KCSE 2024 Physics Paper 1 Questions and Answers
KCSE 2024 Physics Paper 1 Questions and Answers
This page contains the official KNEC KCSE question papers and marking schemes from the 2024 KCSE examination. Below, you will find the complete set of questions as they appeared to candidates in the exam hall, followed by the official marking scheme used by examiners. Use these authentic KCSE past papers and answers to practice under the real KCSE exam conditions and effectively revise for the KCSE examinations.
SECTION A
Question 1/18
Figure 1 shows the vernier scale of a vernier calliper. On the figure, include the main style so that the vernier calliper shows a reading of 3.15 cm.
Question 2/18
Explain why the weight of an object is a vector quantity. (1 mark)
Question 3/18
Figure 2 shows the shape of a bimetallic strip made of metals A and B when heated.
State the reason why the strip appears as shown. (1 mark)
Question 4/18
It is observed that in order to balance a seesaw, the heavier child sits closer to the pivot. State the reason for this observation. (2 marks)
Question 5/18
Explain one way in which a person maintains stability when carrying a bucket of water in one hand. (1 mark)
Question 6/18
Figure 3 shows a simple hand sanitizer dispenser.
Explain how it works. (3 marks)
Question 7/18
Figure 4 shows a marble that was set into oscillations when released in a bowl. On the axes provided, sketch the velocity-time graph for the motion of the marble in one complete oscillation. (3 marks)
Question 8/18
State the meaning of the term viscosity as used in fluids. (1 mark)
Question 9/18
A machine raises a mass of 20 kg through a distance of 0.2 m when an effort of 100 N is moved through a distance of 0.32 m. determine the velocity ratio of the machine. (2 marks)
Question 10/18
A gas bubble is released at the bottom of a pond containing water. It is observed that as the bubble rises to the water surface, it expands. Explain this observation. (2 marks)
Question 11/18
A stone of mass 200 g is tied at the end of a string 1 m long is whirled in a horizontal circle at an angular velocity of 10 radians per second. Determine the centripetal force acting on the stone. (3 marks)
Question 12/18
An object is released into an Eureka can full of water. It is observed that the weight of the displaced water is equal the weight of the object. Explain this observation. (2 marks)
Question 13/18
A student observed that smoke particles in a smoke cell move randomly. State what:
(a) Causes this motion; (1 mark)
(b) Happens to the motion of the particles if the temperature in the cell is increased.(1 mark)
SECTION B
Question 14/18
(a) (i) State the meaning of the term relative density. (1 mark)
(ii) State two areas of application of relative density in daily life. (2 marks)
(b) A student blew air into a balloon, tied it up, and released it into the air. It floated for some time but slowly descended to the ground and settled.
(i) Explain why the balloon settled on the ground. (2 marks)
(ii) State two ways in which the balloon could be made to keep floating in the air. (2 marks)
(c) A hollow metallic cube of volume 1000 cm³ is submerged in a liquid of density 1100 kgm⁻³ Determine the upthrust acting on it. (take g as 10 Nkg⁻¹) (3 marks)
Question 15/18
(a) During an experiment to verify a certain law, a student was provided with some masses, a spring, and a metre rule.
(i) State the law the student wanted to verify. (1 mark)
Question 16/18
(a) Figure 6 shows a setup that may be used to determine acceleration due to gravity.
Describe how the setup may be used to determine the acceleration due to gravity. (4 marks)
(b) A stone of mass 0.02 kg tied at the end of a spring is whirled in a vertical circle of radius 1.0 m. Determine the minimum velocity required for the stone to maintain circular motion. (acceleration due to gravity is 10 ms²) (4 marks)
(c) State two applications of centripetal force. (2 marks)
Question 17/18
(a) It is observed that when salt is sprinkled onto the surface of ice at -2 °C, the ice melts. Explain this observation. (2 marks)
(b) State two factors that determine the pressure exerted by solids. (2 marks)
(c) (i) A person mixed 2 kg of hot water at 70 °C with 3 kg of cold water at 22 °C for bathing. Given that the specific heat capacity of water is 4200 JkgK⁻¹, determine the final temperature of the mixture, assuming there was no heat loss. (3 marks)
(ii) State two possible factors that can lead to heat loss in (i). (2 marks)
(d) Some water at 60 °C was heated until it started to boil after time t seconds.
(i) On the axes provided, sketch a graph of temperature against time for the water till it boiled. (2 marks)
(ii) Explain the shape of the graph in (i). (2 marks)
Question 18/18
(a) Explain why the walls of a dam are thicker at the bottom than at the top. (3 marks)
(b) Figure 7 shows a simple hydraulic lift system.
(i) Given that the areas A₁ and A₂ are 0.2 m² and 4 m², respectively, determine the maximum load that can be lifted at piston 2, when a force of 200 N is applied at piston 1. (3 marks)
(ii) State two reasons why water is not a suitable liquid for use in this system. (2 marks)
(c) Figure 8 shows a pair of scissors.
(i) On the diagram, label the load, effort, and fulcrum. (1 mark)
(ii) Explain how the velocity ratio of the given pair of scissors may be reduced. (2 marks)
(iii) State the reason why it is important to minimize the velocity ratio. (1 mark)
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