Senior Six

End of term 1 Exams

Physics paper one
P510/1
Time 2hours

Instructions.
Answer four uestions inc!udin" at !east one #ut not more than two from each
section.
Assume where necessary the fo!!owin" physica! uantities$
Acce!eration due to "ra%ity " &.'1ms
(2
)ni%ersa! "ra%itationa! constant* + ,.,-x10
(11
.m
(2
/"
(2
The mo!ar "as constant* 0 '.1123
(1
mo!
(1
A%o"adro4s constant ,.01x10
21
mo!
(1
E!ectron char"e* e 1.,x10
(1&
5
6araday constant* 6 &,5005
0adius of the sun -.0x10
'
m
0adius of the earth ,.7x10
,
m
Speed of !i"ht in %acuum* c 1.0x10
'
ms
(1
8ne e!ectron %o!t* 1e9 1.,x10
(1&
2
:ensity of stee! 2.5x10
1
/"m
(1
;o!ar heat capacity at constant %o!ume* 5% 5/20
0atio of principa! heat capacities of mono atomic "as* < 1.,-
0atio of principa! heat capacities of diatomic "as* 1.71
1

Section A
=uestion 1.
(a) (i) Define simple harmonic motion. (1mk)
(ii) A uniform cylindrical rod floats in a fluid with height x immersed. Show that
when the rod is given a small vertical displacement into the liquid and released
the rod executes simple harmonic motion of the period!
x
g
. ("mks)
(#) A platform moves up and down with simple harmonics motion of period $ and
amplitude a. A small particle of mass m is placed on this platform.
(i) %ind an expression in term of g $ x and m for the reaction of the platform on
the particle when the platform is at a displacement x from its mean position.
( !mks)
(ii) &f the platform vi#rates in simple harmonic motion with a period of
'.(seconds calculate the maximum amplitude of the vi#ration that allows the
particle to remain in contact with the platform throughout its motion. ()mks)
(c) (i) Differentiate #etween elastic limit and yield point. (!mks)
(ii) Descri#e with the aid of a la#eled diagram an experiment to determine
*oung+s modulus of steel wire. ("mks)
(d) $wo wires of steel and of phosphor #ron,e each of 1.(m long and diameter
'.!'cm are -oined end to end to form a composite wire of length ).'m. .alculate
the tension in the wire needed to produce a total extension of '.'/"cm in the
composite wire. (*oung+s modulus for steel and #ron,e are !.'x1'
11
pa and
1.!x1'
11
pa respectively). ("mks)
!
=uestion 2
(a) (i) State 0ewton+s universal law of gravitation (1mk)
(ii) define gravitational field potential and gravitational field intensity (!mks)
(iii) Sketch a graph to show how gravitational field intensity varies from the centre of
the earth to a point well a#ove the earth surface (!mks)
(iv) why is gravitational field called conservative field of force (1mk)
(#)(i) Derive an expression escape velocity of the earth ()mks)
(ii) what is a parking or#it (1mk)

(iii) .alculate the height of the parking a#ove the earth surface ("mks)
(c) An astronaut in his spacecraft is launched in a parking or#it a#out the earth. &f the
loaded space craft has amass of !.'x1'
)
1g2
(i) .alculate the mechanical energy of the spacecraft ()mks)
(ii) 3xplain the effect of viscous drag on the spacecraft as it moves in the atmosphere
()mks)

=uestion 1.
(a) (i) state 4ernoulli+s principle (1mk)
(ii) 3xplain why it is dangerous to stand close to a railway line on which a fast
moving train is passing. ("mks)
(#) (i) Define the term fundamental quantity and state two examples apart from mass
time and length. ()mks)
(ii) 5hat are dimensions of a physical quantity6 (1mk)
(iii) $he velocity 7 of a transverse wave in a stretched string is given #y 78

T

where $ is the tension and 9 mass per unit length of string. Show that equation is
dimensionally correct. ()mks)
(c)(i) 3xplain the origin of surface tension (!mks)
(ii) Descri#e an experiment to measure the surface tension of water ("mks)
)
(d) $he diameters of the arms of a u tu#e are '.'(cm and '.(cm respectively. A liquid of
surface tension :.'x1'
;!
0<
;1
is poured into the tu#e find the difference in levels in the
two arms. (Density of the liquid is 1'''kg<
;)
and angle of contact is ,ero) ("mks)


