Syllabus offered in class XI:

NEB syllabus
designed by curriculum development center (CDC), Nepal.

Macro view :
Mechanics Heat and Wave and Optics Electricity and Modern Physics
Thermodynamics Magnetism

26 marks 15 marks 9 marks 16 marks 9 marks

Objective of the course:

The emphasis should be on conceptual understanding rather than formal learning. We should
stimulate our interest in both the physics and mathematics involved in every topics as far as possible.
 Chapter 1: Heat and temperature
Course content:
1. Explain the molecular concept of thermal energy, heat and temperature, and cause and
direction of heat flow.
2. Explain the meaning of thermal equilibrium and Zeroth law of thermodynamics.
3. Explain thermal equilibrium as a working principle of mercury thermometer.
 Kinetic Theory of Matter:
The Kinetic Theory of Matter states that matter consists of atoms or molecules in random
motion. Those moving particles can transfer their kinetic energy to other nearby particles.
 The total kinetic energy of all the particles in an object make up the
thermal energy of that object.
Internal energy: (Thermodynamic energy)
The internal energy of a body is defined as the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy
of all the particles within the body.
i.e. 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 = 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 + 𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚
Thermal energy:
The thermal energy of an object consists of the total kinetic energy of all its
atoms and molecules.
 Heat energy contained in a body is called as thermal energy.

Heat and Temperature

 Heat energy of a body is defined as the sum of kinetic energy of all particles
within the body.
 Temperature of a body is defined as the average kinetic energy of all particles
within the body.
Generally, adding heat increases the temperature of a body. But, this is not
necessarily true.
 When water is boiling, adding heat does not increase the temperature. The heat
is used in converting the water (liquid) in its vapour.
Thermal equilibrium:
When a hot body is brought in contact with a cold body, heat flows from
the hot body to cold body. The flow of heat will continue unless both bodies
acquire equal temperature. This state is called as thermal equilibrium.
The bodies in contact are said to be in thermal equilibrium if both of them
attain a common (same) temperature via heat exchange between them.

Zeroth law of thermodynamics: Insulating wall

Statement: 𝑺𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎 𝑨 𝑺𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎 𝑩

“If any two systems are independently in thermal
equilibrium with a third system, then the first two Conducting wall
𝑺𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎 𝑪
systems will also in thermal equilibrium.”

Significance of zeroth law: Zeroth law gives the definition of temperature.

Thermal equilibrium:
Question:
1. Why is it wise to wait for some time to measure our body temperature?

2. A student claims that thermometers are useless because a thermometer

always registers its temperature. How would you respond?

3. Why does the temperature of the body increase on heating?

Thermometry:
The branch of physics which deals about the measurement of temperature is
called as thermometry.

Principle of thermometry:
“Any property of a material which changes with temperature can be used to indicate or
measure temperature.”

For example:
1. In liquid thermometer: For mercury in glass or alcohol in glass, the volume of the liquid
changes with change in temperature.
2. In electrical resistance thermometer: For given wire, the resistance of the wire changes with
change in temperature.
Lower fixed point: The point of temperature at which pure ice melts at normal
pressure is called as lower fixed point (LFP).
LFP: 0𝑜 𝐶 = 32𝑜 𝐹 = 273𝐾 = 0𝑜 𝑅 = 492𝑜 𝑅𝑎
Upper fixed point: The point of temperature at which pure water boils at normal
pressure is called as upper fixed point (LFP).
UFP: 100𝑜 𝐶 = 212𝑜 𝐹 = 373𝐾 = 80𝑜 𝑅 = 672𝑜 𝑅𝑎
 Important relations:
Relation between different temperature scales: 1. Convert 0oC into oF and K.
2. On a sunny day, the atmospheric
temperature is recorded to be
30oC. Express the temperature in
Fahrenheit , Kelvin and Rankine
scale.
This relation is used to convert particular temperature in one scale to another.
scale.
 The difference in temperature
between 8 am (morning) and 12
pm (noon) has been found to be
This relation is used to convert change / difference 6 Co. Express this temperature
in temperature in one scale to another scale. difference in other scales (all
four) of temperature.
 In the graph shown in the figure, the value of sinθ is:
5 9 5 9
𝑎. b. c. d.
9 5 106 80

 At what temperature does Celsius and Fahrenheit scale coincide? [2]

 A faulty thermometer has its fixed points marked as −5𝑜 𝐶 and 95𝑜 𝐶. What is the correct
temperature in Fahrenheit scale when this thermometer reads −40𝑜 𝐶? [3]

• A Celsius scale thermometer reads 1o C at melting point of ice and 99o C at boiling point of
water at normal pressure What is the correct temperature when it reads 25o C?
Also find at what temperature is reading exactly correct? [Ans: 24.5o C; 50o C]

• What is the difference between 50𝑜 𝐶 and 50 𝐶 𝑜 ?

