Physics 2@1
Physics 2@1
PHYSICS 2
Instructions
1. This paper consists of Six (6) questions.
2. Answer any Five (5) questions.
3. Each question carries Twenty (20) marks.
4. Mathematical tables and non-programmable calculators may be used.
5. Cellular phones and any unauthorized materials are not allowed in the examination room.
6. Write your Examination Number on every page of your answer booklet(s).
7. The following information may be useful:
(a) Acceleration due to gravity (𝑔) = 10𝑚/𝑠 2
(b) Universal gas constant, R = 8.31J/molK
(c) Avogadro’s number, 𝑁𝐴 = 6.023𝑥1023 𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1
(d) Electronic charge, e = 1.6 x 10-19C
(e) Mass of proton, 𝑚𝑝 = 1.6 x 10-27 Kg
(f) Mass of electron, 𝑚𝑒 = 9.1𝑥10−31 𝐾𝑔
(g) Planck’s constant, ℎ = 6.62𝑥10−34 𝐽𝑠
(h) Pie, 𝜋 = 3.14
(i) Speed of light, 𝑐 = 3𝑥108 𝑚/𝑠
(j) 1 a.m.u = 932MeV = 14.94𝑥10−11 𝐽
(k) Permittivity of free space, 𝜀𝑜 = 8.85 x 10-12F/m
(l) Young’s modulus of rubber, (E) = 6.0 x 108N/m2.
(m) Density of air = 1Kg/m3.
(n) Boltzmann’s constant, (K) = 1.38 x 10-23J/K.
(o) Permeability of free space, 𝜇𝑜 = 4𝜋 x 10-7H/m.
(p) 1 moles = 22.4 x 10-3m3.
(q) Specific gravity of alcohol (d) = 0.8 x 103Kg/m3.
(r) Density of water = 1000Kg/m3.
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Answer five (5) questions
1. a) i) Define the term coefficient of viscosity and write its dimensional formula.
[2marks]
ii) Briefly explain how the coefficient of viscosity of a liquid and that of gases
vary with temperature. [2marks]
iii) The relative velocity between two layers of water is 5cm/s. If the
perpendicular distance between the layer is 0.2cm, find the velocity gradient.
[2marks]
b) Briefly explain the following observation.
i. Why are machine parts jammed in winter? [1mark]
ii. Why does a bigger raindrop fall faster than a smaller raindrop? [1mark]
iii. Deep water runs slow. [1mark]
c) i) Define the term terminal velocity (Vt ) and derive its expression. [2marks]
ii) Two identical drops of water are falling through air with a steady velocity of
10cm/s. If the drops combine to form a single drop, what would be the terminal
velocity of the single drop? [4marks]
d) i) State Bernoulli’s theorem and write its expression. [2marks]
ii) What is the main importance of the Bernoulli’s theorem? [1marks]
iii) A pilot tube is mounted on an aeroplane to measure the speed of the plane.
The tube contains alcohol and shows a level difference of 25cm. What is the
speed of the plane relative to air? [4marks]
2. a) i) Define the term diffraction. [1mark]
ii) Mention two main types of diffraction [2marks]
b) A light with a wavelength of 590mm is incident normally on a diffraction grating.
The angle of the second order maxima is 32° .
i) Calculate the spacing of the lines on the grating. [2marks]
ii) How many lines per centimeter? [2marks]
iii) At what angle will the maximum order be seen? [1mark]
iv) Determine whether it is possible to obtain fourth order. [1mark]
c) i) Define the term interference.
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ii) Give two main conditions for the light to form observable interference
pattern. [2marks]
iii) A series of rings formed in Newton’s ring experiment with sodium light was
viewed by reflection. The diameter of the nth dark ring was found to be
0.28cm and that of the (𝑛 + 10)𝑡ℎ was found to be 0.68cm. If the
wavelength of sodium light is 589nm, calculate the radius of curvature of the
lens surface. [3marks]
d) i) What are wedge fringes [1mark]
ii) An air wedge is formed by placing a sheet of foil between the edges of two
glass plates 75mm from their point of contact. When the wedge is
illuminated with light of wavelength 5.8 × 10−7 𝑚 and the fringes are 1.30
mm apart, calculate the thickness of the foil. [3marks]
3. a) Define the following terms:
i) Capacitance [1mark]
ii) Charge density [1mark]
iii) Equipotential surface [1mark]
b) i) Identify any three factors on which the capacitance of parallel plate
capacitor depends [3marks]
ii) An electron falls through a distance of 1.5cm in a uniform electric field of
magnitude 2 × 104 N/C. In figure, (a) the direction of the field is reversed
keeping its magnitude unchanged and a proton fall through the same
distance in figure (b). [4marks]
Calculate the time taken by the electron and proton to fall the same distance
y.
