CBSE Class 11 Physics Syllabus 2025-26: Download PDF & Full Exam Pattern

Updated CBSE Class 11 Physics Syllabus for 2025-26 – Get the latest chapter-wise syllabus, marking scheme, and study tips. Download the official PDF at the end!

Overview of CBSE Class 11 Physics Syllabus 2025-26

The Class 11 CBSE syllabus for Physics plays a crucial role in board exams and competitive exams like JEE, NEET, CUET, etc. This year, CBSE has introduced competency-based questions and a revised weightage system to encourage conceptual learning over rote memorization.

PHYSICS (Code No. 042)

Course Structure – Class XI (2025-26) – Theory

Time: 3 Hours | Max Marks: 70

Unit I: Physical World and Measurement

Chapter 1: Units and Measurements

• Need for measurement
• Units of measurement: Systems of units, SI units
• Fundamental and derived units
• Significant figures
• Uncertainty in measurement and calculations
• Dimensional analysis:
  • Dimensions of physical quantities
  • Applications (checking equation consistency, deriving relations)

Unit II: Kinematics

Chapter 2: Motion in a Straight Line

• Frame of reference
• Motion in a straight line:
  • Uniform & non-uniform motion
  • Average speed, average velocity, instantaneous velocity
  • Uniformly accelerated motion
• Graphical analysis:
  • Position-time & velocity-time graphs
• Mathematical treatment:
  • Elementary calculus (differentiation & integration for motion)
  • Equations of motion (graphical & calculus-based derivation)

Chapter 3: Motion in a Plane

• Scalar & vector quantities
• Vectors:
  • Position & displacement vectors
  • Addition, subtraction, multiplication by scalars
  • Unit vectors & resolution into components
  • Scalar (dot) & vector (cross) products
• Motion in a plane:
  • Uniform velocity & acceleration
  • Projectile motion
  • Uniform circular motion

Unit III: Laws of Motion

Chapter 4: Laws of Motion

• Force & inertia (Newton’s First Law)
• Momentum & Newton’s Second Law
• Impulse
• Newton’s Third Law (action-reaction pairs)
• Conservation of linear momentum (applications)
• Friction:
  • Static & kinetic friction
  • Laws of friction
  • Rolling friction & lubrication
• Circular motion dynamics:
  • Centripetal force
  • Examples:
    • Vehicle on a level circular road
    • Banking of roads

Unit IV: Work, Energy, and Power

Chapter 5: Work, Energy, and Power

• Work:
  • Work done by a constant force and variable force
• Energy:
  • Kinetic energy & work-energy theorem
  • Potential energy:
    • Concept & examples (spring PE: U=12kx2U=21​kx2)
  • Conservative vs. non-conservative forces
• Power: Definition & calculation
• Motion in a vertical circle
• Collisions:
  • Elastic and inelastic collisions (1D & 2D)

Unit V: Motion of System of Particles & Rigid Body

Chapter 6: System of Particles & Rotational Motion

• Centre of Mass (COM):
  • COM for a two-particle system
  • COM of a rigid body & uniform rod
• Rotational Dynamics:
  • Torque, angular momentum, and conservation laws
  • Equilibrium of rigid bodies
• Rotational Kinematics:
  • Equations of rotational motion
  • Comparison with linear motion
• Moment of Inertia (I):
  • Definition & radius of gyration
  • Values for simple shapes (no derivations)

Unit VI: Gravitation

Chapter 7: Gravitation

• Kepler’s Laws of planetary motion
• Newton’s Law of Gravitation:
  • Universal gravitation constant (GG)
• Acceleration due to gravity (gg):
  • Variation with altitude & depth
• Gravitational Potential Energy & Potential
• Satellites:
  • Orbital velocity, escape speed, and energy

Unit VII: Properties of Bulk Matter

Chapter 8: Mechanical Properties of Solids

• Elasticity:
  • Stress-strain curve & Hooke’s Law
• Elastic Moduli:
  • Young’s modulus (Y), Bulk modulus (K), Shear modulus (η)
  • Poisson’s ratio (qualitative)
• Elastic Potential Energy
• Applications of elastic behavior (qualitative)

Unit VII: Properties of Bulk Matter (Continued)

