JAMB Past Questions

JAMB Physics 2017
Questions & Answers

40 questions · Correct answers highlighted · 40 with explanations

40 Total Questions
2017 Exam Year
40 With Explanations
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1
Question 1 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The activity of a radioactive substance depends on

A. temperature and pressure
B. purity and age
C. pressure and age
D. temperature, purity, and age
Explanation

The activity of a radioactive substance depends on its purity (proportion of radioactive isotopes) and age (due to decay over time), but not on temperature or pressure.

2
Question 2 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The SI unit of force is

A. joule
B. newton
C. watt
D. kilogram
Explanation

The SI unit of force is the newton (N), defined as kg·m/s², derived from Newton’s second law (F = ma).

3
Question 3 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

A body moves with a constant speed of 10 m/s for 5 s. The distance covered is

A. 2 m
B. 15 m
C. 50 m
D. 75 m
Explanation

Distance = speed × time = 10 m/s × 5 s = 50 m.

4
Question 4 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The tendency of a body to remain at rest or in uniform motion is called

A. friction
B. inertia
C. momentum
D. impulse
Explanation

Inertia is the property of a body to resist changes to its state of rest or uniform motion, as per Newton’s first law.

5
Question 5 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

A car accelerates uniformly from rest at 2 m/s² for 4 s. Its final velocity is

A. 2 m/s
B. 4 m/s
C. 6 m/s
D. 8 m/s
Explanation

Using v = u + at, where u = 0, a = 2 m/s², t = 4 s: v = 0 + 2 × 4 = 8 m/s.

6
Question 6 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The work done by a force of 20 N moving an object 5 m in the direction of the force is

A. 4 J
B. 25 J
C. 100 J
D. 125 J
Explanation

Work = force × distance = 20 N × 5 m = 100 J.

7
Question 7 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The principle of conservation of energy states that energy

A. can be created but not destroyed
B. can be destroyed but not created
C. cannot be created or destroyed
D. is always lost as heat
Explanation

The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

8
Question 8 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

A machine with a velocity ratio of 5 requires 200 J of work to lift a load. The work done by the effort is

A. 40 J
B. 200 J
C. 250 J
D. 1000 J
Explanation

For an ideal machine, work input equals work output. Thus, the effort does 200 J of work to lift the load.

9
Question 9 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The unit of power is

A. joule
B. newton
C. watt
D. volt
Explanation

Power is the rate of doing work, measured in watts (W), where 1 W = 1 J/s.

10
Question 10 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

A projectile is launched horizontally. The factor that primarily determines its time of flight is

A. initial speed
B. angle of projection
C. height of projection
D. air resistance
Explanation

For horizontal projection, time of flight depends on the height and gravitational acceleration, as t = √(2h/g).

11
Question 11 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The specific heat capacity of a substance is the heat required to raise the temperature of

A. 1 kg by 1 K
B. 1 g by 1 °C
C. 1 kg by 1 °C
D. 1 g by 1 K
Explanation

Specific heat capacity is the heat needed to raise 1 kg of a substance by 1 K, measured in J/kg·K.

12
Question 12 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The boiling point of water is affected by

A. volume of water
B. impurities
C. container material
D. heat source
Explanation

Impurities, such as salt, raise the boiling point of water by altering its vapor pressure.

13
Question 13 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The process by which a gas changes directly to a solid is called

A. sublimation
B. condensation
C. evaporation
D. deposition
Explanation

Deposition is the direct transition from gas to solid, such as frost forming on a cold surface.

14
Question 14 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

A gas occupies 2 m³ at 27 °C. If the temperature is raised to 127 °C at constant pressure, the new volume is

A. 1.6 m³
B. 2.4 m³
C. 2.8 m³
D. 3.2 m³
Explanation

Using Charles’ law (V₁/T₁ = V₂/T₂), T₁ = 27 + 273 = 300 K, T₂ = 127 + 273 = 400 K, V₁ = 2 m³. Thus, V₂ = (400/300) × 2 = 2.4 m³.

15
Question 15 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

A 500 g block of iron at 100 °C is placed in 1 kg of water at 20 °C. Assuming no heat loss, the final temperature is closest to (specific heat of iron = 450 J/kg·K, water = 4200 J/kg·K)

A. 25 °C
B. 30 °C
C. 35 °C
D. 40 °C
Explanation

Heat lost by iron = heat gained by water. m₁c₁(T₁ - T) = m₂c₂(T - T₂). Substituting: 0.5 × 450 × (100 - T) = 1 × 4200 × (T - 20). Solving gives T ≈ 25 °C.

16
Question 16 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The speed of sound in air is approximately

A. 330 m/s
B. 440 m/s
C. 550 m/s
D. 660 m/s
Explanation

The speed of sound in air at standard conditions (20 °C) is approximately 330 m/s.

17
Question 17 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The phenomenon of light bending as it passes from one medium to another is called

A. diffraction
B. refraction
C. reflection
D. dispersion
Explanation

Refraction is the bending of light due to a change in speed when moving between media with different refractive indices.

18
Question 18 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The image formed by a plane mirror is

A. real and inverted
B. virtual and upright
C. real and upright
D. virtual and inverted
Explanation

A plane mirror forms a virtual, upright image that appears behind the mirror, at the same distance as the object.

