Syllabus for

National Standard Examination and

Indian National Olympiad
in
Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy and Junior Science

Note:

● The syllabi for the National Standard Examination (NSE) and the Indian National Olympiad
(INO) in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (NSEP and INPhO, NSEC and INChO, NSEB and
INBO, respectively) are broadly equivalent to the senior secondary level (up to and including
Class 12 of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)) in respective subjects; knowledge
of Mathematics up to the same level is expected as well.
● The syllabus for the National Standard Examination in Astronomy (NSEA) and the Indian
National Astronomy Olympiad (INAO) is similar, with greater emphasis on Physics,
Mathematics and elementary Astronomy.
● The syllabus for the National Standard Examination in Junior Science (NSEJS) and the Indian
National Junior Science Olympiad (INJSO) is broadly equivalent to the secondary level (up to
and including Class 10 of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)) in Science and
Mathematics.
● For all subjects, topics covered in the syllabi of lower classes are included as well.

Detailed syllabus of each subject are given below.

It must be noted that questions and problems in Olympiad examinations (NSEs and INOs),
while circumscribed by syllabi given below, are usually non-conventional and of high difficulty
level, sometimes comparable to the international Olympiads.

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Chemistry:
In addition to following, general understanding of Science topics studied till Class 10
and Mathematics topics studied till Class 12 is expected.

I. Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry

General Introduction: Importance and scope of chemistry.
Nature of matter, laws of chemical combination, Dalton's atomic theory: concept of elements,
atoms and molecules.
Atomic and molecular masses, mole concept and molar mass, percentage composition,
empirical and molecular formula, chemical reactions, stoichiometry and calculations based on
stoichiometry.

II. Structure of Atom

Bohr's model and its limitations, concept of shells and subshells, dual nature of matter and
light, de Broglie's relationship, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, concept of orbitals, quantum
numbers, shapes of s, p and d orbitals, rules for filling electrons in orbitals - Aufbau principle,
Pauli's exclusion principle and Hund's rule, electronic configuration of atoms, stability of
half-filled and completely filled orbitals.

III. Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties

Modern periodic law and the present form of periodic table, periodic trends in properties of
elements -atomic radii, ionic radii, inert gas radii, Ionization enthalpy, electron gain enthalpy,
electronegativity, valency. Nomenclature of elements with atomic number greater than 100

IV. Chemical Bonding and Molecular structure

Valence electrons, ionic bond, covalent bond, bond parameters, Lewis structure, polar
character of covalent bond, covalent character of ionic bond, valence bond theory, resonance,
geometry of covalent molecules, VSEPR theory, concept of hybridization, involving s, p and
d orbitals and shapes of some simple molecules, molecular orbital theory of homonuclear
diatomic molecules (qualitative idea only), hydrogen bond.

V. States of Matter: Gases and Liquids

Three states of matter, intermolecular interactions, types of bonding, melting and boiling
points, role of gas laws in elucidating the concept of the molecule, Boyle's law, Charles law,
Gay Lussac's law, Avogadro's law, ideal behaviour, empirical derivation of gas equation,
Avogadro's number, ideal gas equation.
Deviation from ideal behaviour, liquefaction of gases, critical temperature, kinetic energy and
molecular speeds (elementary idea)
Liquid State: vapour pressure, viscosity and surface tension (qualitative idea only, no
mathematical derivations)

VI. States of Matter: Solid State

Classification of solids based on different binding forces: molecular, ionic, covalent and
metallic solids, amorphous and crystalline solids (elementary idea). Unit cell in two
dimensional and three dimensional lattices, calculation of density of unit cell, packing in

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 solids, packing efficiency, voids, number of atoms per unit cell in a cubic unit cell, point
defects.

VII. Chemical Thermodynamics

Concepts of System and types of systems, surroundings, work, heat, energy, extensive and
intensive properties, state functions. First law of thermodynamics
-internal energy and enthalpy, heat capacity and specific heat,
measurement of ∆U and ∆H, Hess's law of constant heat summation,
enthalpy of bond dissociation, combustion, formation,
atomization, sublimation, phase transition, ionization, solution
and dilution. Second law of Thermodynamics (brief
introduction).Introduction of entropy as a state function, Gibb's
energy change for spontaneous and non- spontaneous processes,
criteria for equilibrium.
Third law of thermodynamics (brief introduction).

