i) Luminous bodes (ii) Non luminous
(b) Draw the following beams of light
(i) Divergent beam of light
(ii) Convergent beam of light

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(i) Parallel beam of light

(c) Calculate the number of images produced by two mirrors placed at an angle of 300

FORM TWO

TOPIC 01: STATIC ELECTRICITY

1. For each of the following pairs of materials being rubbed together identify the one
that could become negatively charged.
a) Glass and silk
b) Comb and hair
c) Fur and glass
d) Fur and hard rubber
2. A) explain the two types of charges
b. state the fundamental law of static electricity

3. A) Draw a well labeled diagram of a gold-leaf electroscope.

b. How is the electroscope used for testing the types of charges?

4. If a metal rod is given a negative charge and brought near another metal rod that is
neutral,
a) Will there be an electric force between them?
b) If there is a force, will it be attractive or repulsive?
c) What could happen if the frst rod were given a positive charge instead of a negative
one? Explain your answer?

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5. State what happens in the following conditions.
a) An ebonite is rubbed with fur.
b) A negatively charged electroscope’s cap is touched by a neutral glass rod.
c) A proof plane is inserted in a hollow sphere and tested for charge.
6. A sharp needle was brought close to the cap of a charged leaf electroscope. Explain
why the leaf collapsed.
7. A) determine the efective capacitance of the circuit shown in fgure below

c) How much charge is stored?

d) After walking across a carpeted floor, you sometimes get a mild of electric shock
when you touch a metal door knob. Explain how this happens.
8. A capacitor of two parallel plates separated by air has a capacitance of 15pF. A
potential diference of 18 volts is applied across the plates.
a) Determine the charge on the capacitor
b) If the space between is flled with mica, the capacitance now increases to 240pF.
How much more charge can be put on the capacitor using the 18V supply?

TOPIC 02: CURRENT ELECTRICITY

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1. Match each item in column A against its corresponding item from column B by
writing the correct response in the answer column provided.
Column A Column B
Ammeter A. measures P.d
Voltage is proportional to currentB. measures current
Rheostat C. ohm
Series connection D. controls current
Charge E. ohm’s law
F. controls p.d
G. coulomb
H. constant current
I. Galvanometer
J. Constant p.d

2. A) explain the following concepts

i. Electric current
ii. Resistance
iii. Voltage
b. Convert these currents into amperes
i. 500µ
ii. 250µ

3. In an electric circuit, the current will flow along any complete path that allows the
current to return to its source as shown below

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a) Which light will light? Why?
b) Sketch the circuit in (a) and use arrows to the direction in which current flows.

4. Consider the circuit in fgure below

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a) If bulb A burnt out will bulbs B and C light up? Explain your answe

b) Sketch the circuit in (a) and use arrows to show how the current will flow after bulb
A burns out.
5. a) Diferentiate between potential diference and current.
c) Using a diagram show how ammeter is connected to measure the current flowing
through resistor R.
d) Draw a circuit diagram to show how voltmeter is used to measure potential
diference load R.
6. a) State ohm’s law.

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c) What is the SI-unit of resistance?
7. ) what could the efect on the resistance of a conductor if;
a) Its length is increased?
b) Its temperature was increased?
c) Its cross-sectional area was reduced?
8. A current of 100mA flows through a 5 KΩ. Determine the p.d across the resistor.
9. Three resistors of 2Ω, 3Ω and 6Ω are connected in series to a 3V battery. What is the
current in the circuit?
10. A) Two resistors of 6Ω and 12Ω are connected in parallel. Calculate their total
resistance.
c) Two resistors of 3Ω and 6Ω are connected in parallel.
i. Draw the schematic diagram of the circuit.
ii. Determine the total resistance of the circuit.
iii. Calculate the p.d of the circuit when the current across it is 5A.
11. Considering the fgures below which one has lower combined resistanc

12. Consider the circuit in the fgure below

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a) Find the equivalent resistance
b) Determine the current in the whole circuit
c) Find the current in each resistor
13. Calculate the combined resistance for each diagram below

10. (a) Name the following electrical symbol

+ -
(i)
(ii)
+ -
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(iii)
(iv) 
(v)
(vi) A

In the diagram below

A X B

A and B represents _________________________________________________

X is ______________________________________________________________

TOPIC 03: MAGNETISM

1. a) Briefly explain the origin of magnetism.
b. state the basic law of magnetism

2. a) Explain the concept of ferromagnetic materials.

b. Explain three materials which are classifed as ferromagnetic.

