GATE 2025 Physics Syllabus – Here we will discuss in detail about GATE 2025 Physics Syllabus. Download PDF Here.
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About GATE Exam
GATE Exam is jointly conducted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore and the seven IIT’s (IIT Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Guwahati, Roorkee, Madras and Kharagpur).
GATE 2025 will be organized by IIT Roorkee.
Full details on GATE – GATE
Pattern of GATE 2025 Physics Exam
Before looking at the syllabus of GATE Physics look at the pattern of GATE Physics exam.
There will be two section containing 65 questions carrying a total of 100 marks.
| Section | Distribution of Marks | Total Marks | Types of questions |
| General Aptitude | 5 questions of 1 mark each 5 questions of 2 marks each | 15 marks | MCQ |
| Physics | 25 questions of 1 mark each 30 questions of 2 marks each | 85 marks | MCQ, MSQ and NAT |
GATE General Aptitude Syllabus
Syllabus for General Aptitude section is common for all subjects of GATE Exam.
This section contains questions from
| Verbal Aptitude |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
| Analytical Aptitude |
| Spatial Aptitude |
For complete details of this section and syllabus pdf visit – GATE General Aptitude Syllabus, Study Plan
GATE 2025 Physics Syllabus Structure
Structure of GATE Physics Syllabus
| Sections/Units | Topics |
| Section 1 | Mathematical Physics |
| Section 2 | Classical Mechanics |
| Section 3 | Electromagnetic Theory |
| Section 4 | Quantum Mechanics |
| Section 5 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics |
| Section 6 | Atomic and Molecular Physics |
| Section 7 | Solid State Physics |
| Section 8 | Electronics |
| Section 9 | Nuclear and Particle Physics |
GATE 2025 Physics Syllabus
Section 1: Mathematical Physics
- Vector Calculus: linear vector space: basis, orthogonality and completeness; matrices; similarity transformations, diagonalization, eigenvalues and eigenvectors;
- Linear differential equations: second order linear differential equations and solutions involving special functions;
- Complex analysis: Cauchy-Riemann conditions, Cauchy’s theorem, singularities, residue theorem and applications;
- Laplace transform, Fourier analysis;
- Elementary ideas about tensors: covariant and contravariant tensors.
Section 2: Classical Mechanics
- Lagrangian Formulation: D’Alembert’s principle, Euler-Lagrange equation, Hamilton’s principle, calculus of variations; symmetry and conservation laws;
- Central force motion: Kepler problem and Rutherford scattering;
- Small oscillations: coupled oscillations and normal modes;
- Rigid body dynamics: interia tensor, orthogonal transformations, Euler angles, Torque free motion of a symmetric top; Hamiltonian and Hamilton’s equations of motion; Liouville’s theorem; canonical transformations: action-angle variables, Poisson brackets, Hamilton-Jacobi equation.
- Special Theory of Relativity: Lorentz transformations, relativistic kinematics, mass-energy equivalence.
Section 3: Electromagnetic Theory
- Solutions of electrostatic and magnetostatic problems including boundary value problems; method of images; separation of variables; dielectrics and conductors; magnetic materials; multipole expansion;
- Maxwell’s equations; scalar and vector potentials; Coulomb and Lorentz gauges;
- Electromagnetic waves in free space, non-conducting and conducting media; reflection and transmission at normal and oblique incidences; polarization of electromagnetic waves; Poynting vector, Poynting theorem, energy and momentum of electromagnetic waves; radiation from a moving charge.
Section 4: Quantum Mechanics
- Postulates of quantum mechanics; uncertainty principle; Schrodinger equation; Dirac Bra-Ket notation, linear vectors and operators in Hilbert space; one dimensional potentials: step potential, finite rectangular well, tunneling from a potential barrier, particle in a box, harmonic oscillator;
- Two and three dimensional systems: concept of degeneracy; hydrogen atom; angular momentum and spin; addition of angular momenta;
- Variational method and WKB approximation, time independent perturbation theory; elementary scattering theory, Born approximation; symmetries in quantum mechanical systems.
Section 5: Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
- Laws of thermodynamics; macrostates and microstates; phase space; ensembles; partition function, free energy, calculation of thermodynamic quantities;
- Classical and quantum statistics; degenerate Fermi gas; black body radiation and Planck’s distribution law; Bose-Einstein condensation; first and second order phase transitions, phase equilibria, critical point.
Section 6: Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Spectra of one-and many-electron atoms; spin-orbit interaction: LS and jj couplings; fine and hyperfine structures; Zeeman and Stark effects; electric dipole transitions and selection rules;
- Rotational and vibrational spectra of diatomic molecules; electronic transitions in diatomic molecules, Franck-Condon principle; Raman effect; EPR, NMR, ESR, X-ray spectra;
- Lasers: Einstein coefficients, population inversion, two and three level systems.
Section 7: Solid State Physics
- Elements of crystallography; diffraction methods for structure determination; bonding in solids; lattice vibrations and thermal properties of solids; free electron theory; band theory of solids: nearly free electron and tight binding models; metals, semiconductors and insulators; conductivity, mobility and effective mass;
- Optical properties of solids; Kramer’s-Kronig relation, intra- and interband transitions; dielectric properties of solid; dielectric function, polarizability, ferroelectricity; magnetic properties of solids; dia, para, ferro, antiferro and ferri-magnetism, domains and magnetic anisotropy;
- Superconductivity: Type-I and Type II superconductors, Meissner effect, London equation, BCS Theory, flux quantization.
Section 8: Electronics
- Semiconductors in Equilibrium: electron and hole statistics in intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors; metal-semiconductor junctions; Ohmic and rectifying contacts; PN diodes, bipolar junction transistors, field effect transistors; negative and positive feedback circuits; oscillators, operational amplifiers, active filters; basics of digital logic circuits, combinational and sequential circuits, flip-flops, timers, counters, registers, A/D and D/A conversion.
Section 9: Nuclear and Particle Physics
- Nuclear radii and charge distributions, nuclear binding energy, electric and magnetic moments; semi-empirical mass formula; nuclear models; liquid drop model, nuclear shell model; nuclear force and two nucleon problem;
- alpha decay, beta-decay, electromagnetic transitions in nuclei; Rutherford scattering, nuclear reactions, conservation laws; fission and fusion;
- Particle accelerators and detectors;
- Elementary particles; photons, baryons, mesons and leptons; quark model; conservation laws, isospin symmetry, charge conjugation, parity and time-reversal invariance.