VIII. Equilibrium
Equilibrium in physical and chemical processes, dynamic nature of equilibrium, law of mass
action, equilibrium constant, factors affecting equilibrium- Le Chatelier's principle, ionic
equilibrium- ionization of acids and bases, strong and weak electrolytes, degree of ionization,
ionization of poly basic acids, acid strength, concept of pH, Henderson Equation, hydrolysis
of salts (elementary idea), buffer solution, solubility product, common ion effect (with
illustrative examples).

IX. Solutions
Types of solutions, expression of concentration of solutions of solids in liquids, solubility of
gases in liquids, solid solutions, colligative properties - relative lowering of vapour pressure,
Raoult's law, elevation of boiling point, depression of freezing point, osmotic pressure,
determination of molecular masses using colligative properties, abnormal molecular mass,
Van't Hoff factor.

X. Electrochemistry
Redox reactions: Concept of oxidation and reduction, oxidation number, balancing redox
reactions, in terms of loss and gain of electrons and change in oxidation number, applications
of redox reactions.

conductance in electrolytic solutions, specific and molar conductivity, variations of

conductivity with concentration, Kohlrausch's Law, electrolysis and law of electrolysis
(elementary idea), dry cell-electrolytic cells and Galvanic cells, lead accumulator, EMF of a
cell, standard electrode potential, Nernst equation and its application to chemical cells,
Relation between Gibbs energy change and EMF of a cell, fuel cells, corrosion.

XI. Chemical Kinetics

Rate of a reaction (Average and instantaneous), factors affecting rate of reaction:
concentration, temperature, catalyst; order and molecularity of a reaction, rate law and
specific rate constant, integrated rate equations and half-life (only for zero and first order

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 reactions), concept of collision theory (elementary idea, no mathematical treatment).
Activation energy, Arrhenius equation.

XII. Surface Chemistry

Adsorption - physisorption and chemisorption, factors affecting adsorption of gases on solids,
catalysis, homogenous and heterogenous activity and selectivity; enzyme catalysis colloidal
state distinction between true solutions, colloids and suspension; lyophilic, lyophobic
multi-molecular and macromolecular colloids; properties of colloids; Tyndall effect,
Brownian movement, electrophoresis, coagulation, emulsion - types of emulsions.

XIII. s-Block Elements (Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metals)

Position of hydrogen in periodic table, occurrence, isotopes, preparation, properties and uses
of hydrogen, hydrides-ionic covalent and interstitial; physical and chemical properties of
water, heavy water, hydrogen peroxide - preparation, reactions and structure and use;
hydrogen as a fuel.
Group 1 and Group 2 Elements General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence,
anomalous properties of the first element of each group, diagonal relationship, trends in the
variation of properties (such as ionization enthalpy, atomic and ionic radii), trends in chemical
reactivity with oxygen, water, hydrogen and halogens, uses.
Preparation and properties of some important compounds: Sodium Carbonate, Sodium
Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide and Sodium Hydrogencarbonate, Biological importance of
Sodium and Potassium.
Calcium Oxide and Calcium Carbonate and their industrial uses, biological importance of
Magnesium and Calcium.

XIV. p -Block Elements

General Introduction to p -Block Elements

Group 13 Elements: General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence, variation of

properties, oxidation states, trends in chemical reactivity, anomalous properties of first
element of the group,
Boron - physical and chemical properties, some important compounds, Borax, Boric acid,
Boron Hydrides,
Aluminium: Reactions with acids and alkalies, uses.

Group 14 Elements: General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence, variation of

properties, oxidation states, trends in chemical reactivity, anomalous behaviour of first
elements. Carbon-catenation, allotropic forms, physical and chemical properties; uses of some
important compounds: oxides.
Important compounds of Silicon and a few uses: Silicon Tetrachloride, Silicones, Silicates and
Zeolites, their uses.

Group -15 Elements: General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence, oxidation

states, trends in physical and chemical properties; Nitrogen preparation properties and uses;
compounds of Nitrogen: preparation and properties of Ammonia and Nitric Acid.

