NAME: ………………………………………………..

…SCHOOL…………………………

SIGNATURE:…………………………………………INDEX.NO:…………………………

232/1/2
FORM FOUR
PHYSICS PAPER 1 &2
JULY 2025

STATE HOUSE GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL

HOLIDAY ASSIGNMENT FOR TERM 2 - 2025
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)

Instructions to candidates

• This paper consists of two sections A and B.

• Answer all the questions in the two sections in the spaces provided after each question
• All working must be clearly shown.
• Electronic calculators, mathematical tables may be used.
• All numerical answers should be expressed in the decimal notations.

SECTION QUESTION MAX MARKS CANDIDATE’S

SCORE
I 1 – 13 25
14 10
15 13
II 16 13
17 07
18 12
TOTAL 80

This paper consists of 12 printed pages

1
SECTION A (25MARKS). Attempt all the questions in the spaces provided.

1. Figure 1 shows a thin sheet of Aluminium floating on the surface of water, a small piece of
camphor is placed as shown.

Figure 1

Explain the observation that would be made. (1mk)

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

2. A student from Kakamega Muslim used a Vernier caliper which had a negative zero error of
0.02 cm to measure the length of a cube. If the mass and density of the cube were 6.86g and
2.5g/cm3, calculate the reading shown by the instrument. (2mks)

3. Figure 2 shows a simple instrument designed by a student for weighing objects

Figure 2

2
State two properties of the liquid that makes it suitable for use in the set-up. (2mks)

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

4. Estimate the size of an oil molecule if a drop of the oil of volume 5.0 ×10-6m3 forms a patch
of diameter 28cm on a water surface. (2mks)

5. Equal volumes of alcohol and water are subjected to heat from 00 to 100c on the same axes,
sketch graphs of their volumes against temperature. (2mks)

Volume (cm3)

5 10

Temperature (0C) Figure 3

6. Figure 4 below shows a Bunsen burner with the flame appearing only above the copper wire
gauze

Figure 4

3
Explain why there is no flame below the wire gauze. (2mks)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

7. The water level in a burette is at 30cm3. If 55 drops of water fall from the burette and the
average volume of one drop is 0.12cm3. Determine the final water level in the burette. (2mks)

8. A metre rule is supported on a knife edge placed under the 40cm mark as shown in Fig 5.

Figure 5
If the ruler balances when a body of mass 45g is suspended at the 15cm mark, determine.
i. The moment of force due to the mass of the metre rule. (1mk)

ii. If the mass of the metre rule is 90g, calculate the position centre of gravity. (2mks)

9. Explain why it is advisable to load an empty cargo vessel with bags of sand on its return
Journey (after off-loading). (1mk)

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

4
10. Figure 6 below shows a sketch of force against extension for two springs P and Q

Figure 6

a) Which one has a lower spring constant. (1mk)

___________________________________________________________________________

b) State two factors that can explain the difference in(a)above. (2mks)

______________________________________________________________________________

11. A liquid flows through a horizontal pipe of varying cross-section area as shown in Fig 7.

Figure 7

State with reason what happens to the pressure it exerts as it moves to the narrow region. (2mks)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

5
12. State the difference between a basic and a derived physical quantity. (1mk)

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

13. A person jumping from a 12m high building on to the floor is likely to be injured seriously
while the same person diving into a swimming pool would be safe. Explain. (2mks)

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

SECTION B (55 marks). Attempt all the questions in the spaces provided

14. (a) Show that the law of Floatation is a special case of Archimedes’ Principle (1mk)

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

(b) In an experiment to determine the relative density of methylated spirit by applying

Archimedes’ principle, the following were provided: a spring balance, some known masses, a
piece of thread, water in a beaker and methylated spirit in a beaker. Table 1 shows the results
obtained.
Table 1

Mass (g) 100 150 200

Weight in air (N) 1.00 1.50 2.00

Weight in water(N) 0.88 1.32 1.76

Weight in spirit (N) 0.91 1.36 1.82

i. Draw well labeled diagram to show how the readings in table 1 were obtained (1mk)

6
 ii. For each mass, determine the up thrust in water and the up thrust in the spirit. (2mks)

iii. Hence determine the average relative density of the spirit (2mks)

(c) A weather balloon of volume 1.2m3 is tied to a rigid support while being filled with helium
gas. The mass of the fabric making up the balloon is 0.30kg. Determine the maximum tension on
the string tying the balloon to the rigid support. (Take density of air =1.25kg/m3 and density of
helium = 0.18kg/m3) (3mks)

15. (a) Distinguish between heat capacity and specific heat capacity of a substance. (2mks)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
(b) Figure 8 shows a heating curve of a substance W.

