2019 Physics WAEC SSCE (School Candidates) May/June

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Physics 1 - Objective Test Questions

The time rate of increase in velocity is called
1. Force
2. Momentum
3. Acceleration
4. Speed
Which of the following quantities is a vector?
1. volume
2. momentum
3. energy
4. speed
In an clastic collision, momentum is conserved as well as
1. Velocity
2. Kinetic energy
3. Potential energy
4. Speed
The induced current in a coil always flows in a direction So as to oppose the change that causes it. This statement is known as
1. Coulomb’s law.
2. Lenz's law.
3. Faraday's law.
4. Ampere's law.
Which of the following instruments can be used to compare the magnitudes of charges on two given bodies?
1. Electrophorus.
2. Ebonite rod.
3. Gold-leaf electroscope.
4. Proof planes.
A body of mass 2 kg is released from a point 100 m above the ground. Calculate its kinetic energy 80 m from the point of release.
1. 1600 J
2. 900 J
3. 600 J
4. 200 J
Which of the following waves is not mechanical?
1. Waves in pipes
2. Water waves
3. Radio waves
4. Sound waves
A loaded spring is set in simple harmonic motion. The force that tends to restore the load to its equilibrium position is
1. adhesive.
2. elastic.
3. frictional.
4. gravitational.
Which of the following cases cannot produce total internal reflection? A light ray travelling from
1. glass to water.
2. kerosene to air.
3. air to water.
4. water to ice.
The vacuum in a thermo flask reduces heat loss resulting from
1. radiation only.
2. conduction and convection only.
3. radiation and convection only.
4. conduction only
The diagram above represents an experimental set- up for verifying
1. lens formula.
2. refraction laws.
3. reflection laws.
4. mirror formula.
Which of the following statements about a moving object is correct?
1. When accelerating, the resultant force acting on it must be equal to zero.
2. There must always be a non-zero resultant force acting on it.
3. At a steady velocity, the resultant force acting on it must be equal to zero.
4. At a steady velocity, the air resistance must be equal to zero.
If the efficiency of a transformer is 100%, which of the following equations would be correct?
1. $N_{p}$ $E_{p}$ - $N_{s}$ $E_{s}$
2. $N_{s}$ $I_{p}$ - $N_{p}$ $I_{s}$
3. $N_{s}$ $I_{s}$ - $N_{p}$ $I_{p}$
4. $I_{p}$ $E_{s}$ - $I_{s}$ $E_{p}$
A freshly demagnetized bar magnet is placed in the East-West direction to ensure that
1. the molecular magnets remain randomly arranged.
2. the molecular magnets are properly aligned.
3. It is affected by the earth's magnetic field.
4. the magnetic domains are within the earth’s field.
Which of the following graphs of a charge Q against potential difference V across capacitor Is correct?
1. £
2. £
3. £
4. £
A small amount of air is introduced into the vacuum above the mercury in a mercury barometer tube. The mercury level goes down because the air molecules
1. heat the mercury and make it to expand.
2. increase the pressure above the mercury.
3. cool the mercury and make it to contract.
4. decrease the pressure above the mercury.
Calculate the quantity of heat needed to change the temperature of 60 g of ice at 0 °C to 80°C. Specie latent heat of fusion of ice =3.36 x $10^{5}$ $10^{5}$ J $kg^{1}$ $kg^{1}$ , specific heat capacity of water = 4.2 x $10^{2}$ $10^{2}$ J $kg^{1}$ $kg^{1}$ $k^{1}$ $k^{1}$ ]
