CBSE Class 11 Physics Syllabus 2023-24: Download Latest PDF

CBSE Class 11 Physics Syllabus 2023-24

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the official Class 11 Physics Syllabus for the 2023-24 academic session on their website, www.cbseacademic.nic.in. Students are encouraged to download and review the latest curriculum to organize their study schedule effectively and reduce last-minute exam pressure. Transitioning from Class 10 to Class 11 requires a shift in learning approach; therefore, understanding the syllabus structure early will help students allocate their time wisely across all core physics units.

Physics Class 11 Syllabus 2023-24

The Class 11 Physics curriculum is structured into a 70-mark theory component and a 30-mark practical assessment. This syllabus is vital not only for school examinations but also serves as the foundational bedrock for competitive exams like JEE Main, JEE Advanced, and NEET. While many students perceive physics as challenging, a strategic approach and a clear understanding of the prescribed syllabus can significantly boost your performance. 

CBSE Class 11 Physics Syllabus 2023-24
Units	Name of the Units	Marks
Unit–I	Physical World and Measurement	23
	Chapter–2: Units and Measurements
Unit–II	Kinematics
	Chapter–3: Motion in a Straight Line
	Chapter–4: Motion in a Plane
Unit–III	Laws of Motion
	Chapter–5: Laws of Motion
Unit–IV	Work, Energy, and Power	17
	Chapter–6: Work, Energy, and Power
Unit–V	The motion of the System of Particles and Rigid Body
	Chapter–7: System of Particles and Rotational Motion
Unit-VI	Gravitation
	Chapter–8: Gravitation
Unit–VII	Properties of Bulk Matter	20
	Chapter–9: Mechanical Properties of Solids
	Chapter–10: Mechanical Properties of Fluids
	Chapter–11: Thermal Properties of Matter
Unit–VIII	Thermodynamics
	Chapter–12: Thermodynamics
Unit–IX	The behavior of Perfect Gases and Kinetic Theory of Gases
	Chapter–13: Kinetic Theory
Unit–X	Oscillations and Waves	10
	Chapter–14: Oscillations
	Chapter–15: Waves

CBSE 11th Physics Syllabus 2023-24 (Chapter-wise)

The comprehensive, chapter-wise CBSE Class 11 Physics syllabus encompasses 10 units and 14 chapters. Mastering these topics early is essential for thorough revision and building a strong conceptual framework, which is critical for success in your Class 12 studies. Below are the details for each chapter included in the 2023-24 academic session. 

Unit I: Physical World and Measurement

Chapter–2: Units and Measurements

• Need for measurement: Units of measurement; systems of units;
• SI units, fundamental and derived units. significant figures.
• Dimensions of physical quantities, dimensional analysis, and its applications.

Unit II: Kinematics

Chapter–3: Motion in a Straight Line

• The frame of reference, Motion in a straight line,
• Elementary concepts of differentiation and integration for describing motion, uniform and non-uniform motion, Instantaneous velocity, uniformly accelerated motion, velocity-time, and position-time graphs.
• Relations for uniformly accelerated motion (graphical treatment).

Chapter–4: Motion in a Plane

• Scalar and vector quantities; position and displacement vectors, general vectors and their notations; equality of vectors, multiplication of vectors by a real number;
• Addition and subtraction of vectors,
• Unit vector; resolution of a vector in a plane, rectangular components, Scalar, and Vector product of vectors.
• Motion in a plane, cases of uniform velocity and uniform acceleration projectile motion, uniform circular motion.

Unit III: Laws of Motion

Chapter–5: Laws of Motion

• Intuitive concept of force, Inertia, Newton's first law of motion; momentum and Newton's second law of motion; impulse; Newton's third law of motion.
• Law of conservation of linear momentum and its applications.
• Equilibrium of concurrent forces, Static and kinetic friction, laws of friction, rolling friction, lubrication.
• Dynamics of uniform circular motion: Centripetal force, examples of circular motion (vehicle on a level circular road, vehicle on a banked road).

