TOPNOTCH EDUCATIONAL CONSULT
INSTRUCTIONS: TIME ALLOWED: 1 HOUR
i. Attempt ALL questions in SECTION A COURSE: PHYSICS 101 (IJMB)
ii. Attempt ALL questions from SECTION B
iii. Use of SCIENTIFIC calculator is ALLOWED
iv. WORKINGS should be CLEARLY shown for all attempted calculations
SECTION A
1. The period of oscillation of a simple pendulum depends on the length of the pendulum and its
acceleration due to gravity. Use dimensional analysis to derive the expression for the period of
oscillation
2. (a) The drag force (F) experienced by a steel sphere of radius (r) dropping at speed (v) through a
fluid is given by: 𝐹 = 𝑎𝑟𝑣, where a is a constant. What would be the dimension for the constant
‘a’?
(b) Convert 2.5 𝑔𝑚𝑚−2 𝑡𝑜 𝑘𝑔𝑚−2
3. The length of a metal rod is measured as 10.2𝑐𝑚 ± 0.1𝑐𝑚. Calculate the percentage uncertainty
in the measurement.
4. List the three uses of Dimensional Analysis
5. A student measures the time taken for a pendulum to complete 20 oscillations as 50𝑠 ± 0.5𝑠.
Calculate the time period of the pendulum and its percentage error.
SECTION B
6. a) List three sources of experimental errors in measurements and suggest how they can be
minimized.
b) Distinguish between systematic errors and random errors, providing examples of each.
c) Define the term "uncertainty" in measurement and explain its importance in experimental
physics.
d) The length of a rod is measured as 5.65𝑚 with an uncertainty of ±0.02𝑚. Express the length
in standard form with its uncertainty.
7. a) Explain how dimensional analysis can be used to verify the correctness of a physical equation.
b) Use dimensional analysis to check the correctness of the equation: 𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑎𝑡, where 𝑣 is final
velocity, 𝑢 is initial velocity, 𝑎 is acceleration, and 𝑡 is time.
c) What are vectors and scalar quantities? Which class do momentum, current, energy,
acceleration and mass belong
d) Two vectors are given as 𝐴 = 3𝑖 + 4𝑗 and 𝐵 = −2𝑖 + 𝑗. Find:
i. The resultant vector R = A + B
ii. The magnitude of 𝑅
8. a) State the triangle law of vector addition and use it to determine the resultant of two forces 5𝑁
and 8𝑁 acting at an angle of 120°
b) A body is acted upon by two forces of magnitudes 6𝑁 at an angle of 60° to each other. Find the
magnitude of the resultant force.
c) A car moves 50𝑘𝑚 due north and then 30𝑘𝑚 due east. Calculate its resultant displacement.
