WEST AFRICAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL (WAEC) GCE STYLE

2026 PHYSICS MOCK EXAMINATION

Objective and Essay (Theory) Questions and Answers

Independently Produced Practice Paper for Revision Purposes

This is a 100% original mock examination prepared strictly with reference to the current WAEC GCE Physics syllabus for practice purposes. It is not a WAEC GCE past question paper, it does not reproduce any official WAEC document, and it does not claim to predict or represent the actual WAEC examination in any way.

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General Instructions

1. This paper consists of two sections: Section A (Objective) and Section B (Essay).

2. Section A contains 60 objective questions. Answer ALL questions. Time: 40 minutes.

3. Section B contains 6 essay questions. Answer any FOUR (4) questions. Time: 1 hour 40 minutes.

4. Total marks obtainable: 100 (60 marks for Section A and 40 marks for Section B).

5. Take the acceleration due to gravity, g, as 10 m/s² unless otherwise stated. Write clearly and number your answers correctly.

SECTION A: OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS (60 MARKS)

Answer ALL questions. Each question carries 1 mark. Choose the correct option A, B, C or D.

1. Physics can best be defined as the branch of science that deals with

A. living organisms and their interactions

B. matter, energy, and their interactions

C. the composition and reactions of substances

D. the classification of plants and animals

2. The SI unit of length is the

A. metre

B. kilogram

C. second

D. kelvin

3. The SI unit of mass is the

A. metre

B. kilogram

C. newton

D. second

4. The SI unit of time is the

A. metre

B. second

C. kilogram

D. ampere

5. The SI unit of force is the

A. joule

B. watt

C. newton

D. pascal

6. The SI unit of energy is the

A. newton

B. joule

C. watt

D. pascal

7. The SI unit of power is the

A. joule

B. newton

C. watt

D. volt

8. Which of the following is a scalar quantity?

A. Velocity

B. Force

C. Mass

D. Acceleration

9. Which of the following is a vector quantity?

A. Mass

B. Time

C. Velocity

D. Energy

10. Speed is defined as

A. distance covered per unit time

B. the rate of change of velocity

C. force applied per unit area

D. mass per unit volume

11. Velocity is best described as

A. speed only

B. the rate of change of displacement in a specified direction

C. distance covered without direction

D. acceleration in a straight line

12. Acceleration is defined as

A. distance covered per unit time

B. the rate of change of velocity with time

C. force applied to a body

D. mass multiplied by velocity

13. A car travels at a constant speed of 20 m/s for 5 seconds. Calculate the distance covered.

A. 25 m

B. 50 m

C. 100 m

D. 200 m

14. A body starts from rest and accelerates uniformly at 2 m/s² for 5 seconds. Calculate its final velocity.

A. 5 m/s

B. 7 m/s

C. 10 m/s

D. 20 m/s

15. Newton’s First Law of Motion states that a body will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless

A. it is heated

B. acted upon by an external unbalanced force

C. its mass changes

D. it loses energy

16. Newton’s Second Law of Motion is summarised by the equation

A. F = ma

B. F = mv

C. F = m/a

D. F = m + a

