NAME: __________________________________________ FORM 4 ______

ST. MARYS SECONDARY SCHOOL

2021 MALAWI SCHOOL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION
MOCK EXAMINATIONS

PHYSICS
Subject Number: M164/I
Time Allowed: 2 hours
8:00 – 10:00 am
Thursday, 5th August 2021.

PAPER I
(100 marks)
Question Tick if Do not write in
Instructions: number answered these columns
1. This paper contains 13 pages. Please 1
check.
2
2. Fill in your Full Name at the top of
each page. 3

3. This paper contains two sections A 4

and B. In section A there are nine
5
short answer questions while in sec-
tion B there are three are short answer 6
and restricted essay questions.
7
4. Answer all the twelve questions in the
spaces provided. 8

5. Use of electronic calculators is al- 9

lowed.
10
6. The maximum number of marks for
each answer is indicated against each 11
question.
12
7. In the table provided on this page, tick
against the question number you have
answered.

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NAME: __________________________________________ FORM 4 ______

SECTION A (70 marks)

Answer all questions in this section in the spaces provided.
1. (a) State Charles’ law of gases.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(b) A gas occupies 100cm3 of space in the morning when the temperature is
15℃. Assuming pressure remains constant, what volume does the gas
occupy in the afternoon when the temperature is 38℃?

(4 marks)
2. (a) Figure 1 below shows electric cables held loose between poles.

Figure 1

pole
Electric cable

Explain why the electric cables are loosely held between the poles.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
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NAME: __________________________________________ FORM 4 ______

(b) At what angle to each other should two plane mirrors be held so that they
produce 7 images of a mango fruit placed between them?

(4 marks)
3. (a) Mention any two ways of safely handling radioactive substances.
i. ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
ii. ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
(b) Explain how beta particles are produced in the nucleus of a radioactive
element.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
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(2 marks)
(c) Figure 2 below is a graph showing activity of a radioactive source.

0
Figure 2

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NAME: __________________________________________ FORM 4 ______

Find the half-life of the radioactive source.

(2 marks)
4. (a) Explain the difference between distance and displacement.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(b) Figure 3 is a speed-time graph for a cyclist.
Speed
(m/s) Figure 3

A
250

100 B C

D
O Time (s)
0 10 25 45 50

i. Describe the motion of the cyclist in the region OA and BC.

Region OA:
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
Region BC:
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
ii. Determine the distance moved by the cyclist in the whole journey.

Page 4 of 13
NAME: __________________________________________ FORM 4 ______

(5 marks)
6. (a) Define the term ‘work’ as used in physics.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(b) Figure 4 below shows a force of 100N applied at an angle of 30° to the
horizontal in order to move a 5kg object.
100N

Figure 4
5kg 30°
Ground
Calculate the work done on the object if it is moved through a distance of
10m.

(4 marks)

Page 5 of 13
NAME: __________________________________________ FORM 4 ______

5. (a) State one difference between a virtual and real image.

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(b) State any two ways of determining the focal length of a lens.
_____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
(c) An object 15cm high is placed in front of a converging lens of focal
length 20cm and a virtual image is formed 30cm away from the lens. Using
the lens formula calculate:
i. object distance.

(4 marks)
ii. height of the image

(3 marks)
6. (a) Work out the value of resistance of the resistor below

Page 6 of 13
NAME: __________________________________________ FORM 4 ______

Colour Code Colour Tolerance

(%)
brown 1 gold ±5
red 2 silver ±10
blue 6 No colour ±20

(2 marks)
(b) Explain how overloading a cable with electrical appliances is dangerous.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

(3 marks)
7. (a) State the law of moments
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
(1 marks)
(b) Figure 5 below shows weights on a weightless meter ruler balanced at
the pivot.

60 cm 40cm
Figure 5
10cm
pivot
3N W
5N

Determine the value of weight labeled W.

Page 7 of 13
NAME: __________________________________________ FORM 4 ______

(4 marks)
8. Figure 6 below is a pressure cooker.

Figure 6

i. Briefly explain how the pressure cooker works.

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
(4 marks)
ii. Why is the pressure cooker fitted with a tight lid?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
(2 mark)
(b) Explain why tyres of a vehicle become more inflated when the vehicle is
moving.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

Page 8 of 13
NAME: __________________________________________ FORM 4 ______

(2 marks)
9. (a) Explain how moving a coil faster in a magnetic field affects current
produced in the coil.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
(3 marks)
(b) Figure 7 below is a transformer. Use it to answer the questions that
follow
Figure 7

i. Name the type of transformer.

________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
ii. Give a reason for your answer to question 8b (ii).
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
(2 mark)
iii. Calculate the output voltage if input voltage is 240V, number of turns
in the primary coil is 200 and number of turns in the secondary coil is
20.

(4 marks)

Page 9 of 13
NAME: __________________________________________ FORM 4 ______

(c) Mention any two reasons why Electricity Generation Company (Egenco)
of Malawi prefers generating alternating current (ac) over direct current (dc).
i. ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
ii. ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
SECTION B (30 marks)
Answer all questions in this section in the spaces provided.
10. (a) Explain how stroking method is done so as to magnetise a piece of steel.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
(4 marks)
(b) Figure 8 below is a thermos flask. Study and use it to answer the
questions that follow.

X Figure 8

i. Name parts labelled X and Y.

X: _____________________________________________________
Y: _____________________________________________________
(2 marks)

Page 10 of 13
NAME: __________________________________________ FORM 4 ______

ii. Explain how the thermos flask keeps the hot water hot for some time.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
(4 marks)
11. (a) Explain how a sea breeze occurs.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
(5 marks)
(b) Describe an experiment that can be carried out to show that pressure in
liquids depends on the density of the liquid.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
(5 marks)
12. (a) Describe an experiment that be carried out to show that salt affects the
boiling point of pure water.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

Page 11 of 13
NAME: __________________________________________ FORM 4 ______

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
(6 marks)
(b) Explain how Newton’s third law of motion is used when a person is
swimming.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
(4 marks)

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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NAME: __________________________________________ FORM 4 ______

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