Tamil Nadu HSE First Year Physics study plan

Define and distinguish heat, temperature, internal energy, and work, stating the sign conventions used in the first law of thermodynamics.

State and apply the first law of thermodynamics to isothermal, adiabatic, isobaric, and isochoric processes, computing work done and heat exchanged in each case.

Derive and use the expressions for efficiency of a Carnot engine and coefficient of performance of a refrigerator, and state the second law in Kelvin-Planck and Clausius forms.

Relate the postulates of kinetic theory to pressure and mean kinetic energy of a gas, and compute rms, average, and most probable speeds at a given temperature.

Solve numerical problems combining molar specific heats, the relation Cp - Cv = R, and degrees of freedom for monatomic and diatomic gases.

Write the equations for displacement, velocity, and acceleration in simple harmonic motion and identify amplitude, angular frequency, phase, and epoch from a given equation.

Derive the time period of a simple pendulum, a loaded spring, and a torsional pendulum, and compute how the period changes when mass or length is altered.

Distinguish free, damped, and forced oscillations, and state the condition for resonance with one real-world example.

Apply the superposition principle to standing waves on stretched strings and in closed and open pipes, and compute fundamental and harmonic frequencies.

Solve kinematics problems using equations of motion, relative velocity, and projectile motion with horizontal and oblique projection.

Define centre of mass and compute its position for two-particle and simple rigid-body systems, and state the conditions for translational and rotational equilibrium.

Derive and apply the moment of inertia for a rod, ring, disc, and sphere about standard axes, and use the parallel and perpendicular axis theorems.

State and apply Newton's three laws of motion, and analyse connected bodies over pulleys and on inclines including friction.

Distinguish static, kinetic, and rolling friction, and compute the angle of repose and the minimum force needed to move a block.

Apply conservation of angular momentum to problems such as a dancer changing posture or a planet at perihelion and aphelion.

State and apply the work-energy theorem to constant and variable forces, and compute work done from a force-displacement graph.

Distinguish conservative and non-conservative forces, and compute potential energy for gravitational and spring systems.

Apply conservation of mechanical energy to falling bodies, pendulums, and spring-mass systems, and solve collision problems using conservation of momentum and energy.

State Newton's law of gravitation and derive expressions for orbital velocity, escape velocity, and the time period of a satellite.

Interpret Kepler's three laws and compute variations in gravitational field strength and potential with altitude and depth.

Distinguish elastic and plastic behaviour, and define stress, strain, Young's modulus, bulk modulus, and rigidity modulus with their units.

Interpret a stress-strain curve, identifying proportional limit, elastic limit, yield point, and breaking point, and compute strain energy and Poisson's ratio.

Explain surface tension and surface energy, and solve problems on capillary rise, excess pressure in drops and bubbles, and angle of contact.

Explain viscosity and Stokes' law, derive terminal velocity, and apply Bernoulli's theorem to simple flow problems.

Apply dimensional analysis to check equations and derive relations, and use vernier callipers, screw gauge, and travelling microscope concepts to compute least count and zero error.

Describe the procedure, formula, and precautions for five core experiments: vernier callipers, screw gauge, simple pendulum, metre bridge, and Young's modulus.

Compute least count, zero error, and percentage error for vernier callipers and screw gauge from given readings, and apply the correct significant figures.

Explain the principle behind the metre bridge, potentiometer, and Ohm's law verification, and identify common sources of systematic error in each.

Plan and tabulate readings for an experiment, including the number of trials and the method of plotting a graph to obtain the result.

State safety and instrument-handling rules for the laboratory, and describe how to record observations to the correct precision.

Re-derive the five hardest results from memory: Carnot efficiency, Cp - Cv = R, SHM period of a pendulum, moment of inertia of a disc, and Kepler's third law.

Solve 15 mixed numericals drawn from thermodynamics, oscillations, and rotational motion under timed conditions of 90 seconds each.

Explain the physical meaning of each term in the thermodynamic and rotational equations, and identify which quantity is held constant in each process.

Correct every error from week 4 and week 1 review sheets and re-solve those items without notes.

Summarise the assumptions behind kinetic theory and the ideal gas equation, and state where each assumption fails.

Run three full-length timed papers of 3 hours each, simulating exam conditions with no notes.

Review every wrong answer and classify each error as conceptual, calculation, or misreading, then re-solve the item.

Recite from memory all key formulas and constants for measurement, kinematics, laws of motion, work-energy, gravitation, properties of matter, and kinetic theory.

Practise unit conversions, dimensional checks, and significant-figure rules on 20 rapid-fire items.

Build a final one-page revision card of the ten most error-prone facts and check it daily.