NEET UG 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 NEET UG, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   UNIT I: Physics And Measurement

   1 topic

   • Units of measurements
     • System of Units
     • S I Units
     • fundamental and derived units
     • least count
     • significant figures
     • Errors in measurements
     • Dimensions of Physics quantities
     • dimensional analysis and its applications
2. 2

   UNIT 2: Kinematics

   3 topics

   • Motion in a Straight Line
     • Frame of Reference
     • Position-Time Graph
     • Speed and Velocity
   • Scalars and Vectors
     • Vector Addition and Subtraction
     • Scalar and Vector Products
     • Unit Vector
     • Resolution of a Vector
     • Relative Velocity
   • Motion in a Plane
     • Projectile Motion
     • Uniform Circular Motion
3. 3

   UNIT 3: Laws Of Motion

   12 topics

   • Force and Inertia
   • Newton’s First Law of Motion: Momentum
   • Newton’s Second Law of Motion
   • Impulses: Newton’s Third Law of Motion
   • Law of Conservation of Linear Momentum and its Applications
   • Equilibrium of Concurrent Forces
   • Static and Kinetic Friction
   • Laws of Friction
   • Rolling Friction
   • Dynamics of Uniform Circular Motion: Centripetal Force and its Applications
   • Vehicle on a Level Circular Road
   • Vehicle on a Banked Road
4. 4

   UNIT 4: Work, Energy, and Power

   9 topics

   • Work done by a constant force and a variable force
   • Kinetic and potential energies
   • Work-energy theorem
   • Power
   • Potential energy of spring
   • Conservation of mechanical energy
   • Conservative and nonconservative forces
   • Motion in a vertical circle
   • Elastic and inelastic collisions in one and two dimensions
5. 5

   UNIT 5: Rotational Motion

   7 topics

   • Basic concepts of rotational motion
     • Center of the mass of a two-particle system
     • Centre of the mass of a rigid body
   • Moment of a force
     • Torque
   • Angular momentum
     • Conservation of angular momentum and its applications
   • Moment of inertia
     • The radius of gyration
     • Values of moments of inertia for simple geometrical objects
     • Parallel and perpendicular axes theorems and their applications
   • Equilibrium of rigid bodies
   • Rigid body rotation and equations of rotational motion
   • Comparison of linear and rotational motions
6. 6

   UNIT 6: Gravitation

   10 topics

   • The universal law of gravitation
   • Acceleration due to gravity and its variation with altitude and depth
   • Kepler’s law of planetary motion
   • Gravitational potential energy
   • Gravitational potential
   • Escape velocity
   • Motion of a satellite
   • Orbital velocity
   • Time period
   • Energy of satellite
7. 7

   UNIT 7: Properties of Solids and Liquids

   29 topics

   • Elastic behavior
   • Stress-strain relationship
   • Hooke’s Law
   • Young’s modulus
   • bulk modulus
   • modulus of rigidity
   • Pressure due to a fluid column
   • Pascal’s law and its applications
   • Effect of gravity on fluid pressure
   • Viscosity
   • Stokes’ law
   • terminal velocity
   • streamline and turbulent flow
   • critical velocity
   • Bemoulli’s principle and its applications
   • Surface energy and surface tension
   • angle of contact
   • excess of pressure across a curved surface
   • application of surface tension – drops, bubbles, and capillary rise
   • Heat
   • temperature
   • thermal expansion
   • specific heat capacity
   • calorimetry
   • change of state
   • latent heat
   • Heat transfer conduction
   • convection
   • radiation
8. 8

   UNIT 8: Thermodynamics

   10 topics

   • Thermal equilibrium
   • Zeroth law of thermodynamics
   • Concept of temperature
   • Heat
   • Work
   • Internal energy
   • First law of thermodynamics
   • Isothermal processes
   • Adiabatic processes
   • Second law of thermodynamics
     • Reversible processes
     • Irreversible processes
9. 9

   Unit 9: Kinetic Theory of Gases

   8 topics

   • Equation of state of a perfect gas
   • Work done on compressing a gas
   • Kinetic theory of gases – assumptions
   • The concept of pressure
   • Kinetic interpretation of temperature
     • RMS speed of gas molecules
     • Degrees of freedom
   • Law of equipartition of energy and applications to specific heat capacities of gases
   • Mean free path
   • Avogadro’s number
10. 10

