Form 4-Explaination
Chapter 2: Force and Motion
Implusive Force
In two separate boxing ring, a kick-boxer Thailand fights
without wearing boxing gloves whereas a boxer from Malaysia
fights with a pair of boxing gloves. Explain who will cause
more injury to their opponent if both boxers punch with the
same force. (3 marks)
Answer:
- Thai boxer
- Without wearing boxing gloves, the time for change
momentum is shorter.
- The impulsive force is larger.
Gravitational Force
Explain why it is easier to walk on a rough surface than on an
oily surface (4 marks)
Answer:
- A rough surface produce more friction.
- Therefore better grip and less slipping between the
soles and the surface. Thus easier to walk.
- An oily surface reduces contact between the soles
and the surface no opposing force will act
- Therefore difficult to walk.
Energy
A stone which released from a tall building falls down in the
air. During the fall, the stone experiences an energy change.
Explain the energy changes in the stone. (4 marks)
Answer:
- Total energy at any time is constant
- As the stone falls, gravitational potential energy
convert to kinetic energy
- Gravitational potential is maximum at the highest
point
- Kinetic energy converts to heat and sound when it
hits the ground.
Elasticity
Explain how the forces between the molecules cause the
elasticity
Answer:
- The forces between the molecules are attractive
forces and repulsive forces
- When the solid is stretched, the molecules to be
displaced away from each other
- Attractive intermolecular forces act to oppose the
stretching
- When the solid is compressed, the molecules are
being displaced closer to each other. Repulsive
forces are acting to oppose the compression.
Chapter 3: Force and Pressure
Atmospheric pressure
Explain why places at high altitude the temperature is colder
compare to places at low altitude which is more warmer.
Answer:
- high altitude low density of air
- less collision of molecules with surface
- low altitude high density of air
- more collision of molecules with surface
- if more collision of molecules with surface, heat
energy are more produced. So that low collision is
more warmer.
Pressure in Liquid
A small bubble of air is released from the bottom of a lake.
(i) Explain what happens to the size of bubble as it rises to
the surface of the water. [2 marks]
(ii) Explain how this change affects the upward motion of the
bubble. [2 marks]
Answer:
(i) - The pressure of water increases with the depth of the water
- The bubble expands upon reaching the surface of the
water//The volume of air bubble increases as the depth of
water decreases
(ii) - Buoyant force increases as the volume of the bubble
increases
- The air bubble moving with increasing acceleration
Siphon
Explain how a siphon works to transfer liquid from one
container to another. (4 marks)
Answer:
- The siphon works based on pressure difference
- Air pressure in the inner tube is less than the
atmospheric pressure outside the tube.
- The atmospheric pressure pushes the surface of
liquid
- Causes the liquid to flow into the column of the
tube. (to the other side of the tube into the other
container)
Buoyant Force
1. Explain why the balloon and the load remain suspended?
Answer:
- The buoyant force is equal in magnitude but
opposite in direction to weight of balloon and load.
- The resultant force = 0
- The balloon and load are in equilibrium
Rod A Rod B
Water Water
2.Diagram 11.2 shows rod A and rod B of different densities
are immersed in water. Explain why the rods float in water and
why B sinks deeper than A. [4 marks]
Answer:
- Both A and B float because their densities are less then
water//weight of rod A and B equals the weight of water
displaced.
- B is denser than A.
- Weight of B is greater than weight of A
- Weight of water displaced by B is greater
3. Explain why a ship may sink when it sails from sea water to fresh water. ( 3
marks)
Answer:
1. In the sea, buoyant force > weight of the ship
2. When the ship in the river, density of water< density of sea, so
buoyant force decrease
3. The weight of the ship > the buoyant force ,so the ship will sink
4. Explain why a balloon filled with helium gas rises up in the air.
(4 marks)
Answer:
- The balloon acted by two forces: upthrust and the weight of the
balloon
- The density of helium gas is less than the density of
surrounding air.
