Physics
✅
Module 1: Wave nature of particles and Schrödinger
equation
🟩 Repeated & Important Questions
1. Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle
○ Explain/state and prove uncertainty principle.
○ Write short notes on Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle.
2. Schrödinger Equation
○ Derivetime-independentSchrödinger wave equation.
○ Derivetime-dependentSchrödinger wave equation.
3. Particle in 1D Box
○ Deduce energy eigenvalues and wave function for a particle in a 1D box.
𝑛π𝑥
○ Proveψ ₙ = 𝐴 𝑠𝑖𝑛( 𝑙
) for 1D box.
4. Operators
○ Derive expressions forenergy and momentum operators.
5. Wave Function
○ Define wave function and discuss itsphysical significance.
○ State properties of wave function.
🟨 Other Asked Questions
● Dual nature of matter
● Free particle wave function and wave packets
● Kronig-Penney model (also appears in Module 3)
● Density of states (mostly Module 3 but appears here too)
✅ Module 2: Wave Optics
🟩 Repeated & Important Questions
1. Diffraction (Single slit/Fraunhofer)
○ Derive expression for intensity due to diffraction at single slit.
2. Newton’s Rings
○ Explain formation and derive expression for diameter of fringes.
○ Calculate wavelength from given diameters.
3. Interferometers
○ Michelson Interferometer: Construction, working, fringes.
○ Mach-Zehnder Interferometer: Ray diagram and working.
4. Young’s Double Slit Experiment
○ Diagram, derivation, significance.
5. Division of Amplitude vs. Wavefront(Very frequentlyasked)
🟨 Other Asked Questions
● Rayleigh’s criterion & resolving power
● Interference principle
● Path difference and phase difference
● Superposition of waves
✅ Module 3: Introduction to Solids
🟩 Repeated & Important Questions
1. Fermi Level in Semiconductors
○ Variation in N-type semiconductor with concentration/temperature.
○ Fermi level shifting.
2. P-N Junction Diode
○ VI characteristics, Avalanche vs Zener breakdown.
3. Zener Diode
○ Working, I-V characteristics.
4. Kronig-Penney Model
○ Explanation, equation, conclusions (also in Module 1 sometimes).
5. Density of States
○ Write a short note.
🟨 Other Asked Questions
● Solar cell
● Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic semiconductors
● Free electron theory (Possible typo in “motors”)
✅ Module 4: Lasers
🟩 Repeated & Important Questions
1. Properties of LASER
○ List and explain (repeated across sets).
2. Working of LASERS
○ He-Ne Laser
○ Ruby Laser
○ CO₂ Laser
3. Optical Fibers
○ Acceptance angle & Numerical aperture: Derive expression.
○ Total internal reflectionin optical fiber.
○ Working principleof optical fiber, V-number.
4. Population Inversion
5. Applications of LASER
○ In engineering & medicine.
🟨 Other Asked Questions
● Spontaneous vs. stimulated emission
● Laser beam intensity calculation
✅ Module 5: Electrostatics in Vacuum
🟩 Repeated & Important Questions
1. Continuity Equation
○ Derive and explain its significance. (Appears 4 times)
2. Gradient, Divergence & Theorems
○ Define gradient/divergence.
○ Stoke’s Theorem and Gauss’s Theorem.
3. Electric Field & Potential
○ Derive for charge distribution, infinite line charge.
4. Hall Effect
○ Derive Hall coefficient and Hall angle.
5. Poynting Vector(Appears in multiple sets)
🟨 Other Asked Questions
● Polarization in dielectrics
● Superposition of waves (lightly overlaps with wave optics)
📝
Summary of Top Repeated Questions (Super
Important for Exam)
1. Uncertainty Principle (Module 1)
2. Schrödinger Equation (Time-dependent & independent) (Module 1)
3. Particle in 1D box: wave function and energy (Module 1)
4. Division of amplitude vs wavefront (Module 2)
5. Newton’s Rings (Module 2)
6. Michelson & Mach-Zehnder Interferometers (Module 2)
7. P-N Junction & Zener Diode Characteristics (Module 3)
8. Kronig-Penney Model (Module 3/1)
9. LASER: Properties, types, applications (Module 4)
10.Optical Fiber: working, angle derivation (Module 4)
11.Continuity Equation (Module 5)
12.Hall Effect (Module 5)
13.Electric field & potential derivations (Module 5)
Module 1: Wave nature of particles and the Schrödinger equation
● Key Concepts:Wave-particle duality, de Broglie wavelength, Heisenberg's uncertainty
principle, wave function and its significance, Schrödinger's time-dependent and
time-independent equations, energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions, particle in a
one-dimensional box, free particle wave function, phase velocity, group velocity, energy
and momentum operators.
● Merged Important Questions:
○ Explain Heisenberg's uncertainty principle with its significance and
applications.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Derive the time-independent Schrödinger wave equation.(Appears in
multiple sets)
○ Solve the Schrödinger equation for a particle in a one-dimensional box to
find energy eigenvalues and wave functions. Discuss the physical
significance of the results.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Discuss the concept of wave-particle duality and the de Broglie hypothesis.
