JAMB Physics Syllabus 2027: Full Topics, Objectives and Recommended Textbooks

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Last updated: October, 2026

Writing Physics in the 2027 UTME? The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) syllabus tells you exactly what the examiners can ask, so you can practise the right topics instead of everything.

This page lists all 40 topics in the official JAMB Physics syllabus, the skills you are expected to show on each one, and the textbooks JAMB recommends. You will also find a six-week study plan, sample questions and answers to frequently asked questions.

Quick Facts

• Exam: Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), computer-based
• Subject: Physics
• Total topics: 40 main topics, numbered 1 to 40 in the official syllabus
• Calculation-heavy: most topics involve numerical problems, graphs and formulae
• Newer content: energy and society, solar energy, fibre optics and lasers
• Source: Official JAMB syllabus

In This Guide

1. Aim and objectives of the syllabus
2. The topic groups at a glance
3. Detailed syllabus (topics and what you should be able to do)
4. Recommended textbooks
5. Six-week study plan
6. Sample questions
7. Subject combinations
8. FAQs

Aim and Objectives

The aim of the UTME Physics syllabus is to prepare candidates for the Board’s examination and test how well they have achieved the course objectives. Candidates are expected to:

• Sustain their interest in physics.
• Develop attitudes relevant to physics that encourage accuracy, precision and objectivity.
• Interpret physical phenomena, laws, definitions, concepts and other theories.
• Demonstrate the ability to solve physics problems correctly using relevant theories and concepts.

The Topic Groups at a Glance

JAMB lists the 40 Physics topics in one numbered list without sections. To make the page easier to study, we have grouped them below. The topic numbers are the official ones.

• Measurement, Motion and Forces (topics 1 to 9): measurements and units, scalars and vectors, motion, gravitational field, equilibrium of forces, friction, work, energy and power, simple machines, elasticity
• Fluids and Heat (topics 10 to 19): pressure, liquids at rest, temperature, quantity of heat, change of state, thermal expansion, gas laws, vapours, structure of matter and kinetic theory, heat transfer
• Waves, Sound and Light (topics 20 to 27): waves, sound, light, reflection, refraction, optical instruments, dispersion and the electromagnetic spectrum
• Electricity and Magnetism (topics 28 to 37): electrostatics, capacitors, cells, current electricity, electrical energy and power, magnets, force on a conductor, electromagnetic induction, a.c. circuits and conduction through liquids and gases
• Modern Physics and Electronics (topics 38 to 40): elementary modern physics, introductory electronics, fibre optics and lasers

Detailed Syllabus

Measurement, Motion and Forces

1. Measurements and Units
   • Fundamental units (length, mass, time, electric charge, temperature, luminous intensity, amount of substance), derived units, measuring instruments (vernier caliper, metre rule, micrometer screw gauge, measuring cylinder, stop watch, beam balance), dimensions, and limitations of measurement (accuracy, error estimation, significant figures, standard form)
   • You should be able to: use the instruments, deduce units and dimensions of derived quantities, test the homogeneity of an equation, estimate simple errors and express measurements in standard form.
2. Scalars and Vectors; Position, Distance and Displacement
   • Scalar and vector quantities, relative velocity, resolution of vectors into perpendicular components, graphical solution, displacement, position and coordinates, and frame of reference
   • You should be able to: determine resultants, resolve vectors, use graphical methods, and plot and interpret graphs.
3. Motion
   • Newton’s laws of motion (inertia, mass and force, impulse and momentum, conservation of linear momentum), types of motion, relative motion, types of force, linear motion (speed, velocity, acceleration, equations of uniformly accelerated motion, motion under gravity, distance-time and velocity-time graphs), projectiles, motion in a circle (angular velocity, centripetal and centrifugal forces) and simple harmonic motion (period, frequency, amplitude, energy changes, forced vibration and resonance)
   • You should be able to: solve numerical problems on linear motion, projectiles, impulse and momentum, and circular motion, interpret motion graphs, and analyse the energy changes in S.H.M.
4. Gravitational Field
   • Newton’s law of universal gravitation, gravitational potential, conservative and non-conservative fields, acceleration due to gravity and its variation, mass versus weight, escape velocity, parking orbit and weightlessness
5. Equilibrium of Forces
   • Equilibrium of coplanar forces, triangle and polygon of forces, Lami’s theorem, moment of a force and of a couple, conditions for equilibrium of rigid bodies, resultant and equilibrant, centre of gravity, and stable, unstable and neutral equilibrium
6. Friction
   • Static and dynamic friction, the coefficient of limiting friction, advantages and disadvantages, reducing friction, viscosity and terminal velocity, and Stokes’ law
7. Work, Energy and Power
   • Definitions, forms of energy, conservation of energy, the area under a force-distance curve
   • Energy and society: sources of energy, renewable and non-renewable energy, uses, development, diversification, environmental impact (global warming, greenhouse effect, spillage), energy crises and conversion
   • Dams and energy production, nuclear energy, and solar energy (the photoelectric effect, photovoltaic cells, work function and Planck’s constant, solar collectors and solar panels)
   • You should be able to: solve problems on work, energy and power, apply the conservation of energy, distinguish renewable from non-renewable sources, and assess the environmental effects of energy use.
8. Simple Machines
   • Types of machines, mechanical advantage, velocity ratio and efficiency
9. Elasticity
   • Hooke’s law and Young’s modulus, elastic limit, yield point and breaking point, the spring balance, and work done per unit volume in springs and elastic strings

