IIT JAM Physics Syllabus 2026 (Detailed): Download Section-wise Syllabus PDF

Subject

IIT JAM Physics syllabus 2026 download link

Physics JAM

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Topic

Sub-topic

Mathematical Methods

Calculus of single and multiple variables, partial derivatives, Jacobian,

imperfect and perfect differentials, Taylor expansion, Fourier series. Vector algebra, Vector, Calculus, Multiple integrals, Divergence theorem, Green’s theorem, Stokes’ theorem. First order

equations and linear second order differential equations with constant coefficients. Matrices and

determinants, Algebra of complex numbers.

Mechanics and General Properties of Matter

Newton’s laws of motion and applications, Velocity

and acceleration in Cartesian, polar and cylindrical coordinate systems, uniformly rotating frame,

centrifugal and Coriolis forces, Motion under a central force, Kepler’s laws, Gravitational Law and

field, Conservative and non-conservative forces. System of particles, Center of mass, equation of

motion of the CM, conservation of linear and angular momentum, conservation of energy, variable

mass systems. Elastic and inelastic collisions. Rigid body motion, fixed axis rotations, rotation and

translation, moments of Inertia and products of Inertia, parallel and perpendicular axes theorem.

Principal moments and axes. Kinematics of moving fluids, equation of continuity, Euler’s equation,

Bernoulli’s theorem.

Oscillations, Waves and Optics

Differential equation for simple harmonic oscillator and its general solution. Superposition of two or more simple harmonic oscillators. Lissajous figures. Damped and forced oscillators, resonance. Wave equation, travelling and standing waves in one dimension. Energy density and energy transmission in waves. Group velocity and phase velocity. Sound waves in media. Doppler Effect. Fermat’s Principle. General theory of image formation. Thick lens, thin lens and lens combinations. Interference of light, optical path retardation. Fraunhofer diffraction. Rayleigh criterion and resolving power. Diffraction gratings. Polarisation: linear, circular and elliptical polarisation. Double refraction and optical rotation.

Electricity and Magnetism

Coulomb’s law, Gauss’s law. Electric field and potential. Electrostatic boundary conditions, Solution of Laplace’s equation for simple cases. Conductors, capacitors, dielectrics, dielectric polarisation, volume and surface charges, electrostatic energy. Biot-Savart law, Ampere’s law, Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction, Self and mutual inductance. Alternating currents. Simple DC and AC circuits with R, L and C components. Displacement current, Maxwell’s equations and plane electromagnetic waves, Poynting’s theorem, reflection and refraction at a dielectric interface, transmission and reflection coefficients (normal incidence only). Lorentz Force and motion of charged particles in electric and magnetic fields

Kinetic Theory, Thermodynamics

Elements of Kinetic theory of gases. Velocity distribution and Equipartition of energy. Specific heat of Mono-, di- and triatomic gases. Ideal gas, van-der-Waals gas and equation of state. Mean free path. Laws of thermodynamics. Zeroth law and concept of thermal equilibrium. First law and its consequences. Isothermal and adiabatic processes. Reversible, irreversible and quasi-static processes. Second law and entropy. Carnot cycle. Maxwell’s thermodynamic relations and simple applications. Thermodynamic potentials and their applications. Phase transitions and Clausius-Clapeyron equation. Ideas of ensembles, MaxwellBoltzmann, Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distributions.

Modern Physics

Inertial frames and Galilean invariance. Postulates of special relativity. Lorentz transformations. Length contraction, time dilation. Relativistic velocity addition theorem, mass energy equivalence. Blackbody radiation, photoelectric effect, Compton effect, Bohr’s atomic model, X-rays. Wave-particle duality, Uncertainty principle, the superposition principle, calculation of expectation values, Schrödinger equation and its solution for one, two and three dimensional boxes. Solution of Schrödinger equation for the one dimensional harmonic oscillator. Reflection and transmission at a PHYSICS PHYSICS (PH) JA M 2024 step potential, Pauli exclusion principle. Structure of atomic nucleus, mass and binding energy. Radioactivity and its applications. Laws of radioactive decay.

Solid State Physics, Devices and Electronics

Crystal structure, Bravais lattices and basis. Miller indices. X-ray diffraction and Bragg's law; Intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors, variation of resistivity with temperature. Fermi level. p-n junction diode, I-V characteristics, Zener diode and its applications, BJT: characteristics in CB, CE, CC modes. Single stage amplifier, two stage R-C coupled amplifiers. Simple Oscillators: Barkhausen condition, sinusoidal oscillators. OPAMP and applications: Inverting and non-inverting amplifier. Boolean algebra: Binary number systems; conversion from one system to another system; binary addition and subtraction. Logic Gates AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR exclusive OR; Truth tables; combination of gates; de Morgan’s theorem.

Subject

Compulsory subjects studied in bachelor’s degree

IIT JAM Physics

Must have studied Physics for at least two years/ four semesters and Mathematics for at least one year/ two semesters

Section

No of Questions

Marks

A

10 MCQs

1 mark each

20 MCQs

2 marks each

B

10 MSQs

2 marks each

C

10 NAT Questions

1 mark each

10 NAT Questions

2 marks each

Sections/Types

Section A

Section B

Section C

Number of Questions

30

10

20

Duration

Three hours

Marks

10 questions - 1 mark

20 questions - 2 marks

2 marks for each question

10 questions - 1 mark

10 questions - 2 marks

Types of Question

Multiple Choice

Multiple choice

No options will be displayed

Negative Marking

1/3rd marks will be deducted for each question carrying 1 mark.

2/3 rd marks will be deducted for each question carrying 2 marks.

No negative marking

No negative marking

Mode of Exam

Online

Online

Online

Total number of Question

60

Total Marks

100

Subject

IIT JAM Physics question paper with answer key link

IIT JAM Physics

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Subject

Year

IIT JAM question paper download link

Physics

2023

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2022

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2021

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2020

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2019

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2018

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2017

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2016

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2015

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Subject

IIT JAM Physics Books

Authors

Physics

Thermodynamics

Zemanski Dittman, Saha Srivastava/ F.W. Sears, and G.L. Salinger

Classical Mechanics

Herbert Goldstein

Classical Mechanics

John. R. Taylor

Molecular and Atomic Physics

Rajkumar/ White

Mathematical Models for Physics and Engineering

Riley, Hobson and Bence