11th Physics – how to study [class 11 physics Guide & Study Materials]

Last updated on May 26th, 2022 at 05:32 am

This post is to guide the students who have opted for Physics as a subject for their class 11. We will have a broad view of the topics and chapters to be studied and also refer to the books and online study materials as a quick reckoner for the 11th Physics study, covering the NCERT syllabus. Hopefully, students will find it useful to start the ball rolling and as well as, plan the study well ahead with confidence.

11th Physics – how to study [Physics study guide class 11 & study notes & materials]

Part 1 of class 11 Physics by NCERT consists of the following chapters:
(1) Physical world (2) Units and Measurements (3) Motion in a straight line (4) Motion in a plane (5) Laws of motion (6) Work, Energy and Power (7) System of particles & Rotational Motion (8) Gravitation

Don’t get nervous seeing the chapters to cover. If you focus on concept building from the very beginning, your journey will be more enjoyable.

In the following sections, we will try to find out how to go ahead with a steady plan and where to get the study materials for a better understanding of the topics.

Chapter 1 – Physical World

It’s more of an introductory chapter that talks of the definition of physics and its scope. You get to know briefly about some eminent physicists and their major contributions. This will certainly make many students interested enough to learn the subject in detail. Also, a discussion on fundamental forces is given in this chapter.

How to study

• You may go through the chapter and boost your level of keenness.
• And, get ready for the next chapters.

Chapter 2 – Units and Measurements

This chapter helps to understand the international unit system and the fundamentals of measurements. Measurement of length, mass, and time are included. Topics on the accuracy & precision of instruments, errors in measurement, Significant figures, and dimensions are included.

How to study

• Dimensions of physical quantities, dimensional formulae, and equations, Dimensional analysis are quite interesting and you must learn these well.
• Significant figures – this is important to go through and the rules should be noted down and followed while solving numerical problems.
• Rest of the topics – go through for an all-round understanding of the units and measurements of the physical quantities.

Chapter 3 – Motion in a straight line

This Kinematics chapter on rectilinear motion is very interesting and important as well. It’s about one-dimensional( 1D) motion and the related physical quantities like position, distance, displacement, average velocity, average speed, instantaneous velocity, instantaneous speed, acceleration. We also study the concept of relative velocity here. And then comes the study and derivation of Kinematic or motion equations. (also known as ‘SUVAT’ equations.)

How to study

• Each and every topic needs to be studied – and the prior basic knowledge on these will help you a lot.
• The derivations, graphs, and numerical are to be done properly.
• Here are some links to our online tutorials that can help you a lot.

Online study material & notes [class 11 chapter 3 – Motion in a straight line]

Follow the links below to find the notes:

Instantaneous Velocity – definition & equation with solved problem

Average velocity – definition, formula

Difference between Instantaneous Speed and Instantaneous Velocity

Difference between average speed and average velocity

Instantaneous Acceleration – definition & formula with solved problem

Average Acceleration and its formula & solved numerical problems

Derivation of Motion Equations (SUVAT equations)

How to draw motion graphs on a graph paper

Velocity time graph

Distance time graph

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Chapter 4 – Motion in a plane

This chapter covers aspects of the motion of an object in 2 dimensions (a plane). Hence, the first topic covered is Vector Physics. (Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplication of Vectors, and a few more). As a simple case of motion in a plane, the projectile motion is discussed. Uniform circular motion is also discussed in this chapter.

How to study

• Study the concepts of vectors and the subtopics. Understanding Vectors is quite useful to attempt and solve numerical of multiple chapters.
• Study projectile motion, derive equations, solve the numerical questions
• Similarly, study the topics under circular motion like angular distance, angular speed(omega), & centripetal acceleration. Learn how centripetal acceleration for a uniform circular motion is not a constant vector. The relationship between physical quantities of circular motion and those of linear motion (like the relation between linear speed and angular speed) needs to be studied.
• Here are some links to our online tutorials that can help you a lot.

Online study material & notes [class 11 chapter 4 – Motion in a plane]

Follow the links below to find the notes:

Vector Physics Fundamentals, Vector Additions – different ways

Vector Subtraction

Vector Product | Vector Multiplication

Vector Resolution

Vector – Numerical worksheet

Scalar product & Vector product examples

Projectile Motion – derivation & other important FAQs

Projectile – velocity, acceleration & displacement at different points

Projectile formula listing

Uniform Circular motion & acceleration

Relationship between circular motion and linear motion physical quantities

Chapter 5 – Laws of Motion

This chapter covers Newton’s Laws of Motion (first law, second law, third law), momentum, conservation of momentum, equilibrium of a particle, common forces in mechanics (friction), circular motion, solving problems in mechanics.

