Physics S1: Practice Questions

Based on ”Physics for Rwanda Schools - Senior 1”

Unit 1: Laboratory Safety Rules and Measurement of Physical Quantities

1. Define Physics in your own words. 8. Give examples of any three derived 15. List five personal safety rules to be
quantities and their formulas. followed in the lab.
2. Mention any three characteristics of
Physics as a science. 9. Define density and state its SI unit. 16. Describe how to use a vernier cal-
liper to measure the diameter of a
3. State five branches of Physics and 10. Name any four measuring instru- rod.
their applications. ments and what they measure.
17. Define the term “least count” of a
4. Give three examples of how Physics measuring instrument.
11. What is a scientific investigation?
relates to society and technology.
18. A student measures the mass of a
5. List four careers that require knowl- 12. State and briefly describe the six block as 100g and its volume as
edge in Physics. stages of scientific investigation.
40cm3 . Calculate its density.
6. Name three fundamental quantities 13. Explain the importance of following 19. What is the role of a first aid kit in
and their SI units. safety rules in a laboratory. the Physics lab?
7. Differentiate between fundamental 14. Mention four laboratory hazard sym- 20. Convert the following to SI units:
and derived quantities. bols and their meanings. (a) 2 km, (b) 500 mL, (c) 0.05 mg

Unit 2: Qualitative Analysis of Linear Motion

1. Define motion and give two exam- 9. Describe a real-life scenario that in- 15. Sketch a graph of non-uniform mo-
ples from daily life. volves rectilinear motion and explain tion and explain what the curve
the forces acting. means.
2. Differentiate between linear and non-
linear motion using diagrams.
10. State any three examples from your 16. Explain why linear motion is impor-
3. State the three types of linear mo- environment where uniform linear tant for engineers and car designers.
tion and give one example for each. motion is observed.
17. Based on Exercise 2.1, describe what
4. A person walking in a straight line you learned about changes in motion
covers 100 meters in 20 seconds. Is 11. A child rides a bicycle through a when a force is applied.
this uniform or non-uniform motion? curved path. Is the motion linear?
Justify your answer. Explain why.
18. During a school experiment, a ball
5. Explain why the motion of a bounc- 12. List any three natural or man-made rolls slower on rough ground than
ing ball is non-linear. on a smooth floor. Explain this ob-
factors that may cause a body to servation in terms of linear motion.
6. Give four differences between uni- change its linear motion.
form and non-uniform motion. 19. Using your own words, summarize
13. Discuss the importance of studying the concept of inertia and its effect
7. From Activity 2.2 in the book, de- linear motion in everyday life (e.g.
scribe what was observed during the on linear motion.
transport, sports).
marble rolling activity.
20. In the marble experiment from the
8. What tools or instruments are used 14. Sketch a simple graph of distance vs. book, what do you think would hap-
to observe or analyze motion in time for uniform motion and label pen if the surface was tilted upward?
Physics? axes. Explain why.

Unit 3: Force

1. Define force and give its SI unit. 5. Explain the difference between grav- box on a rough floor than on a
itational force and magnetic force. smooth one?
2. Mention four effects of force on an
object. 6. List and describe three types of con- 9. From Activity 3.1, what happened
tact forces discussed in the unit. when you tried pulling an object us-
3. Differentiate between contact and ing a spring balance?
non-contact forces with examples. 7. A girl pushes a table across the floor.
Identify the types of forces acting on 10. Define the term resultant force and
4. What is frictional force? Mention the table. give an example.
two advantages and two disadvan-
tages. 8. Why is it difficult to slide a heavy 11. A force of 8 N is applied to the right

Prepared by Cedric Roger

 and 3 N to the left. What is the 15. Explain how force can change the 18. Describe the role of tension force in
resultant force and its direction? direction of motion using a football rope pulling.
example.
12. What happens to a stationary object
if the resultant force on it is zero? 19. What precaution should be taken
16. What are the dangers of excessive while handling force experiments in
13. Mention four tools used to measure force in machines? the lab?
or demonstrate force.
14. From the book’s Activity 3.2, de- 17. Why is it necessary to apply force 20. Using a diagram, show the resultant
scribe what was observed when bal- when lifting a bucket of water from force on a box when two students
anced forces acted on an object. a well? push in the same direction.

