Physics past questions: WAEC SSCE 2025

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

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

1.
A balloon containing 546 cm \(^3\) of air is heated from 0°C to 10°C. If the pressure is kept constant, what will be its volume at 10°C?
1. A.556 cm \(^3\)
2. B.526 cm \(^3\)
3. C.546 cm \(^3\)
4. D.566 cm \(^3\)
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Answer: D 566 cm \(^3\)
2.
A body of mass 7.5 kg is to be pulled along a plane which is inclined at 30º to the horizontal. If the efficiency of the plane is 75%, what is the minimum force required to pull the body up the plane?
1. A.20.0N
2. B.50.0N
3. C.75.0N
4. D.5.0N
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Answer: B 50.0N
3.
A body of specific heat capacity 450 Jkg \(^{-1}\) K \(^{-1}\) falls to the ground from rest through a vertical height of 20 m. Assuming conservation of energy, calculate the change in temperature of the body striking the ground level. (g = 10 ms \(^{-2}\) )
1. A.0°C
2. B.\(\frac{2}{9}\) °C
3. C.\(\frac{4}{9}\) °C
4. D.\(\frac{9}{4}\) °C
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Answer: C \(\frac{4}{9}\) °C
4.
A body weighing 10N in air is partially immersed in water. It displaces water of mass 0.3kg. What is the upthrust on the body?(g = 10m/s \(^2\) )
1. A.7.0N
2. B.13.0N
3. C.3.3N
4. D.3.0N
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Answer: D 3.0N
5.
A boy cycles continuously through a distance of 1.0km in 5 minutes. Calculate his average speed.
1. A.0.3m/s
2. B.16.6m/s
3. C.20.0m/s
4. D.3.3m/s
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Answer: D 3.3m/s
6.
A brass rod is 2 m long at a certain temperature. Calculate the linear expansion of the rod for a temperature change of 100 K. (Take linear expansivity of brass as 1.8 × 10 \(^{-5}\) K \(^{-1}\) )
1. A.0.0036 m
2. B.0.360 m
3. C.0.3600 m
4. D.0.1800 m
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Answer: A 0.0036 m
7.
A capacitor of capacitance 25μF is connected to an a.c power source of frequency \(\frac{200}{π}\) Hz. Calculate the reactance of the capacitor.
1. A.100.00 Ω
2. B.0.02 Ω
3. C.0.01 Ω
4. D.50.00 Ω
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Answer: A 100.00 Ω
8.
A car travelling at a uniform speed of 120km/hr passes two stations in 4minutes. Calculate the distance between the two stations.
1. A.15km
2. B.30km
3. C.8km
4. D.22km
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Answer: C 8km
9.
A charge of 1.6 × 10 \(^{-10}\) C is placed in a uniform electric field of intensity 2.0 × 10 \(^5\) NC \(^{-1}\) . What is the magnitude of the electric force exerted on the charge?
1. A.3.2 × 10 \(^{-5}\) N.
2. B.3.2 × 10 \(^5\) N.
3. C.1.8 × 10 \(^{-5}\) N.
4. D.1.8 × 10 \(^5\) N.
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Answer: A 3.2 × 10 \(^{-5}\) N.
10.
A given wire of resistance 10 Ω has a length of 5 m and a cross-sectional area of 4.0 × 10 \(^{-3}\) m \(^2\) . Calculate the conductivity of the wire.
1. A.2.50 × 10 \(^2\) Ω \(^{-1}\) m \(^{-1}\)
2. B.2.02 × 10 \(^2\) Ω \(^{-1}\) m \(^{-1}\)
3. C.1.25 × 10 \(^2\) Ω \(^{-1}\) m \(^{-1}\)
4. D.0.80 × 10 \(^2\) Ω \(^{-1}\) m \(^{-1}\)
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Answer: C 1.25 × 10 \(^2\) Ω \(^{-1}\) m \(^{-1}\)
11.