3. Match each item in column A against its corresponding item from column B by
writing the correct response in the space provided.
Column A Answer Column B
a. Magnetic materials Like poles attract,
b. Law of polarity unlike poles repel

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c. Magnetic shielding Magnetic feld is zero
d. Neutral point Redirects magnetic lines
e. Aluminium of force
Strong magnet
Iron nail
Paramagnetic
Direct neutral point

4. Why is the core of an electromagnet made of ferromagnetic materials?

5. Where on the surface of the earth is the earth’s magnetic feld perpendicular to the
surface of the earth?
6. Diferentiate between forces due to magnet from the force due to gravity on the
earth.
7. a) How do you know that that a certain material is magnetic in nature?
b. Suppose you are in the laboratory and you are given a bar magnet whose poles
are not labelled. Describe how you could determine which end of the magnet is the
North Pole.

8. a) State three applications of magnets.

b. Draw the following sketch diagrams;
i. Arrangement of domains of dipoles in unmagnetized iron bar.
ii. Arrangement of domains of dipoles in a magnetized iron bar.

9. A) What are magnetic lines of force?

a) Analyze the properties of lines of force
b) Describe the process of magnetic shielding
10. Explain what will happen if you cut a bar magnet into half.
11. a. Describe the magnetization process.
b. How can a permanent magnet be demagnetized?

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c. Explain the type of force that a magnet experiences.

TOPIC 04.FORCES IN EQUILIBRIUM

1. a) A uniform metre rule is pivoted at its centre o with a knife edge. A 20g mass is
placed at the 10 cm mark and a 50g mass at the 40 cm mark as shown in the
diagram below. At what mark must a second 50g mass be placed for the system to
be in rotational balance?

2. a) state the principle of moment

b. what are the two conditions for a body to be in equilibrium

3. Explain two factors in which the moment of a force depends.

4. Abu has a mass of 60 Kg, and he is sitting on a see-saw at a distance of 2.5m from
the pivot. Calculate the moment due to his weight.
5. A force of 80N acts on a uniform rod as shown in the fgure below. Determine the
moment of this force.

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6. Calculate the force F required to balance the metre rule in fgure below

7. Use fgure below to calculate the total clockwise moment about o. assuming that the
mass of rule is negligible.

8. Why is the knob on a door placed as far as possible from the hinges?
9. Explain the application of the principle of moment in a see-saw
10. Explain why it is easier to loosen or tighten a nut with a long handle spanner than
a short one.

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11. I) Diferentiate between centre of mass and centre of gravity
Ii, Explain what is meant by stable, unstable and neutral equilibrium? Give one
example for each
12. A) Why luggage compartments located at the bottom of a bus?
b. state the conditions for stability of an object

13. A uniform metre rule is freely pivoted at the 35 cm mark, and it balances
horizontally when a body of mass 75g is hung from the 10 cm mark.
a) Draw a clear force-diagram of the arrangement.
b) Calculate the mass of metre rule
14. A pole AB of length 10m and weight 800N has its centre of gravity 4m from the end
A and lies on a horizontal ground. The end B is to be lifted by a vertical force
applied at B. calculate the least force that is required to lift the end B.
15. a) i) State the principle of moments
ii) Explain why you would advice a mechanic to use a spanner with along handle than
one with a short handle.
c) A uniform rod AB of mass 9g is balanced horizontally on a knife edge at a distance of
4cm from hanging mass of 36g at end A. find the length of the rod.

TOPIC 7: SIMPLE MACHINES

1. Match each item in column A against its corresponding item from column B by
writing the number of the correct response in the answer column.
Column A Answer Column B
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Efficiency A. Distance moved by efort
M.A over distance move by
First class lever the load
V.R B. Fulcrum is between load
Three pulleys and efort
C. Distance moved by load
over distance moved by
efort
D. No unit
E. V.R=3
F. Load/efort
G. Efort is between

2. The efficiency of a simple machine is never 100% why?

3. A) In a pulley system a load of 400N requires an efort of 100N to raise it. What is
the mechanical advantage?

b. If this efort moves through a distance of 10m and the load is then moved up a
distance of 2m, calculate the velocity ratio and the efficiency of the machine.