Unit 4: Newton’s Laws of Motion

1. State Newton’s First Law of Motion 8. How is Newton’s Second Law used 15. Mention any three experiments in
in your own words. in designing vehicle safety systems? the unit that demonstrate Newton’s
laws.
2. Give two daily examples where New- 9. What do we understand by the term
ton’s First Law is applied. “acceleration” in Newton’s Second 16. How do Newton’s laws apply when
Law? jumping from a boat to land?
3. Why does a passenger jerk forward 10. State Newton’s Third Law of Motion
when a moving car stops suddenly? with two examples. 17. Why does an object remain at rest
when no net force acts on it?
4. Define inertia and explain its rela- 11. Why does a balloon fly in the oppo-
tionship to Newton’s First Law. site direction when released? 18. Explain why athletes use spikes
while running based on Newton’s
5. State Newton’s Second Law of Mo- 12. From Activity 4.1, what forces were Third Law.
tion and its mathematical expres- demonstrated by the ruler and rub-
sion. ber band? 19. What is the role of mass and force
13. A hammer hits a nail and the nail in determining the acceleration of a
6. A 2 kg object accelerates at 3 m/s2. pushes back. Which law is shown body?
Calculate the force applied. here?
20. Discuss the real-life application of
7. Explain the meaning of: F = ma, 14. What are action and reaction forces? Newton’s laws in sports or traffic
giving each symbol’s unit. How do they operate? safety.

Unit 5: Centre of Gravity

1. Define centre of gravity. 8. Why does a wide base increase sta- 15. How can knowledge of centre of grav-
bility? ity be useful to engineers and design-
2. What is the difference between cen- ers?
tre of gravity and gravitational 9. Draw and label the centre of gravity
force? of (a) a ruler, (b) a triangle, and (c) 16. A car takes a sharp turn and over-
a bottle. turns. Relate this to centre of grav-
3. How can the centre of gravity of a
10. Describe the centre of gravity for a ity.
regular object be found?
circular disc and for a cone.
4. Mention three methods of determin- 17. What safety precautions should be
11. How does the position of centre of taken when determining centre of
ing the centre of gravity of irregular
gravity affect the stability of an ob- gravity in the lab?
bodies.
ject?
5. From Activity 5.1, what happens 12. A cone standing on its base is more 18. How can the balance of a meter rule
when you suspend a cut-out card be used to estimate the centre of
stable than on its tip. Explain why. gravity?
at different points?
13. From Experiment 5.3, what was ob-
6. Explain how plumb lines are used in served when the support point was 19. Explain why acrobats bend their
finding the centre of gravity. not at the centre of gravity? bodies when walking on a tightrope.

7. Give examples of objects with low 14. Mention two ways to increase stabil- 20. Why is a tractor more likely to over-
and high centres of gravity. ity in buildings or vehicles. turn compared to a bus?

Unit 6: Work, Energy and Power

Prepared by Cedric Roger

1. Define work and give its SI unit. 8. Name five common sources of energy 15. A boy uses 200 J to lift a load but
and their uses. only 150 J is used effectively. What
2. When is work said to be done? Give is the efficiency?
one real-life example. 9. What is the SI unit of power? How
is it related to work and time? 16. Why is energy conservation impor-
3. Calculate the work done when a tant in modern society?
force of 10 N moves an object by 10. Give two advantages and two disad-
3 meters. vantages of hydroelectric power. 17. Describe the transformation of en-
11. How does solar energy differ from ergy in a torch and in a car engine.
4. What is the difference between work
geothermal energy? 18. From the book’s experiment with
and power?
12. From Activity 6.1, describe how en- lifting weights, what relationship
5. Define energy and name three types ergy was demonstrated using simple is observed between force and dis-
of energy discussed in the unit. machines. tance?
6. A body does 150 J of work in 30 13. Explain potential and kinetic energy 19. Mention three ways to reduce energy
seconds. Calculate the power. with clear examples. loss in the home.