1. 4.80 kJ
2. 20.16kJ
3. 40.32 kJ
4. 22.17 kJ
The wire of a platinum resistance thermometer has a resistance of 3.5 Ω at 0°C and 10.5 Ω at 100°C. Calculate the temperature of the wire when its resistance is 7.5 Ω
1. 78°C
2. 25°C
3. 36°C
4. 57°C
A transverse pulse of frequency 9 Hz travels 4.5 m in 0.6 s. Calculate the wavelength of the pulse.
1. 33.3 m
2. 0.30 m
3. 0.83 m
4. 1.20 m
In which of the following media is speed of sound the least?
1. Air
2. Brass
3. Water
4. Wood
Which of the following characteristics of waves can a ripple tank be used to demonstrate? I. Reflection II. Refraction III. Diffraction
1. I, II and Ill
2. II and III only
3. I and III only
4. I and II only
Which of the following graphs gives the correct relationship between energy and mass when mass is converted to energy.
1. £
2. £
3. £
4. £
An 800 kg car moving at 80 km $hr^{-}1$ $hr^{-}1$ m hr collides with a 1200 kg car moving at 40 km $hr^{-}1$ $hr^{-}1$ in the same direction. If the cars stick together, calculate their common velocity.
1. 60 km $hr^{-}1$
2. $ km $hr^{-}1$
3. 40 km $hr^{-}1$
4. 56 km $hr^{-}1$
The mass of a load is doubled while the force acting on it is halved. The resulting acceleration of the load is
1. quadrupled.
2. quartered.
3. halved.
4. doubled.
The maximum and minimum thermometer reads the
1. maximum temperature during the day and the minimum temperature at night at all times.
2. maximum temperature at night and minimum temperature during the day from the last reset.
3. maximum temperature at night and minimum temperature during the day at all times.
4. maximum temperature during the day and minimum temperature at night from the last reset.
An a.c. generator can be converted to a d.c. generator by replacing the
1. commutator with an armature.
2. armature with a commutator.
3. commutator with slip rings.
4. slip rings with a commutator.
Which of the following statements is the correct reason for using soft iron in making the armature of an electric bell?
1. It is a diamagnetic material.
2. It loses its magnetism readily.
3. It is not easily magnetized.
4. It retains its magnetism for a long time.
The diagram above illustrates a meter bridge circuit under balanced condition. Determine the value of x.
1. 71.4 cm
2. 10.0 cm
3. 28.6 cm
4. 57.2 cm
Which of the following devices is used for storing electric charges?
1. Transformer
2. Ammeter
3. Potentiometer
4. Capacitor An electron of mass 9.1 x $10^{-31}$ kg moves with a speed of 2.0 x $10^{6}$ $ms^{-1}$ round the nucleus of an atom in a circular path of radius 6.1 x $10^{-31}$ m. Use the information to answer question 30 and 31
Determine the angular speed of the electron.
1. 3.28 x $10^{16}$ rad $s^{-}1$
2. 8.55 x $10^{3}$ rad $s^{-}1$
3. 9.11 x $10^{13}$ rad $s^{-}1$
4. 5.22 x $10^{15}$ rad $s^{-}1$
Calculate the centripetal force acting on the electron. |
1. 7.7 x $10^{-17}$ N
2. 6.0 x $10^{-8}$ N
3. 3.0 x $10^{-14}$ N
4. 1.3 x $10^{-26}$ N
A device consumes 100 W of power when connected to a 120 V source. Calculate its resistance.
1. 1.2.Ω
2. 12,000.0.Ω
3. 20.0.Ω
4. 144.0.Ω
Which property of a wave remains constant when the wave travels from one medium into another?
1. Amplitude
2. Wavelength
3. Velocity
4. Frequency
