WAEC Physics 2009 past questions

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

Ten questions from the 2009 WAEC Physics paper, with answers and explanations. We hold 46 questions from this paper, and the Skolra app has all of them.

WAEC Physics 2009 questions and answers

1.A boat is rocked by waves of speed 30ms^-1 whose successive crest are 10m apart. Calculate the rate at which the boat receives the waves
1. A
  30 Hz
2. B
  300 Hz
3. C
  0.33 Hz
4. D
  3 Hz
  Correct
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Answer: D
The rate at which the boat receives wave crests equals the frequency of the waves.
f = v/λ = 30 m s⁻¹ ÷ 10 m = 3 Hz
The boat is rocked 3 times per second.
2.Two forces 6N and 8N, act eastwards and northwards respectively on a body. Calculate the magnitude of their equilibrant
1. A
  14 N
2. B
  7 N
3. C
  2 N
4. D
  10 N
  Correct
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Answer: D
The two forces are perpendicular (east and north). Resultant = √(6² + 8²) = √(36 + 64) = √100 = 10 N.
The equilibrant is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the resultant, so its magnitude is also 10 N.
3.If the direction of the current in a straight wire is reversed, the magnetic field
1. A
  doubles in magnitude
2. B
  reverses its direction
  Correct
3. C
  remains in the same direction
4. D
  ceases to exist around the wire
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Answer: B
By the right-hand rule (or corkscrew/Maxwell's screw rule), the direction of the circular magnetic field around a straight current-carrying conductor depends entirely on the direction of current flow. When the current direction is reversed, the magnetic field reverses its direction. The magnitude of the field is unaffected by reversal alone.
4.An isolated metal sphere of radius R, carrying an electric charge Q, is situated in the medium of relative permitivity, E_r. A test charge is placed at a point p, distance r from the surface of the sphere. Let E_o represent the permitivity of free space. The magnitude of the electric field intensity at P is given by the expression
1. A
  Q / [4πE₀r²]
2. B
  Q / [4πE₀Eᵣ(R+r)²]
  Correct
3. C
  Q / [4πE₀(R+r)²]
4. D
  Q / [4πE₀Eᵣr²]
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Answer: B
Point P is at distance r from the surface, so its distance from the centre of the sphere is (R + r).
In a medium of relative permittivity ε_r, the electric field magnitude is:
E = Q / [4πε₀ε_r(R + r)²]
Both ε₀ (permittivity of free space) and ε_r (relative permittivity of the medium) appear in the denominator. Using r alone instead of (R+r) would be incorrect.
5.Which of the following properties of a steel bar can be measured in terms of the dimension of length only?
1. A
  Young's modulus
2. B
  Volume
  Correct
3. C
  Density
4. D
  Stress
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Answer: B
Volume has dimensions L³ — expressible in terms of length only. Density has dimensions ML⁻³ (involves mass), Stress has dimensions ML⁻¹T⁻² (involves mass and time), and Young's modulus also has dimensions ML⁻¹T⁻². Only volume can be measured in terms of the dimension of length alone.
6.A rod of initial lenght 2m at a temperature of 25^oC is heated to 80^oC. Calculate the increase in length of the rod if its linear expansivity is 4.0 x 10^-3K^-1
1. A
  0.44 m
  Correct
2. B
  0.22 m
3. C
  0.66 m
4. D
  0.088 m
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Answer: A
Linear expansion: ΔL = L₀αΔT
ΔT = 80 − 25 = 55 K
ΔL = 2 × (4.0 × 10⁻³) × 55 = 2 × 0.22 = 0.44 m
7.An ammeter connected to an a.c circuit records 5.5. The peak current in the circuit is
1. A
  3.9 A
2. B
  7.8 A
  Correct
3. C
  5.5 A
4. D
  11.0 A
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Answer: B
An ammeter in an a.c. circuit measures the r.m.s. (root mean square) current.
I_rms = 5.5 A
The relationship between peak and r.m.s. values is: I_peak = I_rms × √2
I_peak = 5.5 × √2 = 5.5 × 1.414 ≈ 7.78 A ≈ 7.8 A
8.A satellite in circular motion around the earth does not have
1. A
  gravitational force
2. B
  centripetal acceleration
3. C
  kinetic energy
4. D
  constant velocity
  Correct
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Answer: D
In circular orbit, the satellite moves at constant speed but its direction changes continuously. Since velocity is a vector (magnitude and direction), a changing direction means the satellite does not have constant velocity. It does have kinetic energy (½mv²), centripetal acceleration directed toward Earth, and gravitational force providing that centripetal force.
9.A body of mass 5kg moving with a velocity of 30ms^-1 due east is suddenly hit by another body and changes its velocity to 50ms^-1 in the same direction. Calculate the magnitude of the impulse received.
1. A
  100 N·s
  Correct
2. B
  250 N·s
3. C
  150 N·s
4. D
  400 N·s
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Answer: A
Impulse = change in momentum = m(v − u)
= 5 × (50 − 30) = 5 × 20 = 100 N·s
Both velocities are in the same direction (east), so the change is straightforward.
10.In which of the following states of matter do the molecules vibrate about their mean positions?
1. A
  Liquid and gas
2. B
  Gas only
3. C
  Liquid only
4. D
  Solid only
  Correct
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Answer: D
In a solid, the molecules are held in fixed equilibrium positions by strong intermolecular forces. They possess sufficient thermal energy to vibrate about these mean positions but cannot change position. In liquids, molecules can flow past each other; in gases, molecules move randomly with high kinetic energy.

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 2009 past questions

WAEC Physics 2009 questions and answers

Practise all 46 questions we hold from the 2009 paper, on a timed CBT screen

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