SSC Scientific Assistant Physics Syllabus
Physics is one of three Part 2 options and the most commonly chosen, because the eligibility route for the post runs through a bachelor’s degree in science with Physics as a subject.
You attempt only the stream selected in your application. Attempting a different paper leads to rejection of the candidature, which is a rule worth reading twice on exam day.
Where the stream paper sits
Detail | Value |
Part | Part 2 |
Questions | 100 |
Marks | 100 |
Negative marking | 0.25 |
Level | Bachelor’s degree in science |
SSC Scientific Assistant Physics syllabus, topic wise
Mechanics
Units and dimensions, motion in one and two dimensions, Newton’s laws, work, energy and power, conservation of momentum and energy, friction, circular motion, gravitation, escape and orbital velocity, satellites, moment of inertia, torque, angular momentum and rigid body rotation.
Properties of matter
Elasticity and Hooke’s law, surface tension and capillarity, viscosity and Stokes’ law, fluid statics and dynamics, along with Bernoulli’s theorem.
Thermal physics
Thermal expansion, specific heat and calorimetry, change of state and latent heat, heat transfer by conduction, convection and radiation, the laws of thermodynamics, the Carnot cycle, entropy, along with the kinetic theory of gases.
Waves and oscillations
Simple harmonic motion, wave motion, superposition, sound waves, resonance and the Doppler effect.
Optics
Reflection and refraction, mirrors and lenses, dispersion, interference, diffraction, polarisation and optical instruments.
Electricity and magnetism
Electrostatics and Coulomb ’s law, electric field and potential, capacitance, current electricity, Ohm’s law, Kirchhoff’s laws, magnetic effects of current, electromagnetic induction, along with alternating current circuits.
Atomic and modern physics
Atomic structure and the Bohr model, the photoelectric effect, X-rays, radioactivity, nuclear fission and fusion.
Electronics
Semiconductors, PN junction diodes, transistors, rectifiers and basic logic gates.
Where to concentrate
The post sits in the India Meteorological Department, and the topics closest to the department’s work carry more weight than a general physics syllabus would suggest.
Thermal physics and thermodynamics are the clearest example. Atmospheric measurement runs on them, and questions on heat transfer, gas laws and the behaviour of moisture appear more often than a candidate preparing generically would expect.
Waves, optics and instrumentation are the second cluster worth extra attention, because they underpin the measuring equipment the department uses.
How to prepare
Work from a standard bachelor’s degree textbook rather than competitive exam material. The Commission publishes topic headings and the questions stay close to degree level fundamentals rather than research level detail.
Previous years’ papers are the only reliable guide to depth. Use them to calibrate how far into each topic to go, then stop there.
Keep a formula sheet and revise weekly. One hundred questions in a paper without sectional timing rewards recall speed, and a formula you have to rebuild costs you two other questions.
Answer selectively. At 0.25 per error on a one mark question, a two option guess is worth taking and a blind guess is roughly neutral.
Frequently asked questions
How many physics questions are asked?
100 questions for 100 marks in Part 2.
Can I change my stream on exam day?
No. Attempting a paper other than the stream selected in your application leads to rejection of the candidature.
What level is the physics syllabus?
Bachelor’s degree in science standard.
What is the negative marking?
0.25 marks for each wrong answer.
Which topics matter most for the IMD post?
Thermal physics and thermodynamics, along with waves, optics and instrumentation.
Topics, marks and negative marking on this page follow the scheme of examination in the latest SSC Scientific Assistant notification published on ssc.gov.in.