4. A box weighing 560N is pulled along an inclined plane of length 20m onto a
platform 2m high with a force of 70N. calculate:
i. The velocity ratio of the plane
ii. The mechanical advantage of the plane
iii. The efficiency of the plane

5. A pulley system has a velocity ratio of 5 and the efficiency of 60%.

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i. What efort is required to lift a 750N object using this pulley system
ii. How much work will be done in raising the object through a distance of 1.5m
6. In hydraulic press the load and efort pistons with areas of 0.02m 2 and 0.3m2
respectively. A force of 550N is required to lift a car with mass of 680 Kg using the
press. What is the efficiency of the plane?
7. A crank handle with a length of 30cm is attached to an axle with a radius of 5cm
and is used to lift a bucket of water from a deep well. If the bucket of water weighs
120N and the friction is negligible.
i. How much energy is required to turn the crank
ii. Find the number of turns of the crank required to raise the bucket to the surface if
the well is 510m deep.
8. A gearwheel A has 20 teeth. It is used to drive a gearwheel B with 80 teeth.
i. Calculate the velocity ratio
ii. If wheel A rotates three times every second, how many times does wheel B rotate in
a second?
9. i) Why does a cyclist often zigzag when going up hill?
iii. Imagine that you are riding a bicycle. How many simple machines are in your
possession?
10. A wheel and axle has a velocity ratio of 6. Determine the radius of the wheel if the
radius of axle is; a) 5cm b) 8cm c) 12cm
11. A screw jack has 8 threads per centimetre of length. If the length of the turning
handle is 10cm. calculate the velocity ratio of the screw jack.
12. A screw jack has an efficiency of 40% and it is used to lift a load of 400 Kg. if its
pitch is 0.5cm and the efort arm is 0.5m long fnd the efort required.
13. A trolley is pulled up an inclined plane 2m high using a force of 4N. if the mass of
the trolley is 1 Kg.
a) What is the mechanical advantage of the plane?
b) Find its velocity ratio
c) Find its efficiency

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14. An efort of 20N raises a bag up an inclined plane by 10cm. if the mechanical
advantage of the inclined plane is 10, calculate the load distance

TOPIC 06: MOTION IN STRAIGHT LINE

1. What do you understand by the following terms

i. Motion
ii. Distance
iii. Displacement
iv. Speed
v. Velocity
vi. Uniform velocity
vii. Acceleration
viii. Retardation
ix. Uniform acceleration
2. An object A has a displacement of -10m while object B has a displaced of 10m. which
object moved further than the other? Explain your answer.
3. In a race, cars travelled 200 times around a feld track with a length of 1 Km.
a) At the end of the race what is the distance travelled by the winner?
b) What is the winners displacement
c) If the winner completed the race in 3 hours, what is his/her average speed?
d) What is his/her average velocity
4. Fill the following blanks
a) …………. Is the length of the path taken by an object in motion
b) The speed of a body in a particular direction is called …….. it measured in ……
c) if the acceleration of an object is zero, its velocity must be …………
d) The area under velocity time graph represents ……..
5. A car travelling at 20m/s to the right stops in 10s
a) What is car’s acceleration
b) How far will the car travel before stopping?

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c) How far will have travel if its initial velocity is 40m/s? (assuming the car’s
acceleration is the same as that calculated in part (a)
6. A stone was dropped from the top of the building and hit the ground 4s later.
a) How tall is the building
b) What was the stone’s velocity when hit the ground?
7. An object thrown straight upward with an initial velocity of 88.2m/s will reach its
maximum height of 396.9m in 9s. If after 3s, the object is at position of 220.5m
moving upward, after what time will it be at height of 220.5m moving downwards?
8. An object is vertically thrown upwards with an initial velocity of 45m/s. At what two
times will the object be 50m above the ground?
9. If you travelled from point A to point B 90 Km/h apart at an average speed of 60
Km/h, how long did it take you to travel from point A to point B?
10. A stone falling down a well takes 2s to reach the water surface. Calculate
a) The velocity with which the stone hits the water surface
b) The distance of the water surface from the top of the well shaft.
11. An object is thrown vertically upwards with an initial velocity of 29.4m/s from the
top of a tower 34.3m high;
a) Find the time taken to reach the maximum height.
b) The total time that elapses just before it reaches the ground.
12. A car is travelling at 20m/s along a straight road. The brakes are applied for 5s
causing retardation of 3m/s2. Find the car’s fnal velocity
13.Mr.Kyarwenda’s car started from rest and in 10 seconds it reached a speed of
36km/h. He maintained his steady speed of 36km/h for 20 seconds, after which he
applied the brakes and stopped after 5 seconds.
i. Draw a velocity time graph (using the standard units), hence use it to calculate
ii. The total distance traveled
iii. The time taken for the whole journey
iv. The maximum speed attained

14. a) (i) Give one difference and one similarity between speed and velocity.

