Optical Instruments

Contents & notes: what this topic covers

Under Optical Instruments, the JAMB Physics syllabus expects you to study:

• 26. Optical Instruments
• (i) general principles of microscopes, telescopes, projectors, cameras and the human eye (physiological details of the eye are not required);
• (ii) power of a lens;
• (iii) angular magnification;
• (iv) near and far points; v
• (v) sight defects and their corrections. v c 27. (a) Dispersion of light and colours
• (i) dispersion of white light by a triangular Prism; Candidat
• (ii) production of pure spectrum; i. ident
• (iii) colour mixing by addition and subtraction; sec
• (iv) colour of objects and colour filters; ii. unde
• (v) rainbow and formation. iii. ded iv. analy v.
• (b)Electromagnetic spectrum
• (i) description of sources and uses of various types of radiation.
• vi

Study notes & guidance

Study Optical Instruments using a recommended Physics textbook that follows the JAMB syllabus. Work through the contents listed above one by one, make brief notes in your own words, and then practise as many questions on this topic as you can — in Physics, understanding and steady practice matter far more than memorising. Use the objectives below as a checklist: if you can do each one confidently, you have mastered this topic.

Objectives — candidates should be able to

After studying Optical Instruments, you should be able to:

1. Apply the principles of operation of optical instruments to solve problems;
2. Distinguish between the human eye and the cameras;
3. Calculate the power of a lens;
4. Evaluate the angular magnification of optical instruments;
5. Determine the near and far points;
6. Detect sight defects and their orrections. es should be able to: ify primary colours and obtain ondary colours by mixing; rstand the formation of rainbow; uce why objects have colours; se colours using colour filters; analyse the electromagnetic spectrum in relation to their wavelengths, sources, detection and uses;
7. Define monochromatic light.

These objectives are from the official JAMB syllabus. Use them as a checklist — if you can do each one confidently, you have mastered this topic.

Source: official JAMB UTME Physics syllabus (IBASS, jamb.gov.ng). Reproduced for study use. Last checked: 17 Sept 2026. Always confirm the current syllabus on the official portal.