Strategy for IAS Examination with PHYSICS as an optional Best Optional in Science/Engineering Group

Strategy for IAS Examination with PHYSICS as an optional
Best Optional in Science/Engineering Group

By D P Vajpeyi

Civil Services examination these days have become one of the toughest nuts to crack. Looking at the level of competition involved in this exam., one can sail through this ‘hurdle race’ in flying colours only by proper planning, hard work, perseverance and patience. Proper planning is must for getting good ranks in this exam. And first step in proper planning is right selection of optionals. In my opinion, optionals should be chosen on the basis of one’s interest in that subject, scoring pattern of that subject in previous few years, availability of study material and expert guidance.
First optional should be generally the subject studied during graduation/Post graduation. (There is no hard and fast rule in this regard, but my advice to the aspirants is that choosing “parent subject” as first optional proves beneficial, until and unless there are some very genuine points against that subject). And second optional should be chosen by applying the above mentioned four point criterion of interest, scoring pattern, availability of study material and expert guidance. On the basis of above criterion of choosing optionals Physics stands tallest amongst the Science/Eng. stream optionals. Reasons in its favour are:

1. Its well defined and well structured syllabus. It is least among all science/Engineering. Subjects.
2. Its scoring nature. Every year lot many Physics candidates make it to “Top-10”
3. Easy availability of study material.
4. Its reliable nature. If it has been prepared well one can easily score up to 60-75% of marks i.e. between 360-450 marks.
5. Highest success Rate of 12% among popular optionals

In spite of all above-mentioned factors, few people are creating an environment that these days Physics is not very scoring. You have to put lot of efforts to score “well” in this subject. So on and so forth. My answer to all these is that only those candidates do not score well in this subject who either leave many portions of the syllabus, do not give to-the-point answers or do not practice right way of answering the questions. A to Z of the present syllabus can be studied within 200 hours of study (this is the time, I take in Completing the whole course). Hence allegation of requirement of lot of time is not all that correct. Successful candidates every year score 400+ Marks in this subject. Therefore Science and Engineering Background candidates can safely opt for physics as their first or second optional.
PHYSICS AS AN OPTIONAL IN MAINS

Now let me discuss the nature of Physics question papers in Mains examination. Like any other optional, Physics too have two papers of 300 marks each. Each paper being divided into two sections of 4 questions each. And out of these 8 questions, one has to attempt only 5. First question of both sections being compulsory, meaning there by that one has to choose remaining 3 questions out of 6. (Good 50% choice). All questions typically have 3 bits each barring compulsory questions, where out of 4 bits one has to attempt only 3: This is the format of the question papers. Now let’s come to topic wise emphasis in both the papers.
Paper I comprises of (i) Mechanics (ii) Waves and Optics and (iii) Electricity & Magnetism and (iv) Thermal and statistical physics. Two full questions are normally expected from all the four sections. Bunching (Mixing) of questions is also possible. Therefore all the sections must be prepared. Each bit is of 20 marks and should be answered within 12 minutes.
Mechanics have four well defined topics: Particle dynamics, Rigid body dynamics, Mechanics of continuous media and special relativity. Two bits are expected from each topic. Hence you should not leave any topic. This course can be well prepared from text books of Mechanics by D S Mathur/ Kleppner and Kolenkov . From Special Relativity, at the most two bits may be asked. Hence all old topics like Lorentz transforms, Length contraction, time dilation, velocity addition, Mass-Energy equivalence are important.
In Waves, damped and forced oscillations, phase and group velocity should be given due importance. This portion can be prepared from any book because all topics are very common and given in all text books.
In Geometrical optics, Fermat’s principle and matrix method should be prepared well. Geometrical optics along with Physical optics can be prepared from book on optics by Prof. Ajay Ghatak. Physical optics also has three well defined topics providing one bit each. In interference, division of amplitude class should be prepared well, in diffraction topic of Cornu’s spiral should not be omitted and in modern optics, optical fibres, spatial and temporal coherence and lasers be given due weightage.
Electricity & Magnetism has two well defined topics of electrostatics/ magntostatics and current electricity. This course along with EM theory have been very straight forward and quite scoring. This course can be very well prepared from the books by David Griffiths/ Satya Prakash. Thermal and statistical Physics can be prepared from textbook by Garg, Bansal and Ghosh/ Satya Prakash.
Second paper of physics can be very well covered in 80-90 hours and therefore, if prepared well, can fetch rich dividends. Section A of paper II consists of Quantum mechanics and Spectroscopy, while section “B” has Nuclear & Particle Physics and Electronics & Solid state physics.
Whole of the second paper excluding electronics can be prepared from quantum physics by Resnick and Eisberg/ Modern Physics by Arthur Beiser. Above books can be supplemented by Quantum mechanics by H. C Verma, Spectroscopy by Rajkumar, and Nuclear physics by D C Tayal. Electronics can be prepared from text book by Allan Mottershed/ B. L. Thareja Vol. 4 and for solid state Physics, text book by Kittel is of immense help.
In Nuclear physics, semi-empirical mass formula, deuteron problem, Shell model of nucleus and theory of b-decay should be prepared well.
With the latest revision of syllabus, in paper 1, syllabus of Mechanics has been enhanced and questions are also expected from the topics like relationship between
Y, K and / Poiseuelle formula. Therefore due importance should be given to them. Among the courses of Paper II, electronics has maximum syllabus. Therefore non-electronics background candidates should make some extra efforts to master this part of syllabus or may also omit it.
This was all about different courses and their probable sources now I’ll give few general tips:

* My first advice is that one should not skip any portion of the syllabus. Thorough study is a must to get 400+marks at the most; one course could be omitted from both the papers. Although I do not recommend it.
* Analyse the examination papers of previous few years. You’ll know yourself where the focus is.
* Take practice tests and get them evaluated by a teacher and see yourself, what improvements can be made.
* While taking the exams, read the questions correctly. Your reply should be to the point, beating about the bush only wastes your time and doesn’t fetch you any extra mark. Units and terms used in formulas should be clearly explained.
* Do not give the derivation if it has not been asked. I’ll elaborate on this point, with the help of a problem asked in 2002’s exam. “Using rocket equation and its integral find the final velocity of a single stage rocket. Data for velocity of escaping gases is given”. In this problem, you may start from rocket equation, clearly explaining all the terms and then you may integrate it and obtain desired quantities. Here there is no need to derive rocket equation. Apart from wasting your valuable time it does not fetch you any extra credit hence this type of “extras” should be avoided.
* Finally one must stay ‘cool’ during the examination. Do not get panicky, even if you do not know few things.

Mr. D P VAJPEYI, B. Tech (IIT Bombay, M. Phil JNU) is the most popular teacher in Physics for Civil Services examination in India.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Paper I


* Mechanics : D S Mathur/ B S Agrawal/ Kleppner & Kolenkov
* Waves/Special Relativity : R. Resnick / Gupta & Goyal
* Optics : Ajay Ghatak / B S Agrwal
* Electrodynamics & EM Theory : David Griffiths / Chopra & Agrwal/ Satya Prakash
* Thermal & Statistical Physics : Garg, Bansal and Ghosh/ Satya Prakash.

Paper II

* Quantum Physics : Resnick & Eisberg
* Concepts of Modern Physics : Arthur Beiser
* Quantum Mechanics : H C Verma /Satya Prakash
* Atomic & Molecular Spectra : Raj Kumar
* Nuclear Physics : D C Tayal
* Solid State Physics : Kittel
* Electronics : B L Thareja Vol. IV