The anomalous expansion of water occurs in the range
1. 0°C to 100°C.
2. 0°C to 4°C.
3. 4°C to 100°C.
4. -4°C to 0°C.
A ray of light travelling from a rectangular glass block of refractive index 1.5 into air strikes the Block at an angle of incidence of 30°. Calculate its angle of refraction.
1. 48.6°
2. 19.5°
3. 20.0°
4. 45.0°
A rectangular piece of iron measuring 4 cm by 3 cm at 20°C is heated until its temperature increases by 100°C. Calculate the new area of the metal. [Linear expansivity of iron is 1.2 x $10^{-5}$ $10^{-5}$ $K^{-1}$ $K^{-1}$ ]
1. 12.0144 $cm^{2}$
2. 12.0346 $cm^{2}$
3. 12.0288 $cm^{2}$
4. 12.0173 $cm^{2}$
Two bodies of masses 3.0 kg and 2.0 kg are separated by a distance of 50 cm. Calculate the force of attraction between them. [G = 6.67 x $10^{-11}$ $10^{-11}$ $Nm^{2}$ $Nm^{2}$ $kg^{-2}$ $kg^{-2}$ ]
1. 1.6 x $10^{-9}$ N
2. 1.3 x $10^{3}$ N
3. 2.3 x $10^{3}$ N
4. 5.0 x 10 N
The diagram illustrates an object moving in a circular path at constant speed. Which of the arrows indicates the direction of linear velocity?
1. Z
2. X
3. Y
4. W
Which of the following thermometers is used to measure the temperature of the human body?
1. Thermocouple.
2. Alcohol-in-glass thermometer.
3. Gas thermometer.
4. Platinum resistant thermometer.
In the diagram above, the time taken to trace a wave between P and Q is
1. 2 periods.
2. 1 period.
3. 1 ${\tfrac {1}{2}}$ periods.
4. 1 ${\tfrac {1}{4}}$ periods.
Which of the following materials does not serve as a safety device in electrical circuits?
1. Connecting wires
2. Earth wire
3. Fuse
4. Switch
Which of the following liquids has the highest surface tension?
1. Soapy water
2. Cold water
3. Hot water
4. Oily water
The nucleon and proton numbers of a neutral atom of an element are 238 and 92 respectively. Determine the number of neutrons in the atom.
1. 119
2. 330
3. 165
4. 146
An instrument used to measure relative humidity is the
1. hygrometer.
2. hydrometer.
3. pyrometer.
4. manometer.
The area under a velocity-time graph represents
1. speed.
2. acceleration.
3. moment.
4. distance.
Which of the following statements about a neutral atom is correct? The
1. core is composed of electrons and protons.
2. number of electrons is equal to that of neutrons.
3. number of neutrons is equal to that of protons.
4. number of protons is equal to that of electrons.
Which of the following properties is not exhibited by sound waves?
1. Diffraction
2. Polarization
3. Interference
4. Reflection
When ultraviolet light .is incident on certain metallic surfaces, particles are emitted. These particles are called
1. positrons.
2. protons.
3. photoelectrons.
4. photons.
Niels Bohr drew certain conclusions about the structure of the atom. Which of the following statements is one of those conclusions?
1. The allowed orbits contain the same number of electrons.
2. Within an atom, there are certain allowed orbits.
3. All of the orbits represent the same amount of energy.
4. The orbit with the least energy is farthest from the nucleus.
The graph above illustrates the variation of temperature θ with time t for a solid that is being heated. Which processes take place at segments P and Q respectively?
1. Freezing and vaporization
2. Evaporation and solidification
3. Melting and boiling
4. Condensation and evaporation

