Struggling with WAEC Physics? You’re not alone.
The good news is, the exam loves to repeat patterns. And that’s where past questions come in.
This post has WAEC Physics past questions and answers with step-by-step solutions. Practice them, understand how questions are set, and walk into that exam hall way more confident. Let’s get you that A!
WAEC Physics Past Questions and Answers
1. The ratio of the output work to input work of a machine is called
A. Velocity ratio
B. Mechanical advantage
C. Efficiency
D. Power
Answer: C
2. Which of the following quantities has both magnitude and direction?
A. Distance
B. Work
C. Displacement
D. Energy
Answer: C
3. The SI unit of angular displacement is
A. Degree
B. Radian
C. Meter
D. Second
Answer: B
4. The velocity ratio of a machine is defined as
A. Load/Effort
B. Distance moved by effort/Distance moved by load
C. Work output/Work input
D. Force × distance
Answer: B
5. The product of force and velocity is
A. Work
B. Power
C. Energy
D. Momentum
Answer: B
6. Which of the following is not a fundamental quantity?
A. Length
B. Mass
C. Time
D. Velocity
Answer: D
7. The motion in which speed remains constant but direction changes is
A. Linear motion
B. Circular motion
C. Random motion
D. Oscillation
Answer: B
8. The area under a velocity-time graph represents
A. Acceleration
B. Distance
C. Displacement
D. Speed
Answer: C
9. The SI unit of impulse is equivalent to
A. N/m
B. Ns
C. J
D. W
Answer: B
10. Which instrument is used to measure length accurately?
A. Meter rule
B. Vernier caliper
C. Thermometer
D. Stopwatch
Answer: B
11. The density of an object can be found using
A. Mass × volume
B. Mass/volume
C. Volume/mass
D. Force/area
Answer: B
12. The centre of mass of a uniform ring lies at
A. Edge
B. Centre
C. Surface
D. Top
Answer: B
13. A body is in motion if it changes position with respect to
A. Time
B. Mass
C. Reference point
D. Distance
Answer: C
14. The SI unit of volume is
A. cm³
B. m³
C. litre
D. m²
Answer: B
15. The resultant of two equal opposite forces is
A. Maximum
B. Minimum
C. Zero
D. Infinite
Answer: C
WAEC Physics Past Questions
16. A stone thrown vertically upward has maximum velocity at
A. Top
B. Middle
C. Bottom
D. Everywhere
Answer: C
17. The force acting on a body of mass 2kg with acceleration 3m/s² is
A. 5N
B. 6N
C. 3N
D. 1N
Answer: B
18. The SI unit of work per unit time is
A. Joule
B. Watt
C. Newton
D. Pascal
Answer: B
19. A machine with efficiency 100% is called
A. Real machine
B. Ideal machine
C. Perfect machine
D. Working machine
Answer: B
20. The moment of a force depends on
A. Distance and force
B. Mass
C. Velocity
D. Area
Answer: A
21. The SI unit of angular speed is
A. m/s
B. rad/s
C. s/m
D. m²/s
Answer: B
22. A body falls freely under gravity with
A. Constant velocity
B. Variable acceleration
C. Constant acceleration
D. Zero acceleration
Answer: C
23. The work done in moving a charge is measured in
A. Volt
B. Joule
C. Ampere
D. Ohm
Answer: B
24. The SI unit of electric energy is
A. Joule
B. Watt
C. Volt
D. Ampere
Answer: A
25. The direction of current is opposite to flow of
A. Protons
B. Neutrons
C. Electrons
D. Ions
Answer: C
26. The resistance of a conductor increases with
A. Increase in temperature
B. Decrease in length
C. Increase in area
D. Decrease in voltage
Answer: A
27. A cell converts
A. Electrical to mechanical
B. Chemical to electrical
C. Mechanical to electrical
D. Heat to electrical
Answer: B
28. The SI unit of electromotive force is
A. Ampere
B. Volt
C. Ohm
D. Watt
Answer: B
29. The brightness of a bulb depends on
A. Voltage
B. Current
C. Power
D. Resistance
Answer: C
30. The total resistance in series is
A. Less than smallest
B. Sum of resistances
C. Equal to one
D. Zero
Answer: B
WAEC Physics Past Questions
31. The image formed by convex lens at infinity is
A. At focus
B. At centre
C. At pole
D. At infinity
Answer: A
32. A real image can be obtained on
A. Mirror
B. Screen
C. Lens
D. Air
Answer: B
33. Refraction occurs due to change in
A. Speed
B. Frequency
C. Energy
D. Direction only
Answer: A
34. The refractive index is unitless because it is
A. Ratio
B. Product
C. Difference
D. Sum
Answer: A
35. The speed of light decreases in
A. Vacuum
B. Air
C. Denser medium
D. Space
Answer: C
36. A rainbow is formed due to
A. Reflection
B. Refraction
C. Dispersion
D. Diffraction
Answer: C
37. The colour with highest frequency is
A. Red
B. Blue
C. Violet
D. Green
Answer: C
38. The colour with longest wavelength is
A. Red
B. Violet
C. Blue
D. Indigo
Answer: A
