PYQ Vault

CBSE Class 12 Physics 2026 question paper (55/1)

Maximum marks 70 · Time 3 hours · 3 sets

Try each question first, then open its model answer. Where the paper offers a choice, both questions are shown with OR between them.

Section A

1 mark each

  1. Q.11 mark
    In a region, the electric potential varies as V=10−50xV = 10 - 50x, where V is in volts and xx in meters. The electric field in the region is :

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  2. Q.21 mark
    A conducting wire connects two charged metallic spheres A and B of radii r1r_1 and r2r_2 respectively. The distance between the spheres is very large compared to their radii. The ratio of electric fields, (EA/EB)(E_A/E_B) at the surfaces of spheres A and B will be

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  3. Q.31 mark
    A long straight wire of circular cross-section (radius a) carries a steady current I. The current is uniformly distributed across this cross-section. The magnitude of the magnetic field produced at a point at a distance (a/2) from the axis of the wire will be

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  4. Q.41 mark
    The shape of the interference fringes in Young's double-slit experiment, when the distance between the slit and the screen is very large as compared to the slit-separation, is nearly

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  5. Q.51 mark
    An electromagnetic wave passes from vacuum into a dielectric medium with relative electrical permittivity (3/2) and relative magnetic permeability (8/3). Then, its

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  6. Q.61 mark
    In a series LCR circuit, the voltage across the resistor, capacitor and inductor is 10 V each. If the capacitor is short circuited, the voltage across the inductor will be

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  7. Q.71 mark
    Electromagnetic waves used in a diagnostic tool in medicine have a wavelength range

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  8. Q.81 mark
    The 'distance of closest approach' of an alpha-particle is 'd' when it moves with a velocity ν\nu head-on towards the target nucleus. If the velocity of alpha particle is halved, the new 'distance of closest approach' will be -

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  9. Q.91 mark
    A concave lens of focal length 10 cm is cut into two identical plano-concave lenses. The focal length of each lens will be

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  10. Q.101 mark
    Four independent waves are expressed as (i) y1=A1sin⁡ωty_1 = A_1 \sin \omega t (ii) y2=A2sin⁡2ωty_2 = A_2 \sin 2 \omega t (iii) y3=A3cos⁡ωty_3 = A_3 \cos \omega t (iv) y4=A4sin⁡(ωt+π/3)y_4 = A_4 \sin (\omega t + \pi/3) The interference between two of these waves is possible in

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  11. Q.111 mark
    Two heaters rated as (P1,V)(P_1, V) and (P2,V)(P_2, V) are connected in series across a dc source of V2\frac{V}{2} volt. The power consumed by the combination will be -

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  12. Q.121 mark
    In an unbiased p-n junction, at equilibrium, which of the following statements is true ?

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  13. For question number 13 to 16, two statements are given - one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R). Select the correct answer to these questions from the options (A), (B), (C) and (D) as given below :
    Q.131 mark
    Assertion (A) : All atoms have a net magnetic moment. Reason (R) : A current loop does not always behave as a magnetic dipole.

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  14. Q.141 mark
    Assertion (A) : If accelerated electrons are passed through a narrow slit, a diffraction pattern is observed. Reason (R) : Electrons behave as both particles and waves.

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  15. Q.151 mark
    Reason (A) : The mass of a nucleus is less than the sum of the masses of the constituent nucleons. Reason (R) : Energy is absorbed when the nucleons are bound together to form a nucleus.

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  16. Q.161 mark
    Reason (A) : In Bohr model of hydrogen atom, the energy levels are discrete and quantised. Reason (R) : In a hydrogen atom, the electrostatic force on the electron provides the necessary centripetal force to it to revolve around the nucleus.

    Tap an option to check your answer.

Section B

2 marks each

  1. Q.172 marks
    In a photoelectric experiment, the emitter plate is irradiated with radiation of 200 nm. The photocurrent becomes zero when the collector plate potential is - 0.80 V. Calculate the work function (in eV) of the emitter.
  2. Q.18 (a)2 marks
    A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths 400 nm and 600 nm is used to illuminate a single slit of width 1 mm. Find the least distance of the point from the central maximum where the dark fringes due to both wavelengths coincide on the screen placed 1.5 m from the slit.
  3. OR

