If you’re considering Physics as an optional subject for the UPSC exam, here’s a breakdown of how the syllabus aligns with the two papers of the examination:
Paper I:
- Mechanics:
- Laws of motion, conservation of momentum and energy.
- Statics and dynamics of particles and rigid bodies.
- Gravitation and orbital motion.
- Fluid mechanics.
- Wave and Oscillations:
- Simple harmonic motion, damped and forced oscillations.
- Wave equation, sound waves, and their properties.
- Superposition of waves, interference, and diffraction.
- Thermal Physics:
- Laws of thermodynamics, work and heat.
- Kinetic theory of gases, ideal gas laws.
- Heat transfer mechanisms: conduction, convection, and radiation.
- Thermodynamic processes, Carnot cycle.
- Electricity and Magnetism:
- Coulomb’s law, electric field, Gauss’s law.
- Electric potential and capacitance.
- Current electricity, Kirchhoff’s laws, resistors, capacitors, and inductors in circuits.
- Magnetic field, magnetic induction, electromagnetic induction, and electromagnetic waves.
Paper II:
- Optics:
- Geometrical optics: reflection, refraction, lenses, mirrors, optical instruments.
- Interference, diffraction, and polarization of light.
- Wave nature of light, Huygen’s principle, Young’s double-slit experiment.
- Modern Physics:
- Special theory of relativity: Length contraction, time dilation, mass-energy equivalence.
- Quantum mechanics: Wave-particle duality, uncertainty principle, Schrödinger equation.
- Atomic structure, nuclear physics, radioactivity.
- Particle physics, elementary particles, and their interactions.
- Electronics:
- Semiconductor physics, PN junctions, diodes, transistors.
- Amplifiers, oscillators, logic gates.
- Digital electronics, analog electronics, integrated circuits.
- Experimental Physics:
- Measurement techniques, error analysis, significant figures.
- Laboratory experiments based on concepts covered in Paper I and Paper II.
This breakdown provides an overview of the Physics syllabus for the UPSC examination. Candidates opting for Physics as their optional subject should thoroughly study each topic to perform well in both Paper I and Paper II. Additionally, practicing numerical problems and experimental setups will help in better understanding and preparation.
