JAMB Physics Syllabus

Contents / notes

• Fundamental units: length, mass, time, electric charge, temperature, luminous intensity and amount of substance.
• Derived units: weight, area, volume, force and speed.
• Measuring instruments: vernier calipers, metre rule, micrometer screw gauge, measuring cylinder, stopwatch and beam balance.
• Fundamental physical quantities.
• Derived physical quantities and their units.
• Combinations of fundamental quantities and determination of their units.
• Dimensions: definition and simple examples.
• Limitations of experimental measurements: accuracy of measuring instruments, estimation of errors, significant figures and standard form.

Candidate objectives

• Identify the units of length, area and volume.
• Use different measuring instruments.
• Determine the lengths, surface areas and volumes of regular and irregular bodies.
• Identify the unit of mass.
• Use simple beam balances, such as Buchart's balance and chemical balance.
• Identify the unit of time.
• Use different time-measuring devices.
• Relate fundamental physical quantities to their units.
• Deduce the units of derived physical quantities.
• Determine the dimensions of physical quantities.
• Use dimensions to determine the units of physical quantities.
• Test the homogeneity of an equation.
• Determine the accuracy of measuring instruments.
• Estimate simple errors.
• Express measurements in standard form.

Contents / notes

• Definition of scalar and vector quantities.
• Examples of scalar and vector quantities.
• Relative velocity.
• Resolution of vectors into two perpendicular directions, including graphical methods of solution.

Candidate objectives

• 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.

Contents / notes

• Concept of displacement.
• Distinction between distance and displacement.
• Concept of position and coordinates.
• Frame of reference.

Candidate objectives

• Use strings, metre rules, engineering calipers, vernier calipers and micrometer screw gauges for measurement.
• Note the degree of accuracy of measurements.
• Identify distance travelled in a specified direction.
• Use a compass and protractor to locate points and directions.
• Use Cartesian coordinate systems to locate positions in the x-y plane.
• Plot graphs and draw inferences from graphs.

Contents / notes

• Newton's laws of motion.
• Inertia, mass and force.
• Relationship between mass and acceleration.
• Impulse and momentum.
• Force-time graphs.
• Conservation of linear momentum; coefficient of restitution is not required.
• Types of motion: translational, oscillatory, rotational, spin and random.
• Relative motion.
• Causes of motion.
• Types of force: contact forces and force fields.

Candidate objectives

• Identify different types of motion.
• Solve numerical problems on collinear motion.
• Identify force as a cause of motion.
• Identify push and pull as forms of force.
• Identify electric and magnetic attractions and gravitational pull as forms of field forces.
• Interpret Newton'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 its applications.
• Interpret the area under a force-time graph.
• Solve numerical problems involving impulse and momentum.

Contents / notes

• Speed, velocity and acceleration.
• Equations of uniformly accelerated motion.
• Motion under gravity.
• Distance-time and velocity-time graphs.
• Instantaneous velocity and acceleration.

Candidate objectives

• Differentiate between speed, velocity and acceleration.
• Deduce equations of uniformly accelerated motion.
• Solve problems involving motion under gravity.
• Interpret distance-time and velocity-time graphs.
• Compute instantaneous velocity and acceleration.

Contents / notes

• Calculation of range, maximum height and time of flight from the ground and from a height.
• Applications of projectile motion.

Candidate objectives

• Establish expressions for the range, maximum height and time of flight of projectiles, rockets and missiles.
• Solve problems involving projectile motion.

Contents / notes

• Angular velocity and angular acceleration.
• Centripetal and centrifugal forces.
• Applications of circular motion.

Candidate objectives

• Establish expressions for angular velocity, angular acceleration and centripetal force.
• Solve numerical problems involving motion in a circle.

Contents / notes

• Definition and explanation of simple harmonic motion.
• Examples of systems that execute SHM.
• Period, frequency and amplitude of SHM.
• Velocity and acceleration of SHM.
• Simple treatment of energy changes in SHM.
• Forced vibration and resonance: simple treatment.

Candidate objectives

• Establish the relationship between period and frequency.
• Analyse energy changes occurring during SHM.
• Identify different types of forced vibration.
• Enumerate applications of resonance.

Contents / notes

• 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.

Candidate objectives

• 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 potential.
• Identify the causes of variation of g on the Earth's surface.
• Differentiate between mass and weight.
• Determine escape velocity.
• Relate the expression for gravitational force between two bodies.

