GITHIGA HIGH SCHOOL - 2025

PHYSICS

FORM 3 TUNE-UP EXAM

TERM I 2025

MARKING SCHEME

SECTION A: (25 marks)

1. State what is studied under Electricity and Magnetism as a branch of Physics. (1 mark)
It deals with relationship between electric field and magnetic field and their applications in
the working of motor, microphones, electro-magnets etc
2. Figure 1 below shows two setups by a student using identical lamps and thermometers.

Figure 1

If the lamps are switched on for the same duration, state which setup is thermometer
reading a higher temperature? (2 marks)
Set up (i) has a higher temperature. 
In (i) heat reaches the bulb through radiation  while in (ii) the convectional current are
insufficient.
3. Differentiate between a fundamental quantity and a derived quantity. (1 mark)
Fundamental Physical Quantities are quantities that cannot be obtained from other physical
quantities while Derived Physical Quantities are quantities obtained by multiplication or
division of other physical quantities. 
4 In an experiment to determine the density of certain solid B, the following readings were
obtained using a density bottle;
Mass of empty density bottle = 9 g
Mass of the density bottle + some solid B = 99 g
Mass of the density bottle + solid B + water to full =135 g
Mass of the density bottle + Water = 88 g

Calculate the density of solid B. (Take density of water to be 1g/cm3) (4 marks)

Mass of solid B=99−9=90 g
Mass of water =88−9=79 g
 mass 79 3
Volume of water= = =79 cm =volume of bottle 
density 1
Volume of solid ; 135−99=36 ; 79−36=43 

Mass of B 90 3
density of B= = =2.0930 g/cm 
Volume of B 43
5. State one way of making the surface tension of water higher. (1 mark)
Lowering temperature,  Removing impurities
6. A mercury barometer reads 640 mmHg at a raised point and normal pressure of
760 mmHg at the sea level. If the density of mercury is 13.6 g/cm3 and that of air is
1.3 kg/m3, determine the altitude of the point. (3 marks)
Pressure difference= pressure due ¿ air column
760−640
( )× 13600× 10 ¿=h× 1.3× 10
1000

0.12×13600 × 10
h= =1255.3846 m
1.3 × 10
7. State two conditions that must be met by a horizontal rod acted upon by several forces in
order to be at equilibrium. (2 marks)
Sum of clockwise moments must be equal to sum of anticlockwise moments 
Total upward forces must be equal to total downward forces.
8 State the role of lycopodium powder in the Oil Drop Experiment. (1 mark)
It breaks surface tension
It clearly shows the extent of spread of the oil drop

9. In the spaces provided below, sketch two cones resting on a flat illustrating stable
equilibrium and unstable equilibrium. (2 marks)
10. A student added water to capacity into a bottle and then kept it in the refrigerator for a
day. He realized that the bottle developed a crack after that duration. Explain. (2 marks)
When water freezes, it expands in volume. 
If the water in the bottle is completely filled to the top, there is no room for the ice to expand
within the confines of the bottle. This expansion exerts pressure on the walls of the bottle,
leading to cracks or even a rupture in the bottle 
11. Explain why heat transfer by radiation is faster than by convection or conduction.
(2 marks)
Heat transfer by radiation does not require any medium. 
Heat transfer by conduction requires a medium to transfer. which is also prone to
disturbances caused by collisions.
Therefore, the transfer of heat using electromagnetic waves is faster than conduction
12. State Coulomb’s Law for charges. (1 mark)
It states that like charges repel, unlike charges attract. 

13. Figure 2 shows an object pin in front of a concave mirror.

Draw a ray diagram to show how the image is formed. (3 marks)

 SECTION B: (55 marks)
Answer all the questions in this section in the spaces provided.
14. (a) Define the term ‘particulate nature of matter’ (1 mark)
Particulate nature of matter therefore refers to the existence of matter in very tiny
particles. 
(b) Explain why it is possible to add salt to water without a substantial change in its
volume. (2 marks)
The salt particles occupy the small intermolecular spaces of water molecules.  This
behavior of salt suggests that matter is made up of very tiny particles. 
(c) Brownian motion of smoke particles can be studied by using the apparatus
shown in Figure 3.

Figure 2

To observe the motion, some smoke is enclosed in the smoke cell and then
observed through the microscope. State the role of:
(i) Lens (1 mark)
The converging lens is used to focus/ concentrate converge the light to the
smoke cell thereby illuminating the smoke
(ii) Microscope (1 mark)
The microscope assists the observer see the illuminated smoke particles clearly 
 (iii) State and explain the observation made. (3 marks)

The bright specks are observed moving randomly in the smoke cell.  The
bright specks are the smoke particles which scatter / reflect light shining on
them.  They move randomly due to continuous collision with invisible air
particles which are in continuous random motion. 

