CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCTAION EXAMINATIONS

FORM FOUR (IV) EXAMINATION SERIES – 2021

031/1 PHYSICS 1

SERIES –01
TIME 3 Hours

Instructions
1. This paper consists of section A, B and C with total of eleven (11) questions.

2. Answer all questions in section A, and B and two (2) questions from section C.

3. Section A carries (15) marks, section B sixty (60) marks and section C carries
twenty five (25) marks.

4. Cellular phones and any unauthorized materials are not allowed in the examination
room.

5. Non – programmable calculators may be used

6. Write your Examination number on every page of your answer booklet(s)

7. Where necessary the following constants may be used

(a) Density of water ρw = 1000kg/m3

(b) Density of air ρa = 1.29kg/m3
(c) Acceleration due to gravity g e = 9.8 m/s2
(d) Coefficient of linear expansion of copper = 1.7 × 10−5 °C−1
(e) 1 atmospheric pressure = 1.01 × 105 𝑃𝑎.
(f) Standard temperature = 273K
(g) Specific heat capacity of ice Ci = 2144J/kg/℃
(h) Specific heat capacity of water Cw = 4186J/kg/℃
(i) Specific heat capacity of steam Cs = 2010J/kg/℃
(j) Specific latent heat of fusion of ice Lf = 3.35 × 105 J/kg
(k) Specific latent heat of vaporization Lv = 2.27 × 106 J/kg

@SSS_F4_PMESP_2021 Page 1 of 6
 SECTION A (15 Marks)

Answer all questions in this section.

1. For each of the items (i)-(x), choose the correct answer among the given
alternatives and write its letter beside the item number.

(i) A radioactive element has a half – life of 15 years. What is the fraction
that will decay in 30 years?

A. ½ B. ¾ C. ⅛
D. ⅜ E. ¼

(ii) The radioactive decay of uranium into thorium is represented by the

238 234
equation: 92 U→ 90 Th + X + Energy. What is the X” represent?
A. α – particle B. β – particle C. a proton
D. Ɣ – gamma rays E. a neutron
226
(iii) In 88 Ru nucleus, there are:
A. 138 protons and 88 electrons
B. 226 protons and 88 electrons
C. 226 neutrons and 138 electrons
D. 138 neutrons and 226 electrons
E. 138 neutrons and 88 electrons

(iv) The nucleus of an atom consists of:

A. electrons and protons B. Electrons and neutrons

C. protons and neutrons D. neutrons only
E. electrons, protons and neutrons.

(v) Particles which can be added to the nucleus of an atom without changing
its chemical properties are:

A. neutrons B. beta particles C. electrons

D. protons E. alpha particles
238
(vi) The Uranium – 238 ( 92 U)nucleus emits two alpha – particles
(α – particles) and two beta – particles (β – particles), and transforms into
a thorium nucleus (Th). The thorium nucleus has:

A. mass number 230 and atomic number 90

B. mass number 230 and atomic number 88
C. mass number 234 and atomic number 90
D. mass number 234 and atomic number 88
E. mass number234 and atomic number 92
22
(vii) 10 Ne Nucleus after absorbing energy, decays into two alpha – particles
(α – particles) and form unknown nucleus. The unknown nucleus is:

A. carbon B. Nitrogen C. Boron

D. oxygen E. Helium

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 (viii) In a cloud chamber, straight – line trails of vapour are produced by a
source emitting

A. beta – particles B. gamma – rays C. electrons

D. alpha – particles E. light rays

(ix) The sun generates its energy by a process called:

A. thermonuclear fission B. thermonuclear fusion

C. geothermal energy D. geothermal fusion
E. geothermal fission

(x) Which one of the following statements about alpha and beta particles is
correct?

A. They carry the same charge.

B. Each alpha particle has four times the mass of the beta particle.
C. Alpha particles have a larger range in air than beta particles.
D. When in motion, they are deflected in opposite directions by a
magnetic field.
E. Alpha particles cause ionization while beta particles do not.

2. Match the times in List A with responses in List B by writing the letter of the
correct response beside the item number.

