CUET (UG) Physics Syllabus 2025 PDF Download
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CUET (UG) Physics Syllabus 2025
The CUET (UG) Physics Syllabus for the CUET (UG) 2025 is available by the National Testing Agency. The CUET (UG) Physics Syllabus is available for review from the link below. The CUET (UG) 2025 Physics syllabus defines and describes each unit covered on the CUET (UG) 2025 Physics exam.
Academic year:
NTA Entrance Exam Physics Revised Syllabus
Units and Topics
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Syllabus
1 Electrostatics
- Electric Charge
- Key Points: Electric Charge
- Coulomb’s Law
- Scalar Form of Coulomb’s Law
- Introduction
- Statement
- Analysis
- Permittivity and Dielectrics
- Comparison with Gravitation
- Importance
- Scalar Form of Coulomb’s Law
- Principle of Superposition
- Derivation
- Force on a Charge at the Centroid
- Example
- Continuous Charge Distribution
- Introduction
- Linear Charge Density
- Surface Charge Density
- Volume Charge Density
- We Don't Feel Earth's Charge
- Static Charge: Use and Safety
- Electric Field
- Definition: Electric Field
- Derivation
- DImensional Formula
- Intensity of Electric Field
- Electric Field Intensity Due to a Point-Charge
- Derivation
- Uniform Electric Field
- Non Uniform Electric Field
- Electric Lines of Force
- Definition: Line of Force
- Characteristics of Electric Lines of Force
- Imaginary Lines, Real Uses
- Electric Dipole
- Definition: Dipole
- Definition: Axial Line
- Definition: Equitorial Line
- Definition: Dipole Moment
- Natural Dipole
- Dipole in a Uniform External Field
- Torque on a Dipole in Uniform Electric Fleld
- Work of an electric dipole
- Electric Flux
- Electric Flux
- Derivation
- Special Cases
- Gauss’s Law
- Definition
- Origin
- Statement
- Derivation
- Example
- Gaussian Surface
- Area Vector
- Solid Angle
- Applications of Gauss' Theorem
- Electric Field due to a Point Charge
- Electric field due to an Infinite Line of Charge
- Electric Field due to an Infinite Plane Sheet of Charge
- Electric Field due to Two Infinite Parallel Sheets of Charge
- Electric Field Intensity Just Outside a Charged Conductor
- Electric Field due to a Uniformly Charged Thin Spherical Shell
- Electric Field due to a Uniformly Charged Sphere (Optional)
- Uniformly Charged Infinite Plane Sheet and Uniformly Charged Thin Spherical Shell (Field Inside and Outside)
- Electric Potential
- Introduction
- SI Unit of Potential
- Physical Interpretat ion of Electric Potential
- Potential and Potential Difference
- Introduction
- Definition: Potential at a Point
- Definition: Potential Difference
- Formula: Electric Potential at a Point
- Formula: Potential Difference
- Key Points: Potential and Potential Difference
- Potential Due to a Point Charge
- Electric Potential Due to Point Charge
- Potential Due to an Electric Dipole
- Potential at a Point on the Axis of the Dipole
- Potential at a Point on the Equatorial Line of the Dipole
- Potential at any Point
- Difference between Electric Potential at a Point due to a Single Point Charge and an Electric Dipole
- Work Done In Rotating an Electric Dipole In an Electric Field
- Potential Due to a System of Charges
- system of charges
- Equipotential Surfaces
- Definition
- Properties
- Electrical Potential Energy of a System of Two Point Charges and of Electric Dipole in an Electrostatic Field
- Electric potential energy
- Electric potential energy of a system of two point charges
- Electric potential energy of an electric dipole in uniform electric field
- Dipole-dipole interaction
- Equilibrium of charges
- Types of equilibrium
1) Stable equilibrium
2) Unstable equilibrium
3) Neutral equilibrium - Different cases of equilibrium of charge
- Conductors and Insulators Related to Electric Field
- Free Charges and Bound Charges Inside a Conductor
- Dielectrics
- Definition: Dielectrics
- Dielectric Constant
- Polar and Non-polar Dielectric Molecules
- Capacitors and Capacitance
- Capacitance
- Redistribution of charges and concept of common potential
- Capacitance of an isolated spherical conductor
- Capacitor
- Principle of a capacitor
- Types of capacitor
1) Parallel plate capacitor
2) Spherical capacitor
3) Cylindrical capacitor - Applications of capacitors
- Combination of Capacitors
- In Series
- In Parallel
- Capacitance of a Parallel Plate Capacitor with and Without Dielectric Medium Between the Plates
