50 Objective Questions, 5 Theory Questions, and Full Solutions
Introduction
Physics is one of the three core Science subjects for WAEC 2026/2027 WASSCE candidates on the Science track. It is also one of the most rewarding subjects to do well in because the skills it builds, logical thinking, quantitative problem-solving, and careful observation, serve students well in university and beyond. Scoring an A in WAEC Physics requires both conceptual understanding and the ability to apply formulas correctly under exam conditions.
The WAEC Physics syllabus covers Mechanics (motion, forces, energy), Heat, Light, Sound (waves), Electricity and Magnetism, and Modern Physics. Every year, questions from these areas dominate both the objective and practical sections. The paper also has an essay or theory component where you must explain phenomena and solve structured problems.
50 Likely WAEC 2026/2027 WAEC 2026/2027 Physics Objective Questions
Each question includes four options. The correct answer is marked with ✅. Study the reasoning behind each correct choice, not just the answer itself.
Q1. A mixture of sand and iodine can be separated by:
A. Sublimation ✅
B. Fractional distillation
C. Crystallisation
D. Distillation
Q2. A body of mass 5 kg is acted upon by a force of 20 N. The acceleration produced is:
A. 0.25 m/s²
B. 4 m/s² ✅
C. 100 m/s²
D. 25 m/s²
Q3. Newton’s first law of motion is also called the law of:
A. Acceleration
B. Action and reaction
C. Inertia ✅
D. Gravitation
Q4. The SI unit of force is:
A. Joule
B. Watt
C. Newton ✅
D. Pascal
Q5. Which of the following is a scalar quantity?
A. Force
B. Velocity
C. Acceleration
D. Speed ✅
Q6. A stone is dropped from a height of 45 m. Calculate the time taken to reach the ground. (g = 10 m/s²)
A. 3 s ✅
B. 4 s
C. 4.5 s
D. 9 s
Q7. Work done is defined as:
A. Force × time
B. Force × distance (in the direction of force) ✅
C. Mass × velocity
D. Power × time
Q8. The unit of electrical resistance is:
A. Ampere
B. Volt
C. Watt
D. Ohm ✅
Q9. According to Ohm’s law, if the voltage across a conductor is 12 V and the current is 4 A, the resistance is:
A. 0.33 Ω
B. 3 Ω ✅
C. 48 Ω
D. 8 Ω
Q10. Which of the following is an example of a transverse wave?
A. Sound in air
B. Light ✅
C. Seismic P-waves
D. Sound in water
Q11. The image formed by a plane mirror is:
A. Real, inverted, same size
B. Virtual, erect, same size ✅
C. Real, erect, magnified
D. Virtual, inverted, diminished
Q12. The boiling point of pure water at standard pressure is:
A. 0°C
B. 37°C
C. 100°C ✅
D. 212°C
Q13. Which phenomenon explains why a stick appears bent when placed in water?
A. Reflection
B. Diffraction
C. Refraction ✅
D. Interference
Q14. The power dissipated in a circuit with current 3 A and resistance 4 Ω is:
A. 12 W
B. 36 W ✅
C. 0.75 W
D. 48 W
Q15. Latent heat is the heat required to:
A. Raise temperature
B. Change the state of a substance without changing its temperature ✅
C. Conduct electricity
D. Lower the boiling point
Q16. Which of the following converts mechanical energy to electrical energy?
A. Electric motor
B. Transformer
C. Generator ✅
D. Battery
Q17. The period of a wave with frequency 50 Hz is:
A. 50 s
B. 0.02 s ✅
C. 5 s
D. 2 s
Q18. Which type of radioactive decay increases the atomic number by one?
