What the board asks

We went through the ISC board papers, question by question, and matched each question to a topic. Here is what was asked, how often, and what was never asked.

Physics: 427 topics in the 2027 syllabus, across 9 units. The board has asked 269 of them at least once. 158 were never asked in the papers we checked.

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P1 Electrostatics

All the topics in Physics: Electrostatics

Asked topics first, the most asked at the top. Tap a topic to see what to write, the result, the years, and the real board questions.

64 topics shown

#	Topic	Type	Marks	Times asked	Last asked	Status
1	Derive E on the axis (end-on position) of a dipoleDraw the dipole with a point P on its axis at distance r from the centre, write the fields of +q and -q at P, subtract them to get the resultant in terms of p, r and l, give its direction, and reduce it for a short dipole.	Derivation	3	4 papers	Specimen 2027	Asked
2	Numericals: equivalent capacitance, charge and voltage in networksReduce a series-parallel network of capacitors step by step to its equivalent capacitance (redrawing the circuit at each step), and find the charge on and potential difference across each capacitor when the network is connected to a battery.	Numericals	2	4 papers	2026	Asked
3	Numericals: flux through a closed surface from enclosed chargesFrom a figure or list of charges, pick out the charges inside the closed surface, add them with their signs, and compute the net flux or the ratio of fluxes through two surfaces, ignoring charges that lie outside.	Numericals	2	3 papers	2026	Asked
4	Zero-potential locus of a dipole; zero work along itState, with the reason, the locus of points where the potential of a dipole is zero, and use it to find the work done in moving a charge any distance along the perpendicular bisector of a dipole.	Give reason	1	3 papers	2026	Asked
5	Reason out how flux changes with surface or chargeSay, with a one-line reason from Gauss' theorem, what happens to the flux through a closed surface when its radius, shape or size is changed, when the enclosed charge is changed, when the charge is replaced by a dipole, or when a charge is placed outside.	Give reason	1	3 papers	2025 improvement	Asked
6	Derive torque on a dipole in a uniform fieldDraw a dipole with its axis at angle theta to a uniform field, show the equal and opposite forces qE on the two charges, state that the net force is zero, and from the perpendicular distance between the forces obtain the torque in scalar and vector form with its direction and its values at 0, 90 and 180 degrees.	Derivation	3	2 papers	Specimen 2027	Asked
7	Numericals: field of one plane sheet and two parallel sheetsWrite and use the field of a single charged plane sheet, then for two parallel sheets with charge densities +sigma and -sigma find by superposition the resultant field between them and outside them with its direction, and use it in problems such as balancing a charged body.	Numericals	3	2 papers	Specimen 2027	Asked
8	Parallel plate capacitor: formula, factors, numericalsWrite the capacitance of an air-filled parallel plate capacitor, state how it changes when the plate area or the separation is changed, and compute C, A or d from the other two.	Numericals	2	2 papers	Specimen 2027	Asked
9	Numericals: potential energy of two or three point chargesCompute the electrostatic potential energy of two charges, or of three charges on a line or at the corners of a triangle, keeping the sign of each product, and say what the sign of the answer means or how much work is needed to separate the charges.	Numericals	1	2 papers	2025 improvement	Asked
10	Numericals: capacitor completely filled with a dielectricWrite the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor whose gap is completely filled with a dielectric, say how the capacitance changes when a slab is introduced, and compute the new capacitance, including networks in which only one capacitor is filled.	Numericals	1	2 papers	2025 improvement	Asked
11	Derive E on the perpendicular bisector (broadside-on) of a dipoleDraw the dipole with a point P on its perpendicular bisector at distance r from the centre, show the two equal fields at P and their components, add the components parallel to the axis to get the resultant, state its direction, and reduce it for a short dipole.	Derivation	3	2 papers	2023	Asked
12	Equipotential surface: definition and properties with reasonsDefine an equipotential surface and state its properties with reasons (no work is done in moving a charge on it, the field is normal to it, two such surfaces never intersect, they are closer where the field is stronger), with a sketch of the equipotential surfaces of a point charge and of a uniform field.	Statement	1	2 papers	2023	Asked
