WAEC Physics 2008 past questions

Checked by the Skolra question team · Last updated 15 October 2026

Ten questions from the 2008 WAEC Physics paper, with answers and explanations. We hold 46 questions from this paper, and the Skolra app has all of them.

WAEC Physics 2008 questions and answers

1.
An electron of charge 1.60 x 10 $^{-19}$ C is accelerated under a potential difference of 1.0 x 10 $^{5}$ V. Calculate the energy of the electron in joules.
1. A
  3.20 × 10⁻¹⁴ J
2. B
  1.60 × 10⁻²⁴ J
3. C
  8.00 × 10⁻¹⁵ J
4. D
  1.60 × 10⁻¹⁴ J
  Correct
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Answer: D
The energy gained by a charge accelerated through a potential difference is: E = qV
Given: q = 1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ C, V = 1.0 × 10⁵ V
E = 1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ × 1.0 × 10⁵ = 1.60 × 10⁻¹⁴ J
2.
In an electrolysis experiment, the ammeter records a steady current of 1 A. The mass of copper deposited in 30 minutes is 0.66 g. Calculate the error in the ammeter reading. [ Electrochemical equivalent of copper = 0.00033 g C $^{-1}$ ]
1. A
  0.33 A
2. B
  0.22 A
3. C
  0.55 A
4. D
  0.11 A
  Correct
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Answer: D
By Faraday's first law of electrolysis: m = ZIt
Given: m = 0.66 g, Z = 0.00033 g C⁻¹, t = 30 min = 1800 s
Actual current: I = m / (Z × t) = 0.66 / (0.00033 × 1800) = 0.66 / 0.594 ≈ 1.11 A
Ammeter reading = 1 A
Error = Actual − Recorded = 1.11 − 1.00 = 0.11 A
3.The mass attached to a string is moving in a circular path. If the speed is doubled, the tension in the string will be
1. A
  doubled
2. B
  tripled
3. C
  halved
4. D
  quadrupled
  Correct
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Answer: D
The tension providing centripetal force is given by:
T = mv²/r
Since T ∝ v², if the speed v is doubled (v → 2v), the tension becomes:
T' = m(2v)²/r = 4mv²/r = 4T
The tension is therefore quadrupled.
4.A car travelling with a uniform velocity of 30ms^-1 along a horizontal road overcomes a constant frictional force of 600N. Calculate the power of the engine of the car
1. A
  18 kW
  Correct
2. B
  36 kW
3. C
  9 kW
4. D
  20 kW
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Answer: A
At constant (uniform) velocity, the engine force equals the frictional force = 600 N. Power is:
P = F × v = 600 N × 30 m s⁻¹ = 18 000 W = 18 kW
5.A rectangular block of dimensions 2.0m x 1.0m x 0.5m weighs 200N. calculate the maximum pressure exerted by the block on a horizontal floor.
1. A
  200 Pa
2. B
  100 Pa
3. C
  400 Pa
  Correct
4. D
  800 Pa
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Answer: C
Pressure is maximised when the block rests on its smallest face. The three face areas are: 2.0 × 1.0 = 2.0 m², 2.0 × 0.5 = 1.0 m², and 1.0 × 0.5 = 0.5 m².
P_max = F / A_min = 200 N / 0.5 m² = 400 Pa
6.It takes a shorter time for a liquid to boil at the top of a mountain than at the base because at the top, the
1. A
  atmospheric pressure is lower, reducing the boiling point of the liquid
  Correct
2. B
  wind speed is higher causing greater evaporation
3. C
  gravitational pull is weaker, reducing the energy needed
4. D
  temperature is lower, requiring less heat energy to boil
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Answer: A
The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which its vapour pressure equals the external (atmospheric) pressure. At the top of a mountain, atmospheric pressure is lower, so a liquid's vapour pressure reaches it at a lower temperature. The liquid therefore boils at a lower temperature, requiring less time to reach that temperature.
7.When viewed straight down, a fish in a pond is
1. A
  seen at a lesser depth than its actual position
  Correct
2. B
  seen at a greater depth than its actual position
3. C
  at its actual position
4. D
  not visible due to total internal reflection
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Answer: A
When light travels from water (denser medium, n ≈ 1.33) into air (less dense, n = 1), it bends away from the normal (refracts). To an observer looking straight down, the fish appears to be at an apparent depth that is shallower than its true depth.
Apparent depth = Real depth / n, so the fish appears closer to the surface than it actually is.
8.Which of the following statements about wave is not correct? i. A wavefront is a line which contains all particles whose vibration are in phase. ii. The direction of propagation of a wave is the link drawn parallel to the wavefront. iii. A wavefront is a circle which is common to particles that are in the same state of disturbance
1. A
  ii only
  Correct
2. B
  i only
3. C
  iii only
4. D
  i and iii only
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Answer: A
Statement ii is not correct. The direction of propagation of a wave is drawn perpendicular to the wavefront, not parallel. Statements i and iii are both correct: a wavefront is indeed a surface/line of particles vibrating in phase, and it can be circular (or spherical in 3D) for particles in the same state of disturbance.
9.Which of the following is a unit of the time rate of flow of electric charges?
1. A
  Coulomb
2. B
  Volt
3. C
  Ampere
  Correct
4. D
  Ohm
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Answer: C
Electric current is defined as the time rate of flow of electric charge: I = Q/t
Its unit is the Ampere (A), which equals one coulomb per second (C/s).
The coulomb is the unit of charge, the volt is the unit of potential difference, and the ohm is the unit of resistance.
10.Control in nuclear reactors is effected with boron rods because the rods have the ability to
1. A
  emit additional neutrons to sustain the reaction
2. B
  slow down the speed of fast neutrons
3. C
  reflect neutrons back into the fuel rods
4. D
  absorb excess neutrons in the reactor
  Correct
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Answer: D
Boron rods (control rods) are used in nuclear reactors because boron has a very high neutron absorption cross-section — it readily captures neutrons.
By inserting or withdrawing boron rods, operators control the number of neutrons available to sustain the fission chain reaction, thereby regulating the reactor's power output.
Slowing fast neutrons is the role of the moderator (e.g., graphite or heavy water), not the control rods.

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

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WAEC Physics 2008 past questions

WAEC Physics 2008 questions and answers

Practise all 46 questions we hold from the 2008 paper, on a timed CBT screen

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