CLASS : XII

SESSION: 2023-24
CBSE SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER
SUBJECT: PHYSICS (THEORY)

Maximum Marks: 70 Time Allowed: 3 hours.

General Instructions:

(1) There are 33 questions in all. All questions are compulsory.

(2) This question paper has five sections: Section A, Section B, Section C, Section D
and Section E.
(3) All the sections are compulsory.
(4) Section A contains sixteen questions, twelve MCQ and four Assertion Reasoning
based of 1 mark each, Section B contains five questions of two marks each, Section C
contains seven questions of three marks each, Section D contains two case study
based questions of four marks each and Section E contains three long answer
questions of five marks each.
(5) There is no overall choice. However, an internal choice has been provided in one
question in Section B, one question in Section C, one question in each CBQ in Section
D and all three questions in Section E. You have to attempt only one of the choices in
such questions.
(6) Use of calculators is not allowed.
(7) You may use the following values of physical constants where ever necessary
i. c = 3 x 108 m/s
ii. me = 9.1 x10-31 kg
iii. e = 1.6 x 10-19 C
iv. μ0 = 4π x 10-7 Tm𝑨−𝟏
v. h = 6.63 x10-34 Js
vi. ε0 = 8.854 x10-12 𝑪𝟐𝑵−𝟏𝒎−𝟐
vii. Avogadro’s number = 6.023 X 𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟑 per gram mole
SECTION A
1. In a parallel plate capacitor, the distance between the plates is ‘d’ and potential
difference across plate is V. Energy stored per unit volume between the plates of
capacitor is
𝑄2 1𝜀0 𝑉 2 1 𝑉2 1 𝜀0 2 𝑉 2
𝑎) 𝑏) 𝑐) 𝑑)
2𝑉 2 2 𝑑2 2 𝜀0 𝑑 2 2 𝑑2

2. An electric dipole placed in an electric field of intensity 2 x 10 5 N/C at an angle of

30ͦ experiences a torque equal to 4 N/m. The charge on the dipole of dipole
length 2 cm is
a) 7 μC b) 8 mC c) 2mC d) 5mC

3. A metallic plate exposed to white light emits electrons. For which of the following
colours of light, the stopping potential will be maximum?
a) Blue b) Yellow c) Red d) Violet

4. When alpha particles are sent through a thin gold foil, most of them go straight
through the foil, because
a) alpha particles are positively charged
b) the mass of an alpha particle is more than the mass of an electron
c) most of the part of an atom is empty space
d) alpha particles move with high velocity

5. An electron is moving along positive x-axis in a ,magnetic field which is parallel to

the positive y-axis. In what direction will the magnetic force be acting on the
electron?
a) along –x axis b) along –z axis c) along +z axis d) along –y axis

6. ϰ1 and ϰ 2 are magnetic susceptibilities of a diamagnetic substance at

temperature T1 and T2 K respectively. Then,
a) ϰ1 T1 = ϰ 2 T2 b) ϰ1 and ϰ 2 c)
𝑎) ϰ1𝑇1 = ϰ2 𝑇2 𝑏) ϰ1 = ϰ2 𝑐) ϰ1 √𝑇1 𝑑) ϰ2 √𝑇2

7. An ammeter of resistance 0.81 ohm reads up to 1 A. The value of the

required shunt to increase the range to 10 A is
(a) 0.9 ohm (b ) 0.09 ohm (c) 0.03 ohm (d) 0.3 ohm

8. If alpha, beta and gamma rays carry same momentum, which has longest
wavelength?
a) alpha rays b) beta rays
c) gamma rays` d) none, all have same wavelength
 9. The large scale transmission of electrical energy over long distances is done with
the use of transformers. The voltage output of the generator is stepped-up
because of
(a) reduction of current (b) reduction of current and voltage both
(c) power loss is cut down (d) (a ) and (c) both

10. The diagram below shows the electric field (E) and magnetic field (B) components
of an electromagnetic wave at a certain time and location.

The direction of the propagation of the electromagnetic wave is

(a) perpendicular to E and B and out of plane of the paper
(b) perpendicular to E and B and into the plane of the paper
(c) parallel and in the same direction as E
(d) parallel and in the same direction as B

11. Two coils of inductance 2 mH and 8mH are placed too close to each other that
the flux linkage is complete between the coils. The mutual inductance between
between these coils is:
a) 4 mH b) 6 mH c) 10 mH d) 16 mH

12. The size of nucleus of an atom of mass number A is proportional to

𝑎) 𝐴1⁄3 𝑏) 𝐴2⁄3 𝑐) 𝐴3⁄4 𝑑) 𝐴5⁄3
For Questions 13 to 16, two statements are given –one labelled Assertion (A) and
other labelled Reason (R). Select the correct answer to these questions from the
options as given below.
a) If both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is correct explanation of
Assertion.
b) If both Assertion and Reason are true but Reason is not the correct
explanation of Assertion.
c) If Assertion is true but Reason is false.
d) If both Assertion and Reason are false.

