It’s absolutely crucial to have the JAMB syllabus when preparing for your Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Studying without it is like navigating a maze blindfolded, potentially leading to wasted effort and a disappointing score. The JAMB syllabus acts as your roadmap, guiding you on the specific topics and areas you need to focus on.
The UTME 2025 syllabus in Physics is specifically designed to prepare you for the Board’s examination. It serves as a comprehensive guide, outlining the key areas you need to master.
The syllabus is structured to assess your understanding and achievement of the following course objectives:
- Sustaining Interest: Cultivating and maintaining your interest in the fascinating world of physics.
- Developing Essential Skills: Encouraging the development of accuracy, precision, and objectivity – crucial skills applicable not only to physics but also to various aspects of life.
- Understanding Physical Phenomena: Enhancing your ability to interpret physical phenomena, laws, definitions, concepts, and theories.
- Problem-Solving Prowess: Equipping you with the ability to solve physics problems correctly, using relevant theories and concepts.
Detailed Breakdown of the Physics Syllabus
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the topics covered in the JAMB Physics syllabus, along with their corresponding objectives, presented in a clear and organized table format:
| Topic | Subtopics | Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Measurements and Units | (a) Length, area, and volume (b) Mass (c) Time (d) Fundamental physical quantities (e) Derived physical quantities and their units (f) Dimensions (g) Limitations of experimental measurements (h) Measurement, position, distance, and displacement | i. Identify the units of length, area, and volume. ii. Use different measuring instruments. iii. Determine the lengths, surface areas, and volume of regular and irregular bodies. iv. Identify the unit of mass. v. Use simple beam balance. vi. Identify the unit of time. vii. Use different time-measuring devices. viii. Relate the fundamental physical quantities to their units. ix. Deduce the units of derived physical quantities. x. Determine the dimensions of physical quantities. xi. Use the dimensions to determine the units of physical quantities. xii. Test the homogeneity of an equation. xiii. Determine the accuracy of measuring instruments. xiv. Estimate simple errors. xv. Express measurements in standard form. |
| 2. Scalars and Vectors | (i) Definition of scalar and vector quantities (ii) Examples of scalar and vector quantities (iii) Relative velocity (iv) Resolution of vectors | i. Distinguish between scalar and vector quantities. ii. Give examples of scalar and vector quantities. iii. Determine the resultant of two or more vectors. iv. Determine relative velocity. v. Resolve vectors into two perpendicular components. vi. Use graphical methods to solve vector problems. |
| 3. Motion | (a) Types of motion (b) Relative motion (c) Causes of motion (d) Types of force (e) Linear motion (f) Projectiles (g) Newton’s laws of motion (h) Motion in a circle (i) Simple Harmonic Motion (S.H.M) | i. Identify different types of motion. ii. Solve numerical problems on collinear motion. iii. Identify force as a cause of motion. iv. Identify push and pull as forms of force. v. Identify electric and magnetic attractions, gravitational pull as forms of field forces. vi. Differentiate between speed, velocity, and acceleration. vii. Deduce equations of uniformly accelerated motion. viii. Solve problems of motion under gravity. ix. Interpret distance-time graphs and velocity-time graphs. x. Compute instantaneous velocity and acceleration. xi. Establish expressions for the range, maximum height, and time of flight of projectiles. xii. Solve problems involving projectile motion. xiii. Solve numerical problems involving impulse and momentum. xiv. Interpretation of area under force – time graph. xv. Interpret Newton’s laws of motion. xvi. Compare inertia, mass, and force. xvii. Deduce the relationship between mass and acceleration. xviii. Interpret the law of conservation of linear momentum and application. xix. Establish expression for angular velocity, angular acceleration, and centripetal force. xx. Solve numerical problems involving motion in a circle. xxi. Establish the relationship between period and frequency. xxii. Analyze the energy changes occurring during S.H.M. xxiii. Identify different types of forced vibration. xxiv. Enumerate applications of resonance. |
| 4. Gravitational Field | (i) Newton’s law of universal gravitation; (ii) Gravitational potential; (iii) Conservative and non-conservative fields; (iv) Acceleration due to gravity; (v) Variation of g on the earth’s surface; (vi) Distinction between mass and weight; escape velocity; (vii) Parking orbit and weightlessness. | i. Identify the expression for gravitational force between two bodies; ii. Apply Newton’s law of universal gravitation; iii. Give examples of conservative and non-conservative fields; iv. Deduce the expression for gravitational field potentials; v. Identify the causes of variation of g on the earth’s surface; vi. Differentiate between mass and weight; vii. Determine escape velocity |
| 5. Equilibrium of Forces | (a) Equilibrium of particles (b) Principles of moments (c) Conditions for equilibrium of rigid bodies (d) Centre of gravity and stability | i. Apply the conditions for the equilibrium of coplanar forces to solve problems; ii. Use triangle and polygon laws of forces to solve equilibrium problems; iii. Use Lami’s theorem to solve problems; iv. Analyze the principle of moment of a force; v. Determine moment of a force and couple; vi. Describe some applications of moment of a force and couple; vii. Apply the conditions for the equilibrium of rigid bodies to solve problems; viii. Resolve forces into two perpendicular directions; ix. Determine the resultant and equilibrant of forces; x. Differentiate between stable, unstable, and neutral equilibrium. |
