UPSC CDS (Combined Defence Services) General Knowledge: General Science (Paper II) Syllabus

General Knowledge: General Science (Paper II) 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: General Science (Paper II) in UPSC CDS (Combined Defence Services), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Physics

   4 topics

   • Units, Measurement, Motion and Force
     • Newton's laws of motion
     • Work, energy and power
   • Heat, Light and Sound
   • Electricity and Magnetism
   • Modern Physics and Everyday Applications
2. 2

   Chemistry

   5 topics

   • Matter: States, Elements and Compounds
   • Atomic Structure and Periodic Table
   • Acids, Bases, Salts and Chemical Reactions
   • Metals, Non-Metals and Common Compounds
   • Chemistry in Daily Life
3. 3

   Biology

   5 topics

   • Cell Structure and Classification of Organisms
   • Human Body Systems and Nutrition
     • Digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems
     • Vitamins, deficiency diseases and balanced diet
   • Plant Physiology and Photosynthesis
   • Diseases, Pathogens and Immunity
   • Genetics and Heredity Basics
4. 4

   Environment and Applied Science

   4 topics

   • Ecosystems and Biodiversity
   • Environmental Pollution and Climate Change
   • Science and Technology Developments
   • Space and Defence Technology

General Knowledge: General Science (Paper II) flashcards for UPSC CDS (Combined Defence Services)

22 of 50 cards from the General Knowledge: General Science (Paper II) deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the SI base units for length, mass, and time?

   Metre (m) for length, kilogram (kg) for mass, and second (s) for time.

2. State Newton's three laws of motion.

   1) A body remains at rest or in uniform motion unless acted on by a net external force (inertia). 2) Force = mass x acceleration (F = ma). 3) Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

3. What is the difference between speed and velocity?

   Speed is the rate of change of distance (scalar, magnitude only). Velocity is the rate of change of displacement (vector, magnitude and direction).

4. State the formula for momentum and its SI unit.

   Momentum p = mass x velocity (p = mv). SI unit is kilogram metre per second (kg m/s).

5. What is the acceleration due to gravity (g) on Earth's surface?

   Approximately 9.8 m/s squared (often taken as 9.81 m/s squared).

6. State the difference between mass and weight.

   Mass is the amount of matter in a body (kg, constant everywhere). Weight is the gravitational force on it (W = mg, in newtons, varies with g).

7. What are the three modes of heat transfer?

   Conduction (through solids by contact), convection (through fluids by movement of particles), and radiation (through electromagnetic waves, no medium needed).

8. Define specific heat capacity.

   The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of a substance by 1 degree Celsius (or 1 kelvin).

9. Convert 0 degrees Celsius and 100 degrees Celsius to the Kelvin scale.

   0 degrees C = 273.15 K and 100 degrees C = 373.15 K.

10. What is the difference 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 due to a change in speed.

11. What type of lens corrects myopia (short-sightedness) and hypermetropia (long-sightedness)?

    Myopia is corrected with a concave (diverging) lens; hypermetropia is corrected with a convex (converging) lens.

12. Why is the sky blue?

    Due to the scattering of sunlight by air molecules (Rayleigh scattering); blue light, having a shorter wavelength, is scattered more than other colours.

13. What is the audible range of frequency for the human ear?

    Approximately 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (20 kHz).

14. Differentiate between ultrasonic and infrasonic sound.

    Infrasonic sound has a frequency below 20 Hz; ultrasonic sound has a frequency above 20,000 Hz. Both are inaudible to humans.

15. State Ohm's law and its formula.

    At constant temperature, the current through a conductor is directly proportional to the voltage across it: V = IR, where R is resistance.

16. What is the SI unit of electric current, and what is the unit of resistance?

    The SI unit of current is the ampere (A); the SI unit of resistance is the ohm (symbol omega).

17. State the formula for electric power in terms of voltage and current.

    Power P = Voltage x Current (P = VI), measured in watts. It can also be written as P = I squared R or V squared / R.

18. What is the difference between AC and DC current?

    In alternating current (AC) the direction of flow reverses periodically; in direct current (DC) the current flows in only one direction.

19. Name the poles of a magnet and state the basic law of magnetism.

    A magnet has a north pole and a south pole. Like poles repel and unlike poles attract.

20. What is Einstein's mass-energy equivalence equation?

    E = mc squared, where E is energy, m is mass, and c is the speed of light in vacuum.

21. What is the approximate speed of light in vacuum?

    Approximately 3 x 10 to the 8 metres per second (300,000 km/s).

22. What is the photoelectric effect?

    The emission of electrons from a metal surface when light of suitable frequency falls on it; explained by Einstein using the quantum (photon) theory of light.

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