COURSE STRUCTURE

PHYSICS
Class XII (Theory)

One Paper Time: 3 Hours 70 Marks
Unit I Electrostatics 08
Unit II Current Electricity 07
Unit III Magnetic effect of current & Magnetism 08
Unit IV Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating current 08
Unit V Electromagnetic Waves 03
Unit VI Optics 14
Unit VII Dual Nature of Matter 04
Unit VIII Atoms and Nuclei 06
Unit IX Electronic Devices 07
Unit X Communication Systems 05

Total 70
Unit I: Electrostatics (Periods 25)

Electric Charges; Conservation of charge, Coulombs 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 Gausss 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).

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 dielectric medium between the plates, energy stored in a capacitor. Van
de Graaff generator.
Unit II: Current Electricity (Periods 22)

Electric current, flow of electric charges in a metallic conductor, drift velocity, mobility and their relation
with electric current; Ohms 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.

emf and potential difference of a cell, internal resistance of a cell, combination of cells in series and in
parallel.

Kirchhoffs 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 small resistances and internal resistance of a cell.

Unit III: Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism (Periods 25)

Concept of magnetic field, Oersteds experiment.

Biot - Savart law and its application to current carrying circular loop.

Amperes law and its applications to infinitely long straight wire, Force between two parallel current-
carrying conductors-definition of ampere, straight and toroidal solenoids.

Force on a current-carrying conductor in a uniform magnetic field. Torque experienced by a current loop
in uniform magnetic field; moving coil galvanometer-its current sensitivity and conversion to ammeter
and voltmeter.

Force on a moving charge in uniform magnetic and electric fields. Cyclotron.

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; Earths 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 (Periods 20)

Electromagnetic induction; Faradays law, induced emf and current; Lenzs Law, Eddy currents. Self and
mutual inductance, displacement 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, wattless
current.

AC generator and transformer.

Unit V: Electromagnetic waves (Periods 4)

Displacement current, Electromagnetic waves and their characteristics (qualitative ideas only). Transverse
nature of electromagnetic waves.

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

Unit VI: Optics (Periods 30)

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, lensmakers formula.
Magnification, power of a lens, combination of thin lenses in contact. 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.

Wave optics: wave front and Huygens principle, reflection and refraction of plane wave at a plane
surface using wave fronts. Proof of laws of reflection and refraction using Huygens principle.
Interference, Youngs 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. Polarisation,
plane polarised light; Brewsters law, uses of plane polarised light and Polaroids.

Optical instruments: Human eye, image formation and accommodation, correction of eye defects
(myopia, hypermetropia, presbyopia and astigmatism) using lenses. Microscopes and astronomical
telescopes (reflecting and refracting) and their magnifying powers. Resolving power of microscopes and
astronomical telescopes.

Unit VII: Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation (Periods 8)

Dual nature of radiation. Photoelectric effect, Hertz and Lenards observations; Einsteins photoelectric
equation-particle nature of light.

Matter waves-wave nature of particles, de Broglie relation. Davisson-Germer experiment.

Unit VIII: Atoms & Nuclei (Periods 18)

Alpha-particle scattering experiment; Rutherfords model of atom; Bohr model, energy levels, hydrogen
spectrum.

Composition and size of nucleus, atomic masses, isotopes, isobars; isotones. Radioactivityalpha, 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 reactor, nuclear fusion.

Unit IX: Electronic Devices (Periods 18)

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 oscillator. Logic gates (OR, AND, NOT, NAND and NOR). Transistor
as a switch.

Unit X: Communication Systems (Periods 10)

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. Need for modulation. Production and detection
of an amplitude-modulated wave.

Practicals

Every student will perform 10 experiments (5 from each section) & 8 activities (4 from each section)
during the academic year. Two demonstration experiments must be performed by the teacher with
participation of students. The students will maintain a record of these demonstration experiments.
SECTION A
Experiments

1. To determine resistance per cm of a given wire by plotting a graph of potential difference versus
current.

2. To find resistance of a given wire using metre bridge and hence determine the specific resistance of its
material.

3. To verify the laws of combination (series/parallel) of resistances using a metre bridge.

4. To compare the emf of two given primary cells using potentiometer.

5. To determine the internal resistance of given primary cell using potentiometer.

6. To determine resistance of a galvanometer by half-deflection method and to find its figure of merit.

7. 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.

8. To find the frequency of the a.c. mains with a sonometer.

Activities

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.
SECTION B
Experiments
1. To find the value of v for different values of u in case of a concave mirror and to find the focal length.

2. To find the focal length of a convex lens by plotting graphs between u and v or between l/u and l/v.

3. To find the focal length of a convex mirror, using a convex lens.

4. To find the focal length of a concave lens, using a convex lens.

5. To determine angle of minimum deviation for a given prism by plotting a graph between angle of
incidence and angle of deviation.

6. To determine refractive index of a glass slab using a travelling microscope.

7. To find refractive index of a liquid by using (i) concave mirror, (ii) convex lens and plane mirror.

8. To draw the I-V characteristic curve of a p-n junction in forward bias and reverse bias.

9. To draw the characteristic curve of a zener diode and to determine its reverse break down voltage.

10. To study the characteristics of a common - emitter npn or pnp transistor and to find out the values of
current and voltage gains.

Activities

1. To study effect of intensity of light (by varying distance of the source) on an L.D.R.

2. To identify a diode, an LED, a transistor, and IC, a resistor and a capacitor from mixed collection of
such items.

3. Use of multimeter to (i) identify base of transistor. (ii) distinguish between npn and pnp type
transistors. (iii) see the unidirectional flow of current in case of a diode and an LED. (iv) check whether a
given electronic component (e.g. diode, transistor or I C) is in working order.

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 (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.
B. Evaluation Scheme for Practical Examination:
One experiment from any one section 8 Marks
Two activities (one from each section) (4+4) 8 Marks
Practical record (experiments & activities) 6 Marks
Record of demonstration experiments & Viva based on these experiments 3 Marks
Viva on experiments & activities 5 Marks
Total 30 Marks
Recommended Textbooks.
1. Physics Part-I, Textbook for XII, Published by NCERT
2. Physics Part-II, Textbook for XII, Published by NCERT