The WASSCE Physics Syllabus is comprised of 31 major topics that are covered within PSI Algebra-Based Physics, Trigonometry-Based Physics and Chemistry courses. Select the appropriate PSI unit link to access materials that correspond to the WASSCE Physics topics listed below. The number preceding each topic corresponds to the order it is listed in the released WASSCE syllabus. The WASSCE syllabus outline can be accessed under Teacher Resources.

Kinematics

2. Fundamental and derived quantities and units
3. Position, distance and displacement.
5. Time
8. Speed and velocity
9. Rectilinear acceleration
10. Scalars and vectors (a) concept of scalars as physical quantities with magnitude and no direction (b) concept of vectors (c) Vector representation  (d) Addition of vectors

4. Mass and weight
7. Motion (a) Types of motion: Random, rectilinear  (b) Relative motion (c) Cause of motion (d) Types of force:  (i) Contact force  (e) Solid friction
13. Newton's laws of motion: (a) First law: Inertia of rest and inertia of motion (b) Second law: Force, acceleration (c) Third law: Action and reaction

7. Motion (a) Types of motion: Circular, orbital (c) Cause of motion (d) Types of force:  (i) Contact force (ii) Force Field (g) Simple ideas of circular motion
23. Description and property of fields. (a) Concept of fields: Gravitational
24. Gravitational field

14. Energy
15. Work, Energy and Power

13. Newton's laws of motion:  (b) Second law: Force, acceleration, momentum and impluse

6. Fluids at rest
7. Motion: (f) Friction in fluids

7. Motion (a) Types of motion (d) Types of force:  (ii) Force Field
25. Electric Field  (1) Electrostatics  (a) Production of electric charges  (b) Types of distribution of charges (d) Electric lines of force (e) Electric force between point charges: Coulomb’s law

25. Electric Field (d) Electric lines of force (e) Electric force between point charges: Coulomb’s law   (f) Concepts of electric field, electric field intensity (potential gradient) and electric potential.

25. Electric Field  (1) Electrostatics (g) Capacitance – Definition, arrangement and application (2) Current electricity  (a) Production of electric current from primary and secondary cells (b) Potential difference and electric current (c) Electric circuit (d) Electric conduction through materials (e) Electric energy and power (g) Resistivity and Conductivity (h) Measurement of electric current, potential difference, resistance, e.m.f. and internal resistance of a cell.

26. Magnetic field

27. Electromagnetic field (a) Concept of electromagnetic field (b) Electromagnetic induction (c) Faraday’s law, Lenz’s law and motor-generator effect

12. Simple harmonic motion

17. Production and propagation of waves
18. Types of waves
19. Properties of waves
22. Sound Waves

21. Electromagnetic waves: Types of radiation in electromagnetic spectrum

20. Light Waves

29. Structure of the atom
31. Wave-particle paradox

30. Structure of the nucleus

10. Scalars and vectors (a) concept of scalars as physical quantities with magnitude and no direction (b) concept of vectors (c) Vector representation  (d) Addition of vectors (e) Resolution of vectors  (f) Resultant velocity using vector representation.
Projectile motion

11. Equilibrium of forces
Inclined planes

7. Motion: (a) rotational

27. Electromagnetic field  (c) Inductance (d) Eddy current (e) Power transmission and distribution

28. Simple AC circuits

16. Heat energy

1. Concepts of matter