NEET Physics Syllabus 2024

The National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) Undergraduate (UG) is conducted for candidates seeking admission to various medical and dental undergraduate courses. It is conducted by the NTA (National Testing Agency). The examination consists of three main subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

Class 11 Physics Syllabus for NEET

Unit 1. Physical world and measurement

• Introduction to Physics
• Units and Dimensions
• Motion in a Straight Line
• Vectors

Unit 2. Kinematics

• Motion in a Plane
• Projectile Motion
• Uniform Circular Motion

Unit 3. Laws of motion

• Newton’s Laws of Motion
• Friction
• Work, Energy, and Power

Unit 4. Motion of systems of particles and rigid body

• Centre of Mass
• Momentum and Impulse
• Rotational Motion

Unit 5. Gravitation

• Universal Law of Gravitation
• Gravitational Potential Energy
• Escape Velocity

Unit 6: Solids and Fluids

• Elasticity:

  • Elastic behavior and stress-strain relationship.
  • Hooke’s law, Young’s modulus, bulk modulus, shear modulus, and Poisson’s ratio.
  • Elastic energy.

• Viscosity:

  • Viscosity and Stokes’ law.
  • Terminal velocity, Reynolds number, streamline, and turbulent flow.
  • Critical velocity.
  • Bernoulli’s theorem and its applications.

• Surface Tension:

  • Surface energy and surface tension.
  • Angle of contact and excess pressure.
  • Applications of surface tension to drops, bubbles, and capillary rise.

• Thermal Properties:

  • Heat, temperature, and thermal expansion.
  • Thermal expansion of solids, liquids, and gases.
  • Anomalous expansion.
  • Specific heat capacity (Cp and Cv) and calorimetry.
  • Change of state and latent heat.

• Heat Transfer:

  • Conduction and thermal conductivity.
  • Convection and radiation.
  • Qualitative ideas of blackbody radiation, Wien’s displacement law, and the greenhouse effect.

• Newton’s Law of Cooling and Stefan’s Law:

  • Newton’s law of cooling.
  • Stefan’s law.

Unit 7: Thermodynamics

• Thermal Equilibrium and Temperature:

  • Thermal equilibrium and the definition of temperature (zeroth law of thermodynamics).
  • Heat, work, and internal energy.
  • The first law of thermodynamics.
  • Isothermal and adiabatic processes.

• Second Law of Thermodynamics:

  • Reversible and irreversible processes.
  • Heat engines and refrigerators.

Unit 8: Behavior of Perfect Gas and Kinetic Theory

• Equation of State of a Perfect Gas:

  • Equation of state of a perfect gas.
  • Work done on compressing a gas.

• Kinetic Theory of Gases:

  • Assumptions of the kinetic theory of gases.
  • The concept of pressure.
  • Kinetic energy and temperature.
  • Degrees of freedom and the law of equipartition of energy (statement only).
  • Application to specific heat capacities of gases.
  • The concept of mean free path.

Unit 9: Oscillations and Waves

• Periodic Motion:

  • Periodic motion - period, frequency, and displacement as a function of time.
  • Periodic functions.

• Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM):

  • Simple harmonic motion (SHM) and its equation.
  • Phase.
  • Oscillations of a spring - restoring force and force constant.
  • Energy in SHM - kinetic and potential energies.

• Simple Pendulum:

  • Simple pendulum - derivation of the expression for its time period.

• Damped Oscillations:

  • Free, forced, and damped oscillations (qualitative ideas only).
  • Resonance.

• Wave Motion:

  • Wave motion.
  • Longitudinal and transverse waves.
  • Speed of wave motion.
  • Displacement relation for a progressive wave.

• Superposition of Waves:

  • Principle of superposition of waves.

• Reflection and Standing Waves:

  • Reflection of waves.
  • Standing waves in strings and organ pipes.
  • Fundamental mode and harmonics.

• Beats and Doppler Effect:

  • Beats.
  • Doppler effect.