A listener can detect the instrument from which a note is being sounded because different instruments produce the same note with different
1. A.Loudness
2. B.Pitches
3. C.Frequencies
4. D.Overtones
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Answer: D Overtones
12.
A machine has an efficiency of 60%. If the machine is required to overcome a load of 30N with a force of 20N. Calculate its mechanical advantage.
1. A.1.5
2. B.0.9
3. C.0.7
4. D.2.5
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Answer: A 1.5
13.
A mercury-in-glass thermometer reads -20º at the ice point and 100º at the steam point. Calculate the Celsius temperature corresponding to 70º on the thermometer.
1. A.62.5 \(\circ\) C
2. B.50.0 \(\circ\) C
3. C.75.0 \(\circ\) C
4. D.41.0 \(\circ\) C
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Answer: C 75.0 \(\circ\) C
14.
A ray of light is incident on a body x as shown in the diagram above. What is the refractive index of the body?
1. A.1.33
2. B.1.63
3. C.1.50
4. D.1.49
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Answer: B 1.63
15.
A ray of light is incident on mirror m \(_1\) and after reflection is incident on mirror m \(_2\) as shown in the diagram above. Calculate the angle of reflection of the ray at mirror m \(_2\) .
1. A.60 \(^0\)
2. B.90 \(^0\)
3. C.30 \(^0\)
4. D.120 \(^0\)
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Answer: C 30 \(^0\)
16.
A series R - L - C circuit is shown in the diagram above. Which of the following vector diagrams correctly represents the phase relationship among I, V, V \(_F\) , V \(_C\) , and V \(_L\) , if V \(_C\) is greater than V \(_L\) and the symbols have their usual meaning?
1. A.A
2. B.B
3. C.C
4. D.D
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Answer: A A
17.
A sound note of frequency 250 Hz and a wavelength 1.3 m is produced at a point near a hill. If the echo of the sound is received 1 second later at that point, how far away is the hill from the point?
1. A.248.7 m
2. B.261.3 m
3. C.162.5 m
4. D.131.3 m
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Answer: C 162.5 m
18.
A student found out from a simple pendulum experiment that 20 oscillations were completed in 38 seconds.
1. A.8.0s
2. B.3.8s
3. C.1.9s
4. D.2.0s
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Answer: C 1.9s
19.
A wire is stretched between two points, 1 m apart. If the speed of the wave generated on plucking the wire is 200 ms \(^{-1}\) , what is the minimum frequency which will resonate with the wire?
1. A.50 Hz
2. B.100 Hz
3. C.200 Hz
4. D.75 Hz
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Answer: C 200 Hz
20.
An air bubble of volume 2 cm \(^3\) is formed 20 m under water. What will be its volume when it rises to just below the surface of the water if the atmospheric pressure is equivalent to a height of 10 m of water?
1. A.3 cm \(^3\)
2. B.4 cm \(^3\)
3. C.6 cm \(^3\)
4. D.2 cm \(^3\)
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Answer: C 6 cm \(^3\)
21.
An alternating current, having a waveform shown in the diagram above, is represented by the equation X = X \(_o\) sinωt. Which of the following represents X \(_o\) ?
1. A.OS
2. B.PQ
3. C.RT
4. D.OR
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Answer: B PQ
22.
An alternating voltage with a frequency of 50 Hz has a period of
1. A.0.02 s
2. B.0.20 s
3. C.0.05 s
4. D.0.50 s
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Answer: A 0.02 s
23.
An iron rod of mass 2 kg and at a temperature of 280°C is dropped into some quantity of water initially at a temperature of 30°C. If the temperature of the mixture is 70°C, calculate the mass of the water. (Neglect heat losses to the surroundings) [Specific heat capacity of iron = 460 Jkg \(^{-1}\) K \(^{-1}\) ] [Specific heat capacity of water = 4200 Jkg \(^{-1}\) K \(^{-1}\) ]
1. A.1.50 kg
2. B.0.58 kg
3. C.1.15 kg
4. D.0.77 kg
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Answer: C 1.15 kg
24.
