The CBSE conducted the Class 12 Physics Board Exam on February 21, 2025, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The Physics theory paper has 70 marks, while 30 marks are allocated for the practical assessment.

The question paper includes multiple-choice questions (1 mark each), short-answer questions (2-3 marks each), and long-answer questions (5 marks each).

CBSE Class 12 Physics 55-5-3 Question Paper and Detailed Solutions PDF is available for download here.

CBSE Class 12 2025 Physics 55-5-3 Question Paper with Solution PDF

CBSE Class 12 Physics Question Paper With Answer Key Download Check Solutions

CBSE Board Class 12 2025 Physics 55 5 3 Question Paper with Solutions


Question 1:

A beam of light of wavelength 720 nm in air enters water (refractive index \( n = \frac{4}{3} \)). Its wavelength in water will be:

  • (A) 540 nm
  • (B) 480 nm
  • (C) 420 nm
  • (D) 720 nm
Correct Answer: (A) 540 nm
View Solution

Question 2:

A capacitor of capacitance \( C \) has reactance \( X \) in an AC circuit. If the capacitance and the frequency of the applied voltage are doubled, the new reactance will become:

  • (A) 4X
  • (B) 2X
  • (C) \(\frac{X}{2}\)
  • (D) \(\frac{X}{4}\)
Correct Answer: (D) \(\frac{X}{4}\)
View Solution

Question 3:

Four point charges \( Q \) each, are held at the four corners of a square of side \( l \). The amount of work done in bringing a charge \( Q \) from infinity to the centre of the square will be:

  • (A) \(\frac{Q^2}{\pi \varepsilon_0 l}\)
  • (B) \(\frac{\sqrt{2} Q^2}{\pi \varepsilon_0 l}\)
  • (C) \(\frac{Q^2}{2 \pi \varepsilon_0 l}\)
  • (D) Zero
Correct Answer: (B) \(\frac{\sqrt{2} Q^2}{\pi \varepsilon_0 l}\)
View Solution

Question 4:

A metal sheet is inserted between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor of capacitance \( C \). If the sheet partly occupies the space between the plates, the capacitance:

  • (A) remains \( C \)
  • (B) becomes greater than \( C \)
  • (C) becomes less than \( C \)
  • (D) becomes zero
Correct Answer: (B) becomes greater than \( C \)
View Solution

Question 5:

Four resistors, each of resistance R and a key K are connected as shown in the figure. The equivalent resistance between points A and B when key K is open will be:


  • (A) \( 4R \)
  • (B) \( \infty \)
  • (C) \( \frac{R}{4} \)
  • (D) \( \frac{3R}{2} \)
Correct Answer: (D) \( \frac{3R}{2} \)
View Solution

Question 6:

A charged particle gains a speed of \( 10^6 \, ms^{-1} \), when accelerated from rest through a potential difference of 10 kV. It enters a region of magnetic field of 0.4 T such that \( \vec{v} \perp \vec{B} \). The radius of the circular path described by it is:

  • (A) 2.5 cm
  • (B) 5 cm
  • (C) 8 cm
  • (D) 10 cm
Correct Answer: (B) 5 cm
View Solution

Question 7:

Which of the following rays coming from the Sun plays an important role in maintaining the Earth’s warmth?

  • (A) Infrared rays
  • (B) \( \gamma \) rays
  • (C) \UV rays
  • (D) Visible light rays
Correct Answer: (A) Infrared rays
View Solution

Question 8:

The dimensions of \( (\mu \epsilon)^{-1} \), where \( \epsilon \) is permittivity and \( \mu \) is permeability of a medium, are:

  • (A) \( [M^0 L^1 T^{-1}] \)
  • (B) \( [M^0 L^2 T^{-2}] \)
  • (C) \( [M^1 L^2 T^{-2}] \)
  • (D) \( [M^1 L^{-1} T^{1}] \)
Correct Answer: (B) \( [M^0 L^2 T^{-2}] \)
View Solution

Question 9:

Which of the following electromagnetic waves has photons of largest momentum?

