END OF TERM 1 2025

PHYSICS PAPER TWO FORM FOUR

NAME…………………………………………………ADM NO:……………..CLASS……….

SECTION A (25 MARKS)

Answer All questions in this section in the spaces provided

1. Briefly explain how polarization can be overcome in a simple cell (1mark)

2. Determine the angle of reflection r in the diagram below(3marks)

3. In a house electrical system the appliances used on a ring circuit must have their plugs with
fuses. Explain how the fuse protects the appliances used.(1mark)

4. Four 10 resistors are connected to a 10V dc supply as shown in the diagram below.

10

10

10

10
10V
Calculate the total current flowing in the circuit. (3marks)
5. A steel is to be magnetized by electrical method as shown below. Identify the pole P and Q
of the resulting magnet.(2marks)

6. An object O is placed in front of a concave mirror and on the principal axis, as shown in the
figure below. Complete the light ray diagram to locate the position of the image.
(3marks)

0 F

7. Arrange the following electromagnetic waves in order of increasing frequency; Visible light:
Gamma rays; Ultraviolet rays and Microwaves (l mark)

8. A charged conductor is slowly brought near the cap of a positively charged electroscope. The
leaf first collapses and then diverges. Explain(2marks)

9. The circuit diagram in figure13 below shows four capacitors connected between two points
A and B. Determine the capacitance across AB. (3mks)
4F 2F

A B

2F 4F
 10. The figure below shows a conductor carrying current placed within the magnetic field of
two magnets. Complete the diagram by showing the field pattern and the direction of
force F that acts on the conductor.(2marks)

N 
s
11. Explain why electric power is transmitted over long distances at high voltages.(1mark)

12. (a) Define diffraction with respect to waves.(1 mark)

(b) In the diagram below the size of the aperture at the barrier is 10cm while the distance
between two consecutive wave fronts is 3cm. If the waves are moving towards the
barrier, draw the wave fronts as they appear after passing through the aperture. (2 marks)

Barrier

Wave front

SECTION B (55 MARKS)

b) An Armature composed of turns of insulated copper wire wound on a soft iron core is
rotated in a magnetic field to produce an e.m.f. Other than the speed of rotation, state two
other factors that affect the magnitude of the generated e.m.f (2marks)

c) Briefly explain why the soft iron is laminated.(1mark)

d) A transformer with 500turns in the primary and 50 turns in the secondary is connected
to 240V a.c. mains. If a 50 resistor is connected to the secondary coil, determine the
energy dissipated by this resistor if the transformer is 100% efficient. (3marks)

e) Give one major difference between a step up transformer and step down transformer.
(1 mark)
 f) The diagram below shows an induction coil used in the car ignition system.
armature

contact

(i) Name parts labelled A and B. (2 marks)

(ii) Give the function of B. (1mark)

14. (a) (i) What is the difference between stationary and progressive waves (2marks)

(ii) State two distinctions between the way mechanical waves and electromagnetic
waves are transmitted.(2marks)

(b) A student stands between two halls and 400m from the nearest hall. The halls are x
metres apart. Every time the student claps, two echoes are heard by the student such that
the first echo comes after 2.5 seconds while the second follows 2 seconds later. From this
information calculate.
 (i) The speed of sound in air. (3marks)

(ii) The value of x. (3marks)

(c) Explain the effect of temperature of air on the speed of sound. (1mark)

15. a) Define the term critical angle. (1mk)

b) The critical angle of a certain material medium is 43.2º. Determine the refractive
index of the material.(2marks)

c) The following results were obtained in an experiment to determine the reactive index
of as certain liquid.
 Real depth (mm) 40.5 60 80 100
Apparent depth (mm) 29.5 45 60 75.5

(i) Plot a graph of apparent depth against the real depth.(4marks)

(i) From the graph, determine the refractive index of the liquid.(2mks)

(ii) Identify the liquid. (1mk)

d) Give two conditions necessary for total internal reflection to occur. (2marks)
16. a) Differentiate between electromotive force (e.m.f) and potential difference(2marks)

b) The figure shows the electric wiring of an electric cooker X, Y and Z are main wires.

Giving a reason, identify X and Y. (2 marks)

c) A student has a large number of 240V, 60W coloured bulbs he wishes to use for
decorations so that the bulbs operate normally.
(i). How many bulbs can be connected to a 240V supply through a 5A fuse
(2 marks)

(ii). If electric energy cost Kshs. 6.75 per unit, what will be the cost of running the above
circuit for 5 hours a night for 20 nights?(2 marks)
 e) A cell drives a current of 5A through a 1.6 resistor. When connected to a 2.8
resistor, the current that flows in 3.2A. Find E and r for the cell. (3marks)

b) Calculate the length of a nichrome resistance wire of cross-sectional area 7 10ˉ8m²

17. a) Define the term accommodation as used in lenses.(1mk)

b) (i) Identify the defect.(1mk)

(iii) State how the defect can be corrected (1mark)

c) Give one difference between the eye and the camera.(1mark)

d) An object of height 10cm stands before a diverging lens of focal length 30cm and at a distance
of 20cm from the lens. Determine the image distance and state two characteristics of the
image formed. (3 marks)