FORM THREE

PHYSICS PAPER 1

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END TERM 1 2025

MARKING SCHEME

INSTRUCTION TO THE TEACHER:

This marking scheme may not be the final draft. The author acknowledges that there could
be other perspectives of facts and so the teacher concerned is highly encouraged to
adapt it accordingly.

SECTION A (25 MARKS)

1. The figure below shows a vernier caliper being used to measure the diameter of a cylindrical metal
of mass 250g and length 20cm. The reading on the calipers when the jaws were fully closed without
the metal was + 0.08cm.

Main scale

0 1 2 3 4 5

0 1
0

Small
scale

Met
al
(a) What is the diameter of the cylindrical metal? (2mk)

Reading on Vernier caliper = 2.44 Cm

Actual diameter = 2.44 – 0.08
 = 2.36 Cm

(b) Calculate the volume of the cylindrical metal. (2mk)

Volume = 3.142 × 1.18 × 1.18 × 20

= 87.50 Cm³
2. State one factor that affects the turning effect of a force on a body.
(1 mark)
• Magnitude of the force
• Perpendicular distance between pivot and line of action of force
1-mark max. (mark only the first response of the learner)

3. Figure 2 shows some air trapped by mercury in a

glass tube. The tube is inverted in a dish
containing mercury.

Figure 2
Given that the atmospheric pressure
is 760 mmHg and the height of mercury column in the tube is 600 mm, determine the pressure of the air
trapped in the tube in mmHg.
(2 marks)

formula/sub
;
Therefore, air pressure = ; correct answer with units

4. Figure 3 shows drops of mercury and water on a glass surface, Explain the difference in the shapes of
the drops.
(2marks)
Mercury water
Glass surface

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 Figure 3
Cohesive force among mercury molecules is stronger than adhesive force between mercury and glass
molecules; in water, adhesive force between water and glass molecules is stronger than cohesive
force between water molecules;
5. A ball is thrown from the top of a cliff 20m high with a horizontal velocity of 10ms-1.
Calculate the distance from the foot of the cliff to where the ball strikes the ground.
(3 marks)
; award for time
formula/sub and
the correct answer with units

6. Explain one advantage of mercury over alcohol as a thermometric liquid. (1mark)

Higher boiling point so it can measure higher temperature than alcohol;
Expand and contract uniformly
Opaque hence viscible
Does not stick to glass

7. A body of mass M is allowed to slide down an inclined plane. State two factors that affect its final
velocity at the bottom of the inclined plane. (2marks)
• Angle of inclination of the plane
• Vertical Height of the inclined plane
• Length of the plane
• Frictional force between the plane and the body
Maximum of two marks but consider only the first two responses of the learner

8. A stopwatch reads 08:10:84 and 09:10: 90 before and after an experiment respectively. Determine the
duration of the event in SI units.

𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 = (𝟗 × 𝟔𝟎) + 𝟏𝟎. 𝟗𝟎 = 𝟓𝟓𝟎. award for either final/initial time Initial time = (𝟖 ×
(2marks)

𝟔𝟎) + 𝟏𝟎. 𝟖𝟒 = 𝟒𝟗𝟎. 𝟖𝟒𝒔 ;

Time taken = 60.06 seconds ; correct answer with units
9. Explain the meaning of thermodynamics as a branch of physics. (1 mark)
The study of heat and its transformation to and from other forms of energy;

10.
a. State the Hooke’s Law.
(1mark)
For an elastic material, extension is directly proportional to the stretching force provided elastic
limit is not exceeded;

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b. Figure 4 shows identical spiral springs supporting a load of 90N. Each spring has a spring constant k =
200N/m

springs

90 N

Figure 4
Determine the total extension of the system (take the weight of the cross bars and springs to be negligible)

(2 marks)
; so extension is:

so extension is:
award for either combined spring constant ;
correct answer with units