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(ii) Is it possible for a car with zero acceleration to be in motion? Give a reason for
your answer.
b) (i) Define inertia
(ii) State Newton’s first law of motion.
c) A car start from rest and accelerates to a velocity of 100mls in one minute. It maintains
this speed for 40s and finally decelerates uniformly to come to rest after 30 seconds.
(i) Draw a velocity time graph for this motion
(ii) Calculate the total distance covered by the car from your graph.
(iii) Calculate the total time taken for the whole journey.

TOPIC 7: NEWTON”S LAWS OF MOTION

1. State Newton’s frst law of motion.
2. Explain why the following situations arise;
a) Mangoes fall down when the mango tree is shaken.
b) A ball thrown vertically upwards by a passenger inside a train moving with
constant velocity returns to the thrower.
c) Dust particles are removed from a carpet by striking a carpet with a stick
d) When a person jumps into a moving lorry from behind, he or she falls backwards.
3. A front-wheel drive car is travelling at constant velocity.
a) What are the forces acting on the moving car?
b) Draw a sketch to illustrate the forces acting on her car

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c) Passengers in a car are advised to fasten seat belts. Explain, in terms of Newton’s
frst law of motion how a safety belt can reduce injuries.

4. a) State Newton’s second law of motion

c) Why a person jumping from high height usually bend his knees on landing?
5. A train of mass 22400 Kg moving at rate of 112 Km/hr is brought to rests on a
smooth horizontal track. A forward force of 4.5N is applied to the trolley. Find the
acceleration of the trolley.
6. A car moves with an acceleration of 5 m/s2. If its mass is 2000 Kg, fnd the force with
which the car is moving.
7. a) state the Newton’s third law of motion
d) using examples, diferentiate between action and reaction forces
e) When you push an object while you are inside it cannot move. Give the reason
8. explain the following phenomena using Newton’s third law of motion
a) The recoil of a rife when fred
b) The lunch of a rocket
9. Suppose an object is not moving can you conclude that there are no forces acting on
it? Explain your answer.
10. Your inertia can kill you! With reference to moving vehicles, explain the physics
behind this statement.
11. With examples explain three types of inertia.
12. A) defne the term momentum
c) State the law of conservation of linear momentum.
d) A 4 Kg ball travelling at 6 m/s to the right collides head-on with 6 Kg ball travelling
4m/s to the left. If the collision is perfect elastic. What are the velocities of the two
balls after the collisions?
13. A bullet of mass 10g was fred into a block of wood of mass 390g lying at rest on a
smooth surface. The wood then moves at a velocity of 10 m/s.
a) What was the velocity of the bullet
b) What was the K.E before and after collision?

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TOPIC 8: TEMPERATURE
1. With examples explain the following terms
a) Temperature
b) Thermometer
2. Give three reasons why mercury is preferred to be used as a thermometric fluid.
3. Two objects, A and B are identical in size and type but possess diferent
temperatures of 100c and 500c respectively. If the two objects are placed in contact
with each other they will come to thermal equilibrium. What do you think their
common fnal temperature will be? Why?
4. What is the function of the constriction in a clinical thermometer?
5. The temperature of the surface of the sun is approximately 6000 K. what is this
temperature in 0C and 0F?
6. Two mercury-in-glass thermometers are identical except that one is calibrated in
Celsius scale and the other in Fahrenheit scale. One thermometer indicates
temperature of 250C, and the other indicates temperature of 770F.
a) Do the two thermometers record the same temperature? Show how?
b) If the two thermometers were placed side by side, would the level of the mercury in
one be the same as that in the other side? Explain.
7. Briefly explain how a thermometer measures temperature?
8. Why liquid in glass thermometer uses mercury or alcohol as thermometric liquids
but not water?

