Answer all parts. Show all necessary workings.
1. (a) Define the following terms:
(i) scalar quantity
(ii) vector quantity
Give two examples of each.
(b) A body moves with uniform acceleration. If its initial velocity is 5 m/s and it attains a
velocity of 25 m/s in 4 seconds, find:
(i) its acceleration
(ii) the distance covered in that time
(c) State two differences between longitudinal and transverse waves.
SECTION B (Answer Any THREE – 30 marks)
2. (a) State Newton’s laws of motion.
(b) A car of mass 1,200 kg is accelerated uniformly from rest to a speed of 25 m/s in 20 s.
Calculate:
(i) the acceleration
(ii) the net force applied
(iii) the distance covered
3. (a) Explain the term “latent heat of fusion.”
(b) A block of ice of mass 0.5 kg at 0°C is completely melted by an electric heater rated 500
W in 3 minutes.
Calculate the specific latent heat of fusion of ice.
4. (a) Describe with the aid of a diagram how a concave mirror can be used to produce a real
image.
(b) An object is placed 10 cm in front of a concave mirror of focal length 15 cm.
Calculate:
(i) the image distance
(ii) the magnification
(iii) the nature of the image
5. (a) Define resistivity.
(b) A copper wire of length 2 m and cross-sectional area 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ m² has a resistance of
0.034 Ω.
Calculate the resistivity of copper.
(c) State two factors that affect the resistance of a wire.
6. (a) State the laws of electromagnetic induction.
(b) Explain how a simple AC generator works.
(c) Sketch a waveform for alternating current and label the axes correctly.
📗 WASSCE PHYSICS PAPER 1 (Objective)
Time Allowed: 50 minutes
Answer all questions. Choose the best option A – D.
