Mnemonics for Science and Geography Notes for SSC Exams

Science and Geography have many ordered lists: the colours of light, the planets, the elements and the layers of the atmosphere. These mnemonics for Science and Geography for SSC give easy tricks for each list. Use them to remember the order, then read the notes for the facts.

Physics and Astronomy

Chemistry

Biology

Geography

Examples of Using a Trick

Example 1. Which is the fifth planet from the Sun?
In "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos" the fifth word is Just, which is Jupiter.

Example 2. Which is the fourth element of the periodic table?
In "Happy Henry Likes Beer ..." the fourth word is Beer, which is Beryllium (Be).

Example 3. Which layer of the atmosphere is the closest to the ground?
The first word in "Tiny Strong Mice Tear Eggs" is Tiny, which is the Troposphere.

Quick Tips

• Build the trick in your own language if the English sentence does not stick.
• Draw the planets and the layers while you say the trick.
• Use the trick for the order, and learn the facts from the notes.
• Revise each trick after 1 day, 3 days and 7 days.

Quick Revision Points

• VIBGYOR has 7 colours.
• The third planet is Earth and the fifth is Jupiter.
• ADEK are the fat-soluble vitamins.
• In DNA, A pairs with T and C pairs with G.
• The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. Which colour comes last in VIBGYOR?
   Answer: Red
2. Which is the third planet from the Sun?
   Answer: Earth
3. Which is the fifth planet from the Sun?
   Answer: Jupiter
4. Which type of wave comes first in the order of increasing frequency of the spectrum?
   Answer: Radio waves
5. Which is the layer of the atmosphere closest to the earth?
   Answer: Troposphere
6. Which vitamins are fat-soluble?
   Answer: A, D, E and K
7. Which level of classification comes after Family?
   Answer: Genus
8. With which base does adenine pair in DNA?
   Answer: Thymine
9. What is the atomic number of beryllium (Be)?
   Answer: 4
10. How many colours are there in VIBGYOR?
    Answer: 7

How to Practise This Chapter

Say each mnemonic aloud, write it once from memory and use it in a practice question the same day. Then test yourself with our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all mnemonics on the Mnemonics page, and also read the MindMaps and Formula Guide pages. For the detailed notes, read the General Science mind map, the Indian Geography mind map and Vitamins and Deficiency Diseases. The previous page is Mnemonics for History and Polity and the next page is Mnemonics for English Grammar and Spelling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does VIBGYOR stand for?

It stands for Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red.

What is the trick for the order of the planets?

"My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos" gives Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

What is the trick for the first ten elements?

"Happy Henry Likes Beer But Can Not Obtain Food Nearby" gives H, He, Li, Be, B, C, N, O, F and Ne.

Which vitamins are fat-soluble?

Vitamins A, D, E and K.

What is the trick for the layers of the atmosphere?

"Tiny Strong Mice Tear Eggs" gives Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere and Exosphere.

What is the trick for the classification of living things?

"King Philip Came Over For Good Soup" gives Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species.

How does adenine pair in DNA?

Adenine pairs with thymine, and cytosine pairs with guanine.

Which states does the Tropic of Cancer pass through?

Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram.

Should I make my own tricks?

Yes. A trick in your own language is easier to remember.

Is this useful for SSC exams?

Yes. Science and Geography lists are asked often in the General Awareness section.

How many tricks should I learn each day?

Learn three to five tricks a day, and revise the older ones.

How often should I revise the tricks?

After 1 day, 3 days, 7 days and then once a month.