JEE Advanced Physics: Syllabus, Topics & Sample Practice

Measurement & Mechanics

• Ch 1 General (Units, Dimensions & Measurement)

  Units and dimensions, dimensional analysis; least count, significant figures; methods of measurement and error analysis across the prescribed experiments (Vernier callipers and screw gauge, g by simple pendulum, Young’s modulus, surface tension by capillary rise, specific heat by calorimeter, focal length by u–v method, speed of sound by resonance column, Ohm’s law, specific resistance by meter bridge and post office box).

• Ch 2 Mechanics

  Kinematics in 1D and 2D, projectiles, circular motion, relative velocity; Newton’s laws, friction, work, power, energy; conservation of momentum and mechanical energy; centre of mass, impulse, collisions; rigid-body rotation, moment of inertia, torque, angular momentum, rolling; SHM, forced/damped oscillation and resonance; Hooke’s law and Young’s modulus; gravitation, Kepler’s laws, satellites, escape velocity; fluids (Pascal, buoyancy, surface tension, viscosity, Bernoulli); wave motion, strings and air columns, beats and Doppler effect in sound.

Thermal Physics

• Ch 3 Thermal Physics

  Thermal expansion; calorimetry and latent heat; one-dimensional heat conduction, convection and radiation; Newton’s law of cooling; ideal gas laws; specific heats (Cv and Cp); isothermal and adiabatic processes; first and second laws of thermodynamics (ideal gases), reversible/irreversible processes, Carnot engine and efficiency; blackbody radiation, Kirchhoff’s law, Wien’s displacement law and Stefan’s law.

Electricity, Magnetism & EM Waves

• Ch 4 Electricity and Magnetism

  Coulomb’s law, electric field and potential, dipoles, field lines, flux, Gauss’s law; capacitance, dielectrics, capacitors in series/parallel, stored energy; current, Ohm’s law, resistances and cells, Kirchhoff’s laws, heating effect; Biot–Savart and Ampère’s laws, magnetic fields, force on charges and currents; magnetic moment of a loop, moving-coil galvanometer, voltmeter and ammeter; electromagnetic induction (Faraday, Lenz), self/mutual inductance, RC, LR, LC and series LCR circuits with d.c. and a.c. sources.

• Ch 5 Electromagnetic Waves

  Electromagnetic waves and their characteristics; the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-rays, gamma rays) and elementary facts about their uses.

Optics & Modern Physics

• Ch 6 Optics

  Rectilinear propagation; reflection and refraction at plane and spherical surfaces; total internal reflection; deviation and dispersion by a prism; thin lenses and combinations, magnification; wave nature of light — Huygens’ principle, Young’s double-slit interference; single-slit diffraction; polarization, Brewster’s law and Polaroids.

• Ch 7 Modern Physics

  Atomic nucleus; α, β and γ radiations; law of radioactive decay, decay constant, half-life and mean life; binding energy; fission and fusion and energy calculations; photoelectric effect; Bohr’s theory of hydrogen-like atoms; characteristic and continuous X-rays, Moseley’s law; de Broglie wavelength of matter waves.

Point to the Principle

Names the physics to reach for (e.g. "Use conservation of linear momentum") without giving the answer.

Guided Reasoning Prompt

Prompts the key idea (e.g. "In a perfectly inelastic collision, how do the two masses move afterwards?").

Complete Worked Solution

Shows the full step-by-step working and explains why the answer is correct.

Build From Mechanics Outward

Mechanics underpins much of the paper and feeds into rotation, fluids and oscillations — secure it first, then layer on the other units.

Practise Multi-Step Reasoning

JEE Advanced tests analytical ability, so work problems that combine two or more topics rather than single-formula drills.

Do the Prescribed Experiments

The General unit lists specific experiments and error analysis — knowing least count, significant figures and each method pays off directly.

How many units are in the JEE Advanced Physics syllabus?

The official syllabus groups Physics into seven areas: a General unit (measurement and error analysis), Mechanics, Thermal Physics, Electricity & Magnetism, Electromagnetic Waves, Optics and Modern Physics. The full topic list is in Annexure-I of the JEE Advanced Information Brochure.

Is Physics tested in both JEE Advanced papers?

Yes. Each of the two papers (Paper 1 and Paper 2) has a separate Physics section, alongside Chemistry and Mathematics, and appearing in both papers is compulsory.

What is the marking scheme for the Physics section?

The official brochure states that negative marks may be awarded for incorrect answers on some questions and that the detailed marking scheme and question types are given in the exam-day “Instructions to Candidates”. These are set each year, so confirm the current scheme on the official JEE Advanced website.