fiziks

Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT‐JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 
 
GATE PHYSICS (PH)
EXAM PATTERN
The GATE Examination is carried out as ONLINE Computer Based Test (CBT) where
the candidates will be shown the questions in a random sequence on a computer screen.
The duration of the examination will be 3 hours. The medium for all the test papers is
English only. There will be a total of 65 questions carrying 100 marks.
The entire paper is divided into two sections:
 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
 Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions
General Aptitude Section
The paper will consist of a mandatory General Aptitude (GA) section which will have 10
questions. 5 of the questions will be of 1 mark and the remaining 5 will be of 2 marks.
Therefore, the total marks for this section will be 15 marks.
Marking Scheme
1 Mark MCQs – 1/3 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.
2 Mark MCQs – 2/3 mark will be deducted for every wrong response.
Zero marks will be awarded for unattempted questions
No negative marking will be done for Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions

H.No. 40-D, Ground Floor, Jia Sarai, Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016
Phone: 011-26865455/+91-9871145498
Website: www.physicsbyfiziks.com | Email: fiziks.physics@gmail.com
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 fiziks
Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT‐JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 
 
SYLLABUS
Section 1: Mathematical Physics
Linear vector space: basis, orthogonality and completeness; matrices; vector calculus;
linear differential equations; elements of complex analysis: Cauchy-Riemann conditions,
Cauchy’s theorems, singularities, residue theorem and applications; Laplace transforms,
Fourier analysis; elementary ideas about tensors: covariant and contravariant tensor,
Levi-Civita and Christoffel symbols.
Section 2: Classical Mechanics
D’Alembert’s principle, cyclic coordinates, variational principle, Lagrange’s equation of
motion, central force and scattering problems, rigid body motion; small oscillations,
Hamilton’s formalisms; Poisson bracket; special theory of relativity: Lorentz
transformations, relativistic kinematics, mass-energy equivalence.
Section 3: Electromagnetic Theory
Solutions of electrostatic and magnetostatic problems including boundary value problems;
dielectrics and conductors; Maxwell’s equations; scalar and vector potentials; Coulomb
and Lorentz gauges; Electromagnetic waves and their reflection, refraction, interference,
diffraction and polarization; Poynting vector, Poynting theorem, energy and momentum
of electromagnetic waves; radiation from a moving charge.
Section 4: Quantum Mechanics
Postulates of quantum mechanics; uncertainty principle; Schrodinger equation; one-, two-
and three-dimensional potential problems; particle in a box, transmission through one
dimensional potential barriers, harmonic oscillator, hydrogen atom; linear vectors and
operators in Hilbert space; angular momentum and spin; addition of angular momenta;
time independent perturbation theory; elementary scattering theory.
Section 5: Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
Laws of thermodynamics; macrostates and microstates; phase space; ensembles; partition
function, free energy, calculation of thermodynamic quantities; classical and quantum
statistics; degenerate Fermi gas; black body radiation and Planck’s distribution law; Bos-
Einstein condensation; first and second order phase transitions, phase equilibria, critical
point.

H.No. 40-D, Ground Floor, Jia Sarai, Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016
Phone: 011-26865455/+91-9871145498
Website: www.physicsbyfiziks.com | Email: fiziks.physics@gmail.com
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 fiziks
Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT‐JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 
 
Section 6: Atomic and Molecular Physics
Spectra of one and many electron atoms; LS and jj coupling; hyperfine structure; Zeeman
and Stark effects; electric dipole transitions and selection rules; rotational and vibrational
spectra of diatomic molecules; electronic transition in diatomic molecules, Franck-
Condon principle; Raman effect; NMR, ESR, X-ray spectra; lasers: Einstein coefficients,
population inversion, two and three level systems.
Section 7: Solid State Physics & Electronics
Elements of crystallography; diffraction methods for structure determination; bonding in
solids; lattice vibrations and thermal properties of solids; free electron theory; band
theory of solids: nearly free electron and tight binding models; metals, semiconductors
and insulators; conductivity, mobility and effective mass; optical, dielectric and magnetic
properties of solids; elements of superconductivity: Type-I and Type II superconductors,
Meissner effect, London equation.
Semiconductor devices: diodes, Bipolar Junction Transistors, Field Effect Transistors;
operational amplifiers: negative feedback circuits, active filters and oscillators; regulated
power supplies; basic digital logic circuits, sequential circuits, flip-flops, counters,
registers, A/D and D/A conversion.
Section 8: Nuclear and Particle Physics
Nuclear radii and charge distributions, nuclear binding energy, Electric and magnetic
moments; nuclear models, liquid drop model: semi‐empirical mass formula, Fermi gas
model of nucleus, nuclear shell model; nuclear force and two nucleon problem; alpha
decay, beta-decay, electromagnetic transitions in nuclei; Rutherford scattering, nuclear
reactions, conservation laws; fission and fusion; particle accelerators and detectors;
elementary particles, photons, baryons, mesons and leptons; quark model.

H.No. 40-D, Ground Floor, Jia Sarai, Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016
Phone: 011-26865455/+91-9871145498
Website: www.physicsbyfiziks.com | Email: fiziks.physics@gmail.com
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