13	Neutral point of two point charges: locate or rule outFor two point charges a given distance apart, find the point on the line joining them where the resultant field is zero, and state with a reason where it lies for like charges, for unlike unequal charges, and why there is none for equal and opposite charges.	Give reason	1	1 paper	Specimen 2027	Asked
14	Numericals: force on a charge in an electric fieldUse F = qE to find the force and acceleration of a charged particle in a given field, or the field (or charge) needed to balance its weight so that it stays at rest.	Numericals	2	1 paper	Specimen 2027	Asked
15	Compare V and E at points near a point chargeGiven points at different distances from a positive or a negative point charge, arrange the field magnitudes and the potentials at those points in order, with the reason, taking the sign of the charge into account for potential.	Give reason	1	1 paper	Specimen 2027	Asked
16	Numericals: dipole field on axis and equator, their ratioCompute the field of a dipole (given q and 2l, or p) at a point on its axis or on its perpendicular bisector, using the short-dipole forms when r >> 2l, and state the ratio and the relative directions of the axial and equatorial fields at equal distances.	Numericals	1	1 paper	2025	Asked
17	Numericals and cases: torque on a dipoleCompute the torque on a dipole for a given p (or q and 2l), E and angle, or find p or E from a given torque, and state with reasons when the torque is maximum, when it is zero, and why there is no net force in a uniform field.	Numericals	1	1 paper	2025 improvement	Asked
18	Quantisation: is this charge possible; count the electronsFor a given charge, compute n = q/e and say with a reason whether a body can carry it, and for a given charge find how many electrons were added or removed (and the tiny change in mass if asked).	Give reason	1	1 paper	2024	Asked
19	Permittivity of a medium and relative permittivity: meaningWrite Coulomb's law for charges in a dielectric medium, define the permittivity of the medium and the relative permittivity (dielectric constant) as a ratio of forces or of permittivities, and explain in one sentence what a statement such as 'the relative permittivity of water is 81' means.	Statement	1	1 paper	2024	Asked
20	Numericals and proportion: field of a line chargeCompute the field at a given distance from a long charged wire, or lambda from a given field, and state how E changes when the charge (lambda) or the distance is changed by a given factor.	Numericals	1	1 paper	2024	Asked
21	Derive equivalent capacitance of capacitors in seriesDraw three capacitors C1, C2, C3 in series across a battery, state that each carries the same charge Q while the potential differences add, and deduce the expression for the equivalent capacitance.	Derivation	3	1 paper	2024	Asked
22	Dielectric constant: K = C'/C = epsilon_r = epsilon/epsilon0Define the dielectric constant of a material as a ratio of capacitances and as the relative permittivity, state that it has no unit, and explain what a given value of K tells you about a capacitor filled with that material.	Statement	1	1 paper	2024	Asked
23	Numericals: potential of point charges; work done moving a chargeCompute the potential at a point due to one point charge and due to several charges as an algebraic sum, find where the potential is zero on the line joining two unlike charges, and find the work done in moving a charge between two points.	Numericals	2	1 paper	2023	Asked
24	State Gauss' theorem; properties of a Gaussian surfaceState Gauss' theorem in words and as an equation, say exactly what q and epsilon0 stand for, and list the essential properties of a Gaussian surface.	Statement	1	1 paper	2020	Asked
25	Dielectric inserted with battery disconnected: C, V, E, UFor a charged capacitor isolated from its battery and then completely filled with a dielectric of constant K, state in terms of K, with a one-line reason each, what happens to the charge, capacitance, potential difference, field and stored energy.	Give reason	3	1 paper	2020	Asked
26	Derive potential on the axial line of a dipoleDraw the dipole with a point P on its axis at distance r from the centre, write the potentials of +q and -q at P, add them algebraically to get V in terms of p, r and l, and reduce it for a short dipole.	Derivation	3	1 paper	2019	Asked
27	Energy stored in a capacitor: three forms and numericalsWrite the three equivalent expressions for the energy stored in a charged capacitor and use the convenient one to compute the energy stored in a single capacitor or in a network connected to a battery.	Numericals	2	1 paper	2019	Asked
