CBSE Class 11 Physics Syllabus

Physics syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Physics in CBSE Class 11, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Physical World and Measurement

   2 topics

   • Physical World
   • Units and Measurements
2. 2

   Kinematics

   2 topics

   • Motion in a Straight Line
   • Motion in a Plane
3. 3

   Laws of Motion

   1 topic

   • Laws of Motion
4. 4

   Work, Energy and Power

   1 topic

   • Work, Energy and Power
5. 5

   Motion of System of Particles and Rigid Body

   1 topic

   • System of Particles and Rotational Motion
6. 6

   Gravitation

   1 topic

   • Gravitation
7. 7

   Properties of Bulk Matter

   3 topics

   • Mechanical Properties of Solids
   • Mechanical Properties of Fluids
   • Thermal Properties of Matter
8. 8

   Thermodynamics

   1 topic

   • Thermodynamics
9. 9

   Behaviour of Perfect Gas and Kinetic Theory

   1 topic

   • Kinetic Theory
10. 10

    Oscillations and Waves

    2 topics

    • Oscillations
    • Waves

Physics flashcards for CBSE Class 11

24 of 60 cards from the Physics deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the SI unit of force, and how is it defined in base units?

   The newton (N). 1 N = 1 kg·m/s², the force that gives a 1 kg mass an acceleration of 1 m/s².

2. State the dimensional formula of work, energy, and torque.

   All have the dimensional formula [M L² T⁻²]. (Work/energy are scalars in joules; torque is a vector in N·m.)

3. What are the seven SI base quantities and their units?

   Length (metre), mass (kilogram), time (second), electric current (ampere), temperature (kelvin), amount of substance (mole), luminous intensity (candela).

4. What is the principle of homogeneity of dimensions?

   In any valid physical equation, every term on both sides must have the same dimensions. It is used to check correctness and derive relations.

5. Define a light year and give its approximate value.

   The distance light travels in vacuum in one year. 1 light year ≈ 9.46 × 10¹⁵ m.

6. What are significant figures, and how many are in 0.00420?

   Significant figures are the reliable digits plus the first uncertain digit. 0.00420 has 3 significant figures (4, 2, and the trailing 0).

7. Distinguish between distance and displacement.

   Distance is the total path length travelled (scalar, always positive). Displacement is the shortest straight-line vector from initial to final position; it can be zero or negative.

8. Write the three equations of motion for uniform acceleration.

   v = u + at; s = ut + ½at²; v² = u² + 2as.

9. For an object in free fall from rest, what distance does it cover in time t?

   s = ½gt², with g ≈ 9.8 m/s². Velocity after time t is v = gt.

10. On a velocity–time graph, what do the slope and the area under the curve represent?

    The slope gives acceleration; the area under the curve gives displacement.

11. Distinguish between average velocity and instantaneous velocity.

    Average velocity = total displacement / total time. Instantaneous velocity is the velocity at a particular instant, the limit of average velocity as Δt → 0 (dx/dt).

12. What is the time of flight and range of a projectile launched at angle θ with speed u?

    Time of flight T = 2u sinθ / g; Range R = u² sin2θ / g.

13. For projectile motion, at what angle is the horizontal range maximum, and what is that range?

    Range is maximum at θ = 45°, giving R_max = u²/g.

14. What is the maximum height reached by a projectile launched at angle θ with speed u?

    H = u² sin²θ / (2g).

15. Define centripetal acceleration and give its formula.

    The acceleration directed toward the centre of a circular path that keeps a body moving in the circle. a_c = v²/r = ω²r.

16. State Newton's three laws of motion.

    1) A body stays at rest or in uniform motion unless acted on by a net force (inertia). 2) F = ma (rate of change of momentum). 3) Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

17. Define linear momentum and state the law of conservation of momentum.

    Momentum p = mv. In the absence of external force, the total momentum of a system remains constant.

18. What is impulse, and how does it relate to momentum?

    Impulse = force × time (J = F·Δt). Impulse equals the change in momentum: J = Δp.

19. Distinguish between static, limiting, and kinetic friction.

    Static friction opposes impending motion (variable, up to a maximum). Limiting friction is its maximum value. Kinetic friction acts during motion and is slightly less than limiting friction.

20. Write the expression for the maximum safe speed of a car on a banked road (ignoring friction).

    v = √(rg tanθ), where θ is the banking angle, r the radius, g gravity.

21. State the work–energy theorem.

    The net work done on a body equals the change in its kinetic energy: W_net = ΔKE = ½mv² − ½mu².

22. Distinguish between conservative and non-conservative forces, with an example of each.

    Conservative forces do work independent of path (e.g., gravity, spring force); non-conservative forces depend on path and dissipate energy (e.g., friction).

23. Write the formulas for kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy near Earth's surface.

    KE = ½mv²; PE = mgh.

24. Define power and give its SI unit and an alternative expression.

    Power is the rate of doing work, P = W/t. SI unit is the watt (W). Also P = F·v (force times velocity).

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