Candidates writing physics in JAMB need to have the syllabus for physics for them to know the topics they need to read. For this reason, I have decided to list the expected topics in physics and their sub-topics in physics that are required for candidates writing physics in JAMB to read.
You can also download the JAMB Physics Syllabus here.
I have also made an E-book for all candidates writing physics in JAMB. Click here Preparatory Physics Guide to read about the book and how to buy the book. The name of the book is Preparatory Physics Guide.
The syllabus includes
- Capacitors
- Change of state
- Characteristics of sound waves
- Conduction of electricity through gases
- Conduction of electricity through liquids
- Current electricity
- Dams and energy production
- Dispersion of light and colours
- Eddy current
- Elasticity
- Electric cells
- Electrical energy and power
- Electromagnetic induction
- Electromagnetic spectrum
- Electrostatics
- Elementary modern physics
- Energy and society
- Centre of gravity and stability
- Conditions for equilibrium of rigid bodies under the action of parallel and non-parallel
- Equilibrium of particles
- Principles of moments
- Force on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field
- Friction
- Gas laws
- Gravitational field
- Heat transfer
- Inductance
- Introductory to electronics
- Propagation of light
- Source of light
- Liquids at rest
- Magnets and magnetic fields
- Derived physical quantities and their units
- Dimensions
- Fundamental physical quantities
- Length, area and volume
- Limitations of experimental measurements
- Mass
- Measurement, position, distance and displacement
- Time
- Linear motion
- Motion
- Motion in a circle
- Newton’s laws of motion
- Projectiles
- Simple harmonic motion (S.H.M.)
- Nuclear energy
- Optical instruments
- Atmospheric pressure
- Pressure in liquids
- Propagation of sound waves
- Quantity of heat
- Reflection of light at plane and curved surfaces
- Glass prism
- Refraction of light through a plane and curved surfaces
- Scalars and vectors
- Simple a.c. circuits
- Simple machines
- Solar energy
- Kinetic theory
- Molecular nature of matter
- Temperature and its measurement
- Thermal expansion (liquid and solid)
- Vapours
- Characteristics/properties
- Classification
- Production and propagation
- Work, energy and power
Before you go through the breakdown of the topics in the physics JAMB syllabus, kindly go through the JAMB recommended textbook for physics
Objectives and Contents
Capacitors
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- determine uses of capacitors.
- analyse parallel plate capacitors.
- determine the capacitance of a capacitor.
- analyse the factors that affect the capacitance of a capacitor.
- solve problems involving the arrangement of capacitor.
- determine the energy stored in capacitors.
Content
- Types and functions of capacitors.
- Parallel plate capacitors.
- Capacitance of a capacitor.
- The relationship between capacitance, area separation of plates and medium between the plates. C = EA⁄d
- Capacitors in series and parallel.
- Energy stored in a capacitor.
Change of State
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- differentiate between latent heat and specific latent heats of fusion and vaporization.
- differentiate between melting, evaporation and boiling.
- examine the effects of pressure and of dissolved substance on boiling and melting points.
- solve numerical problems.
Content
- Latent heat.
- Specific latent heats of fusion and vaporization.
- Melting, evaporation and boiling.
- The influence of pressure and of dissolved substances on boiling and melting points.
- Application in appliances.
Characteristics of Sound Waves
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- differentiate between noise and musical notes.
- analyse quality, pitch, intensity and loudness of sound notes.
- evaluate the application of (ii) above in the construction of musical instruments.
- identify overtones by vibrating strings and air columns.
- itemize acoustical examples of resonance.
- determine the frequencies of notes emitted by air columns in open and closed pipes in relation to their lengths.
Content
- Noise and musical notes.
- Quality, pitch, intensity and loudness and their application to musical instruments.
- Simple treatment of overtones produced by vibrating strings and their columns Fo = 1⁄2L√(T⁄μ) where μ = m⁄l
- Acoustic examples of resonance.
- Frequency of a note emitted by air columns in closed and open pipes in relation to their lengths.
Conduction of Electricity
Through Gases
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- analyse discharge through gases.
- determine some applications/uses of conduction of electricity through gases.
Content
- Discharge through gases (qualitative treatment only).
- Application of conduction of electricity through gases.
Through Liquids
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- distinguish between electrolytes and non-electrolytes.
- analyse the processes of electrolysis.