=uestion 7.
(a).(i).Define force and power. (!mks)
(ii).3xplain why more energy is required to push a wheel #arrow uphill than on a
level ground. ()mks)
(#).(i).State the work = energy theorem. (1mk)
(ii).A #ullet of mass '.1kg moving hori,ontally with a speed of "!'ms;1 strikes a
#lock of mass !.'kg at rest on a smooth ta#le and #ecomes em#edded in it. %ind the
kinetic energy lost if they move together. ("mks)
(c).State the conditions for equili#rium of a rigid #ody under the action of coplanar
forces. (!mks)
(d).>ne end of a plank of length "m and weight 1''0 is hinged to a vertical wall. An
inelastic rope tied to the other end of the plank is fixed at a point "m a#ove the hinge so
that the plank is hori,ontal. A weight of )''0 is suspended from the plank at a distance
of )m from the hinge.
%ind2 (i).the tension in the rope. ("mks)
(ii).the reaction of the wall on the plank. ("mks)

Section >

=uestion 5
(a) Define the following terms?
(i) @eat capacity (1mk)
(ii) Specific latent heat of vapori,ation of a liquid. (1mk)

(#) 5ith the aid of a la#eled diagram descri#e an experiment to measure the specific
latent heat of water #y an electrical method. (/mks)
(c) An appliance rated !"'7 !''5 evaporates !'g of water in (minutes. %ind the heat
loss if specific latent heat of vapori,ation is !.!/x1'
/
A1g
;1
. ()mks)
"
(d) 3xplain why at an external pressure a liquid #oils at a constant temperature ("mks)
(e) A calorimeter of heat capacity (''A1
;1
is filled with 1.(kg of a molten su#stance. A
cooling curve of the liquid is then o#tained. $he rate of cooling -ust #efore solidification
starts is B."1S
;1
and complete solidification takes !( minutes.
(i) Sketch and explain the characteristics of the cooling curve. ()mks)
(ii) 3xplain why increase in pressure lower the melting point of ice. (!mks)
=uestion ,.
(a) (i) what is an ideal gas6 (1mk)
(ii) 5hat assumptions of the kinetic theory of an ideal gas need to #e modified for a real
gas6 (!mks)
(iii) $he pressure of an ideal gas is p8
)
1
c
!
.
Cse this relation to show that the total kinetic energy of translation of the gas is 3
t
8
!
)
D$ where D is molar gas constant.
()mks)
(#)(i) what is meant #y a reversi#le adia#atic expansion of a gas6 ()mks)
(ii) Cse kinetic theory to explain why the temperature of the gas in the a#ove process
falls. (!mks)
(#) >ne 1ilo mole of an ideal gas is initially at a pressure of 1.'x1'(0m
;!
and a
temperature of !(
o
c. &t undergoes a reversi#le adia#atic expansion to twice it original
volume followed #y a reversi#le isothermal compression to it original volume.
c (i) Sketch p;v graphs for the a#ove processes on the same axis. (!mks)
(ii) .alculate the final temperature of the gas. ()mks)
(iii) %ind the work done during the isothermal compression. ((mks)

=uestion -
(a) (i) what is meant a #lack #ody (1mk)
(ii) State the relation #etween the total power radiated #y a #lack #ody and the
temperature of the #ody (1mk)
(
(iii) State the factors that determine the rate at which a #ody losses heat #y radiation
(!mks)
(#) A strip of platinum foil coated #lack is placed on the ground. $he area of the strip
exposed to the radiation from the sun is 1'
;!
m
!
.$he radiation from the sun falls normally
on the strip to o#tain a certain temperature rise. $he strip is then shielded from the sun
radiation and a current of 1."A is maintained through the foil under a potential difference
of ".'7 to o#tain the same temperature rise. Assuming that only "'E of the intensity of
radiation incident on the earth+s atmosphere reached the earths+ surface2 estimates the
surface temperature of the sun. ((mks)
(c)(i) Define the thermal conductivity of a material (1mk)
(ii)3xplain the mechanism of heat transfer in metals and insulators ("mks)
(iii) sketch on the same axes a graph to show how temperature varies with distance
along the length of well lagged and un lagged good conductor of heat (!mks)
(d) >ne square face of a sheet of cork of side !'cm and thickness "mm is placed in
contact with a sheet of glass of the same square section and thickness /mm. the outer
faces of the composite sheet are maintained at 1''
o
. and !'
o
.. .onductivity of cork is
/.)5m
;1
1
;1
and that of glass is :.! 5m
;1
1
;1
.
%ind the rate of heat conduction through the sheets ("mks)
The end Good luck

/