BITSAT Physics Syllabus

Physics syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Physics in BITSAT, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Units & Measurement

   4 topics

   • Units
     • Different systems of units
     • SI units
     • Fundamental and derived units
   • Dimensional Analysis
   • Precision and significant figures
   • Fundamental measurements in Physics
     • Vernier calipers
     • Screw gauge
     • Physical balance
2. 2

   Kinematics

   6 topics

   • Properties of vectors
   • Position, velocity, and acceleration vectors
   • Motion with constant acceleration
   • Projectile motion
   • Uniform circular motion
   • Relative motion
3. 3

   Newton’s Laws of Motion

   5 topics

   • Newton’s laws
     • Free body diagram
     • Resolution of forces
   • Motion on an inclined plane
   • Motion of blocks with pulley systems
   • Circular motion – centripetal force
   • Inertial and non-inertial frames
4. 4

   Impulse and Momentum

   5 topics

   • Definition of impulse and momentum
   • Conservation of momentum
   • Collisions
   • Momentum of a system of particles
   • Center of mass
5. 5

   Work and Energy

   5 topics

   • Work done by a force
   • Kinetic energy and work-energy theorem
   • Power
   • Conservative forces and potential energy
   • Conservation of mechanical energy
6. 6

   Rotational Motion

   6 topics

   • Description of rotation
     • Angular displacement
     • Angular velocity
     • Angular acceleration
   • Rotational motion with constant angular acceleration
   • Moment of inertia, Parallel and perpendicular axes theorems, rotational kinetic energy
   • Torque and angular momentum
   • Conservation of angular momentum
   • Rolling motion
7. 7

   Gravitation

   3 topics

   • Newton’s law of gravitation
   • Gravitational potential energy, Escape velocity
   • Motion of planets – Kepler’s laws, satellite motion
8. 8

   Mechanics of Solids and Fluids

   4 topics

   • Elasticity
   • Pressure, density and Archimedes’ principle
   • Viscosity and Surface Tension
   • Bernoulli’s theorem
9. 9

   Oscillations

   3 topics

   • Kinematics of simple harmonic motion
   • Spring mass system, simple and compound pendulum
   • Forced & damped oscillations, resonance
10. 10

    Waves

    4 topics

    • Progressive sinusoidal waves
    • Standing waves in strings and pipes
    • Superposition of waves, beats
    • Doppler Effect
11. 11

    Heat and Thermodynamics

    4 topics

    • Kinetic theory of gases
    • Thermal equilibrium and temperature
    • Specific heat, Heat Transfer - Conduction, convection and radiation, thermal conductivity, Newton’s law of cooling Work, heat and first law of thermodynamics
    • 2nd law of thermodynamics, Carnot engine – Efficiency and Coefficient of performance
12. 12

    Electrostatics

    6 topics

    • Coulomb’s law
    • Electric field (discrete and continuous charge distributions)
    • Electrostatic potential and Electrostatic potential energy
    • Gauss’ law and its applications
    • Electric dipole
    • Capacitance and dielectrics (parallel plate capacitor, capacitors in series and parallel)
13. 13

    Current Electricity

    3 topics

    • Ohm’s law, Joule heating
    • D.C circuits – Resistors and cells in series and parallel, Kirchoff’s laws, potentiometer and Wheatstone bridge
    • Electrical Resistance (Resistivity, origin and temperature dependence of resistivity)
14. 14

    Magnetic Effect of Current

    4 topics

    • Biot-Savart’s law and its applications
    • Ampere’s law and its applications
    • Lorentz force, force on current carrying conductors in a magnetic field
    • Magnetic moment of a current loop, torque on a current loop, Galvanometer and its conversion to voltmeter and ammeter
15. 15

    Electromagnetic Induction

    5 topics

    • Faraday’s law, Lenz’s law, eddy currents
    • Self and mutual inductance
    • Transformers and generators
    • Alternating current (peak and rms value)
    • AC circuits, LCR circuits
16. 16

    Optics

    8 topics

    • Laws of reflection and refraction
    • Lenses and mirrors
    • Optical instruments – telescope and microscope
    • Interference – Huygen’s principle, Young’s double slit experiment
    • Interference in thin films
    • Diffraction due to a single slit
    • Electromagnetic waves and their characteristics (only qualitative ideas), Electromagnetic spectrum
    • Polarization – states of polarization, Malus’ law, Brewster’s law
17. 17

    Modern Physics

    5 topics

    • Dual nature of light and matter – Photoelectric effect, De Broglie wavelength
    • Atomic models – Rutherford’s experiment, Bohr’s atomic model
    • Hydrogen atom spectrum
    • Radioactivity
    • Nuclear reactions: Fission and fusion, binding energy
18. 18

    Electronic Devices

    4 topics

    • Energy bands in solids (qualitative ideas only), conductors, insulators and semiconductors
    • Semiconductor diode – I-V characteristics in forward and reverse bias, diode as a rectifier; I-V characteristics of LED, photodiode, solar cell, and Zener diode; Zener diode as a voltage regulator
    • Junction transistor, transistor action, characteristics of a transistor; transistor as an amplifier (common emitter configuration) and oscillator
    • Logic gates (OR, AND, NOT, NAND and NOR). Transistor as a switch

Physics flashcards for BITSAT

24 of 92 cards from the Physics deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In dimensional analysis, what is the principle of homogeneity of dimensions?