39. Heat energy flows from
A. Cold to hot
B. Hot to cold
C. Equal temperature
D. Low pressure
Answer: B
40. The SI unit of heat is
A. Joule
B. Watt
C. Newton
D. Kelvin
Answer: A
WAEC Physics Past Questions and Answers
41. The boiling point of a liquid depends on
A. Pressure
B. Volume
C. Mass
D. Area
Answer: A
42. Evaporation occurs at
A. Boiling point
B. Freezing point
C. All temperatures
D. Zero temperature
Answer: C
43. Specific heat capacity depends on
A. Substance
B. Mass
C. Temperature
D. Volume
Answer: A
44. The expansion of solids is due to
A. Increase in mass
B. Increase in volume
C. Particle vibration
D. Pressure
Answer: C
45. A good conductor of heat is
A. Wood
B. Plastic
C. Copper
D. Glass
Answer: C
46. Convection occurs in
A. Solids
B. Liquids and gases
C. Vacuum
D. Metals only
Answer: B
47. Radiation does not require
A. Medium
B. Energy
C. Temperature
D. Motion
Answer: A
48. The SI unit of wave frequency is
A. Hz
B. m/s
C. J
D. W
Answer: A
49. The speed of wave =
A. Frequency × wavelength
B. Frequency/wavelength
C. Wavelength/frequency
D. Time × distance
Answer: A
50. Sound cannot travel in
A. Air
B. Water
C. Solid
D. Vacuum
Answer: D
WAEC Physics Past Questions
51. Echo is due to
A. Refraction
B. Reflection
C. Diffraction
D. Dispersion
Answer: B
52. The loudness of sound depends on
A. Frequency
B. Amplitude
C. Speed
D. Distance
Answer: B
53. Ultrasonic waves have frequency above
A. 20 Hz
B. 20 kHz
C. 2 Hz
D. 200 Hz
Answer: B
54. The SI unit of capacitance is
A. Farad
B. Henry
C. Ohm
D. Volt
Answer: A
55. A capacitor stores
A. Current
B. Voltage
C. Charge
D. Resistance
Answer: C
56. Inductance opposes change in
A. Current
B. Voltage
C. Resistance
D. Power
Answer: A
57. The SI unit of inductance is
A. Henry
B. Tesla
C. Weber
D. Farad
Answer: A
58. Magnetic field lines are
A. Straight
B. Circular
C. Parallel
D. Random
Answer: B
59. The earth behaves like a
A. Capacitor
B. Magnet
C. Resistor
D. Conductor
Answer: B
60. The north pole of a magnet points to
A. South pole
B. Magnetic south
C. Geographic north
D. Geographic south
Answer: C
61. Fleming’s left-hand rule is used for
A. Generator
B. Motor
C. Transformer
D. Battery
Answer: B
62. Fleming’s right-hand rule is used for
A. Motor
B. Generator
C. Capacitor
D. Resistor
Answer: B
63. Electromagnetic induction is production of
A. Heat
B. Current
C. Light
D. Energy
Answer: B
64. A transformer works only with
A. DC
B. AC
C. Both
D. None
Answer: B
65. Step-down transformer reduces
A. Current
B. Voltage
C. Power
D. Resistance
Answer: B
66. Nuclear fission involves
A. Combining nuclei
B. Splitting nucleus
C. Electron movement
D. Ionization
Answer: B
67. Nuclear fusion occurs in
A. Bulb
B. Sun
C. Battery
D. Generator
Answer: B
68. Isotopes have same
A. Mass number
B. Atomic number
C. Neutrons
D. Electrons
Answer: B
69. Radioactive decay is
A. Artificial
B. Spontaneous
C. Forced
D. Controlled
Answer: B
70. Half-life is constant for a
A. Element
B. Substance
C. Nucleus
D. Isotope
Answer: D
WAEC Physics Past Questions
71. The SI unit of force per unit charge is
A. N/C
B. J/C
C. V/A
D. C/N
Answer: A
72. Electric field exists around
A. Mass
B. Charge
C. Force
D. Energy
Answer: B
73. The direction of electric field is
A. Random
B. Towards positive
C. From positive to negative
D. From negative to positive
Answer: C
74. Potential difference is measured between two
A. Charges
B. Points
C. Wires
D. Cells
Answer: B
75. Electric power is given by
A. VI
B. IR
C. V/R
D. I/V
Answer: A
76. The SI unit of electric field is
A. N/C
B. V
C. A
D. W
Answer: A
77. The SI unit of magnetic flux is
A. Weber
B. Tesla
C. Henry
D. Farad
Answer: A
78. The SI unit of magnetic flux density is
A. Tesla
B. Weber
C. Henry
D. Ampere
Answer: A
79. Magnetic materials are attracted to
A. Electric field
B. Magnet
C. Current
D. Voltage
Answer: B
80. A soft iron is used in electromagnets because it
A. Retains magnetism
B. Loses magnetism quickly
C. Is hard
D. Is light
Answer: B
WAEC Physics Past Questions
81. The SI unit of luminous intensity is
A. Candela
B. Lux
C. Lumen
D. Watt
Answer: A
82. Light travels in
A. Curved line
B. Straight line
C. Zigzag
D. Random
Answer: B
83. The shadow is formed due to
A. Reflection
B. Refraction
C. Rectilinear propagation
D. Diffraction
Answer: C
84. The focal length of a plane mirror is
A. Zero
B. Infinite
C. One
D. Undefined
Answer: B
85. A concave lens always produces
A. Real image
B. Virtual image
C. Enlarged image
D. Inverted image
Answer: B
86. The magnification of plane mirror is
A. 0
B. 1
