2010 WAEC (WASSCE) Physics Past Questions

Questions

1. 1.

   Which of the following statements about static friction is correct? It

   1. A.is independent of the nature of the surface in contact
   2. B.depends on the area of surface in contact
   3. C.depends on the relative motion between the surface in contact
   4. D.depends on the weight of the moving body

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   Answer: D. depends on the weight of the moving body

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2. 2.

   Two cars X and Y travelling in opposite directions along the same high way at uniform velocities 110 $kmh^{-1}$ and 90$kmh^{-1}$ respectively pass each other at a certain point. The velocity of X relative to Y at the time they pass each other is

   1. A.200 $kmh^{-1}$
   2. B.100 $kmh^{-1}$
   3. C.40 $kmh^{-1}$
   4. D.20 $kmh^{-1}$

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   Answer: A. 200 $kmh^{-1}$

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3. 3.

   An electric drill rated 400W is used to drill a hole in copper of mass 400g in 20s. Calculate the rise in temperature if all the heat produced is absorbed by the copper. [specific heat capacity of copper = 400Jkg-1K-1]

   1. A.100oC
   2. B.75oC
   3. C.50oC
   4. D.45oC

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   Answer: C. 50oC

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4. 4.This question needs a diagram, table or passage that we don't have yet, so it isn't shown.

5. 5.

   Dew point is not affected by

   1. A.temperature
   2. B.wind
   3. C.the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere
   4. D.atmospheric pressure

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   Answer: B. wind

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6. 6.

   A solid of mass 0.5kg initially at 50oC melts at 60oC. Calculate the quantity of heat required to melt it completely. [specific heat capacity of the solid =2.0KJ kg-1K-1][Specific latent heat of fusion of solid =1.0 KJ kg-1]

   1. A.1500J
   2. B.10000J
   3. C.10500J
   4. D.15000J

   Show answer

   Answer: C. 10500J

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7. 7.

   A galvanometer of internal resistance 50$\Omega$ and full scale deflection of 20 mA is converted into a voltmeter by connecting a resistor of resistance 1950$\Omega$ in series to it. Calculate the maximum voltage that can be read by the voltmeter

   1. A.20V
   2. B.30V
   3. C.38V
   4. D.40V

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   Answer: D. 40V

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8. 8.

   A ray of light travels from air to water. The refeactive index of water is given by the expression

   1. A.$\frac{\text{velocity in water}}{\text{velocity in air}}$
   2. B.$\frac{\text{sine of angle of refraction}}{\text{sine of angle of incidence}}$
   3. C.$\frac{\text{apparent depth}}{\text{real depth }}$
   4. D.$\frac{\text{wavelength in air}}{\text{wavelength in water}}$

   Show answer

   Answer: D. $\frac{\text{wavelength in air}}{\text{wavelength in water}}$

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9. 9.

   a machine is said to be a third class lever when the

   1. A.load is between the fulcrum and effort
   2. B.fulcrum is between the effort and the load
   3. C.effort is between the fulcrum and load
   4. D.fulcrum is directly below the load

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   Answer: C. effort is between the fulcrum and load

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10. 10.

    A certain wave has a speed of 20$ms^{-1}$. If the frequency of the wave is 0.25Hz, calculate the distance between successive crests of the wave

    1. A.5.0m
    2. B.40.0m
    3. C.50.0m
    4. D.80.0m

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    Answer: D. 80.0m

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11. 11.

    In a thermos flask, heat loss by radiation is minimizes by the

    1. A.silvered surfaces
    2. B.vacuum within the doubled walls
    3. C.plastic stopper
    4. D.cork support

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    Answer: A. silvered surfaces

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12. 12.This question needs a diagram, table or passage that we don't have yet, so it isn't shown.

13. 13.

    Oxidation of the filament in a light bulb is prevented by the introduction of

    1. A.hydrogen
    2. B.oxygen
    3. C.argon
    4. D.mercury vapour

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    Answer: C. argon

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14. 14.This question needs a diagram, table or passage that we don't have yet, so it isn't shown.

15. 15.

    What is the density of a fuel of relative density 0.72? [Density of water = 1000kg m-3]

    1. A.72 kgm-3
    2. B.720 kgm-3
    3. C.7200 kgm-3
    4. D.72000 kgm-3

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    Answer: B. 720 kgm-3

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16. 16.

    Eddy currents can be reduced by

    1. A.using coil of high resistance
    2. B.winding the coil on a soft iron core
    3. C.creating holes in the metal plates
    4. D.using coil of low resistance

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    Answer: C. creating holes in the metal plates

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17. 17.

    simple harmonic oscillator has a period of 0.02s and amplitude of 0.25m. Calculate the speed in $ms^{-1}$ at the centre of the oscillation

    1. A.125$\pi$
    2. B.25.00$\pi$
    3. C.100.00 $\pi$
    4. D.400.00$\pi$

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    Answer: B. 25.00$\pi$

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18. 18.