    Q.18 (b)2 marks
    In a Young's double-slit experimental set-up with slit separation 0.6 mm a beam of light consisting of two wavelengths 440 nm and 660 nm is used to obtain interference pattern on a screen kept 1.5 m in front of the slits. Find the least distance of the point from the central maximum where the bright fringes due to both the wavelengths coincide.
  4. Q.192 marks
    A wire of length L is bent round into (i) a square coil having N turns and (ii) a circular coil having N turns. The coil in both cases is free to turn about a vertical axis coinciding with the plane of the coil, in a uniform, horizontal magnetic field and carry the same currents. Find the ratio of the maximum value of the torque acting on the square coil to that on the circular coil.
  5. Q.202 marks
    What is the order of magnitude of drift velocity of electrons in a conductor ? Deduce the relation between the current flowing through a conductor and drift velocity of electrons in it.
  6. Q.212 marks
    Draw the plot of potential energy of a pair of nucleons as a function of their separation. Write two important conclusions that can be drawn from this plot.

Section C

3 marks each

  1. Q.22 (a)3 marks
    (a) Using Gauss's law, deduce an experession for electric field at a point due to a uniformly charged infinite plane thin sheet. (b) Two large thin plane sheets, each having surface charge density σ\sigma, are held close and parallel to each other in air. What is the net electric field at a point (i) inside and (ii) outside, the sheets ?
  2. OR

    Q.22 (b)3 marks
    (a) Obtain the condition of balance of a Wheatstone bridge. (b) Find net resistance of the network of resistors connected between A and B, as shown in figure.
  3. Q.233 marks
    A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C has a dielectric slab between its plates. It is charged to a potential difference V by connecting it across a battery. The battery is then disconnected. If the dielectric slab is now withdrawn from the capacitor, how will the following be affected ? (a) Capacitance of the capacitor, (b) Energy stored in the capacitor, and (c) The potential difference between the plates of the capacitor. Justify your answer in each case.
  4. Q.243 marks
    Figure shows a narrow beam of electrons entering with a velocity of 3×1073 \times 10^7 m/s, symmetrically through the space between two parallel horizontal plates P1P1′P_1 P_1' and P2P2′P_2 P_2' kept 2 cm apart. If each plate is 3 cm long, calculate the potential difference V applied between the plates so that the beam just strikes the end P2′P_2'.
  5. Q.253 marks
    An ac voltage Vi=12sin⁡(100πt)V_i = 12 \sin (100 \pi t)V is applied between points A and B in a network of two ideal diodes and three resistors as shown in figure. During the positive half-cycle of the input voltage ViV_i supplied to the network. (a) Identify which of the two diodes will conduct and why ? (b) Redraw an equivalent circuit diagram to show the flow of current. (c) Calculate the output voltage drops V0V_0 across the three resistors when the input voltage attains its peak value.
  6. Q.263 marks
    Briefly explain the two important processes that occur during the formation of a p-n junction.
  7. Q.273 marks
    (a) Draw the ray diagram to show the image formation by a refracting telescope and write the expression for angular magnification for the telescope in normal adjustment. (b) Give two reasons to explain why a reflecting telescope is preferred over a refracting telescope.
  8. Q.283 marks
    (a) State the two conditions under which total internal reflection occurs. (b) A transparent container contains layers of three immiscible transparent liquids A, B and C of refractive indices n, 34n\frac{3}{4} n and 23n\frac{2}{3} n, respectively. A laser beam is incident at the interface between A and B at an angle θ\theta as shown in figure. Prove that the beam does not enter region C at all for sin⁡θ≥23\sin \theta \ge \frac{2}{3}.

Section D

1 mark each

  1. A galvanometer is used to detect or/and measure small currents in an electrical circuit. It essentially works on the fact that a current-carrying coil experiences a deflecting torque when placed in a magnetic field. This deflection in the coil can be measured and it is related to the current flowing in the coil, the number of turns in the coil, area of the coil and the magnetic field. A hair spring attached to the coil provides a counter torque and helps in measuring the deflection. A galvanometer can be converted to an ammeter or a voltmeter of desired range by using suitable resistances.
    Q.29 (I)1 mark
    The torque on the coil remains constant irrespective of the coil's orientation during rotation due to

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  2. Q.29 (II)1 mark
    The best way to increase current sensitivity of a galvanometer is by

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  3. Q.29 (III) (a)1 mark
    A moving coil galvanometer has a coil with area of cross-section 4.0×10−34.0 \times 10^{-3} m2\mathrm{m^2} and number of turns 50. The coil is rotating in a magnetic field of 0.25 T. The torque acting on the coil when a current of 5 A passes through it is

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  4. OR

    Q.29 (III) (b)1 mark
    A galvanometer coil has a resistance of 15 Ω\Omega and the meter shows full scale deflection for a current of 3 mA. The value of resistance required to convert it into a voltmeter of range (0 – 12 V) is