13. Assertion (A): For the radiation of a frequency greater than the threshold frequency,
photoelectric current is proportional to the intensity of the radiation.
Reason (R) : Greater the number of energy quanta available, greater is the
number of electrons absorbing the energy quanta and greater
is number of electrons coming out of the metal.
 14. Assertion (A) : Putting p type semiconductor slab directly in physical contact
with n type semiconductor slab cannot form the pn junction.
Reason (R) : The roughness at contact will be much more than inter atomic
crystal spacing and continuous flow of charge carriers is not
possible.

15. Assertion (A) : An electron has a higher potential energy when it is at a location
associated with a negative value of potential and has a lower
potential energy when at a location associated with a positive
potential.
Reason (R) : Electrons move from a region of higher potential to a region of
lower potential.
16. Assertion (A) : A total reflecting prism is used to erect the inverted image
without deviation.
Reason (R): Rays of light incident parallel to base of the prism emerge out as
parallel rays.

SECTION B
17. a) Draw the circuit diagram of full wave rectifier.
b) Name the device which utilizes unilateral action of a pn diode to convert
ac into dc.

18. Calculate the ratio of the frequencies of the radiation emitted due to transition of
the electron in a hydrogen atom from its (i) second permitted energy level to the
first level and (ii) highest permitted energy level to the second permitted level.

19. A ray of monochromatic light passes through an equilateral glass prism in such a
way that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of emergence and each of
these angles is 3/4 times the angle of the prism. Determine the angle of deviation
and the refractive index of the glass prism.

20. A cell of emf 1.1 V and internal resistance 0.5 ohm is connected to a wire of
resistance of 0.5 ohm. Another cell of the same emf is connected in series but
the current in the wire remains the same. Find the internal resistance of the
second cell.

21. In the case of a concave mirror of focal length f, when an object is kept between
f anf 2f, show that its image is formed beyond 2f.
OR
In an astronomical telescope in normal adjustment a straight black line of length L is
drawn on the objective lens. The eyepiece forms a real image of this line whose
length is 𝑙. What is the angular magnification of the telescope?

SECTION C
 22. Define the term decay constant of a radioactive nucleus.
Derive the expression for its mean life in terms of decay constant.

23. Charges (+q) and (–q) are placed at the points A and B respectively which are a
distance 2L apart. C is the midpoint between A and B. What is the work done in
moving a charge +Q along the semicircle CRD

24. (a) Using Rydberg formula for spectrum of hydrogen atom, calculate (i) largest
and the (ii) shortest wavelengths of the emission lines of the Balmer series in the
spectrum for H-atom.
(b) The total energy of an electron in the first excited state of the hydrogen atom is
about –3.4 eV. What is the kinetic energy of electron in this state?

25. A wire of uniform cross-section and resistance 4 ohm is bent in the shape of square
ABCD. Point A is connected to a point P on DC by a wire AP of resistance 1 ohm.
When a potential difference is applied between A and C, the points B and P are seen
to be at the same potential. What is the resistance of the part DP?

26. Show that in free oscillations of an LC circuit, the sum of energiues stored in
capacitor and the inductor is constant in time.

27. Identify the part of the electromagnetic spectrum which:

a) produces heating effect,
b) is absorbed by the ozone layer in the atmosphere,
c) is used for studying crystal structure.
 Write any one method of the production of each of the above radiations.