A. Alpha decay
B. Beta-minus decay ✅
C. Gamma decay
D. Beta-plus decay
Q19. A concave mirror is also called a:
A. Diverging mirror
B. Convex mirror
C. Converging mirror ✅
D. Plane mirror
Q20. The principle of conservation of energy states that:
A. Energy can be created from nothing
B. Energy can be destroyed under high pressure
C. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another ✅
D. All energy is eventually converted to heat
Q21. Pressure is defined as:
A. Force multiplied by area
B. Force divided by area ✅
C. Mass multiplied by gravity
D. Volume multiplied by force
Q22. An ammeter is connected in a circuit:
A. In parallel with the component
B. In series with the component ✅
C. At the end of the circuit
D. In parallel with the battery
Q23. The distance covered by a body moving at 20 m/s for 5 seconds is:
A. 4 m
B. 25 m
C. 100 m ✅
D. 200 m
Q24. Sound travels fastest in:
A. Vacuum
B. Air
C. Water
D. Steel ✅
Q25. Which law states that the pressure of a fixed mass of gas is inversely proportional to its volume at constant temperature?
A. Charles’s law
B. Boyle’s law ✅
C. Dalton’s law
D. Gay-Lussac’s law
Q26. The half-life of a radioactive element is the time taken for:
A. All its atoms to decay
B. Half of its atoms to decay ✅
C. Its activity to double
D. Its temperature to halve
Q27. The focal length of a convex lens is:
A. Negative
B. Positive ✅
C. Zero
D. Infinite
Q28. Which of the following does NOT affect the resistance of a wire?
A. Length of the wire
B. Material of the wire
C. Cross-sectional area
D. Colour of the wire ✅
Q29. The turning effect of a force about a point is called:
A. Pressure
B. Work
C. Torque or moment ✅
D. Impulse
Q30. Which of the following is correct about a body in equilibrium?
A. It must be at rest
B. The net force and net torque on it are both zero ✅
C. It must be moving at constant speed
D. All forces on it are equal
Q31. An object is thrown horizontally from a cliff. The time of flight depends on:
A. The horizontal speed
B. The mass of the object
C. The height of the cliff ✅
D. The angle of throw
Q32. The efficiency of a machine is given by:
A. (Output / Input) × 100% ✅
B. Input / Output
C. Force × distance
D. Power / time
Q33. Which of the following is an example of forced vibration?
A. A guitar string vibrating after being plucked
B. A tuning fork vibrating in air
C. A bridge vibrating when soldiers march across it ✅
D. A pendulum swinging freely
Q34. Electromagnetic waves require:
A. A material medium to travel
B. No medium to travel ✅
C. Water to propagate
D. A vacuum only
Q35. The velocity of a wave is related to its frequency and wavelength by:
A. v = f / λ
B. v = λ / f
C. v = fλ ✅
D. v = f + λ
Q36. A body moving in a circle at constant speed is said to be in:
A. Linear motion
B. Uniform velocity
C. Uniform circular motion ✅
D. Accelerated linear motion
Q37. Which of the following statements about refraction is correct?
A. Light bends away from the normal when going from less dense to denser medium
B. Light bends toward the normal when going from less dense to denser medium ✅
C. Light speed increases in a denser medium
D. Refraction does not change the direction of light
Q38. The instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure is:
A. Thermometer
B. Manometer
C. Barometer ✅
D. Hydrometer
Q39. Transformer is a device that:
A. Converts DC to AC
B. Converts AC to DC
C. Changes the voltage of an AC supply ✅
D. Produces electrical energy from heat
Q40. Which of these quantities has the unit joule per second?
A. Energy
B. Force
C. Power ✅
D. Momentum
Q41. The critical angle in optics is the angle of incidence that produces:
A. Total refraction
B. An angle of refraction of exactly 90° (along the boundary) ✅
C. Maximum reflection
D. Zero refraction
Q42. When two resistance of 3 Ω each are connected in parallel, the combined resistance is:
A. 6 Ω
B. 3 Ω
C. 1.5 Ω ✅
D. 0.67 Ω
Q43. The unit of frequency is:
A. Metre
B. Second
C. Hertz ✅
D. Newton
Q44. In a step-up transformer, the secondary coil has:
A. Fewer turns than the primary
B. More turns than the primary ✅
C. The same number of turns as the primary
D. No coils
Q45. Which of the following correctly defines inertia?
