THE NYANZA PHYSICS LINK EXAMINATIONS

232/2 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E) Paper 2

--- PHYSICS PAPER 2 ---
(Theory)
22ND EDITION – February 2024 - 2 Hours

Name…………………………………………………………………………….. Adm. No.:…………………

School:……………………………………………………………………… STREAM……………………
Index No.:……………………………. Date:……………………………Sign:…………………………….

Instructions to candidates
(a) Write your name and index number in the spaces provided above.
(b) Sign and write the date of the examination in the spaces provided above.
(c) This paper consists of two sections; A and B.
(d) Answer all the questions in sections A and B in spaces provided.
(e) All working must be clearly shown in the spaces provided in this booklet.
(f) Non-programmable silent electronic calculators may be used.
(g) This paper consists of 13 printed pages.
(h) Candidates should check the question paper to ascertain that all the pages are printed
as indicated and that no questions are missing.
(i) Candidates should answer the questions in English.

For Examiner’s Use only

Section Questions Maximum Candidate’s

Score Score

A 1 – 14 25

15 10

16 10
B
17 12

18 11

19 12

Total Score 80

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 Section A (25 marks)
Answer all questions in this section in the spaces provided.
1. Figure 1 shows a ray of light makes an angle of 50o with mirror M1. M1 and M2 are at right angles
to each other.

Figure 1

Complete the diagram to show the path taken by ray after reflection by both mirrors. (2 marks)

2. A positively charged metal sphere is brought near an uncharged metallic object as in Figure 2.

Figure 2
Figure 2
Identify the type of charge induced at:

X…………………………………………. Y………………………………. (2 marks)

3. A form one student set up the circuit shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3

Identify the error made by the student and state how it can be corrected. (2 marks)
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4. A person standing out in the garden at night is observed to have two shadows of different sharpness.
Explain this observation. (2 marks)
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5. Figure 4 shows a copper wire suspended freely between the poles of a magnet.

Figure 4

Indicate, on the diagram, the direction of the motion of the copper wire when the switch is closed.
(1 mark)

6. The magnetic field lines between the poles of two bar magnets, X and Y, are shown in
Figure 5.

Figure 5

State with a reason which magnet is stronger. (2 marks).

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7. Arrange the following electromagnetic waves in order of increasing wave energy.
Visible light, radio waves, X-rays, microwaves and ultraviolet rays. (1 mark)
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8. Figure 6 shows two identical capacitors C1 and C2. Initially capacitor C1 is connected to the 20V
battery. Later it is connected to capacitor C2.

Figure 6

On the axes provided, sketch a voltage – time graph when:

(i) charging capacitor C2, (1 mark)
(ii) discharging C1. (Use dotted line) (1 mark)

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9. A lady sees a magnified image of her face in a curved mirror.
State two other characteristics of the image. (2 marks)

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10. One side of a ripple tank is raised slightly, and a wave is generated at P by a finger. After one
second the shape of the wave is as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 7

Figure 7
(i) Explain why the wave is not circular. (1 mark)

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(ii) Identify the side of the tank which is raised. (1 mark)

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11. A current I flows in a wire of resistance R for time t, when a potential difference V is applied across
the wire. Show that the total electrical energy converted into heat in the wire is given by;
W = I2Rt. (2 marks)

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12. Figure 8 shows wavefronts after passing through an opening in a barrier.

Figure 8

Complete the diagram to show the wavefronts as they approach the opening. (2 marks)

13. Figure 9 shows two current carrying conductors placed close together.

Figure 9
State the type of force acting on the conductors due to the current flowing in them. (1 mark)

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14. State two disadvantages of alkaline accumulators over lead-acid accumulators. (2 marks)

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 Section B (55 marks)
Answer all question in this section in the spaces provided.
15. (a) Figure 10 shows a simple setup to demonstrate mutual induction.

Figure 10
(i) State what happens to the pointer of the galvanometer G, when the switch S is
closed. (1 mark)
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(ii) State two modifications which can be made on setup to minimize the above effect on
the pointer. (2 marks)
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(c) Figure 11 shows a transformer supplying power to a lamp rated 6.0 V, 24.0 W.

Figure 11
If the transformer is 95% efficient, determine the:
(i) current in the secondary coil, (2 marks
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 (ii) resistance of the lamp, (2 marks)

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(iii) current in the primary coil. (3 marks)

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16. (a) Figure 12 shows a lens of focal length 10 cm used as a magnifying glass. The object is
placed h cm in front of the lens. The image, seen through the lens, is 30 cm from the lens.

Figure 12

(i) Using suitable rays, complete the diagram to locate the image. (3 marks)
(ii) Determine the:
(I) value of h, (3 marks)

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(II) width of the image if the width of the object is 10 mm. (2 marks)

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 …………………………………………………………………………………………………

(b) State two differences between the camera and the human eye. (2 marks)

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17. (a) (i) Distinguish between a wavefront and a ray as used in waves. (1 mark)

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(ii) State two conditions necessary for formation of standing waves. (2 marks)

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(b) A boy and a girl stand facing each other 200 m apart on one side of a high wall and at the
same perpendicular distance, d, from it. (See Figure 13).

Figure 13

When the boy fires a pistol, the girl hears two sounds of the gunshot. The first one
0.6 seconds after the flash and the one 0.25 seconds later.

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 (i) Sketch, on the diagram, the path followed by the second sound. (1 mark)

(ii) Determine the:

(I) velocity of sound in air, (3 marks)

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(II) length of path followed by the second sound, (3 marks)

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(c) Figure 14 shows a standing wave formed when a taut rope is plucked.

Figure 14
Determine the wavelength of the wave. (2 marks)

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18. (a) (i) State what is meant by absolute refractive index of a material. (1 mark)

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 (ii) Figure 15 shows an object, O below the base of a glass block of length, d. An observer
above the glass block sees its image I at a distance of 10 cm from the base.

Figure 15

If the refractive index of the glass is 1.5, determine the length d. (3 marks)
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(b) Figure 16 shows a monochromatic ray of light incident at glass-air interface.

Figure 16
(i) Determine the value of angle C. (Take the refractive index of glass = 1.5) (3 marks)

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 (ii) State with a reason what is observed when Vaseline is now smeared on the glass
surface at O. (2 marks)

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(c) Explain dispersion of sunlight when it passes through a triangular prism. (2 marks)

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19. (a) Figure 17 shows battery of two identical cells connected in circuit consisting of resistors of
resistances R, 3.0 Ω and 6.0 Ω. Each cell has internal resistance r = 1.0 Ω.

Figure 17
The voltmeter reads 4.5 V when the switch is closed and current of 0.5 A flows through the
6.0 Ω resistor.
Determine:
(i) the current through the 3.0 Ω resistor, (2 marks)

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(ii) the resistance R. (3 marks)

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 (iii) the emf of the battery. (3 marks)

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(b) You are provided with capacitors C1, C2 and C3 of capacitance 3.0 µF, 4.0 µF and 2.0 µF
respectively.
(i) Draw a circuit diagram so that the effective capacitance of the capacitors is
maximum. (1 mark)

(ii) Determine the value of this effective capacitance. (3 marks)

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