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  5. Q.29 (IV)1 mark
    A galvanometer with coil of resistance 20 Ω\Omega shows full scale deflection for a current of 5 mA. To convert it into an ammeter of range (0 – 10 A), a resistance of

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  6. A researcher performs an experiment on photo-electric effect using two metals A and B with unknown work functions. She illuminates the surfaces of A and B with monochromatic radiation of various frequencies and records the value of corrosponding stopping potentials (Vs)(V_s). The graph shows the variation of stopping potential (Vs)(V_s) with the frequency of incident radiation (ν)(\nu) for metals A and B.
    Q.30 (I)1 mark
    From the graph, the work functions of A and B are (h is Planck's constant and e value of charge on an electron)

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  7. Q.30 (II)1 mark
    For radiation of frequency ν>ν2\nu > \nu_2 incident on the surfaces of A and B, the maximum kinetic energy of ejected electron is

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  8. Q.30 (III)1 mark
    If the intensity of the incident radiation for both metals A and B, is doubled keeping its frequency constant, then

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  9. Q.30 (IV) (a)1 mark
    The threshold frequency for a metal surface is ν0\nu_0. If the radiation of frequency 3ν03\nu_0 illuminates the surface, the maximum kinetic energy (KE) of photoelectrons is E1E_1. If the frequency were increased to 6ν06\nu_0, the maximum KE of the photoelectrons becomes E2E_2. Then (E1E2)\left(\frac{E_1}{E_2}\right) equals

    Tap an option to check your answer.

  10. OR

    Q.30 (IV) (b)1 mark
    Let m be the slope of the graph line for metal B. If e is the value of electron charge, then Planck's constant 'h' is given by

    Tap an option to check your answer.

Section E

5 marks each

  1. Q.31 (a)5 marks
    (a) An electric dipole consists of two point charges q and -q separated by a distance 2a. Derive an expression for the electric field E⃗\vec{E} due to this dipole at a point distant r from the centre of the dipole on the equatorial plane. Write the expression for the electric field at a far off point, i.e. r >> a. (b) A dipole is placed in x-y plane such that charges q and -q are located at x=ax = a and x=bx = b respectively. There exists an electric field E⃗=2i^ NC\vec{E} = 2 \hat{i}\ \frac{\mathrm{N}}{\mathrm{C}} in the region. Calculate the force F⃗\vec{F} and torque τ⃗\vec{\tau} experienced by the dipole.
  2. OR

    Q.31 (b)5 marks
    (a) Two cells of emf E1E_1 and E2E_2 with internal resistances r1r_1 and r2r_2 respectively, are connected in parallel by connecting their positive terminals together and negative terminals together. Deduce an expression for equivalent emf and equivalent internal resistance of the combination. (b) A parallel combination, as stated in (a) above, of two cells of emfs E and 3E and internal resistances R each is connected across a resistance 2R. Find the current that flows through resistance 2R.
  3. Q.32 (a)5 marks
    (a) Using the relation for refraction at a curved spherical surface, derive the expression for lens maker's formula. (b) Three lenses L1L_1, L2L_2 and L3L_3, each of focal length 40 cm, are placed coaxially. The distance between L1L_1 and L2L_2 and between L2L_2 and L3L_3 are 120 cm and 20 cm respectively. An object is kept at a distance of 80 cm to the left of lens L1L_1. Find the distance of the final image formed from the object.
  4. OR

    Q.32 (b)5 marks
    (a) Draw a ray diagram to show the image formation by a concave mirror when the object is kept between its focus and the centre of curvature. Using this diagram, derive the mirror formula. (b) A concave mirror produces a two times magnified virtual image of an object kept 10 cm in front of it. Calculate the focal length of the mirror.
  5. Q.33 (a)5 marks
    (a) State Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. (b) Derive an expression for the self-inductance of an air-filled long solenoid of length ll and cross-sectional area A having N turns. (c) A conducting rod of length 50 cm, with one end pivoted, is rotated with angular speed of 60 rpm in a uniform magnetic field of 4.0 mT directed perpendicular to the plane of rotation of rod. Find the emf induced in the rod.
  6. OR

    Q.33 (b)5 marks
    (a) Draw a labelled diagram of a step-up transformer. State the principle on which it works and obtain the ratio of secondary voltage to primary voltage in terms of number of turns and currents in the two coils. (b) The ratio of the number of turns in the primary to the secondary of an ideal transformer is 1 : 5. If 5 kW power at 200 V is supplied to the primary, find (i) current in the primary, and (ii) output voltage.