TOPIC 8: SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOURCES

1. Choose the latter of the most correct answer item.
i. Which of these resources of energy is non-renewable?
A) Ocean waves
B) Water
C) Solar radiation
D) Fossil fuel

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ii. Which of the following statement is not true?
A) Hydroelectric power stations are easy to set up
B) Windmills are noisy
C) Hydroelectric power degrade the environment
D) Windmills cannot be set up near the seabed.
2. Match the item in column A against the item from column B by writing the latter of
the correct response in spaces provided.
Column A answer Column B
Geothermal energy A. Energy from the sun
Solar energy B. Energy from fre wood
Wind energy C. Energy from coal
Sea wave energy D. Energy from falling water
Hydroelectric energy E. Energy from the nucleus
of the atom
F. Energy from hot
underground rocks
G. Energy from fossils
H. Energy from charcoal
I. Energy from batteries
J. Air current energy
K. Energy from up and down
motion of water

3. What are the three advantages of geothermal energy

4. Explain the importance of hydropower
5. State the application of hydropower.
6. Using a diagram, illustrate that all the other sources of energy depend on energy
from the sun.
7. How electricity is produced from
a) Water

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b) Wind
c) The sun
8. List three areas in Tanzania where geothermal energy can be harnessed.

FORM THREE
TOPIC 1: APPLICATION OF VECTORS
1. a) With examples give the meaning of vector and scalar quantities.
c) What is relative velocity
2. Two forces, 5N and 12N are acting on a body. Using the graphical method, fnd the
resultant force of the two forces when the angle between them is;
a) 300 b) 450 c) 1200
3. A plane is flying due East with a velocity of 100m/s when it encounters a wind
blowing at a velocity of 100m/s. fnd the resultant velocity of the plane if the
direction of the wind is due;
a) East b) west c) south
4. An airplane is taking of at a velocity of 20 m/s. fnd the components of the plane’s
velocity if the takeof angle is,
a) 700 b) 450 c) 600 d) 850
(Answers a. 6.86m/s, 18.79m/s
b. 14.14m/s, 14.14m/s
c. 10m/s, 17.32m/s
d. 1.74m/s, 19.92m/s
5. The speed of car B relative to car A is 8 m/s when the two cars are moving in the
same direction and 28 m/s when the two cars are moving in opposite directions.
Determine the speed of each car. (Answers: 10m/s, 18m/s)
6. A river is flowing at a velocity of 2m/s due south. A person in a boat wants to move
across the river at 10 m/s due East.
a) At what angle should the person move? (Answer: 11.30)
b) At what velocity should the person move the boat? (Answer: 10.2m/s)

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7. Two forces P and Q are applied on a small boat stuck in a shallow stream as shown
below

Using the parallelogram law determine the magnitude and direction of the
resultant of the two forces. (Answer: 398.23N, )
8. A mass 3 Kg hangs at the end of a string. Find the horizontal force needed to pull
the mass sideways until the string is at 300 to the vertical. Find also the tension in
the string at the fnal position.
9. Explain with examples, the terms relative velocity and resultant velocity

10.a) State i) The parallelogram law of forces

ii) The triangle law of forces.
b) A ship head North West at 380km/h relatie to the water current. The current is traieling
at 80km/h from the East. Find the resultant ielocity.
c) Two ropes of 5m and 6m long are ted to a ceiling board and they are free. Their ends are
pulled by a force of 150N as shown below. Find the force (N) for the rope of 5m length.

5m 6m
50

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150N

d. Two cars A and B are moving along a straight road in the same direction with
speeds of 25 Km/hr and 40 km/hr respectively. Find the speed of the car B relative
to car A.
10. How long will a passenger sitting near the window of SGR train travelling at a 360
Km/hr see a local train passing by in the opposite direction with a speed of 100
km/hr ? The length of the local train is 315m. (Answer: 2.47s)
11. A swimmer’s speed in the direction of the flow of a river is 18 Km/hr. against the
direction of flow of the river the swimmers speed is 8 km/hr. calculate the
swimmer’s speed in still water and the speed of the river flow.
12. An airplane is flying east at 200 Km/hr its velocity relative to the air, while 100
Km/hr wind is blowing 450 northeast. What is the velocity of air plane according to
an observer on the ground?
13. A nail drilled in a wall is being pulled out using string as shown in fgure below.
The string forms an angle of 300 with the normal. If the pulling force is 10N, part of
the force will tend to bend the nail while the other part will pull it out from the
wall. Determine the magnitudes of these two components of the force.
(Answer: The component of force to bend the nail= vertical component = 5N), the
component of force to pull out the nail from the wall =Horizontal component
=8.66N)

