Format
The examination paper will contain multiple choice questions from five subtopics in physics mentioned under “Topics for PGDE Pre-Selection Test” below.
Recommended Text
- Physics: Principles with Applications by Douglas C. Giancoli (6th Edition), Pearson (Prentice Hall)
- Fundamentals of Physics by David Halliday, Robert Resnick and Jearl Walker (7th Edition), John Wiley
Topics for PGDE Pre-Selection Test
Mechanics
- Vector algebra and kinematics
- Newton’s laws and simple applications
- Friction
- Circular motion & universal gravitation
- Conservation laws: Rigid body kinematics and dynamics
- Oscillations
- Introduction to continuous media
Optics and Waves
- Geometrical Optics: Basic concepts in geometrical optics
- Fermat’s Principle; Reflection and refraction
- Thin Lens.
- Physical Optics: Wave Motion and equation
- Harmonic Waves
- Phase and Phase Velocity
- The Superposition of Waves; Standing Waves; Beats; Group Velocity;
- Interference; Diffraction; Polarization
Modern Physics and Special Relativity
- Galilean Relativity and transformation
- Michelson-Morley Experiment
- Postulates of relativity and implications: simultaneity and clock synchronization, time dilation and length contraction
- Lorentz Transformation including Fizeau’s experiment
- Paradoxes of relativity: Pole and barn paradox, and twin paradox
- Blackbody radiation; Photoelectric effect; Compton scattering
- Atomic structure: Rutherford's Model of Atom and Bohr's theory
- Wave-particle dualism: de Broglie hypothesis, Heisenberg Uncertainty principle
- Nuclear Physics: Nuclear shape and size, Nuclear stability, Binding energy
- Radioactivity, concept of half-life and mean life, conservation laws
Electromagnetism
- Electric field; Gauss’s law; Electric potential energy and potential; Dipoles
- Capacitance. Energy stored in electric field
- Electric current, Ohm’s law, Resistivity
- Kirchhoff’s law; DC circuit
- Magnetic field; Bio-Savart law; Ampere’s Law
- Charge particles in E and B fields -- Hall effect and mass spectrometer
- Electromagnetic Induction; Faraday’s law and Lenz’s law; Electric generator
- Eddy currents. Transformer and other applications of induction
- Inductance: self and mutual; Energy stored in magnetic field
- Analysis of AC circuit, including LRC, Resonance, Impedance matching
- Polarization; Dielectrics and their applications
- Electric displacement vectors. EM waves in free space and dielectric materials
Thermal Physics
- Temperature; Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics
- Thermal expansion; Specific and latent heat
- Ideal gas law
- Heat transfer; Stefan-Boltzmann law
- Kinetic theory
- Internal energy & First Law of Thermodynamics
- Equipartition theorem
- Heat capacities of gases; Adiabatic processes