NECO Physics Practical Specimens and Physics Practical Examination Questions and Answers for 2025/2026

NECO Physics Practical Specimens and Physics Practical Examination Questions and Answers for 2025/2026

NECO Physics Practical Specimens for 2025/2026

Candidates will be required to conduct experiments based on Mechanics, Optics, and Electricity. Each candidate should be provided with the following apparatus and materials depending on the questions assigned.

Specimen List

Question 1: Mechanics – Simple Pendulum or Lever Balance

Specimen Required:

1. Retort stand with clamp

2. Pendulum bob

3. Stop watch or clock with seconds

4. Thread (about 1.5 m long)

5. Meter rule

6. Protractor (optional)

7. Split cork

8. Knife edge or pivot support

Alternative setup (for lever):

1. Wooden or metal ruler

2. Knife edge

3. Set of known weights (50 g, 100 g, etc.)

4. Hanger with slotted masses

5. Thread

Question 2: Optics – Ray Tracing with Plane Mirror or Convex Lens

Specimen Required:

1. Plane mirror (10 cm long)

2. Ray box or light source with slit

3. Drawing board

4. White sheet of paper

5. Optical pins (6)

6. Ruler

7. Protractor

8. Pencil

9. Convex lens (focal length provided, e.g. 10 cm)

10. Lens holder

Question 3: Electricity – Ohm’s Law or Series/Parallel Circuit

Specimen Required:

1. Dry cells (2 or 3 × 1.5 V)

2. Battery holder

3. Ammeter (0–1 A)

4. Voltmeter (0–5 V)

5. Resistor or resistance wire (e.g., nichrome or constantan)

6. Switch/key

7. Connecting wires

8. Meter rule (for measuring length of wire in resistance experiment)

9. Crocodile clips

10. Rheostat (optional)

11. Multimeter (optional)

NECO Physics Practical Specimens and Physics Practical Examination Questions and Answers for 2025/2026

General Notes to Schools and Candidates

1. Each candidate should have individual access to a complete set of apparatus.

2. Specimen numbers should be coded and labeled clearly to prevent confusion.

3. Ensure all electrical instruments are functioning and batteries are fully charged.

4. Safety precautions must be observed, especially in the use of electricity and sharp instruments (e.g., optical pins).

Instructions for Teachers and Laboratory Attendants

1. Verify all equipment before the exam day.

2. Provide alternatives if a specific apparatus is unavailable (e.g., use of multimeters for failed ammeters).

3. Use clear labels and specimen cards.

4. Keep duplicate sets ready for replacement if candidates face instrument malfunction.

NECO 2025/2026 MOCK PHYSICS PRACTICAL EXAMINATION

Time Allowed: 2 Hours

Instruction: Answer all three questions. All necessary materials will be provided.

QUESTION 1: Mechanics – Simple Pendulum

Apparatus Provided:

1. Retort stand with clamp

2. Pendulum bob

3. Thread (1.5 m long)

4. Meter rule

5. Stopwatch or clock

6. Split cork

Instruction:

1. Suspend the pendulum bob with the thread from the retort stand.

2. Adjust the length of the pendulum to L = 20 cm (from the point of suspension to the center of the bob).

3. Displace the pendulum bob slightly and release it to oscillate.

4. Measure the time for 20 complete oscillations.

5. Repeat the procedure for lengths of 40 cm, 60 cm, 80 cm, and 100 cm.

6. Record your results in a table and calculate the period T = total time ÷ 20.

Observation Table:

To Plot:

• Graph of T² (y-axis) against L (x-axis)

Questions:

a. Plot a graph of T² against L (5 marks)
b. Determine the slope of the graph. (3 marks)
c. Given that T=2πLgT = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{L}{g}}T=2πgL​​, determine g. (4 marks)

Expected Result:

• Linear graph passing through origin

• Slope S=T2LS = \frac{T^2}{L}S=LT2​, and from theory:

  S=4π2g⇒g=4π2SS = \frac{4\pi^2}{g} \Rightarrow g = \frac{4\pi^2}{S}S=g4π2​⇒g=S4π2​

• If slope $S=0.04$, then g≈39.480.04=9.87 ms−2g \approx \frac{39.48}{0.04} = 9.87 \, \text{ms}^{-2}g≈0.0439.48​=9.87ms−2

QUESTION 2: Optics – Ray Tracing with Plane Mirror

Apparatus Provided:

1. Plane mirror

2. Optical pins (6)

3. Drawing board

4. White sheet of paper

5. Ruler, pencil, and protractor

NECO Physics Practical Specimens and Physics Practical Examination Questions and Answers for 2025/2026

Instruction:

1. Fix the plain sheet on the board with drawing pins.

2. Draw a straight line MN (mirror line) and place the mirror vertically on it.

3. Mark a point O on the line, draw an incident ray AO to strike the mirror at O at an angle of incidence i = 30°.

4. Stick two pins P₁ and P₂ along AO.

5. Observe the reflected ray and fix pins P₃ and P₄ so they appear in line with the reflected image.

6. Remove the mirror and draw the reflected ray.

7. Measure the angle of reflection r.

8. Repeat for i = 45° and 60°.

Observation Table:

Questions:

a. Plot a graph of angle of reflection (r) against angle of incidence (i). (5 marks)
b. Comment on the nature of your graph. (2 marks)
c. State the law of reflection. (2 marks)

Expected Answers:

• Graph is a straight line passing through origin, slope ≈ 1.

• Law: “Angle of incidence is equal to angle of reflection, and incident ray, reflected ray, and normal all lie on the same plane.”

NECO Physics Practical Specimens and Physics Practical Examination Questions and Answers for 2025/2026

QUESTION 3: Electricity – Ohm’s Law

Apparatus Provided:

• Dry cells (2 × 1.5 V)

• Battery holder

• Ammeter (0–1 A)

• Voltmeter (0–5 V)

• Resistor R (e.g., resistance wire)

• Switch/key

• Connecting wires

Circuit Diagram:

[Diagram showing: Battery → Key → Resistor → Ammeter → back to Battery, with Voltmeter across the Resistor]

Instruction:

1. Set up the circuit as shown.

2. Close the key and record the ammeter reading I and voltmeter reading V.

3. Vary the voltage by changing the number of cells or using a rheostat.

4. Take 5 sets of readings and record them.

Observation Table:

Questions:

a. Plot a graph of V (y-axis) against I (x-axis). (5 marks)
b. Determine the slope of the graph. (2 marks)
c. What does the slope represent? (1 mark)

Expected Result:

• Graph is linear; slope = resistance = 5 Ω

• Slope represents resistance of the conductor.

MARKING SCHEME (Total = 60 marks)