WAEC Physics 2014 past questions
Ten questions from the 2014 WAEC Physics paper, with answers and explanations. We hold 44 questions from this paper, and the Skolra app has all of them.
WAEC Physics 2014 questions and answers
-
1.Which of the following are true of plane-polarised right? i. Plane polarisation of light is the formation of hydrogen bubbles on the particle of light. ii. Plane components. iii. A plane polarised light vibrates in one plane. iv. Polarisation of light is characteristic of transverse vibration
- Aiii and iv onlyCorrect
- Bi and ii only
- Ci and iv only
- Dii and iii only
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A
Statement iii is correct: plane polarised light vibrates in one plane only. Statement iv is correct: polarisation is a characteristic of transverse waves only — longitudinal waves cannot be polarised. Statement i is false (polarisation has nothing to do with hydrogen bubbles), and statement ii is incomplete as given.
- A
-
2.The knowledge of surface tension is applied in the following areas except in
- Adesigning water-proof materials
- Bcalculating the pressure exerted by a gasCorrect
- Cexplaining flow of liquid in capillary tubes
- Dapplication of antiseptic lotions
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B
Surface tension is applied in: making waterproof materials (fabrics), spreading of antiseptic lotions, capillary action in plants and tubes, formation of spherical drops, and detergent action. The pressure of a gas is governed by kinetic theory and gas laws, not by surface tension.
- A
-
3.In an ac circuit when the supply voltage frequency is equal to the resonant frequency, the current
- Ais minimum
- Bis maximumCorrect
- Cis zero
- Dlags the voltage by 90°
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B
At the resonant frequency, XL = XC, so the reactances cancel. The impedance becomes equal to the resistance alone: Z = R. Since Z is at its minimum, the current I = V / Z = V / R is at its maximum. Also, current and voltage are in phase at resonance.
- A
-
4.Which of the following statements is the major advantage of nuclear fusion over nuclear fission?
- AFusion can be controlled more easily than fission
- BFusion does not produce long-lived radioactive wasteCorrect
- CFusion releases more energy per reaction than fission
- DFusion requires lower temperatures than fission
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B
The major advantage of nuclear fusion over nuclear fission is that fusion does not produce dangerous long-lived radioactive waste. In fission, splitting heavy nuclei (e.g. uranium) creates highly radioactive fragments that remain hazardous for thousands of years. Fusion of light nuclei (e.g. hydrogen isotopes) produces mainly stable helium, making it a far cleaner energy source.
- A
-
5.The temperature at which the water vapour in the air saturates the air and begins to condense is known as
- Aboiling point
- Btriple point
- Cdew pointCorrect
- Dmelting point
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C
The dew point is the temperature at which the water vapour present in the air becomes saturated and begins to condense (form dew or fog). Below the dew point, excess moisture condenses out of the air onto surfaces.
- A
-
6.A wire of length 100 cm has a resistance of 10. If its cross-sectional area is 0.005cm2, determine its resistivity
- A5.0 × 10⁻⁸ Ωm
- B2.0 × 10⁻⁶ Ωm
- C5.0 × 10⁻⁴ Ωm
- D5.0 × 10⁻⁶ ΩmCorrect
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D
Resistivity formula: ρ = RA / L
Convert units: L = 100 cm = 1 m; A = 0.005 cm2 = 0.005 × 10−4 m2 = 5 × 10−7 m2
ρ = 10 × (5 × 10−7) / 1 = 5.0 × 10−6 Ωm - A
-
7.Alcohol of mass 21g and density 0.7g cm-3 is mixed with 10g of water. Determine the density of the mixture [density of water = 1.0gcm-3]
- A0.700 gcm⁻³
- B0.775 gcm⁻³Correct
- C0.800 gcm⁻³
- D0.875 gcm⁻³
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B
Volume of alcohol = mass/density = 21/0.7 = 30 cm³
Volume of water = 10/1.0 = 10 cm³
Total mass = 21 + 10 = 31 g; Total volume = 30 + 10 = 40 cm³
Density of mixture = 31/40 = 0.775 gcm⁻³
- A
-
8.an observer hears an echo 1.26 seconds after blowing a whistle near a cliff. calculate the distance of the observer from the cliff. [speed of sound in air = 330ms-1]
- A103.95 m
- B330.0 m
- C415.8 m
- D207.9 mCorrect
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D
The distance to the cliff is found using: d = v × t / 2
where v = 330 m/s and t = 1.26 s (total time for sound to travel to the cliff and back).
d = 330 × 1.26 / 2 = 330 × 0.63 = 207.9 m
The factor of 2 accounts for the sound travelling to the cliff and then returning to the observer. - A
-
9.A 15 capacitor is connected to a 240V, 50Hz ac. source. Calculate the reactance of the capacitance []
- A106 Ω
- B212 ΩCorrect
- C424 Ω
- D636 Ω
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B
Capacitive reactance: XC = 1 / (2πfC)
XC = 1 / (2 × 3.142 × 50 × 15 × 10−6)
= 1 / (2 × 3.142 × 50 × 0.000015)
= 1 / (0.004713)
≈ 212 Ω - A
-
10.The quality of a note depends on its
- Afrequency of the note
- Bwaveform (overtones present)Correct
- Camplitude of the note
- Dwavelength of the note
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B
The quality (timbre) of a musical note depends on the waveform, which is determined by the number and relative intensity of the overtones (harmonics) present alongside the fundamental frequency. Amplitude determines loudness, frequency determines pitch, and wavelength is determined by frequency and medium speed.
- 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 44 questions we hold from the 2014 paper, on a timed CBT screen
Every question has the answer and an explanation, in the Skolra app.