Physics Waec Syllabus

INTERACTION OF MATTER, SPACE & TIME

1. Concepts of matter
2. Fundamental and derived quantities and units
   • Fundamental quantities and units
   • Derived quantities and units
3. Position, distance and displacement
   • Concept of position as a location of point-rectangular coordinates.
   • Measurement of distance
   • Concept of direction as a way of locating a point –bearing
   • Distinction between distance and displacement.
4. Mass and weight
   • Distinction between mass and weight
5. Time
   • Concept of time as interval between physical events
   • Measurement of time
6. Fluid at rest
   • Volume, density and relative density
   • Pressure in fluids
   • Equilibrium of bodies
     • Archimedes’ principle
     • Law of flotation
7. Motion
   • Types of motion
     • Random
     • rectilinear
     • translational
     • Rotational
     • circular
     • orbital
     • spin,
     • Oscillatory
   • Relative motion
   • Cause of motion
   • Types of force
     • Contact force
     • Non-contact force(field force)
   • Solid friction
   • Viscosity (friction in fluids)
   • Simple ideas of circular motion
8. Speed and velocity
   • Concept of speed as change of distance with time
   • Concept of velocity as change of displacement with time
   • Uniform/non-uniform speed/velocity
   • Distance/displacement-time graph
9. Rectilinear acceleration
   • Concept of Acceleration/deceleration as increase/decrease in velocity with time.
   • Uniform/non-uniform acceleration
   • Velocity-time graph
   • Equations of motion with constant acceleration
     • Motion under gravity as a special case.
10. Scalars and vectors
    • Concept of scalars as physical quantities with magnitude and no direction
    • Concept of vectors as physical quantities with both magnitude and direction.
    • Vector representation
    • Addition of vectors
    • Resolution of vectors
    • Resultant velocity using vector representation.
11. Equilibrium of forces
    • Principle of moments
    • Conditions for equilibrium of rigid bodies under the action of parallel and non-parallel forces.
    • Centre of gravity and stability
12. Simple harmonic motion
    • Illustration, explanation and definition of simple harmonic motion (S.H.M)
    • Speed and acceleration of S.H.M.
    • Period, frequency and amplitude of a body executing S.H.M.
    • Energy of S.H.M
    • Forced vibration and resonance
13. Newton’s laws of motion
    • First Law: Inertia of rest and inertia of motion
    • Second Law: Force, acceleration, momentum and impulse
    • Third Law: Action and reaction

ENERGY: Mechanical and Heat

1. Energy
   • Forms of energy
   • World energy resources
   • Conservation of energy
2. Work, Energy and Power
   • Concept of work as a measure of energy transfer
   • Concept of energy as capability to do work
   • Work done in a gravitational field.
   • Types of mechanical energy
     • Potential energy (P.E.)
     • Kinetic energy (K.E)
   • Conservation of mechanical energy.
   • Concept of power as time rate of doing work.
   • Application of mechanical energy machines.
     • Levers
     • pulleys
     • inclined plane
     • wedge
     • screw
     • wheel and axle
     • gears
3. Heat Energy
   • Temperature and its measurement
   • Effects of heat on matter e.g
     • Rise in temperature
     • Change of phase state
     • Expansion
     • Change of resistance
   • Thermal expansion – Linear, area and volume expansivities
   • Heat transfer
     • Condition
     • convention
     • radiation
   • The gas laws:
     • Boyle’s law
     • Charles’ law
     • pressure law
     • general gas law
   • Measurement of heat energy
     • Concept of heat capacity
     • Specific heat capacity
   • Latent heat
     • Concept of latent heat
     • Melting point and boiling Point
     • Specific latent heat of fusion and of vaporization
   • Evaporation and boiling
   • Vapour and vapour pressure
   • Humidity, relative humidity and dew point
   • Humidity and the weather