1. Which of the following is not a vector quantity?
A. Force
B. Acceleration
C. Mass
D. Displacement
2. The unit of power is:
A. Newton
B. Joule
C. Watt
D. Ampere
3. A car travels 100 km in 2 hours. Its average speed is:
A. 25 km/h
B. 50 km/h
C. 100 km/h
D. 200 km/h
4. The force of attraction between two masses is called:
A. friction
B. gravity
C. inertia
D. tension
5. Which instrument is used to measure atmospheric pressure?
A. Hygrometer
B. Thermometer
C. Barometer
D. Manometer
6. What is the purpose of using a fuse in electrical circuits?
A. To prevent lightning
B. To control voltage
C. To protect appliances from excess current
D. To regulate power output
7. A transformer is used to:
A. measure electric current
B. store electric charge
C. convert AC to DC
D. step up or step down voltage
8. The speed of sound in air at room temperature is approximately:
A. 300 m/s
B. 340 m/s
C. 1000 m/s
D. 1500 m/s
9. Which of the following is NOT an electromagnetic wave?
A. X-ray
B. Sound wave
C. Infrared
D. Radio wave
10. Ohm's Law relates voltage, current, and:
A. power
B. resistance
C. energy
D. charge
11. A physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction is called:
A. a scale
B. a scalar
C. a vector
D. a unit
12. Which of the following quantities is NOT a derived unit?
A. Newton
B. Joule
C. Metre
D. Watt
13. A simple pendulum makes 60 oscillations in 30 seconds. What is its frequency?
A. 0.5 Hz
B. 1 Hz
C. 2 Hz
D. 3 Hz
14. The slope of a velocity-time graph represents:
A. distance
B. speed
C. acceleration
D. momentum
15. A man exerts a force of 50 N over a distance of 4 m. The work done is:
A. 12.5 J
B. 200 J
C. 100 J
D. 800 J
16. Pressure in a liquid increases with:
A. temperature
B. depth
C. density
D. both B and C
17. Heat transfer through a vacuum occurs by:
A. conduction
B. convection
C. radiation
D. expansion
18. A metal expands when heated because:
A. its molecules decrease in size
B. it gains electrons
C. its molecules vibrate faster and move apart
D. it changes state
19. A thermometric property is:
A. a constant temperature
B. any property that varies linearly with temperature
C. a fixed point
D. a degree scale
20. In gases, pressure is caused by:
A. the weight of the gas
B. random motion of particles hitting the container walls
C. temperature differences
D. volume of the gas
21. The primary colours of light are:
A. red, green, yellow
B. red, blue, green
C. blue, white, yellow
D. red, violet, indigo
22. In a pinhole camera, the image formed is always:
A. upright and magnified
B. inverted and real
C. virtual and upright
D. upright and real
23. Which of the following materials is a good conductor of electricity?
A. Glass
B. Wood
C. Copper
D. Rubber
24. A lens that is thicker at the center than at the edges is called:
A. concave
B. convex
C. cylindrical
D. diverging
25. Total internal reflection occurs when light:
A. travels from air into water
B. passes through a vacuum
C. travels from a denser to a rarer medium at a large angle
D. hits a concave mirror
26. A sound wave is:
A. transverse
B. electromagnetic
C. longitudinal
D. digital
27. The pitch of a sound depends on:
A. amplitude
B. wavelength
C. frequency
D. energy
28. Ohm’s Law is valid only when:
A. current is zero
B. resistance is zero
C. temperature is constant
D. voltage is zero
29. What is the SI unit of electric charge?
A. Ampere
B. Coulomb
C. Watt
D. Ohm
30. The function of a diode is to:
A. amplify current
B. store charge
C. allow current to flow in one direction only
D. reduce voltage
31. An electric bell operates on the principle of:
A. heating
B. electromagnetic induction
C. magnetism
D. electrostatics
32. In a parallel circuit, the total resistance is:
A. equal to the sum of individual resistances
B. greater than any single resistance
C. less than the smallest resistance
D. equal to the average resistance
33. An ammeter is always connected in:
A. series
B. parallel
C. both series and parallel
D. across the power supply
34. A transformer works only with:
A. direct current
B. alternating current
C. both A and B
D. batteries
35. Which device converts mechanical energy into electrical energy?
A. Electric motor
B. Dynamo
C. Transformer
D. Diode
36. Which particle is found in the nucleus of an atom?
A. Electron
B. Positron
C. Neutron
D. Photon
37. The mass number of an atom is the sum of:
A. protons and electrons
B. electrons and neutrons
C. protons and neutrons
D. protons only
38. A radioactive substance emits radiation because:
A. its nucleus is unstable
B. it absorbs heat
C. it reacts with air
D. it is exposed to sunlight
39. Which of these is not a type of radioactive decay?
A. Alpha
B. Beta
C. Gamma
D. Delta
40. Which of the following is used in carbon dating?
A. Uranium-238
B. Carbon-14
C. Radium
D. Plutonium
41. The half-life of a substance is:
A. the time it takes to decay completely
B. the time it takes to double in quantity
C. the time taken for half of the substance to decay
D. its age
42. The unit of energy is:
A. Volt
B. Ampere
C. Watt
D. Joule
43. Which of these is NOT a form of energy?
A. Heat
B. Light
C. Friction
D. Sound
44. A ball is dropped from a height. Its potential energy is maximum:
A. just before hitting the ground
B. midway through the fall
C. at the top
D. after hitting the ground
45. A satellite in orbit is maintained by:
A. frictional force
B. gravitational force
C. magnetic force
D. nuclear force
46. Which of the following is an SI base unit?
A. Joule
B. Ohm
C. Kilogram
D. Newton
47. Temperature can be measured in:
A. meters
B. pascals
C. kelvin
D. amperes
48. A body will float in a liquid if:
A. its mass is greater than the liquid
B. its weight equals the upthrust
C. it is completely immersed
D. the liquid is water
49. Which of the following materials is most elastic?
A. Clay
B. Glass
C. Steel
D. Rubber
50. In a vacuum, all electromagnetic waves travel at:
A. different speeds
B. 3 × 10⁸ m/s
C. 1500 m/s
D. 300 m/s
