The CBSE Board has published the CBSE class 12 Physics syllabus 2024-25 on their official website. It is categorized into two parts- theory and practical. The theory paper carries 70 marks and the practical paper carries 30 marks. The practical paper is further divided into four parts- experiments, investigatory assessment, practical record, and VIVA & other related activities. There are total 9 units included in the theory paper syllabus. There are several chapters and topics in these units which the student need to focus on for score well in the CBSE Class 12 Physics Exam 2025. This article familiarizes you with the detailed CBSE 12th Physics Syllabus 2025.
CBSE Latest Physics Syllabus for Class 12
| Subject | Syllabus |
| Physics | Click here to download |
CBSE Class 12 Physics Theory Syllabus 2025
The CBSE 12th Physics Theory Paper carries 70 marks out of 100 marks. It is necessary for students to pass individually in the theory paper to pass overall in the CBSE Class 12 Physics exam. Provided below is the list of chapters and topics in each unit included in the CBSE 12th Physics Syllabus.
| Unit Numbers | Name of the Units | Chapters | Topics |
| 1 | Electrostatics | Chapter 1: Electric Charges and Fields | Electric Charges, Conservation of Charge, Coulomb’s Law, 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, Applications of Gauss’s Theorem, Uniformly Charged infinite Plane Sheet, Uniformly Charged thin Spherical Shell |
| Chapter 2: Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance | Electric Potential, Potential Difference, Electric Potential due to a Point Charge, a Dipole, and a System of Charges, Equipotential Surfaces, Electrical Potential Energy of a System of Two-Point Charges and Electric Dipole in 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 Parallel, The Capacitance of a Parallel Plate, Capacitor with and without Dielectric Medium, Energy Stored in a Capacitor (Formula only) | ||
| 2 | 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 Nonlinear), 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 Parallel, Kirchhoff's Rules, Wheatstone Bridge |
| 3 | Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism | Chapter 4: Moving Charges and Magnetism | Concept of Magnetic Field, Oersted’s Experiment, Biot-Savart Law and its Applications, Ampere’s Law and its Applications, Straight Solenoid, Force on a Moving Charge in Uniform Magnetic and Electric Fields, Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor in 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 and its Sensitivity, Conversion of Galvanometer to Ammeter and Voltmeter |
| Chapter 5: Magnetism and Matter | Bar Magnet, Bar Magnet as an Equivalent Solenoid (Qualitative Treatment), Magnetic Field Intensity due to Magnetic Dipole along its axis and perpendicular to the axis, Torque on a Magnetic Dipole in Uniform Magnetic Field, Magnetic Field Lines, Magnetic Properties of Materials (Para, Dia, and Ferro), Magnetic Substances with Examples, Magnetization of Materials, Effect of Temperature on Magnetic Properties | ||
| 4 | Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents | Chapter 6: Electromagnetic Induction | Electromagnetic Induction, Faraday’s Law, Induced EMF and Current, Lenz’s Law, Self and Mutual Induction |
| Chapter 7: Alternating Current | Alternating Current, Peak and RMS Value of Alternating Current, Reactance and Impedance, LCR Series Circuit (Phasors Only), Resonance, Power in AC Circuit, Power Factor, Wattless Current, AC Generator, Transformer | ||
| 5 | Electromagnetic Waves | Chapter 8: Electromagnetic Waves | Basic Idea of Displacement Current, Electromagnetic Waves and their Characteristics, Transverse Nature of Electromagnetic Waves, Electromagnetic Spectrum and their Uses |
| 6 | Optics | Chapter 9: Ray Optics and Optical Instruments | Reflection of Light, Spherical Mirrors, Mirror Formula, Refraction of Light, Total Internal Reflection and Optical Fibres, Refraction at Spherical Surfaces, Lenses, Thin Lens Formula, Lens Maker’s Formula, Magnification, Power of a Lens, Combination of Thin Lenses in Contact, Refraction of Light through Prism, Microscopes and Astronomical Telescopes, Magnifying Powers of These Telescopes |
| Chapter 10: 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, Young’s Double Slit Experiment, Expression of Fringe Width, Coherent Sources and Sustained Interference of Light, Diffraction due to a Single Slit, Width of Central Maxima | ||
| 7 | Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | Chapter 11: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | Dual Nature of Radiation, Photoelectric Effect, Hertz and Lenard’s Observations, Einstein’s Photoelectric Equation – Particle Nature of Light, Experimental Study of Photoelectric Effect, Matter Waves- Wave Nature of Particles, De-Broglie Relation |