Unit IV: Work, Energy, and Power 

Chapter–6: Work, Energy, and Power

• Work done by a constant force and a variable force; kinetic energy, work-energy theorem, power.
• The notion of potential energy, the potential energy of a spring,
• Conservative forces: non-conservative forces, motion in a vertical circle;
• Elastic and inelastic collisions in one and two dimensions.

Unit V: Motion of System of Particles and Rigid Body

Chapter–7: System of Particles and Rotational Motion

• Centre of mass of a two-particle system, momentum conservation, and Centre of mass motion.
• Centre of mass of a rigid body; center of mass of a uniform rod.
• Moment of a force, torque, angular momentum, law of conservation of angular momentum and its applications.
• Equilibrium of rigid bodies, rigid body rotation, and equations of rotational motion, comparison of linear and rotational motions.
• Moment of inertia, the radius of gyration, values of moments of inertia for simple geometrical objects (no derivation).

Unit VI: Gravitation

Chapter–8: Gravitation

• Kepler's law of planetary motion, the universal law of gravitation. Acceleration is due to gravity and its variation with altitude and depth.
• Gravitational potential energy and gravitational potential,
• Escape velocity, orbital velocity of a satellite.

Unit VII: Properties of Bulk Matter 

Chapter–9: Mechanical Properties of Solids

• Elasticity
• Stress-strain relationship
• Hooke's law
• Young’s modulus, bulk modulus, shear modulus of rigidity (qualitative idea only)
• Poisson's ratio
• elastic energy.

Chapter–10: Mechanical Properties of Fluids

• Pressure due to a fluid column
• Pascal's law and its applications (hydraulic lift and hydraulic brakes),
• Effect of gravity on fluid pressure.
• Viscosity
• Stokes' law, terminal velocity, streamline and turbulent flow, critical velocity
• Bernoulli's theorem and its simple applications.
• Surface energy and surface tension, angle of contact, excess of pressure across a curved surface, application of surface tension ideas to drops, bubbles, and capillary rise.

Chapter–11: Thermal Properties of Matter

• Heat, temperature,
• Thermal expansion;
• Thermal expansion of solids, liquids, and gases,
• Anomalous expansion of water; specific heat capacity; Cp, Cv - calorimetry; change of state - latent heat capacity.
• Heat transfer-conduction, convection, and radiation, thermal conductivity, qualitative ideas of Blackbody radiation,
• Wein's displacement Law, Stefan's law.

Unit VIII: Thermodynamics

Chapter–12: Thermodynamics

• Thermal equilibrium and definition of temperature zeroth law of thermodynamics, heat, work and internal energy.
• The first law of thermodynamics,
• The second law of thermodynamics: gaseous state of matter,
• Change of condition of gaseous state -isothermal, adiabatic, reversible, irreversible, and cyclic processes.

Unit IX: Behavior of Perfect Gases and Kinetic Theory of Gases

Chapter–13: Kinetic Theory

• Equation of state of a perfect gas, work done in compressing a gas.
• Kinetic theory of gases - assumptions, the concept of pressure. Kinetic interpretation of temperature;
• RMS speed of gas molecules; degrees of freedom,
• Law of equipartition of energy (statement only) and application to specific heat capacities of gases;
• The concept of the mean free path,
• Avogadro's number.

Unit X: Oscillations and Waves

Chapter–14: Oscillations

• Periodic motion - time period, frequency, displacement as a function of time, periodic functions, and their application.
• Simple harmonic motion (S.H.M) and its equations of motion; phase; oscillations of a loaded spring- restoring force and force constant;
• Energy in S.H.M. Kinetic and potential energies;
• Simple pendulum derivation of expression for its time period.

Chapter–15: Waves

• Wave motion: Transverse and longitudinal waves, speed of the traveling wave,
• Displacement relation for a progressive wave,
• Principle of superposition of waves, a reflection of waves,
• Standing waves in strings and organ pipes,
• Fundamental mode and harmonics,
• Beats.