Fluids and Heat

10. Pressure
    • Atmospheric pressure and units (Pa), the mercury and aneroid barometers and the manometer, variation of pressure with height, the barometer as an altimeter, pressure in liquids (P = hρg), and transmission of pressure (Pascal’s principle)
11. Liquids at Rest
    • Density and relative density, upthrust, Archimedes’ principle and the law of flotation (ships and hydrometers)
12. Temperature and its Measurement
    • Thermometric properties, calibration, Celsius and Kelvin scales, types of thermometers, and conversion between scales
13. Quantity of Heat
    • Heat capacity and specific heat capacity, determination by the method of mixtures and the electrical method, and Newton’s law of cooling
14. Change of State
    • Latent heat, specific latent heats of fusion and vaporization, melting, evaporation and boiling, and the effect of pressure and dissolved substances on boiling and melting points
15. Thermal Expansion
    • Linear, area and volume expansivities of solids, expansion in liquids (real and apparent expansivities), and the anomalous expansion of water
16. Gas Laws
    • Boyle’s law, Charles’ law, the pressure law, absolute zero, the general and ideal gas equations (PV = nRT) and the Van der Waals equation
17. Vapours
    • Saturated and unsaturated vapours, saturated vapour pressure and boiling, dew, mist, fog, cloud and rain, dew point, humidity and relative humidity, and the wet and dry bulb hygrometer
18. Structure of Matter and Kinetic Theory
    • Atoms and molecules, molecular theory (Brownian motion, diffusion, surface tension, capillarity, adhesion, cohesion, angle of contact), and the assumptions and uses of the kinetic theory
19. Heat Transfer
    • Conduction, convection and radiation, temperature gradient, thermal conductivity and heat flux, the thermos flask, land and sea breeze, and combustion engines (including jet engines and rockets)

