SSC Physics Complete One-Time-Read

Guide

1. Units and Dimensions

Key Terms

1.​ Physical Quantity: A property that can be measured (e.g., mass,

length, time).​

2.​ Unit: Standard measure of a physical quantity (e.g., meter, kg,

second).​

3.​ Dimension: Representation of a physical quantity in terms of basic

quantities like mass (M), length (L), and time (T).​

4.​ Fundamental Quantity: Basic quantities that cannot be derived

(Length, Mass, Time, Current, Temperature, Luminous Intensity,
Amount of Substance).​

5.​ Derived Quantity: Quantities derived from fundamental quantities

(e.g., force, energy, pressure).​

Fundamental Quantities

Quantity Unit Symb Dimensi

ol on
Length meter m [L]

Mass kilogra kg [M]

m

Time secon s [T]

d

Electric Current amper A [I]

e

Temperature kelvin K [Θ]

Luminous candel cd [J]

Intensity a

Amount of mole mol [N]

Substance

Derived Quantities

Quantity Formu Uni Dimensio

la t n

Force F = ma N [M L T⁻²]

Pressure P= Pa [M L⁻¹ T⁻²]

F/A

Energy E= J [M L² T⁻²]
F·d

Power P= W [M L² T⁻³]
W/t

Electric Q = It C [I T]
Charge

Voltage V= V [M L² T⁻³
W/Q I⁻¹]
2. Mechanics
2.1 Kinematics

●​ Distance: Total path covered by a body.​

●​ Displacement: Shortest path between initial and final positions.​

●​ Speed: Rate of change of distance (v = d/t).​

●​ Velocity: Rate of change of displacement (v = Δx/Δt).​

●​ Acceleration: Rate of change of velocity (a = Δv/Δt).​

Formulas:

●​ (v = u + at)​

●​ (s = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^2)​

●​ (v^2 = u^2 + 2as)​

2.2 Laws of Motion

●​ 1st Law (Inertia): A body remains at rest or moves uniformly unless

acted by a force.​

●​ 2nd Law: (F = ma) → Force produces acceleration proportional to

mass.​
 ●​ 3rd Law: Action = Reaction → Forces act in equal and opposite
pairs.​

Example: Rocket launch due to fuel expulsion.

2.3 Work, Energy & Power

●​ Work: (W = F d \cos θ)​

●​ Kinetic Energy: (KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2)​

●​ Potential Energy: (PE = mgh)​

●​ Power: (P = W/t = Fv)​

Law: Energy is conserved; can convert between KE and PE.

2.4 Gravitation

●​ Newton’s Law of Gravitation: (F = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2})​

●​ Acceleration due to Gravity: (g = GM/R^2)​

●​ Escape Velocity: (v_e = \sqrt{2GM/R})​

●​ Orbital Velocity: (v = \sqrt{GM/r})​

2.5 Momentum & Collisions

 ●​ Momentum: (p = mv)​

●​ Impulse: (J = FΔt = Δp)​

●​ Law of Conservation of Momentum: Total momentum before

collision = Total momentum after collision​

Types of Collisions: Elastic (KE conserved), Inelastic (KE not conserved)

3. Properties of Matter
●​ Density: (\rho = m/V)​

●​ Pressure: (P = F/A)​

●​ Buoyancy: Upthrust = Weight of displaced fluid​

●​ Elasticity: Ability to regain shape after deformation (Hooke’s Law: F

= kx)​

4. Fluid Mechanics
●​ Continuity Equation: (A_1v_1 = A_2v_2)​

●​ Bernoulli’s Principle: (P + \frac{1}{2}\rho v^2 + \rho g h = constant)​

●​ Surface Tension: Force per unit length on liquid surface​

5. Heat & Thermodynamics
●​ Specific Heat: (Q = mcΔT)​

●​ Latent Heat: (Q = mL)​

●​ Linear Expansion: ΔL = αLΔT​

●​ Volume Expansion: ΔV = 3αVΔT​

●​ Ideal Gas Law: PV = nRT​

●​ First Law: ΔU = Q – W​

6. Oscillations & Waves

●​ SHM: F = -kx​

●​ Period: T = 2π√(m/k)​

●​ Frequency: f = 1/T​

●​ Wave Speed: v = fλ​

●​ Sound Waves: Longitudinal waves, Doppler effect: f’ = f (v ± vo)/(v ∓

vs)​

7. Optics
 ●​ Reflection: Angle of incidence = angle of reflection​

●​ Refraction: Snell’s Law: n = sin i / sin r​

●​ Lens/Mirror Formula: 1/f = 1/v ± 1/u​

●​ Magnification: m = v/u = hi/ho​

●​ Total Internal Reflection: Basis for optical fibers​

8. Electricity & Magnetism

●​ Ohm’s Law: V = IR​

●​ Series Resistance: Rs = R1 + R2 + …​

●​ Parallel Resistance: 1/Rp = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + …​

