Waves Practice Questions
WAEC (West Africa) · WAEC Physics · 145 free MCQs with instant results and detailed explanations.
145
Total
50
Easy
73
Medium
22
Hard
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Sample Questions from Waves
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Q1
Easy
What type of wave is characterized by oscillations that are perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation?
A.
Transverse wave
B.
Longitudinal wave
C.
Surface wave
D.
Mechanical wave
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Correct Answer: A
Transverse waves are defined by their oscillations occurring perpendicular to the direction of wave travel, as seen in waves on a string or electromagnetic waves.
Q2
Easy
If the frequency of a wave is doubled, what happens to its wavelength, assuming the speed of the wave remains constant?
A.
It doubles
B.
It halves
C.
It remains the same
D.
It quadruples
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Correct Answer: B
According to the wave equation (wave speed = frequency × wavelength), if the frequency is doubled and speed remains constant, the wavelength must halve to maintain the equation's balance.
Q3
Easy
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of sound waves?
A.
They require a medium for transmission
B.
They can travel through vacuum
C.
They exhibit reflection and refraction
D.
They are longitudinal waves
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Correct Answer: B
Sound waves are mechanical waves that require a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) for transmission and cannot propagate through a vacuum.
Q4
Medium
What is the speed of a wave with a frequency of 500 Hz and a wavelength of 2 meters?
A.
1000 m/s
B.
250 m/s
C.
500 m/s
D.
2000 m/s
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Correct Answer: A
The speed of a wave is calculated using the formula: speed = frequency × wavelength. Here, speed = 500 Hz × 2 m = 1000 m/s.
Q5
Medium
When a wave travels from deep water to shallow water, what happens to its speed?
A.
The speed increases
B.
The speed decreases
C.
The speed remains constant
D.
The speed doubles
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Correct Answer: B
When a wave enters shallow water, it interacts with the seabed, causing its speed to decrease due to the reduction in wavelength while frequency remains constant.
Q6
Medium
If two waves of the same frequency interfere constructively, what is the effect on amplitude?
A.
Amplitude increases
B.
Amplitude decreases
C.
Amplitude remains the same
D.
Amplitude becomes zero
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Correct Answer: A
Constructive interference occurs when waves align in phase, resulting in their amplitudes adding together, thus increasing the overall amplitude.
Q7
Medium
Which of the following characteristics does NOT affect the speed of sound in a medium?
A.
Density of the medium
B.
Temperature of the medium
C.
Frequency of the sound wave
D.
Elasticity of the medium
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Correct Answer: C
The speed of sound is influenced by the medium's density, temperature, and elasticity, but not by the frequency of the sound wave itself.
Q8
Hard
A wave travels through a medium with a frequency of 500 Hz and a wavelength of 1.5 meters. What is the speed of the wave?
A.
750 m/s
B.
333.33 m/s
C.
1000 m/s
D.
250 m/s
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Correct Answer: A
The speed of a wave is calculated using the formula: speed = frequency × wavelength. Here, speed = 500 Hz × 1.5 m = 750 m/s.
Q9
Hard
Two waves traveling in the same direction have amplitudes of 2 m and 3 m, respectively. What is the resulting amplitude when they interfere constructively?
A.
1 m
B.
5 m
C.
6 m
D.
0 m
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Correct Answer: B
When waves interfere constructively, their amplitudes add together. Thus, the resulting amplitude is 2 m + 3 m = 5 m.
Q10
Hard
A source of sound is moving towards a stationary observer at a speed of 34 m/s. If the speed of sound in air is 340 m/s, what is the frequency heard by the observer if the source emits a frequency of 440 Hz?
A.
460 Hz
B.
440 Hz
C.
420 Hz
D.
400 Hz
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Correct Answer: A
The observed frequency can be calculated using the Doppler effect formula. When the source approaches, f' = f * (v + vo) / (v - vs). Here, f = 440 Hz, v = 340 m/s, vo = 0 m/s (observer at rest), vs = 34 m/s (source moving towards). Substituting gives f' = 440 * (340 + 0) / (340 - 34) = 460 Hz.
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Waves — WAEC (West Africa) WAEC Physics Practice Questions Online
This page contains 145 practice MCQs for the chapter Waves in WAEC (West Africa) WAEC Physics. The questions are organized by difficulty — 50 easy, 73 medium, 22 hard — so you can choose the right level for your preparation.
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