Waves, Sound and Light

20. Waves
    • Wave motion, the relationship V = fλ, phase difference, wave number, the progressive wave equation, types of waves (mechanical and electromagnetic, longitudinal and transverse, stationary and progressive), reflection, refraction, diffraction, plane polarization, superposition and interference, beats and the Doppler effect (qualitative)
21. Propagation of Sound Waves
    • The need for a material medium, the speed of sound in solids, liquids and air, echoes and reverberation with their advantages and disadvantages
22. Characteristics of Sound Waves
    • Noise and musical notes, quality, pitch, intensity and loudness, harmonics and overtones in strings and air columns, resonance, and the frequency of notes from open and closed pipes
23. Light Energy
    • Natural and artificial sources, luminous and non-luminous objects, the speed, frequency and wavelength of light, shadows and eclipses, and the pin-hole camera
24. Reflection of Light at Plane and Curved Surfaces
    • Laws of reflection, images in plane, concave and convex mirrors, ray diagrams, the mirror formula (1/f = 1/u + 1/v), magnification, and the periscope, kaleidoscope and sextant
25. Refraction of Light at Plane and Curved Surfaces
    • Laws of refraction, refractive index and Snell’s law, real and apparent depth, critical angle and total internal reflection (periscope, prism, binoculars, optical fibre, mirage), the glass prism and minimum deviation formula, types of lenses, the lens formula and Newton’s formula
26. Optical Instruments
    • Microscopes, telescopes, projectors, cameras and the human eye, the power of a lens, angular magnification, near and far points, and sight defects and their correction
27. Dispersion of Light, Colours and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
    • Dispersion by a prism, the pure spectrum, colour mixing by addition and subtraction, colour of objects and filters, the rainbow, and the sources and uses of the types of electromagnetic radiation

Electricity and Magnetism

28. Electrostatics
    • Positive and negative charges, charging by friction, contact and induction, the electroscope, Coulomb’s inverse square law, electric field intensity, potential and potential difference, and electric discharge and lightning
29. Capacitors
    • Types and functions, parallel plate capacitors (C = εA/d), capacitors in series and parallel, and energy stored in a capacitor
30. Electric Cells
    • The simple voltaic cell and its defects, Daniell and Leclanché cells, lead-acid and nickel-iron accumulators, lithium-ion and mercury-cadmium cells, arrangement of cells, and efficiency
31. Current Electricity
    • E.m.f., p.d., current, internal resistance and lost volt, Ohm’s law, resistivity and conductivity, the metre bridge, resistors in series and parallel, the potentiometer and electrical networks (Kirchhoff’s laws)
32. Electrical Energy and Power
    • Electrical energy and power, the commercial unit, power transmission, heating effects of current, house wiring and fuses
33. Magnets and Magnetic Fields
    • Natural and artificial magnets, soft iron and steel, making magnets and demagnetization, magnetic fields of a magnet, a straight conductor, a circular wire and a solenoid, the earth’s magnetic field (meridian, dip and declination), flux and flux density, and applications in navigation and mineral exploration
34. Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor in a Magnetic Field
    • Force between parallel conductors, force on a moving charge, Fleming’s left-hand rule, the d.c. motor, electromagnets, the carbon microphone, moving coil and moving iron instruments, and conversion of a galvanometer into an ammeter or voltmeter
35. Electromagnetic Induction, Inductance and Eddy Currents
    • Faraday’s laws, Lenz’s law, a.c. and d.c. generators, transformers, the induction coil, inductance and energy stored in an inductor (E = ½LI²), and the reduction and applications of eddy currents
36. Simple a.c. Circuits
    • Peak and r.m.s. values, a.c. through a resistor, capacitor (capacitive reactance) and inductor (inductive reactance), R-L-C circuits, phase angle, power factor, impedance and resonance (f₀ = 1/2π√LC)
37. Conduction of Electricity through Liquids and Gases
    • Electrolytes, Faraday’s laws of electrolysis and its applications (electroplating, calibration of an ammeter), and discharge through gases (qualitative)

Modern Physics and Electronics

38. Elementary Modern Physics
    • Bohr’s and Rutherford’s theories, models of the atom and their limitations, energy levels and spectra, thermionic and photoelectric emission, Einstein’s equation and stopping potential, production and properties of X-rays, properties of alpha, beta and gamma rays, half-life and decay constant, fusion and fission, binding energy and mass defect (ΔE = Δmc²), wave-particle duality, electron diffraction and the uncertainty principle
39. Introductory Electronics
    • Metals, semiconductors and insulators (band gap), intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors (n-type and p-type), and diodes for rectification and transistors for amplification
40. Introduction to Fibre Optics and Lasers
    • Fibre optics: the principle of transmission and its uses (LAN, medicine, laser beams)
    • Lasers: meaning, types (solid state, gas, liquid, semiconductor), uses (research, communication, medicine, military, holograms) and dangers

Recommended Textbooks

JAMB lists these texts for Physics:

