Class 12 NCERT Physics Chapter Names
Chapter 1. Electric Charges and Fields
Chapter 2. Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance
Chapter 3. Current Electricity
Chapter 4. Moving Charges and Magnetism
Chapter 5. Magnetism and Matter
Chapter 6. Electromagnetic Induction
Chapter 7. Alternating Current
Chapter 8. Electromagnetic Waves
Chapter 9. Ray Optics and Optical Instruments
Chapter 10. Wave Optics
Chapter 11. Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter
Chapter 12. Atoms
Chapter 13. Nuclei
Chapter 14. Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits
Class 12 Physics – Chapter 1: Electric Charges and Fields
What We Will Learn – Chapter 1: Electric Charges and Fields
- Electric Charge – Concept, types, quantisation, and conservation of charge.
- Coulomb’s Law – Force between two point charges, dependence on medium, and vector form.
- Superposition Principle – Net force on a charge due to multiple charges.
- Continuous Charge Distribution – Linear, surface, and volume charge densities.
- Electric Field – Definition, formula, and representation by field lines.
- Electric Field Due to Various Charge Configurations – Point charge, dipole, line of charge, ring, etc.
- Electric Dipole – Electric field, torque, and potential due to a dipole.
- Electric Flux – Definition and formula.
- Gauss’s Law – Statement, proof, and applications.
- Applications of Gauss’s Law – Field due to infinite line of charge, uniformly charged spherical shell, and uniformly charged infinite plane sheet.
Chapter 2: Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance (Class 12 NCERT Physics):
Chapter 2 – Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance
What We Will Learn
- Electrostatic Potential
- Concept of potential due to a point charge, system of charges, and electric dipole.
- Equipotential surfaces – meaning, properties, and applications.
- Potential Energy
- Potential energy of a system of two point charges and of a system of many charges.
- Potential energy in an external electric field.
- Relation Between Electric Field and Potential
- Gradient of potential.
- Calculation of electric field from potential.
- Capacitance
- Definition of capacitance and its physical meaning.
- Capacitance of an isolated spherical conductor.
- Parallel plate capacitor – derivation and effect of dielectric medium.
- Combination of Capacitors
- Capacitors in series and parallel – formulas and derivations.
- Energy stored in a capacitor.
- Energy density of an electric field.
- Dielectrics and Polarisation
- Dielectric constant and its role in capacitors.
- Effect of inserting dielectric material between plates.
- Applications
- Van de Graaff generator – principle, construction, and working.
Chapter 3: Current Electricity (Class 12 NCERT Physics)
Chapter 3 – Current Electricity
What We Will Learn
- Electric Current
- Definition of current, drift velocity, and relation with current density.
- Mobility of charge carriers.
- Ohm’s law – microscopic form.
- Electrical Resistivity and Conductivity
- Relation between current density and electric field.
- Conductivity, resistivity, and their dependence on temperature.
- Classification of materials based on conductivity (conductors, semiconductors, insulators).
- Resistors and Their Combination
- Series and parallel combinations – equivalent resistance formulas.
- Cells in series and parallel.
- Internal Resistance of a Cell
- Definition, factors affecting internal resistance.
- EMF of a cell and potential difference.
- Kirchhoff’s Laws
- Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL) and voltage law (KVL).
- Applications in circuit analysis.
- Wheatstone Bridge
- Principle and balancing condition.
- Meter bridge and its applications.
- Potentiometer
- Principle and working.
- Comparison of EMFs of two cells.
- Determination of internal resistance of a cell.
Chapter 4: Moving Charges and Magnetism (Class 12 NCERT Physics)
Chapter 4 – Moving Charges and Magnetism
What We Will Learn
- Magnetic Force on Moving Charges
- Concept of magnetic field and Lorentz force.
- Motion of a charged particle in a uniform magnetic field (circular/ helical path).
- Motion in combined electric and magnetic fields – velocity selector.
- Biot–Savart Law
- Statement and derivation of magnetic field due to:
- Straight current-carrying conductor.
- Circular loop.
- Statement and derivation of magnetic field due to:
- Ampere’s Circuital Law
- Statement and application to:
- Infinite straight wire.
- Solenoid (long and ideal).
- Toroid.
- Statement and application to:
- Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor
- Force in a magnetic field.
- Force between two parallel conductors – definition of ampere.
- Torque on a Current Loop
- Concept of magnetic dipole moment.
- Moving coil galvanometer – principle, construction, and conversion into ammeter & voltmeter.
- Magnetic Field of Earth
- Elements of Earth’s magnetic field.
- Cyclotron
- Principle, construction, working, and limitations.
Chapter 5: Magnetism and Matter (Class 12 NCERT Physics)
Chapter 5 – Magnetism and Matter
What We Will Learn
- The Bar Magnet
- Magnetic field lines and magnetic poles.
- Magnetic dipole and dipole moment.
- Magnetic field due to a bar magnet (along axial and equatorial lines).
