CBSE Syllabus for Class 12 Physics 2024-2025
CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus
The Class 12 Physics Syllabus is beneficial to students since it contains all of the required material that a student should be aware of before beginning their course studies. It is divided into 9 units with a total of 14 chapters that cover important concepts including electrostatics, optics, atoms and nuclei, and much more. Students in Class 12 who are preparing for the Physics exam should always stick to the CBSE syllabus and marking scheme as it is well-structured, detailed, and easy to understand.
Let’s have a look at the latest CBSE syllabus class 12 Physics syllabus which can also be downloaded in pdf form.
CBSE Class 12 Syllabus for Other Subjects
| CBSE Class 12 Hindi Syllabus |
| CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus |
| CBSE Class 12 Maths Syllabus |
| CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Syllabus |
| CBSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus |
| CBSE Class 12 Economics Syllabus |
Class 12 CBSE Physics Syllabus
Course Structure
Time: 3 hrs. Max Marks: 70
|
Units |
Chapters |
No. of Periods |
Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Unit–I |
Electrostatics |
24 |
16 |
|
Chapter–1: Electric Charges and Fields |
|||
|
Chapter–2: Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance |
|||
|
Unit-II |
Current Electricity |
18 |
|
|
Chapter–3: Current Electricity |
|||
|
Unit-III |
Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism |
22 |
17 |
|
Chapter–4: Moving Charges and Magnetism |
|||
|
Chapter–5: Magnetism and Matter |
|||
|
Unit-IV |
Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents |
20 |
|
|
Chapter–6: Electromagnetic Induction |
|||
|
Chapter–7: Alternating Current |
|||
|
Unit–V |
Electromagnetic Waves |
04 |
18 |
|
Chapter–8: Electromagnetic Waves |
|||
|
Unit–VI |
Optics |
27 |
|
|
Chapter–9: Ray Optics and Optical Instruments |
|||
|
Chapter–10: Wave Optics |
|||
|
Unit–VII |
Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter |
08 |
12 |
|
Chapter–11: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter |
|||
|
Unit–VIII |
Atoms and Nuclei |
15 |
|
|
Chapter–12: Atoms |
|||
|
Chapter–13: Nuclei |
|||
|
Unit–IX |
Electronic Devices |
12 |
7 |
|
Chapter–14: Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits |
|||
|
Total |
150 |
70 |
|
Unit I: Electrostatics 24 Periods
Chapter–1: Electric Charges and Fields
Electric Charges; Conservation of charge, Coulomb's law-force between two point charges, forces between multiple charges; superposition principle and continuous charge distribution.
Electric field, electric field due to a point charge, electric field lines, electric dipole, electric field due to a dipole, torque on a dipole in uniform electric field.
Electric flux, statement of Gauss's theorem and its applications to find field due to infinitely long straight wire, uniformly charged infinite plane sheet and uniformly charged thin spherical shell (field inside and outside).
Chapter–2: Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance
Electric potential, potential difference, electric potential due to a point charge, a dipole and system of charges; equipotential surfaces, electrical potential energy of a system of two point charges and of electric dipole in an electrostatic field.
Conductors and insulators, free charges and bound charges inside a conductor. Dielectrics and electric polarisation, capacitors and capacitance, combination of capacitors in series and in parallel, capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with and without dielectric medium between the plates, energy stored in a capacitor.
Unit II: Current Electricity 18 Periods
Chapter–3: Current Electricity
Electric current, flow of electric charges in a metallic conductor, drift velocity, mobility and their relation with electric current; Ohm's law, electrical resistance, V-I characteristics (linear and non-linear), electrical energy and power, electrical resistivity and conductivity, Carbon resistors, colour code for carbon resistors; series and parallel combinations of resistors; temperature dependence of resistance.
Internal resistance of a cell, potential difference and emf of a cell, combination of cells in series and in parallel, Kirchhoff's laws and simple applications, Wheatstone bridge, metre bridge.
Potentiometer - principle and its applications to measure potential difference and for comparing EMF of two cells; measurement of internal resistance of a cell.
Unit III: Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism 22 Periods
Chapter–4: Moving Charges and Magnetism
Concept of magnetic field, Oersted's experiment.
Biot - Savart law and its application to current carrying circular loop.
Ampere's law and its applications to infinitely long straight wire. Straight and toroidal solenoids (only qualitative treatment), force on a moving charge in uniform magnetic and electric fields, Cyclotron.
Force on a current-carrying conductor in a uniform magnetic field, force between two parallel current-carrying conductors-definition of ampere, torque experienced by a current loop in uniform magnetic field; moving coil galvanometer-its current sensitivity and conversion to ammeter and voltmeter.