| 6. Work, Energy, and Power | (a) (i) Definition of work, energy and power (ii) Forms of energy (vii) conservation of energy (iv) qualitative treatment between different forms of energy (viii) interpretation of area under the force-distance curve (b) Energy and society (i) sources of energy (ii) renewable and non-renewable energy eg coal, crude oil etc (iii) uses of energy (iv) energy and development (v) energy diversification (vi) environmental impact of energy eg global warming, green house effect and spillage (vii) energy crises (viii)conversion of energy (ix) devices used in energy production. (c) Dams and energy production (i) location of dams (ii) energy production (d) nuclear energy (e) solar energy (i) solar collector (ii) solar panel for energy supply. | i. differentiate between work, energy and power; ii. compare different forms of energy, giving examples; iii. apply the principle of conservation of energy; iv. examine the transformation between different forms of energy; v. interpret the area under the force-distance curve. vi. solve numerical problems in work, energy and power…. Candidates should be able to: i. itemize the sources of energy ii. distinguish between renewable and non- renewable energy, examples should be given iii. identify methods of energy transition iv. explain the importance of energy in the development of the society v. analyze the effect of energy use to the environment vi. identify the impact of energy on the environment vii. identify energy sources that are friendly or hazardous to the environment viii. identify energy uses in their immediate environment ix. suggests ways of safe energy use x. state different forms of energy conversion. |
| 7. Friction | (i) Static and dynamic friction (ii) Coefficient of limiting friction and its determination (iii) Advantages and disadvantages of friction (iv) Reduction of friction (v) Qualitative treatment of viscosity and terminal velocity (vi) Stoke’s law | i. Differentiate between static and dynamic friction ii.Determine the coefficient of limiting friction; iii.Compare the advantages and disadvantages of friction; iv. Suggest ways by which friction can be reduced; v. Analyse factors that affect viscosity and terminal velocity; vi. Apply Stoke’s law. |
| 8. Simple Machines | (i) Definition of simple machines (ii) Types of machines (iii) Mechanical advantage, velocity ratio, and efficiency of machines | i. Identify different types of simple machines; ii. Solve problems involving simple machines. |
| 9. Elasticity | (i) Elastic limit, yield point, breaking point, Hooke’s law, and Young’s modulus (ii) The spring balance as a device for measuring force (iii) Work done per unit volume in springs and elastic strings | i. Interpret force-extension curves; ii. Interpret Hooke’s law and Young’s modulus of a material; iii use spring balance to measure force; iv. Determine the work done in spring and elastic strings |
| 10. Pressure | (a) Atmospheric Pressure (b) Pressure in liquids | i. Recognize the S.I units of pressure; (Pa) ii. Identify pressure measuring instruments; iii. Relate the variation of pressure to height; iv. Use a barometer as an altimeter. v. Determine the relationship between pressure, depth and density; vi apply the principle of transmission of pressure in liquids to solve problems; vii. Determine and apply the principle of pressure in liquid; |
| 11. Liquids At Rest | (i) Determination of density of solids and liquids (ii) Definition of relative density (iii) Upthrust on a body immersed in a liquid (iv) Archimedes’ principle and law of floatation | i. Distinguish between density and relative density of substances; ii. Determine the upthrust on a body immersed in a liquid iii. Apply Archimedes’ principle and law of floatation to solve problems |
| 12. Temperature and Its Measurement | (i) concept of temperature (ii) thermometric properties (iii) calibration of thermometers (iv) temperature scales -Celsius and Kelvin. (v) types of thermometers (vi) conversion from one scale of temperature to another | i. identify thermometric properties of materials that are used for different thermometers; ii. calibrate thermometers; iii. differentiate between temperature scales e.g Celsius and Kelvin. iv. compare the types of thermometers; vi. convert from one scale of temperature to another. |
| 13. Thermal Expansion | (a) Solids (b) Liquids | i. determine linear and volume expansivities; ii. assess the effects and applications of thermal expansivities iii. determine the relationship between different expansivities. iv. determine volume, apparent, and real expansivities of liquids; v. analyse the anomalous expansion of water. |
| 14. Gas Laws | (i) Boyle’s law (isothermal process) (ii) Charles’ law (isobaric process) (iii) Pressure law (volumetric process (iv) absolute zero of temperature (v) general gas equation ($$\frac{PV}{T}$$ = constant) (vi) ideal gas equation Eg. Pv = nRT (vii) Van der waal gas | i. interpret the gas laws; ii. use expression of these laws to solve numerical problems. iii. interpret Van der waal equation for one mole of a real gas |
| 15. Quantity of Heat | (i) heat as a form of energy (ii) definition of heat capacity and specific heat capacity of solids and liquids (iii) determination of heat capacity and specific heat capacity of substances by simple methods e.g method of mixtures and electrical method and N | i. show that heat is a form of energy ii. differentiate between heat capacity and specific heat capacity iii. determine heat capacities and specific heat capacities of substances by methods. |
By diligently studying each topic and objective outlined in this syllabus, you’ll significantly increase your chances of success in the JAMB UTME Physics examination. Good luck!
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