Contents / notes

• Equilibrium of particles.
• Equilibrium of coplanar forces.
• Triangles and polygon of forces.
• Lami's theorem.
• Principles of moments.
• Moment of a force.
• Simple treatment and moment of a couple (torque).
• Applications of moments.
• Conditions for equilibrium of rigid bodies under parallel and non-parallel forces.
• Resolution and composition of forces in two perpendicular directions.
• Resultant and equilibrant.
• Centre of gravity and stability.
• Stable, unstable and neutral equilibrium.

Candidate objectives

• Apply the conditions for equilibrium of coplanar forces to solve problems.
• Use the triangle and polygon laws of forces to solve equilibrium problems.
• Use Lami's theorem to solve problems.
• Analyse the principle of moments of a force.
• Determine the moment of a force and a couple.
• Describe applications of moments of a force and a couple.
• Apply the conditions for equilibrium of rigid bodies to solve problems.
• Resolve forces into two perpendicular directions.
• Determine the resultant and equilibrant of forces.
• Differentiate between stable, unstable and neutral equilibrium.

Contents / notes

• 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 velocity.
• Stokes' law.

Candidate objectives

• Differentiate between static and dynamic friction.
• Determine the coefficient of limiting friction.
• Compare the advantages and disadvantages of friction.
• Suggest ways of reducing friction.
• Analyse factors that affect viscosity and terminal velocity.
• Apply Stokes' law.

Contents / notes

• Definitions of work, energy and power.
• Forms of energy.
• Conservation of energy.
• Qualitative treatment of transformations between different forms of energy.
• Interpretation of area under the force-distance curve.

Candidate objectives

• Differentiate between work, energy and power.
• Compare different forms of energy, giving examples.
• Apply the principle of conservation of energy.
• Examine transformations between different forms of energy.
• Interpret the area under a force-distance curve.
• Solve numerical problems involving work, energy and power.

Contents / notes

• Sources of energy.
• Renewable and non-renewable energy, including coal, crude oil, the Sun and wind.
• Uses of energy.
• Energy and development.
• Energy diversification.
• Environmental impacts of energy, including global warming, the greenhouse effect and spillage.
• Energy crises.
• Conversion of energy.
• Devices used in energy production.
• Photovoltaic cells.
• Work function and the photoelectric effect: the source lists the relation φ = hf.
• Planck's constant.

Candidate objectives

• Itemise sources of energy.
• Distinguish between renewable and non-renewable energy and give examples.
• Identify methods of energy transition.
• Explain the importance of energy in societal development.
• Analyse the effects of energy use on the environment.
• Identify the impacts of energy on the environment.
• Identify energy sources that are environmentally friendly or hazardous.
• Identify energy uses in the immediate environment.
• Suggest ways of using energy safely.
• State different forms of energy conversion.
• Recognise photovoltaic cells.
• Understand the work function relation given in the syllabus.
• Recognise Planck's constant.

Contents / notes

• Location of dams.
• Energy production.

Candidate objectives

• Identify the role of dams in energy production.
• Relate dam location to energy production.

Contents / notes

• Nuclear energy.

Candidate objectives

• Understand nuclear energy as a source of energy.

Contents / notes

• Photoelectric effect.
• Solar collector.
• Solar panel for energy supply.

Candidate objectives

• Understand the photoelectric effect in relation to solar energy.
• Identify solar collectors.
• Identify solar panels used for energy supply.

Contents / notes

• Definition of simple machines.
• Types of machines.
• Mechanical advantage, velocity ratio and efficiency of machines.

Candidate objectives

• Identify different types of simple machines.
• Solve problems involving simple machines.

Contents / notes

• Hooke's law and Young's modulus.
• Elastic limit, yield point and breaking point.
• Spring balance as a device for measuring force.
• Work done per unit volume in springs and elastic strings.

Candidate objectives

• Interpret force-extension curves.
• Interpret Hooke's law and Young's modulus of a material.
• Use a spring balance to measure force.
• Determine the work done in springs and elastic strings.

Contents / notes

• Definition of atmospheric pressure.
• SI unit of pressure: pascal (Pa).
• Measurement of pressure.
• Simple mercury barometer, aneroid barometer and manometer.
• Variation of pressure with height.
• Use of a barometer as an altimeter.

