BPSC Test General Knowledge I (Everyday Science) Syllabus

General Knowledge I (Everyday Science) syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for General Knowledge I (Everyday Science) in BPSC Test, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Physical Sciences

   4 topics

   • Basic Concepts of Physics
   • Light, Sound and Optics
   • Electricity and Magnetism
   • Atomic Structure and Radioactivity
2. 2

   Chemistry in Daily Life

   4 topics

   • Elements, Compounds and Mixtures
   • Acids, Bases and Salts
   • Common Chemicals and Their Uses
   • Metals and Non-Metals
3. 3

   Biological Sciences

   5 topics

   • Human Body Systems
   • Cell Biology and Genetics
   • Plants and Photosynthesis
   • Microorganisms and Diseases
   • Vitamins, Nutrition and Balanced Diet
4. 4

   Earth and Space Sciences

   4 topics

   • The Solar System
   • Atmosphere and Weather
   • Earth Structure and Earthquakes
   • Natural Resources and Energy
5. 5

   Modern Science and Technology

   4 topics

   • Information and Communication Technology
   • Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
   • Environmental Science and Pollution
   • Recent Scientific Inventions and Discoveries

General Knowledge I (Everyday Science) flashcards for BPSC Test

21 of 62 cards from the General Knowledge I (Everyday Science) deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the SI unit of force, and how is it defined in base units?

   The newton (N). 1 N = 1 kg·m/s², the force that accelerates a 1 kg mass at 1 m/s².

2. State Newton's three laws of motion.

   1) An object stays at rest or in uniform motion unless acted on by a net force (inertia). 2) F = ma. 3) Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

3. What is the difference between speed and velocity?

   Speed is a scalar (magnitude only); velocity is a vector (magnitude plus direction). Velocity changes if direction changes even at constant speed.

4. What is the value of acceleration due to gravity on Earth, and what does it represent?

   About 9.8 m/s² (often taken as 9.81). It is the acceleration of a freely falling body near Earth's surface.

5. What is the formula for work, and its SI unit?

   Work = Force × distance moved in the direction of force (W = F·d). SI unit: joule (J), where 1 J = 1 N·m.

6. Why does a stick partly in water appear bent?

   Due to refraction — light bends as it passes from water (denser) to air (rarer), changing the apparent position of the submerged part.

7. What is the speed of light in a vacuum?

   Approximately 3 × 10⁸ metres per second (about 300,000 km/s).

8. Distinguish between reflection and refraction of light.

   Reflection is the bouncing back of light from a surface; refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another of different optical density.

9. What type of lens is used to correct short-sightedness (myopia)?

   A concave (diverging) lens, which spreads light so the image forms on the retina rather than in front of it.

10. Why can sound not travel through a vacuum?

    Sound is a mechanical wave that needs a material medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to transmit vibrations; a vacuum has no particles to carry it.

11. What is the approximate speed of sound in air at room temperature?

    About 340 metres per second (roughly 1,235 km/h).

12. What causes an echo?

    An echo is sound reflected back from a distant surface, heard distinctly when the reflecting surface is far enough that the reflected sound returns after the original.

13. What are the seven colours of the visible spectrum in order (VIBGYOR)?

    Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red.

14. State Ohm's law and its formula.

    Current through a conductor is directly proportional to the voltage across it at constant temperature: V = I × R (Voltage = Current × Resistance).

15. What is the SI unit of electric current and electric resistance?

    Current is measured in amperes (A); resistance is measured in ohms (Ω).

16. What is the formula for electrical power in terms of voltage and current?

    Power P = V × I (watts). It can also be written as P = I²R or P = V²/R.

17. Distinguish between conductors and insulators.

    Conductors (e.g., copper, silver) allow electric current to flow easily; insulators (e.g., rubber, glass) resist the flow of current.

18. What are the two poles of a magnet, and how do like and unlike poles behave?

    North and south poles. Like poles (N–N or S–S) repel; unlike poles (N–S) attract.

19. What is electromagnetic induction?

    The production of an electric current (EMF) in a conductor when it experiences a changing magnetic field, discovered by Michael Faraday.

20. Name the three subatomic particles of an atom with their charges.

    Proton (positive), neutron (neutral), and electron (negative).

21. What is the atomic number of an element?

    The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the element's identity.

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