• Ike, E. E. (2014). Essential Principles of Physics. Jos: ENIC Publishers.
• Ike, E. E. (2014). Numerical Problems and Solutions in Physics. Jos: ENIC Publishers.
• Nelkon, M. (1977). Fundamentals of Physics. Great Britain: Hart Davis Education.
• Nelkon, M. and Parker, P. (1989). Advanced Level Physics (Sixth Edition). Heinemann.
• Okeke, P. N. and Anyakoha, M. W. (2000). Senior Secondary School Physics. Lagos: Pacific Printers.
• Olumuyiwa, A. and Ogunkoya, O. O. (1992). Comprehensive Certificate Physics. Ibadan: University Press Plc.
• Orokpo, J. A. (2025). Ultimate UTME Preparatory Series: Physics. Nasarawa State: Peridot Publishers and Printing Services Limited.

Six-Week Study Plan

• Week 1: Topics 1 to 9. Learn units, vectors, motion, forces, work, energy and power.
• Week 2: Topics 10 to 19. Study pressure, liquids at rest, temperature, heat, gas laws and heat transfer.
• Week 3: Topics 20 to 27. Study waves, sound and light, and practise ray diagrams.
• Week 4: Topics 28 to 33. Study electrostatics, capacitors, cells, current electricity and magnetism.
• Week 5: Topics 34 to 40. Study electromagnetic induction, a.c. circuits, modern physics, electronics, fibre optics and lasers.
• Week 6: Revise weak topics and practise past questions under timed conditions.

Tips:

• Physics is a problem-solving subject. Solve numerical problems every day and check units.
• Write the key formulae on one page for each topic, and revise them often.
• Practise drawing and reading graphs: distance-time, velocity-time, force-extension and cooling curves.
• Practise ray diagrams for mirrors, lenses and prisms until you can draw them from memory.
• Learn the laws with their names: Newton, Hooke, Archimedes, Boyle, Charles, Ohm, Faraday, Lenz, Coulomb and Kirchhoff.
• Use the syllabus objectives as a checklist. If you cannot do what an objective says, you are not ready on that topic.

Sample Questions

1. The SI unit of force is the A. joule B. newton C. watt D. pascal Answer: B
2. A body of mass 2 kg accelerates at 3 m/s squared. The force acting on it is A. 5 N B. 6 N C. 1.5 N D. 0.67 N Answer: B
3. The upthrust on a body immersed in a fluid equals the weight of the fluid displaced. This is A. Pascal’s principle B. Archimedes’ principle C. Boyle’s law D. Hooke’s law Answer: B
4. Which of the following is an electromagnetic wave? A. Sound wave B. Radio wave C. Water wave D. Wave on a string Answer: B
5. Two resistors of 2 ohms and 3 ohms are connected in series. The total resistance is A. 1.2 ohms B. 5 ohms C. 6 ohms D. 0.83 ohm Answer: B

Subject Combinations

Physics is commonly required for courses such as Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Medicine and Surgery, Architecture and other science courses. Always check your chosen course and university in the JAMB brochure for the exact combination.

Related: JAMB Subject Combination for Science Students | JAMB Brochure | JAMB Recommended Textbooks for All Subjects | JAMB UTME Registration Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the JAMB Physics syllabus?

It is the official JAMB document that lists the topics and learning objectives candidates must cover for Physics in the UTME.

How many topics are in the JAMB Physics syllabus?

Forty, from Measurements and Units to Introduction to Fibre Optics and Lasers.

Does the syllabus include calculations?

Yes. Most topics involve numerical problems, including motion, projectiles, gas laws, optics, circuits and radioactivity, so regular practice with formulae and units matters.

Does the syllabus include modern physics?

Yes. Topic 38 covers atomic models, the photoelectric effect, X-rays, radioactivity, binding energy, wave-particle duality and the uncertainty principle. Topics 39 and 40 add electronics, fibre optics and lasers.

Does the syllabus cover energy and the environment?

Yes. Topic 7 includes energy and society (renewable and non-renewable sources, environmental impact and energy crises) and solar energy.

Where can I get past questions for Physics?

Click here

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