17. A resultant force of 15 N acts on a mass of 5 kg. Calculate the acceleration produced.

A. 1 m/s²

B. 3 m/s²

C. 5 m/s²

D. 75 m/s²

18. Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that

A. force equals mass times acceleration

B. for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction

C. energy cannot be created or destroyed

D. momentum is always conserved in a closed system

19. Momentum is defined as the product of

A. mass and acceleration

B. mass and velocity

C. force and time

D. force and distance

20. Calculate the momentum of a body of mass 2 kg moving with a velocity of 5 m/s.

A. 2.5 kg m/s

B. 7 kg m/s

C. 10 kg m/s

D. 25 kg m/s

21. The Law of Conservation of Momentum states that, in the absence of external forces, the total momentum of a system

A. always increases

B. always decreases

C. remains constant

D. becomes zero

22. Work done is calculated using the formula

A. Work = Force × Distance moved in the direction of the force

B. Work = Mass × Velocity

C. Work = Force / Distance

D. Work = Mass × Acceleration

23. Calculate the work done when a force of 10 N moves an object through a distance of 4 m.

A. 2.5 J

B. 14 J

C. 40 J

D. 400 J

24. Power is defined as

A. the rate at which work is done

B. the product of force and distance

C. the total energy stored in a body

D. the mass of a body per unit volume

25. Calculate the power developed when 100 J of work is done in 5 seconds.

A. 5 W

B. 20 W

C. 105 W

D. 500 W

26. The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy

A. can be created but not destroyed

B. can be destroyed but not created

C. cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another

D. always increases in a closed system

27. The kinetic energy of a moving body is given by the formula

A. KE = mgh

B. KE = ½ mv²

C. KE = Fd

D. KE = mv

28. Calculate the kinetic energy of a body of mass 2 kg moving with a velocity of 3 m/s.

A. 3 J

B. 6 J

C. 9 J

D. 18 J

29. The potential energy of a body due to its position above the ground is given by the formula

A. PE = ½ mv²

B. PE = mgh

C. PE = Fd

D. PE = mv

30. Calculate the potential energy of a 2 kg body raised to a height of 5 m above the ground. (g = 10 m/s²)

A. 10 J

B. 50 J

C. 100 J

D. 200 J

31. Density is defined as

A. mass per unit volume

B. volume per unit mass

C. force per unit area

D. weight per unit volume

32. Calculate the density of a substance with a mass of 50 g and a volume of 10 cm³.

A. 0.2 g/cm³

B. 2 g/cm³

C. 5 g/cm³

D. 500 g/cm³

33. Pressure is defined as

A. force per unit area

B. mass per unit area

C. force per unit volume

D. energy per unit time

34. The SI unit of pressure is the

A. newton

B. joule

C. pascal

D. watt

35. Archimedes’ Principle states that when a body is wholly or partially immersed in a fluid, it experiences an upthrust equal to

A. the weight of the body

B. the weight of fluid displaced by the body

C. the volume of the body

D. the density of the fluid

36. Boyle’s Law states that, at constant temperature, the pressure of a fixed mass of gas is

A. directly proportional to its volume

B. inversely proportional to its volume

C. equal to its volume

D. independent of its volume

37. The equation P₁V₁ = P₂V₂, relating the pressure and volume of a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature, is a statement of

