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Previous year question analysis


Updated Chapter-wise Mapping (with NEW Questions Included)

📘 1. Coulomb’s Law

  • [Old Q1 (b)]: Compare Coulomb’s Law with Biot–Savart Law.
  • [New Q1 (b)]: Define and explain Biot–Savart Law. Determine electric field intensity of an infinite straight line charge.

⚡ 2. The Electric Field

  • [New Q1 (a)]: Define the terms electric intensity (E).
  • [Old Q7 (i)]: Short note: Electric field and electric flux.
    • 161 Term Q1(b): Define electric dipole; field at point P.
  • 171 Term Q1(a): Define electric field and electric field intensity.

3. Gauss’s Law

  • [Old Q7 (i)]: Short note: Electric flux (part of Gauss's Law topic).
  • 161 Term Q1(a): State Gauss’s law. Deduce Coulomb’s law from Gauss’s law.
  • 161 Term Q1(c): Force comparison between proton and electron.
  • 171 Term Q1(b): State and explain Gauss’s law. Deduce Coulomb’s law.
  • 171 Term Q1(c): Define electric dipole and dipole moment.
    • Covered in:
  • 161 Term Q1(a)
  • 171 Term Q1(b)
    (Overlap with Coulomb's Law)

🧲 4. The Magnetic Field

  • [Old Q1 (a)]: State and explain Ampere’s Law.
  • [Old Q1 (c)]: Magnetic field from straight wire.
  • [Old Q2 (a)]: Faraday’s Law of induction.
  • [Old Q3 (c)]: Magnetic field inside solenoid.
  • [New Q1 (d)]: Difference between electrical and magnetic circuit.
  • [New Q6 (b)]: A coil connected to AC—calculate power factor.
  • [New Q6 (c)]: Define magnetic and physical lengths of a magnetic bar.

🧲 5. Magnetic Properties of Matter

  • [Old Q2 (b)]: Para vs. ferro magnetic materials.
  • [Old Q7 (ii)]: Magnetic susceptibility.
  • 161 Term Q6(b): Dissimilarity between magnetic and electric circuits.
  • 171 Term Q6(c): Dissimilarities between electric and magnetic circuits.

🧮 6. Circuit Principles

  • [Old Q4–6]: Thevenin, Norton, Superposition, MPT, KVL.
  • [Old Q7]: Multiloop, voltage divider.
  • [New Q1 (e)]: Ohm’s Law, application and statement.
  • [New Q1 (f)]: Voltage drop and supply conventions.
  • [New Q1 (g)]: Apply KVL to given circuit.
  • [New Q2 (a)]: Define and explain the short circuit and open circuit concepts in DC.
  • [New Q2 (b)]: Difference between electrical circuit and network; define Thevenin source.
  • [New Q2 (c)]: Solve for R₁ and R₂ using series-parallel and load data.
  • [New Q3 (b)]: Use Superposition Theorem to find voltage in a circuit.
  • 161 Term Q2(a): Electric circuit and parameter classification.
  • 161 Term Q2(b): Series vs. parallel circuit difference.
  • 161 Term Q2(c): Current calculation from resistor network.
  • 161 Term Q3(a): Kirchhoff’s Laws.
  • 161 Term Q3(b): Voltage vs. current divider.
  • 161 Term Q3(c): KCL to find current.
  • 161 Term Q4(a): Thevenin’s theorem and source.
  • 161 Term Q4(b): Prove max power transfer.
  • 161 Term Q4(c): Find \(R_L\) and max power from circuit.
  • 161 Term Q5(a): Superposition theorem.
  • 161 Term Q5(b): Apply superposition to 6Ω resistor.
  • 171 Term Q2(a): Define short/open and explain in DC parallel.
  • 171 Term Q2(b): Conditions for series/parallel connection.
  • 171 Term Q2(c): Calculate \(V_1\), \(V_2\).
  • 171 Term Q3(a): KVL, KCL, sign of voltage drop.
  • 171 Term Q3(b): Voltage vs. current divider.
  • 171 Term Q3(c): Apply KCL & Ohm’s law to find voltage.
  • 171 Term Q4(a): Thevenin’s theorem.
  • 171 Term Q4(b): Node and mesh definition.
  • 171 Term Q4(c): Find \(R_L\) for max power, calculate max power.

