WAEC Physics 2017 past questions

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

Ten questions from the 2017 WAEC Physics paper, with answers and explanations. We hold 46 questions from this paper, and the Skolra app has all of them.

WAEC Physics 2017 questions and answers

1.
Ice of mass 50g at 0°C was completely melted by 70% of the total heat energy supplied. Calculate the total heat energy supplied [Specific latent heat of fusion of ice = 336 $Jg^{-1}$ ]
1. A
  24 000 J
  Correct
2. B
  11 760 J
3. C
  16 800 J
4. D
  20 000 J
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Answer: A
Heat needed to melt the ice: Q_melt = mL = 50 g × 336 J g⁻¹ = 16 800 J
Since 16 800 J represents only 70% of the total heat supplied:
Q_total = 16 800 / 0.70 = 24 000 J
2.
A body accelerates uniformly from rest at 2 $ms^{-2}$ . Calculate its velocity when it has travelled a distance of 9m.
1. A
  9 m s⁻¹
2. B
  6 m s⁻¹
  Correct
3. C
  3 m s⁻¹
4. D
  12 m s⁻¹
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Answer: B
Using the kinematic equation: v² = u² + 2as
Given: u = 0 (starts from rest), a = 2 m s⁻², s = 9 m
v² = 0 + 2 × 2 × 9 = 36
v = √36 = 6 m s⁻¹
3.
Consider the wave equation: $y = 10sin(x - 50t)$ , What does the number 10 represent?
1. A
  angular wave number
2. B
  frequency of the wave
3. C
  phase velocity
4. D
  amplitude of the wave
  Correct
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Answer: D
In the general wave equation y = A sin(kx − ωt), the coefficient A in front of the sine function is the amplitude — the maximum displacement from the equilibrium position. For y = 10 sin(x − 50t), the number 10 is the amplitude of the wave.
4.
The nucleon number of an atom is the total number of
1. A
  protons and neutrons in the nucleus
  Correct
2. B
  neutrons only in the nucleus
3. C
  electrons and protons in the atom
4. D
  protons only in the nucleus
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Answer: A
The nucleon number (mass number, A) is the total count of protons and neutrons in the atomic nucleus. Electrons orbit outside the nucleus and are not nucleons.
5.
The main reason why a.c. is transmitted at very high voltage and low current is that
1. A
  the power output at the generating station is increased
2. B
  the frequency of the supply is kept constant
3. C
  more current can be generated at the power station
4. D
  power loss in the transmission lines is minimised
  Correct
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Answer: D
Power loss in a transmission cable = I²R. For a fixed power P = IV, transmitting at high voltage V reduces the current I. Since loss ∝ I², the heat dissipated in the cables is greatly reduced, making transmission more efficient.
6.
A body can undergo the following types of motion except
1. A
  Translational motion
2. B
  Oscillatory motion
3. C
  Static motion
  Correct
4. D
  Rotational motion
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Answer: C
Static motion is not a recognised type of motion. A body that is static (at rest) is not moving, so it cannot undergo 'static motion'. The recognised types of motion include translational, rotational, and oscillatory (vibratory) motion, among others. A body can undergo any of these but cannot 'undergo' a state of rest.
7.
A particle is projected horizontally at 15ms $^{-1}$ from a height of 20m. Calculate the horizontal distance covered by the particle just before hitting the ground. [g= 10ms $^{-2}$ ]
1. A
  15 m
2. B
  60 m
3. C
  20 m
4. D
  30 m
  Correct
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Answer: D
Step 1 — Find the time to fall height h = 20 m:
h = ½gt² → 20 = ½ × 10 × t² → t² = 4 → t = 2 s
Step 2 — Horizontal distance (no air resistance, horizontal velocity constant):
x = v_x × t = 15 × 2 = 30 m
8.
A ray of light incident at an angle $\theta$ in a rectangular prism grazes the surface of the prism on emerging from the prism. Determine the value of the angle. [Absolute refractive index of the material of the prism is 1.5]
1. A
  48.2°
2. B
  28.1°
3. C
  41.8°
  Correct
4. D
  60.0°
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Answer: C
When the ray inside the prism hits the surface and the refracted ray just grazes along the surface (angle of refraction = 90°), the internal angle equals the critical angle C.
Applying Snell's law at the surface:
n sin C = 1 × sin 90° = 1
sin C = 1/n = 1/1.5 = 2/3
C = sin⁻¹(2/3) ≈ 41.8°
9.
The maximum density of water occurs at a temperature of
1. A
  0°C
2. B
  4°C
  Correct
3. C
  100°C
4. D
  −4°C
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Answer: B
Water exhibits anomalous expansion: its density increases as temperature rises from 0°C to 4°C (maximum density ≈ 1000 kg m⁻³), then decreases above 4°C. This property is critical for aquatic ecosystems — water at the bottom of a freezing lake stays at 4°C, protecting aquatic life.
10.
Which of the following devices converts light energy to electrical energy?
1. A
  photovoltaic cell
  Correct
2. B
  electrolytic cell
3. C
  electric motor
4. D
  thermocouple
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Answer: A
A photovoltaic cell (solar cell) converts light energy (photons) directly into electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect. When photons strike the semiconductor junction, they excite electrons, generating a potential difference and hence an electric current.

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 2017 past questions

WAEC Physics 2017 questions and answers

Practise all 46 questions we hold from the 2017 paper, on a timed CBT screen

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