- apply Faraday’s laws of electrolysis to solve problems.
Content
- Electrolytes and non-electrolyte.
- Concept of electrolysis.
- Faraday’s law of electrolysis.
- Application of electrolysis, e.g. electroplating, calibration of ammeter etc.
Current of Electricity
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- differentiate between emf, p.d., current and internal resistant of a cell.
- apply Ohm’s law to solve problems.
- use metre bridge to calculate resistance.
- compute effective total resistance of both parallel and series arrangement of resistors.
- determine the resistivity and the conductivity of a conductor.
- measure emf, current and internal resistance of a cell using the potentiometer.
- identify the advantages of the potentiometer.
- apply Kirchoff’s law in electrical networks.
Content
- Electromagnetic force (emf), potential difference (p.d.), current, internal resistance of a cell and lost Volt.
- Ohm’s law.
- Measurement of resistance.
- Meter bridge.
- Resistance in series and in parallel and their combination.
- The potentiometer method of measuring emf, current and internal resistance of a cell.
- Electrical networks.
Dispersion of Light
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- identify primary colours and obtain secondary colours by mixing.
- understand the formation of rainbow.
Content
- Dispersion of white light by a triangular prism.
- Production of pure spectrum.
- Colour mixing by addition and subtraction.
- Colour of objects and colour filters.
- Rainbow.
Eddy Current
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- describe the method by which eddy current losses can be reduced.
- determine ways by which eddy currents can be used.
Content
- Reduction of eddy current.
- Applications of eddy current.
Elasticity
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- interpret force-extension curves.
- interpret Hooke’s law and Young’s modulus of a material.
- use spring balance to measure force.
- determine the work done in spring and elastic strings.
Content
- Elastic limit, yield point, breaking point, Hooke’s law and Young’s modulus.
- The spring balance as a device for measuring force.
- Work done per unit volume in springs and elastic strings.
Electric Cell
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- identify the defects of the simple voltaic cell and their correction.
- compare different types of cells including solar cell.
- compare the advantages of lead-acid and Nikel iron accumulator.
- solve problems involving series and parallel combination of cells.
Content
- Simple voltaic cell and its defects.
- Daniel cell, Leclanché cell (wet and dry).
- Lead acid accumulator and Nickel-Iron (Nife) Lithium lron and Mercury cadmium.
- Maintenance of cells and batteries (detail treatment of the chemistry of a cell is not required)
- Arrangement of cells.
Electrical Energy and Power
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- apply the expressions of electrical energy and power to solve problems.
- analyse how power is transmitted from the power station to the consumer.
- identify the heating effects of current and its uses.
- identify the advantages of parallel arrangement over series.
- determine the fuse rating.
Content
- Concepts of electrical energy and power.
- Commercial unit of electric energy and power.
- Electric power transmission.
- Heating effects of electric current.
- Electrical wiring of houses.
- Use of fuses.
Electromagnetic Induction
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- interpret the laws of electromagnetic induction.
- identify factors affecting induced emf.
- recognize how Lenz’s law illustrates the principle of conservation of energy.
- interpret the diagrammatic set up of A.C. generators.
- identify the types of transformer.
- examine principles of operation of transformers.
- assess the functions of an induction coil.
- draw some conclusions from the principles of operation of an induction coil.
Content
- Faraday’s laws of electromagnetic induction.
- Factors affecting induced emf.
- Lenz’s law as an illustration of the principle of conservation of energy.
- A.C. and D.C. generators
- Transformers.
- The induction coil.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- deduces why objects have colours.
- relate the expression for gravitational forces between two bodies.
- apply Newton’s law of universal gravitation.
- analyse colours using colour filters.
- analyse the electromagnetic spectrum in relation to their wavelengths, sources, detection and uses.
Content
- Description of sources and uses of various types of radiation.
Electrostatic
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- identify charges.
- examine uses of an electroscope.
- apply Coulomb’s square law of electrostatic to solve problems.
- deduce expressions for electric field intensity and potential difference.
- identify electric field flux patterns of isolated and interacting charges.
- analyse the distribution of charges on a conductor and how it is used in lightening conductors.
Content
- Existence of positive and negative charges in matter.
- Charging a body by friction, contact and induction.
- Electroscope.
- Coulomb’s inverse square law electric field and potential.
- Electric field intensity and potential difference.
- Electric discharge and lightning.
