AFMC / NEET-linked AFMC Admission Physics (NEET-UG Academic Component) Syllabus

State Pascal's law and the principle behind a hydraulic lift.

Pascal's law: pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted undiminished to every part of the fluid and the walls. A hydraulic lift uses this to multiply force: F₂/F₁ = A₂/A₁.

State Bernoulli's theorem for ideal fluid flow.

For steady, incompressible, non-viscous flow: P + ½ρv² + ρgh = constant along a streamline (pressure energy + kinetic energy + potential energy per unit volume is conserved).

Define surface tension and state the excess pressure inside a liquid drop and a soap bubble.

Surface tension is force per unit length acting along a liquid surface (N/m). Excess pressure inside a drop: ΔP = 2T/r; inside a soap bubble (two surfaces): ΔP = 4T/r.

State Stokes' law and define terminal velocity.

Viscous drag on a sphere of radius r moving with velocity v in a fluid of viscosity η: F = 6πηrv. Terminal velocity is the constant maximum velocity attained when net force is zero: v_t = 2r²(ρ−σ)g/9η.

Define coefficient of linear, area, and volume thermal expansion and give their relationship.

α (linear), β (area), γ (volume) are fractional changes in length/area/volume per unit temperature rise. Relationship: β = 2α and γ = 3α.

State the principle of calorimetry and define specific heat capacity and latent heat.

Principle of calorimetry: heat lost by hot body = heat gained by cold body (no losses). Specific heat c: heat to raise unit mass by 1°C (Q = mcΔT). Latent heat L: heat to change phase of unit mass without temperature change (Q = mL).

State the three modes of heat transfer and the law governing radiation (Stefan-Boltzmann).

Conduction, convection, and radiation. Stefan-Boltzmann law: energy radiated per unit area per unit time E = σeT⁴, where σ = 5.67×10⁻⁸ W/m²K⁴ and e is emissivity.

State Wien's displacement law and Newton's law of cooling.

Wien's law: λ_max·T = b (b = 2.9×10⁻³ m·K); the wavelength of peak radiation is inversely proportional to temperature. Newton's law of cooling: rate of cooling ∝ temperature difference with surroundings (for small differences).

State the first law of thermodynamics and give the sign convention.

ΔU = Q − W (or Q = ΔU + W). Q is positive when heat is added to the system; W is positive when work is done BY the system; ΔU is the change in internal energy.

State the second law of thermodynamics (Kelvin-Planck and Clausius statements).

Kelvin-Planck: no process can convert heat completely into work with no other effect. Clausius: heat cannot flow spontaneously from a colder to a hotter body. Both imply entropy of an isolated system never decreases.

Define the efficiency of a heat engine and a Carnot engine.

Engine efficiency η = W/Q₁ = 1 − Q₂/Q₁. Carnot (maximum) efficiency η = 1 − T₂/T₁, where T₁ is the source and T₂ the sink temperature (in kelvin). No engine can exceed Carnot efficiency.

State the postulates/assumptions of the kinetic theory of gases.

Gas molecules are point masses in random motion; collisions are perfectly elastic; no intermolecular forces except during collisions; time of collision is negligible; molecules obey Newton's laws; average KE depends only on absolute temperature.

Give the expression for pressure of a gas from kinetic theory and the relation between average KE and temperature.

P = (1/3)(mN/V)v̄² = (1/3)ρv_rms². Average translational KE per molecule = (3/2)kT, where k is Boltzmann's constant. v_rms = √(3RT/M).

State the law of equipartition of energy and degrees of freedom for monatomic and diatomic gases.

Each degree of freedom contributes ½kT of energy per molecule. Monatomic gas: 3 degrees of freedom (translational). Diatomic gas: 5 (3 translational + 2 rotational) at ordinary temperatures.

For an ideal gas, define Cp, Cv and give the ratio γ for monatomic and diatomic gases. State Mayer's relation.

Cp = molar heat at constant pressure, Cv = at constant volume. Mayer's relation: Cp − Cv = R. γ = Cp/Cv: monatomic γ = 5/3 ≈ 1.67; diatomic γ = 7/5 = 1.4.

Compare isothermal and adiabatic processes (condition, equation, work, internal energy).

Isothermal: T constant, PV = constant, ΔU = 0, Q = W. Adiabatic: Q = 0, PVγ = constant, W = −ΔU. Adiabatic curve is steeper than isothermal on a P-V diagram.

Define isochoric (isovolumetric) and isobaric processes and the work done in each.

