NAME ___________________________________________ SCHOOL ___________________

BWAILA CLUSTER TERM I EXAMINATIONS

2023 MALAWI SCHOOL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION

PHYSICS
Subject Number: M164/I

Thursday, 8th December, 2022 Time Allowed: 2 hours

8:00 – 10:00 am

PAPER I
(100 marks)

Instructions
1. This paper contains 11 printed pages. Question Tick if Do not write in
Please check. Number answered these columns
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 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 Turn over
have answered.
 Page 2 of 13
NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS: _________________

SECTION A (70 marks)

1. a. (i). State the kinetic theory of matter.
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(1 mark)
(ii). Using the kinetic theory of matter, explain how candle wax melts
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(2 marks)
b. (i). What is absolute zero?
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(2 marks)
(ii). Convert 200 K to degrees Celsius.

(3 marks)
2. a. State Boyle’s law
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(2 marks)
b. A gas container contains 240 cm3 of oxygen gas at a temperature of 400 K. What is the
temperature of the gas, in degrees Celsius, if the volume is increased to 600 cm3 at
constant pressure?
 Page 3 of 13
NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS: _________________

(3 marks)
c. Explain, briefly, why tractors have tires with large surface area
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(2 marks)
d. The diagram below shows a bimetallic strip. Study it and use to answer the questions that
follow. Metal A has higher rate of expansion than metal B.

The strip is then cooled down to 0C0. Draw the strip to show its new shape after being
cooled.

(2 marks)

3. a. A pressure of 49000 Pa is exerted by oil to a bottom of a container. Calculate the depth of

the oil in the container if density of the oil is 700 kg/m3.

(3 marks)
b. The diagram below shows a U-tube manometer. Study it and use to answer the questions
that follow.
 Page 4 of 13
NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS: _________________

Calculate the pressure of the gas supply if atmospheric pressure is 740 mmHg

(4 marks)
4. a. Differentiate between distance and displacement
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(2 marks)
b. Two forces of 40 N and 60 N are acting at an angle of 60o to each other. Find their
resultant force. (Scale: 1 cm to represent 10N)
 Page 5 of 13
NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS: _________________

(4 marks)

c. Study the diagram below and use to answer the questions that follow.

Land
Sea

Which law of motion is applied in this scenario?

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(1 mark)
5. a. State the law of conservation of momentum
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(2 marks)
b. A toy car of mass 6 kg moving at 12 m/s collides with a stationary truck of mass 20 kg. If
they move together, find their common velocity.

(4 marks)
 Page 6 of 13
NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS: _________________

c. Identify the type of collision in question 5 b. above.

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(1 mark)

6. a. Define the term specific heat capacity.

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(2 marks)
b. A block of iron of mass 200 g and specific heat capacity 350 J/kg°C is heated until its
temperature changes from 25°C to 70°C. Calculate the amount of heat transferred to the
block

(4 marks)
c. Give any two applications of specific heat capacity
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(2 marks)
7. The figure below shows a box being pushed up the inclined plane. Study it to answer the
questions that follow.
 Page 7 of 13
NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS: _________________

Calculate the
a. Velocity ratio of the inclined plane

(3 marks)
b. Efficiency of the inclined plane.

(5 marks)
c. Amount of energy wasted due to friction
 Page 8 of 13
NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS: _________________

(3 marks)
8. The figure below shows a circuit. Study it and use to answer the questions that follow.

a. Calculate the total resistance in the circuit.

(3 marks)
b. Calculate the reading of the ammeter

(2 marks)

9. a. Describe diffraction of a wave.

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 Page 9 of 13
NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS: _________________

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(3 marks)
b. A turning fork produces 600 waves in 6 minutes. If the speed of the wave is 3.0 m/s,
calculate the wavelength of the wave.

(4 marks)
10. a. Define a free fall
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(1 mark)
c. Identify the three forces shown on the diagram below

P __________________________________________________________________
Q __________________________________________________________________
R __________________________________________________________________
 Page 10 of 13
NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS: _________________

(3 marks)

SECTION B
(30 marks)
11. a. With the aid of a well labeled diagram sketch a graph and explain how a parachutist falls
after jumping from an airplane.

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(5 marks)
b. Describe an experiment that can be carried out to find the resistance of a piece of
nichrome wire

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 Page 11 of 13
NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS: _________________

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(5 marks)

12. a. Explain how electric thermostat works to maintain steady temperature in an electric iron
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(4 marks)

b. The diagram below shows a tank filled with a liquid of density p filled to a depth of h.
 Page 12 of 13
NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS: _________________

𝐹
Show that the pressure, 𝑃 = exerted by the liquid at the base of the tank can be
𝐴
expressed as 𝑷 = 𝒅𝒉𝒈

(6 marks)
13. a. With an aid of a diagram, describe how you would demonstrate that a material medium is necessary
for the transmission of sound.
 Page 13 of 13
NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS: _________________

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(6 marks)
b. Explain how terminal speed is reached by an object that is falling through a liquid.
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(4 marks)
END OF QUESTION PAPER