●​ Coulomb’s Law: F = k q1q2 / r²​

●​ Electric Field: E = F/q​

●​ Electric Potential: V = W/q​

●​ Power: P = VI = I²R = V²/R​

9. Modern Physics
●​ Photon: Particle of light (E = hf)​
 ●​ Photoelectric Effect: Light ejects electrons from metals​

●​ Atomic Models: Rutherford (nucleus), Bohr (quantized orbits)​

●​ Radioactivity: N = N₀ e^(-λt), half-life​

●​ Mass-Energy Equivalence: E = mc²​

10. Important SSC Tips

1.​ Memorize definitions, formulas, units, and dimensions.​

2.​ Focus on numerical problem solving (motion, work-energy,

circuits).​

3.​ Draw diagrams for optics, circuits, and waves.​

4.​ Revise high-yield concepts: mass vs weight, KE vs PE, Ohm’s law.​

5.​ Use daily-life examples to remember concepts quickly.​

✅ This guide is complete, concise, and SSC-focused, covering all topics

with definitions, formulas, units, dimensions, and examples.

I can also make a super-condensed table version with all formulas +

definitions in one page that’s perfect for last-minute revision.

Do you want me to create that one-page cheat sheet?

Absolutely! Let’s go through all important SSC-relevant physics

concepts with clear definitions, explanations, and examples. I’ll
organize them topic-wise so it’s easy to understand and remember. This
will be concept-focused rather than just formulas, so you grasp the
underlying physics.

