SRMJEEE key terms

The SI base unit for amount of substance, defined as exactly 6.02214076 × 10^23 elementary entities. It links particle counts to measurable masses through molar mass in chemistry calculations.

The mass in grams of one mole of a substance, numerically equal to its formula mass in atomic mass units. Used to convert between mass and moles in stoichiometric problems.

The number of constituent particles in one mole, fixed at 6.02214076 × 10^23 per mole. It bridges the microscopic particle scale with macroscopic laboratory quantities.

The quantitative relationship between reactants and products in a balanced chemical equation. Coefficients give mole ratios used to predict limiting reagents, product yields, and gas or solution volumes.

The reactant that is completely consumed first and therefore caps the maximum amount of product formed. Determined by comparing each reactant's available moles with its stoichiometric coefficient.

A rule stating that a system at equilibrium shifts to partially offset any imposed change in concentration, pressure, or temperature. It predicts the direction of net reaction after disturbance.

A ratio of product to reactant activities (or concentrations) at equilibrium, constant at a fixed temperature. Its magnitude indicates whether products or reactants dominate at equilibrium.

The negative base-10 logarithm of hydrogen ion concentration in a solution. It quantifies acidity on a roughly 0 to 14 scale and is central to acid-base and buffer calculations.

A solution of a weak acid and its conjugate base (or weak base and conjugate acid) that resists pH change on adding small amounts of acid or base. Its capacity depends on component concentrations.

The minimum energy colliding molecules must possess for a reaction to proceed. It sets the temperature dependence of rate and is lowered by catalysts.

A substance that increases reaction rate by providing an alternative pathway with lower activation energy, without being consumed overall. It does not alter the position of equilibrium.

The net force on a body equals its mass times acceleration (F = ma). It governs dynamics problems involving forces, motion, and connected bodies.

In an isolated system with no net external force, total momentum remains constant. Used to analyze collisions and explosions in one and two dimensions.

A collision in which both total momentum and total kinetic energy are conserved. In one dimension, relative approach speed equals relative separation speed after impact.

A contact force opposing relative motion or the tendency toward it between surfaces. Static friction has a maximum value proportional to normal force; kinetic friction is roughly constant.

Oscillation in which restoring force is proportional to displacement and directed toward equilibrium. Displacement follows a sinusoidal function with fixed angular frequency independent of amplitude.

A condition in which a driven system oscillates with large amplitude because the driving frequency matches a natural frequency. It appears in mechanical, acoustic, and electrical oscillators.

The induced electromotive force in a circuit equals the negative rate of change of magnetic flux through it. It underlies generators, transformers, and inductance calculations.

An induced current flows in a direction that opposes the change in magnetic flux producing it. This follows from energy conservation and gives the negative sign in Faraday's law.

The force per unit positive charge at a point in space, a vector quantity measured in volts per metre. Field lines point from positive to negative charge.

The work done per unit positive charge in bringing a charge from infinity to a point, measured in volts. It is a scalar, unlike the electric field vector.

The principle that matter and radiation exhibit both wave and particle behaviour depending on the experiment. Electron diffraction and the photoelectric effect are classic demonstrations.

Emission of electrons from a metal surface when light above a threshold frequency strikes it. It shows light delivers energy in discrete quanta proportional to frequency.

The minimum energy needed to remove an electron from a solid surface. In the photoelectric equation it equals incident photon energy minus maximum kinetic energy of emitted electrons.

The wavelength associated with a moving particle, equal to Planck's constant divided by momentum. It explains quantized electron orbits and electron diffraction.

The value a function approaches as its input approaches a specified point. Limits define continuity, derivatives, and integrals, and are evaluated by substitution, factoring, or standard forms.

The instantaneous rate of change of a function with respect to a variable, defined as a limit of difference quotients. It gives slope of the tangent and is used for maxima, minima, and rates.

The limit of a sum of function values times interval widths, representing signed area under a curve between two limits. Evaluated using antiderivatives via the fundamental theorem of calculus.

A property of a function whose value at a point equals its limit there, with the limit existing. Continuous functions on closed intervals attain maximum and minimum values.

A scalar computed from a square matrix that indicates whether the matrix is invertible and scales volumes under the associated linear transformation. It is zero exactly for singular matrices.

A matrix that, multiplied by the original square matrix, yields the identity matrix. It exists only when the determinant is nonzero and solves linear systems as x = A⁻¹b.

An ordered arrangement of a set of objects, counted by n! when all n are used or by nPr when choosing r. Order matters, unlike combinations.

A selection of objects in which order does not matter, counted by nCr = n! / (r!(n−r)!). It appears in binomial expansion coefficients and probability counting problems.

A number of the form a + bi where i² = −1, with real part a and imaginary part b. Represented as a point or vector in the Argand plane with modulus and argument.

A curve obtained by intersecting a cone with a plane: circle, ellipse, parabola, or hyperbola. Each has a standard equation characterized by eccentricity and focus-directrix properties.

A membrane-bound or non-membrane structure inside a eukaryotic cell performing a specialized function, such as mitochondria for respiration or ribosomes for protein synthesis. Structure relates directly to function.

The light-driven process in chloroplasts converting carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. Light reactions generate ATP and NADPH, which the Calvin cycle uses to fix carbon.

A protein (occasionally RNA) catalyst that speeds biochemical reactions by lowering activation energy at an active site. Activity depends on temperature, pH, and substrate concentration.