28	Derive equivalent capacitance of capacitors in parallelDraw three capacitors C1, C2, C3 in parallel across a battery, state that each has the same potential difference V while the charges add, and deduce the expression for the equivalent capacitance.	Derivation	3	1 paper	2018	Asked
29	Electric charge basics: frictional electricity, two types, conductors, insulatorsWrite short notes explaining charging by friction as a transfer of electrons, the two types of charge with the rule for attraction and repulsion, the simple atomic picture (electrons, positive and negative ions), and the difference between conductors and insulators with two examples each.	Statement	1	never		Never asked
30	State quantisation and conservation of electric chargeState the principle of quantisation of charge with q = +/- n e and the value of e, state the law of conservation of charge with one example (rubbing, or a nuclear reaction balanced for charge), and give the SI unit and dimensions of charge.	Statement	1	never		Never asked
31	State Coulomb's law: scalar form, vector form, unitsState Coulomb's law in words, write it in scalar form and in vector form with a labelled sketch of the two charges and the unit vector, define one coulomb from the law, and give the value, SI unit and dimensions of the permittivity of free space.	Statement	2	never		Never asked
32	Numericals: Coulomb force between two point chargesCompute the force between two point charges in vacuum or in a medium of given K, or find a charge or separation from a given force, and say how the force changes when the charges or the distance are changed or when identical spheres are touched and separated.	Numericals	2	never		Never asked
33	Compare Coulomb's law with Newton's law of gravitationDraw a table giving two similarities and at least three differences between the electrostatic force and the gravitational force (nature, dependence on medium, relative strength, what property it acts on), with both formulas written at the top.	Comparison	2	never		Never asked
34	Numericals: net force on a charge by superpositionState the superposition principle, then find the resultant force on one charge due to two or three others placed on a line or at the corners of a triangle or square, adding the separate Coulomb forces as vectors with a force diagram.	Numericals	2	never		Never asked
35	Electric field and intensity: definition, units, point-charge fieldExplain the concept of a field with gravitational, electric and magnetic fields as examples, define electric field intensity using a small positive test charge with its SI unit, dimensions and direction, and obtain from Coulomb's law the field of a point charge and the force on a charge q placed in a field.	Statement	2	never		Never asked
36	Numericals: field of point charges, resultant by superpositionCompute the electric field at a point due to one point charge and the resultant field due to two or three charges (points on the line joining them, at the centre or a corner of a triangle or square) by vector addition, with a diagram of the field arrows.	Numericals	2	never		Never asked
37	Continuous charge distribution: linear, surface, volume charge densityDefine linear, surface and volume charge density with symbols and SI units, write the charge on a small element in each case, and write how the field at a point is found by summing (integrating) the fields of the elements.	Statement	1	never		Never asked
38	Electric lines of force: definition and properties with reasonsDefine an electric line of force and list its properties (start and end, tangent gives direction of E, never intersect, closeness shows strength, no closed loops, normal to a conductor surface), giving the reason why two lines can never cross.	Statement	2	never		Never asked
39	Draw field lines: point charges, dipole, like charges, platesDraw neat field-line patterns with arrows for an isolated positive charge, an isolated negative charge, an electric dipole, two similar charges a small distance apart (showing the neutral point), and the uniform field between two oppositely charged parallel plates.	Diagram	2	never		Never asked
40	Electric dipole and dipole moment: definitions, direction, unitDefine an electric dipole and its dipole moment with a labelled sketch (charges -q and +q, separation 2l), giving the formula, direction, SI unit and dimensions of the dipole moment and what is meant by a short dipole.	Statement	1	never		Never asked