    Which of the following electromagnetic wave has the longest wavelength?

    1. A.radio-waves
    2. B.gamma rays
    3. C.infrared waves
    4. D.ultraviolet rays

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    Answer: A. radio-waves

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19. 19.

    A nuclide represented as $^{70}_{32}X$ has a neutron-proton ratio of

    1. A.0.5
    2. B.0.8
    3. C.1.2
    4. D.1.5

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    Answer: C. 1.2

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20. 20.

    A moving body of mass 25.0kg undergoes a uniform retardation of 20.0$ms^{-2}$. Calculate the magnitude of the retardating force

    1. A.1.25N
    2. B.8.00N
    3. C.45.00N
    4. D.500.00N

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    Answer: D. 500.00N

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21. 21.

    In order to prevent bar magnets from losing their strength, they are stored wih keepers such that the two bars are placed with

    1. A.like poles facing each other and the keepers placed between them
    2. B.like poles facing each other and the keepers placed between them
    3. C.unlike poles facing each other and the keepers placed at their ends
    4. D.unlike poles facing each other and the keepers placed between them

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    Answer: C. unlike poles facing each other and the keepers placed at their ends

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22. 22.

    The advantages of the thermoelectric thermometer include the following characteristics except that it

    1. A.can measure rapidly changing temperatures
    2. B.can measure high and low temperature
    3. C.can measure high and low temperature almost at a point
    4. D.is fairly sensitive

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    Answer: D. is fairly sensitive

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23. 23.

    When an object is placed at the principal focus of a concave mirror, the location of the image formed is

    1. A.between principal focus and pole
    2. B.between principal focus and centre of curvature
    3. C.at infinity
    4. D.at centre of curvature

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    Answer: C. at infinity

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24. 24.

    Capacitors are used in the following devices, except

    1. A.water pumping machines
    2. B.ceiling fans
    3. C.electric irons
    4. D.television sets

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    Answer: C. electric irons

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25. 25.

    Specific heat capacity 36.4 Jkg-1 K-1 of a body means that when 36.4J of heat energy is supplied to a body of

    1. A.mass 100kg the temperature rises by 1k
    2. B.mass 1kg, the temperature by 1000K
    3. C.mass 1kg, the temperature rises by 1K
    4. D.mass 100kg, the temperature rises by 1000k

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    Answer: C. mass 1kg, the temperature rises by 1K

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26. 26.

    A vertical string, suspended from a fixed point and having a small mass attached to the free end is set into oscillations. Which of the following statements about the system are correct? i. The potential energy of the mass is a minimum at the middle of the swing ii. Its kinetic energy is a maximum at the middle of the swing iii. The sum of the potential and kinetic energies is constant throughout the swing

    1. A.i,ii and iii
    2. B.i and ii only
    3. C.ii and iii only
    4. D.i and iii only

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    Answer: A. i,ii and iii

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27. 27.

    The energy, E stored in an inductor of inductance L when current I passes through it is given by the equation

    1. A.E = $\frac{1}{2} LI^2$
    2. B.E = LI2
    3. C.E $\frac{1}{2}LI$
    4. D.E = $\frac{1}{2} L^2I$

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    Answer: A. E = $\frac{1}{2} LI^2$

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28. 28.

    Which of the following properties of a long steel bar would alter if the bar were melted, recast into a cube and allowed to cool to its original temperature?

    1. A.sensity
    2. B.volume
    3. C.specific heat capacity
    4. D.electrical resistance

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    Answer: D. electrical resistance

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29. 29.

    In the wiring of houses, the fuse is connected to the wire coloured

    1. A.blue
    2. B.brown
    3. C.yellow
    4. D.yellow and green

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    Answer: B. brown

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30. 30.

    The following devices use plane mirrors in their operations, except

    1. A.periscope
    2. B.sextant
    3. C.kaleidoscope
    4. D.binoculars

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    Answer: D. binoculars

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31. 31.

    Neutrons are used to induce artificial radioactivity because they

    1. A.are energetic
    2. B.have no charge
    3. C.have no mass
    4. D.are ionizing

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    Answer: B. have no charge

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32. 32.

    The amplitude of a sound wave determines its

    1. A.frequency
    2. B.quality
    3. C.loudness
    4. D.pitch

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    Answer: C. loudness

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33. 33.

    an electron moves with a speed of 2.0 x 106$ms^{-1}$ in a straight line. Calculate the wave length of the electron wave. [mass of an electron = 9.1 x 10-31 kg][Planck's constant = 6.6 x 10-34Js]

    1. A.3.63 x 10-19m
    2. B.6.51 x 10-9m
    3. C.4.24 x 10-8m
    4. D.7.25 x 10-8m

    Show answer

    Answer: A. 3.63 x 10-19m

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34. 34.