1. Mechanics
1.1 Motion and Kinematics

●​ Distance vs Displacement:​

○​ Distance: Total path traveled, scalar.​

○​ Displacement: Shortest path between start and end, vector.​

○​ Example: Walk 3 m east, 4 m north → distance = 7 m,

displacement = 5 m.​

●​ Speed vs Velocity:​

○​ Speed: How fast an object moves, scalar. (v = d/t)​

○​ Velocity: Speed with direction, vector. (v = Δx/Δt)​

●​ Acceleration: Change in velocity per unit time.​

○​ Positive → speeding up, Negative (deceleration) → slowing

down.​

●​ Equations of Motion:​

○​ v = u + at​
 ○​ s = ut + ½at²​

○​ v² = u² + 2as​

1.2 Laws of Motion (Newton’s Laws)

●​ 1st Law (Inertia): A body stays at rest or in uniform motion unless a

net force acts.​

○​ Example: Car stops suddenly, passengers lurch forward.​

●​ 2nd Law: Force produces acceleration: (F = ma)​

○​ Example: Pushing a heavier object requires more force.​

●​ 3rd Law: Action = Reaction. Forces always come in pairs.​

○​ Example: Rocket propulsion, jumping off a boat.​

1.3 Work, Energy, and Power

●​ Work: When a force moves an object in the direction of the force. (W

= Fd \cos θ)​

●​ Energy: Ability to do work.​

○​ Kinetic Energy (KE): Energy due to motion (KE = ½ mv²)​

○​ Potential Energy (PE): Energy due to position (PE = mgh)​

 ●​ Power: Rate of doing work (P = W/t)​

●​ Law of Conservation of Energy: Energy cannot be created or

destroyed, only transformed.​

1.4 Gravitation

●​ Newton’s Law: Every mass attracts every other mass (F = G m₁m₂ /

r²)​

●​ Gravity on Earth: g = 9.8 m/s²​

●​ Escape Velocity: Minimum speed to escape gravity (v_e =

\sqrt{2GM/R})​

●​ Orbital Motion: Satellites move due to balance of gravity and inertia.​

1.5 Momentum

●​ Momentum (p): Mass × Velocity​

●​ Impulse: Change in momentum (J = FΔt)​

●​ Conservation of Momentum: Total momentum before collision =

total momentum after collision​

2. Properties of Matter
 ●​ Density: Mass per unit volume (\rho = m/V)​

●​ Pressure: Force per unit area (P = F/A)​

●​ Elasticity: Ability to regain shape after deformation (Hooke’s Law: F

= kx)​

●​ Buoyancy: Upthrust on a body in fluid equals weight of fluid

displaced (Archimedes’ Principle)​

3. Fluid Mechanics
●​ Continuity Equation: Flow rate constant (A₁v₁ = A₂v₂)​

●​ Bernoulli’s Principle: Total energy per unit volume is constant along

streamline. Explains lift in airplanes.​

●​ Viscosity: Resistance of fluid to flow.​

●​ Surface Tension: Force along liquid surface, causes drops to form.​

4. Heat & Thermodynamics

●​ Temperature: Measure of average kinetic energy of particles.​

●​ Heat: Energy transfer due to temperature difference.​

 ●​ Specific Heat: Heat needed to raise 1 kg of substance by 1 K (Q =
mcΔT)​

●​ Latent Heat: Heat required for phase change without temperature

change (Q = mL)​

●​ Thermal Expansion: Objects expand with heat (Linear: ΔL = αLΔT)​

●​ First Law of Thermodynamics: ΔU = Q – W (Energy conservation

in heat processes)​

●​ Ideal Gas Law: PV = nRT​

5. Waves & Oscillations

●​ Wave: Disturbance transferring energy without mass transfer.​

●​ Transverse Wave: Particle moves perpendicular to wave (light

wave).​

●​ Longitudinal Wave: Particle moves parallel to wave (sound wave).​

●​ Sound Waves: Longitudinal, need medium, speed depends on

medium.​

●​ Doppler Effect: Change in frequency due to relative motion.​

●​ Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM): Motion where restoring force ∝

displacement (F = -kx)​
6. Optics
●​ Reflection: Bouncing of light; angle of incidence = angle of reflection.​

●​ Refraction: Bending of light due to change of medium (Snell’s law: n

= sin i / sin r).​

●​ Total Internal Reflection: Light completely reflected inside medium

(used in optical fibers).​

●​ Lenses and Mirrors: Converging/diverging light; lens/mirror formula:

1/f = 1/v - 1/u​

●​ Magnification: m = v/u = hi/ho​

7. Electricity & Magnetism

●​ Current (I): Flow of charge per unit time (I = Q/t)​

●​ Voltage (V): Work done per unit charge (V = W/Q)​

●​ Ohm’s Law: V = IR​

●​ Resistance: Opposition to current, depends on material, length,

area.​

●​ Series vs Parallel Circuits:​

○​ Series: Rs = R1 + R2 + …​
 ○​ Parallel: 1/Rp = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + …​

●​ Power: P = VI = I²R = V²/R​

●​ Coulomb’s Law: F = k q₁q₂ / r²​

●​ Magnetism: Moving charges create magnetic field; Lorentz force F =

q(v × B)​

8. Modern Physics
●​ Photon: Particle of light, energy E = hf​

●​ Photoelectric Effect: Light can eject electrons from metals​

●​ Atomic Models:​

○​ Rutherford → Nucleus at center​

○​ Bohr → Quantized electron orbits​

●​ Radioactivity: Spontaneous decay of nuclei, half-life: N = N₀ e^(-λt)​

●​ Mass-Energy Equivalence: E = mc²​

9. Important Concepts for SSC Exams

 ●​ Mass vs Weight: Mass is constant; weight = mg​

●​ Scalar vs Vector: Scalar has magnitude; vector has magnitude +

direction​

●​ Work & Energy: Work = Force × displacement; KE & PE​

●​ Gravitational Concepts: Escape velocity, orbital motion​

●​ Heat & Temperature: Thermal expansion, latent heat, first law of

thermodynamics​

●​ Waves & Sound: SHM, frequency, wavelength, speed of sound​

●​ Electricity & Circuits: Ohm’s law, series/parallel, power formulas​

●​ Modern Physics: Photon, photoelectric effect, nuclear decay​

Absolutely! Here’s a complete SSC-focused list of important scientists,

their discoveries/inventions, and key values/constants. This is
designed for one-time reading and quick memorization.

1. Important Scientists and Their

Contributions
Scientist Contribution / Notes / SSC Relevance
Invention
Isaac Newton Laws of Motion, Formulas F = ma, g = GM/R²,
Universal Gravitation Calculus

Galileo Galilei Law of Falling Bodies, Inertia concept, inclined plane

Telescopic observations experiments

Albert Einstein Theory of Relativity, E = Photoelectric effect,

mc² Mass-Energy equivalence

James Clerk Electromagnetic Light = EM wave, unification

Maxwell Theory, Maxwell’s of electricity & magnetism
Equations

Michael Electromagnetic Basis for generators,

Faraday Induction, Faraday’s transformers
Laws

Thomas Electric bulb, Practical electricity

Edison Phonograph applications

Nikola Tesla AC current, Tesla coil Alternating current, electrical

engineering

Marie Curie Radioactivity, Discovery First woman Nobel laureate,

of Polonium & Radium nuclear physics
Ernest Nuclear Model of Atom, Gold foil experiment, concept
Rutherford Alpha & Beta particles of nucleus

Niels Bohr Bohr Model of Atom Quantized electron orbits

C.V. Raman Raman Effect Light scattering, Nobel Prize

in Physics

Guglielmo Wireless telegraphy Radio communication

Marconi

Archimedes Law of Buoyancy, Principle of flotation, levers

Screw Pump

James Watt Steam Engine Industrial revolution,

Improvement mechanical work

Benjamin Electricity experiments Concept of positive/negative

Franklin charge, lightning rod

André-Marie Electrodynamics Unit of current (Ampere

Ampère named after him)