How to study

Here is a list of important topics from this chapter that the students must learn.

• Study the 3 Laws of motion – statement, concepts, examples, etc.
• Concepts of force or net force from the first law
• Equation (measurement) of force from the 2nd law
• The reaction force from the 3rd law of motion
• Concepts of momentum from the 2nd law of motion
• impulse
• Conservation of momentum
• Equilibrium conditions for a particle
• Frictional force – concepts, types, formula & numerical
• Circular motion, centripetal force, banking angle, etc
• Free Body Diagrams (FBD)
• Numerical problems ( for all the topics above)

Online study material & notes [class 11 chapter 5 – Laws of Motion]

Newton‘s second law & equation of force

Force FAQs – equation, net force, types, etc.

3rd Law of motion

Numericals on Force and Laws of motion

Momentum – concepts

Impulse – concepts, formula & more

Impulse Momentum Theorem – with derivation

Numerical on impulse & momentum

More Numerical on the momentum

Conservation of momentum – law, derivation

Equilibrium

Friction

Friction – pushing a car

Friction & walking

Centripetal force – guide

Banked Curve & Banking Angle

Free Body Diagrams (FBD)

Chapter 6 – Work, Energy, Power

This chapter deals with the concepts of work (as defined by Physics), Energy, & work-energy theorem.
It also covers concepts of Potential energy, kinetic energy, work done by a force (constant & variable), conservation of mechanical energy, the potential energy of string, various forms of energy & the law of conservation of energy, power, and collisions.

How to study

• Grasp the concepts of work & energy by going through all the topics and subtopics.
• Take help of your Vector concepts to understand the formula of work as a scalar product.
• Solve the numerical problems.
• Grasp the conservation of energy and transfer of energy from one form to another.
• Get the concepts and formula of power.
• Understand the collision types and examples with related formulas.

Online study material & notes [class 11 chapter 6 – Work, Energy, Power]

Work done by a force

Potential energy

Law of conservation of energy & its equation

Work KE theorem & derivation

Spring – Potential energy with derivation

Power

Numerical – Work Energy Power Numerical Worksheet

KE equation derivation

Elastic & inelastic collisions

Collisions & Newton’s Laws of motion

Numerical – collisions

Chapter 7 – System of Particles & Rotational Motion

This chapter covers primarily, (a) the System of particles covering the center of mass & also revisits the linear momentum of a system of particles. (b) Rotational motion topics like Torque, Angular velocity, Angular Momentum, Moment of Inertia, Equilibrium of rigid body, Theorems of perpendicular and parallel axes. (c) Kinematics and Dynamics of rotational motion (d) Rolling motion etc.

How to study

This chapter brings in the topics related to the rotational domain of motion and hence the relationships with some important quantities of rotational domain with its corresponding counterpart in linear motion are to be studied. This will help to build up a better understanding of rotational motion.

Online study material & notes [class 11 chapter 7 – Rotational Motion]

Circular Motion and Rotational Motion – are they the same?

Torque – concepts, formula, derivation

Torque Physics

Angular Momentum & Moment of Inertia

Rotational KE with derivation

Numerical – Rotational Kinematics

Rotation of a rigid body about a moving axis

Chapter 8 – Gravitation

This chapter covers Planetary motion topics like Kepler’s laws, Universal law of gravitation, the gravitational constant G, acceleration due to gravity g. It also covers Gravitational potential energy, escape speed, Earth satellites, the energy of an orbiting satellite, satellite types – geostationary and polar satellites, and weightlessness.

How to study

• Three Laws of Kepler – (a) Law of orbits (b) Law of areas, & (c) the Law of Periods are to be studied
• Newton’s Universal Law of gravitation – statement, concepts, mathematical representation (including Vector representation), numerical
• The gravitational constant G, its formula, value, dimension
• Acceleration due to gravity g of the earth
• Variation of g due to height and depth – derivation of formula, numerical
• Gravitational potential energy – understanding, derivation of the formula
• Escape speed – definition, concepts, formula derivation
• Satellite of the earth – orbital speed, time period, energy
• Concepts of geostationary and polar satellites, difference, function, etc.
• Weightlessness

Online study material & notes [class 11 chapter 8 – Gravitation]

Kepler‘s 3rd law derivation

Universal Law of gravitation & gravitational Force – derivation

Numerical on Law of gravitation and Gravitational force

Gravitational Potential Energy (PE)

g on the earth’s surface

Variation of g with height and depth

Escape velocity

Satellite & circular motion | concepts of Geostationary

Orbital Velocity – with derivation

Here, we have covered 8 chapters for the class 11 study. We are coming again to update this topic with the details for the rest of the chapters.