- Capacitance of parallel plate capacitor without dielectric medium
- Capacitance of parallel plate capacitor with dielectric slab between the plates
- Energy Stored in a Charged Capacitor
- Introduction
- Energy Stored in a Combination of Capacitors
- Energy Density in a Capacitor
- Force between the Plates of a Charged Parallel-Plate Capacitor
- Charges Induced on the Surfaces of a Dielectric Slab Placed between the
Plates of Parallel-Plate Capacitor
- Van De Graaff Generator
- Principle
2 Current Electricity
- Electric Current
- Definition: Current
- Definition: Electric Current
- Key Points: Electric Current
- Flow of Electric Charges in a Metallic Conductor
- Drift of Electrons and the Origin of Resistivity
- Drift velocity
- Relaxation time
- Mobility of electron
- Relation of drift velocity with current
- Ohm's Law
- Definition: Conductance
- Law: Ohm's Law
- Electric Resistance
- Definition: Electric Resistance
- Key Points: Electric Resistance
- V-I Characteristics (Linear and Non-linear)
- Forms of Energy > Electrical Energy
- Definition: Electrical Energy
- Electrical Power
- Definition: Electric Power
- Formula: Electric Power
- Key Points: Electric Power
- Specific Resistance
- Definition: Specific Resistance
- Definition: Conductivity
- Key Points: Specific Resistance
- Resistivity of Various Materials
- Carbon resistors
- Colour code for carbon resistors
- Resistance of a System of Resistors
- Temperature Dependence of Resistance
- Temperature dependence of resistance
- Cells, Emf, Internal Resistance
- E.M.F. and Internal Resistance of Cell
- Potential Difference and Emf of a Cell
- Cells in Series
- Introduction
- Advantages
- Kirchhoff’s Laws
- Kirchhoff's First Law or Junction Rule
- Kirchhoff's Second Law or Loop Rule
- Wheatstone Bridge
- Introduction
- Definition: Wheatstone’s Bridge
- Derivation
- Metre Bridge: Slide-Wire Bridge
- Description
- Determination of Resistance
- Errors and Their Removal
- Potentiometer
- Principle
- Sensitivity of Potentiometer
- Construction
- Precautions
- Superiority of Potentiometer over Voltmeter
- Measurement of Internal Resistance of a Cell
3 Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism
- Magnetic force
- Introduction
- Experiment
- Oersted's Experiment
- Introduction
- Experiment
- Observations
- Explanation
- Inference
- Biot-Savart Law
- Introduction
- Derivation
- Biot-Savart's Law in Terms of Current Density
- Units and Dimensions
- Magnetic Field on the Axis of a Circular Current Loop
- Ampere’s Circuital Law
- Straight and Toroidal Solenoids (Only Qualitative Treatment)
- Solenoid and the Toroid - the Solenoid
- Solenoid and the Toroid - the Toroid
- Force on a Moving Charge in Uniform Magnetic and Electric Fields
- Cyclotron
- Description
- Construction
- Theory and Working
- Achievement of Resonance Condition
- Limitations
- Kinetic Energy of Particles Accelerated in a Cyclotron
- Force on a Current - Carrying Conductor in a Uniform Magnetic Field
- Description
- Right-hand Palm Rule No. 2
- Fleming's Left-hand Rule
- Expression for the Force
- Force Between Two Parallel Currents, the Ampere
- Definition of Ampere
- Force Between Two Parallel Current-carrying Conductors
- Roget's Spiral For Attraction Between parallel currents
- Torque on a Current-Loop in a Uniform Magnetic Field
- Moving Coil Galvanometer
- Description
- Suspended-coil Galvanometer
- Radial Field
- Working
- Pivoted-coil (or Weston) Galvanometer
- Current Loop as a Magnetic Dipole: Magnetic Dipole Moment of Current Loop
- Magnetic Dipole Moment of a Revolving Electron
- Magnetic Field Intensity Due to a Magnetic Dipole (Bar Magnet) Perpendicular to Its Axis
- Torque on a Magnetic Dipole (Bar Magnet) in a Uniform Magnetic Field
- The Bar Magnet
- Introduction
- Axis
- Equator
- Magnetic Length
- Properties of magnetic lines of force
- The Earth’s Magnetism
- Introduction
- Magnetic Axis
- Magnetic Equator
- Geographic Meridian
- Magnetic Meridian
- Magnetic Declination
- Magnetic Inclination or Angle of Dip
- Earth’s Magnetic Field
- Special Cases
- Magnetic Maps of the Earth
- Example 1
- Example 2
- Magnetic Properties of Materials
- Permanent Magnet
4 Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents
- Electromagnetic Induction
- Definition: Electromagnetic Induction
- Faraday's Laws of Electromagnetic Induction