Physics 2 - Theory Questions

Part 1

A stone of mass 20 g is released from a catapult whose rubber is stretched through 5 cm. If the force constant of the rubber is 200 N $m^{-1}$ , calculate the speed with which the stone leaves the catapult.
1. The diagram illustrates a projectile motion. Identify each of the physical quantities labelled P,β,H and R.
2. Write an equation to show the relationship between P, g and $R_{max}$ , where g is the acceleration due to gravity and $R_{max}$ is maximum R.
State Three observable phenomena in which waves behave like a particle.
List three magnetic elements that determine the earth's magnetic field at a point.
Explain each of the following terms as used in Electronics:
1. free electrons;
2. holes.
1. State the principle of operation of fibre optics.
2. State two applications of fibre optics in medicine.
1. Define diffusion.
2. State two factors that affect the rate of diffusion.

Part 2

1. 1. State Newtons Law of Universal Gravitation.
  2. Define gravitational field.
2. 1. Derive the equation relating the universal gravitational constant, G, and the acceleration of the free fall, g, at the surface of the earth from Newton's Law of universal gravitation.
  2. State two assumptions for which the relationship in 8(b)(i) holds.
3. Calculate the force of attraction between a star of mass 2.00 x $10^{30}$ kg and the earth assuming the star is located 1.5 x $10^{8}$ km from the earth. [ Mass of the earth = 5.98 x $10^{24}$ kg: G = 6.67 x $10^{-11}$ N $m^{2}$ $kg^{2}$ ; g = 10 m $s^{-2}$
4. 1. Define escape velocity.
  2. State two differences between the acceleration of free fall (g) and the universal gravitational constant (G).
1. 1. Explain latent heat.
  2. State two factors that affect the rate of evaporation of a liquid.
2. Explain each of the following observations:
  1. On a dry day, water in a clay pot is cooler than water in a closed plastic container;
  2. Food gets cooked faster in a pressure cooker than in an ordinary cooking pot.
3. State two effects of heat on a substance.
4. A 40 V electric heater is used to supply a current of 12 A for 1400 s to a body of mass 1.5 kg at the melting point of the body. The body melts and its temperature rises through 60°C in an extra 72 s. Determine the:
  1. Latent heat of fusion of the body.
  2. specific heat capacity of the body.
1. 1. Define atomic spectra.
  2. Differentiate between emission spectra and absorption spectra.
2. The diagram above illustrates an electron transition from energy level n = 3 to n=1, Calculate the:
  1. energy of the photon.
  2. frequency of the photon.
  3. wavelength of the photon. [h = 6.6 x $10^{-34}$ J s; c = 3.0 x $10^{8}$ m $s^{-1}$ ; 1 e V = 1.6 x $10^{-19}$ J ] .
3. 1. Differentiate between soft x-rays and hard x-rays.
  2. Draw the circuit symbol for a p-n junction diode.
  3. Give the reason for doping a semiconductor material.
1. 1. Define force and state its S.J. unit.
  2. List the two types of solid friction.
2. A car travelling at a constant speed of 30 m $s^{-1}$ $s^{-1}$ for 20 s was suddenly decelerated when the driver sighted a pot-hole. it took the driver 6 s to get to the pot-hole with a reduced speed of 18 m $s^{-1}$ $s^{-1}$ . He maintained the steady speed for another 10 s to cross the pot-hole The brake were then applied and the care came to rest 5 s Later.
  1. Draw the velocity time graph for the Journey,
  2. Calculate the deceleration during the last 5 s of the the journey.
  3. Calculate the total distance covered.
1. The diagram above illustrates a structure of a typical photocell.
  1. Identify each of the parts labelled A and B.
  2. State one function each of A and B.
  3. Einstein's photoelectric equation can be written as E = hf - $W_{0}$ . State what each of the terms E, hf and $W_{0}$ . State what each of the terms E, hf and $W_{0}$
2. A photon is incident on a metal whose work function is 1.32 eV. An electron is emitted from the surface with maximum kinetic energy of 1.97 eV. Calculate the frequency of the photon. [1 eV = 1.6 x $10^{-19}$ ʃ]
3. 1. Define half-life of a radioactive element.
  2. Sketch a graph of the relation N = $N_{0}$ e^{-λt} and indicate the half-life.

