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PHYSICS
Paper 232/2

(THEORY)

Time: 2 Hours
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E)
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:-

 Write your Name, Index number, Admission number and school in the spaces provided above.
 This paper consists of two sections; A and B
 Answer all the questions in section A and B in the spaces provided.
 This paper consist of 19 printed pages. You are advised to ascertain that all pages are printed as
indicated.
 Take the earth’s gravitational field strength g = 10 m/s2.

Physics Form 4 paper 232/2 Page 1

 SECTION A (25 MARKS)

Answer all questions in this section in the spaces provided.

1. The diagram below shows two parallel mirrors M1 and M2 and a ray of light being incident on
one of the mirrors as shown.
M1

20° M
2

Trace the ray of light through the mirrors and indicate the angle of incidence on M1
(2 mks)

2. Two pins are hanging from a magnet as shown in the diagram below.
S

Explain why the pins spread as shown in the diagram. (2mks)

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3. An image I is formed infront of a concave mirror and on the principal axis as shown in the
figure below.

C F

Physics Form 4 paper 232/2 Page 2

 4. The figure below shows a set up by a student.

Electric buzzer

Steam from
boiling water

State and explain what happens to the sound from the buzzer as the bottle and its contents are
cooled to 0°C. (2 mks)
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5. Arrange the following waves in order of decreasing wavelength. (1mk)

Infrared, X-rays, Microwaves, Radio waves, Red light.

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6. Figure below shows an incomplete circuit of an electromagnet.

Core

A B

Complete the circuit by drawing the windings on the two arms of the core such that A and B
are both North poles when the switch is closed. (1mk)

Physics Form 4 paper 232/2 Page 3

 7. Figure represents a step in charging a material B negatively by induction.

Y
--
X ---

A
(i) What is the charge on Y? (1mk)
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(ii) Explain what happens at A. (1mk)

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8. The graph below shows the variation of p.d. (V) across the terminals of a cell and current
drawn from the cell.

a) Use the graph to determine the electromotive force (emf) of the cell. (1mk)

Physics Form 4 paper 232/2 Page 4

 b) Draw a circuit diagram that may be used to obtain the values plotted in the graph.
(2mk)

9. A vibrator is sending out eight ripples per second across a water tank. The ripples are
observed to be 4cm apart. Calculate the velocity of the ripples. (3mks)

10. The figure below shows part of electric cooker coil.

i. Why is the material labeled Y coiled? (1mk)

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ii. State the property of material Y that makes it suitable for its use. (1mk)
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11. An immersion heater rated 1500W is used continuously for 30 minutes per hour per day.
Calculate the cost of electricity per week if the rate is Ksh. 6.70 per unit. (2mks)

12. Fig below shows a conductor y placed in a magnetic field. The conductor carries a current
flowing into the paper.

S
y
Physics Form 4 paper 232/2 ⊗Page 5
N S
 (i) Sketch the resultant magnetic field between the poles of the bar-magnet.

(1mk)

(ii) Show on the diagram the direction of the force, F acting on the conductor

(1mk)

SECTION B (55 MARKS)

Answer all questions in this section in the spaces provided.
13.
a) Figure below shows the path of light through a transparent material placed in air.
Air

1400

Transparent material
Ray of light.

i.
Give a reason why the above ray is not refracted at the interface of air and the transparent
material as shown in the diagram. (1mk)
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ii. Calculate the refractive index of the transparent material. (3mks)

b) An image is formed 10cm in front of a concave lens of focal length 15cm. calculate the
position of the object in respect to the lens. (3mks)

Physics Form 4 paper 232/2 Page 6

 c) You are provided with the following apparatus to determine the focal length of a lens.
 A lit candle.
 A white screen.
 A metre rule.

With a aid of a labelled diagram, describe the procedure you would follow to determine the
focal length of the lens. (3mks)

14.
a) The figure below shows metal plates X and Y each fixed to an insulated stand. X is charged and
Y is earthed. X is connected to an uncharged electroscope with a conductor.

If plate Y is moved away from plate X,

i. State what happens to the amount of charge on the plates. (1mk)
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ii. State and explain the observation made. (3mks)
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Physics Form 4 paper 232/2 Page 7

 b) The figure below shows an arrangement of capacitors connected to a 12V dc supply.