11. Figure 5 shows a rectangular loop with a thin thread loosely tied and dipped into a soap solution.
Draw on the space provided what
is observed when point A is
punctured.
(1 mark )
A

thread
B

Figure 5

12. Two horizontal strings are attached to a block, resting on a frictionless surface, as shown in figure 6.

F
100 N
support

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 Figure 6
A force of 100N pulls on one string. The block does not move. Find the value of the force, F on the other
string.
(1 mark)

therefore, F= 100N;

13. A wooden bench feels neither warm nor cold when touched by your bare hands.
Explain this observation.
(2 marks)

Wood is a poor conductor of heat; it does not therefore take away heat from the hand hence no
change in body temperature;

SECTION B (55 MARKS)

14. (a)Force=pressure x Area

P=ɦℓG=20x100x 10=20000 N/m2

OR
MASS= density x volume

Force= mass x gravity= 0.4kg x10= 4N

(c).A cyclist initially at rest moved down a hill without peddling .He applied brakes and continually stopped. State the
energy changes as he cyclist moved down a hill. (1mk)

Potential energy – kinetic energy

d. State the principle of conservation of linear momentum (1 mark)

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 For a sytem of colliding bodies, total linear momentum is conserved unless acted upon by
external force

e) State the principle of conservation of linear momentum (1 mark)

For a system of colliding bodies, the total linear momentum before and after the collision remains a
constant;

f) A bullet of mass 60g is fired horizontally with a velocity of 200 m/s into a suspended stationary wooden
block of mass 2940g. Determine:
i. Common velocity of both the bullet and the block, if the bullet embedded into the
block. (2 marks)

; formula or substitution

therefore, V = m/s ; correct answer with units

ii. Height to which the block rises. (2 marks)

; formula/sub; correct answer with units;

15. (a) Zero (0) –It is because their velocities are still zero/ They are still stationary
(b) a= F/M= 4.0 =8.0m/s2
0.5

(c) V = 0.9 x 1.5 = 2.7m/s to the right

0.5

(d) trolley A,  because of it moves with high velocity

(e) Friction force

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 16.

(i) since U=0,S=1/2g2 →45=1/2 x10 x t2→ t=3s

(ii) S = u t, 50=U x 3 →u=16.7 m/s

(iii)V=u + g t=0+10x3==30m/s

17.
ii) The wire has a greater constant of elasticity 1 than coil of the same material hence greater
gradient.
c) K.E of stone = elastic potential energy of catapult
½ mv2 = ½ ke2
½ x 5 x v2 = ½ 100N
1000 1
/1000 M (10/100)21
5v = ½ x 100 x 100 x 10 x 10 1
2

2000 100 x 100

5v2 = 100
100
v2= 100 x 1000 = 20,000
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 5
v = 141 ms-21

V(

Horizontal velocity remains

constant

1
t
d) i)
Load 0.00 1.00 2.00 4.00 5.00 6.00
L 10.00 11.50 13.50 16.00 18.00 24.00
E 0.00 1.50 3.50 6.00 8.00 14.00 1
ii) Suitable axes labelled 1
All points correct 1
Suitable line 1
iii) Springs constant K = F 1
e
Use students graph
Correct units 1
iv) Energy stored when the length is stretched by 16 cm
Area under the graph 1
Or E = ½ ke2
Use k from graph and e = 16 cm.
K must be correct.
Correct substitution 1
Answer correct unit 1

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 18.
a) Define the term velocity ratio of a machine (1 mark)
The ratio of effort distance to load distance;

b) The figure 11, below shows part of the hydraulic lift system. State any property of the liquid under
which the hydraulic system works (1 mark)
• Incompressible
• High boiling point and low freezing point Non-corrosive
Award one mark for any correct response

Figure 11
c) The hydraulic lift machine above has velocity ratio 45 and it overcomes a load of 4500 N when an effort
of 135 N is applied. Determine:
i. The mechanical advantage of the machine (2 marks)

correct substitution and correct answer

ii. Efficiency of the machine (3 marks)

formula

; substitution

; correct evaluation in %
iii. The percentage of work that goes to waste (1 mark)
;

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