Physics 3 - Practical Questions

Alternative A

1. You are provided with a stopwatch, a meter rule, a split cork, retort stand and clamp, a pendulum bob, a piece of thread and other necessary apparatus.
  1. Place the retort stand on a laboratory stool. Clamp the split cork.
  2. Suspend the pendulum bob from the split cork such that the point of support P of the bob is at a height H = 100 cm above the floor Q. The bob should not touch the floor and H should be kept constant throughout the experiment.
  3. Adjust the length of the thread such that the centre A of the bob is at a height y = AQ = 20 cm from the floor.
  4. Displace the bob such that it oscillates in a horizontal plane.
  5. Take the time t for 20 complete oscillations.
  6. Determine the period T of oscillation and evaluate $T^{2}$ .
  7. Repeat the procedure for four other values of y = 30cm. 40 cm. 50cm. and 60 cm. in each case. determine T and $T^{2}$
  8. Tabulate the results.
  9. Plot a graph of $T^{2}$ on the vertical axis and Y on the horizontal axis. Starting both axis from the origin (0,0).
  10. Determine the slope s. of the graph and the intercept c on the vertical axis.
  11. if in this experiment SR = C. calculate R
  12. State two precautions taken to ensure accurate results.
2. 1. The bob of a simple pendulum is displaced a small distance from the equilibrium position and then released to perform simple harmonic motion. Identify where its: (α) kinetic energy is maximum: (β) acceleration is maximum.
  2. An object of weight 120 N vibrates with a period f 4.0 s when hung from a spring. Calculate the force per unit length of the spring. [g=l0m $s^{-2}$ .π = 3.142]
1. You are provided with a converging lens and holder, a screen, a ray box containing an illuminated object pin and a meter rule.
  1. Place the lens in its holder such that it is facing a distant object seen through a well-lit laboratory window. Move the screen to and fro until a sharp image of the distant object is formed on it. Measure the distance, $f_{0}$ between the screen and the lens.
  2. Clamp the meter rule securely to the table.
  3. Place the illuminated object pin at the end R of the meter rule. Place the lens at a position P such that X = RP = 20 cm.
  4. Move the screen to a position Q to receive a sharp image of the object. Measure the distance Y= PQ.
  5. Evaluate Z= (X+Y).
  6. Repeat the procedure for five other values of x =25 cm, 30 cm, 35 cm, 40 cm and 45 cm. In each case; record X, Y and evaluate Z;
  7. Tabulate the results.
  8. Plot a graph with Z on the vertical axis and X on the horizontal axis. Draw a smooth curve through the points.
  9. Determine from your graph the minimum value of Z= $Z_{0}$ , and its corresponding distance $X_{0}$ .
  10. Evaluate W = ${\frac {1}{2}}$ ${\textstyle \left({\frac {Z_{0}}{4}}+{\frac {Z_{0}}{2}}\right)}$
  11. State two precautions taken to ensure accurate results.
2. 1. Draw a ray diagram to show how a convex lens forms an image of magnification less than one.
  2. Name two pairs of features in the human eye and a lens camera that performs similar functions.
1. You are provided with a battery of e.m.f. E. a key K. a voltmeter. a standard resistor $R_{0}$ = 2Ω. a resistance box R and some connecting wires
  1. Measure and record the e.mf. E of the battery.
  2. Set up a circuit as shown in the diagram above with the key open.
  3. Set the resistance on the resistance box to $R_{0}$ = 2Ω
  4. Close the key, read and record the potential difference V on the voltmeter.
  5. Evaluate $V^{-1}$
  6. Repeat the procedures for five other values of R= 5Ω, 10Ω,12Ω.15Ω and 20Ω. In each case. record V and evaluate $V^{-1}$
  7. Tabulate the results.
  8. Plot a graph with R on the vertical axis and $V^{-1}$ on the horizontal axis, starting both axes from the origin (0,0).
  9. Determine the slope. s. of the graph and the intercept c on the vertical axis.
  10. Calculate α and β from the equations s $R_{0}$ α and c = - ( $R_{0}$ + β)
  11. State two precautions taken to obtain accurate results.
2. 1. In the circuit diagram above, the battery has negligible internal resistance. Calculate the power dissipated as heat in the section AB of the circuit.
  2. An electric equipment of power rating 3.6 kW is to be connected to a 240 V line whose circuit breaker is rated 20 A. Justify whether or not the breaker would open when the equipment is switched on.