A. Charles’s Law

B. Boyle’s Law

C. Pascal’s Law

D. Archimedes’ Principle

38. Charles’s Law states that, at constant pressure, the volume of a fixed mass of gas is

A. inversely proportional to its absolute temperature

B. directly proportional to its absolute temperature

C. independent of its temperature

D. equal to its temperature

39. In a simple machine, mechanical advantage is defined as

A. load / effort

B. effort / load

C. distance moved by effort / distance moved by load

D. output energy / input energy

40. In a simple machine, velocity ratio is defined as

A. load / effort

B. distance moved by the effort / distance moved by the load

C. output energy / input energy

D. effort / distance moved by load

41. The efficiency of a machine is calculated as

A. (mechanical advantage / velocity ratio) × 100%

B. (velocity ratio / mechanical advantage) × 100%

C. mechanical advantage × velocity ratio

D. load × effort

42. The relationship between the speed, frequency and wavelength of a wave is given by

A. v = f / λ

B. v = fλ

C. v = f + λ

D. v = f – λ

43. Calculate the speed of a wave with a frequency of 50 Hz and a wavelength of 2 m.

A. 25 m/s

B. 48 m/s

C. 52 m/s

D. 100 m/s

44. The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is

A. always greater than the angle of reflection

B. always less than the angle of reflection

C. equal to the angle of reflection

D. independent of the angle of reflection

45. The bending of light as it passes from one optical medium to another of different density is called

A. reflection

B. refraction

C. diffraction

D. dispersion

46. A curved mirror that converges (brings together) parallel rays of light to a focal point is called a

A. convex mirror

B. concave mirror

C. plane mirror

D. diverging mirror

47. A lens that is thicker at the centre than at the edges, and which converges light rays, is called a

A. concave lens

B. convex lens

C. plane lens

D. diverging lens

48. The SI unit of electric current is the

A. volt

B. ohm

C. ampere

D. coulomb

49. The SI unit of electromotive force (voltage) is the

A. ampere

B. volt

C. ohm

D. watt

50. The SI unit of electrical resistance is the

A. ampere

B. volt

C. ohm

D. coulomb

51. Ohm’s Law states that, at constant temperature, the current flowing through a conductor is

A. inversely proportional to the voltage across it

B. directly proportional to the voltage across it

C. equal to the voltage across it

D. independent of the voltage across it

52. Calculate the resistance of a conductor if a voltage of 12 V produces a current of 2 A through it.

A. 2 Ω

B. 6 Ω

C. 10 Ω

D. 24 Ω

53. For resistors connected in series, the total (equivalent) resistance is

A. less than the smallest individual resistance

B. equal to the sum of the individual resistances

C. equal to the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals

D. always zero

54. For resistors connected in parallel, the reciprocal of the total (equivalent) resistance is equal to

A. the sum of the individual resistances

B. the sum of the reciprocals of the individual resistances

C. the product of the individual resistances

D. the difference between the individual resistances

55. Outside a bar magnet, magnetic field lines are conventionally drawn as running from the

A. south pole to the north pole

B. north pole to the south pole

C. centre of the magnet outward in all directions

D. south pole back into the south pole

56. The production of an electromotive force (voltage) in a conductor due to a changing magnetic field is called

A. electrostatics

B. electromagnetic induction

C. electrolysis

D. magnetisation

57. The transfer of heat through a substance by the direct passage of energy from particle to particle, typically in solids, is called

A. convection

B. conduction

C. radiation

D. insulation

58. The transfer of heat through fluids (liquids and gases) by the actual movement of the heated particles is called

A. conduction

B. convection

C. radiation

D. reflection

59. The transfer of heat energy through space without the need for a material medium is called

A. conduction

B. convection

C. radiation

D. insulation

60. The time taken for half of the atoms in a given sample of a radioactive substance to decay is called its

A. decay constant

B. half-life

C. activity

D. mass defect

SECTION A MARKING GUIDE: OBJECTIVE ANSWER KEY

Each correct answer carries 1 mark. Total = 60 marks.

Q	Ans	Q	Ans	Q	Ans	Q	Ans
1	B	16	A	31	A	46	B
2	A	17	B	32	C	47	B
3	B	18	B	33	A	48	C
4	B	19	B	34	C	49	B
5	C	20	C	35	B	50	C
6	B	21	C	36	B	51	B
7	C	22	A	37	B	52	B
8	C	23	C	38	B	53	B
9	C	24	A	39	A	54	B
10	A	25	B	40	B	55	B
11	B	26	C	41	A	56	B
12	B	27	B	42	B	57	B
13	C	28	C	43	D	58	B
14	C	29	B	44	C	59	C
15	B	30	C	45	B	60	B

SECTION B: ESSAY QUESTIONS (40 MARKS)

Answer any FOUR (4) questions only. Each question carries 10 marks.

1. (a) State Newton’s three laws of motion. (6 marks)

(b) A resultant force of 20 N acts on a body of mass 4 kg, initially at rest. Calculate (i) the acceleration produced, (ii) the velocity of the body after 3 seconds. (4 marks)

2. (a) Define work, energy and power, stating the SI unit of each. (6 marks)

(b) A machine does 500 J of work in 25 seconds. Calculate the power developed by the machine. (4 marks)

3. (a) State Boyle’s Law and Charles’s Law for a fixed mass of gas. (4 marks)

(b) A fixed mass of gas occupies a volume of 6 dm3 at a pressure of 2 atm. Calculate the new volume of the gas if the pressure is increased to 4 atm, assuming the temperature remains constant. (6 marks)

4. (a) State the laws of reflection of light. (4 marks)

(b) Distinguish between a concave mirror and a convex mirror, and state one use of each. (6 marks)

5. (a) State Ohm’s Law. (2 marks)

(b) Two resistors of 4 Ω and 6 Ω are connected (i) in series, and (ii) in parallel. Calculate the effective (total) resistance in each case. (8 marks)

6. (a) Distinguish between conduction, convection and radiation as methods of heat transfer, and state the type of medium (if any) required for each. (6 marks)

(b) Explain, using the concept of convection, how a simple land breeze or sea breeze is formed. (4 marks)

SECTION B MARKING GUIDE (ESSAY)

Each question carries 10 marks. Award marks as guided below for correct method and accurate final answers, giving credit for any equally valid method not shown.