Group 16 Elements: General introduction, electronic configuration, oxidation states,

occurrence, trends in physical and chemical properties, dioxygen: Preparation, Properties and

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 uses, classification of Oxides, Ozone, Sulphur -allotropic forms; compounds of Sulphur:
Preparation Properties and uses of Sulphur-dioxide, Sulphuric Acid: industrial process of
manufacture, properties and uses; Oxoacids of Sulphur (Structures only).

Group 17 Elements: General introduction, electronic configuration, oxidation states,

occurrence, trends in physical and chemical properties; compounds of halogens, Preparation,
properties and uses of Chlorine and Hydrochloric acid, interhalogen compounds, Oxoacids of
halogens (structures only).
Group 18 Elements: General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence, trends in
physical and chemical properties, uses.

XV. ‘d’ and ‘f’ Block Elements

General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence and characteristics of transition
metals, general trends in properties of the first row transition metals - metallic character,
ionization enthalpy, oxidation states, ionic radii, colour, catalytic property, magnetic
properties, interstitial compounds, alloy formation, preparation and properties of K2Cr2O7
and KMnO4.
Lanthanoids - Electronic configuration, oxidation states, chemical reactivity and lanthanoid
contraction and its consequences.
Actinoids - Electronic configuration, oxidation states and comparison with lanthanoids.

XVI. General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements

Principles and methods of extraction - concentration, oxidation, reduction
-electrolytic method and refining; occurrence and principles of extraction of aluminium,
copper, zinc and iron

XVII. Coordination Compounds

Coordination compounds - Introduction, ligands, coordination number, colour, magnetic
properties and shapes, IUPAC nomenclature of mononuclear coordination compounds.
Bonding, Werner's theory, VBT, and CFT; structure and stereoisomerism, importance of
coordination compounds (in qualitative inclusion, extraction of metals and biological system).

XVIII. Organic Chemistry - Some Basic Principles and Techniques

General introduction, methods of purification, qualitative and quantitative analysis,
classification and IUPAC nomenclature of organic compounds.
Electronic displacements in a covalent bond: inductive effect, electromeric effect, resonance
and hyperconjugation. Homolytic and heterolytic fission of a covalent bond: free radicals,
carbocations, carbanions, electrophiles and nucleophiles, types of organic reactions.

XIX. Hydrocarbons
Classification of Hydrocarbons
Aliphatic Hydrocarbons:
Alkanes - Nomenclature, isomerism, conformation (ethane only), physical properties,
chemical reactions including free radical mechanism of halogenation, combustion and
pyrolysis.
Alkenes - Nomenclature, structure of double bond (ethene), geometrical isomerism, physical
properties, methods of preparation, chemical reactions: addition of hydrogen, halogen, water,

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 hydrogen halides (Markownikov's addition and peroxide effect), ozonolysis, oxidation,
mechanism of electrophilic addition.
Alkynes - Nomenclature, structure of triple bond (ethyne), physical properties, methods of
preparation, chemical reactions: acidic character of alkynes, addition reaction of - hydrogen,
halogens, hydrogen halides and water.
Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Introduction, IUPAC nomenclature, benzene: resonance,
aromaticity, chemical properties: mechanism of electrophilic substitution. Nitration,
sulphonation, halogenation, Friedel Craft's alkylation and acylation, directive influence of
functional group in monosubstituted benzene. Carcinogenicity and toxicity.

XX. Haloalkanes and Haloarenes

Haloalkanes: Nomenclature, nature of C-X bond, physical and chemical properties,
mechanism of substitution reactions, optical rotation.
Haloarenes: Nature of C-X bond, substitution reactions (Directive influence of halogen in
monosubstituted compounds only).
Uses and environmental effects of - dichloromethane, trichloromethane, tetrachloromethane,
iodoform, freons, DDT.

XXI. Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers

Alcohols: Nomenclature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties (of
primary alcohols only), identification of primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols, mechanism
of dehydration, uses with special reference to methanol and ethanol.
Phenols: Nomenclature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, acidic
nature of phenol, electrophilic substitution reactions, uses of phenols.
Ethers: Nomenclature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, uses.

XXII. Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Aldehydes and Ketones: Nomenclature, nature of carbonyl group, methods of preparation,
physical and chemical properties, mechanism of nucleophilic addition, reactivity of alpha
hydrogen in aldehydes, uses.
Carboxylic Acids: Nomenclature, acidic nature, methods of preparation, physical and
chemical properties; uses.