(Implicit in several questions)
○ Explain the physical significance of the wave function ψ and ∣ψ∣2.(Appears
in multiple sets)
○ Differentiate between phase velocity and group velocity and derive the
relation between them.(Appears in one set)
○ Discuss the energy and momentum operators in quantum mechanics.
(Appears in multiple sets)
Module 2: Wave optics
● Key Concepts:Huygens' principle, superposition of waves, interference (Young's
double slit, Newton's rings, Michelson interferometer), diffraction (single slit, diffraction
grating, Rayleigh criterion for resolution), division of amplitude and wavefront, path
difference, phase difference, resolving power.
● Merged Important Questions:
○ Explain the principle of superposition of waves and discuss constructive
and destructive interference.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Describe Young's double-slit experiment, derive the expression for fringe
width, and discuss its significance.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Explain the formation of Newton's rings and derive the expression for the
diameter of bright and dark rings. Describe how this setup can be used to
determine the wavelength of light.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Explain the construction and working of the Michelson interferometer and
its applications.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Explain Fraunhofer diffraction due to a single slit and derive the expression
for the intensity distribution.(Appears in one set)
○ Explain Rayleigh's criterion for the resolution of two closely spaced
objects. Derive an expression for the resolving power of a diffraction
grating.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Differentiate between division of amplitude and division of wavefront with
examples.(Appears in multiple sets)
Module 3: Introduction to solids
● Key Concepts:Free electron theory of metals, Fermi level, density of states, Bloch's
theorem (qualitative), origin of energy bands, V-I characteristics of PN junction diode and
Zener diode, solar cell, intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors, Fermi level shifting with
doping and temperature, Kronig-Penney model (basic idea).
● Merged Important Questions:
○ Explain the concept of the Fermi level in semiconductors and discuss how
it shifts in N-type and P-type semiconductors with changes in doping
concentration and temperature.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Describe the V-I characteristics of a PN junction diode and explain its
working principle.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Explain the V-I characteristics of a Zener diode and discuss the phenomena
of Avalanche and Zener breakdown.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Explain the basic principle and working of a solar cell.(Appears in multiple
sets)
○ Explain the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors and
the role of doping.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Explain the basic concepts of the free electron theory of metals.(Appears in
one set)
○ Explain the Kronig-Penney model and its significance in understanding the
formation of energy bands in solids (qualitative discussion expected).
(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Write a short note on the density of states.(Appears in multiple sets)
Module 4: Lasers
● Key Concepts:Einstein's theory of matter-radiation interaction (A and B coefficients),
population inversion, different types of lasers (He-Ne, Ruby, CO2 - basic working),
properties of laser beams (monochromaticity, coherence, directionality, etc.), applications
of lasers, optical fiber (principle of propagation, total internal reflection, numerical
aperture, acceptance angle, V-number, attenuation), spontaneous and stimulated
emission.
● Merged Important Questions:
○ Explain the principle of laser action, including population inversion,
spontaneous emission, and stimulated emission. Discuss the key
properties of laser light.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Describe the construction and working principle of a He-Ne laser with a
suitable energy level diagram.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Describe the construction and working principle of a Ruby laser with a
suitable energy level diagram.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Explain the principle of light propagation through an optical fiber based on
total internal reflection.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Define numerical aperture and acceptance angle of an optical fiber and
derive the expression for numerical aperture.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Calculate the numerical aperture and acceptance angle for a given optical
fiber with specified refractive indices of the core and cladding.(Appears in
multiple sets)
○ Write down the applications of lasers in engineering and medicine.
(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Differentiate between spontaneous and stimulated emission.(Appears in
multiple sets)
○ Define the V-number of an optical fiber and its significance.(Appears in
multiple sets)
Module 5: Electrostatics in vacuum
● Key Concepts:Calculation of electric field and electrostatic potential for charge
distributions (infinite line charge), electric displacement, dielectrics, gradient, divergence,
curl, Stokes' theorem, Gauss' theorem, continuity equation for current densities,
Maxwell's equations in vacuum and non-conducting medium, Poynting vector,
polarization in dielectric materials, Hall effect.
● Merged Important Questions:
○ State Gauss's law in electrostatics and apply it to find the electric field due
to a given charge distribution (e.g., infinite line charge).(Appears in multiple
sets)
○ State and prove the continuity equation for current densities and explain its
physical significance.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ State Maxwell's equations in vacuum and explain their physical
significance.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Explain the concept of electric displacement and the effect of dielectrics in
electric fields.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ State and prove Stokes' theorem and Gauss' divergence theorem.(Appears
in multiple sets)
○ Define gradient, divergence, and curl of a vector field and explain their
physical interpretations.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Explain the Hall effect and derive the expressions for the Hall coefficient
and Hall voltage.(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Write a note on different types of polarization in dielectric materials.
(Appears in multiple sets)
○ Explain the concept of the Poynting vector and its physical significance.
(Appears in multiple sets)
