WBJEE Physics - Electromagnetism, Optics and Modern Physics Syllabus

Physics - Electromagnetism, Optics and Modern 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 - Electromagnetism, Optics and Modern Physics in WBJEE, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Oscillations and Waves

   3 topics

   • Simple Harmonic Motion
     • Equation of SHM and energy
     • Spring and pendulum oscillations
     • Damped and forced oscillations, resonance
   • Wave Motion
     • Transverse and longitudinal waves
     • Superposition, interference and beats
     • Standing waves in strings and pipes
   • Sound and Doppler Effect
     • Characteristics of sound waves
     • Doppler effect in sound
2. 2

   Electrostatics and Current Electricity

   3 topics

   • Electrostatics
     • Coulomb's law and electric field
     • Gauss's law and applications
     • Electric potential and potential energy
     • Capacitors and dielectrics
   • Current Electricity
     • Ohm's law and resistance
     • Kirchhoff's laws and circuit analysis
     • Wheatstone bridge and potentiometer
     • Heating effect of current
   • Thermoelectricity and Chemical Effects
     • Seebeck and Peltier effects
     • Faraday's laws of electrolysis
3. 3

   Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

   3 topics

   • Magnetic Effects of Current
     • Biot-Savart and Ampere's law
     • Force on current carrying conductor
     • Moving coil galvanometer
   • Magnetism and Matter
     • Bar magnet and magnetic field
     • Para, dia and ferromagnetism
   • Electromagnetic Induction and AC
     • Faraday's and Lenz's law
     • Self and mutual inductance
     • Alternating current and LCR circuits
     • Transformers and resonance
4. 4

   Optics

   3 topics

   • Ray Optics
     • Reflection at plane and curved surfaces
     • Refraction and total internal reflection
     • Lenses, lens maker's formula and combinations
     • Optical instruments
   • Wave Optics
     • Huygens' principle and wavefronts
     • Young's double slit experiment
     • Diffraction and polarization
   • Electromagnetic Waves
     • Displacement current and Maxwell's equations
     • Electromagnetic spectrum
5. 5

   Modern Physics and Electronics

   3 topics

   • Dual Nature and Atomic Physics
     • Photoelectric effect and Einstein's equation
     • de Broglie wavelength
     • Bohr model and atomic spectra
   • Nuclear Physics
     • Nuclear structure and binding energy
     • Radioactivity and decay laws
     • Nuclear fission and fusion
   • Semiconductor Electronics
     • Intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors
     • p-n junction diode and rectifiers
     • Transistors and logic gates

Physics - Electromagnetism, Optics and Modern Physics flashcards for WBJEE

19 of 50 cards from the Physics - Electromagnetism, Optics and Modern Physics deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. Define Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM).

   SHM is oscillatory motion in which the restoring force (or acceleration) is directly proportional to the displacement from the mean position and always directed toward it: $F = -kx$, so $a = -\omega^{2} x$.

2. Write the general displacement equation of SHM and identify each symbol.

   $x(t) = A\sin(\omega t + \phi)$, where $A$ is amplitude, $\omega$ is angular frequency, $t$ is time, and $\phi$ is the initial phase (phase constant).

3. How are angular frequency $\omega$, time period $T$, and frequency $f$ related in SHM?

   $\omega = 2\pi f = \dfrac{2\pi}{T}$, so $T = \dfrac{2\pi}{\omega}$ and $f = \dfrac{1}{T}$.

4. In SHM, what are the expressions for velocity and acceleration as functions of displacement $x$?

   Velocity: $v = \pm\,\omega\sqrt{A^{2} - x^{2}}$. Acceleration: $a = -\omega^{2} x$. Speed is maximum at $x=0$ and zero at $x = \pm A$.

5. Where in an SHM cycle are kinetic energy and potential energy maximum?

   Kinetic energy is maximum at the mean position ($x=0$); potential energy is maximum at the extreme positions ($x=\pm A$). Total energy stays constant.

6. Give the expressions for kinetic, potential, and total energy in SHM.

   $KE = \frac{1}{2}m\omega^{2}(A^{2}-x^{2})$, $PE = \frac{1}{2}m\omega^{2}x^{2}$, and total energy $E = \frac{1}{2}m\omega^{2}A^{2}$ (constant).

7. What is the time period of a mass $m$ attached to a spring of force constant $k$?

   $T = 2\pi\sqrt{\dfrac{m}{k}}$. It is independent of amplitude and of gravity.

8. What is the time period of a simple pendulum of length $L$?

   $T = 2\pi\sqrt{\dfrac{L}{g}}$, valid only for small angular amplitudes (so $\sin\theta \approx \theta$).

9. Compare the effective spring constant for two springs $k_1$, $k_2$ in series versus in parallel.

   Parallel: $k_{eff} = k_1 + k_2$ (stiffer). Series: $\dfrac{1}{k_{eff}} = \dfrac{1}{k_1} + \dfrac{1}{k_2}$ (softer).

10. What is a damped oscillation, and how does its amplitude vary with time?

    An oscillation in which energy is lost (e.g. to friction), so amplitude decays. For light damping, $x = A_0 e^{-bt/2m}\cos(\omega' t + \phi)$, with damped frequency $\omega' = \sqrt{\omega_0^{2} - \left(\dfrac{b}{2m}\right)^{2}}$.

11. Distinguish underdamped, critically damped, and overdamped motion.

    Underdamped: oscillates with decaying amplitude. Critically damped: returns to equilibrium fastest without oscillating. Overdamped: returns slowly without oscillating.

12. What is resonance in forced oscillations?

    Resonance occurs when the driving frequency equals the natural frequency $\omega_0$ of the system, producing maximum amplitude. Lower damping gives a sharper, higher resonance peak.

13. What distinguishes free, forced, and damped oscillations?

    Free: oscillates at natural frequency with no external force or damping. Damped: amplitude decays due to dissipative forces. Forced: driven by an external periodic force at the driver's frequency.

14. Define wave motion and state what a mechanical wave transports.

    Wave motion is the propagation of a disturbance through a medium (or space) that transfers energy and momentum without net transport of the medium's particles.

15. Distinguish transverse and longitudinal waves with examples.

    Transverse: particle motion is perpendicular to wave propagation (e.g. light, waves on a string). Longitudinal: particle motion is parallel to propagation, forming compressions and rarefactions (e.g. sound).

16. Write the wave equation $y(x,t)$ for a wave traveling in the $+x$ direction.

    $y(x,t) = A\sin(kx - \omega t)$, where wave number $k = \dfrac{2\pi}{\lambda}$ and angular frequency $\omega = 2\pi f$.

17. State the relation between wave speed, frequency, and wavelength.

    $v = f\lambda = \dfrac{\omega}{k}$, where $v$ is wave speed, $f$ frequency, and $\lambda$ wavelength.

18. What is the speed of a transverse wave on a stretched string?

    $v = \sqrt{\dfrac{T}{\mu}}$, where $T$ is the tension and $\mu$ is the linear mass density (mass per unit length).

19. State the principle of superposition of waves.

    When two or more waves overlap, the resultant displacement at any point equals the algebraic (vector) sum of the displacements due to the individual waves.

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