7. State the law of conservation of en- 14. Define efficiency of a machine and 20. Distinguish between renewable and
ergy. give its formula. non-renewable sources of energy.

Unit 7: Simple Machines

1. What is a machine? Give three ex- 9. Explain the principle of moments in 15. Describe how an inclined plane re-
amples from daily life. a seesaw. duces the effort needed to raise a
load.
2. List the six types of simple machines 10. What is the role of a lever in lifting
studied in this unit. heavy objects? 16. Explain how gears work in a bicy-
3. State two advantages of using ma- cle using the concepts of force and
chines. 11. Identify the three classes of levers motion.
and give examples.
4. Define mechanical advantage (MA).
17. Why is no machine 100
5. Give the formula for mechanical ad- 12. From Activity 7.3, describe how a
vantage and state its unit. pulley system multiplies force.
18. Mention safety precautions when op-
6. Define velocity ratio (VR) and give 13. Sketch a diagram of a wheel and erating mechanical systems.
its formula. axle machine and label the effort and
load. 19. Describe the use of screw jacks as
7. What is efficiency? How is it calcu- simple machines.
lated for a machine?
14. A machine lifts a 200 N load with
8. A pulley has a VR of 4 and MA of 50 N effort. Find its mechanical ad- 20. What happens when a machine has
3. Calculate its efficiency. vantage. an MA greater than its VR?

Unit 8: Kinetic Theory and States of Matter

1. List the three states of matter and 8. Sketch particle arrangement dia- 15. In which state is the kinetic energy
give two examples of each. grams for solid, liquid, and gas. of particles highest? Why?
2. Define kinetic theory of matter. 9. From Activity 8.1, describe what 16. Why does a gas expand to fill its
was observed when ice was heated. container?
3. What is the main difference in parti-
cle arrangement between solids, liq- 10. What is meant by boiling point? 17. Define condensation and explain it
uids, and gases? Give an example. using the kinetic theory.
4. Explain how matter changes from 11. Explain the process of sublimation 18. Describe the importance of under-
one state to another. with real-life examples. standing states of matter in cooking
5. Describe what happens to particles 12. Define diffusion and explain why it or refrigeration.
when a solid melts. occurs faster in gases.
19. Explain why ice floats on water even
6. Why does heating a liquid cause it 13. What happens to the motion of par- though both are made of HO.
to evaporate? ticles as temperature increases?
20. Why is understanding the kinetic
7. Use the kinetic theory to explain 14. Give two differences between evapo- theory important in studying pres-
why gases can be compressed easily. ration and boiling. sure?

Prepared by Cedric Roger

Unit 9: Heat and Temperature

1. Differentiate between heat and tem- 8. Define convection and give one ex- 15. A 2kg block is heated with 10,000 J.
perature. ample in nature. If its temperature changes by 5°C,
what is its specific heat capacity?
2. What is the SI unit of heat? What 9. What is radiation? How does it dif-
about temperature? fer from conduction and convection? 16. Why does water take longer to heat
10. Describe an experiment to show that than sand?
3. Describe how a thermometer works. black surfaces are good absorbers of
heat. 17. How is insulation used to control
4. State two examples of temperature heat transfer?
scales. 11. How is temperature measured in lab-
oratories? 18. From the book’s Activity 9.1, ex-
5. Convert 100°C to Kelvin. plain the method used to compare
12. Explain why air is a poor conductor heat conduction in rods.
6. Why does metal feel colder than of heat.
wood at the same temperature? 13. What happens to molecules when an 19. Mention three effects of heat on mat-
object is heated? ter.
7. What is conduction? Give two good
conductors of heat. 14. What is specific heat capacity? 20. What is thermal equilibrium?