XXIII. Organic compounds containing Nitrogen

Amines: Nomenclature, classification, structure, methods of preparation, physical and
chemical properties, uses, identification of primary, secondary and tertiary amines.
Cyanides and Isocyanides - preparation and reactions.
Diazonium salts: Preparation, chemical reactions and importance in synthetic organic
chemistry.

XXIV. Biomolecules
Carbohydrates - Classification (aldoses and ketoses), monosaccharides (glucose and fructose),
D-L configuration oligosaccharides (sucrose, lactose, maltose), polysaccharides (starch,
cellulose, glycogen); Importance of carbohydrates.
Proteins -Elementary idea of - amino acids, peptide bond, polypeptides, proteins, structure of
proteins - primary, secondary, tertiary structure and quaternary structures (qualitative idea
only), denaturation of proteins; enzymes. Hormones - Elementary idea excluding structure.
Vitamins - Classification and functions.

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 Nucleic Acids: DNA and RNA.

XXV. Polymers
Copolymerization, some important polymers: natural and synthetic like polythene, nylon,
polyesters, bakelite, rubber. Biodegradable and non- biodegradable polymers.

XXVI. Environmental Chemistry

Environmental pollution - air, water and soil pollution, chemical reactions in atmosphere,
smog, major atmospheric pollutants, acid rain, ozone and its reactions, effects of depletion of
ozone layer, greenhouse effect and global warming- pollution due to industrial wastes, green
chemistry as an alternative tool for reducing pollution, strategies for control of environmental
pollution.

XXVII. Chemistry in Everyday life

Chemicals in medicines - analgesics, tranquilizers antiseptics, disinfectants, antimicrobials,
antifertility drugs, antibiotics, antacids, antihistamines.
Chemicals in food - preservatives, artificial sweetening agents, elementary idea of
antioxidants.Cleansing agents- soaps and detergents, cleansing action.

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Physics:
In addition to following, general understanding of Science topics studied till Class 10
and Mathematics topics studied till Class 12 is expected.

I. Units and Measurements

Units of measurement; systems of units; SI units,
fundamental and derived units. Length, mass and time measurements;
accuracy and precision of measuring instruments; errors in measurement;
significant figures.
Dimensions of physical quantities, dimensional analysis and its applications.

II. Motion in a Straight Line

Frame of reference, Motion in a straight line: Position-time graph, speed and
velocity.
Elementary concepts of differentiation and integration for describing motion,
uniform and non- uniform motion, average speed and instantaneous velocity,
uniformly accelerated motion, velocity - time and position-time graphs.
Relations for uniformly accelerated motion (graphical treatment).

III. Motion in a Plane

Scalar and vector quantities; position and displacement vectors, general
vectors and their notations; equality of vectors, multiplication of vectors by a
real number; addition and subtraction of vectors, relative velocity, Unit vector;
resolution of a vector in a plane, rectangular components, Scalar and Vector
product of vectors.

Motion in a plane, cases of uniform velocity and uniform acceleration-

projectile motion, uniform circular motion.
IV. Laws of Motion
Intuitive concept of force, Inertia, Newton's first law of motion; momentum
and Newton's second law of motion; impulse; Newton's third law of motion.
Law of conservation of linear momentum and its applications.
Equilibrium of concurrent forces, Static and kinetic friction, laws of friction, lubrication.
Dynamics of uniform circular motion: Centripetal force, examples of circular
motion (vehicle on a level circular road, vehicle on a banked road).

V. Work, Energy and Power

Work done by a constant force and a variable force; kinetic energy, work-energy theorem,
power.
Notion of potential energy, potential energy of a spring, conservative forces: conservation of
mechanical energy (kinetic and potential energies); non-conservative forces: motion in a
vertical circle; elastic and inelastic collisions in one and two dimensions.

VI. System of Particles and Rotational Motion

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 Centre of mass of a two-particle system, momentum conservation and centre of mass motion.
Centre of mass of a rigid body; centre of mass of a uniform rod.
Moment of a force, torque, angular momentum, law of conservation of angular momentum
and its applications.
Equilibrium of rigid bodies, rigid body rotation and equations of rotational motion,
comparison of linear and rotational motions.
Moment of inertia, radius of gyration, values of moments of inertia for simple geometrical
objects (no derivation). Statement of parallel and perpendicular axes theorems and their
applications.

