CBSE Class 12 Syllabus For Physics: Students preparing for CBSE Class 12 board exams must be aware of the detailed CBSE Class 12 syllabus for all subjects. The detailed CBSE Class 12 syllabus will be especially helpful during this last phase of their preparation. At this point, students should refer to the syllabus of the respective subjects and ensure that they have covered all the chapters and concepts. Keeping this in mind, we are providing you with the detailed CBSE Class 12 syllabus for Physics.
Physics is an important subject not only for the board exam but also for various competitive exams. Both engineering and medical aspirants need to prepare for the subject. Engineering and medical entrance exams – JEE Main and NEET – are both based on the CBSE syllabus for Class 11 and 12. So, the detailed CBSE Class 12 syllabus for Physics will help engineering and medical aspirants as well. Read on to find out the CBSE Class 12 syllabus for Physics.
CBSE Class 12 Syllabus For Physics 2020
The CBSE syllabus for Class 12 Physics has both Theory and Practical. Theory Exam is conducted for a total of 70 marks whereas Practicals is held for 30 marks. In this article, we will cover the CBSE Class 12 Physics syllabus of both Theory and Practical.
CBSE Class 12 Syllabus For Physics – Theory
As mentioned above, the CBSE Class 12 Physics Theory exam carries 70 marks and the time duration is three hours.
Let us see which units and chapters are included under CBSE Class 12 syllabus for Physics:
|
Units |
Chapters |
Marks |
| Unit I: Electrostatics | Chapter 1: Electric Charges and Fields
Chapter 2: Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance |
16 |
| Unit II: Current Electricity | Chapter 3: Current Electricity | |
| Unit III: Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism | Chapter 4: Moving Charges and Magnetism
Chapter 5: Magnetism and Matter |
17 |
| Unit IV: Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents | Chapter 6: Electromagnetic Induction
Chapter 7: Alternating Currents |
|
| Unit V: Electromagnetic Waves | Chapter 8: Electromagnetic Waves |
18 |
| Unit VI: Optics | Chapter 9: Ray Optics and Optical Instruments
Chapter 10: Wave Optics |
|
| Unit VII: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | Chapter 11: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter |
12 |
| Unit VIII: Atoms and Nuclei | Chapter 12: Atoms
Chapter 13: Nuclei |
|
| Unit IX: Electronic Devices | Chapter 14: Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits |
7 |
| Total |
70 marks |
|
Let us now look into the detailed CBSE Class 12 syllabus for Physics – chapters and concepts under each of these units:
CBSE Class 12 Syllabus For Physics Unit 1 – Electrostatics
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 fleld. 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.
CBSE Class 12 Syllabus For Physics Unit 2 – Current Electricity
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. 1 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.
CBSE Class 12 Syllabus For Physics Unit 3 – Magnetic Effects Of Current And Magnetism
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 ferromagnetic substances, with examples. Electromagnets and factors affecting their strengths, permanent magnets.
CBSE Class 12 Syllabus For Physics Unit 4 – Electromagnetic Induction And Alternating Current
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.
CBSE Class 12 Syllabus For Physics Unit 5 – Electromagnetic Waves
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.
CBSE Class 12 Syllabus For Physics Unit 6 – Optics
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 fibers, 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 the light – blue colour of the 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: Wavefront and Huygen’s principle, reflection and refraction of plane wave at a plane surface using wavefronts. 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.
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CBSE Class 12 Syllabus For Physics Unit 7 – Dual Nature Of Radiation And Matter
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. Matter waves-wave nature of particles, de-Broglie relation, Davisson-Germer experiment (experimental details should be omitted; only conclusion should be explained).
CBSE Class 12 Syllabus For Physics Unit 8 – Atoms And Nuclei
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. Mass-energy relation, mass defect; binding energy per nucleon and its variation with mass number; nuclear fission, nuclear fusion.
CBSE Class 12 Syllabus For Physics Unit 9 – Electronic Devices
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.
CBSE Class 12 Syllabus For Physics – Practical
The CBSE Class 12 Physics Practical exam carries 30 marks and the time duration is three hours.
Students have to submit a record at the time of their annual examination which has to include:
- Record of at least 15 Experiments [with a minimum of 6 from each section], to be performed by the students.
- Record of at least 5 Activities [with a minimum of 2 each from section A and section B], to be demonstrated by the teachers.
- The Report of the project to be carried out by the students.
