Science Olympiads (NSE/INO)

• Units and Measurements

  8 topics

  • 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

• Motion in a Straight Line

  3 topics

  • 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)

• Motion in a Plane

  6 topics

  • 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

• Laws of Motion

  7 topics

  • 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)

• Work, Energy and Power

  5 topics

  • 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

• System of Particles and Rotational Motion

  7 topics

  • 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

• Gravitation

  3 topics

  • 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

• Mechanical Properties of Solids

  2 topics

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

• Mechanical Properties of Fluids

  4 topics

  • 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

• Thermal Properties of Matter

  6 topics

  • 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

• Thermodynamics

  3 topics

  • 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

• Behaviour of Perfect Gases and Kinetic Theory of Gases

  6 topics

  • 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

• Oscillations and Waves

  10 topics

  • 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

• Electrostatics

  19 topics

  • 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

• Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism

  26 topics

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

• Optics

  8 topics

  • 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

• Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter

  4 topics

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

• Atoms and Nuclei

  10 topics

  • 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

• Electronic Devices

  4 topics

  • 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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• Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry

  3 topics

  • 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

• Structure of Atom

  1 topics

  • 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

• Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties

  2 topics

  • 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

• Chemical Bonding and Molecular structure

  1 topics

  • 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

• States of Matter: Gases and Liquids

  3 topics

  • 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)

• States of Matter: Solid State

  2 topics

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

• Chemical Thermodynamics

  4 topics

  • 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)

• Equilibrium

  1 topics

  • 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)

• Solutions

  1 topics

  • 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

• Electrochemistry

  2 topics

  • 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

• Chemical Kinetics

  3 topics

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

• Surface Chemistry

  5 topics

  • 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

• s-Block Elements (Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metals)

  6 topics

  • 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

• p -Block Elements

  15 topics

  • 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 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

• ‘d’ and ‘f’ Block Elements

  3 topics

  • 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

• General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements

  2 topics

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

• Coordination Compounds

  3 topics

  • 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)

• Organic Chemistry - Some Basic Principles and Techniques

  3 topics

  • 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

• Hydrocarbons

  8 topics

  • 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, 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

• Haloalkanes and Haloarenes

  3 topics

  • 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

• Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers

  3 topics

  • 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

• Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

  2 topics

  • 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

• Organic compounds containing Nitrogen

  3 topics

  • 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

• Biomolecules

  7 topics

  • 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
  • Nucleic Acids: DNA and RNA

• Polymers

  2 topics

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

• Environmental Chemistry

  1 topics

  • 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

• Chemistry in Everyday life

  2 topics

  • 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

• Diversity of Living Organisms

  15 topics

  • The Living World
  • What is living?
  • Biodiversity
  • Need for classification
  • three domains of life
  • taxonomy and systematics
  • concept of species and taxonomical hierarchy
  • binomial nomenclature and tools for study of taxonomy
  • Biological Classification
  • Five kingdom classification
  • Salient features and classification of Monera, Protista and Fungi into major groups: Lichens, Viruses and Viroids
  • Plant Kingdom
  • Salient features and classification of plants into major groups - Algae, Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae and Angiospermae
  • Animal Kingdom
  • Salient features and classification of animals, non-chordates up to phyla level and chordates up to class level

• Structural Organization in Animals and Plants

  6 topics

  • Morphology and anatomy of Flowering Plants
  • Morphology and modifications: Morphology of different parts of flowering plants: root, stem, leaf, inflorescence, flower, fruit and seed
  • Anatomy and functions of different tissues and tissue systems
  • Structural Organisation in Animals
  • Animal tissues
  • Morphology, anatomy and functions of different systems (digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous and reproductive) of animals