An object is placed on the principal axis and at the centre of curvature of a concave mirror. The image of the object formed by the mirror is
1. A.real and diminished
2. B.at the principal focus
3. C.real, inverted, and magnified
4. D.at the centre of curvature
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Answer: D at the centre of curvature
25.
At what angle to the horizontal must the nozzle of a machine gun be kept when firing to obtain maximum horizontal range of the bullets?
1. A.0.0º
2. B.30.0º
3. C.45.0º
4. D.22.5º
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Answer: C 45.0º
26.
Calculate the current in the 3 Ω resistor in Question 47.
1. A.0.4 A
2. B.0.3 A
3. C.1.5 A
4. D.1.0 A
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Answer: D 1.0 A
27.
Calculate the electric potential at a distance of 20.0cm from a point charge of 0.015 C placed in air of permittivity. [ take \(\frac{1}{4\pi ε₀}\) = 9.0 x 10 \(^9\) Nm \(^2\) C \(^{-2}\) ]
1. A.6.75 x 10 \(^6\) V
2. B.3.40 x 10 \(^5\) V
3. C.3.40 x 10 \(^9\) V
4. D.6.75 x 10 \(^8\) V
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Answer: D 6.75 x 10 \(^8\) V
28.
Calculate the inductance L of the COIL in the circuit shown above
1. A.3.8 H
2. B.0.4 H
3. C.0.6 H
4. D.14.4 H
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Answer: C 0.6 H
29.
Calculate the inductive reactance of the circuit shown above
1. A.50.0 \(\Omega\)
2. B.0.50 \(\Omega\)
3. C.5.00 \(\Omega\)
4. D.0.05 \(\Omega\)
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Answer: A 50.0 \(\Omega\)
30.
Calculate the quantity of charge flowing through a conductor if a current of 10 A passes through the conductor for 10 s.
1. A.10 C
2. B.15 C
3. C.100 C
4. D.20 C
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Answer: C 100 C
31.
Hot water at temperature of t is added to twice that amount of water at a temperature of 30°C. If the resulting temperature of the mixture is 50°C, calculate t
1. A.40°C
2. B.80°C
3. C.90°C
4. D.50°C
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Answer: C 90°C
32.
How much heat is required to convert 20 g of ice at 0°C to water at the same temperature? [Specific latent heat of ice = 336 Jg \(^{-1}\) ]
1. A.1.35 × 10 \(^3\) J
2. B.6.72 × 10 \(^3\) J
3. C.5.38 × 10 \(^3\) J
4. D.7.06 × 10 \(^3\) J
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Answer: B 6.72 × 10 \(^3\) J
33.
If the current in the resistor R is 0.05 A, calculate the p.d across the inductor.
1. A.2.5 V
2. B.49.0 V
3. C.25.0 V
4. D.50.0 V
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Answer: A 2.5 V
34.
Light travels in straight lines. In which of the following is this principle manifested? I. Pinhole camera II. Formation of shadows III. Diffraction of light IV. Occurrence of an eclipse.
1. A.I, II, and III only
2. B.I, II, and IV only
3. C.II, and III only
4. D.I and III only
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Answer: B I, II, and IV only
35.
Sixty complete waves pass a particular point in 4s. If the distance between three successive troughs of the waves is 15 m, calculate the speed of the waves.
1. A.75.0 ms \(^{-1}\)
2. B.225.0 ms \(^{-1}\)
3. C.300.0 ms \(^{-1}\)
4. D.112.5 ms \(^{-1}\)
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Answer: D 112.5 ms \(^{-1}\)
36.
The angular speed of an object describes a circle of radius 4m with linear constant speed of 10m/s is
1. A.2.50 rads \(^{-1}\)
2. B.1.58 rads \(^{-1}\)
3. C.14.00 rads \(^{-1}\)
4. D.40.00 rads \(^{-1}\)
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Answer: A 2.50 rads \(^{-1}\)
37.
