CBSE Syllabus For Class 12 Physics PDF

Physics is considered to be an important subject for the Class 12 Board Examination. Therefore, a deep understanding of the Physics Class 12 NCERT Syllabus is essential to score good marks.

Latest Update: Due to the Pandemic, the officials have reduced the CBSE Class 12 Syllabus for Physics by almost 30%. Scroll down to find out the deleted topics.

CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus 2021-22 Term Wise Download PDF

Given below is the CBSE Class 12 Physics syllabus along with the marking scheme and number of periods required for completing each unit.

CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus 2021-22 for Term 1

Time: 90 Minutes
Max Marks: 35

Unit I: 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 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

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 

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; 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(qualitative ideas only). Potentiometer – principle and its applications to measure potential difference and for comparing EMF of two cells; measurement of internal resistance of a cell (qualitative ideas only)

Unit III: Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism 16 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. 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, bar magnet as an equivalent solenoid, magnetic field lines; earth’s magnetic field and magnetic elements.

Unit IV: Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents 

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. AC generator and transformer.

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CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus 2021-22 for Term 2

Time: 2 Hours
Max Marks: 35

…

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 colour 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: Wavefront and Huygens principle, reflection and refraction of plane waves at a plane  surface  using  wave fronts.  Proof  of laws  of reflection and  refraction  using  Huygens  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.

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CBSE Syllabus for Class 12 Physics Practical Term Wise

List of Experiment for Term 1 Class 12 Physics Practical

Evaluation Scheme

Time Allowed: one and half hours, Max. Marks: 15

1. To determine resistivity of two / three wires by plotting a graph between potential difference versus current.
2. To find the resistance of a given wire / standard resistor using metre bridge.
   OR
   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
3. To compare the EMF of two given primary cells using potentiometer.
   OR
   To determine the internal resistance of given primary cell using potentiometer
4. To determine the resistance of a galvanometer by half-deflection method and to find its figure of merit.
5. 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.
6. To find the frequency of AC mains with a sonometer.

Activities Assigned for Term I

1. To measure the resistance and impedance of an inductor with or without iron core.
2. To measure resistance, voltage (AC/DC), current (AC) and check continuity of a given circuit using multimeter.
3. To assemble a household circuit comprising three bulbs, three (on/off) switches, a fuse and a power source.
4. To assemble the components of a given electrical circuit.
5. To study the variation in potential drop with length of a wire for a steady current.
6. 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.

List of Experiment for Term 2 Class 12 Physics Practical

1. To find the focal length of a convex lens by plotting graphs between u and v or between 1/u and 1/v.
2. To find the focal length of a convex mirror, using a convex lens.
   OR
   To find the focal length of a concave lens, using a convex lens.
3. To determine the angle of minimum deviation for a given prism by plotting a graph between angle of incidence and angle of deviation.
4. To determine the refractive index of a glass slab using a travelling microscope.
5. To find the refractive index of a liquid by using a convex lens and plane mirror.
6. To draw the I-V characteristic curve for a p-n junction in forward bias and reverse bias.

Activities assigned for Term-II

1. To identify a diode, an LED, a resistor and a capacitor from a mixed collection of such items.
2. 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.
3. To study effect of intensity of light (by varying distance of the source) on an LDR.
4. To observe refraction and lateral deviation of a beam of light incident obliquely on a glass slab.
5. To observe polarization of light using two Polaroids.
6. To observe diffraction of light due to a thin slit.
7. 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).
8. To obtain a lens combination with the specified focal length by using two lenses from the given set of lenses.

Download: CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus 2021-22 Term Wise Download PDF