41	Electric flux: definition, area vector, special cases, unitExplain flux using the flow analogy Q = vA with the area vector, define electric flux for a uniform field and for a non-uniform field, work out the special cases theta = 0, 90 and 180 degrees, and give its SI unit, dimensions and scalar nature.	Statement	2	never		Never asked
42	Numericals: flux through a plane surface in uniform fieldCompute the electric flux through a flat surface of given area placed in a uniform field at a given angle, taking care to use the angle between the field and the normal, including the cases where the surface is parallel or perpendicular to the field.	Numericals	2	never		Never asked
43	Derive E of an infinite line charge by Gauss' theoremDraw an infinitely long straight line of charge of linear density lambda with a coaxial cylindrical Gaussian surface of radius r and length l, find the flux through the curved surface and the end faces, apply Gauss' theorem, and obtain E with its direction.	Derivation	3	never		Never asked
44	Derive E of a uniformly charged infinite plane sheetDraw a thin infinite plane sheet of surface charge density sigma with a cylindrical (pill-box) Gaussian surface of cross-section A passing through it, find the flux through the two end faces and the curved surface, apply Gauss' theorem, and obtain E with its direction.	Derivation	3	never		Never asked
45	Derive E of a thin spherical shell: outside, surface, insideDraw a thin hollow spherical shell of radius R and charge q with a concentric spherical Gaussian surface of radius r, and apply Gauss' theorem three times to obtain E at a point outside, on the surface, and inside the shell.	Derivation	3	never		Never asked
46	Graph: E versus r for a thin spherical shellSketch E against distance r from the centre of a charged thin spherical shell with labelled axes, showing E = 0 from 0 to R, the jump to the maximum at r = R, and the 1/r^2 fall beyond R.	Graph	1	never		Never asked
47	Numericals: field of a charged spherical shellCompute the field at given points outside, on the surface of and inside a charged thin spherical shell from its charge or its surface charge density, or find the charge from a given field.	Numericals	2	never		Never asked
48	Potential, potential difference, potential energy: definitions and unitsDefine electric potential at a point, potential difference between two points and electrostatic potential energy in terms of work done on a test charge, with the defining equations, the SI unit (and the definition of one volt), dimensions, and scalar nature.	Statement	1	never		Never asked
49	Derive potential at a point due to a point chargeTake a test charge q0 from point B to point A in the field of a point charge q, integrate the work done against the electric force to derive the potential difference between A and B, then let B go to infinity to get the potential at A, and state its sign for positive and negative q.	Derivation	3	never		Never asked
50	Graphs: E and V versus r for a point chargeSketch on labelled axes how the field E and the potential V of a positive point charge vary with distance r, showing that E falls faster than V, and show how the V curve changes for a negative charge.	Graph	1	never		Never asked
51	Show dipole potential on the equatorial line is zeroDraw the dipole with a point P on its perpendicular bisector, write the potentials of +q and -q at P using the equal distances, and show that their algebraic sum is zero at every point of the equatorial line.	Derivation	2	never		Never asked
52	Derive potential of a short dipole at any pointFor a point at distance r from the centre of a short dipole in a direction making angle theta with the dipole moment, draw the figure with the path difference, write the two potentials, use r >> 2l to simplify, obtain V, and check that it gives the axial and equatorial results.	Derivation	3	never		Never asked
53	Numericals: potential due to a dipoleCompute the potential of a dipole at a point on its axis, on its equatorial line, or at a given angle to its axis for a short dipole, from p or from q and 2l.	Numericals	2	never		Never asked
54	Numericals: potential energy of a charge in a fieldWrite the potential energy of a charge q at a point where the potential is V, and compute the change in potential energy, the work done, or the kinetic energy and speed gained when the charge moves through a given potential difference.	Numericals	2	never		Never asked
55	Obtain potential energy of systems of two and three chargesShow that the potential energy of two point charges equals the work done in assembling them from infinity (bring q1 with no work, then q2 in the potential of q1), obtain U12, and extend it step by step to a system of three charges.	Derivation	2	never		Never asked
