JAMB Physics CBT Practice Test

Practise UTME Physics on a computer-based test that works like the real one: timed questions, a navigator to jump between them, and a full review with the correct answer and an explanation for every question.

About these JAMB Physics questions

There are 49 questions in this physics bank, written by StudentToolsNG to the topics in the JAMB UTME Physics syllabus and at the level of the exam. They are original practice questions, not copies of JAMB past papers, so you can practise without memorising old answers.

Each test picks questions at random and shuffles the options, so the answer to a question is not always in the same position. You get 40 seconds a question, the same pace as the UTME, where 180 questions are answered in 2 hours.

Topics covered

The questions cover 32 topics from the syllabus:

• Measurement and units (2 questions)
• Scalars and vectors (2 questions)
• Motion (4 questions)
• Newton's laws and momentum (3 questions)
• Circular motion (1 question)
• Gravitational field (1 question)
• Equilibrium of forces (1 question)
• Work, energy and power (2 questions)
• Simple machines (1 question)
• Friction (1 question)
• Elasticity (1 question)
• Pressure (1 question)
• Liquids at rest (1 question)
• Temperature (1 question)
• Heat energy (2 questions)
• Gas laws (2 questions)
• Thermal expansion (1 question)
• Heat transfer (1 question)
• Waves (1 question)
• Sound (2 questions)
• Reflection of light (1 question)
• Refraction of light (2 questions)
• Lenses (2 questions)
• Electrostatics (1 question)
• Capacitors (2 questions)
• Current electricity (3 questions)
• Magnetism (1 question)
• Electromagnetic induction (1 question)
• Simple a.c. circuits (1 question)
• Radioactivity (2 questions)
• Modern physics (1 question)
• Electronics (1 question)

Tips for JAMB Physics

• Use g = 10 m/s² unless the question gives another value, and convert to SI units (cm to m, μF to F, °C to K for gas laws) before you substitute.
• Most calculation questions are a single formula. Write down the formula first, then put in the numbers, so you don't mix up similar ones like Q = CV and E = ½CV².
• Inverse-square laws (gravitation, Coulomb's law, intensity) and ratios (transformers, Hooke's law, gas laws) can often be answered without a calculator.
• Learn the definitions and units: many questions only ask which quantity is a vector, what an alpha particle is, or which unit goes with which quantity.

Sample JAMB Physics questions with answers

Question 1: What is the SI unit of power?

A. Joule B. Watt C. Newton D. Pascal

Answer: B (Watt). Power is the rate of doing work, measured in joules per second, which is the watt (W). The joule is the unit of energy, the newton of force and the pascal of pressure.

Question 2: A car starts from rest and accelerates uniformly to 20 m/s in 5 s. How far does it travel in this time?

A. 100 m B. 4 m C. 50 m D. 25 m

Answer: C (50 m). Distance = average velocity × time = (0 + 20)/2 × 5 = 50 m. (The acceleration is 4 m/s², and s = ½at² = ½ × 4 × 25 = 50 m too.)

Question 3: What force gives a 5 kg mass an acceleration of 4 m/s²?

A. 1.25 N B. 9 N C. 20 N D. 0.8 N

Answer: C (20 N). Newton's second law: F = ma = 5 × 4 = 20 N. Dividing (1.25 N or 0.8 N) or adding (9 N) the numbers are the usual slips.

Question 4: If the distance between two masses is doubled, the gravitational force between them becomes

A. half as large B. one quarter as large C. twice as large D. four times as large

Answer: B (one quarter as large). Newton's law of gravitation is an inverse-square law, F ∝ 1/r². Doubling r divides F by 2² = 4.

Question 5: A machine has a mechanical advantage of 4 and a velocity ratio of 5. What is its efficiency?

A. 80% B. 125% C. 20% D. 90%

Answer: A (80%). Efficiency = MA ÷ VR × 100% = 4/5 × 100% = 80%. Efficiency can never be over 100%.

Question 6: A solid weighs 10 N in air and 6 N when fully immersed in water. What is its relative density?

A. 1.67 B. 0.4 C. 2.5 D. 4

Answer: C (2.5). Upthrust = 10 − 6 = 4 N, the weight of water displaced. Relative density = weight in air ÷ upthrust = 10 ÷ 4 = 2.5.

Question 7: A gas occupies 300 cm³ at 27 °C. It is heated at constant pressure to 127 °C. What is its new volume?

A. 1,411 cm³ B. 225 cm³ C. 300 cm³ D. 400 cm³

Answer: D (400 cm³). Charles's law uses kelvin: V₂ = V₁ × T₂/T₁ = 300 × 400/300 = 400 cm³. Using °C (300 × 127/27) gives the wrong answer 1,411 cm³.

Question 8: A wave has a frequency of 50 Hz and a wavelength of 4 m. What is its speed?

A. 12.5 m/s B. 200 m/s C. 0.08 m/s D. 54 m/s

Answer: B (200 m/s). The wave equation: v = fλ = 50 × 4 = 200 m/s. Every wave, sound or light, obeys v = fλ.

Question 9: A ray of light passes from air into glass. The angle of incidence is 60° and the angle of refraction is 30°. What is the refractive index of the glass?

A. 2.00 B. 0.58 C. 1.73 D. 1.50

Answer: C (1.73). Snell's law: n = sin i ÷ sin r = sin 60° ÷ sin 30° = 0.866 ÷ 0.5 = 1.73 (that is √3).

Question 10: Two point charges repel each other with a force F. If the distance between them is halved, the force becomes

A. 2F B. F/2 C. 4F D. F/4

Answer: C (4F). Coulomb's law: F ∝ 1/r². Halving r multiplies the force by 2² = 4.

Question 11: A cell of e.m.f. 3 V and internal resistance 1 Ω is connected to a 5 Ω resistor. What is the terminal potential difference?

A. 3.0 V B. 0.5 V C. 2.5 V D. 0.6 V

Answer: C (2.5 V). I = E ÷ (R + r) = 3 ÷ 6 = 0.5 A. Terminal p.d. V = IR = 0.5 × 5 = 2.5 V; the other 0.5 V is lost inside the cell.

Question 12: An alternating voltage has a peak value of 100 V. What is its r.m.s. value?

A. 141.4 V B. 70.7 V C. 50 V D. 100 V

Answer: B (70.7 V). Vrms = Vpeak ÷ √2 = 100 ÷ 1.414 = 70.7 V.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these JAMB Physics past questions?

No. They are original questions written to the JAMB Physics syllabus in the same style and at the same level as the UTME. Practising on new questions shows whether you understand a topic rather than whether you remember an old answer.

How many questions are in the JAMB Physics paper?

Each of your three other subjects has 40 questions in the UTME, and Use of English has 60, making 180 questions in 2 hours. That is about 40 seconds a question, which is the pace this practice test uses.

How is JAMB Physics scored?

Each subject is scored out of 100 and the four subjects add up to your UTME score out of 400. The percentage you get in this practice test is a rough guide to your score out of 100 in physics.

Can I practise without a time limit?

Yes. Choose Study mode to see the correct answer and the explanation as soon as you pick an option, with no timer. Switch to the timed test once you are ready to practise at exam pace.

Other subjects

JAMB Mathematics CBT practice · JAMB Chemistry CBT practice · JAMB Biology CBT practice