Class 12 Physics Syllabus for NEET

• Electrostatics
• Current Electricity
• Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism
• Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents
• Electromagnetic Waves
• Optics
• Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation
• Atoms and Nuclei
• Electronic Devices

Unit 1: Electrostatics

• Electric charges and their conservation. Coulomb’s law-force between two point charges, 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 a uniform electric field
• Electric flux, statement of Gauss’s theorem and its applications to find field due to infinitely long straight wire, uniformly charged infinite plane sheet and uniformly charged thin spherical shell (field inside and outside)
• Electric potential, potential difference, electric potential due to a point charge, a dipole and system of charges: equipotential surfaces, electrical potential energy of a system of two point charges and of electric diploes in an electrostatic field
• Conductors and insulators, free charges and bound charges inside a conductor. Dielectrics and electric polarization, capacitors and capacitance, combination of capacitors in series and in parallel, capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with and without dielectric medium between the plates, energy stored in a capacitor, Van de Graaff generator

Unit 2: Current Electricity

• Electric current, the flow of electric charges in a metallic conductor, drift velocity and mobility, and their relation with electric current; Ohm’s law, electrical resistance, V-I characteristics (liner and non-linear), electrical energy and power, electrical resistivity, and conductivity
• Carbon resistors, color code for carbon resistors; series and parallel combinations of resistors; temperature dependence of resistance
• Internal resistance of a cell, potential difference and emf of a cell, combination of cells in series and in parallel
• Kirchhoff’s laws and simple applications. Wheatstone bridge, metre bridge
• Potentiometer-principle and applications to measure potential difference, and for comparing emf of two cells; measurement of internal resistance of a cell

Unit 3: Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism

• Magnetic Field: The region around a magnet or current-carrying conductor where its magnetic influence can be detected is called a magnetic field.

• Oersted’s Experiment: Demonstrated that an electric current can create a magnetic field.

• Biot-Savart Law: Provides a mathematical formula to calculate the magnetic field strength at a point due to a current-carrying wire.

• Ampere’s Law: Relates the magnetic field around a current-carrying wire to the current flowing through it.

• Force on a Moving Charge: A moving charge experiences a force when it enters a magnetic field. The direction of this force is given by the right-hand rule.

• Cyclotron: A device that uses a magnetic field to accelerate charged particles in a circular path.

• Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor: A current-carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field experiences a force. The direction of this force is given by the right-hand rule.

• Torque on a Current Loop: A current-carrying loop placed in a magnetic field experiences a torque. The direction of this torque is given by the right-hand rule.

• Moving Coil Galvanometer: A device that uses a current-carrying coil suspended in a magnetic field to measure electric current.

• Magnetic Dipole: A current loop or a bar magnet can be considered a magnetic dipole. It has a magnetic dipole moment, which is a measure of its magnetic strength.

• Magnetic Field of a Dipole: The magnetic field due to a magnetic dipole can be calculated using mathematical equations.

• Earth’s Magnetic Field: The Earth has a magnetic field that protects it from harmful solar radiation. It has a magnetic north and south pole.

• Magnetic Materials: Materials can be classified into paramagnetic, diamagnetic, and ferromagnetic based on their magnetic properties.

• Electromagnets: Devices that use electric current to create a magnetic field. They can be turned on and off by controlling the electric current.

Unit 4: Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents

• Electromagnetic Induction: The process by which a changing magnetic field induces an electromotive force (emf) in a conductor.

• Faraday’s Law: Provides a mathematical formula to calculate the emf induced in a conductor due to a changing magnetic field.

• Lenz’s Law: Determines the direction of the induced emf and current.

• Eddy Currents: Circulating currents induced in a conductor due to a changing magnetic field. They can cause energy loss.

• Self-Inductance: The property of a coil to oppose changes in current flowing through it by generating an emf.

• Mutual Inductance: The property of two coils to induce emf in each other when the current in one coil changes.

• Alternating Currents: Electric currents that reverse direction periodically.

• Peak and RMS Values: The peak value of an alternating current is the maximum value it reaches, while the root mean square (rms) value is the effective value of the current.

• Reactance and Impedance: Reactance is the opposition to the flow of alternating current due to inductance and capacitance, while impedance is the total opposition to the flow of alternating current.

• LC Oscillations: Oscillations that occur in a circuit containing an inductor and a capacitor.

• LCR Series Circuit: A circuit containing an inductor, a capacitor, and a resistor connected in series.

• Resonance: The condition in an LCR series circuit when the inductive reactance and capacitive reactance cancel each other out, resulting in maximum current flow.

• Power in AC Circuits: The power consumed in an AC circuit is determined by the voltage, current, and power factor.

• AC Generator: A device that converts mechanical energy into alternating current.

• Transformer: A device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another through electromagnetic induction.

Unit 5: Electromagnetic Waves

• Displacement Current: A theoretical current that is introduced to explain the propagation of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum.

• Electromagnetic Waves: Transverse waves that consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields. They travel at the speed of light.