| 8 | Atoms and Nuclei | Chapter 12: Atoms | Alpha-Particle Scattering Experiment, Rutherford’s Model of Atom, Bohr Model of Hydrogen Atom, Expression for Radius of nth Possible Orbit, Velocity and Energy of Electron in nth Orbit, Hydrogen Line Spectra |
| Chapter 13: Nuclei | Composition and Size of Nucleus, Nuclear Force, Mass-Energy Relation, Mass Defect, Binding Energy per Nucleon and its Variation with Mass Number, Nuclear Fission, Nuclear Fusion | ||
| 9 | Electronic Devices | Chapter 14: Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits | Energy Bands in Conductors, Semiconductors, and Insulators, Intrinsic and Extrinsic Semiconductors – p and n-type, p-n junction, Semiconductor Diode – I-V Characteristics in Forward and Reverse Bias, Application of Junction of Diode, Diode as a Rectifier |
CBSE Class 12 Physics Practical Syllabus 2025
Section A | Section B |
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Activities | Activities |
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CBSE Unit-Wise Weightage for Class 12
In the CBSE Physics Syllabus each unit carries different marks weightage. By being aware of it students can have a better understanding of the marks distribution.
| Unit Numbers | Name of the Units | Chapters | Marks Allotted |
| 1 | Electrostatics | Chapter 1: Electric Charges and Fields | 16 |
| Chapter 2: Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance | |||
| 2 | Current Electricity | Chapter 3: Current Electricity | |
| 3 | Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism | Chapter 4: Moving Charges and Magnetism | 17 |
| Chapter 5: Magnetism and Matter | |||
| 4 | Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents | Chapter 6: Electromagnetic Induction | |
| Chapter 7: Alternating Current | |||
| 5 | Electromagnetic Waves | Chapter 8: Electromagnetic Waves | 18 |
| 6 | Optics | Chapter 9: Ray Optics and Optical Instruments | |
| Chapter 10: Wave Optics | |||
| 7 | Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | Chapter 11: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | 12 |
| 8 | Atoms and Nuclei | Chapter 12: Atoms | |
| Chapter 13: Nuclei | |||
| 9 | Electronic Devices | Chapter 14: Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits | 07 |
| Total | 70 | ||
CBSE Chapter-Wise Weightage for Class 12
In the CBSE Physics Syllabus each chapter carries different marks weightage. By being aware of it students can have a better understanding of the marks distribution.
| Chapter Number | Name of the chapter | Marks allotted |
| 1 | Electric Charges and Fields | 4 |
| 2 | Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance | 6 |
| 3 | Current Electricity | 6 |
| 4 | Moving Charges and Magnetism | 5 |
| 5 | Magnetism and Matter | 3 |
| 6 | Electromagnetic Induction | 3 |
| 7 | Alternating Current | 6 |
| 8 | Electromagnetic Waves | 3 |
| 9 | Ray Optics and Optical Instruments | 9 |
| 10 | Wave Optics | 6 |
| 11 | Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | 5 |
| 12 | Atoms | 3 |
| 13 | Nuclei | 4 |
| 14 | Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits | 7 |
CBSE Class 12 Physics Important Topics
The CBSE class 12 physics syllabus does have some important topics in each chapter which can help the student to score better. The table below lists the important topics in each chapter:
| Chapter Number | Name of the chapter | Important Topics |
| 1 | Electric Charges and Fields |
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| 2 | Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance |
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| 3 | Current Electricity |
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| 4 | Moving Charges and Magnetism |
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| 5 | Magnetism and Matter |
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| 6 | Electromagnetic Induction |
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| 7 | Alternating Current |
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| 8 | Electromagnetic Waves |
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| 9 | Ray Optics and Optical Instruments |
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| 10 | Wave Optics |
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| 11 | Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter |
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| 12 | Atoms |
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| 13 | Nuclei |
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| 14 | Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits |
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