WAEC Physics questions: Waves

14 questions with answers and explanations. Tap an option to check yourself.

1. Question 1· Waves· WAEC

   Which of these is a longitudinal wave?

   • ALight wave
   • BRadio wave
   • CSound wave
   • DWater ripple

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   Explanation and discussion

2. Question 2· Waves· WAEC

   A sound wave of frequency 500 Hz has a wavelength of 0.68 m. Find its speed.

   • A500 m/s
   • B735 m/s
   • C0.00136 m/s
   • D340 m/s

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3. Question 3· Waves· WAEC

   In a transverse wave the particles of the medium vibrate

   • Anot at all
   • Bparallel to the direction of travel
   • Cin circles only
   • Dperpendicular to the direction of travel

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4. Question 4· Waves· WAEC

   Find the period of a wave whose frequency is 25 Hz.

   • A0.4 s
   • B25 s
   • C0.04 s
   • D4 s

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5. Question 5· Waves· WAEC

   A radio station broadcasts at 100 MHz. If radio waves travel at 3 × 10⁸ m/s, find the wavelength.

   • A0.33 m
   • B3 m
   • C30 m
   • D3 × 10¹⁶ m

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6. Question 6· Waves· WAEC

   Which electromagnetic radiation has the shortest wavelength?

   • Agamma rays
   • Bradio waves
   • Cinfrared
   • Dvisible light

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7. Question 7· Waves· WAEC

   The number of complete oscillations made in one second is the

   • Afrequency
   • Bperiod
   • Camplitude
   • Dwavelength

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8. Question 8· Waves· WAEC

   A radio station broadcasts at 100 MHz. The wavelength of its waves (c = 3 × 10⁸ m/s) is

   • A300 m
   • B30 m
   • C0.3 m
   • D3 m

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9. Question 9· Waves· WAEC

   Diffraction is most noticeable when the gap size is

   • Aabout equal to the wavelength
   • Bmuch larger than the wavelength
   • Czero
   • Dvery large

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10. Question 10· Waves· WAEC

    The spreading of waves round the edge of an obstacle is called

    • Ainterference
    • Brefraction
    • Creflection
    • Ddiffraction

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11. Question 11· Waves· WAEC

    The period of a wave with frequency 25 Hz is

    • A0.04 s
    • B25 s
    • C0.4 s
    • D4 s

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12. Question 12· Waves· WAEC

    In a longitudinal wave, the particles of the medium vibrate

    • Aat right angles to the direction of travel
    • Balong the direction of travel of the wave
    • Cin circles
    • Dnot at all

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13. Question 13· Waves· WAEC

    A wave has a frequency of 50 Hz and a wavelength of 4 m. Its speed is

    • A12.5 m/s
    • B0.08 m/s
    • C54 m/s
    • D200 m/s

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14. Question 14· Waves· WAEC

    Which of these waves is longitudinal?

    • Asound in air
    • Blight
    • Cradio waves
    • DX-rays

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    Explanation and discussion