28. a) Define self inductance with its SI units.

b) Show that magnetic energy required to build up the current I ina coil of self
1
inductance L is given by 𝐿𝐼 2.
2
SECTION D
29. Read the following paragraph and answer the questions that follow.
A semiconductor diode is basically a pn junction with metallic contacts provided at
the ends for the application of an external voltage. It is a two terminal device. When
an external voltage is applied across a semiconductor diode such that p-side is
connected to the positive terminal of the battery and n-side to the negative terminal,
it is said to be forward biased. When an external voltage is applied across the diode
such that n-side is positive and p-side is negative, it is said to be reverse biased. An
ideal diode is one whose resistance in forward biasing is zero and the resistance is
infinite in reverse biasing. When the diode is forward biased, it is found that beyond
forward voltage called knee voltage, the conductivity is very high. When the biasing
voltage is more than the knee voltage the potential barrier is overcome and the
current increases rapidly with increase in forward voltage. When the diode is reverse
biased, the reverse bias voltage produces a very small current about a few
microamperes which almost remains constant with bias. This small current is reverse
saturation current.
i) In the given figure, a diode D is connected to an external resistance R = 100 and an emf of 3.5
V. If the barrier potential developed across the diode is 0.5 V, the current in the circuit will be:

(a) 40 mA (b) 20 mA (c) 35 mA (d) 30 mA

ii) In which of the following figures, the pn diode is reverse biased?

iii) Based on the V-I characteristics of the diode, we can classify diode as
(a) bilateral device (b) ohmic device
(c) non-ohmic device (d) passive element
OR
Two identical PN junctions can be connected in series by three different methods as shown
in the figure. If the potential difference in the junctions is the same, then the correct
connections will be

iv) The V-I characteristic of a diode is shown in the figure. The ratio of the resistance of the
diode at I = 15 mA to the resistance at V = -10 V is

(a) 100 (b) 106 (c) 10 (d) 10-6

30. Read the following paragraph and answer the questions that follow.

Sparking brilliance of a diamond:

The total internal of light is used in polishing diamonds to create a sparking

brilliance. By polishing the diamond with specific cuts, it is adjusted so that the most
of the light rays approaching the surface are incident with an angle of incidence
more than critical angle. Hence, they suffer multiple reflection and ultimately come
out of diamond from the top. This gives diamond a sparking brilliance.
i) Light cannot easily escape a diamond without multiple internal reflections. This is
because
a) its critical angle with reference to air is too large
b) its critical angle with reference to air is too small
c) the diamond is transparent
d) rays always enter at angle greater than critical angle

ii) The critical angle for diamond is 24.4. Then its refractive index is
a) 2.42 b) 0.413 c) 1 d) 1.413
OR
A diamond immersed in a liquid of refractive index greater than water. then the
critical angle for total internal reflection will
a) depend on nature of liquid
b) decrease
c) remain the same
d) increase
iii) The basic reason for extraordinary sparkle of suitably cut diamond is that
a) it has low refractive index
b) it has high transparency
c) it has high refractive index
d) it is very hard

iv) The following diagram shows the same diamond cuts in two different shapes.
The brilliance of diamond in the second diamond will be:
 a) less than the first
b) greater than first
c) same as first
d) will depend on intensity of light

SECTION E
31. (i) Draw a ray diagram of compound microscope for the final image formed at
least distance of distinct vision.
(ii) An angular magnification of 30X is desired using an objective of focal length
1.25 cm and an eye piece of focal length 5 cm. How will you set up the
compound microscope for the final image formed at least distance of vision.
OR
(i) Draw a ray diagram of an astronomical telescope for the final image formed at
least distance of vision.
(ii) An astronomical telescope has an angular magnification of magnitude 5 for
distant objects. The separation between the objective and an eye piece is 36 cm
and the final image is formed at infinity. Calculate the focal length of the objective
and the focal length of the eye piece.

32. i) Define electric flux. Write its SI unit.

ii) Using Gauss’s Law, prove that the electric field t a point due to a uniformly
charged infinite plane sheet is independent of the distance from it.
iii) How is the field directed if the sheet is-
a) charged positively?
b) negatively charged?
 OR
a) Consider a system of n charges q1, q2,…… qn with position vectors r1, r2,….. rn
relative to some origin ‘O’. Deduce the expression for the net electric field E at a
point P with position vector rp, due to this system of charges.
b) Find the resultant electric field due to an electric dipole of dipole moment, 2aq,
(2a being the separation between the charges +q and –q) at a point distant ‘x’ on
its equator.

33. A series LCR circuit is connected to an ac source having voltage V= V 0sinωt.

Derive the expression for instantaneous current I and it phasor relationship to the
applied voltage.
Obtain the condition for resonance to occur. Define power factor. State the
conditions under which it is (i) maximum and (ii) minimum.
OR
Explain with the help of a labelled diagram, the principle and working of an ac
generator? Write the expression for the emf generated in the coil in terms of
speed of rotation. Can the current produced by the ac generator be measured
with a moving coil galvanometer?

34. A
35. A
36.
37.
38. S

39. S

40. S

41.