NAME ___________________________________________________ CLASS _____________

BWAILA CLUSTER MOCK EXAMINATIONS

2022 MALAWI SCHOOL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION

PHYSICS
Subject Number: M164/I
Thursday, 26th May, 2022 Time Allowed: 2 hours
PAPER I
(100 marks)
Instructions
1. This paper contains 13 printed pages. Question Tick if Do not write in
Number answered these columns
Please check.
1
2. Fill in your name at the top of each 2
page.
3
3. This paper contains two sections A and 4
B. In Section A there are ten short 5
answer questions while in Section B
6
there are three restricted essay
questions. 7
8
4. Answer all the eleven questions in the
spaces provided. 9
10
5. Use of electronic calculators is allowed.
11
6. The maximum number of marks for each 12
answer is indicated against each
13
question.

7. In the table provided on this page, tick

against the number of the question you
have answered.
Turn over
NAME ______________________________________________________ CLASS: _________
Page 2 of 12

SECTION A (70 marks)

1. a. State the Kinetic theory of matter
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(2 marks)
b. State the effect of temperature on the molecular motion of a solid substance
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(2 marks)
c. Explain how temperature affects the speed of sound in gasses
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(3 marks)
2. a. Define the term electrical power
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(1 mark)
b. An electric kettle is rated 4320W, 240V. When the kettle is filled with cold water, it takes
320 minutes to boil. Calculate

(i) the current through the kettle when it works normally

(3 marks)
NAME ______________________________________________________ CLASS: _________
Page 3 of 12

(ii) the amount of energy it uses to boil the water in kWh

(3 marks)

(iii) The cost of using the element if 1 unit (kWh) costs K40

(3 marks)
3. a. Differentiate between distance and displacement
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(2 marks)
NAME ______________________________________________________ CLASS: _________
Page 4 of 12

b. Figure 1 shows a graph of velocity against time of a cyclist. Use it to answer the questions
that follow

Figure 1

Describe the motion of the cyclist between the following

(i) W to X
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(1 marks)
(ii) Y to Z
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(1 marks)

c. Find the total distance travelled by the cyclist during the journey

(4 marks)
NAME ______________________________________________________ CLASS: _________
Page 5 of 12

d. Calculate the average speed of the cyclist

(3 marks)

4. a. State two similarities between a camera and a human eye

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(2 marks)
b. An object of height 1.2 cm is placed 12 cm from a convex lens and real image is formed
at 36 cm from the lens. Calculate

(i). the focal length of the lens

(2 marks)
(ii). Magnification of the lens

(2 marks)
NAME ______________________________________________________ CLASS: _________
Page 6 of 12

(iii). The size of the image

(2 marks)

5. a. Mention any two ways of safely handling radioactive substances

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(2 marks)
b. When Thorium-230 nucleus decays, it emits radiation and changes into Radium-226

(i) What type of radiation is emitted by Thorium-230?

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(1 mark)
(ii) Explain the reason for your answer b(i)
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(4 marks)
6. a. Define the following
(i) Fundamental quantities
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(1 mark)
(ii) Systematic errors
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(1 marks)
NAME ______________________________________________________ CLASS: _________
Page 7 of 12

b. Explain how parallax errors can be minimized

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(2 marks)
c. Figure 2 shows a micrometer screw gauge and a Vernier caliper. Give the values shown
by the micrometer screw gauge and the Vernier caliper.

Figure 2
(i) micrometer screw gauge reading

(2 marks)
(ii) Vernier scale reading

(2 marks)
d. Write the following in standard notation
(i) 153398 kg
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(2 marks)
(ii) 0.00632 cm
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(2 marks)
NAME ______________________________________________________ CLASS: _________
Page 8 of 12

7. a. A giant wheel of radius 40 m is rotating about the axis at a frequency of 5 Hz. Find

(i) the angular velocity in radian/second

(3 marks)
(ii) The linear velocity of a point on the rim of the wheel

(3 marks)
b. Figure 3 is a symbol of a logic gate

Figure 3
(i) Identify the gate
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(1 mark)
NAME ______________________________________________________ CLASS: _________
Page 9 of 12

(ii) Complete the truth table of this gate

A(in) B(in) Z(out)

(3 marks)
8. a. Define average density
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(1 mark)
3
b. Calculate the average density of mixture when 20 cm of paraffin whose density is
0.7 g/cm3 is mixed with 10 cm3 of petrol whose density is 0.9 g/cm3.

(4 marks)
NAME ______________________________________________________ CLASS: _________
Page 10 of 12

SECTION B (30 marks)

9. a. Explain how terminal speed is reached by an object falling through air

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(6 marks)
b. Explain how the law of floatation and sinking is used in submarines
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(4 marks)
NAME ______________________________________________________ CLASS: _________
Page 11 of 12

10. a. Explain how a constriction in a clinical thermometer works to determine the

of a body
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(6 marks)

b. Explain in relation to liquid pressure why walls of a dam are built with thicker walls at
the bottom

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(4 marks)
NAME ______________________________________________________ CLASS: _________
Page 12 of 12

11. a. With the aid of a well labelled diagram, explain how stroking method is done so as
magnetize a piece of steel

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(6 marks)
b. Explain how the thermos flask keeps the hot water hot for some time
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(4 marks)

END OF QUESTION PAPER