Physics CSS Syllabus | FPSC Topics & Marks

Physics FPSC syllabus

PAPER-I (Marks-100)

I. Mechanics

• Vectors: Dots, Cross and triple products, Gradient, divergence, curl 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 Oscillations, Optics

• Free oscillation with one and two degrees of freedom; forced and damped oscillations and phenomenon of resonance; Simple harmonic motion; Traveling waves and transmission of energy; Phase and Group velocity; standing waves; Basics of sound waves.
• Reflection, Refraction, Interference, Diffraction and Polarization of waves; interfero meter and Newton’s rings; Diffraction Gratings and their resolving power; spectro meters. Electromagnetic wave equation; normal and anamolous dispersion; coherence, lasers and applications.

IV. Heat and Thermodynamics

• Perfect gas, real gas and Van der Waals equation; Three Laws of Thermodynamics; internal energy; temperature; entropy; Thermal properties of simple systems; kinetic theory of gases; Maxwellian distribution of molecular velocities; Brownian motion; Transport phenomena. Classical Maxwell-Boltzmann Statistics and its application; Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac Statistics.

PAPER-II (Marks-100)

I. Electricity and Magnetism

• Electric field due to point charges; Gauss’ law; Electric potential; Poisson and Laplace’s equations; Dielectric medium and Polarization; Capacitance; Moving charges and resulting magnetic field; Ampere’s law; Magnetic properties of matter; Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction; Alternating current and RLC circuit; Poynting theorem and Poynting Vector. Maxwell's equations in integral and differential form; scalar and vector potential.

II. Modern and Quantum Physics

• Waves and particles and De Broglie’s Hypothesis; Operators and quantum states; observables; time dependent and independent Schrodinger equation; angular momentum; spin-1/2 particle in a magnetic field; wave mechanics; particle in a box; tunneling; one-dimensional harmonic oscillator; Heisenber's uncertainty relationship and indeterminacy based on commutation properties of operators; Bohr’s theory and quantum numbers including electron spin; Pauli’s exclusion principle; Spectra of simple systems with one or two valence electrons; photo electric effect; Compton scattering; pair production; Lande’s g factor and Zeeman effect. Raman effect;

III. 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.

IV. Nuclear Physics

• Structure of Nuclei; Radioactivity,, and decay; Methods of detection of nuclear radiation, Mass Sepectrometer; Accelerators; Phenomenon of fission; reactor and nuclear power; nuclear fusion and its applications; Elementary particles and their properties.

Suggested readings

1. Perspectives of Modern Physics. A. Beiser.
2. Fundamentals of Physics. Halliday & Resnick
3. Introduction to Electromagnetic Fields and Waves. D. Corson & P. Lorrain.
4. Heat and Thermodynamics. D. Zemansky
5. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics D. Griffiths
6. Modern Physics Serway, Moses, Moyer.
7. Solid State Physics C. Kittel

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