Candidate objectives

• Recognise the SI unit of pressure (Pa).
• Identify pressure-measuring instruments.
• Relate variations in pressure to height.
• Use a barometer as an altimeter.

Contents / notes

• Relationship between pressure, depth and density: P = ρgh.
• Transmission of pressure in liquids (Pascal's principle).
• Applications of pressure in liquids.

Candidate objectives

• Determine the relationship between pressure, depth and density.
• Apply the principle of transmission of pressure in liquids to solve problems.
• Determine and apply the principle of pressure in liquids.

Contents / notes

• Determination of the density of solids and liquids.
• Definition of relative density.
• Upthrust on a body immersed in a liquid.
• Archimedes' principle and the law of floatation, including applications such as ships and hydrometers.

Candidate objectives

• Distinguish between density and relative density of substances.
• Determine the upthrust on a body immersed in a liquid.
• Apply Archimedes' principle and the law of floatation to solve problems.

Contents / notes

• Concept of temperature.
• Thermometric properties.
• Calibration of thermometers.
• Temperature scales: Celsius and Kelvin.
• Types of thermometers.
• Conversion from one temperature scale to another.

Candidate objectives

• Identify thermometric properties of materials used in different thermometers.
• Calibrate thermometers.
• Differentiate between temperature scales, including Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvin.
• Compare types of thermometers.
• Convert from one temperature scale to another.

Contents / notes

• Heat as a form of energy.
• Heat capacity and specific heat capacity of solids and liquids.
• Determination of heat capacity and specific heat capacity by simple methods, including the method of mixtures, electrical method and Newton's law of cooling.

Candidate objectives

• Differentiate between heat capacity and specific heat capacity.
• Determine heat capacity and specific heat capacity using simple methods.
• Solve numerical problems involving heat capacity and specific heat capacity.

Contents / notes

• Latent heat.
• Specific latent heats of fusion and vaporisation.
• Melting, evaporation and boiling.
• Influence of pressure and dissolved substances on boiling and melting points.
• Applications in appliances.

Candidate objectives

• Differentiate between latent heat and specific latent heats of fusion and vaporisation.
• Differentiate between melting, evaporation and boiling.
• Examine the effects of pressure and dissolved substances on boiling and melting points.
• Solve numerical problems involving change of state.

Contents / notes

• Definition and determination of linear, volume and area expansivities.
• Effects and applications, including expansion joints in buildings and railway lines.
• Relationship between different expansivities.

Candidate objectives

• Determine linear and volume expansivities.
• Assess the effects and applications of thermal expansivity.
• Determine the relationship between different expansivities.

Contents / notes

• Volume expansivity.
• Real and apparent expansivities.
• Determination of volume expansivity.
• Anomalous expansion of water.

Candidate objectives

• Determine volume, apparent and real expansivities of liquids.
• Analyse the anomalous expansion of water.

Contents / notes

• Boyle's law (isothermal process).
• Charles's law (isobaric process).
• Pressure law (volumetric process).
• Absolute zero of temperature.
• General gas equation: PV/T = constant.
• Ideal gas equation, for example PV = nRT.
• Van der Waals gas equation.

Candidate objectives

• Interpret the gas laws.
• Use the expressions for gas laws to solve numerical problems.
• Interpret the Van der Waals equation for one mole of a real gas.

Contents / notes

• Unsaturated and saturated vapours.
• Relationship between saturated vapour pressure (SVP) and boiling.
• Determination of SVP by the barometer tube method.
• Formation of dew, mist, fog, cloud and rain.
• Dew point, humidity and relative humidity.
• Hygrometry and estimation of atmospheric humidity using wet- and dry-bulb hygrometers.

Candidate objectives

• Distinguish between saturated and unsaturated vapours.
• Relate saturated vapour pressure to boiling point.
• Determine saturated vapour pressure by the barometer tube method.
• Differentiate between dew point, humidity and relative humidity.
• Estimate atmospheric humidity using wet- and dry-bulb hygrometers.
• Solve numerical problems involving vapours and humidity.

Contents / notes

• Atoms and molecules.
• Molecular theory and explanations of Brownian motion, diffusion, surface tension, capillarity, adhesion, cohesion and angles of contact.
• Law of definite proportions.
• Examples and applications.

