JAMB and WAEC Physics questions: Electrostatics

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

1. Question 1· Electrostatics· JAMB

   On a charged conductor, charge collects mainly

   • Aon the outer surface, especially at sharp points
   • Bat its centre
   • Cin its inner core
   • Dnowhere

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   Explanation and discussion

2. Question 2· Electrostatics· WAEC

   The instrument used to detect and test small electric charges is the

   • Agalvanometer
   • Bgold-leaf electroscope
   • Cammeter
   • Dvoltmeter

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   Explanation and discussion

3. Question 3· Electrostatics· JAMB

   Two charges of 2 μC each are 0.3 m apart. Find the force between them. (k = 9 × 10⁹ N m²/C²)

   • A1.2 × 10⁻⁵ N
   • B0.12 N
   • C4 N
   • D0.4 N

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   Explanation and discussion

4. Question 4· Electrostatics· WAEC

   Two like charges

   • Ahave no effect
   • Battract each other
   • Cneutralise
   • Drepel each other

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   Explanation and discussion

5. Question 5· Electrostatics· JAMB

   When a plastic rod is rubbed with a cloth, it becomes charged because

   • Aneutrons are removed
   • Bprotons move into the rod
   • Cthe rod is heated
   • Delectrons are transferred between the rod and the cloth

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6. Question 6· Electrostatics· JAMB

   A lightning conductor protects a building by

   • Astoring charge
   • Bdischarging charge through its sharp points to earth
   • Cattracting rain
   • Dinsulating the building

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7. Question 7· Electrostatics· WAEC

   An ebonite rod rubbed with fur becomes

   • Auncharged
   • Bpositively charged
   • Cmagnetised
   • Dnegatively charged

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   Explanation and discussion

8. Question 8· Electrostatics· JAMB

   Electric field lines point from

   • Anegative charges to positive charges
   • Bpositive charges to negative charges
   • Cnorth to south
   • Dearth to the charge always

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   Explanation and discussion

9. Question 9· Electrostatics· JAMB

   When a conductor is charged by induction, the charge it finally acquires is

   • Azero
   • Bthe same as that of the inducing charge
   • Calways positive
   • Dopposite to that of the inducing charge

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10. Question 10· Electrostatics· JAMB

    Two charges of like sign placed near each other will:

    • Aattract
    • Bneutralise
    • Crepel
    • Dnot interact

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    Explanation and discussion

11. Question 11· Electrostatics· WAEC

    A gold-leaf electroscope is used to

    • Adetect electric charge
    • Bmeasure current
    • Cstore charge
    • Dmeasure resistance

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    Explanation and discussion

12. Question 12· Electrostatics· WAEC

    The force between two point charges is 8 N. If the distance between them is doubled, the force becomes

    • A32 N
    • B4 N
    • C16 N
    • D2 N

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    Explanation and discussion

13. Question 13· Electrostatics· JAMB

    Two point charges attract with force F. If each charge is doubled and the distance between them is also doubled, the new force is

    • AF/4
    • B4F
    • CF
    • D2F

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14. Question 14· Electrostatics· JAMB

    A positively charged rod is brought near the cap of a negatively charged electroscope. The leaf

    • Arises further
    • Bfalls (its divergence decreases)
    • Cstays unchanged
    • Dfalls and then rises at once

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15. Question 15· Electrostatics· JAMB

    A lightning conductor works on the principle of

    • AOhm's law
    • Belectromagnetic induction
    • Cthe heating effect of current
    • Daction at sharp points

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    Explanation and discussion

16. Question 16· Electrostatics· WAEC

    Two point charges of 2 × 10⁻⁶ C each are 0.3 m apart in air. Find the force between them. [k = 9 × 10⁹ N m²/C²]

    • A1.2 N
    • B0.12 N
    • C0.4 N
    • D0.04 N

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17. Question 17· Electrostatics· WAEC

    Lightning conductors protect buildings by

    • Astoring charge
    • Bdischarging charges safely to earth
    • Cattracting rain
    • Dproducing current

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    Explanation and discussion

18. Question 18· Electrostatics· JAMB

    The SI unit of electric field intensity is

    • Avolt
    • Bcoulomb per newton
    • Cnewton per coulomb
    • Dfarad

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19. Question 19· Electrostatics· JAMB

    One volt is equal to one

    • Acoulomb per second
    • Bjoule per coulomb
    • Cjoule per second
    • Dnewton per coulomb second

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20. Question 20· Electrostatics· WAEC

    On a charged conductor, the charge is most concentrated at

    • Asharp points
    • Bflat surfaces
    • Cthe centre
    • Dhollow parts inside

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    Explanation and discussion