19
Question 19 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The frequency of a wave is 50 Hz, and its wavelength is 2 m. The speed of the wave is

A. 25 m/s
B. 50 m/s
C. 100 m/s
D. 200 m/s
Explanation

Wave speed = frequency × wavelength = 50 Hz × 2 m = 100 m/s.

20
Question 20 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The primary colors of light are

A. red, blue, yellow
B. red, green, blue
C. cyan, magenta, yellow
D. red, green, yellow
Explanation

The primary colors of light are red, green, and blue, which combine to produce all other colors in the visible spectrum.

21
Question 21 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The SI unit of electric current is

A. volt
B. ampere
C. ohm
D. watt
Explanation

The ampere (A) is the SI unit of electric current, measuring the flow of charge per unit time.

22
Question 22 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

Ohm’s law is expressed as

A. V = IR
B. I = VR
C. R = VI
D. V = I/R
Explanation

Ohm’s law states that voltage (V) equals current (I) times resistance (R), or V = IR.

23
Question 23 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

Two resistors of 4 Ω and 6 Ω are connected in parallel. The equivalent resistance is

A. 2.4 Ω
B. 5 Ω
C. 10 Ω
D. 24 Ω
Explanation

For parallel resistors, 1/R_eq = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ = 1/4 + 1/6 = 3/12 + 2/12 = 5/12. Thus, R_eq = 12/5 = 2.4 Ω.

24
Question 24 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The power dissipated in a 5 Ω resistor with a 10 V potential difference is

A. 20 W
B. 50 W
C. 100 W
D. 200 W
Explanation

Power = V²/R = 10²/5 = 100/5 = 20 W.

25
Question 25 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

A current of 2 A flows through a conductor for 10 s. The charge that passes through is

A. 5 C
B. 20 C
C. 40 C
D. 80 C
Explanation

Charge = current × time = 2 A × 10 s = 20 C.

26
Question 26 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The device used to step up or step down voltage in an AC circuit is a

A. capacitor
B. transformer
C. rectifier
D. inductor
Explanation

A transformer changes the voltage in an AC circuit by electromagnetic induction.

27
Question 27 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The direction of the magnetic field around a current-carrying conductor is determined by

A. Faraday’s law
B. Lenz’s law
C. right-hand rule
D. left-hand rule
Explanation

The right-hand rule determines the magnetic field direction: thumb along current, fingers curl in the field’s direction.

28
Question 28 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The force on a charge moving in a magnetic field is maximum when the angle between the velocity and field is

A.
B. 45°
C. 90°
D. 180°
Explanation

The force F = qvB sinθ is maximum when sinθ = 1, i.e., θ = 90°.

29
Question 29 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The device that converts AC to DC is called a

A. transformer
B. rectifier
C. capacitor
D. inductor
Explanation

A rectifier converts alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) using diodes.

30
Question 30 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The energy stored in a capacitor is given by

A. ½CV²
B. CV²
C. ½C²V
D. C²V²
Explanation

The energy stored in a capacitor is ½CV², where C is capacitance and V is voltage.

31
Question 31 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The particle emitted during alpha decay is

A. electron
B. neutron
C. helium nucleus
D. photon
Explanation

An alpha particle is a helium nucleus (²⁴He), emitted during alpha decay.

32
Question 32 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The half-life of a radioactive substance is the time taken for

A. all nuclei to decay
B. half the nuclei to decay
C. one nucleus to decay
D. the activity to double
Explanation

Half-life is the time for half the radioactive nuclei in a sample to decay.

33
Question 33 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The energy of a photon is proportional to its

A. wavelength
B. frequency
C. amplitude
D. speed
Explanation

Photon energy is given by E = hf, where h is Planck’s constant and f is frequency.

34
Question 34 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The process by which a nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei is

A. fusion
B. fission
C. beta decay
D. gamma decay
Explanation

Nuclear fission is the splitting of a heavy nucleus into two smaller nuclei, releasing energy.

35
Question 35 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The particle responsible for the strong nuclear force is the

A. photon
B. gluon
C. electron
D. neutrino
Explanation

Gluons mediate the strong nuclear force, binding quarks within protons and neutrons.

36
Question 36 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The photoelectric effect demonstrates that light behaves as

A. waves
B. particles
C. both waves and particles
D. neither waves nor particles
Explanation

The photoelectric effect shows light acting as particles (photons), ejecting electrons from a metal surface.

37
Question 37 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The de Broglie hypothesis suggests that particles have

A. wave-like properties
B. no mass
C. infinite energy
D. fixed positions
Explanation

De Broglie proposed that particles, like electrons, exhibit wave-like properties, with wavelength λ = h/p.

38
Question 38 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The binding energy of a nucleus is the energy

A. required to split it into protons and neutrons
B. released during its formation
C. of its orbiting electrons
D. of its radioactive decay
Explanation

Binding energy is the energy needed to separate a nucleus into its individual protons and neutrons.

39
Question 39 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

The device used to detect radiation is a

A. cathode ray tube
B. Geiger counter
C. transformer
D. spectrometer
Explanation

A Geiger counter detects ionizing radiation, such as alpha, beta, or gamma rays.

40
Question 40 of 40
JAMB · Physics · 2017

Einstein’s mass-energy equivalence is expressed as

A. E = mc
B. E = mc²
C. E = m/c
D. E = m/c²
Explanation

Einstein’s equation E = mc² relates energy (E) to mass (m) and the speed of light (c) squared.

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