Isochoric: volume constant, W = 0, so Q = ΔU. Isobaric: pressure constant, W = PΔV, so Q = ΔU + PΔV = nCpΔT.

Define simple harmonic motion and give its displacement, velocity, and acceleration equations.

SHM is motion where restoring force ∝ −displacement (a = −ω²x). x = A sin(ωt + φ); v = Aω cos(ωt + φ), v = ω√(A²−x²); a = −ω²x. Acceleration is maximum at extremes, velocity maximum at mean position.

Give the time period of a simple pendulum and a spring-mass system.

Simple pendulum: T = 2π√(L/g). Spring-mass system: T = 2π√(m/k), where k is the spring constant. Energy in SHM: E = ½kA² = ½mω²A² (constant).

Distinguish between transverse and longitudinal waves with examples.

Transverse: particle vibration perpendicular to wave propagation (e.g., light, waves on a string), has crests and troughs. Longitudinal: particle vibration parallel to propagation (e.g., sound in air), has compressions and rarefactions.

State the relation between wave speed, frequency, and wavelength, and give the speed of a wave on a stretched string.

v = fλ (or v = λ/T). On a stretched string: v = √(T/μ), where T is tension and μ is linear mass density (mass per unit length).

Explain standing waves: what are nodes and antinodes, and the fundamental frequency of a string fixed at both ends?

Standing waves form from superposition of two identical oppositely-moving waves. Nodes are points of zero amplitude; antinodes are points of maximum amplitude. Fundamental frequency f₁ = v/2L; harmonics are integer multiples f_n = nv/2L.

State the Doppler effect formula for sound when the source and observer move.

f' = f·(v ± v₀)/(v ∓ v_s), where v = speed of sound, v₀ = observer speed, v_s = source speed. Use top signs for relative approach (frequency increases) and bottom signs for recession (frequency decreases).

State Coulomb's law and define electric field intensity.

Coulomb's law: F = (1/4πε₀)·q₁q₂/r², with 1/4πε₀ = 9×10⁹ N·m²/C². Electric field E = F/q₀ (force per unit positive test charge); SI unit N/C or V/m; it is a vector pointing away from positive charge.

State Gauss's law and the field due to an infinite line charge and an infinite sheet of charge.

Gauss's law: net flux Φ = q_enc/ε₀. Infinite line charge: E = λ/(2πε₀r). Infinite charged sheet: E = σ/(2ε₀) (independent of distance).

Define electric potential and capacitance, and give the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor.

Electric potential V = work per unit charge to bring a charge from infinity (V = W/q). Capacitance C = Q/V (unit: farad). Parallel plate capacitor: C = ε₀A/d (vacuum); with dielectric C = Kε₀A/d. Energy stored = ½CV².

State Ohm's law and give formulas for resistors in series and in parallel.

Ohm's law: V = IR (at constant temperature). Series: R_eq = R₁ + R₂ + ... Parallel: 1/R_eq = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + ... Resistance R = ρL/A, where ρ is resistivity.

State Kirchhoff's two laws for circuits.

Junction (current) rule: sum of currents entering a junction = sum leaving (conservation of charge, ΣI = 0). Loop (voltage) rule: sum of EMFs and potential drops around any closed loop = 0 (conservation of energy).

State the right-hand rule and Biot-Savart law for the magnetic field of a current. Give B at the center of a circular loop and inside a solenoid.

Biot-Savart: dB = (μ₀/4π)·(I dl × r̂)/r². At the center of a circular loop of radius R: B = μ₀I/2R. Inside a long solenoid: B = μ₀nI, where n is turns per unit length.

State Faraday's law and Lenz's law of electromagnetic induction.

Faraday's law: induced EMF = −dΦ/dt (rate of change of magnetic flux). For N turns, EMF = −N dΦ/dt. Lenz's law: the induced current opposes the change in flux that produces it (the negative sign), consistent with conservation of energy.

Define inductive and capacitive reactance, and impedance in a series LCR AC circuit. When does resonance occur?

X_L = ωL = 2πfL; X_C = 1/ωC = 1/2πfC. Impedance Z = √(R² + (X_L − X_C)²). Resonance occurs when X_L = X_C, giving f = 1/(2π√(LC)), minimum impedance Z = R and maximum current.

List the electromagnetic spectrum in order of increasing frequency and give the speed of EM waves.

Radio waves < microwaves < infrared < visible light < ultraviolet < X-rays < gamma rays (increasing frequency, decreasing wavelength). All travel at c = 3×10⁸ m/s in vacuum; c = 1/√(μ₀ε₀); E and B are perpendicular to each other and to propagation.