C. Greater than 1
D. Less than 1
Answer: B
87. Heat capacity is product of
A. Mass and specific heat
B. Volume and heat
C. Density and temperature
D. Pressure and volume
Answer: A
88. The SI unit of heat capacity is
A. J/K
B. J/kg
C. N/K
D. W/K
Answer: A
89. The latent heat is measured in
A. J/kg
B. J
C. W
D. K
Answer: A
90. Freezing occurs at
A. Constant temperature
B. Increasing temperature
C. Decreasing temperature
D. Zero temperature
Answer: A
91. A wave transfers
A. Matter
B. Energy
C. Mass
D. Force
Answer: B
92. The SI unit of wavelength is
A. Meter
B. Hertz
C. Second
D. Joule
Answer: A
93. Frequency and period are
A. Equal
B. Inversely proportional
C. Directly proportional
D. Constant
Answer: B
94. The higher the frequency, the
A. Longer wavelength
B. Shorter wavelength
C. Same wavelength
D. No wavelength
Answer: B
95. Sound intensity decreases with
A. Distance
B. Amplitude
C. Frequency
D. Speed
Answer: A
96. The unit of sound intensity is
A. W/m²
B. J/m
C. N/m
D. kg/m³
Answer: A
97. The SI unit of angular acceleration is
A. rad/s²
B. m/s²
C. s²
D. m/s
Answer: A
98. Centripetal force acts towards
A. Outside
B. Centre
C. Upward
D. Downward
Answer: B
99. The SI unit of torque is
A. Nm
B. N
C. J
D. W
Answer: A
100. Rotational motion is motion about a
A. Line
B. Axis
C. Point
D. Plane
Answer: B
WAEC Theory Past Questions and Answers
1. Define mechanical advantage and state its importance in machines.
Mechanical advantage is the ratio of the load to the effort applied to a machine. It is important because it shows how much a machine multiplies force, making work easier.
2. State the principle of moments and explain its application.
The principle of moments states that for a body in equilibrium, the sum of clockwise moments about a point equals the sum of anticlockwise moments about that point. It is applied in balancing objects like seesaws and beam balances.
3. Define efficiency and explain why no machine is 100% efficient.
Efficiency is the ratio of useful work output to total work input expressed as a percentage. No machine is 100% efficient because some energy is always lost due to friction and heat.
4. What is centripetal force? Give one example.
Centripetal force is the force that keeps a body moving in a circular path, directed towards the centre. An example is the gravitational force keeping planets in orbit.
5. Define electromotive force (emf) and state its unit.
Electromotive force is the energy supplied per unit charge by a source. Its unit is the volt (V).
6. Explain dispersion of light with an example.
Dispersion of light is the splitting of white light into its component colours when it passes through a prism. An example is the formation of a rainbow.
7. Define specific heat capacity and state its unit.
Specific heat capacity is the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of a substance by one degree Celsius or Kelvin. Its unit is J/kgK.
8. What is latent heat? Distinguish between its types.
Latent heat is the heat absorbed or released during a change of state without temperature change. The two types are latent heat of fusion (solid to liquid) and latent heat of vaporization (liquid to gas).
9. Define frequency of a wave and state its unit.
Frequency is the number of complete oscillations made in one second. Its unit is Hertz (Hz).
10. What is a magnetic field? State one way it can be detected.
A magnetic field is the region around a magnet where magnetic force is experienced. It can be detected using a magnetic compass.
11. Define electric field and give its direction.
An electric field is the region around a charged body where force is exerted on another charge. Its direction is from positive to negative charge.
12. What is nuclear fission? State one application.
Nuclear fission is the splitting of a heavy nucleus into smaller nuclei with release of energy. It is used in nuclear power plants to generate electricity.
13. Explain wave motion and give one example.
Wave motion is the transfer of energy from one point to another without transfer of matter. An example is sound waves travelling through air.
14. What is an echo? State the condition necessary for it to be heard.
An echo is a reflected sound heard after a delay. The reflecting surface must be far enough (about 17 meters or more) from the listener.
15. Define electrical power and give its formula.
Electrical power is the rate at which electrical energy is consumed in a circuit. The formula is P = VI.
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