A. The ability to do work
B. The resistance of an object to changes in its state of motion ✅
C. The tendency to accelerate under force
D. The force of gravity
Q46. A body moving in a straight line with increasing speed has:
A. Zero acceleration
B. Negative velocity
C. Positive acceleration ✅
D. Constant velocity
Q47. Which of the following is a renewable energy source?
A. Natural gas
B. Coal
C. Petroleum
D. Solar energy ✅
Q48. The loudness of a sound depends on:
A. Its frequency
B. Its wavelength
C. Its amplitude ✅
D. Its speed
Q49. When a glass rod is rubbed with silk, the glass rod becomes:
A. Negatively charged
B. Positively charged ✅
C. Neutral
D. A conductor
Q50. The speed of light in vacuum is approximately:
A. 3 × 10⁶ m/s
B. 3 × 10⁸ m/s ✅
C. 3 × 10¹⁰ m/s
D. 3 × 10⁴ m/s
5 Likely WAEC 2026/2027 WAEC 2026/2027 Physics Theory Questions with Model Answers
Theory questions require organized, well-explained answers. Use the model answers below as a guide for structure, depth, and language. Practise writing your own answers and comparing them to the models.
Theory Question 1
(a) State Newton’s three laws of motion.(b) A car of mass 1,200 kg accelerates from rest to 30 m/s in 12 seconds. Calculate: (i) the acceleration (ii) the force required to produce this acceleration.
MODEL ANSWER:
(a) NEWTON’S THREE LAWS OF MOTION:
First Law (Law of Inertia): A body remains at rest or continues to move in a straight line at constant speed unless acted upon by an external unbalanced force.
Second Law: The rate of change of momentum of a body is directly proportional to the applied force and takes place in the direction of the force. This gives the formula F = ma.
Third Law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
(b) CALCULATIONS:
(i) Acceleration:
u = 0 (starts from rest), v = 30 m/s, t = 12 s
a = (v – u) / t = (30 – 0) / 12 = 2.5 m/s² ✓
(ii) Force:
F = ma = 1200 × 2.5 = 3,000 N ✓
Theory Question 2
(a) Distinguish between series and parallel circuits. (b) Three resistors of 4 Ω, 6 Ω, and 12 Ω are connected in parallel. Calculate the equivalent resistance. (c) If a 24 V battery is connected across this combination, calculate the total current.
MODEL ANSWER:
(a) SERIES vs PARALLEL CIRCUITS:
In a series circuit, components are connected end-to-end in a single path. The same current flows through all components. The total resistance is the sum of individual resistances: Rtotal = R1 + R2 + R3.
In a parallel circuit, components are connected across the same two points. The same voltage appears across all components. The reciprocal of total resistance equals the sum of the reciprocals: 1/Rtotal = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3.
(b) EQUIVALENT RESISTANCE IN PARALLEL:
1/Rtotal = 1/4 + 1/6 + 1/12
1/Rtotal = 3/12 + 2/12 + 1/12 = 6/12 = 1/2
Rtotal = 2 Ω ✓
(c) TOTAL CURRENT:
Using Ohm’s Law: I = V / R = 24 / 2 = 12 A ✓
Theory Question 3
(a) What is meant by specific heat capacity? (b) How much heat is required to raise the temperature of 2 kg of water from 25°C to 75°C? (Specific heat capacity of water = 4,200 J/kg°C) (c) State TWO differences between boiling and evaporation.
MODEL ANSWER:
(a) SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY:
Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1°C (or 1 Kelvin). Its unit is J/kg°C or J/kg·K.
(b) HEAT CALCULATION:
Formula: Q = mcΔT
m = 2 kg, c = 4,200 J/kg°C, ΔT = 75 – 25 = 50°C
Q = 2 × 4,200 × 50
Q = 420,000 J = 420 kJ ✓
(c) TWO DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BOILING AND EVAPORATION:
1. Boiling occurs at a definite temperature (the boiling point) for a given pressure. Evaporation occurs at any temperature below the boiling point.