    Determine the potential difference. V across the parallel resistors

    1. A.2.0V
    2. B.2.3V
    3. C.3.0V
    4. D.0.7V

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    Answer: A. 2.0V

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35. 35.

    Which of the following factors will increase the sensitivity of moving coil meter?

    1. A.strong spring
    2. B.low numbers of turns
    3. C.small area of coil
    4. D.soft iron core

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    Answer: D. soft iron core

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36. 36.

    Which of the following instruments is best for measuring the diameter of a thin constantan wire?

    1. A.callipers
    2. B.metre rule
    3. C.micometer screw guage
    4. D.vernier callipers

    Show answer

    Answer: C. micometer screw guage

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37. 37.

    The ability of a wave to spread around corners is called

    1. A.polarisation
    2. B.dispersion
    3. C.diffraction
    4. D.reflection

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    Answer: C. diffraction

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38. 38.

    a thermometer records 680 mmHg at steam point and 440 mmHg at ice point. The temperature it records at 380 mmHg is

    1. A.-25oC
    2. B.-20oC
    3. C.20oC
    4. D.25oC

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    Answer: A. -25oC

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39. 39.

    Which of the following statements about moving particle is correct?

    1. A.if the resultant force acting on the particle is zero, then it is in dynamic equillibrium
    2. B.If the resultant force acting on the acting on the particle is greater than zero, then it is moving with a uniform velocity
    3. C.the rate of change of its momentum with time tales place in a direction opposite to that of its motion
    4. D.the particle falling freely covers equal distances in equal time interval

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    Answer: A. if the resultant force acting on the particle is zero, then it is in dynamic equillibrium

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40. 40.

    Which of the following sources of energy is/are exhausible? i. Solar ii. Fossil fuels iii. Tidal power

    1. A.ii, and iii
    2. B.i and ii only
    3. C.i and iii only
    4. D.ii only

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    Answer: D. ii only

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41. 41.

    The pressure P, volume V, and absolute temperature T of a given mass of an ideal gas change simultaneously. Which of the followng equations is correct about the gas?

    1. A.PV = $\frac{constant}{T}$
    2. B.$\frac{P}{T} = Constant$
    3. C.$\frac{P}{V} = \frac{constant}{T}$
    4. D.$\frac{I}{T} = \frac{constant}{PV}$

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    Answer: D. $\frac{I}{T} = \frac{constant}{PV}$

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42. 42.

    A positively charged glass rod is placed near the cap of a positively charged electroscope. The divergence of the leaf is observed to

    1. A.decrease
    2. B.increase
    3. C.remain the same
    4. D.increase and collapse immediately

    Show answer

    Answer: B. increase

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43. 43.

    Which of the following statements best describes a rigid body? A body which

    1. A.is not equally deformed
    2. B.when deformed regains it shape
    3. C.is brittle
    4. D.when deformed remains deformed

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    Answer: A. is not equally deformed

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44. 44.

    a body is projected horizonatlly from the top of a cliff 45m above the ground. if the body lands at a distance 30m from the foot of the cliff, calculate the speed of projection. [g = 10$ms^{-2}$]

    1. A.10$ms^{-1}$
    2. B.15$ms^{-1}$
    3. C.20$ms^{-1}$
    4. D.30$ms^{-1}$

    Show answer

    Answer: A. 10$ms^{-1}$

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45. 45.

    The average speed of an object is determined by dividing the sum of its initial and final speeds by two only when the acceleration is

    1. A.changing
    2. B.uniform
    3. C.increasing
    4. D.decreasing

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    Answer: B. uniform

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46. 46.

    Which of the following factors does not affect the electric resistance of wire?

    1. A.length
    2. B.mass
    3. C.temperature
    4. D.cross-sectional area

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    Answer: B. mass

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47. 47.

    A lens that is thinner at the middle and thicher at the edges is

    1. A.diverging
    2. B.converging
    3. C.plano-convex
    4. D.converging meniscus

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    Answer: A. diverging

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48. 48.

    As the air column of length L in an air pipe decreases, the frequency of the sationary wave emitted

    1. A.decreases
    2. B.increases
    3. C.varies as L2
    4. D.varies as $\sqrt{L}$

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    Answer: B. increases

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49. 49.

    The types of motion which a cylindrical drum rolling down an inclined plane undergoes are

    1. A.circular and translational
    2. B.rotational and translational
    3. C.rotational and circular
    4. D.rectilinear and circular

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    Answer: B. rotational and translational

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50. 50.

    In a cathode ray tube, the function of the x-plates is to

    1. A.deflect the electron beam horizontally
    2. B.deflect the electron beam vertically
    3. C.reflect the electron beam
    4. D.generate sinusoid waves

    Show answer

    Answer: A. deflect the electron beam horizontally

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