CBSE Syllabus Class 11 Physics 2025-26 | PDF for 2026 Exams

Studying physics is knowing about, from the tiniest particle in the universe to the biggest star in space, how they exist and what energy they have around them. Physics makes us understand why the sky appears blue, how force is applied and it reacts back, how cars move, and why things fall to the ground. Every phenomenon that operates in the world has some form of science behind it. 

Studying Class 11 Physics chapters is important for students as it is helpful for them to develop and sharpen their analytical and problem-solving skills. The Physics class 11 syllabus prepares students for advanced concepts, which is beneficial for them if they want to pursue their future careers in science and engineering. 

On this page, you can find direct PDF download links to the latest Class 11 Physics Syllabus 2025-26. We have also added a simple analysis of all the deleted and added topics according to the latest syllabus.

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CBSE 2025-26 Class 11 Physics Syllabus

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Class 11 Physics Syllabus: Section-wise Marking Scheme 2025-26

By going through the Class 11 Physics 2025-26 Syllabus section-wise breakdown and marking scheme, you'll understand the exam paper pattern, how the marks are distributed, and how the questions might be asked. Below is a table provided of the breakdown:

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CBSE Physics Class 11 Syllabus 2026: Blueprint

Physics in Class 11 forms the foundation for advanced concepts in Class 12 and competitive exams like NEET and JEE. The syllabus is divided into two broad sections: Physical world & Measurement, and Mechanics and Thermodynamics. Let's break it down in an easy-to-follow manner.

Unit I: Physical World and Measurements

Chapter–1: Units and Measurements

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

Unit II: Kinematics

Chapter–2: Motion in a Straight Line

Frame of reference, Motion in a straight line, Elementary concepts of differentiation and integration for describing motion, uniform and non- uniform motion, average speed and average velocity and instantaneous velocity, uniformly accelerated motion, velocity - time and position-time graphs. Relations for uniformly accelerated motion (graphical and calculus treatment).

Chapter–3: 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–4: 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– 5: Work, Energy and Power

Work done by a constant force and a variable force; kinetic energy, work-energy theorem, Power. Notion of potential energy, 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–6: 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; centre 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, radius of gyration, values of moments of inertia for simple geometrical objects (no derivation).

Unit VI: Gravitation

Chapter – 7: Gravitation

Kepler's laws of planetary motion, universal law of gravitation. Acceleration due to gravity and its variation with altitude and depth.

Gravitational potential energy and gravitational potential, escape speed, orbital velocity of a satellite, energy of an orbiting satellite.

Unit VII: Properties of Bulk Matter

Chapter–8: 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. Application of elastic behavior of materials (qualitative idea only).

Chapter–9: 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 (Torricelli's law and Dynamic lift).

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–10: 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–11: Thermodynamics

Thermal equilibrium and definition of temperature, zeroth law of thermodynamics, heat, work and internal energy. First law of thermodynamics, Second law of thermodynamics: Thermodynamic state variable and equation of state. 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–12: Kinetic Theory

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

Unit X: Oscillations and Waves

Chapter–13: Oscillations

Periodic motion - time period, frequency, displacement as a function of time, periodic functions and their applications. Simple harmonic motion (S.H.M), uniform circular motion 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–14: Waves

Wave motion: Transverse and longitudinal waves, speed of travelling wave, displacement relation for a progressive wave, principle of superposition of waves, reflection of waves, standing waves in strings and organ pipes, fundamental mode and harmonics, Beats.

Physics Class 11 Syllabus: Practicals

The record, to be submitted by the students at the time of their annual examination, has to include:

• Record at least 8 Experiments (with 4 from each section], to be performed by the students.
• Record at least 6 Activities [with 3 each from section A and section B], to be performed by the students.
• Report of the project carried out by the students.

Evaluation Scheme

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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 diameter of a given wire and thickness of a given sheet using screw gauge.
3. To determine volume of an irregular lamina using 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 graph and use it to find the effective length of second's pendulum.
8. To study the variation of time period of a simple pendulum of a given length by taking bobs of same size but different masses and interpret the result.
9. To study the relationship between force of limiting friction and normal reaction and to find the co- efficient 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 gravitational pull of the earth and study its relationship with the angle of inclination θ by plotting a graph between force and Sinθ.

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 metre 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 of a roller on a horizontal plane.
5. To study the variation in the range of a projectile with the 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

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 method of mixtures.
8. To study the relation between the 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.

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 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 metre 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.