    UNIT 10: Oscillation and Waves

    2 topics

    • Oscillations and periodic motion
      • Time period
      • Frequency
      • Displacement as a function of time
      • Periodic functions
      • Simple harmonic motion (S.H.M.)
      • Simple pendulum
    • Wave motion
      • Longitudinal and transverse waves
      • Speed of traveling wave
      • Displacement relation for a progressive wave
      • Principle of superposition of waves
      • Reflection of waves
      • Standing waves in strings and organ pipes
      • Beats
11. 11

    Unit 11: Electrostatics

    7 topics

    • Electric charges
      • Conservation of charge
      • Coulomb’s law forces between two point charges
      • Forces between multiple charges: superposition principle and continuous charge distribution
    • Electric field
      • Electric field due to a point charge
      • Electric field lines
      • Electric dipole
      • Electric field due to a dipole
      • Torque on a dipole in a uniform electric field
    • Electric flux
      • Gauss’s law and its applications to find field due to infinitely long uniformly charged straight wire
      • Uniformly charged infinite plane sheet
      • Uniformly charged thin spherical shell
    • Electric potential
      • Calculation for a point charge
      • Electric dipole and system of charges potential difference
      • Equipotential surfaces
      • Electrical potential energy of a system of two point charges
      • Electric dipole in an electrostatic field
    • Conductors and insulators
    • Dielectrics and electric polarization
    • Capacitors and capacitances
      • Combination of capacitors in series and parallel
      • Capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with and without dielectric medium between the plates
      • Energy is stored in a capacitor
12. 12

    Unit 12: Current Electricity

    12 topics

    • Electric current
      • Drift velocity
      • Mobility
      • Relation with electric current
    • Ohm’s law
    • Electrical resistance
      • V-I characteristics of ohmic conductors
      • V-I characteristics of non-ohmic conductors
    • Electrical energy and power
    • Electrical resistivity and conductivity
    • Series and parallel combinations of resistors
    • Temperature dependence of resistance
    • Internal resistance, potential difference, and emf of a cell
    • Combination of cells in series and parallel
    • Kirchhoff’s laws and their applications
    • Wheatstone bridge
    • Metre Bridge
13. 13

    Unit 13: Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism

    12 topics

    • Biot – Savart law and its application to the current carrying circular loop
    • Ampere's law and its applications to infinitely long current carrying straight wire and solenoid
    • Force on a moving charge in uniform magnetic and electric fields
    • Force on a current-carrying conductor in a uniform magnetic field
    • The force between two parallel currents carrying conductors definition of ampere
    • Torque experienced by a current loop in a uniform magnetic field: Moving coil galvanometer, its sensitivity, and conversion to ammeter and voltmeter
    • Current loop as a magnetic dipole and its magnetic dipole moment
    • Bar magnet as an equivalent solenoid
    • Magnetic field lines
    • Magnetic field due to a magnetic dipole (bar magnet) along its axis and perpendicular to its axis
    • Torque on a magnetic dipole in a uniform magnetic field
    • Paramagnetic, diamagnetic, and ferromagnetic substances with examples, the effect of temperature on magnetic properties
14. 14

    Unit 14: Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents

    3 topics

    • Electromagnetic induction
      • Faraday’s law
      • Induced emf and current
      • Lenz's Law
      • Eddy currents
      • Self inductance
      • Mutual inductance
    • Alternating currents
      • Peak and RMS value of alternating current/voltage
      • Reactance and impedance
      • LCR series circuits
      • Resonance
      • Power in AC circuits
      • Wattless current
    • AC generator and transformer
15. 15

    Unit 15: Electromagnetic Waves

    5 topics

    • Displacement current
    • Electromagnetic waves and their characteristics
    • Transverse nature of electromagnetic waves
    • Electromagnetic spectrum
      • Radio waves
      • Microwaves
      • Infrared
      • Visible
      • Ultraviolet
      • X-rays
      • Gamma rays
    • Applications of e.m. waves
16. 16