Elementary Modern Physics
Content
- Models of the atom and their limitations.
- Elementary structure of the atom.
- Energy levels and spectra.
- Thermionic and photoelectric emissions.
- Einstein’s equation and stopping potential.
- Applications of thermionic emissions and photoelectric effects.
- Simple method of production of x-rays.
- Properties and applications of alpha, beta and gamma rays.
- Half-life and decay constant.
- Simple ideas of production of energy by fusion and fission.
- Binding energy, mass defect and Einstein’s energy equation ΔE = Δmc2
- Wave-particle paradox (duality of matter)
- Electron diffraction.
- The uncertainty principle.
Equilibrium of Forces
- Stable, unstable and neutral equilibra.
- Resolution and composition of forces in two perpendicular directions.
- Resultant and equilibrant.
- Equilibrium of coplanar forces.
- Triangles and polygon of forces.
- Lami’s theorem.
- Moment of a force.
- Simple treatment and moment of a couple (torgue).
- Applications.
Forces on A Current Carrying Conductor
Candidates should be able to:
- determine the direction of force on a current carrying conductor using Fleming’s left-hand rule.
- interpret the attractive and repulsive forces between two parallel current-carrying conductors using diagrams.
- determine the relationship between the force, magnetic field strength, velocity and the angle through which the charge enters the field.
- interpret the working of the d.c. motor.
- analyse the principle of electromagnets and give examples of its application.
- compare moving iron and movng coil instruments.
- convert a galvanometer into an ammeter or a voltmeter.
- identify the factors affecting the sensitivity of a galvanometer.
Content
- Quantitative treatment of force between two parallel current-carrying conductors.
- Force on a charge moving in a magnetic field.
- The d. c. motor.
- Electromagnets.
- Carbon microphone.
- Moving coil and moving iron instruments.
- Conversion of galvanometers to ammeters and voltmeter using shunts and multipliers.
- Sensitivity of a galvanometer.
Friction
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- differentiate between static and dynamic friction.
- determine the coefficient of limiting friction.
- compare the advantages and disadvantages of friction.
- suggest ways by which friction can be reduced.
- analyse factors that affect viscosity and terminal velocity.
- apply Stoke’s law.
Content
- Static and dynamic friction.
- Coefficient of limiting friction and its determination.
- Advantages and disadvantages of friction.
- Reduction of friction.
- Qualitative treatment of viscosity and terminal viscosity.
- Stoke’s law.
Gas Law
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- interpret the gas laws.
- use expression of these laws to solve numerical problems.
- interpret Van der Waals equation for one mole of a real gas.
Content
- BoyleÂ’s law (isothermal process).
- CharleÂ’s law (isobaric process).
- Pressure law (volumetric process).
- Absolute zero of temperature.
- General gas quation (PV⁄T = constant)
- ideal gas equation: e.g. PV = nRT
- Van der Waals gas
Gravitational Field
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- identify the expression for gravitational force between two bodies.
- apply Newton’s law of universal gravitation.
- give examples of conservative and non-conservative fields.
- deduce the expression for gravitational field potentials.
- identify the causes of variation of g on the earth’s surface.
- differentiate between mass and weight.
- determine escape velocity.
Content
- Newton’s law of universal gravitation.
- Gravitational potential.
- Conservative and non-conservative fields.
- Acceleration due to gravity.
- Variation of g on the earth’s surface.
- Distinction between mass and weight.
- Escape velocity.
- Parking orbit and weightlessness.
Heat Transfer
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- differentiate between conduction, convention and radiation as modes of heat transfer.
- solve problems on temperature gradient, thermal conductivity and heat flux.
- assess the effect of the nature of the surface on the energy radiated and absorbed by it.
- compare the conductivities of common materials.
- relate the component part of the working of the thermos flask.
- differentiate between land and sea breeze.
- analyse the principles of operating internal combustion jet engines, rockets.
Content
- Conduction, convention and radiation as modes of heat transfer.
- Temperature gradient, thermal conductivity and heat flux.
- Effect of the nature of the surface on the energy radiated and absorbed by it.
- The conductivities of common materials.
- The thermos flask.
- Land and sea breeze.
- Engines.
Inductance
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- interpret the inductance of an inductor.
- recognize units of inductance.
- calculate the effective total inductance in series and parallel arrangement.
- deduce the expression for the energy stored in an inductor.
