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Physics past questions: JAMB UTME 2021

40 objective questions, with answers. Free to read and practise.

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40 questions, one at a time, marked as you go or at the end. No account needed.

  1. 1.
    0.5kg of water at 10ºC is completely converted to ice at 0ºC by extracting (88000) of heat from it. If the specific heat capacity of water is 4200jkg \(^{1}\) Cº. Calculate the specific latent heat of fusion of ice.
    1. A.9.0kjkg \(^{-1}\)
    2. B.84.0kjkg \(^{-1}\)
    3. C.134.0kjkg \(^{-1}\)
    4. D.168.0kjkg \(^{-1}\)
    Show answer

    Answer: C 134.0kjkg \(^{-1}\)

  2. 2.
    A 2H inductor has negligible resistance and is connected to a \(\frac{50}{\pi}\) Hz A.C supply. The reactance of the inductor is?
    1. A.200 \(\Omega\)
    2. B.50 \(\Omega\)
    3. C.\(\frac{100}{\pi}\)
    4. D.\(\frac{25}{\pi \Omega}\)
    Show answer

    Answer: A 200 \(\Omega\)

  3. 3.
    A ball of mass 0.1kg is thrown vertically upwards with a speed of 10ms \(^{-1}\) from the top of a tower 10m high. Neglecting air resistance, its total energy just before hitting the ground is? (Take g = 10ms \(^{-2}\) )
    1. A.5J
    2. B.10J
    3. C.15J
    4. D.20J
    Show answer

    Answer: C 15J

  4. 4.
    A ball of mass 0.5kg moving at 10ms \(^{-1}\) collides with another ball of equal mass at rest. If the two balls move off together after the impact, calculate their common velocity.
    1. A.0.2ms \(^{-1}\)
    2. B.0.5ms \(^{-1}\)
    3. C.5.0ms \(^{-1}\)
    4. D.5.5ms \(^{-1}\)
    Show answer

    Answer: C 5.0ms \(^{-1}\)

  5. 5.
    A boy standing some distance from the foot of a tall cliff claps his hands and hears an echo 0.5s later. If the speed of sound is 340ms \(^{-1}\) , how far is he from the cliff?
    1. A.680m
    2. B.170m
    3. C.34m
    4. D.85m
    Show answer

    Answer: D 85m

  6. 6.
    A car of mass 800kg attains a speed of 25m/s in 20secs. The power developed in the engine is?
    1. A.1.25 x 10 \(^{4}\) W
    2. B.2.50x 10 \(^{4}\) W
    3. C.1.25 x 10 \(^{6}\) W
    4. D.2.50 x 10 \(^{6}\) W
    Show answer

    Answer: C 1.25 x 10 \(^{6}\) W

  7. 7.
    A certain radioactive source emits radiation that was found to be deflected by both magnetic and electric fields. The radiation is?
    1. A.beta rays
    2. B.gamma rays
    3. C.x-rays
    4. D.ultra-violet rays
    Show answer

    Answer: A beta rays

  8. 8.
    A gas at a volume of V \(_{0}\) in a container at pressure p \(_{0}\) is compressed to one-fifth of its volume. What will be its pressure if the magnitude of its original temperature T is constant?
    1. A.\(\frac{p_{0}} {5}\)
    2. B.\(\frac{4p_{0}}{5}\)
    3. C.p \(_{0}\)
    4. D.5P \(_{0}\)
    Show answer

    Answer: D 5P \(_{0}\)

  9. 9.
    A given mass of gas has a pressure of 80 Nm \(^{-2}\) at a temperature of 47 C. If the temperature is reduced to 27 C with volume remaining constant, the new pressure is?
    1. A.46.0 Nm \(^{-2}\)
    2. B.75.0 Nm \(^{-2}\)
    3. C.80.0 Nm \(^{-2}\)
    4. D.85.3 Nm \(^{-2}\)
    Show answer

    Answer: B 75.0 Nm \(^{-2}\)

  10. 10.
    A lead bullet of mass 0.05kg is fired with a velocity of 200ms \(^{-1}\) into a block of mass 0.95kg. Given that the lead block can move freely, the final kinetic energy after impact is?
    1. A.50J
    2. B.100J
    3. C.150J
    4. D.200J
    Show answer

    Answer: A 50J

  11. 11.
    A man stands 4m in front of a plane mirror. If the mirror is moved 1m towards the man, the distance between him and his new image is?
    1. A.3m
    2. B.5m
    3. C.6m
    4. D.10m
    Show answer

    Answer: D 10m

  12. 12.
    A man will exert the greatest pressure when he?
    1. A.lies flat on his back
    2. B.lies on his belly
    3. C.stands on both feet
    4. D.stands on the toes of one foot
    Show answer

    Answer: A lies flat on his back

  13. 13.
    A piece of substance of specific heat capacity 450Jkg \(^{-1}\) k \(^{1}\) falls through a vertical distance of 20m from rest. Calculate the rise in temperature of the substance on hitting the ground when all its energies are converted into heat. [g = 10ms \(^{-2}\) ]
    1. A.\(\frac{2}{9}\) ºC
    2. B.\(\frac{4}{9}\) ºC
    3. C.\(\frac{9}{2}\) ºC
    4. D.\(\frac{9}{4}\) ºC
    Show answer

