General Science Mind Map Notes for SSC Exams

General Science in SSC exams has three parts: Physics, Chemistry and Biology, and the questions are mostly factual. This General Science mind map for SSC puts General Science in the centre and ten branches around it: units, motion and force, light and sound, electricity, matter, acids and bases, metals and alloys, the cell, the human body and diseases. Learn one branch a day, and redraw the map at the end of the week.

The Centre: General Science

The SSC General Awareness paper asks about 25 questions from science in some exams. Most of them come from Class 6 to Class 10 NCERT science.

The Mind Map

• 1. SI Units
  • 7 base units: metre (length), kilogram (mass), second (time), ampere (current), kelvin (temperature), mole (amount) and candela (light intensity)
  • Force: newton; work and energy: joule; power: watt; pressure: pascal; frequency: hertz
• 2. Motion and Force
  • Speed = distance / time
  • Newton’s three laws of motion; F = ma
  • The acceleration due to gravity (g) is about 9.8 m/s²
  • Work = force × distance
• 3. Light and Sound
  • The speed of light in vacuum is 3 × 10&sup8; m/s
  • Reflection and refraction; the rainbow is made by dispersion
  • Sound needs a medium and cannot travel in vacuum
  • The speed of sound in air is about 340 m/s
• 4. Electricity
  • Ohm’s law: V = IR
  • Unit of resistance: ohm; current: ampere; potential difference: volt
  • Fuse is connected in series with the circuit
• 5. Matter
  • Three common states: solid, liquid and gas
  • Atomic number = number of protons
  • The modern periodic table has 118 elements in 18 groups and 7 periods
  • Water boils at 100°C and freezes at 0°C
• 6. Acids, Bases and Salts
  • The pH of an acid is less than 7, a neutral solution is 7 and a base is more than 7
  • HCl is present in the stomach
  • Common salt: NaCl; baking soda: NaHCO₃; limestone: CaCO₃
• 7. Metals and Alloys
  • Brass = copper + zinc
  • Bronze = copper + tin
  • Steel = iron + carbon
  • Mercury is the only liquid metal at room temperature
• 8. The Cell and Plants
  • The cell is the basic unit of life; discovered by Robert Hooke in 1665
  • Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell
  • Photosynthesis takes place in chloroplasts: carbon dioxide + water gives glucose + oxygen
• 9. Human Body
  • 206 bones in an adult; the femur is the longest bone and the stapes the smallest
  • The heart has 4 chambers
  • Blood groups A, B, AB and O were discovered by Karl Landsteiner
  • Skin is the largest organ and the liver is the largest gland
  • 46 chromosomes (23 pairs) in a human cell
• 10. Diseases
  • Bacterial: tuberculosis, cholera and typhoid
  • Viral: polio, measles, dengue and COVID-19
  • Protozoan: malaria
  • Fungal: ringworm
  • Deficiency diseases are caused by a lack of vitamins and minerals

How to Use This Map

1. Learn one branch each day.
2. At the end of the week, redraw the whole map from memory.
3. Add the facts that you missed in a different colour.
4. Read the detailed notes on vitamins and the digestive system for more depth.

Quick Tips

• Learn the units and the laws first, because they are asked every year.
• Link the facts with daily life, such as the fuse with the electric circuit.
• Read the NCERT science books of Class 6 to 10 once.
• Revise the map with the detailed notes on vitamins and the human body.

Quick Revision Points

• There are 7 SI base units.
• The speed of light in vacuum is 3 × 10&sup8; m/s.
• The pH of a neutral solution is 7.
• Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell.
• An adult human has 206 bones.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. What is the SI unit of force?
   Answer: Newton
2. What is the speed of light in vacuum?
   Answer: 3 × 10&sup8; m/s
3. What is Ohm’s law?
   Answer: V = IR
4. What is the pH of a neutral solution?
   Answer: 7
5. How many elements are there in the modern periodic table?
   Answer: 118
6. Which is the powerhouse of the cell?
   Answer: Mitochondria
7. How many bones are there in an adult human body?
   Answer: 206
8. How many chambers does the human heart have?
   Answer: 4
9. Which is the largest gland of the human body?
   Answer: Liver
10. What is the chemical formula of common salt?
    Answer: NaCl

How to Practise This Chapter

Draw this mind map yourself on a blank page once, with the centre in the middle and the branches around it, because drawing is the best way to remember. Then test yourself with our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all maps on the MindMaps page and the Formula Guide and Mnemonics pages. For the detailed notes, read Vitamins and Deficiency Diseases and Human Digestive System, and the General Science notes. The previous map is Indian Economy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does General Science in SSC exams include?

It includes Physics, Chemistry and Biology, mostly at the level of Class 6 to Class 10.

How many SI base units are there?

There are 7 SI base units.

What is the SI unit of force?

The newton.

What is the speed of light in vacuum?

It is 3 times 10 to the power 8 metres per second.

What is Ohm’s law?

It says that voltage is equal to current times resistance (V = IR).

What is the pH of an acid?

The pH of an acid is less than 7.

Which is the powerhouse of the cell?

The mitochondria.

How many bones does an adult human have?

An adult human has 206 bones.

Which is the largest organ of the human body?

The skin.

Which is the longest bone in the human body?

The femur.

Is General Science important for SSC exams?

Yes. Science questions are asked in every SSC General Awareness paper.

How should I study General Science?

Read the NCERT books once, learn the facts branch by branch and revise the mind map every week.