1

P510/2
PHYSICS
(Theory)
Paper 2
Jul/Aug. 2023
2½ hours

MATIGO MOCK EXAMINATIONS BOARD

Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education
PHYSICS
(THEORY)
Paper 2
2 hours 30 minutes

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:
Answer five questions, taking at least one from each sections A, B, C and D, but not
more than one question should be chosen from either A or B.
Any additional questions(s) answered will not be marked.
Mathematical tables and graph paper are provided.
Non- programmable scientific calculators may be used
Assume where necessary:
Acceleration due to gravity, g = 9.81ms −2
Speed of light in vacuum, C = 3.0 × 108 ms−1
Speed of sound in air, 𝑣 = 340ms−1
Electronic Charge, 𝑒 = 1.6 × 10−19 C
Electronic mass, = 9.11 × 10−31 kg
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒, 𝜇0 = 4.0𝜋 × 10−7 H𝑚−1
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒, 𝜀0 = 8.85 × 10−12 F𝑚−1

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 = 9.0 × 109 𝐹 −1 m

𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑖𝑐ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑡 25°𝐶 = 1.2 × 10−6 Ω𝑚

𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 4.2 × 103 𝐽𝑘𝑔−1 𝐾 −1
𝐴𝑣𝑜𝑔𝑎𝑑𝑟𝑜’𝑠 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟, 𝑁𝐴 = 6.02 × 1023 mol−1
𝑂𝑛𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡 (𝑒𝑉) = 1.6 × 10−19 J
Turn Over

© Matigo Examinations Board 2023

 SECTION A
1. (a) Define the following term as used in refraction of light
(i) Real depth (01 mark)
(ii) Apparent depth (01 mark)
(b) A plane mirror lies at the bottom of a long flat dish containing water, the
mirror making an angle of 10° with the horizontal, as shown in the figure
below.

Figure 1

A narrow beam of monochromatic light falls on the surface of the water at

an angle of incidence𝜽. If the relative index of water is 4⁄3, determine the
maximum value of 𝜽 for which light, after reflection from the mirror,
wound emerge from the upper surface of the water. (05 marks)
(c) (i) Explain how a blurred image and a caustic surface are formed in a large
spherical concave mirror. (03 marks)
(ii) Briefly explain two ways how the defect in (c)(i) above can be minimized.
(02 marks)
(d) (i) Describe a graphical method for finding the focal length of a concave
mirror. (05 marks)
(ii) An object is placed at a distance of 36𝑐𝑚 from convex mirror. A plane
mirror is placed in between so that the two virtual images formed coincide.
If the plane mirror is at a distance of 24𝑐𝑚 from the object, find the radius
of curvature of the convex mirror. (03 marks)

2. (a)(i) Define focal plane of a convex lens. (01 marks)

1 1 1
(ii) Using a ray diagram of a finite object, derive the formula = + for a
𝑓 𝑢 𝑣
convex lens. (04 marks)

(iii) Show that the linear magnification produced by a thin converging lens is
equal to the ratio of image distance to the object distance. (03 marks)

© Matigo Examinations Board 2023

 3

(b) A small finite object is 40𝑐𝑚 from a concave lens with a focal length of
40cm. a convex lens is placed 55𝑐𝑚 to the right of the concave lens. If the
two lenses are placed coaxially to form a final real inverted image at
37.5𝑐𝑚 to the right of the convex lens, find the focal length of the
converging. (04 marks)

(c) Explain why substances with a high refractive index like diamond,
sparkle.
(03 marks)
(d) You are provided with a concave mirror, meter rule, optical pin, small
quantity of a liquid, clamp and retort stand. Using the apparatus
provided describe how you can determine experimentally the refractive
index of the liquid provided. (05 marks)
SECTION B
3. (a) (i) What is meant by the term beat period. (01 mark)
(ii) Calculate the velocity of sound in a gas in which two waves of length 2𝑚
and 2.02𝑚 produce 7 beats in 4 seconds. (03 marks)
(b) (i) State the laws of vibration of a fixed string. (03 marks)
(ii) Describe an experiment to show that the wire under tension vibrates with
more than one frequency. (05 marks)
(c) (i) Explain how stationary waves are formed. (03 marks)
(ii) A vibrating tuning fork of frequency 760𝐻𝑧 is held above the open end of a
closed tube of length 40𝑐𝑚. If the tube resonates with a tuning fork,
determine the mode of vibration and the end correction.
(Velocity of sound in air is 300𝑚𝑠 −1 ) (05 marks)

4. (a)(i) What are 𝒄𝒐𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 sources of waves? (01 mark)

(ii) What are the methods of producing coherent source? (04 marks)
(b)(i) Distinguish between plane 𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 and 𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉t.
(02 marks)
(ii) Describe how plane polarized light can be produced. (04 marks)
(iii) State two uses of polarized light. (01 mark)
(c)(i) What is meant by interference pattern as applied to waves. (03 marks)
(ii) Using young’s method to determine wavelength of light, two slits of
separation 1.4mm was used when the screen was placed 20.0cm from the
slits, 20 bright fringes occupying a distance 2.0mm was obtained. Find
wavelength of light used. (03 marks)

© Matigo Examinations Board 2023

 (d) List two changes that would be observed in (c)(ii) if the distance of the
screen from the slits was decreased. (02 marks)