- Definition: Faraday's Law of Induction
- Law: Faraday's First Law or Neumann's Law
- Law: Faraday's Second Law or Lenz's Law
- Induced Current and Induced Charge
- Lenz’s Law and Conservation of Energy
- Lenz's Law
- Eddy Currents or Foucault Currents
- Explanation
- Applications
- Inductance
- Self Inductance
- Self Induction
- Factors affecting self inductance (L)
- Self Inductance
- Peak and Rms Value of Alternating Current Or Voltage
- Reactance and Impedance
- LC Oscillations
- Different Types of AC Circuits: AC Voltage Applied to a Series LCR Circuit
- LCR Series Circuit
- Phasor-diagram solution
- Analytical solution
- Resonance - Sharpness of resonance
- Power in AC Circuit
- Circuit Containing Pure Resistance Only
- Circuit Containing both Inductance and Resistance (L-R Circuit)
- A.C. Generator
- Principle
- Construction and Its Main Parts
- Working
- Frequency of Altering Current
- Transformers
- Introduction
- Principle
- Construction
- Theory
- Energy Losses in a Transformer
- Utility of Transformers in Long-distance Power Transmission
- Types of Transformer
- Examples
- Uses of Transformers
- Table
5 Electromagnetic Waves
- Displacement Current
- EM Wave
- Basic Laws and their Origin
- Transverse Nature of Electromagnetic Waves
- Electromagnetic Spectrum
- Definition: Invisible Spectrum
- Key Points: Electromagnetic Spectrum
- Elementary Facts About Electromagnetic Wave Uses
6 Optics
- Reflection of Light
- Introduction
- Activity
- Experiment
- Key Points: Reflection of Light
- Reflection of Light by Spherical Mirrors
- Sign convention
- Focal length of spherical mirrors
- The mirror equation
- Ray Optics - Mirror Formula
- Introduction
- Definition: Object Distance
- Definition: Image Distance
- Definition: Focal Length
- Formula: Mirror Formula
- Formula: Magnification
- Example 1
- Example 2
- Refraction of Light
- Definition: Refraction
- Definition: Refracted Light
- Definition: Refraction of Light
- Key Points: Refraction of Light
- Total Internal Reflection
- Definition: Total Internal Reflection
- Refraction at a Spherical Surface and Lenses
- Introduction
- Refraction at Spherical Surfaces
- Refraction at spherical surfaces
- Refraction from rarer to denser medium
- Refraction from denser medium to rarer medium
- Refraction by a Lens
- Thin Lenses and Their Combination
- Analysis
- Derivation
- Behavior of Lenses in Different Mediums
- Thin Lens Formula
- Lens Maker's Formula
- Magnification
- Power of a Lens
- Definition: Power of a Lens
- Formula: Power of a Lens
- Refraction of Light Through a Prism
- Dispersion by a Prism
- Applications of Scattering of Light
- Key Points: Applications of Scattering of Light
- Optical Instruments
- Introduction
- Magnifying Power
- Simple Microscope or a Reading Glass
- Introduction
- Derivation
- Limiting Cases
- Example
- Compound Microscope
- Introduction
- Derivation
- Remarks
- Example
- Telescope
- Introduction
- Magnifying Power of a Telescope
- Example
- Optical Instruments: the Eye
- Nearsightedness (myopia)
- Farsightedness (hypermetropia)
- Astigmatism
- The Human Eye
- Key Points: The Human Eye
- Defects of Vision and Their Corrections > Myopia
- Key Points: Myopia
- Defects of Vision and Their Corrections > Hypermetropia
- Key Points: Hypermetropia
- Introduction of Wave Optics
- Wave Optics
- Newton's Corpuscular Theory of light
- Maxwell's Electromagnetic Theory
- Huygens' Wave Theory of light
- Merits of Huygens' Wave Theory
- Limitations of Huygens' wave theory
- Properties of Luminiferous Ether
- Huygens' Principle
- Wavefront
- Wave normal
- Wave surface
- Huygens' Principle
- Spherical Wavefront
- Plane Wavefront
- Cylindrical wavefront
- Reflection and Refraction of Plane Wave at a Plane Surface Using Wave Fronts
- Proof of Laws of Reflection and Refraction Using Huygens' Principle
- Proof of laws of reflection by using Huygens' principle
- Proof of laws of refraction using Huygens' Principle
- Interference
- Interference of Light Waves and Young’s Experiment
- Young's Double Slit Experiment and Expression for Fringe Width or Young’s Experiment
- Young's double-slit experiment: set up, diagram, geometrical deduction of path difference ∆x = dsinθ, between waves from the two slits
- Using ∆x = nλ for bright fringe and ∆x = (n + ½)λ for dark fringe and sin θ = tan θ = yn/D as y and θ are small, obtain yn = (D/d)nλ and fringe width β = (D/d)λ.
