Generic Elective Physics - Paper I

 Notes on Physics Generic Elective - Paper I

As per the University Grant Commission, and CBCS pattern of BSc, any eligible honours students such as chemistry, mathematics, computer science etc. can opt for a generic elective physics with the Hons papers. In many of the universities, this paper consists of internal (mid sem), practical and end sem examinations, in a 15 + 25 + 60 = 100 total mark pattern, in general.

Here in this post you can find complete notes of GE Physics I as PDF by Clicking on the corresponding link provided at the end of short questions discussion on the topic below. Download the pdf file of Thermal Physics Notes.

Before getting the pdf file of thermal physics notes, read these important 1 mark questions and answer on thermal physics:

Important Short Questions of Thernal Physics:

Question 1: Define thermal equilibrium. 

Answer: Thermal equilibrium is a state in which two or more objects have the same temperature and there is no net flow of heat between them.

Question 2: What is the zeroth law of thermodynamics? 

Answer: If two systems are each in thermal equilibrium with a third system, then they are in thermal equilibrium with each other.

Question 3: State the first law of thermodynamics. 

Answer: Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transferred or converted from one form to another.

Question 4: Define specific heat capacity. 

Answer: Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by 1 degree Celsius.

Question 5: What is the formula for calculating heat (Q) for changing temperature of a body with specific heat?

Answer: Q=mcΔT, where Q is heat, m is mass of system, c is specific heat, and ΔT is the change in temperature.

Question 6: Explain the concept of latent heat.

Answer: Latent heat is the heat absorbed or released during a phase change without a change in temperature.

Question 7: State the second law of thermodynamics.

Answer: In any energy exchange or transformation, if no energy enters or leaves the system, the potential energy of the state will always be less than that of the initial state.

Question 8: What is an adiabatic process?

Answer: An adiabatic process is a thermodynamic process in which there is no transfer of heat to or from the system.

Question 9: Define entropy.

Answer: Entropy is a measure of the amount of disorder or randomness in a system.

Question 10: What is the efficiency of a Carnot engine?

Answer: The efficiency of a Carnot engine is given by η=1−(​T_C/T_H)​​, where T_C​ is the absolute temperature of the cold reservoir and T_H​ is the absolute temperature of the hot reservoir. Efficiency of any engine cannot be greater than 1.

Question 11: Explain the term "thermal conductivity."

Answer: Thermal conductivity is the property of a material that describes its ability to conduct heat.

Question 12: State the Stefan-Boltzmann law.

Answer: The total power radiated per unit surface area of a black body is directly proportional to the fourth power of the black body's absolute temperature.

Question 13: What is Boyle's law?

Answer: Boyle's law states that the pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume, provided the temperature remains constant.

Question 14: Define absolute zero.

Answer: Absolute zero is the lowest possible temperature, at which the fundamental particles of nature have minimal thermal motion.

Question 15: What is the purpose of a heat engine?

Answer: The purpose of a heat engine is to convert thermal energy into mechanical work.

Question 16: Define conduction.

Answer: Conduction is the transfer of heat through direct contact between particles in a substance without movement of the particles.

Question 17: What is the definition of convection?

Answer: Convection is the transfer of heat through the movement of fluid (liquid or gas) due to density differences.

Question 18: State Newton's law of cooling.

Answer: The rate of heat loss of a body is directly proportional to the temperature difference between the body and its surroundings.

Question 19: Explain the term "heat capacity."

Answer: Heat capacity is the amount of heat required to change the temperature of an object by 1 degree Celsius.

Question 20: What is the triple point of water?

Answer: The triple point of water is the unique set of conditions at which water can exist in solid, liquid, and gaseous states simultaneously.

Question 21: Define thermal expansion.

Answer: Thermal expansion is the tendency of matter to change its shape, area, and volume in response to a change in temperature.

Question 22: What is the relationship between pressure and temperature in Gay-Lussac's law?