Candidate objectives

• Differentiate between atoms and molecules.
• Use molecular theory to explain Brownian motion, diffusion, surface tension, capillarity, adhesion, cohesion and angle of contact.

Contents / notes

• Assumptions of the kinetic theory.
• Application of kinetic theory to explain gas pressure, Boyle's law, Charles's law, melting, boiling, vaporisation, changes in temperature and evaporation.

Candidate objectives

• Examine the assumptions of kinetic theory.
• Use kinetic theory to interpret gas pressure, Boyle's law, Charles's law, melting, boiling, vaporisation, changes in temperature and evaporation.

Contents / notes

• Conduction, convection and radiation as modes of heat transfer.
• Temperature gradient, thermal conductivity and heat flux.
• Effect of surface nature on energy radiated and absorbed.
• Conductivities of common materials.
• Thermos flask and vacuum flask.
• Land and sea breezes.
• Combustion engines.

Candidate objectives

• Differentiate between conduction, convection and radiation.
• Solve problems on temperature gradient, thermal conductivity and heat flux.
• Assess the effect of surface nature on energy radiated and absorbed.
• Compare the conductivities of common materials.
• Relate the component parts to the operation of a thermos flask.
• Differentiate between land and sea breezes.
• Analyse the operating principles of internal combustion engines, jet engines and rockets.
• Understand the advantages and disadvantages of electric engines compared with combustion engines.

Contents / notes

• Wave motion.
• Vibrating systems as sources of waves.
• Waves as a mode of energy transfer.
• Distinction between particle motion and wave motion.
• Relationship between frequency, wavelength and wave velocity: v = fλ.
• Phase difference, wave number and wave vector.
• Progressive wave equation.

Candidate objectives

• Interpret wave motion.
• Identify vibrating systems as sources of waves.
• Explain waves as a mode of energy transfer.
• Distinguish between particle motion and wave motion.
• Relate frequency and wavelength to wave velocity.
• Determine phase difference, wave number and wave vector.
• Use the progressive wave equation to compute basic wave parameters.
• Work with examples involving wave equations.

Contents / notes

• Mechanical and electromagnetic waves.
• Longitudinal and transverse waves.
• Stationary and progressive waves.
• Examples of waves from springs, ropes, stretched strings and ripple tanks.

Candidate objectives

• Differentiate between mechanical and electromagnetic waves.
• Differentiate between longitudinal and transverse waves.
• Distinguish between stationary and progressive waves.
• Identify examples of waves generated from springs, ropes, stretched strings and ripple tanks.

Contents / notes

• Reflection, refraction, diffraction and plane polarisation.
• Superposition of waves, including interference.
• Beats.
• Doppler effect: qualitative treatment only.

Candidate objectives

• Differentiate between reflection, refraction, diffraction and plane polarisation of waves.
• Analyse the principle of superposition of waves.
• Solve numerical problems on waves.
• Explain beats, beat frequency and their uses.
• Explain the Doppler effect of sound and its applications.

Contents / notes

• Need for a material medium.
• Speed of sound in solids, liquids and air.
• Reflection of sound, echoes and reverberation, including applications.
• Advantages and disadvantages of echoes and reverberation.

Candidate objectives

• 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 problems involving echoes, reverberation and speed of sound.
• Compare the advantages and disadvantages of echoes.

Contents / notes

• Noise and musical notes.
• Quality, pitch, intensity and loudness and their applications to musical instruments.
• Simple treatment of harmonics and overtones produced by vibrating strings and air columns.
• Acoustic examples of resonance.
• Frequency of notes emitted by air columns in closed and open pipes in relation to their lengths.

Candidate objectives

• Differentiate between noise and musical notes.
• Analyse the quality, pitch, intensity and loudness of sound notes.
• Evaluate the application of sound characteristics in the construction of musical instruments.
• Identify overtones produced by vibrating strings and air columns.
• List acoustic examples of resonance.
• Determine the frequencies of notes emitted by air columns in open and closed pipes in relation to their lengths.
• Solve problems involving echoes, reverberation and the speed of sound.

Contents / notes

• Natural and artificial sources of light.
• Luminous and non-luminous objects.
• Speed, frequency and wavelength of light.
• Formation of shadows and eclipses.
• The pinhole camera.

