ICSE Class 10 Physics Syllabus 2024-2025: Topper’s Blueprint!

Hey there! It is known that each year, CISCE updates the Class 10 board exam syllabus for all subjects. 

The revised syllabus for ICSE Class 10 for the upcoming academic year 2024–2025 has been made available by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, or CISCE . Key points are:

• In the academic year 2024-2025, some small changes have been made to the ICSE Class 10 Physics syllabus. 

• These adjustments were first introduced in the 2023-2024 academic session and now will carry over into 2024-2025.

 

Physics plays a crucial role in helping us understand how things work in the natural world, and it’s the basis for many cool inventions. It makes us aware of how specific phenomena are taking place in, out and around the world. When you learn physics, you get to know important ideas, rules, and the basics of science and you also gain knowledge of solving critical and analytical numericals and equations.

 

Students who are enrolled for the academic session of 2024-2025 can download the ICSE Class 10 Physics Syllabus Free PDF for the session 2024-25.

Do Not Miss : Educart’s 40 ICSE Sample Papers 2023-2024

ICSE Physics Class 10 Syllabus Latest Updates: 

Understanding the syllabus before beginning the preparations is a crucial step to score well in exams. So, here is the ICSE Physics Class 10 Curriculum Overview for you all. 

Also, prep up your exam game and score 90+ in Physics exam with ICSE Class 10 Physics Question Bank – Chapterwise with Solutions including Solved Papers.

Overview of the Syllabus: 

• The Class 10 ICSE syllabus is divided into three particular groups. Group I = take all subjects; Group II = choose just two subjects out of the given options, and Group III = select just one subject out of the given options.

• The Physics ICSE Class 10 paper will be divided into two sections:

Section I (40 marks) and Section II (40 marks). Section I (compulsory) will consist of short answer questions. Section II will consist of six questions out of which candidates will be required to answer any four questions.

Note: Unless otherwise specified, only SI Units are allowed to answer questions.

• Regarding the marking scheme for each subject, Out of a score of 100% , 80% are for external examinations and 20% are for internal assessments and project work.

 

Content covered (Units / Chapters) breakdown : Physics Class 10 ICSE Syllabus 

Table of Content Covered: 

1. Unit 1 : Force, Work, Power and Energy 

2. Unit 2 : Light

3. Unit 3 : Sound

4. Unit 4 : Electricity and Magnetism

5. Unit 5 : Heat

6. Unit 6 : Modern Physics

 

We’ll be covering all the key units of the Physics Class 10 syllabus and addressing as well as exploring, the main topics below: 

1. Unit 1 : Force, Work, Power and Energy

Chapters include – 1. Force

                                  2. Work, Energy and Power

                                  3. Machines

Key insights –

• Moment of a force and conditions for equilibrium

• Force applied on a body is defined as the rate of change in its linear momentum.

• The turning effect on the body about an axis is due to the moment of force (or torque) applied on the body.

• Moment of a force = force x perpendicular distance (from the axis of rotation.)

• Forces in equilibrium, vector addition of forces, center of gravity concept and its significance

 

• Principle of Conservation of energy and its applications

• Work is said to be done only when the force applied on a body makes the body move (i.e., there is a displacement of the body)

•  W = mgh, units of work, power (P = W/t), units of power, energy (energy as work done), units of energy, mechanical energy and its different forms, potential energy (U), gravitational potential energy at a height (U = mgh)

• Principle of Conservation of energy stating total energy is constant

• Application of the principle of conservation of energy to a simple pendulum

 

• Machines as force multipliers (levers, pulleys), mechanical advantage, and efficiency

• A machine is a device by which we can either overcome a large resistive force at some point by applying a small force at a convenient point and in a desired direction.

• A load is a resistive or opposing force to be overcome by a machine, whereas effort is the force applied on the machine to overcome the load.

• The ratio of the velocity of effort to the velocity of the load is called the velocity ratio of the machine.

• Machines as force multipliers (levers, pulleys), mechanical advantage, and efficiency. Pulley systems showing utility of each type 

2. Unit 2 : Light

Chapters include – 4. Refraction of Light at a plane surface

                                   5. Refraction through a lens

                                   6. Spectrum

Key insights –

• Laws of refraction and their applications (real/apparent depth, fiber optics)

• Refraction is the change in direction of the path of light when it passes from one transparent medium to another transparent medium. 

• Concepts mentioned in this chapter are refraction of light, laws of refraction, speed of light in different media, the relationship between refractive index and speed of light, the principle of reversibility of the path of light, experimental verification of laws of refraction and determination of the refractive index of glass.

 

• Total internal reflection, critical angle, and applications (prisms, mirage)

• In physics, total internal reflection (TIR) is the phenomenon in which waves arriving at the interface (boundary) from one medium to another are not refracted into the second medium, but completely reflected back into the first medium.

• The critical angle is defined as the angle of incidence which provides a 90 degree angle of refraction. 

• Examples in triangular glass prisms; Comparison with reflection from a plane, mirror (qualitative only). Applications of total internal reflection.

 

• Image formation by lenses (ray diagrams, magnification)

• Lenses (converging and diverging), including characteristics of the images formed (using ray diagrams only), magnifying glass;

• Location of images using ray diagrams and thereby determining magnification.