LIST A LIST B
(i) Mass number A. Hold electron in shell
B. Central core of an atom
(ii) Isotopes C. Atoms of the same element having the same
atomic number but different mass number
(iii) Binding energy D. Total number of protons and neutrons in the
nucleus of an atom
(iv) nucleus E. Atoms of the same element having the same
mass number but different atomic number
(v) Shells F. Total number of protons and electrons in the
nucleus of an atom
G. Hold protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an
atom
H. Orbital paths of electrons

SECTION B (60 Marks)

Answer all questions in this section.

60
3 (a) The following symbol represents an isotope of nickel: 28 Ni
(i) Briefly explain what is meant by the term isotope. (01mark)
(ii) What do the superscript and subscript represent? (01mark)
(iii) How many protons and neutrons are there in the nickel
isotope? (01mark)

(b) Explain any two weaknesses of Dalton’s atomic theory and make
clarifications on them. (04marks)

(c) (i) Explain why an atom is electrically neutral? (01mark)

(ii) Explain how do the protons and neutrons are held together
in the nucleus of an atom. (02marks)

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4 (a) Careful study the figure – 1 below then answer the questions that
are follow

(i) Explain why radioactive substance is kept in the lead block?

(01mark)
(ii) With reasons identify three radiations A, B and C emitted by
radioactive substance with their common names. (03marks)
(iii) Give one difference between A and B particles in terms of their
speed and ionizing power. (02marks)
(b) How do β – particles differ from the electrons obtained by thermionic
emission? (04marks)

5 (a) What s the different between stable nucleus and unstable nucleus as
applied in radioactivity? (04marks)
(b) Explain what is meant by the term “radioactivity” (02marks)
(c) Explain why radioactive element disintegrate? (04marks)

6 (a) How do alpha – decay and beta – decay are differ (02marks)

(b) How many alpha and beta particles are emitted when uranium
238 206
( 92 U) decays to lead( 82Pb) ? (04marks)
238
(c) A uranium nucleus ( 92 U) is finally converted into thorium nucleus
after emitting 2 alpha – particles and 2 beta particles respectively.
What will be the atomic number and the mass number of thorium
A
nucleus ( ZTh) so obtained? (04marks)

7. (a) With the aid of the equations differentiate between nuclear fission
and nuclear fusion (03marks)

(b) mention three (3) applications of nuclear fusion (03marks)

(c) Both nuclear fission and nuclear fusion release energy but why
nuclear fusion is more advantages than nuclear fission? Give any
two advantages. (04marks)

8. (a) (i) What are the radioactive detectors? Give four examples. (03marks)
(ii) Define Half – life of radioactive element (01mark)

(b) The half – life of radium is 1600 Years. After how much time 1/16th
part of radium will remain undisintegrated in the sample? (03marks)

(c) A radioactive isotopes has a half-life of 3 hrs. How long will it take the
number of atoms to reduce? 3.125%? (03marks)

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 SECTION C (25 Marks)

Answer two (2) questions from this section

9. Carefully study the diagram below that represent particles and radiation
emitted during radioactive decay and answer the questions that follow:

If the three rays are stopped by the block indicated as shown in the diagram,
then:

(a) Identify the three particles X, Y and Z by their common names

and give one reason for each (03marks)

(b) Give four (4) distinguishable features of each particle X, Y and Z.

(06marks)
A
(c) Use parental nucleus as ZB and daughter nucleus formed as C explain
the nuclear changes due to emission X’, Y and Z particles. Write down
their equations. (03½marks)

10 (a) Describe methods of producing artificial radioactive isotopes (02½marks)

(b) Briefly explain any four (4) health hazards of radiations emitted by
radioactive samples. (04marks)

(c) Mention any two safety precautions of radiations emitted during

radioactive decay. (02marks)

(d) Explain any four applications of natural radioactive substances.

(04marks)

11. (a) Why are gamma – rays (Ɣ-rays) not deflected by electric and magnetic
field? (02marks)

(b) Why is the number of neutrons in heavier nuclei more than the number
of protons? (03marks)
7 4
(c) You are given two nuclei 3X and 3Y. Which one of the two is likely
to be more stable and why? (03marks)

(d) The half-life of radium is about 1600 Years. Of 100 g of radium

existing initially, how long will take , 25 g to remain unchanged ?
(04½marks)

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