BITSAT 2009 Physics Syllabus

1. Units & Measurement

1. Units (Different systems of units, SI units, fundamental and derived units)

2. Dimensional Analysis

3. Precision and significant figures

4. Fundamental measurements in Physics (Vernier calipers, screw gauge, Physical balance etc)

2. Kinematics

1. Properties of vectors

2. Position, velocity and acceleration vectors

3. Motion with constant acceleration

4. Projectile motion

5. Uniform circular motion

6. Relative motion

3. Newton’s Laws of Motion

1. Newton’s laws (free body diagram, resolution of forces)

2. Motion on an inclined plane

3. Motion of blocks with pulley systems

4. Circular motion – centripetal force

5. Inertial and non-inertial frames

4. Impulse and Momentum

1. Definition of impulse and momentum

2. Conservation of momentum

3. Collisions

4. Momentum of a system of particles

5. Center of mass

5. Work and Energy

1. Work done by a force

2. Kinetic energy and work-energy theorem

3. Power

4. Conservative forces and potential energy

5. Conservation of mechanical energy

6. Rotational Motion

1. Description of rotation (angular displacement, angular velocity and angular acceleration)

2. Rotational motion with constant angular acceleration

3. Moment of inertia, Parallel and perpendicular axes theorems, rotational kinetic energy6.4 Torque and angular momentum

4. Conservation of angular momentum

5.  Rolling motion

7. Gravitation

1. Newton’s law of gravitation

2. Gravitational potential energy, Escape velocity

3.  Motion of planets – Kepler’s laws, satellite motion

8. Mechanics of Solids and Fluids

1. Elasticity

2. Pressure, density and Archimedes’ principle

3. Viscosity and Surface Tension

4. Bernoulli’s theorem

9. Oscillations

1. Kinematics of simple harmonic motion

2. Spring mass system, simple and compound pendulum

3. Forced & damped oscillations, resonance

10. Waves

1. Progressive sinusoidal waves

2. Standing waves in strings and pipes

3. Superposition of waves beats

11. Heat and Thermodynamics

1. Kinetic theory of gases

2. Thermal equilibrium and temperature

3. Specific heat

4. Work, heat and first law of thermodynamics

5. 2nd law of thermodynamics, Carnot engine – Efficiency and Coefficient of performance

12. Electrostatics

1. Coulomb’s law

2.  Electric field (discrete and continuous charge distributions)

3.  Electrostatic potential and Electrostatic potential energy

4.  Gauss’ law and its applications

5. Electric dipole

6. Capacitance and dielectrics (parallel plate capacitor, capacitors in series and parallel)

13. Current Electricity

1. Ohm’s law, Joule heating

2. D.C circuits – Resistors and cells in series and parallel, Kirchoff’s laws, potentiometer and Wheatstone bridge,

3. Electrical Resistance (Resistivity, origin and temperature dependence of resistivity).

14. Magnetic Effect of Current

1. Biot-Savart’s law and its applications

2. Ampere’s law and its applications

3. Lorentz force, force on current carrying conductors in a magnetic field

4. Magnetic moment of a current loop, torque on a current loop, Galvanometer and its conversion to voltmeter and ammeter

15. Electromagnetic Induction

1. Faraday’s law, Lenz’s law, eddy currents

2. Self and mutual inductance

3. Transformers and generators

4. Alternating current (peak and rms value)

5. AC circuits, LCR circuits

16. Optics

1. Laws of reflection and refraction

2. Lenses and mirrors

3. Optical instruments – telescope and microscope

4.  Interference – Huygen’s principle, Young’s double slit experiment

5.  Interference in thin films

6.  Diffraction due to a single slit

7.  Electromagnetic waves and their characteristics (only qualitative ideas), Electromagnetic spectrum

8. Polarization – states of polarization, Malus’ law, Brewster’s law

17. Modern Physics

1. Dual nature of light and matter – Photoelectric effect. De Broglie wavelength

2. Atomic models – Rutherford’s experiment, Bohr’s atomic model

3.  Hydrogen atom spectrum

4. Radioactivity

5. Nuclear reactions: Fission and fusion, binding energy