Candidate objectives

• Compare natural and artificial sources of light.
• Differentiate between luminous and non-luminous objects.
• Relate the speed, frequency and wavelength of light.
• Interpret the formation of shadows and eclipses.
• Solve problems using the principle of operation of a pinhole camera.

Contents / notes

• Laws of reflection.
• Applications of reflection of light.
• Formation of images by plane, concave and convex mirrors, including ray diagrams.
• Mirror formula: 1/f = 1/u + 1/v.
• Linear and angular magnification.

Candidate objectives

• 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 linear magnification.
• Apply the laws of reflection to the operation of periscopes, kaleidoscopes and sextants.

Contents / notes

• Laws of refraction.
• Explanation of refraction in terms of the velocity of light in different media.
• Definition of refractive index.
• Determination of the refractive index of glass and liquids using Snell's law.
• Real and apparent depth and lateral displacement.
• Critical angle and total internal reflection.
• Glass prisms and the minimum deviation formula.
• Types of lenses.
• Lens formula: 1/f = 1/u + 1/v.
• Newton's formula as stated in the source: F² = ab.
• Magnification.

Candidate objectives

• Interpret the laws of refraction.
• Determine the refractive index of glass and liquids using Snell's law.
• Determine the focal length of curved surfaces.
• Determine refractive index using the principle of real and apparent depth.
• Determine the conditions necessary for total internal reflection.
• Examine the uses of periscopes, prisms, binoculars and optical fibres.
• Apply total internal reflection to explain the formation of mirages.
• Use the lens formula and ray diagrams to solve optical numerical problems.
• Determine the magnification of an image.
• Calculate the refractive index of a glass prism using the minimum deviation formula.
• Trace rays through an optical prism.

Contents / notes

• General principles of microscopes, telescopes, projectors, cameras and the human eye; physiological details of the eye are not required.
• Power of a lens.
• Angular magnification.
• Near and far points.
• Sight defects and their correction.

Candidate objectives

• Apply the principles of operation of optical instruments to solve problems.
• Distinguish between the human eye and cameras.
• Calculate the power of a lens.
• Evaluate the angular magnification of optical instruments.
• Determine the near and far points.
• Identify sight defects and their corrections.

Contents / notes

• Dispersion of white light by a triangular prism.
• Production of a pure spectrum.
• Colour mixing by addition and subtraction.
• Colour of objects and colour filters.
• Rainbow and its formation.
• Electromagnetic spectrum: description of sources and uses of various types of radiation.

Candidate objectives

• Identify primary colours and obtain secondary colours by mixing.
• Understand the formation of a rainbow.
• Explain why objects have colours.
• Analyse colours using colour filters.
• Analyse the electromagnetic spectrum in relation to wavelengths, sources, detection and uses.
• Define monochromatic light.

Contents / notes

• 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, potential and potential difference.
• Electric discharge and lightning.

Candidate objectives

• Identify electric charges.
• Examine the uses of an electroscope.
• Apply Coulomb's inverse-square law to solve problems.
• Deduce expressions for electric field intensity and potential difference.
• Identify electric field flux patterns of isolated and interacting charges.
• Analyse charge distribution on a conductor and its use in lightning conductors.
• Charge a body by friction, induction and contact.

Contents / notes

• Types and functions of capacitors.
• Parallel-plate capacitors.
• Capacitance of a capacitor.
• Relationship between capacitance, plate area, separation of plates and the medium between the plates.
• Capacitors in series and parallel.
• Energy stored in a capacitor.

Candidate objectives

• Determine the uses of capacitors.
• Analyse parallel-plate capacitors.
• Determine the capacitance of a capacitor.
• Analyse factors that affect capacitance.
• Solve problems involving arrangements of capacitors.
• Determine the energy stored in capacitors.

Contents / notes

• Simple voltaic cell and its defects.
• Daniell cell and Leclanché cell, wet and dry.
• Lead-acid accumulator, nickel-iron (NiFe), lithium-ion and mercury-cadmium cells as listed in the source.
• Maintenance of cells and batteries; detailed chemistry of a cell is not required.
• Arrangement of cells.
• Efficiency of a cell.

Candidate objectives

• Identify defects of the simple voltaic cell and their corrections.
• Compare different types of cells, including solar cells.
• Compare the advantages of lead-acid and nickel-iron accumulators.
• Solve problems involving series and parallel combinations of cells.