🎯 9. Resonance and AC Circuit Analysis

  • 161 Term Q7(a): Define resonance, find resonant frequency.
  • 161 Term Q7(b): Resonance curve and bandwidth.
  • 161 Term Q7(c): Q-factor, bandwidth, half-power freq.
  • 161 Term Q7(d): Vector diagram across \(V_c\) and I.
  • 171 Term Q6(a): Bandwidth and Q-factor relation.
  • 171 Term Q6(b): Resonance condition, calculate resonance freq.
  • 171 Term Q7(a): Compare AC series vs parallel RLC.
  • 171 Term Q7(b): Impedance parallel combination, find current.

🔁 7. AC Fundamentals

  • [Old Q6]: Power types, RMS derivation, instantaneous value.
  • [Old Q7 (iii)]: Impedance and admittance.
  • [New Q5 (a)]: Define RMS current and derive \(I_{rms} = 0.707 I_m\).
  • [New Q5 (b)]: Draw sinusoidal waveform, show amplitude, time period, etc.
  • [New Q5 (c)]: Given time when current wave reaches 1/400 sec, find frequency.
  • [New Q6 (a)]: Define and prove Q-factor of a coil in RLC series circuit.
  • [New Q7 (a)]: Define bandwidth and resonance condition in RLC circuit.
  • [New Q7 (b)]: Two complex impedances connected—calculate current.
    • 161 Term Q6(a): Compare DC and AC circuits.
  • 161 Term Q6(c): Prove \(I_{rms} = 1.11 I_{avg}\) and \(I_{avg} = 0.637 I_m\)
  • 161 Term Q6(d): RMS, frequency, average from \(I = 141.4 \sin(628t)\)
  • 171 Term Q5(a): Sinusoidal waveform labeling.
  • 171 Term Q5(b): Average value of waveform.
  • 171 Term Q5(c): Impedance triangle, find impedance & phase.

❌ Outside Syllabus (Electronics)

  • [Old Q6 (d)]: P–N junction diode.
  • [Old Q7 (v, vi)]: Transistor biasing and CB amplifier.

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Top High-Weight Chapters (Must Prepare Thoroughly)

📘 Chapter 🔢 No. of Questions 🎯 Why It’s Important
Circuit Principles 10+ Most repeated + Theorems (KVL, KCL, Thevenin, Superposition) and problem solving always appear
AC Fundamentals 7 RMS/Avg values, waveforms, derivations, and formulas — very common numericals
Resonance & RLC 6 High Q-factor, bandwidth, and resonance problems — appears in theory and numerics
Coulomb’s Law 4 Gauss’s → Coulomb derivation and field comparisons repeat often
Electric Field 3 Dipole, field strength, definitions — conceptual but seen frequently
Magnetic Field 6 Increasing trend — Ampere, Faraday, solenoid, power factor, etc.

⚠️ Moderate Priority Chapters

📘 Chapter 🔢 Questions 📝 Note
Gauss’s Law 2 Usually paired with Coulomb’s Law
Magnetic Properties 2 Often theoretical, can appear in 1–2 sets
Electric Potential 0 (Indirect) No direct Qs found so far

Low/Out-of-Syllabus (Skip unless sure)

📘 Topic ⛔ Status
P–N junction, transistor ❌ Out of scope
Amplifier/biasing circuits ❌ Skip

🔥 Final Suggestion — If You’re Short on Time:

  1. First Focus (compulsory)

  2. Circuit Theorems (KVL, KCL, Thevenin, Superposition)

  3. AC waveform + RMS/avg derivation
  4. Resonance: formulas, Q, bandwidth

  5. Then Practice

  6. Coulomb + Electric field + Gauss

  7. Solenoid, magnetic length, Faraday

  8. Leave for Last or Skip

  9. Electronics stuff

  10. Too rare/similar theory (already covered elsewhere)

Would you like a chapter-wise study priority checklist or a 7-set exam strategy plan based on this?

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