NAME______________________________________________ FORM 4__________

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AL-BARAKAH CHARITY TRUST

MAMA KHADIJA GIRLS PVT ACADEMY
P.O. BOX 45, NAMWERA

2023/24 MALAWI SCHOOL CERTIFICATE END OF TERM I EXAMINATIONS

PHYSICS
Date: 19 December 2023 Subject Number: M164/I
Time allowed: 2 hours
PAPER I
(100 Marks)

Question Tick if Do not write in

Instructions
1. This paper has ELEVEN printed pages. number answered these columns
Please Check. 1
2. Fill in your name at the top of 2
each page.
3
3. This paper contains two sections A and B.
4. Answer all the questions in the spaces 4
provided. 5
5. Use of electronic calculators is allowed. 6
6. The maximum number of marks for each
7
answer is indicated against each question.
7. In the table provided on this page, tick against 8
the number of questions you have answered. 9
NAME______________________________________________ FORM 4__________
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SECTION A
1.
a. State any two ways how the quality of results from an experiment can be
improved
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______________________________________________________ (2 marks)
b. Give any two ways of communicating experimental results
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c. What is the difference between systematic error and random error?
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d. Differentiate between mass and weight.
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_____________________________________________________(2 marks)
e. Define Absolute zero
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f. Differentiate absolute zero from absolute temperature.
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______________________________________________________(2 marks)
g. State any two effects of heat on matter
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______________________________________________________(2 marks)
h. In terms of heat transfer, explain any two differences between good and bad
conductors of heat
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______________________________________________________(2 marks)
i. State kinetic theory of matter
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j. Using kinetic theory of matter, explain how candle wax melts.
NAME______________________________________________ FORM 4__________
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______________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________ (2 marks)
2.
a. Define the term moment of a force about a point.
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______________________________________________________(1 mark)
b. Figure 1 below shows weights on a weightless meter ruler balanced at the
pivot.

Calculate the value of W in the figure above.

(3 marks)
c. Define Elastic limit
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_______________________________________________________ (1 mark)
d. A spring has length of 12 cm when unloaded. It stretches to 17 cm when
supporting a mass of 10 g. It then stretches to a length of 15 cm when loaded
with a stone. Calculate the mass of the stone.
NAME______________________________________________ FORM 4__________
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(3 marks)
e. Define Centripetal Force
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_____________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
f. A particle of mass 0.65kg revolves in a circular path of radius 2m with a speed of
30m/s. Calculate the following.
I. Centripetal force

(2 marks)
II. Centripetal acceleration

(2 marks)
g. Figure 2 below shows a diagram of a conical flask, fitted with a balloon

Heat
i) What would happen to the balloon after applying heat?
____________________________________________________ (1 mark)
NAME______________________________________________ FORM 4__________
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ii) Explain the reason for your answer in question above

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____________________________________________________(2 marks)
h. State Hooke’s law
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______________________________________________________________(1 mark)
i. Figure 3 shows a system of two identical springs each of spring constant of 3N/mm

Find the total extension of the spring system above.

(3 marks)
j. Mention any two ways of reducing frictional force
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___________________________________________________________(2 marks)
NAME______________________________________________ FORM 4__________
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k. A man drags a 50kg bag of maize along a horizontal rough surface with a force of
200N at an angle of 400 to the horizontal. Calculate the coefficient of static friction
between the bag and the surface.

(3 marks)
3.
a. Define terminal velocity
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_____________________________________________________________ (1 marks)
b. Figure 4 is a diagram showing a ball bearing falling in water

i) Name the forces

A___________________________________________________ (1 mark)

B ___________________________________________________ (1 mark)

c. Explain any two factors that affect the terminal velocity of an object falling in the media
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_____________________________________________________________(3 marks)
4.
a. A bicycle wheel makes 60 revolutions per minute. Calculate the angular velocity
NAME______________________________________________ FORM 4__________
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(3 marks)
b. Distinguish between linear and angular velocity for a body moving in a circular path
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_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________(2 marks)
c. A stone attached at the end of a string is whirled in a horizontal circle. Sketch the forces
acting on the string

(2 marks)
d. Explain any two forces that act on the string
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_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________( 3 marks)
5.
a. Define linear momentum
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_________________________________________________________________(1 mark)
b. A toy car of mass 6 kg moving at 12 m/s collides with a stationary truck of mass 20 kg.
If they move together, find their common velocity.

(3 marks)
c. Identify the type of collision in question 5b above
_____________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
NAME______________________________________________ FORM 4__________
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SECTION B
Answer all questions
6.
a. Explain how pressure law agrees with kinetic theory of matter
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_____________________________________________________________( 5 marks)
b. State Archimede’s principle
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_____________________________________________________________(2 marks)
c. Explain why it is easier to swim in sea water than in fresh water
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_____________________________________________________________( 3 marks)
7.
a. A block and tackle has a velocity ratio of 4 and it is used to vertically raise a load of
mass 50kg. If the efficiency is 80%, determine the minimum effort required to raise the
load?

(5 marks)
NAME______________________________________________ FORM 4__________
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b. State the law of floatation

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______________________________________________________________(1 mark)
c. Explain how the sinking and floating of submarine is made possible
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_____________________________________________________________( 4 mark)
8.
a. A ball of mass 2 kg slides on a frictionless surface as shown in the diagram
below:

Determine:
i. Potential energy at point O, A and B.

(3 marks)
ii. Gain in kinetic energy and velocity at A.
NAME______________________________________________ FORM 4__________
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(2 marks)

9.
a. Briefly explain how a ball bearing falling in oil attains terminal velocity
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________________________________________________________________________
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________________________________________________________________(3 marks)
b. Explain any one effect of anomalous expansion of water
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________________________________________________________________(2 marks)

c. The following readings (table 1) were obtained when masses were hung o n a certain
spring.
Table 1
Mass (kg) 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08
Extension (mm) 110 119 129 138 148

i. Plot a graph of force in newtons against extension in millimeters

ii. From the graph, find:
a) The extension by a mass of 0.03 kg

(2 mark)

b) The spring constant

(2 marks)
NAME______________________________________________ FORM 4__________
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(3 marks)
END OF QUESTION PAPER