Physics Class 11 chapters - A complete chapter-wise NCERT analysis

When you opt for the science stream one of the most challenging subjects you have to deal with is Physics. Physics demands tremendous hard work, focus and dedication, and tons of practice to clear it. The questions asked from this subject are concept and numerical-based. Thus to clear the Physics paper you need to be well-versed in all the concepts, theories, and formulas as it is a major requirement of the subject. The best book that you should begin your preparation for Physics class 11 chapters is NCERTs. NCERTs are the bible as these books cover every minute detail of every concept and focus on strengthening your basics and fundamentals. 

Having a thorough knowledge of the NCERT Physics class 11 chapters is not just important to clear the class 11th exam but will also be of great help in highly prestigious competitive exams like JEE and NEET . 

Complete analysis of Physics Class 11 chapters 

Chapter 1: Physical World

Chapter 2: Units and Measurements

Chapter 3: Motion in a Straight Line

Chapter 4: Motion in a Plane

Chapter 5: Laws of Motion

Chapter 6: Work, Energy, and Power

Chapter 7: System of Particles and Rotational Motion

Chapter 8: Gravitation

Chapter 9: Mechanical Properties of Solids

Chapter 10: Mechanical Properties of Fluids

Chapter 11: Thermal Properties of Matter

Chapter 12: Thermodynamics

Chapter 13: Kinetic Theory

Chapter 14: Oscillations

Chapter 15: Waves

NCERT Physics Class 11 chapters: Detailed analysis

NCERT books are important to adapt the Physics class 11 chapters. The subject involves various properties of nature and matter that are a bit difficult to master but to excel in higher levels of education it is important to be skillful in the entire Physics Class 11 chapters. To master the subject it is vital that you are well acquainted with the detailed analysis of each chapter of the subject. 

Check: NCERT Master Course of Physics

This article has been formed to provide you with easy access to a detailed analysis of the Physics Class 11 chapters:

Chapter 1: Physical world

This chapter introduces students to the working of things and how these things function and the reason behind them. It will also provide you with knowledge of various maxims and their justifications using physics concepts in real life in this chapter. This chapter covers gravitational concepts, electromagnetic force, and strong and weak nuclear force. The research and observations done by various scientists have been mentioned here. You are acquainted with the reasons that are key to the development of science and technology in the country. To provide the students with basic conceptual knowledge of the existence of electrons, it has been duly explained. 

Physics Class 11 chapters: Topics covered in chapter 1

Physics: Scope and excitement; nature of physical laws; Physics, technology, and society.

Chapter 2: Units and Measurements

This chapter deals with units and measurements . Scientists perform research and observation with the help of their senses like ears, eyes, etc to depict the color and texture of things, in some cases this does not work and proper measurements have to be done. Measurement is a basic concept of science where without which experiments cannot take place. This Physics class 11 chapters will provide knowledge to the students concerning physical quantities and the method required to evaluate them. This will also fill you in with the knowledge of errors that may take place while measuring things and significant others. 

Physics Class 11 chapters: Topics covered in chapter 2

1. Need for measurement: Units of measurement; systems of units; SI units, fundamental and derived

2. units. length, mass, and time measurements; accuracy and precision of measuring instruments; errors in measurement; significant figures.

3. Dimensions of physical quantities, dimensional analysis, and its applications.

Chapter 3: Motion in a Straight Line

This chapter involves topics like comparing objects as point objects and the method of plotting graphs and finding the values ​​based on them. This chapter will introduce the students to the difference between the magnitude of displacement and the total length of the path covered. This chapter also covers the average speed, average velocity, instantaneous speed, and velocity according to the CBSE guidelines. 

Physics Class 11 chapters: topics covered in chapter 3

Frame of reference. Motion in a straight line : Position-time graph, speed, and velocity. Uniform and non-uniform motion, average speed, and instantaneous velocity.

Uniformly accelerated motion, velocity-time, and position-time graphs, relations for uniformly accelerated motion (graphical treatment).

Elementary concepts of differentiation and integration for describing motion.

Chapter 4: Motion in a Plane

This chapter includes the scalar and vector quantities and their difference. It also involves the method of performing algebraic expressions on various scalar quantities. This chapter helps the students learn about the concept of the magnitude of vectors and their co-linearity, the magnitude of displacement vectors, and the various types of displacement of a moving vehicle. The chapter deals with the understanding of the time taken by a man to cross a river, a ball thrown by a cricketer in the ground, and the experience of riding a bicycle in rain.

Physics Class 11 chapters: topics covered in chapter 4

Scalar and vector quantities: Position and displacement vectors, general vectors and notation, equality of vectors, multiplication of vectors by a real number; addition and subtraction of vectors. Relative velocity.

Unit vectors. Resolution of a vector in a plane – rectangular components. Motion in a plane.

Cases of uniform velocity and uniform acceleration – projectile motion. Uniform circular motion.

Chapter 5: Laws of Motion

One of the key topics in mechanics. A lot of questions from the conservation of momentum are asked in the exam. This chapter deals with the laws of motion and their exercise in our daily life. Having a thorough knowledge of this Physics Class 11 chapter will help you score higher marks .

Physics Class 11 chapters: topics covered in chapter 5

1. Intuitive concept of force. Inertia, Newton's first law of motion; momentum and 

2. Newton's second law of motion; impulse; Newton's third law of motion. Law of conservation of linear momentum and its applications.

3. Equilibrium of concurrent forces. Static and kinetic friction, laws of friction, rolling friction, rubrication.

4. Dynamics of uniform circular motion: Centripetal force, examples of circular motion (vehicle on level circular road, vehicle on banked road).

Chapter 6: Work, Energy, and Power

The work-energy theorem is the key part of this chapter. A good grip on this topic will not only help you in this class but will also be of major benefit in competitive exams like JEE and NEET. 