Download CBSE Class 11 Physics Syllabus 2023-24 PDF

CBSE Class 11 Physics Syllabus 2023-24 for Practical

The evaluation scheme for Physics practicals accounts for 30 marks total. This includes two experiments (7 marks each), a practical record (5 marks), one activity (3 marks), an investigatory project (3 marks), and a comprehensive viva-voce examination (5 marks) covering all experiments and projects performed during the session.

Class 11th Physics Practical Evaluation Scheme
Topic	Marks
Two experiments one from each section	7+7 marks
Practical record (experiment and activities)	5 marks
One activity from any section	3 marks
Investigatory Project	3 marks
Viva on experiments, activities, and project	5 marks
Total	30 Marks

Section A

Section A: Experiments

1. To measure the diameter of a small spherical/cylindrical body and to measure the internal diameter and depth of a given beaker/calorimeter using Vernier Callipers and hence find its volume.
2. To measure the diameter of a given wire and thickness of a given sheet using a screw gauge.
3. To determine the volume of an irregular lamina using a screw gauge.
4. To determine the radius of curvature of a given spherical surface by a spherometer.
5. To determine the mass of two different objects using a beam balance.
6. To find the weight of a given body using the parallelogram law of vectors.
7. Using a simple pendulum, plot its L-T2 graph and use it to find the effective length of the second pendulum.
8. To study the variation of a time period of a simple pendulum of a given length by taking bobs of the same size but different masses and interpreting the result.
9. To study the relationship between the force of limiting friction and normal reaction and to find the coefficient of friction between a block and a horizontal surface.
10. To find the downward force, along an inclined plane, acting on a roller due to the gravitational pull of the earth and study its relationship with the angle of inclination θ by plotting a graph between force and Sinθ.

Section A: Activities 

1. To make a paper scale of given least count, e.g., 0.2cm, 0.5 cm.
2. To determine the mass of a given body using a meter scale by the principle of moments.
3. To plot a graph for a given set of data, with proper choice of scales and error bars.
4. To measure the force of limiting friction for rolling a roller on a horizontal plane.
5. To study the variation in the range of a projectile with an angle of projection.
6. To study the conservation of energy of a ball rolling down on an inclined plane (using a double inclined plane).
7. To study the dissipation of energy of a simple pendulum by plotting a graph between the square of amplitude and time.

Section B

Section B: Experiments 

1. To determine Young's modulus of elasticity of the material of a given wire
2. To find the force constant of a helical spring by plotting a graph between load and extension.
3. To study the variation in volume with pressure for a sample of air at constant temperature by plotting graphs between P and V, and between P and 1/V.
4. To determine the surface tension of water by capillary rise method.
5. To determine the coefficient of viscosity of a given viscous liquid by measuring the terminal velocity of a given spherical body.
6. To study the relationship between the temperature of a hot body and time by plotting a cooling curve.
7. To determine the specific heat capacity of a given solid by the method of mixtures.
8. Study the relation between frequency and length of a given wire under constant tension using a sonometer.
9. To study the relation between the length of a given wire and tension for constant frequency using a sonometer.
10. To find the speed of sound in air at room temperature using a resonance tube by two resonance positions.

Section B: Activities 

1. To observe the change of state and plot a cooling curve for molten wax.
2. To observe and explain the effect of heating on a bi-metallic strip.
3. To note the change in the level of liquid in a container on heating and interpret the observations.
4. To study the effect of detergent on the surface tension of water by observing capillary rise.
5. To study the factors affecting the rate of loss of heat of a liquid.
6. To study the effect of load on depression of a suitably clamped meter scale loaded at (i) its end (ii) in the middle.
7. To observe the decrease in pressure with an increase in velocity of a fluid.

Prescribed Books

• Physics Part-I, Textbook for Class XI, Published by NCERT
• Physics Part-II, Textbook for Class XI, Published by NCERT
• Laboratory Manual of Physics, Class XI Published by NCERT
• The list of other related books and manuals brought out by NCERT (consider multimedia also).