The effective capacitance between points X and Y in the diagram above is 1.0 \(\mu\) F. What is the value of the capacitance?
1. A.5.0 μ
2. B.4.0 μ
3. C.3.0 μ
4. D.1.0 μ
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Answer: D 1.0 μ
38.
The energy stored in a capacitor of capacitance 5μF is 40 J. Calculate the voltage applied across its terminals.
1. A.6 V
2. B.200 V
3. C.16 V
4. D.4000 V
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Answer: D 4000 V
39.
The image of any real object formed by a diverging lens is always
1. A.magnified
2. B.inverted
3. C.erect
4. D.real
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Answer: C erect
40.
The period of a wave is 0.02 seconds. Calculate its wavelength if its speed is 330 ms \(^{-1}\)
1. A.3.3 m
2. B.4.0 m
3. C.6.6 m
4. D.5.0 m
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Answer: C 6.6 m
41.
The pressure of a given mass of gas changes from 200 Nm \(^{-2}\) to 100 Nm \(^{-2}\) , while its temperature drops from 127°C to -73°C. Calculate the ratio of the final volume of the gas to its initial volume.
1. A.2.0: 1
2. B.2.4: 1
3. C.1.0: 1
4. D.1.2: 1
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Answer: C 1.0: 1
42.
The temperature of a glass vessel containing 100 cm \(^3\) of mercury is raised from 10°C to 100°C. Calculate the apparent cubic expansion of the mercury. (Real cubic expansivity of mercury = 1.8 × 10 \(^{-4}\) K \(^{-1}\) , Cubic expansivity of glass = 2.4 × 10 \(^{-5}\) K \(^{-1}\) )
1. A.1.87 cm \(^3\)
2. B.1.42 cm \(^3\)
3. C.14.22 cm \(^3\)
4. D.0.52 cm \(^3\)
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Answer: B 1.42 cm \(^3\)
43.
What is the escape velocity of a body on the surface of the Earth of radius R if the gravitational constant is G and the mass of the Earth is M? (Neglect energy losses to the surroundings)
1. A.\(\sqrt{(2GR^2}\)
2. B.\(\sqrt{(2GR)}\)
3. C.\(\sqrt{(2GM)}\)
4. D.\(\sqrt{(\frac{2G}{\text{R}})}\)
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Answer: C \(\sqrt{(2GM)}\)
44.
What is the potential difference between X and Y in the diagram above if the battery is of negligible internal resistance?
1. A.3.0V
2. B.12.5V
3. C.5.8V
4. D.5.0V
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Answer: A 3.0V
45.
When two objects, P and Q, are supplied with the same quantity of heat, the temperature change in P is observed to be twice that in Q. If the masses of P and Q are the same, calculate the ratio of the specific heat capacities of Q to P.
1. A.4: 1
2. B.2: 1
3. C.1: 2
4. D.1: 1
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Answer: B 2: 1
46.
Which of the following is a fundamental quantity?
1. A.Torque
2. B.Reactance
3. C.Heat capacity
4. D.Electric current
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Answer: D Electric current
47.
Which of the following is not self-luminous?
1. A.Incadescent flourescent tube
2. B.Lighted candle
3. C.The moon
4. D.Incadescent electric bulb
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Answer: C The moon
48.
Which of the following media allow(s) the transmission of sound waves through them? I. Air II. Liquid III. Solid
1. A.II only
2. B.III only
3. C.I, II, and III only
4. D.I only
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Answer: C I, II, and III only
49.
Which of the following wave characteristics can be used to distinguish a transverse wave from a longitudinal wave?
1. A.Diffraction
2. B.Polarisation
3. C.Refraction
4. D.Reflection
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Answer: B Polarisation
50.
Which of the following will reduce the frequency of oscillation of a simple pendulum?
1. A.Increasing the mass of the bob
2. B.Decreasing the length of the string
3. C.Increasing the length of the string
4. D.Decreasing the mass of the bob
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Answer: C Increasing the length of the string

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