WAVES

1. Production and propagation of waves
   • Production and propagation of mechanical waves
   • Pulsating system: Energy transmitted with definite speed, frequency and wavelength
   • Waveform
   • Mathematical relationship connecting frequency (f), wavelength(λ), period (T) and velocity (v)
2. Types of waves
   • Transverse and longitudinal
   • Mathematical representation of wave motion
3. Properties of waves
   • Reflection
   • refraction
   • diffraction
   • Interference
   • superposition of progressive waves producing standing stationary waves
4. Light waves
   • Sources of light
   • Rectilinear propagation of light
   • Reflection of light at plane surface
     • plane mirror
   • Reflection of light at curved surfaces
     • concave mirror
     • convex mirror
   • Refraction of light at plane surfaces
     • rectangular glass prism (block)
     • triangular prism
   • Refraction of light at curved surfaces
     • Converging and diverging lenses
   • Application of lenses in optical instruments.
   • Dispersion of white light by a triangular glass prism.
5. Electromagnetic waves
   • Types of radiation in electromagnetic Spectrum
6. Sound Waves
   • Sources of sound
   • Transmission of sound waves
   • Speed of sound in solid, liquid and air
   • Echoes and reverberation
   • Noise and music
   • Characteristics of sound
   • Vibration in strings
   • Forced vibration
     • Resonance
     • Harmonies and overtones
   • Vibration of air in pipe
     • open and closed pipes
7. Description property of fields
   • Concept of fields
     • Gravitational
     • Electric
     • Magnetic
   • Properties of a force field
8. Gravitational field
   • Acceleration due to gravity, (g)
   • Gravitational force between two
     masses:
     • Newton’s law of gravitation
   • Gravitational potential and escape
     velocity.
9. Electric Field
   • Electrostatics
     • Production of electric charges
     • Types of distribution of charges
     • Storage of charges
     • Electric lines of force
     • Electric force between point charges: Coulomb’s law
     • Concepts of electric field, electric field intensity (potential gradient) and electric potential.
     • CapacitanceDefinition, arrangement and application
   • Current electricity
     • Production of electric current from primary and secondary cells
     • Potential difference and electric current
     • Electric circuit
     • Electric conduction through materials
     • Electric energy and power
     • Shunt and multiplier
     • Resistivity and Conductivity
     • Measurement of electric current, potential difference,
       resistance, e.m.f. and internal resistance of a cell.
10. Magnetic field
    • Properties of magnets and magnetic materials.
    • Magnetization and demagnetization.
    • Concept of magnetic field
    • Magnetic force on:
      • a current-carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field
      • between two parallel current-carrying conductors
    • Use of electromagnets
    • The earth’s magnetic field
    • Magnetic force on a moving charged particle
11. Electromagnetic field
    • Concept of electromagnetic field
    • Electromagnetic induction
      • Faraday’s law
      • Lenz’s law
      • motor-generator effect
    • Inductance
    • Eddy currents
    • Power transmission and distribution
12. Simple A.C. circuits
    • Graphical representation of e.m.f and current in an a.c. circult.
    • Peak and r..m.s. values
    • Series circuit containing resistor, inductor and capacitor
    • Reactance and impedance
    • Vector diagrams
    • Resonance in an a.c, circuit
    • Power in an a.c. circuit.
13. Structure of the atom
    • Models of the atom
    • Energy quantization
    • Photoelectric effect
    • Thermionic emission
    • X-rays
14. Structure of the nucleus
    • Composition of the nucleus
    • Radioactivity
      • Natural
      • artificial
    • Nuclear reactions
      • Fusion
      • Fission
15. Wave-particle paradox
    • Electron diffraction
    • Duality of matter

HARMONISED TOPICS FOR SHORT STRUCTURED QUESTIONS FOR ALL MEMBER COUNTRIES

1. Derived quantities and dimensional Analysis
   • Fundamental quantities and units e.g. Length, mass,
     time, electric current, luminous intensity and their respective units
   • Derived quantities and units. e.g. volume, density, speed e.t.c. and their respective units
   • Explanation of dimensions in terms of fundamental
     and derived quantities. Uses of dimensions:
     • to verity dimensional correctness of a given equation
     • to derive the relationship between quantities
     • to obtain derived units.
2. Projectile motion concept of projectiles as an object thrown/release into space
   • Applications of projectiles in warfare, sports etc.
   • Simple problems involving range, maximum height and time of flight may be set.
3. Satellites and rockets
   • Meaning of a satellite
   • comparison of natural and artificial satellites parking orbits
   • Geostationary satellites
   • period of revolution
   • speed of a satellite.
   • Uses of satellites and rockets
4. Elastic Properties of solid:
   • Behaviour of elastic materials under stress – features
     of load – extension graph
   • work done in springs and string
   • Simple calculations on Hook’s law and Young’s modulus.
5. Thermal conductivity
   • Solar energy collector
     • solar panel for heat energy supply
   • Black body Radiation.
     • Explanation of a blackbody
     • Variation of intensity of black body radiation with wavelength at different temperatures.
6. Fibre Optics
   • Explanation of concept of fibre optics
   • Principle of transmission of light through an optical
     fibre
   • Applications of fibre optics e.g. local area Networks
     (LAN) medicine, rensing devices, carrying laser
     beams e.t.c
7. Introduction to LASER
   • Meaning of LASER
   • Types of LASERS (Solid state, gas, liquid and semi-conductor LASERS)
   • Application of LASERS
     • Scientific research
     • communication
     • medicine
     • military technology
     • Holograms e.t.c.
   • Dangers involved in using LASERS.
8. Magnetic materials
   • Uses of magnets and ferromagnetic materials.
9. Electrical Conduction through materials [Electronic]
   • Distinction between conductors, semiconductors and
     insulators in term of band theory.
   • Semi conductor materials (silicon and germanium)
     Meaning of intrinsic semiconductors.
   • Charge carriers Doping production of p-type and n-type extrinsic semi conductors.
   • Junction diode – forward and reverse biasing, voltage characteristics.
   • Uses of diodes Half and full wave rectification.
10. Structure of matter
    • Use of kinetic theory to explain diffusion.
11. Wave – particle paradox
    • Electron diffraction
    • Duality of matter
    • Simple illustrations of dual nature of light.