  • (A) X-rays
  • (B) AM radio waves
  • (C) Microwaves
  • (D) TV waves
Correct Answer: (A) X-rays
View Solution

Question 10:

The kinetic energy of an alpha particle is four times the kinetic energy of a proton. The ratio of de Broglie wavelengths associated with them will be:

  • (A) \(\frac{1}{16}\)
  • (B) \(\frac{1}{8}\)
  • (C) \(\frac{1}{4}\)
  • (D) \(\frac{1}{2}\)
Correct Answer: (C) \(\frac{1}{4}\)
View Solution

Question 11:

Two coherent light waves, each having amplitude \(a\), superpose to produce an interference pattern on a screen. The intensity of light as seen on the screen varies between:

  • (A) 0 and \( 2a^2 \)
  • (B) 0 and \( 4a^2 \)
  • (C) \( a^2 \) and \( 2a^2 \)
  • (D)\( 2a^2 \) and \( 4a^2 \)
Correct Answer: (B) 0 and \( 4a^2 \)
View Solution

Question 12:

Two statements are given, one labelled Assertion (A) and the other labelled Reason (R). Select the correct answer from the codes (A), (B), (C) and (D) as given below.
Assertion (A): During the formation of a nucleus, the mass defect produced is the source of the binding energy of the nucleus.

Reason (R): For all nuclei, the value of binding energy per nucleon increases with mass number.

  • (A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  • (B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  • (C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  • (D) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are false.
Correct Answer: (C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
View Solution

Question 13:

Two statements are given, one labelled Assertion (A) and the other labelled Reason (R). Select the correct answer from the codes (A), (B), (C), and (D) as given below.

Assertion (A): In Rutherford’s alpha particle scattering experiment, the presence of only few alpha particles at angle of scattering \( \pi \) led him to the discovery of the nucleus.

Reason (R): The size of the nucleus is approximately \( 10^{-5} \) times the size of an atom and therefore only few alpha particles are rebounded.

  • (A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  • (B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  • (C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  • (D) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are false.
Correct Answer: (A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
View Solution

- Assertion (A): In Rutherford's alpha particle scattering experiment, he observed that most of the alpha particles passed through the gold foil, but a few were deflected at very large angles, some even rebounding. This led him to conclude that most of the atom is empty space, with a small, dense nucleus at its center. This observation was crucial in the discovery of the atomic nucleus. Hence, Assertion (A) is true.

- Reason (R): The reason for only a few alpha particles being deflected at large angles is that the nucleus is extremely small compared to the overall size of the atom. The nucleus is about \( 10^{-5} \) times the size of the atom, so most of the alpha particles pass through the empty space around the nucleus, and only a few collide with the dense nucleus, leading to large angle scattering or rebound. Therefore, Reason (R) is also true and correctly explains Assertion (A).

Thus, the correct answer is option (A): Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
Quick Tip: In Rutherford’s alpha particle scattering experiment, the deflection of alpha particles at large angles provided evidence of the existence of a dense nucleus. The small size of the nucleus explains why only a few alpha particles were deflected significantly.


Question 14:

Two statements are given, one labelled Assertion (A) and the other labelled Reason (R). Select the correct answer from the codes (A), (B), (C), and (D) as given below.


Assertion (A): The impurities in p-type Si are not pentavalent atoms.

Reason (R): The hole density in the valence band in a p-type semiconductor is almost equal to the acceptor density.

  • (A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  • (B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  • (C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  • (D) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are false.
Correct Answer: (B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
View Solution

Question 15:

Two statements are given, one labelled Assertion (A) and the other labelled Reason (R). Select the correct answer from the codes (A), (B), (C), and (D) as given below.

Two statements are given, one labelled Assertion (A) and the other labelled Reason (R). Select the correct answer from the codes (A), (B), (C) and (D) as given below.

Assertion (A): The Balmer series in the hydrogen atom spectrum is formed when the electron jumps from a higher energy state to the ground state.

Reason (R): In Bohr's model of the hydrogen atom, the electron can jump between successive orbits only.

  • (A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  • (B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  • (C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  • (D) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are false.
Correct Answer: (D) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are false.
View Solution

Question 16:

Find the effective resistance of the network of resistors between points A and F as shown in the figure.

Correct Answer:
View Solution

Question 17:

A current of 5 A is passing along +X direction through a wire lying along X-axis. Find the magnetic field \( \vec{B} \) at a point \( \vec{r} = (3 \hat{i} + 4 \hat{j}) \, m \) due to 1 cm element of the wire, centered at the origin.

Correct Answer:
View Solution

Question 18:

Define the term, ‘distance of closest approach’. A proton of 3.95 MeV energy approaches a target nucleus \( Z = 79 \) in head-on position. Calculate its distance of closest approach.

Correct Answer:
View Solution

Question 19:

(a) A point object is placed in air at a distance \( \frac{R}{3} \) in front of a convex surface of radius of curvature \( R \), separating air from a medium of refractive index \( n \) (where \( n < 4 \)). Find the nature and position of the image formed.

Correct Answer:
View Solution

Question 20:

The threshold frequency for a given metal is \( 3.6 \times 10^{14} \) Hz. If monochromatic radiations of frequency \( 6.8 \times 10^{14} \) Hz are incident on this metal, find the cut-off potential for the photoelectrons.