Chapter–5: Magnetism and Matter
Current loop as a magnetic dipole and its magnetic dipole moment, magnetic dipole moment of a revolving electron, magnetic field intensity due to a magnetic dipole (bar magnet) along its axis and perpendicular to its axis, torque on a magnetic dipole (bar magnet) in a uniform magnetic field; bar magnet as an equivalent solenoid, magnetic field lines; earth's magnetic field and magnetic elements.
Para-, dia- and ferro - magnetic substances, with examples. Electromagnets and factors affecting their strengths, permanent magnets.
Unit IV: Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents 20 Periods
Chapter–6: Electromagnetic Induction
Electromagnetic induction; Faraday's laws, induced EMF and current; Lenz's Law, Eddy currents. Self and mutual induction.
Chapter–7: Alternating Current
Alternating currents, peak and RMS value of alternating current/voltage; reactance and impedance; LC oscillations (qualitative treatment only), LCR series circuit, resonance; power in AC circuits, power factor, wattless current. AC generator and transformer.
Unit V: Electromagnetic waves 04 Periods
Chapter–8: Electromagnetic Waves
Basic idea of displacement current, Electromagnetic waves, their characteristics, their Transverse nature (qualitative ideas only). Electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays) including elementary facts about their uses.
Unit VI: Optics 27 Periods
Chapter–9: Ray Optics and Optical Instruments
Ray Optics: Reflection of light, spherical mirrors, mirror formula, refraction of light, total internal reflection and its applications, optical fibres, refraction at spherical surfaces, lenses, thin lens formula, lensmaker's formula, magnification, power of a lens, combination of thin lenses in contact, refraction of light through a prism.
Scattering of light - blue color of sky and reddish appearance of the sun at sunrise and sunset. Optical instruments: Microscopes and astronomical telescopes (reflecting and refracting) and their magnifying powers.
Chapter–10: Wave Optics
Wave optics: Wave front and Huygen's principle, reflection and refraction of plane wave at a plane surface using wave fronts. Proof of laws of reflection and refraction using Huygen's principle.
Interference, Young's double slit experiment and expression for fringe width, coherent sources and sustained interference of light, diffraction due to a single slit, width of central maximum, resolving power of microscope and astronomical telescope, polarisation, plane polarised light, Brewster's law, uses of plane polarised light and Polaroids.
Unit VII: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter 08 Periods
Chapter–11: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter
Dual nature of radiation, Photoelectric effect, Hertz and Lenard's observations; Einstein's photoelectric equation-particle nature of light.
Experimental study of photoelectric effect Matter waves-wave nature of particles, de-Broglie relation, Davisson-Germer experiment (experimental details should be omitted; only conclusion should be explained).
Unit VIII: Atoms and Nuclei 15 Periods
Chapter–12: Atoms
Alpha-particle scattering experiment; Rutherford's model of atom; Bohr model, energy levels, hydrogen spectrum.
Chapter–13: Nuclei
Composition and size of nucleus, Radioactivity, alpha, beta and gamma particles/rays and their properties; radioactive decay law, half-life and mean life. Mass-energy relation, mass defect; binding energy per nucleon and its variation with mass number; nuclear fission, nuclear fusion.
Unit IX: Electronic Devices 12 Periods
Chapter–14: Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits
Energy bands in conductors, semiconductors and insulators (qualitative ideas only) Semiconductor diode - I-V characteristics in forward and reverse bias, diode as a rectifier; Special purpose p-n junction diodes: LED, photodiode, solar cell and Zener diode and their characteristics, zener diode as a voltage regulator.
Practical
(Total Periods 60)
The record to be submitted by the students at the time of their annual examination has to include:
♣ Record of at least 12 Experiments [with 6 from each section], to be performed by the students.
♣ Record of at least 6 Activities [with 3 each from section A and section B], to be performed by the students.
♣ The Report of the project to be carried out by the students.
Evaluation Scheme
Time Allowed: Three hours Max. Marks: 30
|
Two experiments one from each section |
7+7 Marks |
|
Practical record [experiments and activities] |
5 Marks |
|
One activity from any section |
3 Marks |
|
Investigatory Project |
3 Marks |
|
Viva on experiments, activities and project |
5 Marks |
|
Total |
30 marks |
Experiments
SECTION–A
-
To determine resistivity of two / three wires by plotting a graph for potential difference versus current.
-
To find resistance of a given wire / standard resistor using metre bridge.
-
To verify the laws of combination (series) of resistances using a metre bridge.
or
To verify the laws of combination (parallel) of resistances using a metre bridge.
