PHYSICS THEORY(232/1&2)

PRESENTED BY;
ANTHONY D.K NZUKI

LENANA SCHOOL
TEL. 0722772625
[email protected]
[email protected]
Paper 1 Topics

1. Measurement 1 and 2.
2. Force, turning effect of a force, equilibrium
and center of gravity, Hooke’s law, particulate
nature of matter.
3. Pressure, fluid flow, gas laws, floating and
sinking.
4. Thermal expansion, heat transfer, quantity of
heat.
5. Linear motion, newton’s laws of motion, work
energy power and machines, uniform circular
motion.
Paper 2 Topics
1. Rectilinear propagation and reflection at
plane surfa0ce, reflection at curved surfaces,
refraction of light, thin lenses.
2. Cells and simple circuits, current electricity,
heating effect of electric current, mains
electricity.
3. Electrostatics 1 and 2.
4. Waves 1 and 2, Sound, electromagnetic
spectrum.
5. Magnetism, magnetic effect of electric
current, electromagnetic induction.
6. Photoelectric effect, cathode rays and
cathode ray tube-rays, radioactivity,
electronics.
 Handling Physics Theory
Key areas
 Category of questions
1. Statement questions
2. Numerical questions
3. Diagrammatical questions
Language of physics exams
Terms used
Questions involving magnetic and electric field lines
misconceptions.
Diagrams
Tackling numerical questions
Questions involving ray diagrams
Questions involving graphs
Experimental questions
Others
 LANGUAGE OF PHYSICS EXAMINATIONS
Common terms include:
1. Distinguish/Differentiate/Contrast
To show that difference between two things or terms, e.g
 Mechanical and electromagnetic waves
 Fission and Fusion
 Answer should be in continuous prose otherwise use T- table
 Same features should be discussed
2. Compare and contrast
Compare- Give the similarities by stating the common feature
Contrast-give the difference between similar features
The eye and the camera
3. Explain/ explain an observation
Give a systematic and detailed account about something .
 Explain the working principles of a devise e.g the working of an
electric bell
 Observation??? Detected using the five normal senses-systematic
explanation of the science behind it.
4- State:/List/Name
 Factors
 Characteristics
 Laws
 Principles 
 Functions
 When stating factors or characteristics.
state the factors without explaining
Restrict yourself to the no of factors or characteristics required
Some important factors to me mastered:
-factors affecting pressure in fluids
-Factors affecting surface tension
-factors affecting stability of an object
-factors affecting capacitance
-factors affecting the strength of an electromagnet
-factors affecting the size of force on a conductor carrying current
in a magnetic field
-factors affecting heating effect of an electric current
-melting and boiling point of a substance
-speed of sound
-photoelectric effect
-size of induced emf
-electrical resistance of a conductor
 5. Definition of terms
key words must be used.
Don’t use the same word to define
itself.
Meaning must come out clearly.
Never use terms you are not sure
about.
Should not interchange words e.g
refraction and reflection.
Some Common Terms to define
 Pressure  Angular velocity or
 Moment of a force acceleration
 Centre of gravity  Relative density
 Capacitance  Absolute refractive
 Magnification index
 An electromagnet  Potential difference
 Work,Power, MA, VR,E  Focal length or
 Specific heat capacity principal focus
 Specific latent  Half-life
 Thermionic emission  Photoelectric effect
 Current
 Emf  Threshold frequency
 Moment of a force  Work function
 Centre of gravity  Kilowatt hour
 Capacitance  Photoelectric effect
 Magnification  Threshold frequency
 An electromagnet  Work function
 Specific heat capacity
 Specific latent heat of
fusion & vaporization
 6. Distinguish between two terms or quantities
Mass Weight
Heat Temperature
Stable Unstable
Streamline Turbulent
Real Vitue
Primary cells Secondary cells
Soft magnetic materials Hard magnetic materials
Transverse waves
Longitudinal waves
Non magnetic materials
Magnetic materials
Velocity
Speed
Hard X-rays
Soft X-rays
Fusion
Fission
Extrinsic
Intrinsic semiconductor
n type semiconductor
P type
Non ohmic conductor
Ohmic conductor
 7.Principles and laws
Should be stated verbatively
laws/ principles’ operate under
certain conditions
The conditions under which the
laws operate must be accurately
stated.
Confusing laws/ principles with
similar wording –law of floatation
and Archimedes principle
 Laws and principles
• Pascal’s principle
• Principle of moments
• Hooke’s law
• Bernoullis principle
• Basic law of electrostatics
• Basic law of magnetism
• Faradays law of
electromagnetic induction
• Lenz’s law
• Snell’s law
• Newton’s three laws of
motion
• The three gas laws
• Archimede’s principle
• Law of flotation
• Ohm’s law
 8. Experimental Questions
Describe an experiment or Outline the steps
Give a step by step and instructive procedure.
 List of apparatus
 Well labeled diagram
 Diagram must be correct
 Conventional symbols should be used
 Procedure - systematic and instructive
 Table
 State how the data obtained shall be used
 Expected Graph
 Conclusion- Statement from findings/Formula
Ilustrate - Describe with the aid of a diagram e.g sea breeze
 9. Magnetic and electric field lines
 Partten
 Direction
 Properties of field lines
Misconceptions
 Charges and poles
 Movement of –ve charges & redistribution of positive
charges
 Quantity of Final charge and original charge
 Induced emf and current
 Neutralise and discharge
 Failure to interpret symbols, e.g dot and a cross
 Flemings left and right hand rule
 Loudspeaker & the microphone
 The motor and the generator
 Flux leakage and flux linkage
 Stepping up voltage not current
10. Sketch
 Diagrams
 Graphs
 No accuracy is required
 Should give a clear picture/main features must be
shown
10. Draw and label
 Diagram must be clearly labeled and proportional.
 Graphs should be drawn to a good scale- Conditions
for the scale mark apply.
11. Label – should not carry any other possible
meaning
11. State and explain/explain your observation
 State the observation- What is an observation?
 Give a reason /explanation for the observation using
clear scientific terms.
 Explanation should be systematic
 An explanation of an observation(s) made. E.g
 Motion of a conductor carrying current in a magnetic
field
 Deflection of a galvanometers pointer connected to a
conductor in a magnetic field when the conductor cuts
the field
 Explain why heavy commercial vehicles have many
wheels
 Explain why small insects are able to walk on the surface
of water
12.Tackling numerical questions
Determine/Find/Calculate
When tackling numerical questions, write the
appropriate formula. Formulae not expression.
Always work in SI unit,
 In case one is not working in SI units, write the
unit you are working with.
Questions testing on SI units, state the units in
words and not in symbol form when not sure of
symbol.
Read the question carefully before answering it.
Do not invent your own question.
 13. Formulae statements