Chapter 9: Mechanical Properties of Fluids

• Pressure in Fluids:
  • Pressure due to fluid column
  • Pascal’s Law: Applications (hydraulic lift, brakes)
  • Effect of gravity on fluid pressure
• Fluid Dynamics:
  • Viscosity, Stokes’ Law, terminal velocity
  • Streamline vs. turbulent flow, critical velocity
  • Bernoulli’s Theorem: Applications (Torricelli’s law, dynamic lift)
• Surface Phenomena:
  • Surface energy, surface tension, angle of contact
  • Excess pressure in curved surfaces (drops, bubbles)
  • Capillary action

Chapter 10: Thermal Properties of Matter

• Heat & Temperature:
  • Thermal expansion (solids, liquids, gases)
  • Anomalous expansion of water
• Specific Heat Capacity:
  • CpCp​, CvCv​, calorimetry
  • Latent heat (phase changes)
• Heat Transfer:
  • Conduction, convection, radiation
  • Thermal conductivity
  • Blackbody radiation: Wein’s Law, Stefan’s Law

Unit VIII: Thermodynamics

Chapter 11: Thermodynamics

• Basic Concepts:
  • Thermal equilibrium, Zeroth Law
  • Internal energy, heat, work
• Laws of Thermodynamics:
  • First Law: ΔU=Q−WΔU=Q−W
  • Second Law: Entropy & irreversibility
• Thermodynamic Processes:
  • Isothermal, adiabatic, reversible, irreversible, cyclic
  • Equation of state for gases

Unit IX: Behavior of Perfect Gases & Kinetic Theory

Chapter 12: Kinetic Theory of Gases

• Perfect Gas Equation: PV=nRTPV=nRT
• Kinetic Theory Assumptions
• Pressure & Temperature:
  • Kinetic interpretation, RMS speed
• Energy Distribution:
  • Degrees of freedom, equipartition theorem
  • Specific heats of gases (CpCp​, CvCv​)
• Mean Free Path & Avogadro’s Number

Unit X: Oscillations & Waves

Chapter 13: Oscillations

• Periodic Motion:
  • Time period, frequency, displacement-time relations
• Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM):
  • Equations, phase, energy (KE & PE)
  • Spring-mass system & simple pendulum (derivation of TT)

Chapter 14: Waves

• Wave Types: Transverse & longitudinal
• Wave Characteristics:
  • Wave speed, displacement relation
  • Superposition principle, reflection
• Standing Waves:
  • Strings & organ pipes (harmonics)
• Beats: Formation & applications

Practical Examination Scheme

1. Practical Submission Requirements

Students must submit the following records during the annual examination:

• Experiments: Minimum 8 experiments (at least 4 from each section).
• Activities: Minimum 6 activities (at least 3 from each section).
• Project Report: A detailed report of the investigatory project.

2. Evaluation Scheme (Total: 30 Marks)

3. Prescribed Books

1. NCERT Textbooks:
   • Physics Part-I (Class XI)
   • Physics Part-II (Class XI)
2. Lab Manual:
   • Laboratory Manual of Physics (Class XI) – NCERT
3. Additional Resources:
   • Other NCERT-published books/manuals (including multimedia materials).

Excluded Content: Topics marked as "excluded" in NCERT textbooks (2025-26 edition) will not be tested.

Best Study Tips for CBSE Class 11 Physics

1. Master NCERT First
   • 90% of exam questions come directly from NCERT textbooks. Focus on:
     • In-text examples & back exercises.
     • Derivations (e.g., SHM, projectile motion).
     • Definitions (e.g., inertia, conservative forces).
2. Practice Numericals Daily
   • Units like Kinematics, Laws of Motion, Work-Energy are calculation-heavy.
   • Solve 5-10 numericals/day from NCERT + reference books (e.g., HC Verma).
3. Use Diagrams & Flowcharts
   • Visualize concepts like:
     • Bernoulli’s Theorem (draw fluid flow diagrams).
     • Thermodynamic Processes (PV graphs).
     • Waveforms (standing waves, beats).
4. Revise with Previous Years’ Papers
   • Identify repeated questions (e.g., Kepler’s laws, Stokes’ law).
   • Time yourself to improve speed (3-hour paper = ~2.5 mins/mark).

Download CBSE Class 11 Physics Syllabus 2025-26 PDF

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