- Graph of distribution of intensity with angular distance.
- Coherent and Incoherent Sources and Sustained Interference of Light
- Coherent sources
- Incoherent sources
- Sustained interference pattern
- Conditions necessary to obtain sustained (steady) interference pattern
- Fraunhofer Diffraction Due to a Single Slit
- Single slit Fraunhofer diffraction (elementary explanation only)
- Formulae based comparison between secondary maxima and minima
- Diffraction at a single slit: experimental setup, diagram, diffraction pattern, obtain an expression for the position of minima, a sinθn = nλ, where n = 1, 2, 3 … and conditions for secondary maxima, asinθn = (n + ½)λ.
- Distribution of intensity with angular distance
- Diffraction at plane grating
- Diffraction due to circular aperture
- Comparison between interference and diffraction
- Fresnel distance
- Width of Central Maximum
- Diffraction of Light
- Resolving Power of Microscope and Astronomical Telescope
- Resolution of images
- Rayleigh's criterion for resolution
- Resolving the power of an optical instrument
- Resolving power of microscope
- Resolving power of telescopes
- Seeing the Single Slit Diffraction Pattern
- The Single Slit
- The Validity of Ray Optics
- Resolving Power of Microscope and Astronomical Telescope
- Polarisation
- Method of producing polarised light
- Polarisation by reflection
- By Dichroism
- By double refraction
- Nicol prism
- By scattering
- Uses of plane polarised light and Polaroids
- Plane Polarised Light
- Brewster's Law
7 Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation
- Photoelectric Effect and Wave Theory of Light
- Photoelectric Effect - Hertz’s Observations
- Photoelectric Effect - Hallwachs’ and Lenard’s Observations
- Hertz and Lenard's Observations
- Hallwach and Lenard's Experiment
- Einstein’s Equation - Particle Nature of Light
- Einstein's equation Emax = hυ - W0; threshold frequency
- Einstein used Planck’s ideas and extended it to apply for radiation (light); the photoelectric effect can be explained only assuming the quantum (particle) nature of radiation.
- Determination of Planck’s constant (from the graph of stopping potential Vs versus frequency f of the incident light).
- Momentum of photon p = E/c = hν/c = h/λ.
- Wave Nature of Matter
- Matter waves
- De Broglie wave relation
- De Broglie wavelength of an electron
- Ratio of de Broglie wavelengths of photon and electron
- de-Broglie Relation
- De Broglie hypothesis, phenomenon of electron diffraction (qualitative only).
- Wave nature of radiation is exhibited in interference, diffraction and polarisation; particle nature is exhibited in photoelectric effect.
- Dual nature of matter: particle nature common in that it possesses momentum p and kinetic energy KE. The
wave nature of matter was proposed by Louis de Broglie, λ = h/p = h/mv.
- Davisson and Germer Experiment
8 Atoms and Nuclei
- Alpha-particle Scattering and Rutherford’s Nuclear Model of Atom
- Alpha-particle Scattering Experiment and Rutherford's Model of Atom
- Alpha-particle trajectory
- Electron orbits
- Rutherford’s nuclear model of atom (mathematical theory of scattering excluded), based on Geiger - Marsden experiment on α-scattering; nuclear radius r in terms of closest approach of α particle to the nucleus,
obtained by equating ∆K = ½ mv2 of the α particle to the change in electrostatic potential energy ∆U of the system `"U" = (2e xx "Ze")/(4πε_0r_0) r_0 ∼ 10^(-15) "m" = 1` fermi; atomic structure; only general qualitative ideas, including atomic number Z, Neutron number N and mass number A.