Answer: Gay-Lussac's law states that the pressure of a gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature, provided the volume remains constant.

Question 23: Explain the term "heat pump."
Answer: A heat pump is a device that transfers heat from a colder reservoir to a warmer reservoir, using mechanical work.

Question 24: State the law of equipartition of energy.

Answer: The law of equipartition of energy states that each degree of freedom of a system in thermal equilibrium contributes (½)​kT to the total energy, where k is the Boltzmann constant and T is the temperature.

Question 25: What is the definition of a perfect gas?

Answer: A perfect gas is a hypothetical gas whose behavior is perfectly described by the ideal gas law.

Question 26: Define black body radiation.

Answer: Black body radiation is the electromagnetic radiation emitted by a perfect black body (an idealized substance that absorbs all incident electromagnetic radiation).

Question 27: What is the significance of the critical point in a phase diagram?

Answer: The critical point is the set of conditions at which a substance undergoes a phase transition to become a supercritical fluid, exhibiting properties of both liquids and gases.

Question 28: Explain the concept of the Carnot cycle.

Answer: The Carnot cycle is an idealized thermodynamic cycle that represents the most efficient engine possible, operating between two heat reservoirs.

Question 29: Define heat transfer by radiation.

Answer: Heat transfer by radiation is the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves, without the need for a medium.

Question 30: What is the specific heat capacity of water?

Answer: The specific heat capacity of water is approximately 4.186 J/g°C. 

Now Download the pdf file of Thermal Physics Notes.

Before downloading the PDF file on mechanics let us see the Important Short questions on Moment of inertia:

Question: What is the moment of inertia?

Answer: The moment of inertia is a measure of an object's resistance to changes in its rotation.

Question: How is moment of inertia different from mass?

Answer: Mass is a measure of an object's resistance to linear motion, while moment of inertia is a measure of its resistance to rotational motion.

Question: What factors affect the moment of inertia of an object? Answer: The moment of inertia depends on the mass distribution and the shape of an object with respect to its axis of rotation.

Question: Define the formula for the moment of inertia of a point mass.

Answer: For a point mass m at a distance r from the axis of rotation, the moment of inertia is given by I=mr².

Question: How is the moment of inertia calculated for a system of particles?

Answer: For a system of particles, the moment of inertia is the sum of the moments of inertia of individual particles.

Question: What is the moment of inertia of a thin rod rotating about an axis through its center perpendicular to its length?

Answer: The moment of inertia (I) of a thin rod of length L and mass M rotating about an axis through its center perpendicular to its length is I=(1/12)​ML².

Question: Explain the concept of the parallel axis theorem.

Answer: The parallel axis theorem states that the moment of inertia of an object about any axis parallel to an axis through its center of mass is the sum of the moment of inertia about the center of mass and the product of the mass and the square of the distance between the two axes.

Question: What is the moment of inertia of a disk rotating about an axis through its center perpendicular to its plane?

Answer: The moment of inertia (I) of a uniform disk of radius R and mass M rotating about an axis through its center perpendicular to its plane is I=(1/2)MR².

Question: State the moment of inertia formula for a hoop rotating about an axis through its center perpendicular to its plane.

Answer: The moment of inertia (I) of a hoop of radius R and mass M rotating about an axis through its center perpendicular to its plane is =I=MR².

Question: How does the moment of inertia change if the mass of an object is distributed farther from the axis of rotation? Answer: If the mass is distributed farther from the axis of rotation, the moment of inertia increases. 

Now download the PDF file of Mechanics.

Before downloading the PDF file on electricity and magnetism, let us see important short questions on electricity and magnetism.

Question: What is the unit of electric charge?

Answer: The unit of electric charge is the Coulomb (C).

Question: Define electric current.

Answer: Electric current is the flow of electric charge per unit time and is measured in Amperes (A).

Question: State Ohm's Law.

Answer: Ohm's Law states that the current passing through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage across the two points.

