SSC MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff) General Science Syllabus

What is a magnetic field, and what are the poles of a magnet called?

A magnetic field is the region around a magnet where its force acts. The two poles are the North pole and the South pole; like poles repel and unlike poles attract.

What is electromagnetic induction?

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

Name the three states of matter and their key property regarding shape and volume.

Solid (fixed shape, fixed volume), liquid (no fixed shape, fixed volume), gas (no fixed shape, no fixed volume).

What is sublimation? Give one example.

Sublimation is the direct change of a substance from solid to gas without passing through the liquid state. Example: camphor, dry ice, or naphthalene balls.

Differentiate between an element, a compound, and a mixture.

An element contains only one kind of atom; a compound is two or more elements chemically combined in a fixed ratio; a mixture contains substances physically mixed in any ratio.

What are the three subatomic particles and their charges?

Proton (positive charge), neutron (no charge/neutral), and electron (negative charge).

Define atomic number and mass number.

Atomic number = number of protons in an atom; mass number = number of protons + number of neutrons.

What are isotopes?

Isotopes are atoms of the same element having the same atomic number (protons) but different mass numbers (different numbers of neutrons). Example: Carbon-12 and Carbon-14.

Who proposed the modern periodic table and on what basis are elements arranged?

Henry Moseley proposed the modern periodic law; elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number.

What are the horizontal rows and vertical columns of the periodic table called?

Horizontal rows are called periods; vertical columns are called groups. The modern table has 7 periods and 18 groups.

What is the chemical name and formula of common table salt?

Sodium chloride, with the chemical formula NaCl.

What is the chemical name and formula of baking soda?

Sodium bicarbonate (sodium hydrogen carbonate), formula NaHCO3.

What is the pH value of a neutral substance, and how do acids and bases differ on the pH scale?

A neutral substance has pH 7. Acids have pH less than 7; bases (alkalis) have pH greater than 7.

What gas is released when an acid reacts with a metal?

Hydrogen gas (H2) is released when an acid reacts with a metal.

Name the four main components of human blood.

Plasma, red blood cells (RBCs/erythrocytes), white blood cells (WBCs/leucocytes), and platelets (thrombocytes).

How many chambers does the human heart have, and what are they?

Four chambers: two upper atria (left and right) and two lower ventricles (left and right).

What is the functional unit of the kidney called?

The nephron is the functional and structural unit of the kidney.

How many bones are there in the adult human body?

There are 206 bones in the adult human body.

Which gland is called the 'master gland' of the body?

The pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain, is called the master gland because it controls other endocrine glands.

Name the six classes of nutrients required by the human body.

Carbohydrates, proteins, fats (lipids), vitamins, minerals, and water.

Which vitamin deficiency causes scurvy, and which causes rickets?

Scurvy is caused by deficiency of Vitamin C; rickets is caused by deficiency of Vitamin D.

What deficiency causes goitre, and which mineral prevents it?

Goitre is caused by deficiency of iodine; adequate iodine intake (e.g., iodised salt) prevents it.

Name one disease each caused by a bacterium and a virus.

Bacterial disease example: tuberculosis or cholera. Viral disease example: influenza, polio, or AIDS.

What is the basic structural and functional unit of life?

The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of life. Robert Hooke first discovered cells.

What is photosynthesis and where does it occur in the plant cell?

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants make food (glucose) using carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight, releasing oxygen. It occurs in the chloroplast (containing chlorophyll).

What is the difference between a plant cell and an animal cell regarding the cell wall?

A plant cell has a rigid cell wall (made of cellulose) outside the cell membrane; an animal cell has no cell wall, only a cell membrane.

What is an ecosystem, and what are its two main components?

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment. Its two components are biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors.

Which gas is mainly responsible for the greenhouse effect and global warming?

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main greenhouse gas, along with methane, water vapour, and nitrous oxide.

Which Indian organisation is responsible for the country's space programme, and where is its headquarters?

ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), headquartered in Bengaluru (Bangalore).

Name two renewable and two non-renewable sources of energy.

Renewable: solar energy and wind energy (also hydro, tidal, biomass). Non-renewable: coal and petroleum (also natural gas, nuclear fuels).