INC CET / BSc Nursing Entrance 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 INC CET / BSc Nursing Entrance, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Mechanics and Laws of Motion

   5 topics

   • Units, Dimensions and Measurement
     • SI base and derived units
     • Dimensional analysis and its applications
     • Significant figures and errors in measurement
   • Kinematics
     • Scalars and vectors, vector addition
     • Motion in a straight line: velocity, acceleration
     • Projectile motion and uniform circular motion
   • Newton's Laws of Motion
     • Three laws and concept of inertia
     • Momentum and impulse
     • Friction and its applications
   • Work, Energy and Power
     • Work-energy theorem
     • Kinetic and potential energy, conservation of energy
     • Power and collisions
   • Gravitation
     • Newton's law of gravitation
     • Acceleration due to gravity and its variation
     • Escape velocity and satellite motion
2. 2

   Properties of Matter and Heat

   4 topics

   • Elasticity and Fluid Mechanics
     • Stress, strain and Young's modulus
     • Pressure in fluids and Pascal's law
     • Surface tension, viscosity and Bernoulli's principle
   • Thermal Properties of Matter
     • Temperature scales and thermal expansion
     • Specific heat and latent heat
     • Modes of heat transfer: conduction, convection, radiation
   • Thermodynamics
     • Zeroth and first law of thermodynamics
     • Isothermal and adiabatic processes
     • Second law and heat engines
   • Kinetic Theory of Gases
     • Gas laws and ideal gas equation
     • Kinetic interpretation of temperature
3. 3

   Electricity and Magnetism

   4 topics

   • Electrostatics
     • Coulomb's law and electric field
     • Electric potential and capacitance
   • Current Electricity
     • Ohm's law and resistance
     • Series and parallel combinations
     • Kirchhoff's laws and Wheatstone bridge
   • Magnetic Effects of Current
     • Magnetic field due to current-carrying conductor
     • Force on a moving charge and conductor
   • Electromagnetic Induction
     • Faraday's and Lenz's laws
     • Self and mutual inductance
     • Alternating current basics
4. 4

   Optics, Waves and Modern Physics

   4 topics

   • Wave Motion and Sound
     • Transverse and longitudinal waves
     • Wave speed, frequency and wavelength
     • Resonance and Doppler effect
   • Ray Optics
     • Reflection and refraction of light
     • Lenses, mirrors and lens formula
     • Human eye and optical instruments
   • Wave Optics
     • Interference and diffraction
   • Modern Physics
     • Photoelectric effect and dual nature
     • Atomic structure and Bohr model
     • Radioactivity and nuclear reactions

Physics flashcards for INC CET / BSc Nursing Entrance

24 of 51 cards from the Physics deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the seven base SI units and their corresponding physical quantities?

   Metre (length), kilogram (mass), second (time), ampere (electric current), kelvin (temperature), mole (amount of substance), candela (luminous intensity).

2. What is the dimensional formula of force, work/energy, and power?

   Force: [MLT^-2]; Work/Energy: [ML^2T^-2]; Power: [ML^2T^-3].

3. State the principle of homogeneity of dimensions.

   In a correct physical equation, every term on both sides must have the same dimensions; this is used to check the dimensional correctness of equations.

4. Distinguish between accuracy and precision in measurement.

   Accuracy is how close a measured value is to the true value; precision is how close repeated measurements are to each other (reproducibility), regardless of correctness.

5. Define scalar and vector quantities, giving one example of each.

   A scalar has only magnitude (e.g., mass, temperature). A vector has both magnitude and direction (e.g., velocity, force).

6. What are the three equations of motion for uniform acceleration?

   v = u + at; s = ut + (1/2)at^2; v^2 = u^2 + 2as, where u = initial velocity, v = final velocity, a = acceleration, s = displacement, t = time.

7. Differentiate between distance and displacement.

   Distance is the total path length travelled (scalar, always positive). Displacement is the shortest straight-line vector from initial to final position (can be zero or negative).

8. For a body in projectile motion, what are the time of flight, maximum height, and horizontal range?

   Time of flight T = 2u sinθ/g; Maximum height H = u^2 sin^2θ/(2g); Range R = u^2 sin2θ/g.

9. At what angle of projection is the horizontal range of a projectile maximum, and what is that range?

   At 45 degrees; the maximum range is R = u^2/g.

10. 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 = ma (force equals rate of change of momentum). 3rd: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

11. Define linear momentum and state the law of conservation of momentum.

    Momentum p = mv. The law states that in the absence of external force, the total momentum of a system remains constant.

12. What is the impulse of a force, and how is it related to momentum?

    Impulse = Force x time = F*t, and it equals the change in momentum (impulse-momentum theorem): F*t = Δp = m(v - u).

13. Differentiate between static, limiting, and kinetic friction.

    Static friction acts on a stationary body and adjusts up to a maximum (limiting friction). Limiting friction is the maximum static value just before motion. Kinetic friction acts on a moving body and is slightly less than limiting friction.

14. Define the coefficient of friction.

    It is the ratio of the limiting frictional force (F) to the normal reaction (N): μ = F/N. It is dimensionless.

15. Define work and state its SI unit and the condition for zero work.

    Work W = F·s·cosθ; SI unit is joule (J). Work is zero when force is perpendicular to displacement (θ = 90 degrees) or displacement is zero.

16. State the work-energy theorem.

    The net work done on a body equals its change in kinetic energy: W = (1/2)mv^2 - (1/2)mu^2.

17. Write the formulas for kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy.

    Kinetic energy KE = (1/2)mv^2; Potential energy PE = mgh (near Earth's surface).

18. Differentiate between elastic and inelastic collisions.

    In an elastic collision both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. In an inelastic collision momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not (some converts to heat/sound).

19. Define power and state its SI unit and one common practical unit.

    Power is the rate of doing work, P = W/t = F·v; SI unit is watt (W). A common unit is horsepower (1 hp = 746 W).

20. State Newton's law of universal gravitation with its formula.

    Every two masses attract with a force F = G m1 m2 / r^2, directed along the line joining them, where G = 6.67 x 10^-11 N·m^2/kg^2.

21. How does acceleration due to gravity (g) vary with height and depth?

    With height h: g' = g(1 - 2h/R); with depth d: g' = g(1 - d/R). g decreases with both height and depth, becoming zero at the centre of the Earth.

22. What is escape velocity and its value for Earth?

    The minimum velocity needed to escape a planet's gravity, v_e = sqrt(2gR) = sqrt(2GM/R); for Earth it is about 11.2 km/s.

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

    1st (Law of orbits): planets move in ellipses with the Sun at one focus. 2nd (Law of areas): the line joining planet and Sun sweeps equal areas in equal times. 3rd (Law of periods): T^2 ∝ r^3.

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

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

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