Unit 10: Magnetism

1. What is a magnet? List three mate- 8. What happens when like poles are 15. What happens to a magnet when it
rials that can be attracted by mag- brought close? What about unlike is hammered continuously?
nets. poles?
16. Give two ways of demagnetizing a
2. Define magnetic field and describe 9. Explain why Earth is considered a
magnet.
how it is represented. giant magnet.
3. State two types of magnets and give 10. List any three uses of magnets in 17. Why are magnets stored in pairs
an example of each. daily life. with keepers?
4. Describe how to magnetize a steel
11. What is magnetic induction? 18. Sketch magnetic field lines between
bar using the stroking method.
(a) unlike poles, and (b) like poles.
5. Explain the difference between mag- 12. Describe how to test for magnetic
netic and non-magnetic materials. strength using iron filings. 19. Compare temporary and permanent
magnets with examples.
6. From Activity 10.1, describe what 13. What safety precautions should be
happened when different materials followed when using magnets?
20. Describe an experiment showing
were tested with a magnet.
14. Explain how a compass works using magnetic attraction through differ-
7. Define poles of a magnet. magnetism. ent materials.

Unit 11: Electrostatics

1. Define electrostatics and state its 7. Differentiate between conductors 14. Why does your hair stand when
importance. and insulators with examples. rubbed with a balloon?

2. What are electric charges? Mention 8. Why is plastic a better insulator 15. Mention two applications of electro-
two types. than copper? statics in industries.

3. State the law of attraction and re- 9. Define charging by friction. Give 16. Describe a simple method to detect
pulsion of charges. one example from the textbook. electric charge.
10. What happens when a charged rod 17. Why do charged objects lose their
4. Give two examples of electrostatic
is brought close to water from a tap? charge when touched?
effects in daily life.
11. List two natural dangers of static 18. Sketch the movement of charges in
5. From Activity 11.1, describe what electricity. a rubbing experiment.
happened when a rubbed ruler was
placed near paper. 12. Explain the role of lightning conduc- 19. What is grounding and why is it im-
tors. portant in electrical safety?
6. What materials were used in the bal-
loon and hair experiment? What 13. From the textbook activity with 20. Compare the charging effects of glass
was observed? wool and polythene, describe the rod and plastic rod from the activi-
type of charge generated. ties.

Prepared by Cedric Roger

Unit 12: Current Electricity

1. Define electric current and state its 8. From Activity 12.2, explain what 15. Define voltage and its unit.
unit. happened when the circuit was bro-
ken. 16. From Activity 12.3, describe what
2. What are the three basic compo- was observed when multiple bulbs
nents of an electric circuit? 9. Why is copper used in electric wires?
were used.
3. Describe how current flows in a sim- 10. How do fuses prevent electrical acci-
ple circuit from a battery to a bulb. dents? 17. Mention two safety rules when han-
dling electric devices at home or
11. What happens to a bulb when a
4. Draw and label a complete simple school.
switch is turned off? Why?
circuit diagram.
12. Give the function of each of the fol- 18. How does the length of wire affect
5. What is a conductor? Give three lowing: cell, wire, switch, resistor, its resistance?
examples. bulb.
6. Differentiate between a cell and a 13. Explain how a switch controls the 19. Why is a parallel circuit used in
battery. home wiring?
flow of electricity.
7. What is resistance? What is its 14. What is a short circuit and how can 20. How is current measured in a circuit?
unit? it be avoided? Which instrument is used?

Unit 13: Rectilinear Propagation of Light

1. Define light and name its main 8. Describe how the size of a shadow 14. Explain how light enables us to see
source. changes with the distance of the light objects.
source.
2. What is rectilinear propagation of 15. What is meant by the term “ray” in
light? 9. What is a pinhole camera? How does Physics?
3. Give three examples where light it work? 16. Mention three everyday examples of
travels in a straight line. rectilinear propagation of light.
10. From the textbook activity with a
4. From Activity 13.1, explain what candle and screen, what was ob- 17. Give the use of a pinhole camera in
was observed with the three-hole served when the object moved? photography or science.
cardboard setup.
11. State two conditions necessary to 18. What is an image in a pinhole cam-
5. Sketch a diagram showing light rays form a clear shadow. era? Is it upright or inverted?
through aligned holes.
19. State two differences between light
6. Differentiate between transparent, 12. Why does light bend when it passes rays and sound waves.
translucent and opaque materials. from air to water?
20. From the experiment in Unit 13, de-
7. Why does a shadow form behind an 13. Describe the formation of an eclipse scribe what happened when the card-
opaque object? using ray diagrams. boards were misaligned.

Prepared by Cedric Roger