Contents / notes

• Electromotive force (emf), potential difference (p.d.), current, internal resistance of a cell and lost volts.
• Ohm's law, resistivity and conductivity.
• Measurement of resistance.
• Metre bridge.
• Resistance in series and parallel and their combinations.
• Potentiometer method of measuring emf, current and internal resistance of a cell.
• Electrical networks.

Candidate objectives

• Differentiate between emf, potential difference, current and internal resistance of a cell.
• Apply Ohm's law to solve problems.
• Use a metre bridge to calculate resistance.
• Compute effective total resistance for series and parallel arrangements.
• Determine the resistivity and conductivity of a conductor.
• Measure emf, current and internal resistance of a cell using a potentiometer.
• Identify the advantages of a potentiometer.
• Apply Kirchhoff's laws in electrical networks.

Contents / notes

• Concepts of electrical energy and power.
• Commercial units of electrical energy and power.
• Electric power transmission.
• Heating effects of electric current.
• Electrical wiring of houses.
• Use of fuses.

Candidate objectives

• Apply expressions for electrical energy and power to solve problems.
• Analyse how power is transmitted from a power station to consumers.
• Identify the heating effects of current and their uses.
• Identify the advantages of parallel arrangements over series arrangements.
• Determine the fuse rating.

Contents / notes

• Natural and artificial magnets.
• Magnetic properties of soft iron and steel.
• Methods of making magnets and demagnetisation.
• Concept of a magnetic field.
• Magnetic field of a permanent magnet.
• Magnetic field around a straight current-carrying conductor, circular wire and solenoid.
• Properties of the Earth's magnetic field: north and south poles, magnetic meridian, angle of dip and declination.
• Magnetic flux and flux density.
• Variation of magnetic field intensity over the Earth's surface.
• Applications of the Earth's magnetic field in navigation and mineral exploration.

Candidate objectives

• Give examples of natural and artificial magnets.
• Differentiate between the magnetic properties of soft iron and steel.
• Identify methods of making and demagnetising magnets.
• Describe how to prevent a magnet from losing its magnetism.
• Determine the flux pattern of an isolated magnet.
• Determine the flux pattern when two magnets are placed together pole to pole.
• Determine the flux of a current-carrying conductor, circular wire and solenoid, including solenoid polarity.
• Determine the flux pattern of a magnet placed in the Earth's magnetic field.
• Identify the magnetic elements of the Earth's field.
• Determine variations in the Earth's magnetic field over its surface.
• Examine applications of the Earth's magnetic field.

Contents / notes

• Quantitative treatment of force between two parallel current-carrying conductors.
• Force on a charge moving in a magnetic field.
• The direct-current (DC) motor.
• Electromagnets.
• Carbon microphone.
• Moving-coil and moving-iron instruments.
• Conversion of galvanometers to ammeters and voltmeters using shunts and multipliers.
• Sensitivity of a galvanometer.

Candidate objectives

• Determine the direction of force on a current-carrying conductor using Fleming's left-hand rule.
• Interpret attractive and repulsive forces between two parallel current-carrying conductors using diagrams.
• Determine the relationship between force, magnetic field strength, velocity and the angle at which a charge enters the field.
• Interpret the working of a DC motor.
• Analyse the principles of electromagnets and give examples of their applications.
• Compare moving-iron and moving-coil instruments.
• Convert a galvanometer into an ammeter or voltmeter.
• Identify factors affecting the sensitivity of a galvanometer.

Contents / notes

• Faraday's laws of electromagnetic induction.
• Lenz's law as an illustration of conservation of energy.
• Factors affecting induced emf.
• AC and DC generators.
• Transformers.
• Induction coil.

Candidate objectives

• Interpret the laws of electromagnetic induction.
• Identify factors affecting induced emf.
• Recognise how Lenz's law illustrates conservation of energy.
• Interpret the diagrammatic setup of AC generators.
• Identify types of transformers.
• Examine the operating principles of transformers.
• Assess the functions of an induction coil.
• Draw conclusions from the operating principles of an induction coil.

Contents / notes

• Explanation of inductance.
• Unit of inductance.
• Energy stored in an inductor: E = 1/2 LI².
• Applications and uses of inductors.

Candidate objectives

• Interpret the inductance of an inductor.
• Recognise the units of inductance.
• Calculate effective total inductance in series and parallel arrangements.
• Deduce the expression for energy stored in an inductor.
• Examine applications of inductors.

