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SSC JE General Engineering (Mechanical) Syllabus
Every chapter and topic of General Engineering (Mechanical) examined in SSC JE — 11 chapters, 22 topics, plus 52 flashcards written against it.
General Engineering (Mechanical) syllabus — full chapter and topic list
Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for General Engineering (Mechanical) in SSC JE, not a summary of it.
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Theory of Machines
2 topics- Mechanisms
- Dynamics of Machines
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Machine Design
2 topics- Design Principles
- Design of Machine Elements
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Engineering Mechanics
2 topics- Statics
- Dynamics
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Strength of Materials
2 topics- Stress and Strain
- Material Properties
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Thermal Engineering
2 topics- Thermodynamics
- Heat Transfer
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Fluid Mechanics and Machinery
2 topics- Fluid Properties
- Fluid Dynamics
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Production Engineering
2 topics- Manufacturing Processes
- Production Planning
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Automobile Engineering
2 topics- Vehicle Dynamics
- Engine Systems
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Power Plant Engineering
2 topics- Types of Power Plants
- Power Plant Economics
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Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
2 topics- Refrigeration Cycles
- Air Conditioning Systems
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Industrial Engineering
2 topics- Work Study
- Quality Control
General Engineering (Mechanical) flashcards for SSC JE
23 of 52 cards from the General Engineering (Mechanical) deck — real questions with worked answers.
In a four-bar mechanism, what does Grashof's law state about the link lengths?
The sum of the shortest (s) and longest (l) links must be less than or equal to the sum of the other two links (p+q): s + l ≤ p + q, for continuous relative rotation of at least one link.
What is the difference between a mechanism and a machine?
A mechanism is a combination of links that transmits and modifies motion; a machine is a mechanism (or set of mechanisms) that transmits and modifies forces/energy to do useful work.
Define the degree of freedom (mobility) of a planar mechanism using Kutzbach's criterion.
F = 3(n − 1) − 2j − h, where n = number of links, j = number of lower (binary) pairs, and h = number of higher pairs.
What is the function of a flywheel in an engine, and how does it differ from a governor?
A flywheel stores energy and limits speed fluctuation within a cycle (cyclic variation); a governor controls the mean speed over many cycles by adjusting fuel/working-fluid supply to match load.
State D'Alembert's principle used in dynamics of machines.
A moving body can be treated as in static equilibrium if the inertia force (−m·a) and inertia torque (−I·α) are applied in addition to the real external forces, converting a dynamics problem into a statics problem.
What is the formula for the gyroscopic couple, and what are its directions?
C = I·ω·ωp, where I = moment of inertia, ω = spin angular velocity, and ωp = precession angular velocity. The reactive gyroscopic couple acts opposite to the applied couple.
List the three main factors of safety considerations in machine design.
Factor of safety = ultimate (or yield) stress / allowable (working) stress. It accounts for uncertainties in loading, material properties, and manufacturing/operating conditions.
What is the difference between static load and fatigue (dynamic) load in machine element design?
A static load is gradually applied and remains constant; fatigue load is fluctuating/repeated and causes failure at stresses far below ultimate strength after many cycles via crack propagation.
In design of a shaft subjected to combined bending and torsion, what is the maximum shear stress theory equation for equivalent torque?
Te = √(M² + T²), where M = bending moment and T = torsional moment; the shaft diameter is found from τ = 16·Te/(π·d³).
What is the function of a key in a shaft-hub connection, and what failure modes must it resist?
A key transmits torque between shaft and hub and prevents relative rotation. It must resist shear failure (across its width) and crushing/bearing failure (on its sides).
State the conditions for static equilibrium of a rigid body in a plane.
ΣFx = 0, ΣFy = 0, and ΣM = 0 — the sum of horizontal forces, vertical forces, and moments about any point must all be zero.
What is the difference between a couple and a moment?
A moment is the turning effect of a single force about a point (F × perpendicular distance). A couple is two equal, opposite, parallel forces producing pure rotation; its moment is the same about any point.
