NAME: ……………………………………………………………..

CLASS: ………………
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
KASENGA DAY SECONDARY SCHOOL
GRADE 12 PHYSICS END OF TERM TEST TERM 1, 2024
DURATION: 2 HOURS
SECTION A [ 10 MARKS]
Answer all questions by circling the letter that represents the correct answer
1. MIn solids, thermal energy is transferred by conduction. What is the cause of conduction?
A change in density B expansion C infra-red radiation D molecular vibrations
2. Which method of energy release is affected by a change in the Earth’s gravitational field?
A chemical B geothermal C hydroelectric D nuclear
3. A car of mass 800 kg moves from point X to point Y along a section of level road, down a
hill, and along another section of level road. The diagram shows the distances moved.
The acceleration of free fall is 10 m / s2.

How much potential energy has the car lost in moving from point X to point Y?
A 240 000J B 320 000J C 400 000J D 720 000J
4. To create a temperature scale two fixed points, the ice point and the steam point, are
needed. Which of the following is used to determine the ice point?
A the temperature at which air liquefies B the temperature at which sea water freezes
C the temperature of ice in a freezer D the temperature of melting ice
5. Which of the following allows thermal energy to be transferred by density changes?
A only solid B only solid and liquid C only liquid and gas D only gas
6. An object falls through a vacuum where there is no air resistance. Which line in the table
describes the acceleration and velocity of the object?

Acceleration velocity
A Constant constant
B Constant increasing
C Increasing constant
D Increasing increasing
7. An astronaut has a mass of 80 kg on Earth. He can jump 10 cm high off the surface of the
Earth. When he is on the Moon he can jump higher than this. This is because, on the
Moon,
A his mass is smaller than on Earth .B his weight is greater than on Earth.
C his weight is smaller than on Earth. D his weight is the same as on Earth.
8. A stone of mass 400 g is lowered into a measuring cylinder containing water.
The water level rises from 300 cm3 to 500 cm3.What is the density of the stone?
A 0.50 g / cm3 B 0.80 g / cm3 C 1.33 g / cm3 D 2.0 g / cm3

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9. The diagrams show some effects which are all due to the same cause.

What causes these effects?

A friction B heat C mass D weight
10. A ball of mass 100 g is balanced on the edge of a sledge 10 m above the ground. It rolls
off the sledge and falls. How much gravitational potential energy is lost when the ball falls
to the ground? (gravitational field strength = 10N/ kg.)
A 10 J B 100 J C 1000 J D 10 000 J
11. Which substance in the table is liquid at 20 °C?3

12. A beaker of water contains a red crystal which slowly dissolves. Gentle heat is applied
below the crystal. The red colour is seen to rise.

What is the name of this process?

A evaporation B conduction C convection D radiation
13. In a hydroelectric power station, water flows from a high reservoir to turn turbines to
generate electricity. Which energy conversions take place?
A gravitational potential → chemical / fuel → electrical
B gravitational potential → kinetic → electrical
C kinetic → chemical / fuel → electrical
D kinetic → gravitational potential → electrical
14. Where and at which temperature does evaporation of a liquid occur?

Where temperature
A Point(s) of heating A fixed point
B Point(s) of heating any
C Surface A fixed pint

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D Surface Any
15. Two identical metal plates are painted, one matt white and the other matt
black. These are
placed at equal distances from a radiant heater as shown. The heater is
turned on for five
minutes.

Which metal plate absorbs more energy and which plate emits more energy in
this time?

Absorbs more Emits more

A Black black
B Black white
C White black
D White white

SECTION B [ 35 MARKS]
Answer all questions in the spaces provided
1. A car of total mass 800 kg has a constant acceleration. It starts from rest. After 8.0 s it has
A speed of 20 m/s. Over the 8 second interval, calculate for this car, showing your working,
(a) the acceleration,

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[2]
(b) the resultant force,

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[2]
(c) the distance travelled

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..,
[2]
(d) the kinetic energy gained.

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[2]
2. Fig. 2.1 shows a uniform plank of length 2.2 m resting on a pivot P that is 0.20 m from
opened.

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The plank is kept horizontal by a vertical force of 90 N acting as shown in Fig. 2.1.
(a) Calculate the moment about P of the 90 N force.

………………………………………………………………………………………………….
[2]
(b) (i) On Fig. 2.1, mark the position of the centre of mass of the plank.
[1]
(ii) Using the principle of moments, calculate the weight of the plank.
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[2]
3. A man exerts a horizontal force of 200 N on a 60 kg box to move it across a room. The
box moves with a constant speed of 0.5m/ s.
(a) How big is the force of friction on the box?
Explain your Answer
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................................................................................................................ ............................ [2]
(b) Calculate the kinetic energy of the box.
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(c) (i) How much work does the man do on the box every second?

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[2]
(ii) How much power is the man producing to move the box?

.....................................................................................................................................[2]
(iii) What is the main form of energy into which his work is converted?
.....................................................................................................................................[1]
4. A metal can has polished surfaces. A similar can has its surfaces painted black. Fig.
4.1shows how the temperature of each can varies over a short period of time after they
are moved into strong sunlight.

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Fig 4.1

(a) State the name of the process that transfers energy to the cans
……………………………………………………….......................................................... [1]
(b) Which can, A or B, is the one painted black? Give a reason for your answer
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................[2]
5. Describe an experiment you would carry out in the laboratory to show that a dull black
surface is a better emitter of heat than a shiny white surface.
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6. The volume of a given mass of gas was 60cm3 at 27oC. The gas was heated and the
volume increased to 70cm3. If the pressure was held constant, what was the new
temperature?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………[2]
7. The figure below shows an experiment on conduction.

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The experiment shows that the ice remains intact for several minutes as heating increases.

(a) Explain why this is so.

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…………………………………………………………………………………………………[1]
(b) How does the ice cube melt after some time? Explain.
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SECTION C [ 20 MARKS]

Answer any two questions from this section

1. (a) (i) Explain the term absolute zero temperature. [1]

(ii) State Charles’ Law. [1]
(b) The table displays results of temperature against volume of air at constant
pressure of 720mmHg.

Temp(oC) 17 29 39 60 80 100
Volume (cm3) 7.5 7.9 8.1 8.7 9.1 9.6
Temp (K)

(i) Copy and complete the table above. [2]

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(ii) Plot a graph of volume (cm ) against temperature (K). [4]
(iii) from the graph, determine the volume of the air when the temperature was
77oC.
2. (a) Light and gamma rays are both examples of electromagnetic waves.
(i) Name two other types of electromagnetic radiation. [2]
(ii) State two similarities between light and gamma rays. [2]
(b) The speed of light is 3 x 108m/s. Calculate the frequency of yellow light of
wavelength 6 x 10−7m. [2]
(c) Waves travel at a speed of 30m/s through a medium. If 10 waves pass a point
per second,
Calculate

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(i) the frequency of the wave [2]
(ii) the wavelength of the wave. [2]

3. (a) Describe an experiment to dull black surfaces are better absorbers of heat than
white surfaces.
[5]
(b) Describe an experiment to determine centre of mass of a piece of cardboard. {5}

END OF TEST

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