WAEC Physics 2004 past questions
Ten questions from the 2004 WAEC Physics paper, with answers and explanations. We hold 50 questions from this paper, and the Skolra app has all of them.
WAEC Physics 2004 questions and answers
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1.A body is dropped from a certain height above the ground level, falls with uniform ______.
- Auniform velocity
- Buniform retardation
- Cuniform accelerationCorrect
- Duniform momentum
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Answer: C
A body dropped from rest and falling freely under gravity (ignoring air resistance) experiences a constant gravitational force. By Newton's second law, this produces uniform (constant) acceleration directed downward, equal to g ≈ 10 m s⁻².
- A
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2.On a basis of the kinetic theory, an increase in the temperature of a fixed volume of an ideal gas causes
- Aa decrease in the average speed of the molecules
- Ban increase in the rate and force of molecular collisions with the container wallsCorrect
- Can increase in the volume of the gas
- Da decrease in the pressure of the gas
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Answer: B
According to kinetic theory, temperature is proportional to the average kinetic energy of molecules. At fixed volume, raising the temperature increases molecular speed, so molecules strike the container walls more frequently and with greater force, increasing the pressure (consistent with Gay-Lussac's law).
- A
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3.Find the cost of running a 60W lamp for 24 hours. If 1kW hr cost 5 naira
- A₦8.64
- B₦14.40
- C₦7.20Correct
- D₦5.76
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Answer: C
Energy consumed = Power × Time = 60 W × 24 h = 1440 Wh = 1.44 kWh
Cost = 1.44 kWh × ₦5 per kWh = ₦7.20
- A
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4.A car fuse marked 3A operates optimally on a 12V battery, calculate the resistance of the fuse
- A36 Ω
- B2 Ω
- C3 Ω
- D4 ΩCorrect
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Answer: D
Using Ohm's law: R = V / I
R = 12 V / 3 A = 4 Ω
- A
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5.The speed of an object in rectilinear motion can be determine from the
- Aslope of a velocity-time graph
- Barea under a displacement-time graph
- Cslope of a displacement-time graphCorrect
- Darea under a velocity-time graph
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Answer: C
Speed (in rectilinear motion) = ds/dt, which is the gradient (slope) of the displacement-time graph. The area under a velocity-time graph gives displacement; the slope of a velocity-time graph gives acceleration.
- A
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6.The basic difference between a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave travelling in the same direction in a medium is in the
- Adirection of vibration of particles relative to the direction of wave propagationCorrect
- Bfrequency of oscillation
- Cspeed of propagation through the medium
- Dwavelength of the wave
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Answer: A
In a transverse wave, particles vibrate perpendicular to the direction of propagation (e.g. light, water ripples). In a longitudinal wave, particles vibrate parallel to the direction of propagation (e.g. sound). The fundamental difference is therefore the direction of particle vibration relative to wave travel.
- A
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7.Which of the following values on the absolute scale of temperature is the ice point?
- A373 K
- B0 K
- C100 K
- D273 KCorrect
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Answer: D
The ice point is 0°C. On the absolute (Kelvin) scale: T(K) = T(°C) + 273.
Ice point = 0 + 273 = 273 K (precisely 273.15 K). 373 K is the steam point (100°C); 0 K is absolute zero (−273°C). - A
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8.The sound from a vibrating tuning fork is louder when the tip of its stem is placed on a wooden table than when in air because
- Athe table reduces the frequency of the tuning fork vibration
- Bthe table acts as a sounding board, increasing the area of vibrationCorrect
- Cair is a poorer medium for sound propagation than wood
- Dwood absorbs the sound energy and re-emits it at higher amplitude
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Answer: B
When the stem of the vibrating tuning fork is pressed on the table, the table is set into sympathetic (forced) vibration. The table's large surface area sets a much greater volume of air into vibration than the small prongs of the fork alone, producing a louder sound. This is the principle of the sounding board.
- A
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9.A machine of velocity ratio 5 is used in lifting a load with an effort of 500N. If the machine is 80% efficient. Determine the magnitude of load
- A400 N
- B625 N
- C2000 NCorrect
- D3125 N
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Answer: C
Mechanical Advantage (MA) = Efficiency × Velocity Ratio ÷ 100 = (80 × 5) ÷ 100 = 4.
MA = Load ÷ Effort → Load = MA × Effort = 4 × 500 = 2000 N. - A
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10.Which of the following statements is not correct?
- ABeta particles are fast-moving electrons emitted from the nucleus
- BGamma rays are high-frequency electromagnetic radiation
- CAlpha particles are positively charged helium nuclei
- DX-rays have shorter wavelength than gamma raysCorrect
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Answer: D
In the electromagnetic spectrum, gamma rays have shorter wavelength than X-rays, not the other way around. The order from longer to shorter wavelength is: radio → microwave → infrared → visible → ultraviolet → X-rays → gamma rays. Therefore the statement that X-rays have shorter wavelength than gamma rays is incorrect. Options c, a, and c are all correct descriptions of radioactive emissions.
- A
The questions come from past JAMB, WAEC and NECO papers. We use software to help write the answer options and explanations, and every answer is checked twice before it goes on the site. How we check
Spotted a wrong answer? Tell us from the app or on the contact page and we check it.
Practise all 50 questions we hold from the 2004 paper, on a timed CBT screen
Every question has the answer and an explanation, in the Skolra app.