 It has been observed that the temperature of a substance increases by 20oF due to radiation
energy. Express this increase in temperature in oC and in K scale.
Absolute scale of temperature:
The temperature expressed in kelvin scale is called as absolute scale temperature.
The absolute temperature is represented by T.
If 𝜽 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒊𝒖𝒔 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅
𝑻 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝒌𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏
𝑻 = 𝜽 + 𝟐𝟕𝟑
Note:
If, ∆𝜽 = 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒊𝒖𝒔 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒆
∆𝑭 = 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑭𝒂𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒕 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒆
∆𝑲 = 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒌𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒆, then
𝟗
∆𝑭 = ∆𝜽 = ∆𝜽 × 𝟏. 𝟖
𝟓
And
∆𝑲 = ∆𝜽
Absolute zero temperature:
The point of temperature at which the molecular motion stops such that the kinetic energy
of the molecule reduces to zero is called as absolute zero temperature.
Absolute zero temperature (i.e. 0K) is considered to be the lowest possible temperature
that can exist in our universe (hypothetically, but not practically).
At absolute zero temperature, the kinetic energy of the molecules become zero, however,
the potential energy of the molecules is not zero.
Hence, absolute zero temperature is the temperature of zero kinetic energy but not the
temperature of zero energy.
The absolute zero temperature is 0K. The exact value in Celsius scale is - 273.15oC.
 The absolute zero is the temperature at which
a. Water freezes b. All substances exist in solid state
c. Molecular motion ceases d. Internal energy becomes zero
Absolute zero temperature is not zero energy temperature. Explain.
Substance that does not contain heat can contain internal energy. Explain.
 𝑉 𝑃

𝑉𝑜 𝑃𝑜

𝜃 −273.15𝑜 𝐶 𝜃
−273.15𝑜 𝐶
0𝑜 𝐶 0𝑜 𝐶

At absolute zero temperature, the volume At absolute zero temperature, the pressure
occupied by gas reduces to zero. exerted by gas reduces to zero.
Exam type questions
1. a. A student claimed that the thermometers are useless because a thermometer always
registers its own temperature. How would you respond? [2]

b. Define Absolute zero temperature. [1]

c. At what temperature does reading of Celsius and Fahrenheit scale coincide? [2]

2. a. State the Zeroth law of thermodynamics. [1]

b. Which thermometers are used to measure very low and very temperatures [2]

c. A faulty thermometer has its fixed point at -100C and 1300C. This thermometer reads the
temperature of a body as 600C. Find the correct temperature on the Celsius scale. [2]
1. A Celsius scale thermometer reads 1𝑜 𝐶 at melting point of ice and 99𝑜 𝐶 at boiling point of water at normal
pressure. What is the correct temperature when it reads 25𝑜 𝐶? Also find at what temperature is reading exactly
correct? [Ans: 24.5𝑜 𝐶; 50𝑜 𝐶]
2. The temperature of a body increases from 10𝑜 𝐶 to 25𝑜 𝐶, what would be the change in (i) Fahrenheit Scale (ii)
Kelvin Scale? [Ans: 27𝑜 𝐹; 15 K]
3. It has been found that the temperature of a body is dropped by 20K. What is its temperature change in
(i) o C (ii) oF? [Ans: 20𝑜 𝐶; 36𝑜 𝐶]
4. What is the difference between 50𝑜 𝐶 and 50 𝐶 𝑜 ? [point of temperature; change in temperature]
5. Can an object be hooter than another if they are at same temperature?
6. At what temperature will the reading of Fahrenheit thermometer be double than that of the Celsius one?
[160𝑜 𝐶 or 320𝑜 𝐹]
7. What is the use of clinical thermometer? Why is the thermometer range from 35𝑜 𝐶 to 42𝑜 𝐶?
8. What is absolute zero temperature? Absolute zero temperature is not zero energy temperature. Explain.
9. At absolute zero temperature, the molecular motion stops. Does it mean that the total energy of the molecules is
zero? Explain.
10. Substance that does not contain heat can contain internal energy. Explain.
 Note:
• Isolated system: neither mass, nor energy
can be exchanged.
The boundaries are rigid and immovable,
and that are impermeable to all forms of
matter and all energies (𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙).
• Closed system: energy is exchanged
but not matter.
The boundaries are permeable to matter but
not to energy (𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙).
• Open system: both matter and energy can be
exchanged.
The boundaries are permeable to both matter
and energy.
1. Write the advantages and disadvantages of:
a. Mercury thermometer
b. Alcohol thermometer
2. Write the differences between alcohol and mercury thermometers.
3. Mercury thermometer cannot be used in very cold regions, why?
4. Alcohol thermometer cannot be used in very hot regions, why?
5. In liquid thermometers, the capillary tube is made narrow and the bulb is made wide.
Explain the reason behind these.
6. Why are kinks provided near the bulb in capillary tube in a liquid thermometer?
7. Why is water not used as thermometric liquid?
8. What is the importance of constriction (kink) in clinical thermometer?
Factors affecting boiling point (BP) of a substance:

Effect of impurities:
• Generally, impurities increase the boiling point of water.

• Impurities include salt, sugar, and other dissolving molecules.

A simple explanation of this is that the impurities dilute the concentration of water
(the number of water molecules per unit volume decreases), and the number of molecules
that can vaporize at any given temperature decreases. The result is that a higher
temperature is required to achieve the same vapor pressure.

Concentrated sugar-water solutions that are used for making candies boil at
temperatures exceeding 150 °C.