VII. Gravitation
Kepler's laws of planetary motion, universal law of gravitation. Acceleration due to gravity
and its variation with altitude and depth.
Gravitational potential energy and gravitational potential, escape velocity, orbital velocity of a
satellite, Geo-stationary satellites.

VIII. Mechanical Properties of Solids

Elastic behaviour, Stress-strain relationship, Hooke's law, Young's modulus,
bulk modulus, shear modulus of rigidity, Poisson's ratio; elastic energy.

IX. Mechanical Properties of Fluids

Pressure due to a fluid column; Pascal's law and its applications (hydraulic lift and hydraulic
brakes), effect of gravity on fluid pressure.
Viscosity, Stokes' law, terminal velocity, streamline and turbulent flow, critical velocity,
Bernoulli's theorem and its applications.
Surface energy and surface tension, angle of contact, excess of pressure across a curved
surface, application of surface tension ideas to drops, bubbles and capillary rise.

X. Thermal Properties of Matter

Heat, temperature, thermal expansion; thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases,
anomalous expansion of water; specific heat capacity; Cp, Cv - calorimetry; change of state -
latent heat capacity.
Heat transfer-conduction, convection and radiation, thermal conductivity, qualitative ideas of
Blackbody radiation, Wien's displacement Law, Stefan's law, Greenhouse effect.

XI. Thermodynamics
Thermal equilibrium and definition of temperature (zeroth law of thermodynamics), heat,
work and internal energy. Thermodynamic state variables and equation of state, First law of
thermodynamics, isothermal and adiabatic processes.
Second law of thermodynamics: reversible and irreversible processes, Heat engine and
refrigerator.

XII. Behaviour of Perfect Gases and Kinetic Theory of Gases

Equation of state of a perfect gas, work done in compressing a gas.
Kinetic theory of gases - assumptions, concept of pressure. Kinetic interpretation of
temperature; rms speed of gas molecules; degrees of freedom, law of equi-partition of energy
(statement only) and application to specific heat capacities of gases; concept of mean free
path, Avogadro's number.

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XIII. Oscillations and Waves
Oscillations
Periodic motion - time period, frequency, displacement as a function of time, periodic
functions.
Simple harmonic motion (S.H.M) and its equation; phase; oscillations of a loaded spring-
restoring force and force constant; energy in S.H.M. Kinetic and potential energies; simple
pendulum derivation of expression for its time period. Free, forced and damped oscillations
(qualitative ideas only), Resonance.
Waves
Wave motion: Transverse and longitudinal waves, speed of travelling wave,
displacement relation for a progressive wave, principle of superposition of
waves, reflection of waves, standing waves in strings and organ pipes,
fundamental mode and harmonics, Beats, Doppler effect.

XIV. Electrostatics
Electric Charges and Fields
Electric Charges; Conservation of charge, Coulomb's law-force between two point charges,
forces between multiple charges; superposition principle and continuous charge distribution.
Electric field, electric field due to a point charge, electric field lines, electric dipole, electric
field due to a dipole, torque on a dipole in uniform electric field.
Electric flux, statement of Gauss's theorem and its applications to find field due to infinitely
long straight wire, uniformly charged infinite plane sheet and uniformly charged thin
spherical shell (field inside and outside).
Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance
Electric potential, potential difference, electric potential due to a point charge, a dipole and
system of charges; equipotential surfaces, electrical potential energy of a system of two point
charges and of electric dipole in an electrostatic field.
Conductors and insulators, free charges and bound charges inside a conductor. Dielectrics and
electric polarisation, capacitors and capacitance, combination of capacitors in series and in
parallel, capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with and without dielectric medium between
the plates, energy stored in a capacitor.
Current Electricity
Electric current, flow of electric charges in a metallic conductor, drift velocity, mobility and
their relation with electric current; Ohm's law, electrical resistance, V-I characteristics (linear
and non-linear), electrical energy and power, electrical resistivity and conductivity, Carbon
resistors, colour code for carbon resistors; series and parallel combinations of resistors;
temperature dependence of resistance. Internal resistance of a cell, potential difference and
emf of a cell, combination of cells in series and in parallel, Kirchhoff's laws and simple
applications, Wheatstone bridge, metre bridge.
Potentiometer - principle and its applications to measure potential difference and for
comparing EMF of two cells; measurement of internal resistance of a cell.