12V

1μF 3μF 4μF

Determine:

i. The total capacitance of the arrangement. (2mks)

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ii. The voltage across the 3μF capacitor. (3mks)

15.
a) The figure below shows an attempt to supply each of the three lamps L1, L2 and L3 with a
switch.

S1 S2 S3

To the mains
L1 L2 L3

i. Give a reason why this is a poor connection. (1mk)

Physics Form 4 paper 232/2 Page 8

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ii. Redraw the diagram to show the correct positioning of the switches. (1mk)

b) A wire placed between the pole of two permanent magnets is connected to a galvanometer as
shown below.
G

N Wire

i. State what is observed when the wire is moved up and down. (2mks)

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ii. Suggest two ways of increasing the magnitude of the effect you have stated in (i) above.
(2mks)

Physics Form 4 paper 232/2 Page 9

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iii. The figure below shows a simple transformer. Study it and answer the questions that follow.

Primary coil Secondary coil

Soft iron core

State and explain which coils are thicker. (2mks)

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16.
a) The figure below shows Zinc plate placed on the cap of a negatively charged
electroscope.

Ultra violet radiation

Zinc plate

Ultraviolet radiation is made to fall on the plate as shown on the diagram.

i. What happens to the leaf of the electroscope? (1mk)

Physics Form 4 paper 232/2 Page 10

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ii. What would happen if radiation was red light? (1mk)

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b) In an experiment to find the relationship between frequency of a radiation and kinetic

energy of the photoelectrons in a photoelectric device, the following graph was obtained.

(Hz)

Physics Form 4 paper 232/2 Page 11

Use the graph to determine the Planck’s constant h. (3mks)

c) Figure below shows the features of an X-ray tube.

D G

Oil in

Oil out

Y
Copper fins

A B
C x-rays

i. Explain the function of part labelled P. (1mk)

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Physics Form 4 paper 232/2 Page 12

 ii. Explain why the part labelled C gets very hot during production of X-rays. (2mks)
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iii.
Explain what is done to produce X-rays of shorter wavelength using the above X-ray tube.
(1mk)
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17.
a) The figure below shows monochromatic source of light L behind a barrier with a single slit S
placed behind another barrier with two identical slits S1 and S2. A screen PQ is placed in
position as shown.
P

L S1

S2

Q
i) What is the significance of S1 and S2? (1 mk)

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ii) Explain what is observed on screen PQ. (2 mks)

Physics Form 4 paper 232/2 Page 13

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b) Waves pass from deep water to shallow water and refraction occurs.

Calculate the speed of the waves in the shallow water. (2 mks)

c) The figure below shows an a.c. signal on the screen of a Cathode Ray Oscilloscope.

Physics Form 4 paper 232/2 Page 14

Determine the frequency of the signal given that the time base is set at 10ms/division.
(2mks)

d) Diagram (a) below shows the position of the bright spot on the screen of a C.R.O. when there is
no signal on both Y and X plates.

(a)
Indicate on the diagram (b) below what is observed on the display screen when the Y-plate is
connected to a.c. signal and for (c) when X-plate is connected to a d.c. signal. (2mks)

(b) (c)

18.
a) The following reaction is part of a radioactive series.
210 210 c
83 X → r → 84 Y → α → bZ
→ →

i. Identify the radiation r. (1mk)

Physics Form 4 paper 232/2 Page 15

 ii. Determine the value of c. (1mk)

b) At a certain instant the corrected count-rate registered on a detector placed close to an α-

particle emitter is 200 per second and this falls to 50 per second in 12 minutes. Determine the
half life of the source. (3mks)

c) Study the rectification circuit below and use it to answer questions that follow.

X Y
R
a.c

Q
D2

i. Briefly explain how the circuit works to rectify the alternating current. (3mks)
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Physics Form 4 paper 232/2 Page 16

 ii. Show on the diagram how a capacitor should be connected to smooth the output voltage.
(1mk)

iii. In the grid provided, sketch a curve of smoothed output voltage against time. (1mk)

Vol
tag
e
(V)

Time (s)

Physics Form 4 paper 232/2 Page 17