Physics Class 11 chapters: Topics covered in chapter 6

Scalar product of vectors. Work done by a constant force and a variable force; kinetic energy, work-energy theorem, power.

The notion of potential energy, the potential energy of a spring, conservative forces; conservation of mechanical energy (kinetic and potential energies); non-conservative forces; elastic and inelastic collisions in one and two dimensions.

Chapter 7: System of Particles and Rotational Motion

This chapter emphasizes the motion of extended bodies such as the system of particles. The key concept of this chapter is the mass of a system of particles .

Topics covered in chapter 7

1. Center of mass of a two-particle system, momentum conservation, and center of mass motion.

2. Center of mass of a rigid body; center of mass of circular ring, disc, rod, and sphere.

3. Vector product of vectors; a moment of a force, torque, angular momentum, conservation of angular momentum with some examples.

4. Equilibrium of rigid bodies, rigid body rotation, and equation of rotational motion, comparison of linear and rotational motions; a moment of inertia, the radius of gyration. Values ​​of MI for simple geometrical objects (no derivation). Statement of parallel and perpendicular axes theorems and their applications.

Chapter 8: Gravitation

We all know that it is gravity due to which objects are drawn towards the earth. When we throw something in the air, why is going downhill more easy than going uphill? It is all because of gravity. It is a common phenomenon and whatever we study in the future is related to this concept directly or indirectly. 

Topics covered in chapter 8

1. Kepler's laws of planetary motion. The universal law of gravitation .

2. Acceleration due to gravity and its variation with altitude and depth.

3. Gravitational potential energy; gravitational potential. Escape speed, orbital velocity of a satellite. Geostationary satellites.

Chapter 9: Mechanical Properties of Solids

A solid body has a fixed-sized size and shape but it is bent, stretched, and compressed in reality. To know the shape and size of the solid body it is pivotal to use force. Plasticity and elasticity are the key topics of this chapter. This chapter will help you understand the mechanical properties of a solid.

Topics covered in chapter 9

Elastic behavior, stress-strain relationship, Hooke's law, Young's modulus, bulk modulus, shear, modulus of rigidity.

Chapter 10: Mechanical Properties of Fluids

This chapter focuses on the physical properties of liquids and gases . These fluids have the tendency to flow. It is his feature his that separates solids from gasses and liquids. The key concepts included in this chapter are Bernoulli's principle, Reynold's number, streamline flow, viscosity, and surface tension. The key differentiating feature of the fluids is that they can flow. It does not abstain from forming the shape of the container that it is filled in. 

Topics covered in chapter 10

1. Pressure due to a fluid column; Pascal's law and its applications (hydraulic lift and hydraulic brakes). Effect of gravity on fluid pressure.

2. Viscosity, Stokes' law, terminal velocity, Reynold's number, streamline, and turbulent flow.

3. Bernoulli's theorem and its applications.

4. Surface energy and surface tension, angle of contact, application of surface tension ideas to drops, bubbles, and capillary rise.

Chapter 11: Thermal Properties of Matter

This chapter focuses on determining the method used in conveying the temperature. This chapter gives a clear idea of ​​Newton's Law of Cooling which is an important topic and questions are asked from the same in various competitive exams. 

Topics covered in chapter 11

1. Heat, temperature, thermal expansion; specific heat capacity – calorimetry; change of state – latent heat.

2. Heat transfer – conduction, convection and radiation, thermal conductivity, Newton's law of cooling.

Chapter 12: Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics is a notion of heat and temperature and their transformation to other forms of energy. The students are recommended to have a solid hand in this chapter as several questions come from this chapter in the exam. Some of the pivotal concepts in this chapter are The laws of thermodynamics, specific heat capacity, various thermodynamic processes, and the Carnot engine.

Topics covered in chapter 12

Thermal equilibrium and definition of temperature (zeroth law of thermodynamics). Heat, work, and internal energy. The first law of thermodynamics.

The second law of thermodynamics: Reversible and irreversible processes. Heat engines and refrigerators.

Chapter 13: Kinetic Theory

If you are focusing on scoring high then this chapter may do the trick. Along with the properties of solids and liquids and properties of gases are easy to understand as well. This chapter covers concepts like the molecular nature of matter, the behavior of gases, the kinetic theory of an ideal gas, the law of equipartition of energy, specific heat capacity and mean free path.

Topics covered in chapter 13

1. Equation of state of a perfect gas, work done on compressing a gas.

2. Kinetic theory of gases: Assumptions, the concept of pressure. Kinetic energy and temperature; rms speed of gas molecules; degrees of freedom; the law of equipartition of energy (statement only) and application to specific heat capacities of gases; the concept of mean free path, Avogadro's number.

Chapter 14: Oscillations

If you want to perform better in further classes then it is crucial that you have a solid hand at this chapter because it will come in higher classes too. Key chapters included in this chapter are periodic and oscillatory motions , simple harmonic motion, uniform circular motion, etc. 

Topics covered in chapter 14

• Periodic motion – period, frequency, displacement as a function of time. Periodic functions. 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 – derivation of expression for its time period; free, forced, and damped oscillations (qualitative ideas only), resonance.

Chapter 15: Waves

The questions in this chapter come from concepts like important concepts like Wave dynamics etc. the questions from this chapter will assist with topics like types of waves, speed of sound in air, the tension on strings, and the dependence of the speed of sound in air.

Topics covered in chapter 15

1. Wave motion. Longitudinal and transverse waves, speed of wave motion. Displacement

2. relation for a progressive wave. Principle of superposition of waves, a reflection of waves, standing waves in strings and organ pipes, fundamental mode, and harmonics. Beats. Doppler effect.

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