 

• Dispersion of white light and the electromagnetic spectrum

• We learn about Spectrum. On passing white light through a prism, the band of colours seen on a screen is called the Spectrum. 

• Some of the concepts included in this chapter using a triangular prism to produce a visible spectrum from white light; Electromagnetic spectrum , scattering of light, properties and uses of different radiations of electromagnetic spectrum, distinction between the ultraviolet, visible and infrared radiations, and some applications of scattering.

 

3. Unit 3 : Sound

Chapters include – 7. Sound

 

Key insights –

• Reflection of sound waves and applications (echoes)

• Sound is produced when a body vibrates and it reaches us through the vibrations of the particles of the surrounding medium.

• Topics Included – Reflection of Sound Waves; echoes: their use; simple numerical problems on echoes.

 

• Resonance and its applications (musical instruments, noise pollution)

• Resonance is a phenomenon that occurs when the matching vibrations of another object increase the amplitude of an object’s oscillations.

• Topics Included – (i) Natural vibrations, Damped vibrations, Forced vibrations, and Resonance – a special case of forced vibrations.

(ii) Loudness, pitch, and quality of sound.

 

4. Unit 4 : Electricity and Magnetism

Chapters include – 8. Current Electricity

                                   9. Household Circuits

                                   10. Electro – Magnetism

Key insights –

• Ohm’s Law and its applications (series/parallel resistors)

• Current is defined as the rate of flow of charge.

• Topics Included – Ohm’s Law; concepts of emf, potential

difference, resistance; resistances in series and parallel, internal resistance.

                                 –     What is Electrical power and energy?

 

• Household circuits (main circuit, switches, fuses, earthing, safety)

• Household circuits – main circuit; switches; fuses; earthing; safety precautions; three-pin plugs; colour coding of wires.

• Important topics explained in this chapter are the transmission of power from the generating station to the consumer, power distribution to a house, house wiring, fuse, switches, circuits with dual control switches (staircase wiring), earthing, three-pin plug and socket, high tension wires, safety precautions while using electricity.

• Electromagnetic induction and its applications (transformers)

• An electromagnet is a temporary strong magnet made by passing current in a coil wound around a piece of soft iron.

• Electromagnetic or magnetic induction is the production of an electromotive force (emf) across an electrical conductor in a changing magnetic field.

• Magnetic effect of a current (principles only, laws not required); electromagnetic induction (elementary); transformer.

• Faraday’s laws of electromagnetic induction, a.c. generator, simple d.c. motor frequency of a.c. in household supplies, the distinction between an a.c. generator and d.c. motor, and transformer.

 

5. Unit 5 : Heat

Chapters include – 11. Calorimetry 

 

Key insights –

• Calorimetry and principle of mixtures (specific heat capacity problems)

• The heat required to raise the temperature of the unit mass of a given substance by a given amount (usually one degree).

• Principle of method of mixtures; Numerical problems on specific heat capacity using heat loss and gain and the method of mixtures.

 

• Latent heat of fusion and its applications (melting, solidification)

• Latent heat of fusion: the amount of heat energy that is required to change 1 kg of solid into liquid at atmospheric pressure at its melting point.

• Other Topics Included – loss and gain of heat involving change of state for fusion only.

 

6. Unit 6 : Modern Physics

Chapters Included: 12. Radioactivity

 

Key insights:

• Radioactivity, types of radiation, and safety precautions

• Radioactivity is the release of energy from the decay of the nuclei of certain kinds of atoms and isotopes.

• More topics include changes in the nucleus;

background radiation and safety precautions.

 

• Basic concepts of nuclear fission and fusion reactions

• Nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits spontaneously or on impact with another particle, releasing energy.

• Nuclear Fusion: Nuclear fusion is the process by which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a single heavier one while releasing massive amounts of energy.

• And some equations are included.

 

Tips for Students to Score 90+ in the ICSE Physics Class 10 Exam 2024-2025: 

1. Build a strong foundation: Ensure that you have a thorough understanding of concepts like motion, force, energy, and electricity, which form the basis of many topics, so mastering them is crucial. You can go through Educart’s ICSE Class 10 Question Banks with Solved Papers to ace your exams 😉

 

2. Practice numerical problems: ICSE Physics Class 10 involves a lot of numerical problems, and solving them regularly will help you develop problem-solving skills and improve your speed and accuracy. Practice as many problems as possible from your textbook, revision books, and previous years’ question papers.

 

3. Perform experiments: Physics is an experimental science. Pay close attention during practical classes and try to understand the underlying principles.

 

4. Understand derivations and formulas: Going through the derivations of important formulas and equations will help you apply them correctly in different situations.

 

5. Revise regularly: Physics involves a cumulative learning process, so regular revision is essential. Set aside dedicated time for revision, and go through your notes, textbooks, and solved examples regularly. 

Go through the Physics Practice Paper Solutions PDFs for a quick revision session.

 

6. Practice time management: During the exam, time management is crucial. Allocate time wisely, and attempt the easier questions first, marking the more difficult ones for later review.

 

7. Stay updated with the latest syllabus: Stay informed about any changes or updates in the ICSE syllabus, and make sure you cover all the topics thoroughly.