Question: What is the formula for calculating electric power?

Answer: P=IV, where P is power, I is current, and V is voltage.

Question: Define resistance.

Answer: Resistance is the opposition that a substance offers to the flow of electric current.

Question: What is the SI unit of resistance?

Answer: The SI unit of resistance is the Ohm (Ω).

Question: State the formula for calculating resistance using Ohm's Law. Answer: R=V/I​, where R is resistance, V is voltage, and I is current.

Question: Explain the concept of electrical conductivity.

Answer: Electrical conductivity is a measure of a material's ability to conduct electric current.

Question: What is the purpose of an insulator in electricity?

Answer: An insulator is a material that does not conduct electricity and is used to prevent the flow of electric current.

Question: Define electric potential.

Answer: Electric potential is the electric potential energy per unit charge at a point in space.

Question: State Gauss's Law for magnetism.

Answer: Gauss's Law for magnetism states that the magnetic field lines must form closed loops, and there are no magnetic monopoles.

Question: What is the right-hand rule used for in magnetism?

Answer: The right-hand rule is used to determine the direction of the magnetic field around a current-carrying conductor.

Question: Explain the concept of electromagnetic induction.

Answer: Electromagnetic induction is the process by which a changing magnetic field induces an electromotive force (EMF) in a conductor.

Question: State Faraday's Law of electromagnetic induction.

Answer: Faraday's Law states that the induced electromotive force (EMF) in any closed circuit is equal to the rate of change of magnetic flux through the circuit.

Question: What is the purpose of a transformer in electrical systems? Answer: A transformer is used to change the voltage of an alternating current while maintaining the power, allowing for efficient transmission and distribution of electrical energy. 

Now download the PDF file on Electricity and magnetism.

Before downloading the PDF file on Oscilation and Waves, now see important short questions on it.

Important short questions on Oscilation and Waves.

Question: Define oscillation.

Answer: Oscillation is a repetitive back-and-forth motion about a central point.

Question: What is the equilibrium position in the context of oscillations?

Answer: The equilibrium position is the central or resting position of an oscillating object.

Question: State Hooke's Law.

Answer: Hooke's Law states that the force required to extend or compress a spring by some distance is proportional to that distance.

Question: Define amplitude in the context of oscillations.

Answer: Amplitude is the maximum displacement of an oscillating object from its equilibrium position.

Question: What is the time period of an oscillation?

Answer: The time period is the time taken for one complete oscillation.

Question: Explain the relationship between frequency and time period. Answer: Frequency is the reciprocal of the time period, i.e., f=1/T ​

Question: Define simple harmonic motion (SHM).

Answer: Simple harmonic motion is a type of oscillatory motion where the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement from equilibrium and acts in the opposite direction.

Question: State the formula for the angular frequency (ω) in simple harmonic motion.

Answer: ω=2πf, where ω is the angular frequency and f is the frequency.

Question: What is a wave?

Answer: A wave is a disturbance that travels through space, carrying energy without transporting matter.

Question: Define wavelength.

Answer: Wavelength is the distance between two successive points in a wave that are in phase.

Question: State the principle of superposition for waves.

Answer: The principle of superposition states that when two or more waves overlap, the resultant displacement is the sum of the individual displacements.

Question: Explain the Doppler effect.

Answer: The Doppler effect is the change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer who is moving relative to the source of the wave.

Question: What is the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves?

Answer: In transverse waves, the particles of the medium oscillate perpendicular to the direction of the wave, while in longitudinal waves, the particles oscillate parallel to the direction of the wave.

Question: Define interference in the context of waves.

Answer: Interference is the phenomenon that occurs when two or more waves meet at a point in space, resulting in a combined effect.

Question: What is resonance?

Answer: Resonance is the phenomenon in which an external force applied at the natural frequency of an oscillating system causes a maximum amplitude of oscillation. 

Now download the pfd file notes on Oscillation and waves.

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