CBSE Class 12 Syllabus For Physics: Evaluation Scheme
| Two experiments one from each section | 8+8 marks |
| Practical record (experiments and activities) | 6 marks |
| Investigatory projects | 3 marks |
| Viva on experiments, activities, and projects | 5 marks |
| Total | 30 marks |
CBSE Class 12 Syllabus For Physics Practical Section A
The list of experiments included in the CBSE Class 12 syllabus for Physics Practical Section A are as under:
- a. To determine resistance per cm of a given wire by plotting a graph for potential difference versus current.
- b. To find the resistance of a given wire using metre bridge and hence determine the resistivity (specific resistance) of its material.
- c. To verify the laws of combination (series) of resistances using a metre bridge.
- d. To verify the laws of combination (parallel) of resistances using a metre bridge.
- e. To compare the EMF of two given primary cells using a potentiometer.
- f. To determine the internal resistance of a given primary cell using potentiometer.
- g. To determine the resistance of a galvanometer by the half-deflection method and to find its figure of merit.
- h. To convert the given galvanometer (of known resistance and figure of merit) into a voltmeter of desired range and to verify the same.
- i. To convert the given galvanometer (of known resistance and figure of merit) into an ammeter of desired range and to verify the same.
- j. To find the frequency of AC mains with a sonometer.
Activities (For The Purpose Of Demonstration Only)
- a. To measure the resistance and impedance of an inductor with or without iron core.
- b. To measure resistance, voltage (AC/DC), current (AC) and check continuity of a given circuit using a multimeter.
- c. To assemble a household circuit comprising three bulbs, three (on/off) switches, a fuse and a power source.
- d. To assemble the components of a given electrical circuit.
- e. To study the variation in potential drop with length of wire for a steady current.
- f. 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. 8
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CBSE Class 12 Syllabus For Physics Practical Section B
The list of experiments included in the CBSE Class 12 syllabus for Physics Practical Section B are as under:
- a. To find the value of v for different values of u in case of a concave mirror and to find the focal length.
- b. To find the focal length of a convex mirror, using a convex lens.
- c. To find the focal length of a convex lens by plotting graphs between u and v or between 1/u and 1/v.
- d. To find the focal length of a concave lens, using a convex lens.
- e. To determine the angle of minimum deviation for a given prism by plotting a graph between angle of incidence and angle of deviation.
- f. To determine the refractive index of a glass slab using a travelling microscope.
- g. To find the refractive index of a liquid by using a convex lens and plane mirror.
- h. To draw the I-V characteristic curve for a p-n junction in forward bias and reverse bias.
- i. To draw the characteristic curve of a Zener diode and to determine its reverse breaks down voltage.
- j. To determine the wavelength of a laser beam by diffraction.
Activities (For The Purpose Of Demonstration Only)
- a. To identify a diode, an LED, a resistor and a capacitor from a mixed collection of such items.
- b. 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.
- c. To study the effect of intensity of light (by varying distance of the source) on an LDR.
- d. To observe refraction and lateral deviation of a beam of light incident obliquely on a glass slab.
- e. To observe polarization of light using two Polaroids.
- f. To observe diffraction of light due to a thin slit.
- g. 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).
- h. To obtain a lens combination with the specified focal length by using two lenses from the given set of lenses.
CBSE Class 12 Syllabus For Physics: Suggested Investigatory Projects
- a. To study various factors on which the internal resistance/EMF of a cell depends.
- b. To study the variations in current flowing in a circuit containing an LDR because of a variation in (a) the power of the incandescent lamp, used to ‘illuminate’ the LDR (keeping all the lamps at a fixed distance). (b) the distance of an incandescent lamp (of fixed power) used to ‘illuminate’ the LDR.
- c. 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.
- d. To design an appropriate logic gate combination for a given truth table.
- e. 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.
- f. 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.
- g. 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.
- h. 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.
- i. To study the earth’s magnetic field using a tangent galvanometer.
Study Material & Practice Questions CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus
Embibe’s CBSE study material explains all the chapters and concepts in the CBSE Class 12 syllabus of Physics in details. Also, you can practice CBSE Class 12 Physics questions on Embibe.
We hope this detailed article on CBSE Class 12 syllabus for Physics helps you in your preparation. If you have any query regarding CBSE Class 12 syllabus for Physics, feel free to ask in the comment section below. We will get back to you at the earliest.
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