- Upthrust equal to the weight of the air displaced by the balloon
- Upthrust is higher than the weight of the balloon.
5. Explain why the sinking levels of the boats are different
in the river and in the sea. [3 marks]
Answer:
- Sea water is denser
- Boat displaced less sea water and gain the same
upthrust .
- Therefore boat sinks less in sea water
6. The submarine is able to submerge in the sea.
Explain how a submarine on the sea surface submerges and float still on
the sea surface.
Answer:
- When the ballast tank is filled with water,
- The buoyant force is smaller than the weight of the submarine. It will
sink/submerges
- When the ballast tank is filled with air / when the water pumps out,
- the buoyant force is larger than the weight of the submarine, and it will
float.
Hydrometer
A hydromater is used to measure the density of acid a car battery. Using a
suitable physisc principle, explain how the hyromater works. (4marks)
Answer:
- related principle is the Archimedes’ Principle.
- Draw a diagram of hyrometer correctly ( small and long stem,
with big bulb with lead or steell balls)
- When a hydromater floats in a liquid, the buoyant force is
equal to the weight of the hydromater
- Bouyant force = ρVg / depends on density of liquid
- The smalleer the density of the liquid, the more liquid it
displaces and the deeper the hydromater will sink
1
Bernoulli Principle
The aircraft obtains its lift when flying due to a difference in
pressure of the air between the upper and bottom sides of the
wings. Explain how this difference in pressure is produced.
[3 marks]
Answer:
- The shape of cross section of the wing causes the speed of
airflow
- Above the wings to be higher than the speed of airflow below
- When the speed of moving air is higher, the pressure is lower
- Hence air pressure below the wings is higher compare to
above the wings
Pascal Principle
Using a concept of pressure in liquid, explain why the
hydraulic system in this machine is known as a force
multiplier. (4 marks)
Answer:
1. When the small piston is pulled up, the hydraulic oil is
drawn from the reservoir into the small piston
2. When the small piston is pushed down , the hydraulic oil is
exerted with force and experienced a pressure
3. The pressure is transmitted uniformly from the small piston
to the bigpiston.
4. The forced produced raised the big piston / The system can
convert a small input force into a bigger output force.
Chapter 4: Heat
Thermal equilibrium
1. Explain how a new thermometer can be calibrated. [4 marks]
Answer:
- Put the thermometer in melting ice, mark the lower part of
mercury thread,l0
- Place the same thermometer in the boiling water, mark the top
part of the mercury thread, l 100
- Divide the length between the two marks into 100 equal
divisions
- Each division is now equal to 1 o C
2. According to the principle of thermal equilibrium and the
working principle of a thermometer, explain how a doctor
can check his patient temperature during medical treatment.
[ 4 mark ]
Answer:
- Thermometer is placed in the mouth of patient,
- Heat is transferred from patient’s body to the thermometer.
- Thermal equilibrium between the thermometer and patient’s
body is reached when the net rate of heat transfer is zero.
- The thermometer and the patient’s body are at the same
temperature. The thermometer reading shows the
temperature of the patient’s body.
Specific heat capacity
1. Explain why water is normally used as a cooling agent or
cooling system in a car engine radiator. ( 4 marks)
Answer:
- It doesn’t react to the inner part of the engine
- it take a long time to heat up water because high specific
heat capacity
- can absorb large amount of heat energy the fish appear to be closer to the surface than a actual is
- cheap and easily available
Specific Latent Heat While driving a car on a hot day, you may see a mirage on the road.
(i) Your body sweats when you are feeling hot. How does Explain how mirage occurred. [ 4 marks ]
sweating helps to cool down your body? Answer:
[ 2 marks ] - The layers of air nearer the road warmer.
(ii) Explain why a scald from steam is more serious than the - The density of air decrease nearer to the road surface.
one from boiling water? [ 2 marks ] - The light travel from denser (cold) to less dense (hot) area.
