JAMB Physics 2025
Questions & Answers

A student might mistakenly select Earth's rotation or solar flares, thinking daily or temporary solar phenomena drive seasonal shifts. However, seasons are determined by the 23.5-degree tilt of Earth's axis, which alters the angle at which sunlight strikes different hemispheres throughout the annual orbit. Common mistake: Confusing the daily cycle caused by Earth's rotation with the yearly cycle caused by its axial tilt.

A student could mistakenly choose forces that accelerate or attract objects, confusing resistance with gravitational or net forces. Friction is correctly identified as a contact force because it specifically acts to oppose the relative motion or the tendency of motion between two surfaces that are touching. Common mistake: Failing to distinguish between forces that initiate movement and contact forces that resist motion.

A student might mistakenly select transverse waves by confusing sound with light or electromagnetic radiation. Sound waves are longitudinal because the constituent particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction in which the wave propagates. Common mistake: Assuming all wave types share the transverse property of light.

A student might choose a generator, confusing the device that produces electricity with one that consumes it. A motor is the correct answer because it takes electrical input and transforms it into mechanical output, frequently applied in machinery and household appliances. Common mistake: Confusing generators (mechanical to electrical) with motors (electrical to mechanical).

A student might mistakenly select reflecting or polarizing light, associating lenses with mirrors or filters. The primary purpose of a camera lens is to gather and focus light onto the digital sensor or film to produce a sharp image. Common mistake: Confusing the light-refracting function of lenses with the light-reflecting properties of mirrors.

A test-taker might incorrectly think alpha particles are electromagnetic waves or have high penetrating power (traits more typical of gamma rays). Alpha particles are actually helium nuclei containing two protons and two neutrons, released during alpha decay. Common mistake: Overestimating the penetration power of alpha particles compared to other radiation types.

A student might mistakenly choose the gravitational pull of the Moon, confusing atmospheric winds with ocean tides. Wind systems are driven by solar radiation, which unevenly heats the surface of the Earth, thereby establishing the pressure differences required for wind. Common mistake: Attributing atmospheric circulation to lunar gravity instead of solar heating.

A student might mistakenly select stored energy or acceleration, confusing momentum with kinetic energy or kinematic properties. Momentum is mathematically defined as the product of an object's mass and its velocity, representing a conserved vector quantity in isolated systems. Common mistake: Confusing momentum with energy or acceleration.

A student might mistakenly think density increases or stays the same when heat is applied. When a substance undergoes heating at a constant pressure, it expands, causing its volume to increase which consequently lowers its density, since density equals mass divided by volume. Common mistake: Forgetting that thermal expansion increases volume and therefore reduces density.

A student might mistakenly choose high thermal conductivity or high electrical conductivity, confusing insulators with conductors. A good electrical insulator possesses low electrical conductivity, which serves to block the passage of electric current through materials like glass or rubber. Common mistake: Confusing thermal properties with electrical insulation capabilities.

A student might mistakenly choose a plane or convex mirror, which do not focus light to a single point. A concave mirror is utilized in a solar cooker because its reflective properties converge incoming sunlight to a focal point, effectively concentrating heat for cooking. Common mistake: Selecting diverging or flat mirrors instead of converging mirrors for heat concentration.

A student might mistakenly select solar or wind energy, confusing fossil fuels with renewable alternatives. Coal qualifies as a non-renewable energy source because it is a fossil fuel formed across millions of years that cannot be replenished on a human timescale. Common mistake: Failing to distinguish between fossil-fuel energy sources and renewable natural resources.

A student might mistakenly select solar radiation or the Moon's gravity, attributing atmospheric deflections to external factors. The Coriolis effect is generated by Earth's rotation, which causes moving entities like winds and ocean currents to deflect due to the planetary spin. Common mistake: Confusing wind-driving pressure forces with the rotational cause of the Coriolis deflection.

A student might mistakenly pick a barometer or hygrometer, confusing temperature measurement with barometric pressure or humidity. A thermometer is the proper instrument for measuring temperature, typically relying on materials like alcohol, mercury, or digital sensors. Common mistake: Confusing meteorological instruments used for pressure and humidity with temperature sensors.

A student might mistakenly select real and inverted, which are characteristics of certain lens or curved mirror setups. A plane mirror produces a virtual, upright image that matches the object's size and appears situated behind the mirror surface. Common mistake: Assuming flat mirrors can produce real images.

A student might mistakenly believe a diverging lens converges light or forms real images, confusing it with a converging lens. A diverging, or concave, lens always generates virtual, upright, and diminished images regardless of where the object is placed. Common mistake: Confusing the image characteristics of concave and convex lenses.

A student might mistakenly believe that adding resistors increases total resistance, which is true for series circuits. In a parallel circuit arrangement, the total resistance decreases because the reciprocal of the total equivalent resistance equals the sum of the reciprocals of the individual resistances. Common mistake: Applying series resistance rules to parallel circuits.

A student might mistakenly select an electron or a proton, confusing alpha decay with beta decay or ionization. During alpha decay, the particle emitted is an alpha particle, which is structurally identical to a helium nucleus comprising two protons and two neutrons. Common mistake: Confusing the products of alpha decay with beta particles.

A student might mistakenly select solar radiation, confusing surface weather drivers with deep planetary processes. Volcanic activity is powered by geothermal heat originating from Earth's interior, which is produced by radioactive decay and leftover heat from the planet's formation. Common mistake: Attributing internal geological phenomena like volcanism to external solar energy.

A student might mistakenly choose the newton, joule, or watt, confusing fundamental base units with derived units. The kilogram is a fundamental SI unit dedicated to measuring mass, whereas units like newtons and joules are derived from these base units. Common mistake: Confusing base SI units with derived units of force, energy, or power.