    Unit 16: Optics

    11 topics

    • Reflection of Light
      • Spherical Mirrors
    • Refraction of Light
      • Plane Surfaces
      • Spherical Surfaces
    • Lens Formula
      • Mirror Formula
      • Thin Lens Formula
      • Lens Maker Formula
    • Total Internal Reflection
      • Applications
    • Magnification
    • Power of a Lens
    • Combination of Lenses
      • Thin Lenses in Contact
    • Refraction through a Prism
    • Microscope
    • Astronomical Telescope
      • Reflecting Telescope
      • Refracting Telescope
      • Magnifying Powers
    • Wave Optics
      • Wavefront
      • Huygens’ Principle
      • Laws of Reflection and Refraction using Huygens Principle
      • Interference
      • Young’s Double-Slit Experiment
      • Expression for Fringe Width
      • Coherent Sources
      • Sustained Interference of Light
      • Diffraction due to a Single Slit
      • Width of Central Maximum
      • Polarization
      • Plane-Polarized Light
      • Brewster’s Law
      • Uses of Plane-Polarized Light
      • Polaroid
17. 17

    Unit 17: Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation

    5 topics

    • Dual nature of radiation
    • Photoelectric effect
    • Hertz and Lenard’s observations
    • Einstein’s photoelectric equation: particle nature of light
    • Matter waves-wave nature of particle, de Broglie relation
18. 18

    Unit 18: Atoms and Nuclei

    10 topics

    • Alpha-particle scattering experiment
    • Rutherford’s model of atom
    • Bohr model
      • Energy levels' hydrogen spectrum
    • Composition and size of nucleus
    • Atomic masses
    • Mass-energy relation
    • Mass defect
    • Binding energy per nucleon and its variation with mass number
    • Nuclear fission
    • Nuclear fusion
19. 19

    Unit 19: Electronic Devices

    7 topics

    • Semiconductors
    • Semiconductor Diode
      • I-V characteristics in forward and reverse bias
      • Diode as a rectifier
    • LED
      • I-V characteristics of LED
    • Photodiode
    • Solar Cell
    • Zener Diode
      • I-V characteristics of Zener diode
      • Zener diode as a voltage regulator
    • Logic Gates
      • OR Gate
      • AND Gate
      • NOT Gate
      • NAND Gate
      • NOR Gate
20. 20

    Unit 20: Experimental Skills

    18 topics

    • Vernier Calipers
      • Measuring internal and external diameter and depth of a vessel
    • Screw Gauge
      • Determining the thickness/diameter of thin sheet/wire
    • Simple Pendulum
      • Dissipation of energy by plotting a graph between the square of amplitude and time
    • Metre Scale
      • Measuring the mass of a given object by the principle of moments
    • Young’s Modulus of Elasticity
      • Determining the Young’s modulus of elasticity of the material of a metallic wire
    • Surface Tension of Water
      • Measuring surface tension by capillary rise and effect of detergents
    • Coefficient of Viscosity
      • Measuring the coefficient of viscosity of a given viscous liquid by measuring the terminal velocity of a given spherical body
    • Speed of Sound in Air
      • Determining the speed of sound in air at room temperature using a resonance tube
    • Specific Heat Capacity
      • Measuring the specific heat capacity of a given solid and liquid by method of mixtures
    • Resistivity
      • Determining the resistivity of the material of a given wire using a metre bridge
    • Resistance
      • Measuring the resistance of a given wire using Ohm’s law
    • Galvanometer
      • Measuring the resistance and figure of merit of a galvanometer by half deflection method
    • Focal Length
      • Determining the focal length of convex mirror
      • Determining the focal length of concave mirror
      • Determining the focal length of convex lens using the parallax method
    • Angle of Deviation vs Angle of Incidence
      • Plotting the angle of deviation vs angle of incidence for a triangular prism
    • Refractive Index
      • Determining the refractive index of a glass slab using a traveling microscope
    • P-Junction Diode
      • Studying the characteristic curves of a p-junction diode in forward and reverse bias
    • Zener Diode
      • Studying the characteristic curves of a Zener diode and finding reverse breakdown voltage
    • Identification of Components
      • Identifying Diode, LED, Resistor, and Capacitor from a mixed collection of such items

Physics flashcards for NEET UG

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

1. Define instantaneous velocity and state how it is obtained from a position-time graph.

   Instantaneous velocity is the limit of average velocity as the time interval approaches zero: v = dx/dt. On a position-time graph it equals the slope of the tangent at that instant.

2. Write the three equations of motion for uniformly accelerated motion in a straight line.

   v = u + at; s = ut + (1/2)at²; v² = u² + 2as, where u = initial velocity, v = final velocity, a = acceleration, s = displacement, t = time.

3. 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; Maximum height H = u²sin²θ/(2g); Range R = u²sin2θ/g (maximum range at θ = 45°).

