NAME: __________________________________________________________ CLASS: ______

MZUZU DIOCESE
2020 MALAWI SCHOOL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION MOCK EXAMINATION

PHYSICS
PAPER I
(100 marks)

Theory

Subject Number: M162/I

Thursday, 26th March

Time Allowed: 2hrs

07:30 – 09:30 am
Instructions:

1. This paper contains 14 pages. Please check. Question Tick if Do not write in
Number Answered these columns
2. Fill in your Name at the top of each page. 1

3. Answer all the thirteen questions in the spaces 2

provided. 3

4. The maximum number of marks for each answer is 4

indicated against each question. 5

5. In the table provided on this page, tick against the 6

question number you have answered. 7
6. Hand in your paper to the invigilator when time is 8
called to stop writing. 9
10
11
12
13

Turn over
Name__________________________________ Class______________

Section A

This section contains 70 marks. Answer all questions

1. a) Define angular velocity
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(1 mark)
1
b) A long playing record of diameter 270 mm rotates at 3 revolutions per
3
minute. Calculate;
i) its angular velocity in radians per second

(3 marks)
ii) the linear velocity of a point along its rim

(3 marks)
2. a) i) State the kinetic theory of matter
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(1 mark)

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ii) In terms of Kinetic theory of matter, explain why ice melts when put in
the sun
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b) A gas occupies volume of 200cm3 at 273k. Calculate the temperature of the
gas in Kelvin if its volume increases to 300cm3 at constant pressure.

(3 marks)
c) State one factors that affect gas pressure
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(1marks)
d) Define Absolute zero
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(1 mark)
3. Figure 1 below is a diagram showing a wave.

Figure 1

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a) What type of a wave is shown in the diagram?

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(1 mark)
b) What is the amplitude of the wave?
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(1 mark)
c) Calculate the velocity of the wave if its frequency is 4Hz.

(2 marks)
d) Define the following terms
i) Longitudinal waves
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ii) Diffraction of waves
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4. a) i) Give two factors that affect the speed of sound in air
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ii) Tanangachi standing between two cliffs claps his hands and receives two
echoes after 3 minutes and 3.5 minutes consecutively. Determine the
distance between the cliffs. Average speed of sound in air = 320 m/s.

(3 marks)
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5. Figure 2 is a diagram of a transformer connected to an alternating current (AC)

power supply.

Figure 2
a) What type of transformer is shown in the figure?
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b) If the in-put voltage is 240V, and the number of turns in the secondary coil
is 400 and in the primary coil is 800, calculate the output voltage.

(3 marks)

c) State one advantage of alternating current,

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(1 marks)
d) Why are “diodes”, sometimes referred to as “rectifiers”?
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e) Draw a circuit diagram consisting of a cell, a bulb and a diode such that the
diode is forward biased.

(2 marks)
6. a) You can produce accurate results of an experiment by reducing errors.
Give two ways of reducing errors.
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(2 marks)
b) Briefly explain systematic errors
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(2 marks)
c) Figure 3 shows a laboratory safety symbol. Give its name and its
interpretation

Figure 3
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(2 marks)
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Name__________________________________ Class______________

7. The graph shows the load plotted against the extension of the wire. Use it to
answer the question that follows.

a) Which point is
i) The yield point _______________________________________ (1 mark)
ii) The elastic limit ______________________________________ (1 mark)
iii) Breaking point ______________________________________ (1 mark)

b) What is the force constant of a string which stretched 4cm by a mass of

200g?

(2 marks)
8. Figure 4 is a diagram of a pulley system being used to lift a mass of 120 kg
vertically through a height of 30 m.

Figure 4
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a) Calculate the work done in lifting the mass to a height of 30 m.

(2 marks)
b) How much energy is supplied by the effort in raising the mass through the
height of 30 m?

(1 mark)
c) If it takes 0.5 minutes to complete the work using the pulley system, work
out the power of this machine.

(3 marks)
d) i) What do you understand by the term “efficiency”?
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(1 mark)
ii) Give two reasons why in practice the machine in figure 1 is not 100%
efficient.
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(2 marks)
238
9. Uranium 92U, decays in a series as follows
Stage 1: 23892 U 234
90 Th
Stage 2: 23490Th 234
91 Pa

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a) What particles are emitted at each stage?

Stage 1 ______________________________________________________
(1 mark)
Stage 2 _______________________________________________________
(1 mark)

b) Apart from the particles mentioned in 5(a) above, what else is emitted at
each stage?
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(1 mark)
c) A scintillation counter was used to detect radioactivity of a radioactive
substance. The sample recorded 480 scintillations per second. After 8 days
the same sample recorded 30 scintillations per second. Work out half life of
the sample.

(3 marks)
d) State any two safety precautions that must be followed when handling
radioactive substances.
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(2 marks)

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10. a) State the law of floatation

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(1 mark)
b) The mass of a metal bar is 0.5kg in air and its mass is 0.3kg in water.
Calculate :

i) Apparent loss in weight of the metal bar

(2 marks)

ii) The upthrust acting on the metal bar

(2 marks)

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c) Figure 6 is a diagram that shows a lawn mower being pushed with a force of
40N acting at an angle of 60o with the ground. Find the horizontal force that
is pushing the lawn mower along the ground.

(3 marks)
SECTION B
(30 marks)
Answer all questions in this section.
11.a) Describe an experiment that could be done to determine the effect of
impurities on melting and boiling point of substances. In your
description include the materials to be used.
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(5 marks)

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b) With the aid of a diagram, explain sea breeze.

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(5 marks)

12.a) With an aid of a diagram, describe how you would demonstrate that a
material medium is necessary for the transmission of sound.

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(6 marks)

b) Explain how raising the temperature of semiconductors affects their

electrical conductivity.
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(4 marks)
13. a) Briefly explain any one method how you would magnetize an iron bar
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(4 marks)
b) Describe how the thickness of a sheet of plastic could be controlled using
radiation during manufacture.
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(5 marks)

END OF QUESTION PAPER

NB: This papers contains 14 pages.

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