Answer: - The light refract away from the normal
(i) - Water evaporates from the skin when we sweat. - When the angle of incidence exceed the critical angle, total internal
- for water to evaporate it use heat from the body reflection occurs.
(ii) - Steam has more heat than boiling water - near the road surface, the angle of incidence exceeds / greater than the
- due to latent heat of vaporization critical angle.
- total internal reflection occurs and light bends towards the eye of the
A student standing near the beach could feel the cool breeze observer.
from the sea on a hot day. Explain how the cool breeze from
the sea occurs. [3 marks ]
Answer:
- The increase in temperature for land is higher
- The air above land is heated up
- Cooler air from the sea moves towards land
Chapter 5:Light Optical Fibre
Reflection of light (ii) With the help of a diagram, explain the working principle of an
Figure 11.1 shows the top view position of a car driver, the optical fibre. [4 marks]
car’s side mirror and the front of a lorry which is overtaking
the car. Answer:
- Diagram shows a curved optical fibre (with outer and internal
layer) with at least two total internal reflection
- The refractive index of the internal layer of the optical fibre is
greater than that of the external layer or air
- Angle of incidence, i > critical angle, c
- Total internal reflection occur
(i) Name the type of mirror used for the side mirror in Figure. Describe how you estimate the focal length of a convex lens. [4 marks]
[ 1 marks ] Answer:
(ii) Explain why the mirror in Figure is used not of other types - The convex lens with its holder is aimed at a distant object like a tree.
of mirror. [ 3 marks ] - Adjust a screen until you see a very sharp and clear image of the distant
Answer: object.
(i) Convex mirror - When parallel light rays from a distant object pass through a convex lens,
(ii) – has a wider view they
- upright image will converge to a point called focal point/ label on a diagram
- the image is seem at a distance v ≤ f behind - Measure the distance between the convex lens and screen./ label on a
the mirror for all positions of the object. diagram
Refraction of light
Figure below shows a pear which was thrown by a fisherman Form 5
towards a fish in a pool. Chapter 1:Wave
Refraction of wave
Explain why the wavefronts in the sea follow the shape of the coastline as
the water becomes shallower. ( 4 marks ).
Answer:
- At the centre of the ocean the water waves travel at uniform speed as
Given that the spear did not hit the fish, explain the the depth of the sea is uniform
- When the waves reached the coast ,the water is shallower, wave speed
observation. (3 marks)
refraction occurs
- Refraction causes the wavefront bend toward the normal
- This results the wavefront following the shape of coastline
Sound wave

2
1. Discuss how you would use sound waves to determine the
depth of the sea. (3 marks)
Answer:
- Sonar waves / ultrasound are sent down form a ship
towards the bottom of the sea.
- The waved reflected from the sea bed is detected at
the ship
- The time taken, t, for the sonar to go down and
come back to the ship is measured.
- The depth of he sea, D, from the ship to the sea bed
is calculated as follows: D = ½ vt where v is the
speed of sonar waves in sea water.
ocean beach
2. Water waves always follow the shape of the beach as the
waves approach the beach. Explain
(i) What happens to the speed and wavelength of waves
while the waves is in middle of the sea and when the waves
approach the beach.
(ii) Why the water in the bay stationary compared to the water
at the cape. [6 marks]
Answer:
i. -The depth of water decreases toward the beach
-Refraction of water waves occurs .
-The velocity and wavelength of the water waves
approach the shallower beach
ii. The depth of water increase
Energy spread away
Amplitude become smaller
3. In daily life we find sounds can be heard more clearly at
night than in the day. Explain this observation and state two
factors that affect the speed of sound in air. [6
marks]
Answer:
• At night ,the layers of air near the ground are cooler
compared to the upper layers of air.
• Sound travels at a lower speed in cool air
• Its refracted away from the normal as pass through
warmer air
• The sound waves are refracted in a downward curve
towards the ground instead of disappearing into the
upper layers of air.