Question 1

(a) Newton’s Laws (2 marks each): First Law (Law of Inertia): A body remains at rest, or continues to move with uniform velocity in a straight line, unless acted upon by an external unbalanced (net) force. Second Law: The rate of change of momentum of a body is directly proportional to the resultant force acting on it, and takes place in the direction of the force; for constant mass, this gives F = ma. Third Law: For every action (force), there is an equal and opposite reaction (force).

(b)(i) Using F = ma: a = F / m = 20 / 4 = 5 m/s² (2 marks).

(ii) Using v = u + at, with u = 0, a = 5 m/s², t = 3 s: v = 0 + (5 × 3) = 15 m/s (2 marks).

Question 2

(a) Definitions and units (2 marks each): Work is done when a force moves its point of application through a distance in the direction of the force; Work = Force × Distance; SI unit is the joule (J). Energy is the capacity to do work; SI unit is the joule (J). Power is the rate at which work is done, or the rate of energy transfer; Power = Work done / Time taken; SI unit is the watt (W).

(b) Power = Work done / Time taken = 500 / 25 = 20 W (4 marks for correct substitution and calculation).

Question 3

(a) Boyle’s Law (2 marks): At constant temperature, the pressure of a fixed mass of gas is inversely proportional to its volume; that is, P₁V₁ = P₂V₂. Charles’s Law (2 marks): At constant pressure, the volume of a fixed mass of gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature; that is, V₁/T₁ = V₂/T₂.

(b) Using Boyle’s Law, P₁V₁ = P₂V₂ (2 marks for correctly stating and substituting the formula): (2)(6) = (4)(V₂).

12 = 4V₂ (2 marks for correct rearrangement).

V₂ = 12 / 4 = 3 dm3 (2 marks for the correct final answer).

Question 4

(a) Laws of reflection (2 marks each): (i) The incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal at the point of incidence all lie in the same plane. (ii) The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.

(b) A concave mirror is a curved mirror whose reflecting surface curves inward, causing it to converge parallel rays of light to a focal point; it is used, for example, as a shaving/make-up mirror to produce a magnified image, or in torches and headlamps to produce a parallel beam of light (3 marks). A convex mirror is a curved mirror whose reflecting surface curves outward, causing it to diverge parallel rays of light; it is used, for example, as a rear-view or side mirror in vehicles, and as a security mirror, because it gives a wider field of view (3 marks).

Question 5

(a) Ohm’s Law states that, at constant temperature, the current flowing through a metallic conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference (voltage) across its ends; that is, V = IR, where R is a constant called resistance. (2 marks)

(b)(i) Series connection: Total resistance R = R₁ + R₂ = 4 + 6 = 10 Ω (4 marks for correct formula and calculation).

(ii) Parallel connection: 1/R = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ = 1/4 + 1/6 = 3/12 + 2/12 = 5/12 (2 marks for correct setup).

R = 12/5 = 2.4 Ω (2 marks for correct final answer).

Question 6

(a) Conduction is the transfer of heat energy through a substance, typically a solid, by the direct passage of energy from particle to particle without the bulk movement of the material itself; it requires a material medium (2 marks). Convection is the transfer of heat through fluids (liquids and gases) by the actual bulk movement of the heated particles from one region to another; it requires a fluid medium (2 marks). Radiation is the transfer of heat energy in the form of electromagnetic waves, and does not require any material medium, as it can travel through a vacuum (2 marks).

(b) During the day, the land heats up faster than the sea; the air above the land becomes warmer, less dense, and rises, creating a region of lower pressure near the land surface, while cooler, denser air from over the sea moves in to replace it near ground level, creating a sea breeze blowing from the sea towards the land (2 marks). At night, the land cools faster than the sea; the air above the sea remains relatively warmer and rises, so cooler air from over the land now flows out towards the sea near ground level, creating a land breeze blowing from the land towards the sea (2 marks).

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