7
 Figure 8

(i) Explain the

shape of the graph

between points;

(I) B and C (1mk)

_____________________________________________________________________

(II) D and E (1mk)

____________________________________________________________________

(ii) State a reason why the graph did not start from the origin 0. (1mks)
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

(c) A block of metal of mass 150g at 1200C is dropped into a well lagged calorimeter of
heat capacity 40J/K containing 100g of water at 400C. The temperature of the resulting
mixture is 460C. Determine:

(i) The heat gained by the calorimeter (2mks)

(ii) Heat gained by water (2mks)

(iii) Heat lost by the metal block (2mks)

(iv) Specific heat capacity of the metal block. (Take specific heat capacity of water
=4200J/KgK) (2mks)

8
16. (a) Figure 9 below shows a sketch of a velocity time group of an object in motion. Describe
the motion of the object. (3mks)

Figure 9

(b)The graph in figure 10 shows a reaction time of 0.7 seconds for a driver driving at 20m/s and
3 seconds for breaking so that the vehicle is brought to rest.

Figure 10

(i) Calculate the minimum safe distance for any accident to be avoided. (3mks)

(ii) If the mass of the vehicle 2000kg, calculate the breaking force. (3mks)

9
(C) (i) Sketch a velocity time graph for the motion of a ball kicked vertically upwards. (2mks)

(ii) If the initial velocity of the ball is U m/s and it rises through a height of 11.2m, calculate
the value of U (3mks)

17.

Figure 11

The diagram in figure 11 shows a set up that can be used to generate power based on the
principle of conservation of energy.

(a) State the principle of conservation of energy. (1mk)

10
 ___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

(b) The power developed by the falling water at B is 10,000W. Given that height h is 50m,
calculate the mass of water that falls per second. (2mks)

(c) With what force does the water strike the lowest surface. (2mks)

(d) Calculate the velocity of water as it leaves tube C. (2mks)

18. (a) State Charles’s law (1mk)

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
(b) Given reason why the temperature of a real gas cannot be lowered to Oo K (1mk)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
(c) The volume of an ideal gas at -2730C is zero. What is an ideal gas. (1mk)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
(d) Sketch a graph to illustrate the relationship between pressure and temperature in oC for an
ideal gas. (1mk)

(e)Figure 12 below show a setup used to investigate one of the gas laws.

11
 Figure 12

(i) Why is the container having air heated using a water bath. (1mk)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

(ii) Identify the law under investigation. (1mk)

________________________________________________________________________

(e) When a small amount of gas is put in a big container, it fills the container. what does this
suggest. (2mks)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(f) When gas is enclosed in a vessel .it exerts pressure. State the main cause of the pressure.
(1mks)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(g) A fixed mass of gas of volume 800cm3 at 27oC and a pressure of 2.0 Atmospheres is
compressed until its volume is 3000cm3 and its pressure is 5 Atmospheres. Calculate the
Celsius temperature of the gas after compression. (3mks)

12
 PAPER 2
SECTION A: (25MARKS)
Answer all the questions in this section

1. State a reason why the caps of the cells of a lead-acid battery are opened when charging
the battery.
(1mk)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………..………………………………………………………………………………………….
2. Distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic semi-conductors.
(1mk)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………..…………………………………………………………………………………………..
3. 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.
(3mks)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………

13
..……………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………..………………………………………………………………………….

4. The figure below shows a metre rule in equilibrium with the magnet and weight W .The
Soft iron core is fixed to the bench

Metre rule

Magnet N

W
Soft Iron core
s
Bench top
Fixed on bench

State and explain the effect on the metre rule when the switch S is closed
(2mks)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…....…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………..…………………………………………………………………………

14
5. Arrange the following radiations in order of increasing wavelength Ultra-violet,
Microwaves, Blue light, Yellow light.
(1mk)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………..…………………………………………………………………………………………

6. An electric bulb is rated 75W,240V. Determine the resistance of the bulb.

(3mks)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
..…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
7. The figure below shows a highly negatively charged rod being brought slowly near the
cap of a
positively charged leaf electroscope. It is observed that the leaf initially fall then rises.

Negatively Charged rod

Cap

Explain this observation.