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c) The plates of parallel plate capacitor has an area of 90𝑐𝑚2 each and are separated
by 2.5mm. The capacitor is charged by connecting it to 400V supply .
i) How much electrostatic energy is stored by the capacitor? [2marks]
ii) Calculate the energy density [2marks]
d) A 16𝜇 capacitor is charged to 100V, after being disconnected it is connected to an
uncharged capacitor of 4𝜇𝐹. Determine
i) The potential difference across the combination [3marks]
ii) The electrostatic energy before and after the capacitor are connected.
[2marks]
iii) Explain the differences in energies. [1mark]
4. a) i) Differentiate between perfectly elastic body and perfectly inelastic body
[2marks]
ii) Mention three (3) basic types of deformations [3marks]
b) Briefly explain the following observations
i) Why is the stretching of a coil spring determined by its shear modulus?
ii) What happens to work done during stretching of the wire? [1mark]
iii) Why strings are made of steel and not copper? [1mark]
c) i) Define the terms shear modulus and suggest two standard unit of it.
[2marks]
ii) A wire stretches by a certain amount under a load. If the load radius are
both increased to four times, find the stretch caused in the wire.
[2marks]
d) i) What is meant by Poisson’s ratio [1mark]
ii) Suppose a 2kg mass is attached to the end of a vertical wire of length 2m
and diameter 0.64mm and extension is 0.60mm. Then calculate tensile
stress, tensile strain and Young’s modulus. [3marks]
iii) A rubber cord of a catapult has a cross section area of 2mm2 and initial
length of 0.2m and is stretched to 0.24m to fire a small object of mass
0.01kg. Calculate the initial velocity of the object when it just leaves the
catapult. Elastic limit is not exceeded. [4marks]
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5. a) i) State the ampere’s law [1mark]
ii) What is the dimension of magnetic flux? [1mark]
iii) At which position in the rotating coil in the magnetic field, the induced
e.m.f is maximum? [2marks]
iv) A coil of wire of certain radius has 150 turns and inductance of 85mH.
What will be the inductance of another similar soil with 80 turns?
[3marks]
b) i) Define the term cyclotron [1mark]
ii) A cyclotron is to accelerate protons to a kinetic energy of 8Mev. If the
strength of magnetic field in the cyclotron is 1.5T. Find the frequency
needed for the applied alternating voltage and the radius of the cyclotron.
[4marks]
c) i) What is meant by the term toroid? [1mark]
ii) A 28cm long solenoid, 1.5cm in diameter is to produce a 0.5T magnetic
field at its centre. If the current in the solenoid is 4.2A, how many turns
must the solenoid have? [3marlks]
iii) A toroidal coil has 2500turns. The inner and outer diameters are 15cm and
24cm respectively. If the current in the wire is 6A. Calculate magnetic field
inside and outside the toroid. [4marks]
6. a) i) Define the term radioactivity. [1mark]
ii) Mention two principal factors upon which the stability of a nucleus
depends. [2marks]
iii) What are the types of radiation that can be emitted by a radioactive
substance? [3marks]
b) i) What is meant by half-life of a radioactive substance. [1mark]
ii) Derive an expression for the half-life using the radioactive decay law.
[2marks]
c) At a certain instant, a piece of radioactive material contains 1 × 104 atoms remains.
The half-life of the material is 30 days.
i) Calculate the number of disintegrations in the first second. [2marks]
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ii) What time in second will elapse before 1 × 104 atoms remains?
[3marks]
iii) What is the count rate at this time? [2marks]
d) What does the letter Q represent in the following nuclear reaction?
2
1𝐻 + 31𝐻 → 42𝐻𝑒 + 10𝑛 + 𝑄. Calculate the value of Q given that, the mass of
2
1𝐻 = 2.0140𝑎. 𝑚. 𝑢, 31𝐻 = 3.01605𝑎. 𝑚. 𝑢, 42𝐻𝑒 = 4.00260𝑎. 𝑚. 𝑢 and
1
0𝑛 = 1.00867𝑎. 𝑚. 𝑢. [4marks]
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