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Friday, 19 June 2026
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Physics Past Questions and Answers

Waec Physics Questions

Question 1076:
(a) Sketch a diagram of a simple pendulum performing simple harmonic motion and indicate positions of maximum potential energy and kinetic energy.
(b) A body moving with simple harmonic motion in a straight line has velocity, v and acceleration, a, when the instantaneous displacement, x in cm, from its maximum position is given by x = 2.5 sin 0.4 \(\pi t\), where t is in seconds. Determine the magnitude of the maximum (i) veloxity; (ii) acceleration
(c) A mass m attached to a light spiral is caused to perform simple harmonic motion of frequency
f = \(\frac{1}{2 \pi} \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}\), where k is the force constant of the spring.
(i) Explain the physical significance of \(\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}\).
(ii) If m = 0.30 kg, k = 30Nm\(^{-1}\) and the maximum position is 0.015m, calculate the maximum;
(i) kinetic energy
(ii) tension in the spring during the motion [g = 10 ms\(^{-1}\), \(\pi\) = 3.142]
    View Answer & Explanation
    Question 1077:
    (a) Explain specific latent heat
    (b)(i) Describe how the specific latent heat of fusion of ice can be determined by the method of mixtures.
    (ii) State two precautions to be taken to ensure accurate results.
    (c) Steam, at 100°C, is passed into a container of negligible heat capacity containing 20 g of ice and 100 g of water at 0°C, until the ice is completely melted. Determine the total mass of water in the container. [Specific latent heat of steam = 2.3 x 10\(^3\) Jg\(^{-1}\), specific latent heat of ice = 3.4 x 10\(^{2}\) Jg\(^{-1}\), specifit heat capacity of water = 4.2 Jg\(^{-1}\) K\(^{-1}\)]
      View Answer & Explanation
      Question 1078:
      (a) Explain (i) refraction of a wave;
      (ii) critical angle

      (b) State two conditions necessary for (i) total internal reflection of a wave to occur
      (ii) interference wave patterns to be formed

      (c) The distance between two successive crests of a water wave travelling at 3.6ms\(^{-1}\) is 0.45m, calculate the frequency of the wave

      (d) A ray of light is incident at an angle of 30° at an air-glass interface.
      (i) Draw a ray diagram to show the deviation of the ray in the glass.
      (ii) Determine the angle of deviation. [Refractive index of glass = 1.50]
        View Answer & Explanation
        Question 1079:
        (a) (i) Explain (I) electric potential; (II) electric potential energy
        (ii) State the SI unit of each of the term in (a)(i) above
        (b) An isolated electrically charged sphere of radius, r, and charge, Q, is supported on an insulator in air of permitivity, \(\varepsilon_o\). Write down;
        (i) an expression for the electric field intensity on the surface of the sphere;
        (ii) an expression for the electric potential at the surface of the sphere;
        (iii) a relationship between the electric field intensity and the electric potential at the surface of the sphere

        (c) The plates of a parallel plate capacitor, 5.0 x 10\(^{-3}\) m apart are maintained at a potential difference of 5.0 x 10\(^{4}\) V. Calculate the magnitude f the
        (i) electric field intensity between the plates
        (ii) force on the electron
        (iii) acceleration of the elctron
        [electronic charge = 1.60 x 10\(^{-19}\)C, mass of electron = 9.1 \times 10\(^{-31}\) kg]
          View Answer & Explanation
          Question 1080:
          Explain wave-particle paradox
            View Answer & Explanation