56	Derive potential energy of a dipole in a uniform fieldStarting from the torque on a dipole in a uniform field, find the work done in turning it through a small angle, integrate from the reference position at 90 degrees to angle phi to derive the potential energy, write it as a dot product, and evaluate it at 0, 90 and 180 degrees with the type of equilibrium.	Derivation	3	never		Never asked
57	Numericals: dipole energy and work done in rotating itCompute the potential energy of a dipole at a given angle to a uniform field and the work done in rotating it from one angle to another, for example from stable to unstable equilibrium.	Numericals	2	never		Never asked
58	Conductors and insulators; free and bound chargesDistinguish conductors from insulators (dielectrics) in terms of free electrons, and explain what is meant by free charges and bound charges, with one example of each kind of material.	Statement	1	never		Never asked
59	Capacitance and capacitor: definition, C = Q/V, faradDefine the capacitance of a conductor and of a capacitor with the defining equation, define one farad, give its dimensions and practical sub-units, state what a capacitor is and that its capacitance depends only on its geometry and the medium.	Statement	1	never		Never asked
60	Energy density of the electric field: formula and numericalsWrite the expression for the energy stored per unit volume in the electric field between the plates of a capacitor with its unit, and compute it (or the total energy as energy density times volume A d) for given values.	Numericals	1	never		Never asked
61	Polarisation of a dielectric in a uniform field (qualitative)Explain in words, with a sketch of a dielectric slab between charged plates, how the field shifts the bound charges so that induced surface charges appear on the faces of the slab, why their field opposes the applied field, and how this reduces the net field and the potential difference.	Statement	2	never		Never asked
62	Dielectric inserted with battery connected: C, Q, E, UFor a capacitor that stays connected to its battery while a dielectric of constant K is inserted to fill it completely, state in terms of K, with a one-line reason each, what happens to the potential difference, capacitance, charge, field and stored energy.	Give reason	3	never		Never asked
63	Numericals: capacitor partly filled with a dielectric slabWrite the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor of separation d containing a dielectric slab of thickness t less than d, check that it reduces to the fully filled and the empty cases, and compute the capacitance or its change for given values.	Numericals	2	never		Never asked
64	Obtain C = epsilon0 A/d for a parallel plate capacitorDraw two parallel plates of area A and separation d carrying charges +Q and -Q, write the field between them from the surface charge density, get the potential difference as field times separation, and divide to obtain the capacitance.	Derivation	2	never		Not in syllabus

This list was made from the 2027 syllabus and checked with 9 board papers, including the 2027 specimen paper. It is not yet checked with the textbook.

The 10 topics Physics papers ask most

Counted on the board papers from 2018 to the 2027 specimen paper, which every unit has been checked against.

1.Numericals: peak, rms, mean, frequency from an ac equationP4 Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents · asked 7 times since 2018
2.Uses and special properties of each region (table)P5 Electromagnetic Waves · asked 7 times since 2018
3.State Bohr's postulates for the hydrogen atomP8 Atoms and Nuclei · asked 7 times since 2018
4.Magnetic force on a moving charge and Lorentz forceP3 Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism · asked 6 times since 2018
5.Numericals: average power and power factorP4 Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents · asked 6 times since 2018
6.Doping, n-type and p-type, donors, acceptors, carriersP9 Electronic Devices · asked 6 times since 2018
7.Numericals: two-loop network with two batteries (Kirchhoff)P2 Current Electricity · asked 5 times since 2018
8.Derive B at the centre of a circular loopP3 Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism · asked 5 times since 2018
9.Numericals: B at the centre of a circular coilP3 Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism · asked 5 times since 2018
10.Ampere's law: derive B near a long straight wireP3 Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism · asked 5 times since 2018

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