2. Boiling occurs throughout the liquid at once. Evaporation occurs only at the surface of the liquid.
Theory Question 4
(a) State the laws of reflection of light. (b) An object is placed 20 cm in front of a concave mirror of focal length 12 cm. Calculate the image distance and state whether the image is real or virtual. (Use the mirror formula.)
MODEL ANSWER:
(a) LAWS OF REFLECTION:
1. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection (both measured from the normal at the point of incidence).
2. The incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal at the point of incidence all lie in the same plane.
(b) MIRROR FORMULA CALCULATION:
Formula: 1/f = 1/v + 1/u
For a concave mirror: f = -12 cm (focal length is negative for concave mirror using the sign convention), u = -20 cm (object distance is negative)
1/f = 1/v + 1/u
1/(-12) = 1/v + 1/(-20)
-1/12 = 1/v – 1/20
1/v = -1/12 + 1/20
1/v = -5/60 + 3/60 = -2/60 = -1/30
v = -30 cm ✓
The image distance is 30 cm in front of the mirror. The negative sign confirms the image is REAL (and inverted, on the same side as the object).
Theory Question 5
(a) Explain what is meant by radioactivity. Name THREE types of radiation emitted by radioactive substances and state TWO properties of each type. (b) A radioactive substance has a half-life of 8 days. If the initial mass is 64 g, calculate the mass remaining after 32 days.
MODEL ANSWER:
(a) RADIOACTIVITY:
Radioactivity is the spontaneous disintegration of unstable atomic nuclei, with the emission of particles and/or electromagnetic radiation. It occurs naturally in certain elements like uranium, radium, and thorium.
THREE TYPES OF RADIATION:
Alpha (α) Radiation:
i. Consists of helium nuclei (2 protons + 2 neutrons)
ii. Has low penetrating power (stopped by a sheet of paper)
iii. Has high ionizing ability
Beta (β) Radiation:
i. Consists of fast-moving electrons (beta-minus) or positrons (beta-plus)
ii. Has medium penetrating power (stopped by thin aluminium)
iii. Has medium ionizing ability
Gamma (γ) Radiation:
i. Consists of high-energy electromagnetic waves
ii. Has very high penetrating power (requires thick lead or concrete to absorb)
iii. Has low ionizing ability
(b) HALF-LIFE CALCULATION:
Half-life = 8 days, Total time = 32 days
Number of half-lives = 32 / 8 = 4
After each half-life, the mass halves:
Start: 64 g
After 1st half-life: 32 g
2nd half-life: 16 g
3rd half-life: 8 g
4th half-life: 4 g ✓
Mass remaining after 32 days = 4 g
Study Tips: How to Score A in WAEC WAEC 2026/2027 Physics 2026/2027
Tip 1: Always include units in your answers. WAEC deducts marks when units are missing.
Tip 2: Draw and label diagrams for optics, electricity circuits, and wave questions. Diagrams earn marks.
Tip 3: Memorize key formulas: F=ma, V=IR, P=IV, Q=mcΔT, and the wave equation v=fλ.
Tip 4: Practise past WAEC Physics practical questions. The practical exam carries significant marks.
Tip 5: For multiple choice, eliminate options that have wrong units first. This alone will narrow your choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the most important topics in WAEC Physics 2026/2027?
A: Mechanics (Newton’s laws, motion equations), Electricity and Magnetism (Ohm’s law, circuits, transformers), Light (reflection, refraction, mirrors and lenses), Heat (specific heat capacity, latent heat), and Modern Physics (radioactivity) are the most frequently tested topics.
Q: Do I need a calculator for WAEC Physics?
A: Yes. WAEC allows candidates to use approved calculators in the Physics examination. Knowing how to use your calculator efficiently will save you time in the numerical sections.
Q: How should I structure Physics theory answers?
A: For calculation questions: write the formula first, substitute values with units, then solve step by step. For explanation questions: use clear sentences, label any diagrams, and state laws precisely before explaining.