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TOPIC 02: FRICTION
1. What does it mean by the term friction?
2. Explain any four importance of friction in daily life.
3. In which instances do you think friction is not useful? Give four reasons
4. Briefly explain any three methods of reducing frictional efects
5. Suggest any three ways which can be used to increase the frictional efect
6. Why it is easy to slip when there is soap water on the floor?
7. When walking on a low friction surface, one should take short steps why?
8. You try to move a table across the floor but the table doesn’t move. What is the
other force acting the table?
9. When a person walks on the surface, the frictional force exerted by the surface on
the person is opposite to the direction of motion. Is this true or false? Explain your
answer.
10. A box of mass 5kg is at rest on a wooden floor. If the coefficient of static friction
between the box and the floor is 0.6, what minimum external force is required to set
the box sliding?
11. An aluminium block of mass 2.1 Kg rests on a steel platform. A horizontal force of
15N is applied to the block.
a) Given that the coefficient of limiting friction between the two surfaces is 0.61, will
the block move?

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b) If the block moves, what will be its acceleration if the coefficient of kinetic friction is
0.47?
12. A rectangular box of mass 10 Kg rests on an incline. Let the coefficient of static
friction be 0.55 and that of kinetic friction be 0.25.
a) At what angle will the box begin to slide? (Answer: 28.8 0)
b) If the incline is kept at that angle after the box begins to slide, what will be the
box’s acceleration? (Answer: 2.63m/s2)
13. A 10kg mass is at rest on a horizontal surface with no forces other than gravity and
the normal force acting on the on it.
a) Given that the coefficients of static and kinetic friction between the surface and
the object are 0.5 and0.2 respectively.
i) What is force of static friction between the object and the surface? (Answer: 50N)
ii) What is the minimum horizontal force required to start the object sliding?
(Answer: 50N)
b) If the force in (a) (ii) above continues to act on the object after it starts
sliding, what will be the object’s acceleration? (Answer: 3m/s 2)
14. A 42kg refrigerator is placed on the back of stationary pick-up as shown in the
fgure below. The coefficient between of static friction between the refrigerator and
the pick-up bed is 0.44. At what rate can the pick-up accelerate?
(Answer: Acceleration of the pick-up is 4.4m/s2)

MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY

TOPIC 03: LIGHT
LIGHT
1. What do you understand by the following terms
a) Pole b) principal axis c) principal focus d) focal length e) Centre of curvature f)
Radius of curvature
2. a) Why concave mirror are used as shaving mirror?
b) An object 5cm high is placed 35 cm away from a concave mirror of focal length 15
cm. By drawing ray diagram, determine the position, size and nature of the formed
image
3. a) Why convex mirror are used as driving mirror? Give two reasons.
c) An object 5cm high is placed 10 cm away from a convex mirror of focal length 15 cm.
By using mirror formula, determine the position, size and nature of the formed
image.
4. What happens to the image formed by a convex mirror when the object distance is
decreased?
5. Show that to obtain an image with a magnifcation of m using a concave mirror with
a focal length f and the object distance u
Is given by u = (m+1)/m

6. A) Give the meaning of the term refractive index

b. A ray of light is incident at an angle of 600 on a block of glass of refractive index
1.5 .Determine the angle of refraction of the ray.
7. On warm sunny days tarmac roads often appear to be covered with pools of water
some distance ahead, which disappear when approached. How do you explain this?
8. A screen is placed 80cm from an object. A lens is used to produce on the screen as image
with magnification of 3. Calculate.
(i) The object distance
(ii) The focal length of the lens.

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9. (a) (i) Name, draw and mention one use of the three different types of diverging
lenses.
(ii) What are the characteristics of the image formed by diverging lenses?
(b) Where an object should be placed such that its image as formed by a converging
lens will be
i. At infinity?
ii. Of the same size?
iii. Erect?
10. Diamond has a refractive index of 2.42. given that the speed of light in vacuum is
3x108m/s. determine
a) The speed of light in diamond
b) The critical angle of diamond

TOPIC 04: OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS

1. When using a magnifying glass, the image distance should be approximately 25 cm

from the eye for the object to be viewed clearly. Explain.
2. An astronomer wants to order a large concave mirror for a telescope that is to
produce high-quality images. With explanation, advise whether the astronomer
should order a spherical mirror or a parabolic mirror?