 Some statements are treated as the formulae and are

awarded accordingly, e.g.
 Clockwise moments = anticlockwise moments
 Heat lost=heat gained
 Upthrust =weight of the fluid displaced.
 Weight of the floating object=weight of the fluid
displaced.
 Momentum before collision= momentum after
collision
 Volume of the oil drop = volume of the oil patch
 14. Show that –Prove of formula.
Cont.
Consider the following task.
Clear working should proceed as
follows
Convert 2kg to newtons’
W = m x g
 = 2kg x 10 N/Kg
 = 20N
Don’t display your clear working,
avoid putting your working on the
 14. Conversion Of Units

 Milli (mA, mg, mm, ms) – 10-3

 Micro (uF, us) – 10 -6

 Kilo (Km, KHz, Kg) - 103

 Mega (MHz)- 106
 If question requires a unit to be stated it should be
in words not symbols
 A question requiring two formulae, the mark at the
formula leading to final answer.
 15. Question with subsequent parts

Show some acceptable working for the

leading section
Use the answer in the leading question
correctly
 writing the correct formula –not an
expression, eg u2 + 2as
 Do the right substitution using the answer in
the leader question
 Work out the final answer to the correct
significant figures and SI unit
16. Equation for effective ;
 1. Resistance

 
2. Capacitance
 17. Ray diagrams
 Real rays must have direction/arrows
Real rays must be drawn by a continuous line
Rays direction is indicated after the source
Virtue rays are drawn with a broken line
Virtue rays have no direction
Rays must be straight.
No thick rays-use a sharp pencil
Don’t repeat the line-double line
Correct symbols for curved mirrors and thin
lenses must be used.
 18. Questions involving graphs
 Never leave a hanging graph – extrapolate
to cut either or both axes.
When working out the gradient remember
factors like 1014 used in the scale .
 label axes and give the units for the
quantities.
 Scale must be uniform, simple and
accommodative.
Plotted points must be visible –line should
not cover them
Cont.
Don’t break any of the axes
Intercepts should be read accurately-don’t draw
a thick line
 Curves should drawn with a free hand- not as a
segmented line
Must show clearly how the graph was used, eg
1. K=gradient – points must be extracted from the
gragh and shown with a triangle
2. fo = x-intercept- intercept must be clear
3. Tangent at a point shown and g determined
4. Vertical and horizontal line shown for decay
curve when determining half life
Cont.
When working out the gradient,
The gradient statement should be written in full.
 The points of extraction on the graph should
be shown using a triangle.
Substitution of the extracted points should be
evident
Gradient at a point on a curve, tangent is shown
Graph should cover at least 2/3 of the page.
 Graphs in physics should never have broken
axes since the intercepts that are significant
will not be correct.- Poor scale
 19. Other areas

For structured questions, Comprehend your answer

before you write it down
Be careful with answers which come very fast in your
head
Never leave an alternative answer
Cancelled work will be marked if no
alternative
If you must give more answers than
required, never number, block or separate
your answers with a comma. Stagger them.
 20. Numerical Answers
Should never be expressed in
fraction form unless so required.
Should be expressed in 4 sig
figures unless otherwise specified.
 21. Questions involving diagrams
This involves questions like,
 show on the diagram,
 Indicate on the diagram
 Label
 Complete the diagram
 Sketch a diagram
 Draw a diagram
 Identify mistakes
 State or explain changes to improve on the diagram
 Explain how a drawn device works
 Draw a circuit diagram
 Complete the circuit
 sketch a graph etc.
22. Common diagrams
Circuit diagrams 23.
 Exam appproach
Peruse through the paper and ;
 Identify the easy and short questions and mark them . Usually carry 1-2 mks. Such are of the
form;
 Define
 State
 Label /show in the diagram
 Identify
 Name
 Distinguish/compare/contrast
 Simple calculations
 Easy but long questions. And with a different sign. 2-3 mks .Such are of the type;
 state and explain – structured
 Sketch a diagram or a graph
 Draw a diagram or graph
 Determine/calculate/Find the value of
 Show that/ prove of a formula
 Use the graph to determine
 Describe
 Any other which may be deemed challenging. Such can not be more than two and does not
Cont. Exam appproach
 Start tacking the short and easy questions
first
 Go to the easy but long questions
 Tackle any other question
 Verify your answers especially calculations
 Submit your work
 You are done
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