SECTION C
5. (a)(i) Define the term 𝑨𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒆. (01 mark)
(i) Describe how the magnetic flux density at the centre of the coil may be
determined using a current balance. (05 marks)
(b)(i) Derive an expression for the magnetic force experienced by a moving
charge 𝐞, in a uniform magnetic field of flux density, 𝐁 at a speed, 𝐯
(03 marks)
(ii) Figure 2, shows a silver ribbon whose cross section is 1.0𝑐𝑚 by 0.2𝑐𝑚. The
ribbon carries a current of 50𝐴 from left to right and it lies in a uniform
magnetic field of magnitude1.5𝑇.
Using a density value of 𝑛 = 6.0 × 1028 electrons per cubic meter for
silver, find the hall potential between the edges of the ribbon.
(04 marks)

Figure 2

(c)(i) What is 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑞𝑢𝑒? (01 marks)

(ii) Name two devices, stating their functions whose operations are based on
magnetic torque on current carrying conductors. (02 marks)
(d)(i) State any four properties of a magnet. (02 marks)
(ii) Sketch the magnetic field pattern due to a local bar magnet in the earth’s
magnetic field whose south pole is pointing in the geographical north.
(02 marks)
6. (a)(i) State the laws of electromagnetic induction. (02 marks)
(ii) Describe an experiment to demonstrate faraday’s law of electromagnetic
induction. (04 marks)
(b) A coil of 100 turns is wound around the middle of a long solenoid of 250
turns per metre and radius 5.0𝑐𝑚. A sinusoidal current I =
5√2 sin 100𝜋𝑡 is passed through the solenoid. Find the 𝑒𝑚𝑓 induced a
cross the terminals of the coil.
(c)(i) Distinguish between mutual and self-induction. (02 marks)

© Matigo Examinations Board 2023

 5

(ii) Two coils A and B are placed in the same horizontal plane near each
other as shown in the figure below. P is a rheostat of large value while V
is a strong battery.

Figure 3

Explain what happens when the resistance, R is varied very fast after
closing the switch. (03 marks)
(d)(i) Describe how an 𝑎. 𝑐 transformer works. (05 marks)

7. (a) Define the following terms;

(i) Root mean square value and
(ii) Peak value of alternating current. (2 marks)
(b) Explain why a hot wire ammeter is suitable for measuring alternating
current while a moving galvanometer is not. (03 marks)
(c)(i) Define 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒚. (01 mark)
(ii) A circuit consists of a capacitor of capacitance 4.0𝜇𝐹 and a resistor of
resistance 1200Ω connects to an alternating emf of 120𝑉 operating at
frequency of 50Hz as shown in figure 4 below.

Figure 4

Find;
(i) Current supplied (02 marks)
(ii) Voltage a cross the capacitor. (02 marks)
(iii) Average power supplied. (02 marks)
(d) (i) Explain why a capacitor is referred to as a wattles component.
(04 marks)
(ii) Describe the mode of operation of the repulsion type of a moving iron
ammeter. (04 marks)

© Matigo Examinations Board 2023

 SECTION D
8. (a) Define the terms 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 and 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞.
(02 marks)
(b) Describe an experiment to determine the resistivity of a specimen wire
using a voltmeter and an ammeter. (05 marks)
(c) (i) State 𝐊𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐡𝐨𝐟𝐟’𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐬. (02 marks)
(ii) In the circuit diagram below four resistors of resistance 1Ω, 2Ω, 2Ω 𝑎𝑛𝑑 4Ω
are connected to two batteries, find the current through 1Ω resistor and
power dissipated in the 4Ω resistor.

Figure 5

(d) (i) With the aid of a diagram, derive the balance condition of the Wheatstone
bridge. (03 marks)
(ii) Explain why a meter bridge cannot be used to measure very low
resistances or very high resistances. (02 marks)

9. (a) (i) State Coulomb’s law of electrostatics. (01 marks)

(ii) Two point charges of 10 𝐶 and −10 𝐶 are placed 0.1𝑚 apart. Calculate
−8 −8

electric field intensity at point C. (05 marks)

Figure 6
(b)(i) Explain how a conductor can be charged negatively by induction.
(03 marks)

© Matigo Examinations Board 2023

 7

(ii) Explain how the presence of a neutral conductor near a negatively

charged material can affect the potential of the material. (03 marks)

(c) (i) What is meant by Electrostatic shielding? (02 marks)

(ii) Describe how a Van de Graff generator builds up a large potential.
(06 marks)

10. (a) What is meant by dielectric field strength? (01 mark)

(b) A parallel plate capacitor is charged to 100𝑉 and then isolated. When a
sheet of a dielectric is inserted between its plates, the p.d decreases to
50𝑉.
(i) Explain why there is a decrease in potential difference across the plate.
(03 marks)
(ii) Calculate the permittivity of sheet of dielectric. (02 marks)
(c) Derive an expression for the energy stored in a capacitor of capacitance, 𝐶
charged to a voltage, 𝑉. (05 marks)
(d)(i) State two physical properties desirable in a material to be used as a
dielectric in capacitor. (02 marks)
(ii) Mention any two types of dielectric materials. (02 marks)
(e) Describe an experiment to determine capacitance of a capacitor using a
reed switch. (05 marks)

END

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© Matigo Examinations Board 2023