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3. An astronomical telescope is used to view an object at infnity and has an objective
lens with a focal length of 15 cm. where must the eyepiece of focal length 0.5cm be
placed to form an image at infnity? What is the total angular magnifcation
4. Why are prism binoculars preferred over traditional ones?
5. Explain how the image of an object is formed in the human eye.

TOPIC 5: THERMAL EXPANSION

1. What is the origin of heat of an object?
2. Why do you feel cold when you touch cold objects?
3. Explain why a glass container with thick walls is more likely to crack than one with
thin walls when a very hot liquid is poured into each of glasses
4. A compound metal bar made of two strips one of steel and another of brass bend
when heated. Explain.
5. A copper pipe of length 100cm at 150C increases its length by 0.15% when steam at
1000C passes through. Find the coefficient of linear expansivity of copper
6. Two poles are 50m apart. An aluminium cable of length 50.1m and at temperature
of 250C is clamped between them. At what temperature would there be no sag in
the wire?
7. A compound strip of brass and iron 10cm long at 200C , is held horizontally with
iron uppermost. when heated from below with a Bunsen burner the temperature of
the brass is 8200C and that of iron is 7700C.calculate the diference in lengths of the
iron and brass ( coefficient of linear expansion of brass = 0.000019/ 0C and coefficient
of iron = 0.000012/0C )
8. Heat originates from the collision of particles. Justify.
9. Explain the working principle of a fre alarm and bimetallic thermometer.
TOPIC 06: TRANSFER OF THERMAL ENERGY
1. List down as many as possible, heat conductors and heat insulators found in your
environment.
2. Describe the uses of conductors and heat insulators found in your environment.

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3. Explain why you feel very cold on bare feet standing on tiled floor during the cold
season, while you feel comfortably warm when standing on a carpeted floor.
4. Why do metals conduct heat better than many other materials?
5. Why do you feel much cold when touching metal than when you touch plastic
material at the same temperature?
6. There are two cups one made from glass and the other made from steel. In which
cup will you be comfortable to drink hot tea from?
7. Discuss why wearing several clothes during a cold season keeps us warmer than
wearing just one piece of cloth.
8. In hot regions it is advised that the outer walls of houses should be painted white.
Explain
9. There is a set of thin blankets and thick blankets. Will you choose two thin blankets
to wrap your body yourself during cold cold night? Explain your answer.
10. Suppose you are assigned to design a thermos flask. Explain how you will minimize
heat loss by conduction, convection and radiation

TOPIC 07: MEASUREMENT OF THERMAL ENERGY

1. Diferentiate between the heat capacity and specifc heat capacity
2. In an experiment to determine the heat capacity of steel 100KJ of heat was supplied
to a block of heat to a block of steel initially at 220C. If the fnal temperature of the
block was 2190C. Determine the heat capacity of steel.
3. The temperature of a 6Kg block of copper rises from 150C to 300C on being heated.
Determine the amount of heat supplied to the block ( specifc heat capacity of copper
c= 3900J/Kg0C)
4. Why water is used as a coolant in car engines?
5. Two substances A and B have the same mass and are at the same temperature.
Substance A has a higher specifc heat capacity than substance B. which substance
will have a higher fnal temperature if the same amount of heat is supplied to each
substance?

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6. Explain why a piece of ice at 00 C is more efective in cooling a drink at room
temperature than an equal mass of water at 0 0C?
7. How much heat is needed to change 340g of ice at 0 0C to water at 0 0C? ( specifc
latent of fusion is 334000 J/Kg
8. A metal sphere of unknown composition has a mass of 0.4 Kg. The sphere is heated
in the furnace to a temperature of 150 0C and then dropped into an insulated cup
holding 0.35 kg of water at 20 0C. Upon reaching equilibrium the temperature of the
system is measured to be 32.4 0C. Calculate the specifc heat capacity of the metal.
9. Explain the factors which afect the boiling point of water

TOPIC 08: VAPOUR AND HUMIDITY

1. Explain the diference between
a) Vapour and gas
b) Saturated and unsaturated vapour
c) Evaporation and boiling
2. State the factors that influence the dew point.
3. How does the temperature afect the absolute humidity?
4. Why do small droplets of pure water evaporate in air even when the relative
humidity is 100%
5. A room with dimensions of 7m x 10m x 2m holds air that is saturated with water
vapour. The saturation vapour pressure is 7.37 kpa. If all of the water vapour in a
room was condensed, what volume would the water occupy? Give your answer in m 3.

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MARTIN.R.KAULULE / DABIL SECONDARY