PhysicsSyllabus Of Grade XII - PHYSICS (THEORY - PH1204, PRACTICAL - PPH1204)
The Grade XII Physics syllabus is divided into two compulsory parts - Physics (Theory) and Physics (Practical). Separate marks are allotted for each unit, with 70 marks for theory and 30 marks for practical.
Focus areas: electrostatics, current electricity, magnetism, electromagnetic induction and waves, optics, dual nature of matter, atoms and nuclei, electronic devices and communication systems - supported by structured laboratory work and investigatory projects.
Theory: 70 MarksPractical: 30 MarksTotal: 100 Marks · Theory Time: 3 Hours
Instructions: This syllabus is divided into two parts - theoretical and practical. All units are compulsory. The table below gives an overview of each unit and marks, followed by detailed unit-wise content.
Time (Theory): 3 Hours · Time (Practical): 1 Hour 30 Minutes
Total Marks
100
Physics (Theory) - PH1204
Grade XII · Physics (Theory) · Unit 1
Unit 1 · Electrostatics (08 Marks)
8 Marks
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 and torque on a dipole in a uniform electric field.
Electric flux; statement of Gauss's theorem and its applications to find electric field due to an infinitely long straight wire, a uniformly charged infinite plane sheet and a uniformly charged thin spherical shell (field inside and outside).
Electric potential and potential difference; electric potential due to a point charge, a dipole and a system of charges. Equipotential surfaces; electrical potential energy of a system of two point charges and of an electric dipole in an electrostatic field.
Conductors and insulators; free and bound charges inside a conductor. Dielectrics and electric polarization.
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. Van de Graaff generator.
Grade XII · Physics (Theory) · Unit 2
Unit 2 · Current Electricity (07 Marks)
7 Marks
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 and metre bridge.
Potentiometer - principle and its applications to measure potential difference, compare emf of two cells and measure internal resistance of a cell.
Grade XII · Physics (Theory) · Unit 3
Unit 3 · Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism (08 Marks)
8 Marks
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 and straight/toroidal solenoids.
Force on a moving charge in a uniform magnetic and electric field; 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 a uniform magnetic field; moving coil galvanometer - current sensitivity and conversion to ammeter and voltmeter.
Current loop as a magnetic dipole; 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 - basic properties and examples.
Electromagnets and factors affecting their strength; permanent magnets.
Grade XII · Physics (Theory) · Unit 4
Unit 4 · Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents (08 Marks)
8 Marks
Electromagnetic induction; Faraday's laws; induced emf and current; Lenz's law and eddy currents.
Self-induction and mutual induction - basic ideas.
Alternating current; peak and rms values of alternating current/voltage.
Reactance and impedance; LC oscillations (qualitative treatment only).
LCR series circuit, resonance; power in AC circuits; wattless current.
AC generator and transformer - principle and basic working.
Grade XII · Physics (Theory) · Unit 5
Unit 5 · Electromagnetic Waves (03 Marks)
3 Marks
Need for displacement current and its role in Maxwell's equations.
Electromagnetic waves and their characteristics (qualitative ideas only); transverse nature of electromagnetic waves.
Electromagnetic spectrum - radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays; elementary facts about their uses.
Grade XII · Physics (Theory) · Unit 6
Unit 6 · Optics (14 Marks)
14 Marks
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 and lens maker's formula.
Magnification and power of a lens; combination of thin lenses in contact; combination of a lens and a mirror.
Refraction and dispersion of light through a prism; scattering of light - blue colour of the sky and reddish appearance of the sun at sunrise and sunset.
Optical instruments: human eye; image formation and accommodation; correction of eye defects (myopia, hypermetropia) using lenses.
Microscopes and astronomical telescopes (reflecting and refracting) and their magnifying power.
Wave optics: wavefront and Huygens’ principle; reflection and refraction of plane wave at a plane surface using wavefronts; proof of laws of reflection and refraction using Huygens’ principle.
Interference: Young's double slit experiment; expression for fringe width; coherent sources and sustained interference of light.
Diffraction due to a single slit; width of central maximum.
Resolving power of microscopes and astronomical telescopes.