(2mks)

15
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………..………………………………………………………………………………………….
8. The acceleration potential of a certain X-ray tube is increased. State the change observed
on the X-ray produced.
(1mk)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………..…………………………………………………………………………………………

9. The energy of a radiation is 3.8 x10-14 J. Determine the wavelength of the radiation
( h = 6.63x10-34JS,C=3.0 x 108m/s)
(3mks)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
..……………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………..………………………………………………………………………..

10. The figure below shows two ways of biasing a P-N junction

X Y

(i) In which circuit will current flow?

(1mk)

16
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………..…………………………………………………………………………………………
(ii) Explain your answer in (ii) above.
(1mk)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………..…………………………………………………………………………………………..

11. Determine the amount of current passing through the 2Ω resistor shown in the figure
below. (3mks)

e.m.f = 4.5V
2Ω

r=1.7 Ω

5Ω

10Ω

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
..……………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………..………………………………………………………………………..

17
12. The graph below shows the variation of I/v and I/u in an experiment used to determine
the
focallength
of a lens.

Use the graph to determine the focal length of the lens.

(3mks)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
..……………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………..…………………

SECTION B (55 MARKS)

Answer all the questions from this section.

13. The figure below shows the path of a ray of yellow light through a glass prism. The speed
of yellow light in the prism is 1.88x 108 m/s

18
 Glass Prism

Yellow light

• Determine the refractive index of the prism material (speed of light in vacuum, C =
3.0 x 108m/s)
(3mks)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
..……………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………..…………………………………………………………………………

(b) Show on the same figure above, the critical angle C, and determine its value.
(4mks)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
..……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……..………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………
(c) Given that r = 31.2 determine the angle θ
(3mks)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
..……………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………..…………………
(d) On the same figure sketch the path of light after striking the prism if the prism was
replaced by another

19
 one of lower refractive index. (Use dotted lines for your answer) (1mk)

14. The diagram below represents an X –ray tube. The anode is made up of copper metal and
tungsten as the target.

High voltage

6v

B
Tungsten Copper anode

a) What are the functions of parts A and B.

(2mks)
A…………………………………………….
B……………………………………………..

b) Explain how X-rays are produced from the tube.

(2mks)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………..…………………
c) Why is tungsten used for the target in the tube?
(1mk)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………..…………………
d) How can the quality of X-rays produced be controlled in the tube?
(1mk)

20
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
e) How can the quantity of the X-rays be increased? (1mk)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………..…………………
15. The figure below shows the displacement-time graph of a wave traveling at 400cm/s.
Displacement (cm)

0.8 t(s)

Determine for the wave, the :

(i) Amplitude (1mk)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………..…………………
(ii) Period (2mk)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………..…………………
(iii) Frequency (2mks)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………..…………………
(iv) Wavelength (3mks)

21
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
16. a) State Ohm’s law. (1mk)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………..…………………
b) The figure below shows a circuit.

R1

4Ω

6v
R2 3Ω R3 6Ω

Calculate:
i) The total resistance of the circuit. (3mks)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…....…………………………………………………………………………………………………
ii) The total current flowing in the circuit (2mks)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…....….……………………………………………………………………………………………
……..………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………..…………………
iii) The voltage drop across resistor R1 (2mks)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…....…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…..…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………..…………………

22
 iv) The current through the 3Ω resistor (3mks)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…....….……………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………..…………………
17. a) State Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction (1mk)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

b) The diagram below shows a step-up transformer.

10A
240V
Output
Input

Calculate:
i) The power input to the transformer (2mks)

23
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…....….……………………………………………………………………………………………
……..………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………..…………………
ii) The power dissipated as heat in the primary coil of resistance 2 Ω (2mks)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…....….……………………………………………………………………………………………
……..………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………..…………………
iii) The power out put from the transformer (2mks)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…....….……………………………………………………………………………………………
……..………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
iv) The efficiency of the transformer (3mks)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…....….……………………………………………………………………………………………
……..………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………..…………………
18. a) Define background count. (1mk)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………

24
 b) Radon nuclide
222
Ra decays to form polonium by emitting an - particle use a
suitable equation to show86this decay (2mks)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………..………………………………………………………………………………………….
c) In an experiment to determine the half-life of the radioactive element. The following
data was obtained.
Activity (count) per minute 0 4 8 12 16
Time (minutes) 800 520 345 225 145

(i) Plot a decay curve for the element (4mks)

25
 (ii) Estimate from your graph the half-life of the element. (1mk)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

THE END

26