Correct Answer:
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Question 21:

(a) “There is a limit to the amount of charge that can be stored on a given capacitor.” Explain.

Correct Answer:
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Question 22:

A capacitor is charged by a battery to a potential difference \( V \). It is disconnected from the battery and connected across another identical uncharged capacitor. Calculate the ratio of total energy stored in the combination to the initial energy stored in the capacitor.

Correct Answer:
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Question 23:

“You cannot see a person standing on the other side of a boundary wall but can hear him.” Explain with reason.

Correct Answer:
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Question 24:

Light of wavelength 750 nm is incident normally on a slit of width 1.5 mm. Diffraction pattern is obtained on a screen 1.0 m away from the slit. Find the distance of the nearest point from the central maxima at which the intensity is zero.

Correct Answer:
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Question 25:

The magnetic moment (5 J/T) of a bar magnet points along a uniform magnetic field 0.4 T.

Correct Answer:
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Question 26:

In which case is the potential energy of the magnet minimum?

Correct Answer:
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Question 27:

A right-angled prism ABC (refractive index \( \sqrt{2} \)) is kept on a plane mirror as shown in the figure. A ray of light is incident normally on the face AC. Trace the path of the ray as it passes through the prism.

Correct Answer:
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Question 28:

Find the angle of deviation produced by the prism.

Correct Answer:
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Question 29:

Two small solid metal balls A and B of radii \(R\) and \(2R\) having charge densities 2 and 3 respectively are kept far apart. Find the charge densities on A and B after they are connected by a conducting wire.

Correct Answer:
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Question 30:

Two infinitely long straight wires ‘1’ and ‘2’ are placed \(d\) distance apart, parallel to each other, as shown in the figure. They are uniformly charged having charge densities \(\lambda\) and \(-\frac{\lambda}{2}\) respectively. Locate the position of the point from wire ‘1’ at which the net electric field is zero and identify the region in which it lies.

Correct Answer:
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Question 31:

Draw the energy-band diagrams for conductors, semiconductors and insulators at T = 0 K. How is an electron-hole pair formed in a semiconductor at room temperature ?

Correct Answer:
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N/A


Question 32:

Carbon and silicon both are members of the IV group of the periodic table and have the same lattice structure. Carbon is an insulator, whereas silicon is a semiconductor. Explain.

Correct Answer:
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Question 33:

Differentiate between half-wave and full-wave rectification. With the help of a circuit diagram, explain the working of a full-wave rectifier.

Correct Answer:
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Question 34:

A galvanometer is converted into a voltmeter of range (0 – V) by connecting with it, a resistance \(R_1\). If \(R_1\) is replaced by \(R_2\), the range becomes (0 – 2 V). The resistance of the galvanometer is:

  • (A) \(R_2 - 2R_1\)
  • (B) \(R_2 - R_1\)
  • (C) \(R_1 + R_2\)
  • (D) \(R_1 - 2R_2\)
Correct Answer: (C) \(R_1 + R_2\)
View Solution

Question 35:

A current of 5 mA flows through a galvanometer. Its coil has 100 turns, each of area of cross-section 18 cm\(^2\) and is suspended in a magnetic field of 0.20 T. The deflecting torque acting on the coil will be:

  • (A) \(3.6 \times 10^{-3}\) Nm
  • (B) \(1.8 \times 10^{-4}\) Nm
  • (C) \(2.4 \times 10^{-3}\) Nm
  • (D) \(1.2 \times 10^{-4}\) Nm
Correct Answer: (B) \(1.8 \times 10^{-4}\) Nm
View Solution

Question 36:

The value of resistance of the ammeter in case (ii) will be:

  • (A) 0.20 \(\Omega\)
  • (B) 0.24 \(\Omega\)
  • (C) 6.0 \(\Omega\)
  • (D) 6.25 \(\Omega\)
Correct Answer: (B) 0.24 \(\Omega\)
View Solution

Question 37:

A galvanometer of resistance 6 \(\Omega\) shows full scale deflection for a current of 0.2 A. The value of shunt to be used with this galvanometer to convert it into an ammeter of range (0 – 5 A) is:

  • (A) 0.25 \(\Omega\)
  • (B) 0.30 \(\Omega\)
  • (C) 0.50 \(\Omega\)
  • (D) 6.0 \(\Omega\)
Correct Answer: (A) 0.25 \(\Omega\)
View Solution

Question 38:

The value of the current sensitivity of a galvanometer is given by:

  • (A) \(\frac{k}{NBA}\)
  • (B) \(\frac{NBA}{k}\)
  • (C) \(\frac{kBA}{N}\)
  • (D) \(\frac{kNB}{A}\)
Correct Answer: (B) \(\frac{NBA}{k}\)
View Solution

Question 39:

Which of the following graphs can be used to obtain the value of Planck’s constant?

