WAEC Physics 2010 past questions

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

Ten questions from the 2010 WAEC Physics paper, with answers and explanations. We hold 48 questions from this paper, and the Skolra app has all of them.

WAEC Physics 2010 questions and answers

1.In the wiring of houses, the fuse is connected to the wire coloured
1. A
  green
2. B
  blue
3. C
  red
  Correct
4. D
  black
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Answer: C
In Nigerian/British house-wiring convention, the live (phase) wire is coloured red (or brown in the updated code). The fuse is always connected in series with the live wire to break the circuit on overload and protect the appliance. Connecting the fuse to the neutral wire (black) would leave the appliance live even when the fuse blows.
2.Which of the following instruments is best for measuring the diameter of a thin constantan wire?
1. A
  Metre rule
2. B
  Tape measure
3. C
  Micrometer screw gauge
  Correct
4. D
  Vernier callipers
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Answer: C
A micrometer screw gauge has a precision of 0.01 mm, making it ideal for measuring very small diameters such as that of a thin wire. Vernier callipers are less precise (0.1 mm) and a metre rule cannot measure such small dimensions accurately.
3.Eddy currents can be reduced by
1. A
  increasing the supply voltage
2. B
  laminating the iron core
  Correct
3. C
  reducing the number of coil turns
4. D
  using a thick solid iron core
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Answer: B
Eddy currents are induced in the bulk of a conducting core. Laminating the core — stacking thin iron sheets separated by insulating varnish — restricts the path of eddy currents to each thin layer, dramatically reducing their magnitude (and therefore the energy wasted as heat). A thick solid core has large closed loops, maximising eddy-current losses.
4.A certain wave has a speed of 20 m s^-1. If the frequency of the wave is 0.25Hz, calculate the distance between successive crests of the wave
1. A
  20 m
2. B
  40 m
3. C
  5 m
4. D
  80 m
  Correct
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Answer: D
The distance between successive crests equals the wavelength.
Using v = fλ: λ = v/f = 20 / 0.25 = 80 m.
5.
The pressure P, volume V, and absolute temperature T of a given mass of an ideal gas change simultaneously. Which of the following equations is correct about the gas?
1. A
  P/T = constant
2. B
  PV = constant
3. C
  V/T = constant
4. D
  PV/T = constant
  Correct
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Answer: D
When pressure, volume, and temperature all change simultaneously for a fixed mass of ideal gas, the combined gas law applies:
PV/T = constant, or equivalently P₁V₁/T₁ = P₂V₂/T₂.
6.What is the density of a fuel of relative density 0.72? [Density of water = 1000kg m^-3]
1. A
  72 kg m⁻³
2. B
  720 kg m⁻³
  Correct
3. C
  7200 kg m⁻³
4. D
  0.72 kg m⁻³
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Answer: B
Relative density = density of substance ÷ density of water.
ρ_fuel = relative density × ρ_water = 0.72 × 1000 = 720 kg m⁻³.
7.A ray of light travels from air to water. The refractive index of water is given by the expression
1. A
  ratio of sine of angle of refraction to sine of angle of incidence
2. B
  ratio of sine of angle of incidence to sine of angle of refraction
  Correct
3. C
  ratio of wavelength in water to wavelength in air
4. D
  ratio of speed of light in water to speed of light in air
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Answer: B
By Snell's law, the refractive index of water (with respect to air) is:
n = sin i / sin r, where i is the angle of incidence in air and r is the angle of refraction in water. Since water is optically denser, r < i and n > 1.
8.A galvanometer of internal resistance 50 $\Omega$ and full scale deflection of 20 mA is converted into a voltmeter by connecting a resistor of resistance 1950 $\Omega$ in series to it. Calculate the maximum voltage that can be read by the voltmeter
1. A
  2 V
2. B
  39 V
3. C
  40 V
  Correct
4. D
  20 V
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Answer: C
The voltmeter uses the full circuit resistance (galvanometer + series resistor):
V = I_max × (R_g + R_s)
V = 20 × 10⁻³ A × (50 Ω + 1950 Ω)
V = 20 × 10⁻³ × 2000 = 40 V
9.Dew point is not affected by
1. A
  temperature of the surrounding air
  Correct
2. B
  altitude above sea level
3. C
  amount of water vapour in the atmosphere
4. D
  atmospheric pressure
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Answer: A
The dew point is determined by the absolute moisture content (partial pressure of water vapour) of the air. Changing the air temperature alone — without adding or removing water vapour — does not change the dew point; it only changes the relative humidity.
10.Which of the following statements about moving particle is correct?
1. A
  A particle moving in a circle at constant speed has zero acceleration
2. B
  A particle moving with constant velocity has zero acceleration
  Correct
3. C
  A particle moving with constant speed necessarily has zero acceleration
4. D
  A particle with uniformly increasing speed always moves in a straight line
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Answer: B
Constant velocity means both speed and direction are unchanged, so the rate of change of velocity is zero, giving zero acceleration. Options C and A are false because circular motion involves changing direction and therefore centripetal acceleration, even at constant speed.

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 2010 past questions

WAEC Physics 2010 questions and answers

Practise all 48 questions we hold from the 2010 paper, on a timed CBT screen

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