GATE 2025 Physics Syllabus, Check Section Wise Topics, Important Topics, Two Paper Combinations, Exam Pattern, Best Books

GATE 2024 Physics syllabus has been released by IISC Bangalore. GATE 2024 syllabus for applicants appearing for Physics exam is available for downloading from the official website., gate2024.iisc.ac.in. Get assisted with detailed GATE 2024 Physics syllabus, important topics, preparation strategy, and best books in this article.

As per GATE 2024 exam pattern, Physics question paper will be divided into two parts, which are, General Aptitude and core Physics topics. GATE 2024 question paper of Physics will be of 100 marks. The General Aptitude section carries 15% weightage and Physics has 85% weightage. As per the official, a new two paper combination has been mandated. According to this, from now onwards you can also opt for XL, CS, DA, EC, EE, MA, XE as secondary paper.

General Aptitude topics include Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical, and Spatial Aptitude. The core Physics is again sub-categorized into 9 sections. The units are Mathematical Physics, Classical Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory, Quantum Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics, Atomic and Molecular Physics, Solid State Physics, Electronics, Nuclear and Particle Physics.

Law of Thermodynamics, Semiconductors in Equilibrium, Nuclear radii and charge distributions, nuclear binding energy, electric and magnetic moments are some important topics you need to focus. As the exam is just 1 month pass, the one and only effective GATE 2024 preparation tips would be solving as many previous years’ questions and full length mock test series. By solving these, you will get familiaried with both syllabus and question paper pattern.

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GATE 2024 Physics Syllabus

GATE 2024 Physics question paper is divided into two parts- General Aptitude and core Physics subjects. Unit-wise sub-topics of both have been tabulated below:

General Aptitude Syllabus

General Aptitude consists of a 15% weightage of questions. The sub-topics of all 4 sections of General Aptitude are as follows:

Verbal Aptitude

• Basic English grammar: tenses, articles, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions, verb-noun agreement, and other parts of speech.
• Basic vocabulary: words, idioms, and phrases in context, reading and comprehension, narrative sequencing.

Quantitative Aptitude

• Data interpretation: data graphs (bar graphs, pie charts, and other graphs representing data), 2- and 3-dimensional plots, maps, and tables
• Numerical computation and estimation: ratios, percentages, powers, exponents and logarithms, permutations and combinations, and series Mensuration and geometry Elementary statistics and probability

Analytical Aptitude

Logic: deduction and induction, Analogy, Numerical relations, and reasoning

Spatial Aptitude

Transformation of shapes: translation, rotation, scaling, mirroring, assembling, grouping, paper folding, cutting, and patterns in 2 and 3-dimensions

Physics Syllabus

You can check the detailed section wise syllabus for agriculture engineering below:

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

• 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; ensemble
• 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.

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

• 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 properties of solids; Kramers-Kronig relation, intra- and inter-band transitions; dielectric properties of solid; dielectric function, polarizability, ferroelectricity; magnetic properties of solids; dia, para, ferro, antiferro and ferri-magnetism, domains and magnetic anisotropy; superconductivity: Type-I and Type II superconductors, Meissner effect, London equation, BCS Theory, flux quantization.

Section 8: Electronics

• Semiconductors in equilibrium: electron and hole statistics in intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors; metal-semiconductor junctions;
• Ohmic and rectifying contacts; PN diodes, bipolar junction transistors, field effect transistors; negative and positive feedback circuits; oscillators, operational amplifiers, active filters; basics of digital logic circuits, combinational and sequential circuits, flip-flops, timers, counters, registers, A/D and D/A conversion.

Section 9: 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.

Section 10 - General Aptitude 

Direct link to download GATE Physics(PH) syllabus PDF 

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GATE 2024 Physics Exam Pattern

GATE 2024 Physics question paper pattern has been mandated below:

GATE 2024 Physics Exam Marking Scheme

A detailed analysis of marks distribution of both the General Aptitude and Physics portions are detailed below:

GATE 2024 Physics Exam Negative Marking

GATE 2024 Physics Syllabus Important Topics Weightage

List of important topics with weightage of questions of GATE 2024 Physics syllabus has been tabulated below:

GATE 2024 Physics Preparation Tips

GATE 2024 Physics preparation tips include several steps as mandated below:

• Understand GATE 2024 exam pattern and syllabus of Physics.
• Check the best GATE 2024 preparation books for all 9 sections
• Solve as many question papers and GATE mock test series as possible.
• Make a rigorous revision of all topics on a regular basis.

GATE 2024 Physics 1 Month Preparation Plan

GATE 2024 exam is knocking at the door. GATE 2024 exam date of Physics will be conducted on February 03, 2024, in the forenoon slot. The 1-month preparation plan for GATE 2024 Physics:

• Revise all topics from 9 sections of GATE 2024 Physics paper and 4 sections of General Aptitude. Make a separate timetable for this.
• Work on your speed, accuracy, and time management part. Solve GATE 2024 question papers regularly. Keep a stopwatch along with you for tracking time.
• Solve GATE 2024 mock test series to get exam day ambience.
• Note down all important points. It is important to figure out your strong and weak points and focus on them accordingly.
• Get relaxed and avoid taking burden in these last few days before the start of the examination. Get a proper sleep and wake up early.

GATE 2024 Physics 1 Month Preparation Timetable

As the exam is only 1 month away, here is your strategic approach for an effective preparation:

Tips for a Good Score in Numericals of GATE 2024 Physics Syllabus

GATE 2024 physics syllabus consists of good number of formula based and tricky questions. Check the below-mentioned tips to get a good score in those questions:

• Keep making notes of all important formulas while making revision in these last few days.
• Revise each and every formulas so that you will not get confused with tricky based questions.
• Give at least 1-2 hours in solving mathematical problems of GATE 2024 Physics syllabus.
• Practice diagrammatic problems.
   

Best Books for GATE 2024 Physics Syllabus

List of some best books along with author names for all 9 sections of GATE 2024 Physics syllabus are as follows:

Best Books for Mathematical Physics

Best Books for Classical Physics

Best Books for Electromagnetic Theory

Best Books for Quantum Mechanics

Best Books for Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics

Best Books for Atomic and Molecular Physics

Best Books for Solid State Physics

Best Books for Nuclear and Particle Physics

Best Books for Electronics

GATE Previous Years’ Physics Question Papers

Check the below-mentioned previous years’ GATE Physics question papers for preparation:

GATE 2024 Syllabus of Other Papers

As per new GATE 2024 two paper rules mandated by the official, if you are appearing for the exam, you can also opt for XL, CS, DA, EC, EE, MA, XE as secondary paper. In case you make a decision to appear for these papers as a secondary one, check the below-mentioned table of syllabus PDF along with paper codes:

GATE 2024 Physics Syllabus FAQs