Physics — Textbook & Study Material

Download the official textbook for Physics and see the full chapter list so you know exactly what to cover.

What you will study (chapters)

Chapter 1: Kinematics
Chapter 2: Newton's Laws
Chapter 3: Work, Energy and Power
Chapter 4: Simple Harmonic Motion
Chapter 5: Damped and Driven Oscillations
Chapter 6: Waves and Sound
Chapter 7: Laws of Thermodynamics
Chapter 8: Thermodynamic Processes
Chapter 9: Statistical Mechanics Essentials
Chapter 10: Electrostatics and Capacitance
Chapter 11: Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction
Chapter 12: Maxwell's Equations and Electromagnetic Waves

Frequently asked questions

Is the Physics textbook available for free?

The book linked above is free to download from its source — we link to it rather than hosting a copy, so you always get the current edition. Note that GATE itself does not publish or prescribe a textbook; it publishes the syllabus and past papers, and you should check any book against the current official syllabus.

Is the Physics textbook enough to score well, or do I need extra notes?

No single book covers GATE. Use the official syllabus as your checklist, pick a standard reference per topic, and spend most of your time on past papers and timed practice — the exam rewards problem-solving speed far more than re-reading.

How should I study the Physics textbook chapter by chapter?

Cover the high-weightage chapters first (use the exam pattern as a guide), make a one-page summary per chapter, and immediately solve a few past-paper questions on it. Active recall beats passive re-reading.

How can I prepare for Physics faster?

Begin with the most-frequently-asked topics and the last few years of question papers, then test yourself under timed conditions. If you want guided help, you can use the free AI study tutor for Physics — practise past-paper questions and get instant feedback — or a focused Physics study guide that condenses the syllabus into the topics that matter most — both are free to start.