- Torque on a bar magnet in a uniform magnetic field.
- Earth’s Magnetism
- Magnetic elements:
- Declination
- Inclination (dip)
- Horizontal component of Earth’s magnetic field.
- Magnetic elements:
- Magnetisation and Magnetic Properties of Materials
- Magnetisation (M) and magnetic intensity (H).
- Magnetic susceptibility (χm) and permeability (μ).
- Classification of materials: diamagnetic, paramagnetic, ferromagnetic.
- Permanent Magnets and Electromagnets
- Differences and uses.
- Factors affecting the strength of electromagnets.
- Hysteresis
- Hysteresis loop and its significance.
- Retentivity and coercivity.
- Gauss’s Law in Magnetism
- Statement and meaning (no magnetic monopoles).
Chapter 6 – Electromagnetic Induction (Class 12 NCERT Physics)
Chapter 6 – Electromagnetic Induction
What We Will Learn
- Introduction to Electromagnetic Induction
- Discovery by Michael Faraday and Joseph Henry.
- Concept of generating electric current using changing magnetic fields.
- Faraday’s Laws of Electromagnetic Induction
- First Law – An EMF is induced when magnetic flux through a coil changes.
- Second Law – Magnitude of induced EMF = rate of change of magnetic flux.
- Lenz’s Law
- Direction of induced current opposes the change in flux (law of conservation of energy).
- Motional Electromotive Force (EMF)
- EMF produced when a conductor moves in a magnetic field.
- Formula: ε=B l v\varepsilon = B \, l \, v
- Induced EMF in a Rotating Coil
- Working principle of AC generators.
- Eddy Currents
- How they are produced, applications, and ways to reduce them.
- Self-Induction
- Induction of EMF in the same coil due to changing current.
- Definition of self-inductance (L).
- Mutual Induction
- EMF induced in one coil due to changing current in another coil.
- Definition of mutual inductance (M).
- Energy Stored in a Magnetic Field
- Formula for energy stored in an inductor
- Practical Applications
- Transformers, generators, electric brakes, induction cooktops, etc.
Topics Covered – Chapter 7: Alternating Current
- Introduction to alternating current (AC)
- AC voltage applied to a resistor
- AC voltage applied to an inductor
- AC voltage applied to a capacitor
- AC voltage applied to R–L series circuit
- AC voltage applied to R–C series circuit
- AC voltage applied to L–C series circuit
- AC voltage applied to R–L–C series circuit
- Phasor diagrams for AC circuits
- Impedance and reactance
- Resonance in series LCR circuit
- Quality factor (Q-factor)
- Power in AC circuits
- Average and RMS values of current and voltage
- Power factor and its significance
- LC oscillations
- Transformers – principle, working, and applications
- Generation of alternating voltage
Topics Covered – Chapter 8: Electromagnetic Waves
- Introduction to electromagnetic waves
- Displacement current
- Maxwell’s equations
- Nature of electromagnetic waves
- Electromagnetic spectrum
- Properties of electromagnetic waves
- Uses of different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum
Topics Covered – Chapter 9: Ray Optics and Optical Instruments
- Reflection of light by spherical mirrors
- Refraction of light
- Total internal reflection and its applications
- Refraction at spherical surfaces and by lenses
- Refraction through a prism
- Dispersion by a prism
- Some natural phenomena due to sunlight (rainbow, etc.)
- Optical instruments:
- Human eye
- Microscopes
- Telescopes
Topics Covered – Chapter 10: Wave Optics
- Introduction to wave optics
- Huygens’ principle
- Reflection and refraction of plane waves using Huygens’ principle
- Coherent and incoherent sources of light
- Interference of light waves
- Young’s double-slit experiment
- Diffraction of light
- Polarisation of light and its applications
Topics Covered – Chapter 11: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter
- Electron emission
- Photoelectric effect and experimental study
- Einstein’s photoelectric equation and its significance
- Particle nature of light – photon
- Wave nature of matter – de Broglie wavelength
- Davisson–Germer experiment
Topics Covered – Chapter 12: Atoms
- Introduction and history of atomic models
- Thomson’s model of atom
- Rutherford’s nuclear model of atom
- Alpha-particle scattering experiment
- Bohr’s model of hydrogen atom
- Energy levels in an atom
- Spectral series of hydrogen atom
Topics Covered – Chapter 13: Nuclei
- Introduction to nucleus and its properties
- Size, mass, and composition of nucleus
- Nuclear force
- Mass–energy relation and nuclear binding energy
- Nuclear fission
- Nuclear fusion
Topics Covered – Chapter 14: Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits
- Classification of materials: conductors, insulators, and semiconductors
- Intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors
- p–n junction formation and depletion region
- p–n junction diode under forward and reverse bias
- Application of diodes: rectifiers
- Special purpose diodes: Zener diode, LED, photodiode, solar cell
- Junction transistor: structure and working
- Transistor configurations: CB, CE, CC
- Transistor as an amplifier
- Transistor as a switch