XV. Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism

Moving Charges and Magnetism
Concept of magnetic field, Oersted's experiment.
Biot - Savart law and its application to current carrying circular loop.

14
 Ampere's law and its applications to infinitely long straight wire. Straight and toroidal
solenoids (only qualitative treatment), force on a moving charge in uniform magnetic and
electric fields, Cyclotron.
Force on a current-carrying conductor in a uniform magnetic field, force between two parallel
current-carrying conductors-definition of ampere, torque experienced by a current loop in
uniform magnetic field; moving coil galvanometer-its current sensitivity and conversion to
ammeter and voltmeter.
Magnetism and Matter
Current loop as a magnetic dipole and its magnetic dipole moment, magnetic dipole moment
of a revolving electron, magnetic field intensity due to a magnetic dipole (bar magnet) along
its axis and perpendicular to its axis, torque on a magnetic dipole (bar magnet) in a uniform
magnetic field; bar magnet as an equivalent solenoid, magnetic field lines; earth's magnetic
field and magnetic elements.
Para-, dia- and ferro - magnetic substances, with examples. Electromagnets and factors
affecting their strengths, permanent magnets.
Electromagnetic Induction
Electromagnetic induction; Faraday's laws, induced EMF and current; Lenz's Law, Eddy
currents. Self and mutual induction.
Alternating Current
Alternating currents, peak and RMS value of alternating current/voltage; reactance and
impedance; LC oscillations (qualitative treatment only), LCR series circuit, resonance; power
in AC circuits, power factor, wattless current. AC generator and transformer.
Electromagnetic Waves
Basic idea of displacement current, Electromagnetic waves, their characteristics, their
Transverse nature (qualitative ideas only). Electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves,
microwaves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays) including elementary facts
about their uses.

XVI. Optics
Ray Optics and Optical Instruments
Reflection of light, spherical mirrors, mirror formula, refraction of light, total internal
reflection and its applications, optical fibers, refraction at spherical surfaces, lenses, thin lens
formula, lensmaker's formula, magnification, power of a lens, combination of thin lenses in
contact, refraction of light through a prism.
Scattering of light - blue colour of sky and reddish appearance of the sun at sunrise and
sunset.
Optical instruments: Microscopes and astronomical telescopes (reflecting and refracting) and
their magnifying powers.
Wave optics
Wavefront and Huygens’ principle, reflection and refraction of plane wave at a plane surface
using wave fronts. Proof of laws of reflection and refraction using Huygens’ principle.
Interference, Young's double slit experiment and expression for fringe width, coherent sources
and sustained interference of light, diffraction due to a single slit, width of central maximum,
resolving power of microscope and astronomical telescope, polarisation, plane polarised light,
Brewster's law, uses of plane polarised light and Polaroids.

XVII. Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter

Dual nature of radiation, Photoelectric effect, Hertz and Lenard's observations;

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 Einstein's photoelectric equation-particle nature of light. Experimental study of the
photoelectric effect.
Matter waves-wave nature of particles, de-Broglie relation, Davisson-Germer experiment
(experimental details should be omitted; only conclusion should be explained).

XVIII. Atoms and Nuclei

Atoms
Alpha-particle scattering experiment; Rutherford's model of atom; Bohr model, energy levels,
hydrogen spectrum.
Nuclei
Composition and size of nucleus, Radioactivity, alpha, beta and gamma particles/rays and
their properties; radioactive decay law, half life and mean life.
Mass-energy relation, mass defect; binding energy per nucleon and its variation with mass
number; nuclear fission, nuclear fusion.

XIX. Electronic Devices

Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits
Energy bands in conductors, semiconductors and insulators (qualitative ideas only)
Semiconductor diode - I-V characteristics in forward and reverse bias, diode as a rectifier;
Special purpose p-n junction diodes: LED, photodiode, solar cell and Zener diode and their
characteristics, zener diode as a voltage regulator.

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