Polarisation; plane polarised light; Brewster's law; uses of plane polarised light and Polaroids.
Grade XII · Physics (Theory) · Unit 7
Unit 7 · Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation (04 Marks)
4 Marks
Dual nature of radiation; photoelectric effect.
Hertz's and Lenard's observations; Einstein's photoelectric equation - particle nature of light.
Matter waves; wave nature of particles; de Broglie relation.
Davisson-Germer experiment - only conclusions and significance.
Grade XII · Physics (Theory) · Unit 8
Unit 8 · Atoms and Nuclei (06 Marks)
6 Marks
Alpha particle scattering experiment; Rutherford's model of atom.
Bohr model of hydrogen atom; energy levels; hydrogen spectrum (elementary ideas).
Composition and size of nucleus; atomic masses; isotopes, isobars and isotones.
Radioactivity - alpha, beta and gamma particles/rays and their properties; radioactive decay law.
Mass-energy relation; mass defect and binding energy per nucleon; variation of binding energy per nucleon with mass number.
Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion - basic ideas and examples.
Grade XII · Physics (Theory) · Unit 9
Unit 9 · Electronic Devices (07 Marks)
7 Marks
Energy bands in solids (qualitative ideas); conductors, insulators and semiconductors.
Semiconductor diode - I-V characteristics in forward and reverse bias; diode as a rectifier.
I-V characteristics of LED, photodiode, solar cell and Zener diode; Zener diode as a voltage regulator.
Junction transistor; transistor action; characteristics of a transistor.
Transistor as an amplifier (common emitter configuration) and as an oscillator (elementary idea).
Logic gates - OR, AND, NOT, NAND and NOR.
Transistor as a switch (conceptual use).
Grade XII · Physics (Theory) · Unit 10
Unit 10 · Communication Systems (05 Marks)
5 Marks
Elements of a communication system (block diagram only).
Bandwidth of signals - speech, TV and digital data; bandwidth of transmission medium.
Propagation of electromagnetic waves in the atmosphere - sky and space wave propagation (basic idea).
Need for modulation in communication.
Production and detection of an amplitude-modulated wave (elementary treatment).
Physics (Practical) - PPH1204
Grade XII · Physics (Practical) · Unit 1
Unit 1 · Two experiments - one from each section (8+8 = 16 Marks)
16 Marks
To find resistance of a given wire using metre bridge and hence determine the specific resistance of its material.
To determine resistance per cm of a given wire by plotting a graph of potential difference versus current.
To verify the laws of combination (series/parallel) of resistances using a metre bridge.
To compare the emf of two given primary cells using potentiometer.
To determine the internal resistance of a 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 an ammeter and voltmeter of desired range and to verify the same.
To find the frequency of the AC mains with a sonometer.
Activities (demonstration and observation):
• 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 with a battery, resistor/rheostat, key, ammeter and voltmeter, identify incorrect connections and correct the circuit and diagram.
Grade XII · Physics (Practical) · Unit 2
Unit 2 · Practical record, Investigatory Project, Viva on experiments and activities & project (6+3+5 = 14 Marks)
14 Marks
Practical record of experiments and activities performed during the year (6 marks).
Investigatory project file based on a suitable Physics topic (3 marks).
Viva voce based on experiments, activities and investigatory project (5 marks).
Illustrative experiments for this component (any 8 to be performed):
• To find the value of v for different values of u in case of a concave mirror and hence find its 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 a graph 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 using (i) concave mirror, (ii) convex lens and plane mirror.
• To draw the I-V characteristic curve of a p-n junction in forward and reverse bias.
• To draw the characteristic curve of a Zener diode and determine its reverse breakdown voltage.
• To study the characteristics of a common-emitter npn or pnp transistor and find current and voltage gains.
Illustrative activities (for demonstration): identify and test diode, LED, transistor, IC, resistor and capacitor; use of multimeter for simple checks; observe refraction, polarization, diffraction and image formation using lenses and mirrors; obtain lens combinations for given focal length.
Referred Books
Physics, Class XI, Part I and II, Published by NCERT
Physics, Class XII, Part I and II, Published by NCERT
