NAME: _________________________________________ EXAMINATION NO:________

BLANTYRE SECONDARY SCHOOL CLUSTER

2024 MSCE MOCK EXAMINATION

PHYSICS
PAPER I
(100 Marks)

Date: …........., 2024 subject Number:M164

Time Allowed: 2 hour

Instructions
1. This paper contains 14printed
pages. Please check. Questio Tick if Do not
2. This paper comprises two n answered write in
sections, A and B. Section A has number these
columns
ten questions and section B has
1
three questions. 2
3. Answer all questions in the 3
spaces provided 4
4. Write your Examination Number 5
on all pages 6
5. Use of electronic calculators is 7
allowed. 8
9
6. In the table provided on this
10
page, tick against the section of
11
the question you have answered. 12
13

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NAME: _________________________________________ EXAMINATION NO:________

SECTION A: (70 MARKS)

1. a). Define atmospheric pressure

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b) Figure 1 is a copper solid of mass 250g and density of 8900kg/m3 fully

immersed in a fluid of density 890kg/m3.

Copper

i. Find the tension the string.

(5 marks)

ii. Explain what happens to the tension in the string if a liquid of lower density
is used.
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NAME: _________________________________________ EXAMINATION NO:________

2. a) Define moment of force.

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b) Radioactive caron-14 decays according to the following equation.
Determine the values of x, y and z

14 x Y
C
6 7N + z B + energy
X ___________________
Y ___________________
Z ___________________
(3 Marks)
c) State any two properties of electromagnetic waves
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3. a). Explain one advantage of mercury over alcohol as a thermometric substance

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b) Mention two applications of Hooke’s law.

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4. figure 1 shows the graph of volume against temperature

X 0oC temperature (oC)

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NAME: _________________________________________ EXAMINATION NO:________

a) Identify point labeled X

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b) Mention any one assumption of a gas at X

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c) A hammer head of mass 0.5kg is flung at a speed of 2m/s just before hitting
the nail 0.01m into the wood. Find the kinetic energy of the hammer head.

(2 marks)

d) Figure 6 shows three forces acting at a point Q. calculate the resultant force
of the three forces.
4N

4N 7N

(4 marks)

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NAME: _________________________________________ EXAMINATION NO:________

5. Figure 3 shows a property of a wave. Study it and answer the questions that
follow.

a) Name the property of wave in figure 3 above.

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b) Mention a situation in which the following may be used

i. Vernia caliper
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ii. Micrometer screw gauge
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c) Calculate the time taken to cover a wavelength of 1.3m given the velocity of
the wave is 10.4m/s.

(4 marks)
6. a) Define hysteresis losses
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NAME: _________________________________________ EXAMINATION NO:________

a) A fixed mass of a gas exerts a pressure of 20mmHg at 20oC. If its volume is

kept constant, find pressure exerted at 0oC.

(4 marks)
c) Explain why electrical power transmission is done at a very high voltage but low
electric current.
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d) Explain why identical resistors have low resistance when connected in

parallel than when connected in series in a circuit.
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7. a). Figure 5 shows a graph of velocity against time of a cyclist. Use it to answer
the question that follow.

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 NAME: _________________________________________ EXAMINATION NO:________

If the total distance covered by the cyclist is 600m, calculate the value of velocity
V.

(4 marks)
b) What is meant by free fall of an object?
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c) State any two forces that act on an object falling in a fluid.

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8. a) State the Faraday’s law.

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b) Mention the function of the following in a DC motor

i. commutator
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ii. carbon brushes
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NAME: _________________________________________ EXAMINATION NO:________

9. a) Explain how humidity affects the speed of sound

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b. A game ranger standing 300m away from a foot of a cliff fires a gun and
hears an echo after 1.8 seconds. What is the speed of sound in air?

(4 marks)
b) Mercury has a rotation period of 59 days and an equatorial radius of 2500
km. Calculate the tangential velocity of point on the equator of mercury.

(4 marks)

10.(a) Define the term coefficient of solid friction

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NAME: _________________________________________ EXAMINATION NO:________

(b) A constant force of 10N pulls forward a cart of mass 4kg. Frictional force of 2N
opposes the motion of the cart. Find the acceleration of the cart.

(4 marks)

c) Explain why gaps are left when constructing railway lines.

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 NAME: _________________________________________ EXAMINATION NO:________

SECTION B (30 Marks)

11.With the aid of a diagram describe how uniform circular motion is applied in a
conical pendulum.

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(10marks)

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 NAME: _________________________________________ EXAMINATION NO:________

12 With the aid of well labeled diagram, explain the propagation of a wave from
deep waters to shallow waters.

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(10 marks)

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NAME: _________________________________________ EXAMINATION NO:________

13.Describe an experiment that could be carried out to determine the terminal

velocity of a body falling through a fluid.
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(10 marks)
END OF QUESTION PAPER

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