JAMB and WAEC Physics questions: Scalars and vectors

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

1. Question 1· Scalars and vectors· WAEC

   Which pair consists of a scalar and a vector respectively?

   • Aforce and momentum
   • Bdisplacement and velocity
   • Cmass and time
   • Dspeed and acceleration

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   Explanation and discussion

2. Question 2· Scalars and vectors· WAEC

   Which of these quantities has both size and direction?

   • Atime
   • Bmass
   • Cweight
   • Dwork

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   Explanation and discussion

3. Question 3· Scalars and vectors· JAMB

   Forces of 5 N due east and 12 N due north act on a body. Find the magnitude of their resultant.

   • A7 N
   • B17 N
   • C13 N
   • D60 N

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   Explanation and discussion

4. Question 4· Scalars and vectors· WAEC

   A force of 20 N acts at 60° to the horizontal. What is its horizontal component?

   • A17.3 N
   • B10 N
   • C20 N
   • D11.5 N

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   Explanation and discussion

5. Question 5· Scalars and vectors· JAMB

   A ball is thrown at 20 m/s at 30° above the horizontal. Find the vertical component of its velocity.

   • A20 m/s
   • B17.3 m/s
   • C10 m/s
   • D5 m/s

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   Explanation and discussion

6. Question 6· Scalars and vectors· JAMB

   Which pair consists of vector quantities only?

   • Avelocity and acceleration
   • Bmass and weight
   • Cspeed and time
   • Denergy and momentum

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   Explanation and discussion

7. Question 7· Scalars and vectors· JAMB

   Two forces of 3 N and 4 N act on a body. Which of the following CANNOT be their resultant?

   • A7 N
   • B5 N
   • C1 N
   • D8 N

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8. Question 8· Scalars and vectors· WAEC

   Forces of 6 N and 8 N act on a body at right angles to each other. Find their resultant.

   • A14 N
   • B10 N
   • C2 N
   • D48 N

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   Explanation and discussion

9. Question 9· Scalars and vectors· WAEC

   A boat heads north at 4 m/s across a river flowing east at 3 m/s. Its resultant speed is

   • A5 m/s
   • B7 m/s
   • C1 m/s
   • D12 m/s

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10. Question 10· Scalars and vectors· JAMB

    Two forces, each of 7 N, act at a point with an angle of 120° between them. Find the magnitude of their resultant.

    • A14 N
    • B7 N
    • C0 N
    • D12.1 N

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    Explanation and discussion

11. Question 11· Scalars and vectors· JAMB

    A boat is steered straight across a river at 4 m/s while the current flows at 3 m/s. Find the resultant speed of the boat.

    • A1 m/s
    • B7 m/s
    • C5 m/s
    • D12 m/s

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    Explanation and discussion

12. Question 12· Scalars and vectors· JAMB

    Two forces of 6 N and 8 N act at right angles at a point. Their resultant is:

    • A10 N
    • B2 N
    • C14 N
    • D48 N

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    Explanation and discussion

13. Question 13· Scalars and vectors· JAMB

    Which of the following is a scalar quantity?

    • Amass
    • Bweight
    • Cmomentum
    • Dacceleration

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    Explanation and discussion

14. Question 14· Scalars and vectors· JAMB

    Forces of 5 N and 12 N act on a body. Which of these cannot be their resultant?

    • A17 N
    • B7 N
    • C13 N
    • D18 N

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    Explanation and discussion

15. Question 15· Scalars and vectors· WAEC

    Which of the following pairs consists only of scalar quantities?

    • AMass and energy
    • BForce and speed
    • CVelocity and time
    • DWeight and length

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    Explanation and discussion

16. Question 16· Scalars and vectors· JAMB

    A boat heads straight across a river at 4 m/s while the current flows at 3 m/s. Find its resultant speed.

    • A7 m/s
    • B5 m/s
    • C1 m/s
    • D12 m/s

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    Explanation and discussion

17. Question 17· Scalars and vectors· JAMB

    Two forces of 6 N and 8 N act at right angles on a body. The force that would keep the body in equilibrium is

    • A10 N acting opposite to the resultant
    • B10 N acting along the resultant
    • C14 N
    • D2 N

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    Explanation and discussion

18. Question 18· Scalars and vectors· WAEC

    Which of these quantities is a vector?

    • Amass
    • Bspeed
    • Cdisplacement
    • Denergy

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19. Question 19· Scalars and vectors· JAMB

    Find the vertical component of a 50 N force inclined at 30° to the horizontal.

    • A25 N
    • B43.3 N
    • C50 N
    • D28.9 N

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    Explanation and discussion

20. Question 20· Scalars and vectors· JAMB

    A force of 10 N acts at 60° to the horizontal. Find its horizontal component.

    • A6 N
    • B8.66 N
    • C10 N
    • D5 N

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    Explanation and discussion