(iv) State and explain what will be observed about the motion of smoke
particles if the temperature surrounding the smoke cell is raised
slightly.
(2 marks)
If temperature is raised, the movement will be faster. The particles move
faster due to increased kinetic energy. 
15. (a) Define the term moment of force. (1 mark)
It is defined as the product of the force and the perpendicular distance
between the point of support (pivot or fulcrum) and the line of action of the
force
(d) State one application of antiparallel forces. (1 mark)
I. Forces applied on a wheel spanner when tightening or loosening a nut
II. Forces applied when opening a water tap
III. Forces applied on the steering wheel of a car when going round a bend
IV. Forces applied on bicycle handle 

(e) The figure 4 shows a device for closing a steam outlet. The area of the piston is
−4 2 5 −2
4.0 × 10 m and the pressure of the steam in the boiler is 2.0 ×10 Nm .
Determine the weight W that will just hold the bar in the horizontal position
shown. ( 4mks)

Figure 3

Force due ¿ steam=Pressure × Area; ( 2× 105 ) × ( 4 ×10−4 )=80 N 

At equillibrium , ∑ of clockwise moments=∑ of anticlockwise moments
w × 0.16=80 ×0.5 
W =250 N 
 (f) Explain why car mechanics have a preference for carjacks with long handles.
(1 mark)

The long handle allows the mechanic to apply little force since;
Moment =force × distance
(g) A uniform meter rule of mass 150 g is pivoted freely at the 0 cm mark. Determine
the force to be applied vertically upwards at the 60 cm mark to maintain the rule
horizontal. (3 marks)

At equillibrium , ∑ of clockwise moments=∑ of anticlockwise moments

0.5 ×1.5=0.6 × F 
F=1.25 N 

(h) Locate the position of the C.O.G. of the body given. (2 marks)

16. (a) Differentiate between magnetic and non-magnetic materials. (1 mark)

Magnetic materials are those that can be attracted by magnets while Non-magnetic materials are
those that cannot be attracted by a magnet. 
(b) A girl standing 600m away from a cliff bangs two pieces of wood together and
hears an echo 3.5 seconds later. Determine the speed of sound in air at that place

Speed of sound = Distance / Time

Speed of sound = 1200m / 3.5s
342.86 m/s
(3 marks)

(c) Define the term echo (1 mark)

a sound or sounds caused by the reflection of sound waves from a surface back to
the listener. 
(d) Explain how shape of the core affects strength of an electromagnet. (2 marks)
A U-shaped core produces a stronger magnet than a straight core. The U-shaped
core produces more extension for a given current that the straight core since it
attracts the iron bar with two poles
(e) State two uses of a charged electroscope. (2 marks)
Uses of Electroscope
1. Detecting the presence of charge on a body
2. Measuring the insulating properties of an object(material) 
3. To measure the quantity of charge on a charged body
4. testing the sign of charge on a charged body
(f) Determine how much charge flows in a circuit if 2 mA current passes in 2.5
minutes. (2 marks)

Q=¿
( 2 ×10−3 ) × ( 2× 60 )=0.24 coulombs 
17. (a) Define the following terms as used in optics; (4 marks)
(i) Paraxial rays.

These are rays which are close and parallel to the principal axis while
marginal rays are those that are parallel but not close to the principal axis. 
(ii) Principal axis of a convex mirror.

This is the line passing through the pole and the center of curvature of the
curved mirror
(iii) Pole.
This is the geometrical center of the mirror. 
(iv) Focal length.
This is the distance from the pole of the mirror to its principal focus. 
(b) State one effect of rectilinear propagation of light. (1 mark)
Formation of shadows/eclipses. 
The figure 6 below shows an incomplete periscope.

Figure 4

(a) Draw the second mirror. (1 mk)

(b) Complete the diagram to show how the eye views the object. (2 mks)

(c) State and explain the disadvantage of this periscope. (1 mk)

The image is inverted

(d) State and explain an advantage of using glass prisms rather than plane mirrors
in a periscope. (1mk)
The image generated is brighter and clearer. This is because due to thickness of the
mirror glass, multiple internal reflections cause blurring images. This does not occur
in a prism
 (c) State two ways the pinhole camera can be modified to take still photographs.
(2 marks)
The pin-hole camera can be modified as follows in order to take photographs:
Should be painted black on the inside to eliminate reflection of light. 
Translucent screen to be replaced by light-tight lid with photographic film fitted on
the inside. 
Should be covered with a thin black card which acts as a shutter
18. (a) A butcher has two masses; 2 kg and 0.5 kg. Explain how he can weigh 1.5 kg of
beef at once from a beam balance. (2 marks)
The butcher will balance the meat and the 0.5 kg mass on one side of the beam balance and
2 kg mass on the other side of the beam balance. By so doing, when the beam balances
then the amount of meat measured will be exactly 1.5 kg as required
(b) Figure 7 shows a machine.

Figure 5

(i) State the name of the machine. (1 mark)

Hydraulic lift. 
(ii) Name the principle governing its functioning. (1 mark)
Pascal’s principle states that pressure applied at one part in a liquid is
transmitted equally to all other parts of the enlarged liquid

(iii) Determine the maximum load that can be raised by the machine if the
liquid used had a density of 1200 kg/m3 . (3 marks)
pressure∈arm 1= pressure∈arm 2
F1 F2
+ hρg=  400 F
A❑ A + ( 0.15 × 10× 1200 )=
−4 −4
10× 10 100 ×10

F 2=( 401,800 ) × ( 100× 10− 4 )=4018 N 

 (iv) State three properties of liquid Y.

(a) It should not corrode parts of the system

(b) It should be highly incompressible
(c) It should have a low freezing point and high boiling point. 

(v) State an advantage of force pump over lift pump. (1 mark)

a) It enables a continuous flow of water. 

b) The height to which it can raise does not depend on atmospheric

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