GATE 2020 will be conducted in few more months and applicants appearing for the test will have to know the syllabus to prepare for the test. GATE 2020 consist of 65 questions in total. The exam paper is divided in to 10 questions asked from the General Aptitude and it common in all the papers and the remaining 55 questions will be based on the subject chosen and here it is physics. Among the total of 24 papers in GATE, let us discuss about the GATE syllabus for physics in this post. Along with that, the exam pattern of the physics can also be known here.
GATE Physics Syllabus 2020
GATE 2020 is conducted by IIT Delhi and it prescribed the syllabus and exam pattern for physics (PH) and all other papers in this academic year. To know the type of questions that you can expect in physics, it is mandatory for the candidates to be aware of the GATE physics syllabus PDF that is issue by the exam conducting body.
GATE physics syllabus 2020 PDF consists of total 8 sections. Each sections will have the topics covered under that sections. Candidates have to prepare all those sections well to score good marks. However, it is also necessary for the candidates to prepare the GATE Aptitude syllabus as 10 number of questions will be asked from it and it is not negligible to score top marks.
| SI. No. | Subject | Topics |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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; Bose‐Einstein condensation; first and second order phase transitions, phase equilibria, critical point. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 9. | General Aptitude | Syllabus link |
GATE Physics Syllabus PDF and Pattern
Candidates can check the above table to know the detailed GATE 2020 Physics syllabus. However, applicants can also download the PDF of the syllabus from the official website if required. The exam pattern will be in the following way.
- All are MCQ and NAT type questions which carries 1 or 2 marks.
- There is negative mark for MCQ questions, for 1 mark questions, 1/3 will be negative mark and for 3 mark questions, 2/3 will be negative mark for every wrong answer.
- For NAT questions, there is no negative mark.
It is advised for the candidates to prepare the GATE syllabus for physics along with GA and practice as many as mock tests to score well. For GATE 2020 other subjects syllabus, please go through other posts of this portal.