Class 11 Physics Syllabus 2025-26 Exam Resources

To excel in the Class 11 Physics examination, students should utilise the following resources:

A good study plan: If you understand the syllabus thoroughly, it helps you to know exactly what topics and chapters are covered in the textbook throughout the year. This makes sure that you rule out your timetable and study effectively based on the weight and priority of different topics.

Managing resources: When you know the syllabus, you can gather the right study materials, such as textbooks, reference books, and online resources. This helps you avoid wasting time on unimportant topics and focus on topics that are going to be there in the exam paper for sure. 

Identification of important topics: Knowing the syllabus for physics helps you identify key topics and concepts that are important for exams. This allows you to focus your studies on areas with higher weight and better manage your time.

Study Plan Using Class 11 Physics Syllabus 2026

Physics is a fundamental subject in Class 11, and a well-structured study plan can help students grasp concepts effectively. This plan is designed to help students manage their time efficiently, cover the entire syllabus, and prepare for exams with confidence.

How to Use This Study Plan

• Study theory first and then move to numerical problems.
• Maintain a formula sheet for quick revision.
• Solve NCERT examples and exercises before referring to extra books.
• Revise regularly and take mock tests.

Phase 1: Foundation Building (1st Month)

Week 1 & 2: Understanding the Basics

• Read Physical World (Introduction to Physics).
• Learn Units and Measurements (SI units, significant figures, errors in measurement).
• Solve basic numerical problems on measurement.

Week 3 & 4: Kinematics

• Study Motion in a Straight Line (Graphs, Equations of Motion).
• Understand Motion in a Plane (Projectile Motion, Vectors).
• Solve previous years’ questions on Kinematics.

Phase 2: Core Mechanics (2nd & 3rd Month)

Week 5 & 6: Laws of Motion

• Learn Newton’s Laws with real-life applications.
• Understand Free-Body Diagrams and Friction.
• Solve numerical problems from NCERT and exemplar books.

Week 7 & 8: Work, Energy, and Power

• Study Work-Energy Theorem and Conservation of Energy.
• Learn Power and its Applications.
• Practice derivations and formulas.

Week 9 & 10: Rotational Motion and Gravitation

• Study Centre of Mass, Torque, and Angular Momentum.
• Learn about Kepler’s Laws and Satellite Motion.
• Solve previous years’ numerical problems.

Phase 3: Fluids, Thermodynamics & Kinetic Theory (4th & 5th Month)

Week 11 & 12: Properties of Bulk Matter

• Understand Elasticity, Pascal’s Law, and Surface Tension.
• Solve problems based on Bernoulli’s Theorem.

Week 13 & 14: Thermodynamics and Kinetic Theory

• Learn the First & Second Law of Thermodynamics.
• Study Heat Engines, Refrigerators, and Gas Laws.
• Revise and practice conceptual and numerical problems.

Phase 4: Oscillations & Waves (6th Month)

Week 15 & 16: Oscillations and Waves

• Study Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM), Damped & Forced Oscillations.
• Understand Wave Properties, Sound, and Doppler Effect.
• Solve numerical problems and revise formulas.

Revision Plan (Final 2 Months)

• Month 7: Solve NCERT back exercises and PYQs from all topics.
• Month 8: Take mock tests and sample papers under timed conditions.

Additional Tips for Success

• Use flashcards for formulas.
• Make short notes for last-minute revision.
• Join study groups for doubt-solving.
• Attempt previous years’ papers for pattern analysis.

By following this structured Class 11 Physics study plan, students can build a strong conceptual base and excel in their CBSE exams. Stay consistent, and success will follow!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Has CBSE released the 2025-26 syllabus for class 11?

The updated CBSE class 11 syllabus has been released by the Central Board of Secondary Education for the academic session of 2025-26. There has been no reduction in the syllabus this time.

2. What is the new update for CBSE exams in 2025-26?

Beginning in 2025-26, students in classes X and XII will be the first to take multiple board exams. According to the official, there will be no requirement to take the twice-yearly board exams for Class X and XII under the new system.

3. Is the 11th class syllabus changed?

Yes, there are changes in CBSE Class 11 Syllabus 2025-26 here for all the subjects.

4. Can I complete 4 chapters in one day of physics?

It depends on person to person. The CBSE course is not so hard, but practice makes man perfect. I cover 3–4 chapters of physics per day. Sometimes you have to do some extra practice for the chapters, so only 2 chapters cover a day.