I. Mechanics
- Vectors — dots, cross and triple products, gradient, divergence and applications.
- Newtonian laws of motion; calculus based approach to kinematics, forces and dynamics; conservation law of energy; conservation of linear and angular momentum; dynamics of rigid body; spin and precession; gyroscope; gravitation; planetary motion and satellites; Kepler's laws; centripetal forces.
- Special theory of relativity. Michelson–Morley experiment and Einstein's postulates; Lorentz transformation; time dilation and length contraction; equivalence of mass and energy.
II. Fluid Mechanics
- Surface tension; viscosity; elasticity; fluid motion and Bernoulli's theorem.
III. Waves and Oscillation, Optics
- Free oscillation with one and two degrees of freedom; forced and damped oscillations and phenomenon of resonance. Simple harmonic motion. Travelling waves and transmission of energy; phase and group velocity; standing waves. Basics of sound waves.
- Reflection, refraction, interference, diffraction and polarization of waves; interferometer and Newton's rings; diffraction gratings and their resolving power; spectrometers. Electromagnetic wave equation; normal and anomalous dispersion, coherence, lasers and applications.
IV. Heat and Thermodynamics
- Perfect gas and Van der Waals equation; three laws of thermodynamics; internal energy, temperature, entropy. Thermal properties of simple system; production and measurement of low temperatures; kinetic theory of gases; Maxwellian distribution of molecular velocities; Brownian motion; transport phenomena. Classical Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics and its application; quantum Bose–Einstein and Fermi–Dirac statistics.
V. Electricity and Magnetism
- Electric field due to point charges, Gauss' law. Electric potential and Poisson and Laplace's equation. Dielectric medium and polarization; capacitance; moving charges and resulting magnetic field; Ampere's law; vector potential; magnetic properties of matter; transient current; Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction; alternating current and LRC circuit. Maxwell's equations; Poynting theorem and Poynting vector. Maxwell's equations in integral and differential form.
VI. Modern and Quantum Physics
- Operators and quantum states, observables, time dependent and independent Schrödinger equation, angular momentum, spin-½ particle in a magnetic field, wave mechanics, particle in a box, tunneling, one-dimensional harmonic oscillator, Heisenberg's uncertainty relationship and indeterminacy based on commutation properties of operators, Bohr theory and quantum numbers including electron spin; Pauli's exclusion principle; spectra of simple systems with one or two valence electrons. Photoelectric effect, Compton scattering; pair production; Lande's g factor and Zeeman effect. Raman effect; waves and particles and De Broglie's hypothesis.
VII. Solid State Physics
- Crystal lattice and structure, Bravais lattice, free electron model, band theory and electron in a periodic potential, Fermi energy and density of states, n and p type semiconductors, physics of the transistor and MOSFET, dielectric properties, magnetic properties and origin of magnetism.
VIII. Nuclear Physics
- Structure of nuclei; radioactivity, α, β and γ decay. Methods of detection, mass spectrometer. Accelerators. Phenomenon of fission; reactor and nuclear power, nuclear fusion and its application, elementary particles and their properties.
Recommended reading
7 titles| Title | Author |
|---|---|
| Perspectives of Modern Physics | A. Beiser |
| Fundamentals of Physics | Halliday & Resnick |
| Introduction to Electromagnetic Fields and Waves | D. Corson & P. Lorrain |
| Heat and Thermodynamics | D. Zemansky |
| Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | D. Griffiths |
| Modern Physics | Serway, Moses, Moyer |
| Solid State Physics | C. Kittel |
Others in Group II
You may take one subject from this group, so these are alternatives to Physics, not companions to it.