• Cell: Structure and Function

  16 topics

  • Cell-The Unit of Life
  • Cell theory and cell as the basic unit of life
  • Structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
  • Plant cell and animal cell
  • cell envelope
  • cell membrane, cell wall
  • structure and function of all cell organelles
  • Cellular respiration - glycolysis, fermentation (anaerobic), TCA cycle and electron transport system (aerobic)
  • energy relations - number of ATP molecules generated
  • amphibolic pathways
  • respiratory quotient
  • Biomolecules
  • Chemical constituents of living cells: biomolecules, structure and function of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids
  • Enzymes- types, properties, enzyme action
  • Cell Cycle and Cell Division
  • Cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis and their significance

• Plant Physiology

  21 of 33 topics

  • Transport in Plants
  • Movement of water, gases and nutrients
  • cell to cell transport, diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transport
  • plant-water relations, imbibition, water potential, osmosis, plasmolysis
  • long distance transport of water - Absorption, apoplast, symplast, transpiration pull, root pressure and guttation
  • transpiration, opening and closing of stomata
  • Uptake and translocation of mineral nutrients - Transport of food, phloem transport, mass flow hypothesis
  • Mineral Nutrition
  • Essential minerals, macro- and micronutrients and their role
  • deficiency symptoms
  • mineral toxicity
  • elementary idea of hydroponics as a method to study mineral nutrition
  • nitrogen metabolism, nitrogen cycle, biological nitrogen fixation
  • Photosynthesis and Respiration in Higher Plants
  • Photosynthesis as a means of autotrophic nutrition
  • site of photosynthesis, pigments involved in photosynthesis (elementary idea)
  • photochemical and biosynthetic phases of photosynthesis
  • cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation
  • chemiosmotic hypothesis
  • photorespiration
  • C3 and C4 pathways

• Human Physiology

  21 of 45 topics

  • Digestion and Absorption
  • Alimentary canal and digestive glands, role of digestive enzymes and gastrointestinal hormones
  • Peristalsis, digestion, absorption and assimilation of proteins, carbohydrates and fats
  • calorific values of proteins, carbohydrates and fats
  • egestion
  • nutritional and digestive disorders
  • Breathing and Exchange of Gases
  • Respiratory system in humans
  • mechanism of breathing and its regulation in humans - exchange of gases, transport of gases and regulation of respiration, respiratory volume
  • disorders related to respiration
  • Body Fluids and Circulation
  • Composition of blood, blood groups, coagulation of blood
  • composition of lymph and its function
  • human circulatory system - Structure of human heart and blood vessels
  • cardiac cycle, cardiac output, ECG
  • double circulation
  • regulation of cardiac activity
  • disorders of circulatory system
  • Excretory Products and Their Elimination
  • Modes of excretion - ammonotelism, ureotelism, uricotelism
  • human excretory system – structure and function

• Reproduction

  21 of 29 topics

  • Reproduction in Organisms
  • Reproduction, a characteristic feature of all organisms for continuation of species
  • modes of reproduction - asexual and sexual reproduction
  • asexual reproduction - binary fission, sporulation, budding, gemmule formation, fragmentation
  • vegetative propagation in plants
  • Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
  • Flower structure
  • development of male and female gametophytes
  • pollination - types, agencies and examples
  • outbreeding devices
  • pollen-pistil interaction
  • double fertilization
  • post fertilization events - development of endosperm and embryo, development of seed and formation of fruit
  • special modes- apomixis, parthenocarpy, polyembryony
  • Significance of seed dispersal and fruit formation
  • Human Reproduction
  • Male and female reproductive systems
  • microscopic anatomy of testis and ovary
  • gametogenesis - spermatogenesis and oogenesis
  • menstrual cycle
  • fertilisation, embryo development upto blastocyst formation, implantation

