WASSCE Physics past questions and answers

Eight multiple choice and two written, marked as you go. Free, no account.

ObjectiveQ1 of 10

A bimetallic strip works because

Thermal Physics: Bimetallic Strip

Answer: B. the two metals have different rates of thermal expansion

A bimetallic strip is two metals with different coefficients of thermal expansion (for example brass and iron) bonded firmly together. When the strip is heated, one metal expands more than the other, so the two sides become unequal in length and the strip bends. This is the basis of thermostats, fire alarms and circuit breakers.

Why the others are wrong: A — metals DO expand when heated; C — if both metals expanded at the same rate the strip would just get longer, not bend; D — both metals are heated equally (they are bonded together), so the bending cannot be due to heating only one.

ObjectiveQ2 of 10

White light can be split into its component colours by a

Optics: Colour

Answer: B. glass prism

A prism disperses white light into the visible spectrum (ROYGBIV) because different wavelengths refract at slightly different angles.

ObjectiveQ3 of 10

An object is placed beyond 2F of a convex lens. The image formed is

Optics: Convex Lens

Answer: C. Real, inverted and diminished

When an object is beyond 2F of a convex lens, the image is real (on the other side), inverted, and smaller than the object (diminished). It forms between F and 2F.

ObjectiveQ4 of 10

An object is placed at 2F of a converging lens as shown. The image formed is

Optics: Lenses

Answer: D. real, inverted, and same size as object

When the object is placed at 2F of a converging lens, the image is formed at 2F on the other side. It is real, inverted, and the same size as the object. Magnification = 1.

ObjectiveQ5 of 10

Archimedes' principle states that a body immersed in a fluid experiences an upthrust equal to the

Fluid Mechanics

Answer: D. weight of the fluid displaced

Archimedes' principle: the upthrust (buoyant force) on a body equals the weight of the fluid it displaces.

ObjectiveQ6 of 10

The graph shown represents the relationship between pressure and volume of a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature. This is

Thermal Physics: Gas Laws

Answer: C. Boyle's law

The graph is a rectangular hyperbola: as the volume increases the pressure falls, so pressure and volume are inversely related. For a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature this is Boyle's law: PV = constant (answer C).

Why the others are wrong: the Pressure law (A) relates pressure to temperature at constant volume (P ∝ T); Charles' law (B) relates volume to temperature at constant pressure (V ∝ T) — both would need a temperature axis; Hooke's law (D) is about the extension of a spring (F ∝ e), not gases at all.

ObjectiveQ7 of 10

The graph shows the charge on a capacitor as it charges through a resistor. What does the graph indicate about the charging rate?

Electricity: Capacitors

Answer: B. The charging rate decreases exponentially over time

A capacitor charges exponentially. Initially the current is large (steep gradient) but as the capacitor charges, the p.d. across it increases, reducing the current. The curve flattens as charge approaches Q₀ = CV.

ObjectiveQ8 of 10

The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is

Optics: Reflection

Answer: B. equal to the angle of reflection

The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection, and both the incident ray, reflected ray, and normal lie in the same plane.

TheoryQ9 of 102 marksWASSCE 2025

A concave mirror has a radius of curvature of 20.0 cm. A 2.0 cm tall object is placed on the principal axis of the mirror at 25.0 cm from its pole. Determine the distance of the image from the mirror.

Marking guide

Given: radius of curvature R = 20.0 cm, so focal length f = R ÷ 2 = 10.0 cm. Object distance u = 25.0 cm.

Mirror formula: 1/f = 1/v + 1/u [1 mark]

Rearrange for the image distance v:
1/v = 1/f − 1/u = (1 ÷ 10) − (1 ÷ 25)
1/v = 0.100 − 0.040 = 0.060

v = 1 ÷ 0.060 = 16.7 cm [1 mark]

The image is real and forms about 16.7 cm in front of the mirror, between the focus F (10 cm) and the centre of curvature C (20 cm).

TheoryQ10 of 103 marksWASSCE 2025

Draw a ray diagram to show why a concave mirror is regarded as converging.

Marking guide

A concave mirror is called a converging mirror because parallel rays of light striking it are all reflected to meet (converge) at a single point — the principal focus, F.

Your ray diagram should show:

• The concave mirror — a curved line with its reflecting (hollow) side facing the incoming light — and the principal axis: a horizontal line through the pole P, the principal focus F and the centre of curvature C. [1 mark]

• At least two rays arriving from the left, parallel to the principal axis and striking the mirror. [1 mark]

• Each ray reflecting off the surface (angle of incidence = angle of reflection, measured from the normal at the point of incidence) so that all the reflected rays pass through F, which lies midway between C and P. Label P, F and C. [1 mark]

Because the reflected rays come together at F, the mirror is described as converging. (A convex mirror, by contrast, spreads parallel rays apart and is described as diverging.)

Topics on this page: Thermal Physics: Bimetallic Strip; Optics: Colour; Optics: Convex Lens; Optics: Lenses; Fluid Mechanics; Thermal Physics: Gas Laws; Electricity: Capacitors; Optics: Reflection; Reflection of Light: Mirror Formula; Reflection of Light: Concave Mirrors.