State the laws of reflection and the mirror formula with sign convention.

Laws of reflection: angle of incidence = angle of reflection; incident ray, reflected ray, and normal lie in one plane. Mirror formula: 1/v + 1/u = 1/f, where f = R/2. Magnification m = −v/u.

State Snell's law of refraction and the condition for total internal reflection.

Snell's law: n₁ sinθ₁ = n₂ sinθ₂ (n = refractive index). Total internal reflection occurs when light travels from a denser to a rarer medium at an angle greater than the critical angle θc, where sinθc = 1/n (= n_rarer/n_denser).

Give the lens formula, lensmaker's formula, and definition of power of a lens.

Lens formula: 1/v − 1/u = 1/f. Lensmaker's formula: 1/f = (n−1)(1/R₁ − 1/R₂). Power P = 1/f (in meters), unit dioptre (D). For lenses in contact: P = P₁ + P₂.

State the conditions for sustained interference and the fringe width formula in Young's double-slit experiment.

Conditions: the two sources must be coherent (constant phase difference) and monochromatic, with comparable amplitudes. Fringe width β = λD/d, where D = slit-to-screen distance and d = slit separation. Constructive: path difference = nλ; destructive = (n+½)λ.

Explain diffraction and the condition for the first minimum in single-slit diffraction.

Diffraction is the bending of waves around obstacles/edges and spreading after passing through a slit. For single-slit, the first minimum occurs when a·sinθ = λ (a = slit width). The central maximum is the brightest and twice as wide as the others.

What is Brewster's law / polarization by reflection?

When unpolarized light strikes a surface at Brewster's angle θ_p, the reflected light is completely plane-polarized. Brewster's law: tanθ_p = n (refractive index). At this angle, reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular.

State the photoelectric effect and Einstein's photoelectric equation.

Photoelectric effect: emission of electrons when light of sufficient frequency hits a metal. Einstein's equation: KE_max = hf − φ₀, where φ₀ = hf₀ is the work function and f₀ the threshold frequency. Below f₀ no emission occurs regardless of intensity; KE depends on frequency, not intensity.

State the de Broglie hypothesis and give the de Broglie wavelength formula.

Matter has wave nature: every moving particle has an associated wavelength λ = h/p = h/mv. For an electron accelerated through potential V: λ = 12.27/√V Å. This explains wave-particle duality.

State the postulates of Bohr's model and give the energy of the nth orbit in hydrogen.

Postulates: electrons orbit in stationary states without radiating; angular momentum is quantized (mvr = nh/2π); energy is emitted/absorbed only on jumping between orbits (hf = E₂ − E₁). Energy of nth level: Eₙ = −13.6/n² eV. Ground state = −13.6 eV.

Define mass defect, binding energy, and explain nuclear fission vs fusion.

Mass defect Δm = (mass of nucleons) − (mass of nucleus); binding energy = Δm·c² (energy holding the nucleus together). Fission: a heavy nucleus splits into lighter ones releasing energy. Fusion: light nuclei combine into a heavier one releasing energy. Both release energy because products have higher binding energy per nucleon.

State the law of radioactive decay and define half-life and the three types of radiation.

N = N₀e^(−λt), where λ is the decay constant. Half-life T½ = 0.693/λ (time for half the nuclei to decay). Alpha (²He⁴, positive, low penetration), beta (electron, moderate penetration), gamma (high-energy EM wave, high penetration, no charge).

Distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors, and between p-type and n-type.

Intrinsic: pure semiconductor (Si/Ge), equal electrons and holes. Extrinsic: doped semiconductor. n-type: doped with pentavalent impurity (e.g., As/P), majority carriers = electrons. p-type: doped with trivalent impurity (e.g., B/Al), majority carriers = holes.

Explain the behavior of a p-n junction diode in forward and reverse bias.

Forward bias (p to +, n to −): depletion layer narrows, diode conducts, low resistance. Reverse bias (p to −, n to +): depletion layer widens, only tiny leakage current flows (high resistance). A diode acts as a one-way valve / rectifier.

Compare half-wave and full-wave rectifiers and name the basic logic gates.

Half-wave rectifier uses one diode, converts only one half of the AC cycle (low efficiency). Full-wave rectifier (two diodes or a bridge of four) uses both halves (higher efficiency, ripple frequency = 2× input). Basic logic gates: OR, AND, NOT; universal gates: NAND and NOR.