- examine the applications of inductors.
Content
- Explanation of inductance.
- Unit of inductance.
- Energy stored in an inductor. E = 1⁄2 × I2 × L
- Applications/uses of inductors.
Introduction to Electronics
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- differentiate between conductors, semi-conductors and insulators.
- distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors.
- distinguish between electron and hole carriers.
- distinguish between n-type and p-type semiconductor.
- analyse diodes and transistor.
- relate diodes to rectification and transistor to amplification.
Content
- Distinction between metals, semiconductors and insulators (elementary knowledge of band gap is required).
- Intrinsic and extrinsic semi-conductors.
- Uses of semiconductors and diodes in rectification and transistors in amplification.
- n-type and p-type semiconductors.
- Elementary knowledge of diodes and transistors.
Light Energy
Propagation of Light
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- relate the speed, frequency and wavelength of light.
- interpret the formation of shadows and eclipses.
- solve problems using the principle of operation of a pin-hole camera.
Content
- Speed, frequency and wavelength of light.
- Formation of shadows and eclipse.
- The pin-hole camera.
Source of Light
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- compare the natural and artificial sources of light.
- differentiate between luminous and non-luminous objects.
Content
- Natural and artificial source of light.
- Luminous and non-luminous objects.
Liquid at Rest
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- distinguish between density and relative density of substances.
- determine the upthrust on a body immersed in a liquid.
- apply Archimedes’ principle and law of floatation to solve problems.
Content
- Determination of density of solid and liquids.
- Definition of relative density.
- Upthrust on a body immersed in a liquid.
- Archimede’s principle and law of floatation and applications, e.g. ships and hydrometers.
Magnet and Magnetic Field
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- give examples of natural and artificial magnets.
- differentiate between the magnetic properties of soft iron and steel.
- identify the various methods of making magnets and demagnetizing magnets.
- describe how to keep a magnet from losing its magnetism.
- determine the flux pattern exhibited when two magnets are placed together pole to pole.
- determine the flux of a current carrying conductor, circular wire and solenoid including the polarity of the solenoid.
- determine the flux pattern of a magnet placed in the earth’s magnetic fields.
- identify the magnetic elements of the earth’s flux.
- determine the variation of earth’s magnetic field on the earth’s surface.
- examine the applications of the earth’s magnetic field.
Content
- Natural and artificial magnets.
- Magnetic properties of soft iron and steel.
- Methods of making magnets and demagnetization.
- Concept of magnetic field.
- Magnetic field of a permanent magnet.
- Magnetic field round a straight current carrying conductor, circular wire and solenoid.
- Properties of the earth’s magnetic field; north and south poles, magnetic meridian and angle of dip and declination.
- Flux and flux density.
- Variation of magnetic field intensity over the earth’s surface.
- Applications: earth’s magnetic field in navigation and mineral exploration.
Measurements and Units
- Combinations of fundamental quantities and determination of their units.
- determine the dimensions of physical quantities.
- use the dimensions to determine the units of physical quantities.
- test the homogeneity of an equation
- relate the fundamental physical quantities to their units.
- identify the units of length, area and volume.
- use different measuring instruments.
- determine the lengths, surface areas and volume of regular and irregular bodies.
- determine the accuracy of measuring instruments.
- estimate simple errors.
- express measurements in standard form.
- identify the unit of mass.
- use simple beam balance, e.g. Buchart’s balance and chemical balance.
- use strings, meter ruler and engineering calipers, vernier calipers and micrometer, screw guage.
- note the degree of accuracy.
- identify distance travel in a specified direction.
- use compass and protractor to locate points/directions.
- use Cartesians systems to locate positions in x-y plane.
- plot graph and draw inference from the graph.
- identify the unit of time.
- use different time-measuring devices.
Scalar and Vector Quantities
- distinguish between scalar and vector quantities.
- give examples of scalar and vector quantities.
- determine the resultant of two or more vectors.
- determine relative velocity.
- resolve vectors into two perpendicular components.
- use graphical methods to solve vector problems.
Motion
Linear motion
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- differentiate between speed, velocity and acceleration.
- deduce equations of uniformly accelerated motion.
- solve problems of motion under gravity.
- interpret distance-time graph and velocity-time graph.
- compute instantaneous velocity and acceleration.
Motion
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- identify different types of motion.
- solve numerical problem on collinear motion.