Contents / notes

• Reduction of eddy currents.
• Applications of eddy currents.
• Effects of eddy currents.

Candidate objectives

• Describe methods by which eddy-current losses can be reduced.
• Determine ways in which eddy currents can be used.

Contents / notes

• Explanation of AC current and voltage.
• Peak and RMS values.
• AC source connected to a resistor.
• AC source connected to a capacitor and capacitive reactance.
• AC source connected to an inductor and inductive reactance.
• R-L-C circuits.
• Vector diagrams, phase angle and power factor.
• Resistance and impedance.
• Effective voltage in R-L-C circuits.
• Resonance and resonant frequency.

Candidate objectives

• Identify AC current and DC voltage, as stated in the source.
• Differentiate between peak and RMS values of AC.
• Determine the phase difference between current and voltage.
• Interpret R-L-C circuits.
• Analyse vector diagrams.
• Calculate effective voltage, reactance and impedance.
• Recognise the conditions under which a circuit is at resonance.
• Determine the resonant frequency of an R-L-C arrangement.
• Determine instantaneous power, average power and power factor in AC circuits.

Contents / notes

• Electrolytes and non-electrolytes.
• Concept of electrolysis.
• Faraday's laws of electrolysis.
• Applications of electrolysis, including electroplating and calibration of ammeters.

Candidate objectives

• Distinguish between electrolytes and non-electrolytes.
• Analyse the processes of electrolysis.
• Apply Faraday's laws of electrolysis to solve problems.

Contents / notes

• Discharge through gases: qualitative treatment only.
• Applications of conduction of electricity through gases.

Candidate objectives

• Analyse discharge through gases.
• Determine applications and uses of conduction of electricity through gases.

Contents / notes

• Bohr's theory, Rutherford's theory and radioactivity.
• 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 emission and photoelectric effects.
• Simple method of producing X-rays.
• Properties and applications of alpha, beta and gamma rays.
• Half-life and decay constant.
• Basic ideas of energy production by fusion and fission.
• Binding energy, mass defect and Einstein's energy equation: ΔE = Δmc².
• Wave-particle duality of matter.
• Electron diffraction.
• Uncertainty principle.

Candidate objectives

• Identify models of the atom and state their limitations.
• Describe the elementary structure of the atom.
• Differentiate between atomic energy levels and spectra.
• Compare thermionic emission and photoelectric emission.
• Apply Einstein's equation to solve photoelectric-effect problems.
• Calculate stopping potential.
• Relate applications to thermionic emission and photoelectric effects.
• Interpret the process involved in producing X-rays.
• Identify properties and applications of X-rays.
• Analyse elementary radioactivity.
• Distinguish between stable and unstable nuclei.
• Identify isotopes of an element.
• Compare the properties of alpha, beta and gamma rays.
• Relate half-life and decay constant of a radioactive element.
• Determine binding energy, mass defect and Einstein's energy equation.
• Analyse wave-particle duality.
• Solve numerical problems based on the uncertainty principle and wave-particle duality.

Contents / notes

• Distinction between metals, semiconductors and insulators; elementary knowledge of band gap is required.
• Intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors, including n-type and p-type semiconductors.
• Uses of semiconductors and diodes in rectification and transistors in amplification.
• Elementary knowledge of diodes and transistors.

Candidate objectives

• Differentiate between conductors, semiconductors and insulators.
• Distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors.
• Distinguish between electron and hole carriers.
• Analyse diodes and transistors.
• Relate diodes to rectification and transistors to amplification.

Contents / notes

• Concept of fibre optics.
• Principle of transmission of light through an optical fibre.
• Applications of fibre optics in local area networks (LAN), medicine and laser systems, as listed in the source.

Candidate objectives

• Explain the concept of fibre optics.
• Understand the principle of transmission of light through an optical fibre.
• Apply the principle of fibre optics in LAN, medicine and laser-related applications.

Contents / notes

• Meaning of laser.
• Types of lasers: solid-state, gas, liquid and semiconductor lasers.
• Applications in scientific research, communication, medicine, military technology and holograms.
• Dangers involved in using lasers.

Candidate objectives

• Understand the meaning of laser.
• Identify the various types of lasers.
• Apply knowledge of lasers in scientific research, communication, medicine, military technology and holography.
• Identify the dangers involved in using lasers.