• Transverse Nature: The electric and magnetic fields in electromagnetic waves are perpendicular to the direction of propagation.

• Electromagnetic Spectrum: The entire range of electromagnetic waves, including radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays.

• Uses of Electromagnetic Waves: Different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum have various applications, such as communication, heating, imaging, and medical treatments.

Unit 6: Optics

• Reflection of Light: When light strikes a surface, some of it is reflected back. The angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence.

• Spherical Mirrors: Mirrors with a curved reflecting surface. They can form real or virtual images of objects.

• Refraction of Light: When light passes from one medium to another, its speed changes, causing it to bend. The angle of refraction depends on the refractive indices of the two media.

• Total Internal Reflection: When light strikes a boundary between two media at an angle greater than the critical angle, it is completely reflected back.

• Optical Fibers: Thin, flexible strands of glass or plastic that transmit light through total internal reflection.

• Lenses: Transparent optical devices that can converge or diverge light rays.

• Thin Lens Formula: A mathematical equation that relates the object distance, image distance, and focal length of a thin lens.

• Lensmaker’s Formula: A mathematical equation that relates the focal length of a lens to its radii of curvature.

• Magnification: The ratio of the size of the image formed by a lens to the size of the object.

• Power of a Lens: The ability of a lens to converge or diverge light rays. It is measured in diopters.

• Combination of Lenses: The total power of a combination of lenses is the sum of the powers of individual lenses.

• Refraction and Dispersion of Light: When light passes through a prism, it is refracted and dispersed into its component colors.

• Scattering of Light: The scattering of light by particles in the atmosphere causes the blue color of the sky and the reddish appearance of the sun at sunrise and sunset.

• Optical Instruments: Devices that use lenses or mirrors to produce magnified images. Examples include microscopes and telescopes.

• Wave Optics: The study of light as a wave phenomenon.

• Wavefront: A surface of constant phase in a wave.

• Huygens’ Principle: Each point on a wavefront can be considered as a source of secondary wavelets, and the wavefront at a later time can be constructed by superposing these secondary wavelets.

• Interference: The superposition of two or more waves to produce a new wave pattern.

• Young’s Double Hole Experiment: Demonstrated the wave nature of light by observing the interference of light waves from two closely spaced slits.

• Diffraction: The spreading out of light waves when they pass through a narrow aperture or around an obstacle.

• Resolving Power: The ability of an optical instrument to distinguish between two closely spaced objects.

• Polarization: The process of restricting the vibrations of light waves to a single plane.

• Brewster’s Law: The angle of incidence at which light is completely polarized upon reflection from a dielectric surface.

• Uses of Polarized Light: Polarized light is used in various applications, such as sunglasses, 3D glasses, and liquid crystal displays (LCDs).

Unit 7: Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation

• Photoelectric Effect: The emission of electrons from a metal surface when light of sufficient energy strikes it.

• Hertz and Lenard’s Observations: Demonstrated the photoelectric effect and observed that the maximum kinetic energy of emitted electrons increases with the frequency of light.

• Einstein’s Photoelectric Equation: Provides a mathematical explanation of the photoelectric effect and introduces the concept of photons, which are quanta of light.

Unit 8: Atoms and Nuclei

• Matter waves: Particles exhibit wave-like behavior. The de Broglie relation connects the wavelength of a particle to its momentum.
• Davisson-Germer experiment confirmed the wave nature of electrons through interference patterns.
• Rutherford’s model of the atom, based on alpha-particle scattering experiments, revealed a tiny, dense nucleus surrounded by electrons.
• Bohr’s model introduced quantized energy levels for electrons, explaining the hydrogen spectrum.
• Atomic nuclei consist of protons and neutrons. Atomic masses, isotopes (atoms with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons), isobars (atoms with the same mass number but different atomic numbers), and isotones (atoms with the same number of neutrons but different atomic numbers) are key concepts.

Unit 9: Electronic Devices

• Energy bands in solids determine their electrical properties. Conductors, insulators, and semiconductors are distinguished based on their band structures.
• Semiconductor diodes exhibit different behaviors under forward and reverse bias. They can rectify alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC).
• Light-emitting diodes (LEDs), solar cells, and Zener diodes have specific I-V characteristics and applications. Zener diodes serve as voltage regulators.
• Junction transistors amplify signals and act as switches. Their characteristics and configurations, such as the common emitter configuration, are important.
• Logic gates (OR, AND, NOT, NAND, and NOR) perform basic logical operations and are essential components in digital circuits.