• Genetics and Evolution

  20 of 29 topics

  • Heredity and variation
  • Mendelian inheritance
  • deviations from Mendelism – incomplete dominance, co- dominance, multiple alleles and inheritance of blood groups, pleiotropy
  • elementary idea of polygenic inheritance
  • chromosome theory of inheritance
  • chromosomes and genes
  • Sex determination - in humans, birds and honey bee
  • linkage and crossing over
  • sex linked inheritances
  • Mendelian disorders in humans
  • Molecular Basis of Inheritance
  • DNA as genetic material
  • Structure of DNA and RNA
  • DNA packaging
  • DNA replication
  • Central dogma
  • transcription, genetic code, translation
  • gene expression and regulation - lac operon
  • Genome
  • DNA fingerprinting

• Biology and Human Welfare

  18 topics

  • Human Health and Diseases
  • Pathogens
  • parasites causing human diseases (malaria, dengue, chikungunya, filariasis, ascariasis, typhoid, pneumonia, common cold, amoebiasis, ringworm) and their control
  • Basic concepts of immunology - vaccines
  • cancer, HIV and AIDS
  • Adolescence - drug and alcohol abuse
  • Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production
  • Improvement in food production: Plant breeding, tissue culture, single cell protein, Biofortification, Apiculture and Animal husbandry
  • Microbes in Human Welfare
  • In household food processing, industrial production, sewage treatment, energy generation and microbes as bio-control agents and bio-fertilizers
  • Antibiotics
  • production and judicious use
  • Biotechnology – Principles, processes and applications
  • Genetic Engineering (Recombinant DNA Technology)
  • Application of biotechnology in health and agriculture: Human insulin and vaccine production, stem cell technology, gene therapy
  • genetically modified organisms - Bt crops
  • transgenic animals
  • biosafety issues, bio piracy and patents

• Ecology and Environment

  20 of 26 topics

  • Organisms and Populations
  • Organisms and environment: Habitat and niche, population and ecological adaptations
  • population interactions - mutualism, competition, predation, parasitism
  • population attributes - growth, birth rate and death rate, age distribution
  • Ecosystems
  • Patterns, components
  • productivity and decomposition
  • energy flow
  • pyramids of number, biomass, energy
  • nutrient cycles
  • ecological succession
  • carbon fixation, pollination, seed dispersal
  • Biodiversity and its Conservation
  • Biodiversity-Concept, patterns, importance
  • loss of biodiversity
  • biodiversity conservation
  • hotspots, endangered organisms and extinction
  • Environmental Issues
  • Air pollution and its control
  • water pollution and its control

Showing 158 of 217 topics in this subject.Show all 217 topics →

• Physics

  0 topics

• Sets And Functions

  4 topics

  • Sets
  • Relations and Functions
  • Trigonometric Functions
  • Inverse Trigonometric Functions

• Algebra

  8 topics

  • Principle of Mathematical Induction
  • Complex Numbers and Quadratic Equations
  • Linear Inequalities
  • Permutations and Combinations
  • Binomial Theorem
  • Sequence and Series
  • Matrices
  • Determinants

• Coordinate Geometry

  3 topics

  • Straight Lines
  • Conic Sections
  • Introduction to Three dimensional Geometry

• Calculus

  6 topics

  • Limits and Derivatives
  • Continuity and Differentiability
  • Applications of Derivatives
  • Integrals
  • Applications of Integrals
  • Differential Equations

• Mathematical Reasoning

  0 topics

• Statistics & Probability

  2 topics

  • Statistics
  • Probability

• Vectors And Three-dimensional Geometry

  2 topics

  • Vectors Algebra
  • Three-dimensional Geometry

• Linear Programming

  0 topics

• Elementary Astronomical notions

  5 topics

  • Basic knowledge of Solar System and associated phenomena: Sun, Planets and their moons, Comets, Asteroids, Diurnal motion of Earth, Phases of the Moon, Seasons, Eclipses, Tides
  • Familiarity with structural elements of the Universe: Stars, Galaxies, Clusters of galaxies
  • Familiarity with the night sky: Brightest stars, Common constellations, Milky Way, paths of solar system objects in the night sky, rising and setting of stars
  • Working principle of Telescopes
  • Major historical landmarks in the development of Astronomy