National Examinations Council
NECO Physics · Paper I — Practical
Sat on a separate day from the written papers.
8 exam-style questions, written to the National Examinations Council format and free to read. The answers are here too — what they do not tell you is how many you would get right with a clock running.
1. A metre bridge is used to determine the resistance of a wire.
(a) Describe how the balance point is located. [8 marks]
(b) State the relationship used to calculate the unknown resistance. [6 marks]
(c) State two precautions to reduce error in this experiment. [6 marks]
2. A ticker-timer tape is used to study the motion of a trolley down an inclined plane.
(a) Describe how the tape is used to determine the velocity at a point. [10 marks]
(b) State how the tape shows that the trolley is accelerating. [6 marks]
(c) State one source of error in this method. [4 marks]
3. A student determines the specific heat capacity of a metal block by the method of mixtures.
(a) List the measurements that must be taken. [8 marks]
(b) State the equation used to calculate the specific heat capacity. [6 marks]
(c) State two precautions to reduce heat loss. [6 marks]
4. A ripple tank is used to study the reflection of water waves from a straight barrier.
(a) Describe how straight waves are produced in the tank. [6 marks]
(b) State the observation when the waves strike the barrier at an angle. [8 marks]
(c) State two precautions when setting up the ripple tank. [6 marks]
5. A concave mirror is used to determine focal length using a distant object.
(a) Describe the procedure. [8 marks]
(b) Explain why a distant object is used. [6 marks]
(c) State two sources of error and how each may be reduced. [6 marks]
A simple barometer is set up using mercury in a long glass tube inverted over a trough.
(a) Describe how the barometric height is measured. [8 marks]
(b) Explain what happens to the height if the tube is tilted. [6 marks]
(c) State two reasons why mercury is used rather than water. [6 marks]
Reading these is not the same as sitting them.
Every question above is answerable given time. The exam does not give you time. Sit the whole paper on the real clock and the number you get back is the one that means something.
Sit it against the clock — freeExampaper is an independent study service. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to WAEC, NECO, JAMB or any examination body. Exam names and subject titles are used only to describe what each paper is for.