    Answer: B \(\frac{4}{9}\) ºC

  14. 14.
    A solid weighs 10.00N in air, 6N when forcefully immersed in water, and 7.0N when fully immersed in a liquid, X. Calculate the relative density of the liquid X.
    1. A.\(\frac{5}{3}\)
    2. B.\(\frac{4}{3}\)
    3. C.\(\frac{3}{4}\)
    4. D.\(\frac{7}{10}\)
    Show answer

    Answer: C \(\frac{3}{4}\)

  15. 15.
    A source of sound produces waves in air of wavelength 1.65m. If the speed of sound in air is 330ms \(^{-1}\) , the period of vibration in air is?
    1. A.200
    2. B.0.005
    3. C.0.5
    4. D.0.02
    Show answer

    Answer: D 0.02

  16. 16.
    An astronomical telescope is said to be in normal adjustment when the?
    1. A.eye is accommodated
    2. B.focal length of an object lens is longer than that of eye piece
    3. C.final image is at the near point of eye
    4. D.final image is at infinity
    Show answer

    Answer: D final image is at infinity

  17. 17.
    Calculate the heat energy required to vaporize 50g of water initially at 80ºC if the specific heat capacity of water is 4.23jg \(^{-1}\) k \(^{-1}\) (specific latent heat of vaporization of water is 2260jg \(^{-1}\)
    1. A.530000J
    2. B.23200J
    3. C.17200J
    4. D.130000J
    Show answer

    Answer: D 130000J

  18. 18.
    Calculate the mass of ice that would melt when 2kg of copper is quickly transferred from boiling water to a block of ice without heat loss (specific heat capacity of copper = 400Jkg \(^{1}\) k \(^{-1}\) , latent heat of fusion of ice = 3.3 x 10 \(^{5}\) Jkg \(^{-1}\) )
    1. A.\(\frac{8}{33}\) kg
    2. B.\(\frac{3.3}{80}\) kg
    3. C.\(\frac{80}{33}\) kg
    4. D.\(\frac{3.3}{8}\) kg
    Show answer

    Answer: B \(\frac{3.3}{80}\) kg

  19. 19.
    I. A liquid boils when its saturated vapor pressure is equal to the external pressure II. Dissolved substances in pure water lead to an increase in the boiling point. III. When the external pressure is increased, the boiling point increases. IV. Dissolved substances in pure water decreases the boiling point Which of the above combinations are peculiarities of the boiling point of a liquid?
    1. A.I, II and III only
    2. B.I, II, III, and IV
    3. C.I, II, and IV
    4. D.II, III, and IV
    Show answer

    Answer: C I, II, and IV

  20. 20.
    If a sound wave goes from a cold air region to a hot air region, its wavelength will?
    1. A.increase
    2. B.decrease
    3. C.decrease then increase
    4. D.remain constant
    Show answer

    Answer: A increase

  21. 21.
    If the fraction of the atoms of a radioactive material left after 120 years is 1/64, what is the half-life of the material?
    1. A.24 years
    2. B.20 years
    3. C.10 years
    4. D.2 years
    Show answer

    Answer: B 20 years

  22. 22.
    If the frequency of an emitted x-ray is 1.6 x 10 \(^{16}\) Hz, the accelerating potential is? [e = 1.6 x 10 \(^{-19}\) J, h = 6.63 x 10- \(^{34}\) Js]
    1. A.6630.0V
    2. B.663.0V
    3. C.66.3V
    4. D.6.6V
    Show answer

    Answer: C 66.3V

  23. 23.
    If the stress on a wire is 10 \(^{7}\) NM \(^{-2}\) and the wire is stretched from its original length of 10.00m to 10.05m. The young's modulus of the wire is?
    1. A.5.0 x 10 \(^{-4}\) Nm \(^{-2}\)
    2. B.5.0 x 10 \(^{-5}\) Nm \(^{-2}\)
    3. C.2.0 x 10 \(^{-8}\) Nm \(^{-2}\)
    4. D.2.0 x 10 \(^{9}\) Nm \(^{-2}\)
    Show answer

    Answer: D 2.0 x 10 \(^{9}\) Nm \(^{-2}\)

  24. 24.
    In a series R-L-C circuit at resonance, the voltages across the resistor and the inductors are 30V and 40V respectively. What is the voltage across the capacitor?
    1. A.30V
    2. B.40V
    3. C.50V
    4. D.70V
    Show answer

    Answer: B 40V

  25. 25.
    Particles of mass 10 \(^{-2}\) kg is fixed to the tip of a fan blade which rotates with angular velocity of 100rad \(^{-1}\) . If the radius of the blade is 0.2m, the centripetal force is?
    1. A.2N
    2. B.20N
    3. C.200N
    4. D.400N
    Show answer