• The two factors are air temperature and density
• This occurrence is due to the refraction of the sound
waves.
Resonance
Explain why strong double-glazed glass is used as walls of the
observation tower in an airport.
(4 marks)
Answer:
- All particles in a material/matter/glass vibrate at its
natural frequency
- The airplane engine produces noise which cause the
air to vibrate
- Due to resonance, the glass particles vibrate at
higher / maximum amplitude
- Need strong glasses to withstand the effect of
resonance/ the strong vibration/ high amplitude so
that it does not break easily.
Chapter 2: Electric
1. Explain why it is more dangerous to touch the live wire of a
mains supply, rather than the neutral wire.
[4 marks]
Answer:
- Our bodies are at earth potential (0V)
- If we touch the live wire, there will be a large potential
difference (p.d) the live wire and our body. A large current
flow through it, probably fatal.
- The neutral wire stays at earth potential (0V), roughly at the
same potential as our body.
- If we touch the neutral wire, there is no p.d. across us and so
no current flows
2. Explain why the bulb connected to two dry cells is brighter
Answer:
- Each cell has internal resistance
- When two cells are connected in parallel, the
resultant internal resistance is smaller.
- Less voltage is lost when cells in parallel are used
- The external circuit will get more voltage. Thus the
bulb is brighter
3. Figure shows the burning candle placed between a pair of
parallel metal plates. What will happen to the candle flame
when the extra high voltage supply (E.H.T) is switch on?
Explain your answer.
(4 marks)
Answer:
- The lighted candle/the heat from the candle causes
the air molecules (surrounding) to be ionized
- The positive charges would be attracted to the
negative plate and / or the negative charges would
be attracted to the positive plate
- The flame of the candle would be dispersed
(flattened) into top parts
- More the flame is attracted to the negative plate
- Positive charges are heavier than negative charges
PARALLEL CIRCUIT
Explain the advantages of connecting household appliances in parallel.
[4 marks]
ANSWER
- The current through each electrical appliance is higher//The
bulbs in the parallel circuit light up brighter compared to the
same bulbs in series circuit// Effective resistance is much
smaller when connected in parallel circuit
- If any devices/components broke down, others can still be used
- The circuit breaker / fuse can be connected to each path for
safety
- Only certain devices that are not in use can be switched off.
The current can still flow through the other path
GRID NATIONAL
Explain three advantages of the national grid network. (3 marks)
Answer:
- no disruption of power supply when a station breaks down
- efficient power generation during low peak period certain
stations can be shut down
- power station can take turns to shut down for repair and
services.
Chapter 3: ELECTROMAGNET
1. Explain why the strength of the magnetic field is greater at the center of
coil. [3 marks]
Answer:
- The direction of the magnetic field on the left coil is counter/anti
clockwise,/diagram
- The direction of the magnetic field on the right coil is clockwise //
diagram
- As the result the magnetic fields in the middle of the coil are in the same
direction, upward. So the magnetic field will be stronger in the middle
2. Diagram shows a simple electromagnet. Two magnet are hung freely.
Explain what happen to magnet P and magnet Q when the switch is on.
(4 marks)
Answer:
- When the switch is on, the soft iron core becomes
electromagnet.
- End A becomes north pole and end B becomes south pole
- Magnet P repels from end A
- Magnet Q attracts to end B
3

3. Explain how the electric bell function. (4 marks)
Answer:
- when the switch is on, current flows in the solenoid,
soft iron core becomes electromagnet.
- Electromagnet attracts the iron armature, the
hammer hits the gong and bell rings
- When the hammer mover towards the gong, the
contacts open, current stop flowing
- The iron core loses its magnetic.
4. Diagram 10.4 shows a d.c. electric motor .
. (i) Using all the materials supplied and with the aid of a
Diagram 10.4
(i) Explain how the motor is able to rotate.