-
To compare the EMF of two given primary cells using potentiometer.
-
To determine the internal resistance of given primary cell using potentiometer.
-
To determine resistance of a galvanometer by half-deflection method and to find its figure of merit.
-
To convert the given galvanometer (of known resistance and figure of merit) into a voltmeter of desired range and to verify the same.
or
To convert the given galvanometer (of known resistance and figure of merit) into an ammeter of desired range and to verify the same.
-
To find the frequency of AC mains with a sonometer.
Activities
-
To measure the resistance and impedance of an inductor with or without iron core.
-
To measure resistance, voltage (AC/DC), current (AC) and check continuity of a given circuit using multimeter.
-
To assemble a household circuit comprising three bulbs, three (on/off) switches, a fuse and a power source.
-
To assemble the components of a given electrical circuit.
-
To study the variation in potential drop with length of a wire for a steady current.
To draw the diagram of a given open circuit comprising at least a battery, resistor/rheostat, key, ammeter and voltmeter. Mark the components that are not connected in proper order and correct the circuit and also the circuit diagram.
Experiments
-
To find the value of v for different values of u in case of a concave mirror and to find the focal length.
-
To find the focal length of a convex mirror, using a convex lens.
-
To find the focal length of a convex lens by plotting graphs between u and v or between 1/u and 1/v.
-
To find the focal length of a concave lens, using a convex lens.
-
To determine angle of minimum deviation for a given prism by plotting a graph between angle of incidence and angle of deviation.
-
To determine refractive index of a glass slab using a travelling microscope.
-
To find refractive index of a liquid by using convex lens and plane mirror.
-
To draw the I-V characteristic curve for a p-n junction diode in forward bias and reverse bias.
-
To draw the characteristic curve of a zener diode and to determine its reverse breaks down voltage.
Activities
-
To identify a diode, an LED, a resistor and a capacitor from a mixed collection of such items.
-
Use of multimeter to see the unidirectional flow of current in case of a diode and an LED and check whether a given electronic component (e.g., diode) is in working order.
-
To study effect of intensity of light (by varying distance of the source) on an LDR.
-
To observe refraction and lateral deviation of a beam of light incident obliquely on a glass slab.
-
To observe polarization of light using two Polaroids.
-
To observe diffraction of light due to a thin slit.
-
To study the nature and size of the image formed by a (i) convex lens, (ii) concave mirror, on a screen by using a candle and a screen (for different distances of the candle from the lens/mirror).
-
To obtain a lens combination with the specified focal length by using two lenses from the given set of lenses.
Suggested Investigatory Projects
-
To study various factors on which the internal resistance/EMF of a cell depends.
-
To study the variations in current flowing in a circuit containing an LDR because of a variation in
-
the power of the incandescent lamp, used to 'illuminate' the LDR (keeping all the lamps at a fixed distance).
-
the distance of an incandescent lamp (of fixed power) used to 'illuminate' the LDR.
-
-
To find the refractive indices of (a) water (b) oil (transparent) using a plane mirror, an equi convex lens (made from a glass of known refractive index) and an adjustable object needle.
-
To design an appropriate logic gate combination for a given truth table.
-
To investigate the relation between the ratio of (i) output and input voltage and (ii) number of turns in the secondary coil and primary coil of a self-designed transformer.
-
To investigate the dependence of the angle of deviation on the angle of incidence using a hollow prism filled one by one, with different transparent fluids.
-
To estimate the charge induced on each one of the two identical styrofoam (or pith) balls suspended in a vertical plane by making use of Coulomb's law.
-
To study the factor on which the self-inductance of a coil depends by observing the effect of this coil, when put in series with a resistor/(bulb) in a circuit fed up by an A.C. source of adjustable frequency.
-
To study the earth's magnetic field using a tangent galvanometer.
So, now you must have got a clear understanding of the CBSE Physics syllabus for Class 12. We hope that you find this detailed information on Physics syllabus useful for your studies and preparation of your class 12 exams.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 9 chapters in the CBSE Class 12 syllabus for Physics.
You can get the free PDF for CBSE Syllabus Class 12 Physics on the website of Orchids International School.
To prepare for the Class 12 Physics exam effectively, learn the key concepts given in the syllabus. Additionally, practice each question given in the textbook and revise the topics thoroughly.
Some of the good resources for studying Class 12 Physics are NCERT textbooks, worksheets, and practice materials from some reputed schools like the Orchids International School.
The concepts covered in the CBSE Class 12 syllabus are very basic which helps students to understand the fundamentals and lay a solid foundation for higher classes.