    Answer: B 20N

  26. 26.
    The equation of a wave traveling along the positive x-direction is given by; y = 0.25 x 10 \(^{-3}\) sin (500t - 0.025x). Determine the angular velocity of the wave motion.
    1. A.0.25 x 10 \(^{-3}\) rads \(^{-1}\)
    2. B.0.25 x 10 \(^{-1}\) rads \(^{-1}\)
    3. C.5.00 x 10 \(^{2}\) rads \(^{-1}\)
    4. D.2.50 x 10 \(^{3}\) rads \(^{-1}\)
    Show answer

    Answer: C 5.00 x 10 \(^{2}\) rads \(^{-1}\)

  27. 27.
    The inner diameter of a test tube can be measured accurately using a?
    1. A.micrometer screw gauge
    2. B.pair of dividers
    3. C.meter rule
    4. D.pair of vernier calipers
    Show answer

    Answer: D pair of vernier calipers

  28. 28.
    The inside portion of part of a hollow metal sphere of diameter 20cm is polished. The portion will therefore form a?
    1. A.concave mirror of focal length 5cm
    2. B.concave mirror of focal length 10cm
    3. C.convex mirror of focal length 5cm
    4. D.convex mirror of focal length 10cm
    Show answer

    Answer: A concave mirror of focal length 5cm

  29. 29.
    The lowest note emitted by a stretched string has a frequency of 40Hz. How many overtones are there between 40Hz and 180Hz?
    1. A.4
    2. B.3
    3. C.2
    4. D.1
    Show answer

    Answer: B 3

  30. 30.
    The motion of a body is simple harmonic if the?
    1. A.acceleration is always directed towards a fixed point
    2. B.path of motion is a straight line
    3. C.acceleration is proportional to the square of the distance from a fixed point
    4. D.acceleration is constant and directed towards a fixed point
    Show answer

    Answer: A acceleration is always directed towards a fixed point

  31. 31.
    The slope of the straight line displacement-time graph indicates?
    1. A.distance traveled
    2. B.uniform velocity
    3. C.uniform acceleration
    4. D.uniform speed
    Show answer

    Answer: B uniform velocity

  32. 32.
    The temperature gradient across a copper rod of thickness 0.02m, maintained at two temperature junctions of 20º and 80ºC respectively is?
    1. A.3.0 x 10 \(^{2}\) km \(^{-1}\)
    2. B.3.0 x 10 \(^{3}\) km \(^{-1}\)
    3. C.5.0 x 10 \(^{3}\) km \(^{-1}\)
    4. D.3.0 x 10 \(^{4}\) km \(^{-1}\)
    Show answer

    Answer: B 3.0 x 10 \(^{3}\) km \(^{-1}\)

  33. 33.
    The velocities of light in air and glass are 3.0 x 10 \(^8\) ms \(^{-1}\) and 2.0 x 10 \(^8\) ms \(^{-1}\) respectively. If the angle of refraction is 30º, the sine of the angle of incidence is?
    1. A.0.33
    2. B.0.50
    3. C.0.67
    4. D.0.75
    Show answer

    Answer: D 0.75

  34. 34.
    Two bodies have masses in the ratio3:1. They experience forces which impart to them, acceleration in the ratio 2:9 respectively. Find the ratio of forces the masses experienced
    1. A.1:4
    2. B.2:1
    3. C.2:3
    4. D.2:5
    Show answer

    Answer: C 2:3

  35. 35.
    When the breaks in a car are applied, the frictional force on the tyres is?
    1. A.a disadvantage because it is in the direction of the motion of the car
    2. B.a disadvantage because it is in the opposite direction of the motion of the car
    3. C.an advantage because it is in the direction of the motion of the car
    4. D.an advantage because it is in the opposite direction of the motion of the car
    Show answer

    Answer: A a disadvantage because it is in the direction of the motion of the car

  36. 36.
    When the temperature of a liquid increases, its surface tension
    1. A.decreases
    2. B.increases
    3. C.remains constant
    4. D.increases then decreases
    Show answer

    Answer: A decreases

  37. 37.
    Which of the following instruments may be used to measure relative humidity?
    1. A.Hydrometer
    2. B.Manometer
    3. C.Hygrometer
    4. D.Hypsometer
    Show answer

    Answer: C Hygrometer

  38. 38.
    Which of the following is not a vector quantity?
    1. A.momentum
    2. B.force
    3. C.temperature
    4. D.displacement
    Show answer

    Answer: C temperature

  39. 39.
    Which of the following is not correct about the molecules of a substance in a gaseous state. They?
    1. A.are in a constant state of motion
    2. B.have different speeds
    3. C.have a temperature which is measured by the average kinetic energy
    4. D.The collision between the gases is perfectly inelastic
    Show answer

    Answer: D The collision between the gases is perfectly inelastic

  40. 40.
    Which of the units of the following physical quantities are derived? I. Area II. Thrust III. Pressure IV. Mass
    1. A.I, II, III and IV
    2. B.I, II, and III only
    3. C.I, II, and IV only
    4. D.I and IV only
    Show answer

    Answer: B I, II, and III only

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