- identify force as cause of motion.
- identify push and pull as form of force.
- identify electric and magnetic attractions, gravitational pull as forms of field forces.
Motion in a Circle
- establish expression for angular velocity, angular acceleration and centripetal force.
- solve numerical problems involving motion in a circle.
Newton’s Law of Motion
- solve numerical problems involving impulse and momentum.
- interpretation of area under force-time graph.
- interpret NewtonÂ’s laws of motion.
- compare inertia, mass and force.
- deduce the relationship between mass and acceleration.
- interpret the law of conservation of linear momentum and application.
Projectile
- establish expressions for the range, maximum height and time of flight of projectiles.
- solve problems involving projectile motion.
Simple Harmonic Motion
- Definition and explanation of simple harmonic motion.
- Examples of systems that execute S.H.M.
- Period, frequency and amplitude of S.H.M.
- Velocity and acceleration of S.H.M.
- Simple treatment of energy change in S.H.M.
- Force vibration and resonance (simple treatment).
Optical Instrument
- apply the principles of operation of optical instruments to solve problems.
- distinguish between the human eye and the cameras.
- calculate the power of a lens.
- evaluate the angular magnification of optical instruments.
- determine the near and far points.
- detect sight defects and their corrections.
Pressure
- recognize the S.I units of pressure (Pa).
- identify pressure measuring instruments.
- relate the variation of pressure to height.
- use a barometer as an altimeter.
- The relationship between pressure, depth and density (P = ρgh).
- Transmission of pressure in liquids (PascalÂ’s Principle).
- Application.
Waves
Properties/Characteristics
- differentiate between reflection, refraction, diffraction and plane polarization of waves.
- analyse the principle of superposition of waves.
- solve numerical problems on waves.
- explain the phenomenon of beat, beat frequency and uses.
- explain Doppler effect of sound and application.
Classification
- differentiate between mechanical and electronmagnetic waves.
- differentiate between longitudinal and transverse waves.
- distinguish between stationary and progressive waves.
- indicate the example of waves generated from springs, ropes, stretched strings and the ripple tank.
Production and Propagation
- interpret wave motion.
- identify vibrating systems as sources of waves.
- use waves as a mode of energy transfer.
- distinguish between particle motion and wave motion.
- relate frequency and wave length to wave velocity.
- determine phase difference, wave number and wave vector.
- use the progressive wave equation to compute basic wave parameters.
Propagation of Sound Waves
- determine the need for a material medium in the propagation of sound waves.
- compare the speed of sound in solids, liquids and air.
- relate the effects of temperature and pressure to the speed of sound in air.
- solve problem on echoes, reverberation and speed.
- compare the disadvantages and advantages of echoes.
- solve problems on echo, reverberation and speed of sound.
Simple Machine
- Definition of simple machines.
- Types of machines.
- Mechanical advantage, velocity ratio and efficiency of machines.
Quantity of Heat
- Heat as a form of energy.
- Definition of heat capacity and specific heat capacity of solids and liquids.
- Determination of heat capacity and specific heat capacity of substances by simple methods e.g. method of mixtures and electrical method and Newton’s law of cooling.
Reflection of Light at Plane and Curved Surface
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- interpret the laws of reflection.
- illustrate the formation of images by plane, concave and convex mirrors.
- apply the mirror formula to solve optical problems.
- determine the linear magnification.
- apply the laws of reflection of light to the working of periscope, kaleidoscope and the sextant.
Content
- Laws of reflection.
- Application of reflection of light.
- Formation of images by plane, concave and convex mirrors and ray diagrams.
- Use of the mirror formula 1⁄f = 1⁄u + 1⁄v
- Linear magnification.
Refraction of Light Through Plane and Curved Surface
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- interpret the laws of reflection.
- determine the refractive index of glass and liquid using Snell’s law.
- determine the refractive index using the principle of real and apparent depth.
- determine the conditions necessary for total internal reflection.
- examine the use of periscope, prism, binoculars, optical fibre.
- apply the principles of total internal reflection to the formation of mirage.
Content
- Explanation of refraction in terms of velocity of light in the media.
- Laws of refraction.
- Definition of refractive index of a medium.
- Determination of refractive index of glass and liquid using Snell’s law.
- Real and apparent depth and lateral displacement.
- Critical angle and total internal reflection.
Read: Physics Scheme of Work