[4 marks]
Answer:
- When the current flow into the coil, magnetic
field is produced. And forces are produced
- Catapult field is produced
- The forces are in the opposite direction
- These pair of forces produce the turning effect
on the coil.
5. Diagram 10.3 shows a direct current generator
Diagram 10.3
Explain how the above generator works to produce direct
current. [4 marks]
Answer:
- rotate the coil in clock wise direction
- the coil cut across the magnetic field
- current is induced in the coil
- the commuator change the direction in the coil so that the
direction of current in external circuit I always the same.
6. Diagram 10.3 shows two thin copper strips, WX and YZ,
connected to a circuit.
(ii) – When the potential difference supplied by the dry cell
exceeds the junction voltage (barrier potential), a large current
flows through the diode.
- The deplection layer is narrow, and the resistance of
the diode is small
2. Electron in the n-type semiconductor are attracted to the positive
terminal (the holes in the p-type semiconductor are attracted to the
negative terminal) resulting in an electron current flow from the n-type
Explain what happen to copper strip WX and YZ when the to the p-type semiconductor.
switch is on. [4marks] Explain how an n-type semiconductor is produce
Answer: Answer:
- electric current flow trough copper strips from ZY - silicon crystal is doped with pentavalent atoms
to WX - a free electron is available as a charge carrier.
- magnetic field produced in the copper strips when
the current flows
- the direction of the magnetic fields is same Chapter 5: Radioactivity
- the copper rods repel to each other// the copper rods 1. What is nuclear fission and nuclear fusion? Explain how these two
bent. nuclear reactions are able to release energy? [4 marks]
ANSWER
7. You are given two coils R and S, with 50 and 100 turns - The splitting of a heavy nucleus into two lighter nuclei
respectively, an iron core and a 240V a.c. power supply. All the - the combining of two lighter nuclei to form a heavy nucleus
materials are used to build a simple transformer. - The resulting nucleus (nuclei) formed has a smaller mass than the
original nucleus (nuclei)
labeled diagram(s), explain how you are going to build a - The mass defect caused energy to be released (resulting in a more stable
simple step-up transformer. [ 4 marks ] nucleus (nuclei))
Answer:
- draw and label diagram correctly 2. Sketch a graph of activity against time to illustrate the decay rate of a
- iron core radioactive substance. Use your graph to explain how the half-life is
- input 240 a.c determined. (4 marks)
- primary coils (50 turns) Answer:
- secondary coil (100 turns) - label the axes and unit correctly
- draw the shape of decay curve correctl
8. Explain the working principle of a transformer.
Answer:
- When a.c. voltage is supplied to primary coil,
alternating current will flow. 3. Carbon-14 is a radioisotope. Explain how Carbon-14 can be used to
- The soft iron core is magnetized. estimate the age of a dead plant, which contain carbon. [3 marks]
- The magnet produced varies in magnitude and Answer:
direction. – Carbon-14 atom is a radioactive substance which is easily absorbed by
- This causes a changing magnetic flux pass living plants.
through the secondary coil. - after the plants dies, the activity of Carbon-14 will decline since no new
- An induced e.m.f. across the secondary coil is carbon-14 is absorbed.
produced - by calculating the activity of carbon-14, the age of the fossil/object can
Chapter 4: ELECTRONIK be determined
4. Radioisotope Strontium-90 is used to measure the
thickness of paper in a paper industry .
1. Explain how Strontium-90 is used to measure the thickness
piece of paper?
(i) Based on diagram, which bulb will light up? Answer:
(ii) Explain how the bulb will light up. - Put the radioactive source opposite the detector
Answer: - Detector is connected to the thickness indicator
(i) Diagram 12.2 - Detector detect the reading of the changes in counts
4
- Thickness is measured with the thickness
indicator
- If the reading of the detector is less than the
specified value, the thickness of the paper is too
tick/ vice versa