Physics Optional Syllabus for UPSC 2025
Complete syllabus guide for Physics Optional in UPSC Civil Services Examination. Master both papers with our comprehensive study material.
Physics as an optional subject requires strong conceptual understanding and problem-solving abilities. The syllabus covers both classical and modern physics, from mechanics to quantum theory. Success requires mastery of mathematical techniques and their physical applications.
Paper I
1. Mechanics
(a) Mechanics of Particles
- Laws of motion and conservation principles
- Rotating frames, centripetal and Coriolis accelerations
- Central force motion and Kepler's laws
- Gravitational field and potential
- Two-body problem and Rutherford scattering
- Reference frames and center of mass
(b) Mechanics of Rigid Bodies
- System of particles and conservation theorems
- Elastic and inelastic collisions
- Euler's theorem and angular velocity
- Moments of inertia and parallel/perpendicular axes theorems
- Molecular rotations and precessional motion
- Gyroscopic motion
(c) Mechanics of Continuous Media
- Elasticity and Hooke's law
- Elastic constants of isotropic solids
- Streamline flow and viscosity
- Poiseuille's equation
- Bernoulli's equation
- Stokes' law and applications
(d) Special Relativity
- Michelson-Morley experiment
- Lorentz transformations
- Relativistic effects (length, time, velocity)
- Mass-energy relation
- Four-dimensional momentum
- Covariance of equations
2. Waves and Optics
(a) Waves
- Simple harmonic motion
- Damped and forced oscillations
- Resonance and beats
- Stationary waves
- Phase and group velocities
- Huygens' principle
(b) Geometrical Optics
- Fermat's principle
- Matrix method in paraxial optics
- Thin lens formula
- System of two thin lenses
- Chromatic and spherical aberrations
(c) Interference
- Young's experiment
- Newton's rings
- Thin film interference
- Michelson interferometer
- Fabry Perot interferometer
(d) Diffraction
- Fraunhofer diffraction
- Single and double slit diffraction
- Diffraction grating
- Circular aperture and Airy pattern
- Fresnel diffraction
(e) Polarisation and Modern Optics
- Linear and circular polarization
- Double refraction
- Optical activity
- Fiber optics principles
- Lasers and holography
3. Electricity and Magnetism
(a) Electrostatics and Magnetostatics
- Laplace and Poisson equations
- Multipole expansion
- Method of images
- Dielectrics and polarisation
- Magnetic materials and hysteresis
(b) Current Electricity
- Kirchhoff's laws
- Electromagnetic laws (Biot-Savart, Ampere, Faraday)
- Inductances
- AC circuits
- Resonance
- Transformers
4. Electromagnetic Waves and Blackbody Radiation
Maxwell's equations
Wave equations
Electromagnetic field tensor
Reflection and refraction
Dispersion
Blackbody radiation laws
5. Thermal and Statistical Physics
(a) Thermodynamics
- Laws of thermodynamics
- Thermodynamic processes
- Heat engines
- Phase rules
- Real gases
- Transport phenomena
- Specific heat theories
(b) Statistical Physics
- Statistical distributions
- Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution
- Bose-Einstein distribution
- Fermi-Dirac distribution
- Applications
- Negative temperatures
Paper II
1. Quantum Mechanics
Wave-particle duality
Schrödinger equation
Uncertainty principle
One-dimensional problems
Angular momentum
Hydrogen atom
Spin half particles
2. Atomic and Molecular Physics
Stern-Gerlach experiment
Atomic structure and spectra
Molecular spectra
Raman effect
Spectroscopic techniques
NMR and EPR
Lamb shift
3. Nuclear and Particle Physics
Nuclear Physics
- Nuclear properties
- Nuclear forces
- Nuclear models
- Radioactive decay
- Nuclear reactions
- Nuclear fission and fusion
Particle Physics
- Elementary particles
- Conservation laws
- Quark structure
- Fundamental forces
- Neutrino physics
4. Solid State Physics, Devices and Electronics
Solid State Physics
- Crystal structure
- Band theory
- Thermal properties
- Magnetism
- Superconductivity
Electronics
- Semiconductor devices
- Transistors and amplifiers
- Digital electronics
- Logic circuits
- Microprocessors
Preparation Strategy:
1. Build strong fundamentals in mathematical methods and their physical applications.
2. Practice numerical problems regularly, especially in mechanics and electromagnetism.
3. Focus on understanding derivations and their physical significance.
4. Keep up with modern physics developments and their applications.
5. Solve previous years' questions to understand the examination pattern.
Recommended Study Resources
Essential Books
- • Concepts of Physics - H.C. Verma
- • Fundamentals of Physics - Halliday, Resnick, Walker
- • University Physics - Young and Freedman
- • Introduction to Electrodynamics - David J. Griffiths
- • Introduction to Quantum Mechanics - David J. Griffiths
Advanced References
- • Classical Mechanics - Goldstein
- • Quantum Physics - Eisberg and Resnick
- • Statistical Physics - F. Reif
- • Solid State Physics - Kittel
- • Modern Physics - Kenneth Krane
Problem Books
- • Problems in Physics - I.E. Irodov
- • University Physics Problems - Arfken
- • Quantum Mechanics Problems - Squires
- • Classical Mechanics Problems - Morin
- • Electromagnetics Problems - Zangwill
Online Resources
- • MIT OpenCourseWare Physics
- • Physics Video Lectures
- • Interactive Physics Simulations
- • Online Problem-Solving Forums
- • Physics Visualization Tools
Study Materials
- • Previous Years' Question Papers
- • Physics Formula Sheets
- • Numerical Problem Sets
- • Experimental Physics Notes
- • Topic-wise Practice Tests