CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus 2026-27

PHYSICS Subject Code – 042 Class-XII (2026-27)

Senior Secondary stage of school education is a stage of transition from general education to discipline-based focus on curriculum. The present updated syllabus keeps in view the rigor and depth of disciplinary approach as well as the comprehension level of learners. Due care has also been taken that the syllabus is comparable to the international standards. Salient features of the syllabus include:

Emphasis on basic conceptual understanding of the content.

Emphasis on use of SI units, symbols, nomenclature of physical quantities and formulations as per international standards.

• Providing logical sequencing of units of the subject matter and proper placement of concepts with their linkage for better learning.

Reducing the curriculum load by eliminating overlapping of concepts/content within the discipline and other disciplines.

<math>\blacktriangle</math> Promotion of process-skills, problem-solving abilities and applications of Physics concepts.

Besides, the syllabus also attempts to

Strengthen the concepts developed at the secondary stage to provide firm foundation for further learning in the subject.

Expose the learners to different processes used in Physics-related industrial and technological applications.

Develop process-skills and experimental, observational, manipulative, decision making and investigatory skills in the learners.

Promote problem solving abilities and creative thinking in learners.

] Develop conceptual competence in the learners and make them realize and appreciate the interface of Physics with other disciplines.

CLASS XII (2026-27) PHYSICS (THEORY)

Time: 3 hrs. Max Marks: 70

UNIT CHAPTERS MARKS

Unit-I Electrostatics Chapter–1: Electric Charges and Fields 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 Current Unit-V Electromagnetic Waves Chapter–8: Electromagnetic Waves Unit-VI Optics 18

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 Unit-VIII Atoms and Nuclei 12

Chapter–12: Atoms Chapter-13: Nuclei Unit-IX Electronic Devices 7

and Simple Circuits 70

<u>Unit I:</u> 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 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 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 (no derivation, formulae only).

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, 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 rules, Wheatstone bridge.

Unit III: 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 solenoid (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; Current loop as a magnetic dipole and its magnetic dipole moment, moving coil galvanometer- its current sensitivity and conversion to ammeter and voltmeter.

Chapter–5: Magnetism and Matter

Bar magnet, bar magnet as an equivalent solenoid (qualitative treatment only), magnetic field intensity due to a magnetic dipole (bar magnet) along its axis and perpendicular to its axis (qualitative treatment only), torque on a magnetic dipole (bar magnet) in a uniform magnetic field (qualitative treatment only), magnetic field lines.

Magnetic properties of materials- Para-, dia- and ferro – magnetic substances with examples, Magnetization of materials, effect of temperature on magnetic properties.

Unit IV: Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents

Chapter–6: Electromagnetic Induction

Electromagnetic induction; Faraday's laws, induced EMF and current; Lenz's Law, Self and mutual induction.

Chapter–7: Alternating Current

Alternating currents, peak and RMS value of alternating current/voltage; reactance and impedance; LCR series circuit (phasors only), resonance, power in AC circuits, power factor, wattless current. AC generator, Transformer.

<u>Unit V:</u> Electromagnetic waves

Chapter–8: Electromagnetic Waves

Basic idea of displacement current, Electromagnetic waves, their characteristics, their transverse nature (qualitative idea only).

Electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays) including elementary facts about their uses.