- Bohr’s Model for Hydrogen Atom
- Explanation of the line spectrum of hydrogen using Bohr theory
- Bohr's theory and atomic spectrum of hydrogen
- Ionization energy
- Energy Levels
- Hydrogen Spectrum
- Atomic Masses and Composition of Nucleus
- Composition and Size of Nucleus
- Isotopes
- Definition: Isotopes
- Examples
- Radioactivity
- Introduction
- Becquerel Rays
- Radioactivity is a Nuclear Phenomenon
- Discovery of Radioactivity
- Radioactive Substances
- Types of Radiation Emitted by Radioactive Substances
- Alpha Decay
Alpha Particles Or Rays and Their Properties
- Beta Decay
Beta Particles Or Rays and Their Properties
- Gamma Decay
- Gamma Particles Or Rays and Their Properties
- Law of Radioactive Decay
- Atomic Mass, Mass - Energy Relation and Mass Defect
- Atomic Mass
- Mass-Energy Relation
- Mass Defect
- Packing fraction
- Mass-energy and Nuclear Binding Energy
- Nuclear Binding Energy
- Binding Energy per Nucleon and Its Variation with Mass Number
- Mass - Energy
- Nuclear Binding Energy
- Forms of Energy > Nuclear Energy
- Definition: Nuclear Energy
- Nuclear Fission
- Definition: Nuclear Fission
- Explanation
- Calculation of Energy Released in One Fission
- Controlled and Uncontrolled Chain Reactions
9 Electronic Devices
- Energy Bands in Conductors, Semiconductors and Insulators
- Elementary ideas about electrical conduction in metals [crystal structure not included]. Energy levels (as for hydrogen atom), 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, etc. of an isolated atom such as that of copper; these split, eventually forming ‘bands’ of energy levels, as we consider solid copper made up of a large number of isolated atoms, brought together to form a lattice; definition of energy bands - groups of closely spaced energy levels separated by band gaps called forbidden bands.
- An idealized representation of the energy bands for a conductor, insulator and semiconductor; characteristics, differences; distinction between conductors, insulators and semiconductors on the basis of energy bands, with examples; qualitative discussion only; energy gaps (eV) in typical substances (carbon, Ge, Si); some electrical properties of semiconductors.
- Semiconductor Diode
- Semiconductor Diode
- Potential barrier at the junction diode
- Biasing of the p-n junction diode
1) Forward biasing
2) Reverse biasing - V-I Characteristics of a p-n junction diode
1) p-n junction diode under forward bias: Cut-off or knee voltage
2) p-n junction diode under reverse bias: Breakdown voltage
3) Reverse Breakdown: Zener breakdown, Avalanche breakdown - Dynamic Resistance
- Diode as a Rectifier
- Special Purpose P-n Junction Diodes
- Special Purpose p-n Junction Diodes: Led, Photodiode, Solar Cell and Zener Diode
- characteristics of Led, Photodiode, Solar Cell and Zener Diode
- Zener diode
- Optoelectronic junction devices - Photodiode, Light emitting diode, Solar cell
- Zener Diode as a Voltage Regulator
- Zener diode
- I-V characteristics of Zener diode
- Zener diode as voltage regulator
- Line regulation in Zener diode
- Load regulation in Zener diode
- Ratings of a Zener diode
- Junction Transistor
- Feedback Amplifier and Transistor Oscillator
- Transistor as an oscillator: Construction, Working
- Gain and Berkhausen's criterion
- Uses
- Transistor as an Amplifier (Ce-configuration)
- npn Transistor as Common Emitter Amplifier
- Various gains in amplifiers
- Comparison between CB, CE and CC amplifier
- Feedback Amplifier and Transistor Oscillator
- Transistor Action
- Transistor and Characteristics of a Transistor
- Configurations of a transistor
i) Common-base configuration (CB)
ii) Common-emitter configuration (CE)
iii) Common-collector configuration (CC) - Types of characteristic curves
i) Input characteristics curve
ii) Output characteristics curve
iii) Transfer characteristics curve - Transistor characteristics in CE configuration
a) Input Characteristics
b) Output characteristics of a transistor: Active region, Cut-off region, Saturation region - Different modes of operation of a transistor
- Current-transfer Characteristics
- Transistor as a switch
- Configurations of a transistor
- Digital Electronics and Logic Gates
- Logic Gates (OR, AND, NOT, NAND and NOR)
- Logic gates - NOT gate, OR Gate, AND Gate, NAND Gate, NOR Gate
- Basic Idea of Analog and Digital Signals
- Transistor as a Switch
10 Communication Systems
- Bandwidth of Signals
- Bandwidth of Signals (Speech, TV and Digital Data)
- Bandwidth of Transmission Medium
- Propagation of EM Waves
- Introduction
- Ionizing Radiations
- Applications of X-rays in Medicine and Industry
- Need for Modulation and Demodulation
- Production of Amplitude Modulated Wave
- Detection of Amplitude Modulated Wave