Define centripetal and centrifugal acceleration for a body in circular motion.
Centripetal acceleration = v²/r = ω²r, directed toward the center. Centrifugal force is the equal and opposite (fictitious/reactive) effect felt outward in the rotating frame.
What is the relationship between linear and angular quantities in rotational dynamics?
v = ω·r, a = α·r, and torque T = I·α (analogous to F = m·a), where I is the mass moment of inertia.
Define Hooke's law and state Young's modulus.
Within the elastic limit, stress is proportional to strain. Young's modulus E = normal stress / normal strain (σ/ε), measured in pascals (N/m²).
What is Poisson's ratio, and what is its typical range for metals?
Poisson's ratio (ν) = lateral strain / longitudinal strain (magnitude). For most metals it ranges about 0.25 to 0.35; it cannot exceed 0.5 for an isotropic material.
Give the relationship between the three elastic constants E, G, and K.
E = 2G(1 + ν) and E = 3K(1 − 2ν), where E = Young's modulus, G = shear (rigidity) modulus, K = bulk modulus, ν = Poisson's ratio.
What is the difference between ductile and brittle materials in terms of failure?
Ductile materials (e.g., mild steel) undergo large plastic deformation and necking before fracture; brittle materials (e.g., cast iron) fracture suddenly with little plastic deformation.
Define toughness, hardness, and resilience as mechanical properties.
Toughness = energy absorbed up to fracture (area under stress-strain curve). Hardness = resistance to indentation/scratching/wear. Resilience = energy absorbed within the elastic limit.
State the first law of thermodynamics for a closed system.
Q − W = ΔU, i.e., heat added to a system minus work done by the system equals the change in its internal energy. Energy is conserved.
State the second law of thermodynamics (Kelvin-Planck statement).
It is impossible to construct a device operating in a cycle that produces no effect other than the extraction of heat from a single reservoir and its complete conversion into work.
What is the efficiency of a Carnot engine operating between temperatures T1 (hot) and T2 (cold)?
η = 1 − T2/T1, with temperatures in kelvin. It is the maximum possible efficiency for any heat engine between those two reservoirs.
Differentiate between the four processes of the Otto cycle and the Diesel cycle.
Otto: heat addition at constant volume (SI engines). Diesel: heat addition at constant pressure (CI engines). Both have isentropic compression, isentropic expansion, and constant-volume heat rejection.
Planning General Engineering (Mechanical) for SSC JE
General Engineering (Mechanical) is about 20% of the SSC JE syllabus by topic count — 22 of 108 topics, spread over 11 chapters. At roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, a first pass runs to about 15 hours.
The heaviest chapters are Theory of Machines (2 topics), Machine Design (2 topics), Engineering Mechanics (2 topics) . Front-load those while your energy is high; the short chapters are better revision filler later.
Work top-down: read the chapter, then tick topics off individually rather than marking the whole chapter done. Sub-topics are where silent gaps hide.
General Engineering (Mechanical) (SSC JE) FAQ
What is in the SSC JE General Engineering (Mechanical) syllabus?
General Engineering (Mechanical) is split into 11 chapters — Theory of Machines, Machine Design, Engineering Mechanics, Strength of Materials, Thermal Engineering and Fluid Mechanics and Machinery, and 5 more, containing 22 topics and 0 sub-topics in total.
How is General Engineering (Mechanical) structured in the SSC JE syllabus?
11 chapters. General Engineering (Mechanical) accounts for about 20% of the topics in the whole SSC JE syllabus (22 of 108).
How long should I spend on General Engineering (Mechanical) for SSC JE?
Budget around 15 hours for a first pass through General Engineering (Mechanical) — about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic across its 22 topics. Add revision cycles on top.
Are there flashcards for SSC JE General Engineering (Mechanical)?
Yes — a 52-card General Engineering (Mechanical) deck. Sample cards are printed on this page, and the full deck is free in the Examius app with spaced repetition scheduling.