Revise a topic

Notes, practice questions and a mark scheme for topics on the syllabus.

A bimetallic strip works because

Thermal Physics: Bimetallic Strip

Answer: B. the two metals have different rates of thermal expansion

ObjectiveQ2 of 10

White light can be split into its component colours by a

Optics: Colour

Answer: B. glass prism

A prism disperses white light into the visible spectrum (ROYGBIV) because different wavelengths refract at slightly different angles.

ObjectiveQ3 of 10

An object is placed beyond 2F of a convex lens. The image formed is

Optics: Convex Lens

Answer: C. Real, inverted and diminished

When an object is beyond 2F of a convex lens, the image is real (on the other side), inverted, and smaller than the object (diminished). It forms between F and 2F.

ObjectiveQ4 of 10

An object is placed at 2F of a converging lens as shown. The image formed is

Optics: Lenses

Answer: D. real, inverted, and same size as object

When the object is placed at 2F of a converging lens, the image is formed at 2F on the other side. It is real, inverted, and the same size as the object. Magnification = 1.

ObjectiveQ5 of 10

Archimedes' principle states that a body immersed in a fluid experiences an upthrust equal to the

Fluid Mechanics

Answer: D. weight of the fluid displaced

Archimedes' principle: the upthrust (buoyant force) on a body equals the weight of the fluid it displaces.

ObjectiveQ6 of 10

The graph shown represents the relationship between pressure and volume of a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature. This is

Thermal Physics: Gas Laws

Answer: C. Boyle's law

ObjectiveQ7 of 10

The graph shows the charge on a capacitor as it charges through a resistor. What does the graph indicate about the charging rate?

Electricity: Capacitors

Answer: B. The charging rate decreases exponentially over time

ObjectiveQ8 of 10

The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is

Optics: Reflection

Answer: B. equal to the angle of reflection

The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection, and both the incident ray, reflected ray, and normal lie in the same plane.

TheoryQ9 of 102 marksWASSCE 2025

A concave mirror has a radius of curvature of 20.0 cm. A 2.0 cm tall object is placed on the principal axis of the mirror at 25.0 cm from its pole. Determine the distance of the image from the mirror.

Marking guide

Given: radius of curvature R = 20.0 cm, so focal length f = R ÷ 2 = 10.0 cm. Object distance u = 25.0 cm.

Mirror formula: 1/f = 1/v + 1/u [1 mark]

Rearrange for the image distance v:
1/v = 1/f − 1/u = (1 ÷ 10) − (1 ÷ 25)
1/v = 0.100 − 0.040 = 0.060

v = 1 ÷ 0.060 = 16.7 cm [1 mark]

The image is real and forms about 16.7 cm in front of the mirror, between the focus F (10 cm) and the centre of curvature C (20 cm).

TheoryQ10 of 103 marksWASSCE 2025

Draw a ray diagram to show why a concave mirror is regarded as converging.

Marking guide

A concave mirror is called a converging mirror because parallel rays of light striking it are all reflected to meet (converge) at a single point — the principal focus, F.

Your ray diagram should show:

• At least two rays arriving from the left, parallel to the principal axis and striking the mirror. [1 mark]

Because the reflected rays come together at F, the mirror is described as converging. (A convex mirror, by contrast, spreads parallel rays apart and is described as diverging.)

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Notes, practice questions and a mark scheme for topics on the syllabus.

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WASSCE Physics past questions and answers

A bimetallic strip works because

White light can be split into its component colours by a

An object is placed beyond 2F of a convex lens. The image formed is

An object is placed at 2F of a converging lens as shown. The image formed is

Archimedes' principle states that a body immersed in a fluid experiences an upthrust equal to the

The graph shown represents the relationship between pressure and volume of a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature. This is

The graph shows the charge on a capacitor as it charges through a resistor. What does the graph indicate about the charging rate?

The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is

A concave mirror has a radius of curvature of 20.0 cm. A 2.0 cm tall object is placed on the principal axis of the mirror at 25.0 cm from its pole. Determine the distance of the image from the mirror.

Draw a ray diagram to show why a concave mirror is regarded as converging.

Revise a topic

More WASSCE past questions

Questions about WASSCE Physics on GLearn

WASSCE Physics past questions and answers

A bimetallic strip works because

White light can be split into its component colours by a

An object is placed beyond 2F of a convex lens. The image formed is

An object is placed at 2F of a converging lens as shown. The image formed is

Archimedes' principle states that a body immersed in a fluid experiences an upthrust equal to the

The graph shown represents the relationship between pressure and volume of a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature. This is

The graph shows the charge on a capacitor as it charges through a resistor. What does the graph indicate about the charging rate?

The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is

A concave mirror has a radius of curvature of 20.0 cm. A 2.0 cm tall object is placed on the principal axis of the mirror at 25.0 cm from its pole. Determine the distance of the image from the mirror.

Draw a ray diagram to show why a concave mirror is regarded as converging.

Revise a topic

More WASSCE past questions

Questions about WASSCE Physics on GLearn