Georges Big Bang Theory Modern cosmology

Lemaître
Robert Millikan Oil Drop Experiment Charge of electron (e = 1.602
× 10⁻¹⁹ C)

2. Important Physical Constants / Values

for SSC
Constant Symb Value Notes
ol

Speed of Light c 3 × 10⁸ m/s Vacuum

Gravitational G 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ Universal gravitation

Constant N·m²/kg²

Acceleration due to g 9.8 m/s² Near Earth’s surface

gravity

Planck’s constant h 6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s Quantum physics

Elementary charge e 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ C Electron/proton charge

Mass of electron me 9.11 × 10⁻³¹ kg Particle physics

Mass of proton mp 1.672 × 10⁻²⁷ kg Particle physics

Mass of neutron mn 1.675 × 10⁻²⁷ kg Particle physics

Coulomb’s constant k 9 × 10⁹ N·m²/C² Electrostatics

Permittivity of free ε₀ 8.854 × 10⁻¹² Electrostatics

space F/m

Permeability of free μ₀ 4π × 10⁻⁷ H/m Magnetism

space

Stefan-Boltzmann σ 5.67 × 10⁻⁸ Radiation &

constant W/m²K⁴ thermodynamics

Boltzmann constant kB 1.38 × 10⁻²³ J/K Thermodynamics

Avogadro’s number NA 6.022 × 10²³ Chemistry / Physics

/mol

Gas constant R 8.314 J/mol·K Ideal gas law

Electron volt 1 eV 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ J Energy unit in atomic

physics
3. Important Units Named After Scientists
Unit Symbol Scientist What it
Measures

Ampere A André-Marie Ampère Electric current

Coulomb C Charles-Augustin de Electric charge

Coulomb

Volt V Alessandro Volta Electric potential

Ohm Ω Georg Ohm Resistance

Tesla T Nikola Tesla Magnetic flux

density

Watt W James Watt Power

Joule J James Prescott Joule Energy

Kelvin K Lord Kelvin Temperature

Newton N Isaac Newton Force

Farad F Michael Faraday Capacitance

Hertz Hz Heinrich Hertz Frequency

Electronv eV Electron charge Energy at atomic

olt scale

Absolutely! Here’s a complete SSC-focused list of all important units

with definitions, symbols, what they measure, and their scientists (if named
after someone). This covers both fundamental and derived units.

1. Fundamental (Base) Units

Physical Unit Symbol Definition / Measure
Quantity
Length meter m Distance traveled by light in vacuum in
1/299,792,458 s

Mass kilogra kg Mass of the international prototype of

m the kilogram

Time secon s Duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of

d radiation of Cs-133 atom

Electric amper A Flow of 1 coulomb of charge per

Current e second

Temperature kelvin K 1/273.16 of thermodynamic

temperature of triple point of water

Luminous candel cd Luminous intensity in a given direction

Intensity a of a source emitting monochromatic
light

Amount of mole mol Contains 6.022 × 10²³ entities

Substance (Avogadro’s number)
2. Derived Units
Physical Quantity Unit Symbol Formula / Definition

Force newton N F = ma → kg·m/s²

Pressure / Stress pascal Pa P = F/A → N/m²

Energy / Work joule J W = F·d → N·m

Power watt W P = W/t → J/s

Electric Charge coulomb C Q = I·t → A·s

Electric Potential / volt V V = W/Q → J/C

Voltage

Electric Resistance ohm Ω R = V/I → V/A

Capacitance farad F C = Q/V → C/V

Magnetic Flux weber Wb Wb = V·s

Magnetic Flux tesla T T = Wb/m²
Density

Inductance henry H H = Wb/A

Frequency hertz Hz f = 1/T → cycles/s

Illuminance lux lx 1 lumen/m²

Luminous Flux lumen lm Light emitted per unit

solid angle

Radioactivity becquerel Bq 1 decay per second

Energy (atomic) electronv eV 1 eV = 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ J

olt

3. Units Named After Scientists

Unit Symbol Scientist Physical Quantity

Newton N Isaac Newton Force

Joule J James Prescott Joule Energy / Work

Watt W James Watt Power

Coulomb C Charles-Augustin de Electric Charge

Coulomb

Ampere A André-Marie Ampère Electric Current

Ohm Ω Georg Ohm Resistance

Volt V Alessandro Volta Electric Potential

Farad F Michael Faraday Capacitance

Tesla T Nikola Tesla Magnetic Flux

Density

Henry H Joseph Henry Inductance

Hertz Hz Heinrich Hertz Frequency

Kelvin K Lord Kelvin Temperature

Electronvolt eV – Energy at atomic
scale