   Every term on both sides of a physically valid equation must have the same dimensions. It is used to check correctness of equations and derive relations, but cannot determine dimensionless constants.

2. What are the dimensional formulae of force, work/energy, and power?

   Force = [M L T^-2]; Work/Energy = [M L^2 T^-2]; Power = [M L^2 T^-3].

3. How do you combine errors when a result is Z = A^a B^b / C^c?

   The fractional/percentage errors add with weights: ΔZ/Z = a(ΔA/A) + b(ΔB/B) + c(ΔC/C).

4. State the three equations of motion for uniform acceleration.

   v = u + at; s = ut + ½at²; v² = u² + 2as, where u is initial velocity, v final velocity, a acceleration, s displacement, t time.

5. For projectile motion launched at angle θ with speed u, give the formulas for time of flight, maximum height, and horizontal range.

   Time of flight T = 2u sinθ/g; Max height H = u²sin²θ/2g; Range R = u²sin2θ/g (maximum range at θ = 45°).

6. What is relative velocity, and how is it computed for two bodies A and B?

   The velocity of one body as observed from another: velocity of A relative to B is v_AB = v_A − v_B (vector subtraction).

7. State Newton's three laws of motion.

   1st: A body remains at rest or in uniform motion unless acted on by a net external force (inertia). 2nd: F = dp/dt = ma. 3rd: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

8. What is the impulse-momentum theorem?

   Impulse equals change in momentum: J = ∫F dt = Δp = m(v − u). It explains why a longer contact time reduces the force for a given momentum change.

9. Distinguish between static, limiting, and kinetic friction.

   Static friction is self-adjusting up to a maximum (limiting) value f_s ≤ μ_s N; limiting friction is the maximum static value μ_s N just before sliding; kinetic friction f_k = μ_k N acts during sliding, with μ_k < μ_s.

10. For a car on a banked road of angle θ (frictionless), what is the safe/optimum speed?

    v = √(rg tanθ), where r is radius of the turn. Banking provides the centripetal force without relying on friction.

11. State the work-energy theorem.

    The net work done by all forces on a body equals its change in kinetic energy: W_net = ΔKE = ½mv² − ½mu².

12. What is the difference between conservative and non-conservative forces?

    Conservative forces (gravity, spring) do work independent of path and around a closed loop the work is zero; potential energy can be defined. Non-conservative forces (friction) do path-dependent work and dissipate mechanical energy.

13. Give the potential energy stored in a spring and the kinetic energy formula.

    Spring PE = ½kx²; Kinetic energy KE = ½mv²; gravitational PE near Earth = mgh.

14. Compare elastic and inelastic collisions.

    In elastic collisions both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. In inelastic collisions momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not; in a perfectly inelastic collision the bodies stick together.

15. For a one-dimensional elastic collision between equal masses, what happens to their velocities?

    They exchange velocities. (For unequal masses, use v1' = ((m1−m2)u1 + 2m2u2)/(m1+m2).)

16. What is the moment of inertia, and give it for a ring, disc, and solid sphere about their central axes.

    Moment of inertia I = Σmr² measures rotational inertia. Ring: I = MR²; Disc/solid cylinder: I = ½MR²; Solid sphere: I = (2/5)MR²; about a diameter, hollow sphere: (2/3)MR².

17. State the parallel axis theorem.

    I = I_cm + Md², where I_cm is the moment of inertia about an axis through the centre of mass and d is the perpendicular distance to the parallel axis.

18. Relate torque and angular momentum, and state conservation of angular momentum.

    Torque τ = dL/dt = Iα. When net external torque is zero, angular momentum L = Iω is conserved (e.g., a spinning skater pulling in arms speeds up).

19. What is the condition for rolling without slipping, and the total KE of a rolling body?

    Rolling without slipping requires v = ωR. Total KE = ½mv² + ½Iω² (translational plus rotational).

20. State Newton's law of universal gravitation and the value of G.

    F = G m1 m2 / r², attractive along the line joining the masses. G = 6.67 × 10^-11 N·m²/kg².

21. How does acceleration due to gravity g vary with height h and depth d below Earth's surface?

    At height: g_h = g(1 − 2h/R) for h << R; at depth: g_d = g(1 − d/R). g is maximum at the surface and zero at the centre.

22. Give the formulas for orbital velocity and escape velocity from Earth's surface.

    Orbital velocity v_o = √(GM/r) = √(gR) near the surface (≈7.9 km/s); Escape velocity v_e = √(2GM/R) = √(2gR) ≈ 11.2 km/s = √2 × v_o.

23. State Kepler's three laws of planetary motion.

    1) Orbits are ellipses with the Sun at one focus. 2) The line joining planet and Sun sweeps equal areas in equal times (constant areal velocity). 3) T² ∝ a³ (square of period proportional to cube of semi-major axis).

24. Define stress, strain, and Young's modulus.

    Stress = force/area (N/m²); Strain = change in dimension/original dimension (dimensionless); Young's modulus Y = longitudinal stress/longitudinal strain.

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