WAssce Physics Syllabus
WAssce Physics Syllabus
WAssce Physics Syllabus
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PHYSICS
PREAMBLE
The syllabus is evolved from the Senior Secondary School teaching syllabus and is intended to
indicate the scope of the course for Physics examination.
It is structured with the conceptual approach. The broad concepts of matter, position, motion and
time; energy; waves; fields; Atomic and Nuclear Physics, electronics are considered and each
concept forms a part on which other sub-concepts are further based.
AIMS
The aims of the syllabus are to enable candidates
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
develop abilities, attitudes and skills that encourage efficient and safe
practice;
(5)
ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES
The following activities appropriate to Physics will be tested:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(g) state and explain the necessary precautions taken in experiments to obtain
accurate results.
SCHEME OF EXAMINATION
There will be three papers, Papers 1, 2 and 3, all of which must be taken. Papers 1 and 2
will be a composite paper to be taken at one sitting.
PAPER 1:
PAPER 2:
Will consist of fifty multiple choice questions lasting 1 hours and carrying
50 marks.
Will consist of two sections, Sections A and B lasting1 hours and carrying
60 marks.
Section A - Will comprise seven short-structured questions. Candidates
will be required to answer any five questions for a total of 15 marks.
Section B - Will comprise five essay questions out of which candidates
will be required to answer any three for 45 marks.
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PAPER 3:
DETAILED SYLLABUS
It is important that candidates are involved in practical activities in covering this syllabus.
Candidates will be expected to answer questions on the topics set in the column headed TOPIC.
The NOTES are intended to indicate the scope of the questions which will be set but they are not
to be considered as an exhaustive list of limitations and illustrations.
NOTE: Questions will be set in S.I. units. However, multiples or sub-multiples of the units may be
used.
PART 1
INTERACTION OF MATTER, SPACE & TIME
TOPICS
1. Concepts of matter
NOTES
Simple structure of matter should be discussed.
Three physics states of matter, namely solid,
liquid and gas should be treated. Evidence of
the particle nature of matter e.g. Brownian
motion experiment, Kinetic theory of matter.
Use of the theory to explain; states of matter
(solid, liquid and gas), pressure in a gas,
evaporation and boiling; cohesion, adhesion,
capillarity. Crystalline and amorphous
substances to be compared (Arrangement of
atoms in crystalline structure to be described e.g.
face centred, body centred.
(c) Concept of direction as a way of locating micrometer screw gauge. Degree of accuracy
a point bearing
should be noted. Metre (m) as unit of distance.
(d) Distinction between distance and
displacement.
4.
5.
TOPICS
Mass and weight
NOTES
Use of lever balance and chemical/beam balance
to measure mass and spring balance to measure
weight. Mention should be made of
electronic/digital balance.
Time
(a) Concept of time as interval between
physical events
6. Fluid at rest
(a) Volume, density and relative density
TOPICS
7.
NOTES
Motion
(a) Types of motion:
Random, rectilinear, translational,
Rotational, circular, orbital, spin,
Oscillatory.
(b)
Relative motion
(c)
Cause of motion
(d)
Types of force:
(i) Contact force
(ii) Non-contact force(field force)
(e)
Solid friction
TOPICS
NOTES
(i) show the difference between angular speed and
velocity.
(ii) Draw a diagram to illustrate centripetal force.
Banking of roads in reducing sideways friction
should be qualitatively discussed.
(c) Uniform/non-uniform
speed/velocity
Rectilinear acceleration
(a) Concept of
Acceleration/deceleration as
increase/decrease in velocity with
time.
(b) Uniform/non-uniform acceleration
TOPICS
NOTES
6
(b)
Equilibrium of forces
(a) Principle of moments
NOTES
13.
PART II
ENERGY: Mechanical and Heat
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TOPICS
14. Energy:
(a) Forms of energy
15.
NOTES
Examples of various forms of energy should be
mentioned e.g. mechanical (potential and kinetic),
heat chemical, electrical, light, sound, nuclear.
TOPICS
NOTES
(f)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
Rise in temperature
Change of phase state
Expansion
Change of resistance
TOPICS
NOTES
10
(d)
(e)
(f)
Heat transfer
Condition, convention and
radiation.
TOPICS
NOTES
11
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k)
PART III
WAVES
TOPICS
17. Production and propagation of waves
NOTES
(c) Waveform
Examples to be given
!!"
wave motion.
19.
Properties of waves:
Reflection, refraction, diffraction,
Interference, superposition of
progressive waves producing standing
stationary waves
TOPICS
(b) Rectilinear propagation of light
NOTES
Formation of shadows and eclipse. Pinhole camera.
Simple numerical problems may be set.
Sin (A + Dm)
2
surfaces:
Converging and diverging lenses
Sin A/2
(Derivation of the formula is not required)
Applications: periscope, prism binoculars, optical
fibres. The mirage.
Formation of images. Use of lens formulae
!
!
!
!
+ ! = ! and magnification ! tp solve numerical
!
problems.
TOPICS
NOTES
(derivation of the formulae not required).
Experimental determination of the focal length of
converging lens. Power of lens in dioptres (D)
21.
Electromagnetic waves:
Types of radiation in electromagnetic
Spectrum
22.
Sound Waves
(a) Sources of sound
(b) Transmission of sound waves
(c) Speed of sound in solid, liquid and To be compared. Dependence of velocity of sound
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air
TOPICS
(g)
Vibration in strings
NOTES
The use of sonometer to demonstrate the dependence
of frequency (f) on length (1), tension (T) and mass
per unit length (liner density) (m) of string should be
treated. Use of the formula:
!
o = !" !
In solving simple numerical problems.
Applications in stringed instruments: e.g. guitar,
piano, harp and violin.
(h) Forced vibration
(i) Resonance
(ii) Harmonies and overtones
(i) Vibration of air in pipe open
and closed pipes
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PART IV
FIELDS
TOPICS
NOTES
Gravitational field
(a) Acceleration due to gravity, (g)
(b) Gravitational force between two
masses:
Newtons law of gravitation
(c) Gravitational potential and escape
velocity.
25.
Electric Field
(1) Electrostatics
(a) Production of electric charges
TOPICS
NOTES
16
Permittivity of a medium.
TOPICS
NOTES
17
26.
Magnetic field
18
26.
Magnetic field
TOPIC
NOTES
19
(c) Inductance
(E = ! LI2)
Application in radio,T.V., transformer.
(Derivation of formula is not required).
(d) Eddy currents
TOPIC
NOTES
20
(e)
Vector diagrams
PART
V
ATOMIC
AND
NUCELAR
PHYSICS
TOPICS
.
29. Structure of the atom
NOTES
21
(e) X-rays
30. Structure of the nucleus
(a) Composition of the nucleus
TOPICS
NOTES
(a) Radioactivity
Natural and artificial
22
NOTES
2.
3.
4.
Thermal conductivity:
Solar energy collector and Black body
Radiation.
5. Fibre Optics
TOPICS
NOTES
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6.
Introduction to LASER
Meaning of LASER
Types of LASERS
(Solid state, gas, liquid and semi-conductor
LASERS
Application of LASERS
(in Scientific research, communication, medicine
military technology, Holograms e.t.c.
Dangers involved in using LASERS.
7. Magnetic materials
8.
9.
Structure of matter
Electron diffraction
Duality of matter
Simple illustrations of dual nature of light.
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