4. State Newton's three laws of motion.

   1) A body continues in rest or uniform motion unless acted on by a net external force (inertia). 2) F = dp/dt = ma. 3) For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

5. State the law of conservation of linear momentum and the condition under which it holds.

   The total linear momentum of an isolated system remains constant when no net external force acts on it. It follows from Newton's second and third laws.

6. Distinguish between static, limiting, and kinetic friction, and give the relation for limiting friction.

   Static friction is self-adjusting up to a maximum (limiting friction = μ_s N) before motion begins. Kinetic friction (= μ_k N) acts during motion and is slightly less than limiting friction (μ_k < μ_s).

7. Derive the expression for the maximum safe speed of a car on a banked road (neglecting friction).

   For a frictionless banked road of angle θ and radius r, the safe speed is v = √(rg tanθ), obtained by balancing the horizontal component of normal force as the centripetal force.

8. State the work-energy theorem.

   The net work done by all forces acting on a body equals the change in its kinetic energy: W_net = ΔKE = (1/2)mv² − (1/2)mu².

9. Define conservative and non-conservative forces with one example each.

   A conservative force does work independent of path and zero over a closed loop (e.g., gravity, spring force). A non-conservative force depends on path and dissipates energy (e.g., friction).

10. Compare elastic and inelastic collisions in terms of conserved quantities.

    In both, linear momentum is conserved. In an elastic collision kinetic energy is also conserved; in an inelastic collision kinetic energy is not conserved (it is partly lost). In a perfectly inelastic collision bodies stick together.

11. Give the final velocities for a one-dimensional elastic collision between masses m1 (velocity u1) and m2 (velocity u2).

    v1 = [(m1−m2)u1 + 2m2u2]/(m1+m2); v2 = [(m2−m1)u2 + 2m1u1]/(m1+m2). For equal masses, the velocities are exchanged.

12. Define the centre of mass and write its position for a system of particles.

    The centre of mass is the point that moves as if all the system's mass were concentrated there and all external forces applied there. R_cm = (Σ m_i r_i)/(Σ m_i).

13. Define torque and angular momentum, and state the relation between them.

    Torque τ = r × F. Angular momentum L = r × p (= Iω for rigid bodies). They are related by τ = dL/dt.

14. State the theorems of parallel axes and perpendicular axes for moment of inertia.

    Parallel axis: I = I_cm + Md². Perpendicular axis (for a planar lamina): I_z = I_x + I_y, where z is perpendicular to the plane containing x and y.

15. Give the moment of inertia of (a) a solid sphere about a diameter and (b) a solid cylinder/disc about its central axis.

    (a) Solid sphere: I = (2/5)MR². (b) Solid cylinder/disc about central axis: I = (1/2)MR².

16. State the condition for rolling without slipping and the total kinetic energy of a rolling body.

    Rolling without slipping: v = ωR. Total KE = (1/2)Mv² + (1/2)Iω² = (1/2)Mv²(1 + k²/R²), where k is the radius of gyration.

17. State Newton's law of universal gravitation.

    Every two point masses attract each other with a force F = G m1 m2 / r², directed along the line joining them, where G = 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ N·m²/kg².

18. Write the formula for acceleration due to gravity at height h and at depth d below Earth's surface.

    At height: g_h = g(1 − 2h/R) for h ≪ R, or g_h = g R²/(R+h)². At depth: g_d = g(1 − d/R).

19. Define escape velocity and give its expression and value for Earth.

    Escape velocity is the minimum speed needed to escape a body's gravity: v_e = √(2GM/R) = √(2gR) ≈ 11.2 km/s for Earth.

20. Give the orbital velocity and time period of a satellite in a circular orbit of radius r.

    Orbital velocity v_o = √(GM/r); Time period T = 2π√(r³/GM). For a low orbit (r ≈ R), v_o ≈ 7.9 km/s.

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

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

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

    Stress = force per unit area (F/A). Strain = fractional deformation (ΔL/L). Young's modulus Y = longitudinal stress/longitudinal strain = (F·L)/(A·ΔL).

23. State Hooke's law and define the elastic limit.

    Hooke's law: within the elastic limit, stress is directly proportional to strain (stress = modulus × strain). The elastic limit is the maximum stress up to which a body regains its original shape on removal of the load.

24. 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 container walls. A hydraulic lift uses this to multiply force: F2 = F1(A2/A1).

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