  • (A) \textbf{Photocurrent versus Intensity of incident light}
  • (B) \textbf{Photocurrent versus Frequency of incident light}
  • (C) \textbf{Cut-off potential versus Frequency of incident light}
  • (D) \textbf{Cut-off potential versus Intensity of incident light}
Correct Answer: (C) \textbf{Cut-off potential versus Frequency of incident light}
View Solution

Question 40:

Red light, yellow light, and blue light of the same intensity are incident on a metal surface successively. \(K_R\), \(K_Y\), and \(K_B\) represent the maximum kinetic energy of photoelectrons respectively, then:

  • (A) \(K_R > K_Y > K_B\)
  • (B) \(K_Y > K_B > K_R\)
  • (C) \(K_B > K_Y > K_R\)
  • (D) \(K_R > K_B > K_Y\)
Correct Answer: (C) \(K_B > K_Y > K_R\)
View Solution

Question 41:

Which of the following metals exhibits photoelectric effect with visible light?

  • (A) \textbf{Caesium}
  • (B) \textbf{Zinc}
  • (C) \textbf{Cadmium}
  • (D) \textbf{Magnesium}
Correct Answer: (A) \textbf{Caesium}
View Solution

Question 42:

When the frequency of the incident light is increased without changing its intensity, the saturation current:

  • (A) increases linearly
  • (B) decreases
  • (C) increases non-linearly
  • (D) remains the same
Correct Answer: (D) remains the same
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Question 43:

Which of the following graphs shows the variation of photoelectric current \(I\) with the intensity of light?

Correct Answer: (A) \(\text{Linear increase of current with intensity}\)
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Question 44:

Draw a ray diagram of a reflecting telescope (Cassegrain) and explain the formation of the image. State two important advantages that a reflecting telescope has over a refracting telescope.

Correct Answer:
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Question 45:

In a refracting telescope, the focal length of the objective is 50 times the focal length of the eyepiece. When the final image is formed at infinity, the length of the tube is 102 cm. Find the focal lengths of the two lenses.

Correct Answer:
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Question 46:

Write any two advantages of a compound microscope over a simple microscope. Draw a ray diagram for the image formation at the near point by a compound microscope and explain it.

Correct Answer:
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Question 47:

A thin plano-concave lens with its curved face of radius of curvature R is made of glass of refractive index \( n_1 \). It is placed coaxially in contact with a thin equiconvex lens of same radius of curvature of refractive index \( n_2 \). Obtain the power of the combination lens.

Correct Answer:
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Question 48:

Three batteries E1, E2, and E3 of emfs and internal resistances (4 V, 2 \(\Omega\)), (2 V, 4 \(\Omega\)) and (6 V, 2 \(\Omega\)) respectively are connected as shown in the figure. Find the values of the currents passing through batteries E1, E2, and E3.



Correct Answer:
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Question 49:

The ends of six wires, each of resistance R (= 10 \(\Omega\)) are joined as shown in the figure. The points A and B of the arrangement are connected in a circuit. Find the value of the effective resistance offered by it to the circuit.


Correct Answer:
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Question 50:

Current I (= 1 A) is passing through a copper rod (n = \(8.5 \times 10^{28} \, m^{-3}\)) of varying cross-sections as shown in the figure. The areas of cross-section at points A and B along its length are \(1.0 \times 10^{-7} \, m^2\) and \(2.0 \times 10^{-7} \, m^2\) respectively. Calculate:




(I) the ratio of electric fields at points A and B.

(II) the drift velocity of free electrons at point B.

Correct Answer:
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Question 51:

Two point charges \( q_1 = 16 \, \mu C \) and \( q_2 = 1 \, \mu C \) are placed at points \( \vec{r}_1 = (3 \, m) \hat{i} \) and \( \vec{r}_2 = (4 \, m) \hat{j} \). Find the net electric field \( \vec{E} \) at point \( \vec{r} = (3 \, m) \hat{i} + (4 \, m) \hat{j} \).

Correct Answer:
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Question 52:

Define self-inductance of a coil. Derive the expression for the energy required to build up a current \(I\) in a coil of self-inductance \(L\).

Correct Answer:
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Question 53:

Define the term mutual inductance. Deduce the expression for the mutual inductance of two long coaxial solenoids of the same length having different radii and different number of turns.

Correct Answer:
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Question 54:

The current through an inductor is uniformly increased from zero to 2 A in 40 s. An emf of 5 mV is induced during this period. Find the flux linked with the inductor at t = 10 s.

Correct Answer:
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