About this previous year paper
This question paper is designed to assess the student’s understanding of fundamental and advanced concepts in Energy Science & Engineering, including renewable and non-renewable energy sources, nuclear power, solar energy conversion, geothermal systems, biomass energy, and environmental impacts associated with global energy use.
The paper is divided into three sections to evaluate conceptual clarity, analytical ability, and descriptive skills:
SECTION A (20 Marks – Short Conceptual Questions)
This section contains 10 short-answer questions, each carrying 2 marks.
The questions test the understanding of essential definitions and basic principles such as:
Heat-to-mechanical energy conversion
Entropy and thermodynamic concepts
Nuclear fission and advantages of nuclear energy
Working principle of solar cells
Collector efficiency of solar flat-plate collector
Geothermal and biological energy resources
Energy crisis, conservation, and energy audit
These questions ensure that the student has a strong grasp of basic energy science terminology and concepts.
SECTION B (30 Marks – Descriptive Questions)
Students must attempt any three out of five questions, each of 10 marks.
This section evaluates deeper understanding and explanation ability. Key topics include:
Quantum concept and energy quantization
Nuclear fission reactor design, specifically the Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR)
Classification and construction of solar thermal collectors, especially flat-plate type
Biogas formation from biomass & Deenbandhu biogas plant design
Environmental impacts such as global warming and sustainability issues
This section requires detailed diagrams, explanations, and real-life applicability of the concepts.
SECTION C (50 Marks – Long Answer Questions)
This section contains five main questions with two choices each (10 marks per question).
It assesses analytical, comparative, and application-oriented knowledge.
Topics include:
Comparison of renewable & non-renewable energy sources and their relevance to climate change
Radiation types: direct vs diffuse solar radiation
Nuclear fusion vs fission
Construction and operation of hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell
Solar cell arrays & photoconduction mechanism
Tidal energy systems: single-basin and double-basin types
Biomass gasification process & gas composition
Green energy concept and its advantages
Students must draw diagrams, derive relationships, and explain mechanisms in detail.
FINAL SUMMARY
This examination paper thoroughly evaluates the student's:
Understanding of energy conversion principles
Knowledge of renewable energy technologies
Awareness of environmental implications
Ability to analyze, compare, and apply scientific concepts
The mix of brief and detailed questions ensures balanced assessment of both conceptual clarity and technical depth.