ICSE Class 9 Syllabus 2027 Physics

ICSE YEAR 2027

INDIAN CERTIFICATE OF
SECONDARY EDUCATION
EXAMINATION

SCIENCE (52)
PHYSICS

February 2025
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SCIENCE (52)
PHYSICS

SCIENCE Paper - 1

Aims:
3. To develop instrumental, communication,
1. To acquire knowledge and understanding of the
deductive and problem-solving skills.
terms, facts, concepts, definitions, laws, principles
and processes of Physics. 4. To discover that there is a living and growing
physics relevant to the modern age in which we
2. To develop skills in practical aspects of handling live.
apparatus, recording observations and in drawing
diagrams, graphs, etc.

CLASS IX
There will be one paper of two hours duration 2. Motion in One Dimension
carrying 80 marks and Internal Assessment of Scalar and vector quantities, distance, speed,
practical work carrying 20 marks. velocity, acceleration; graphs of distance-time and
Note: Unless otherwise specified, only SI Units are to speed-time; equations of uniformly accelerated
be used while teaching and learning, as well as for motion with derivations.
answering questions. Examples of Scalar and vector quantities only,
rest and motion in one dimension; distance and
1. Measurements and Experimentation displacement; speed and velocity; acceleration
(i) International System of Units, the required and retardation; distance-time and velocity-time
SI units with correct symbols are given at graphs; meaning of slope of the graphs; [Non-
the end of this syllabus. Other commonly uniform acceleration excluded].
used system of units - fps and cgs. Equations to be derived: v = u + at;
(ii) Measurements using common instruments, S = ut + ½at2; S = ½(u+v)t; v2 = u2 + 2aS.
Vernier callipers and micro-metre screw [Equation for S n th is not included].
gauge for length, and simple pendulum for
time. Simple numerical problems.

Measurement of length using, Vernier 3. Laws of Motion
callipers and micro-metre screw gauge. (i) Contact and non-contact forces; cgs & SI units.
Decreasing least-count leads to an increase in Examples of contact forces (frictional force,
accuracy; least-count (LC) of Vernier normal reaction force, tension force as
callipers and screw gauge), zero error (basic applied through strings and force exerted
idea), (no numerical problems on callipers during collision) and non-contact forces
and screw gauge), simple pendulum; time (gravitational, electric and magnetic).
period, frequency, graph of length l versus T2 General properties of non-contact forces. cgs
and SI units of force and their relation with
only; slope of the graph. Formula T=2.π. l g Gravitational units.
[no derivation]. Only simple numerical (ii) Newton’s First Law of Motion (qualitative
problems. discussion) introduction of the idea of inertia,
mass and force.
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Newton's first law; statement and qualitative (ii) Buoyancy, Archimedes’ Principle; floatation;
discussion; definitions of inertia and force relationship with density; relative density;
from first law, examples of inertia as determination of relative density of a solid.
illustration of first law. (Inertial mass not
included). Buoyancy, upthrust (F B ); definition; different
cases, F B >, = or < weight W of the body
(iii)Newton’s Second Law of Motion (including immersed; characteristic properties of
F=ma); weight and mass. upthrust; Archimedes’ principle; explanation
Detailed study of the second law. Linear of cases where bodies with density ρ >, = or
momentum, p = mv; change in momentum ∆p < the density ρ' of the fluid in which it is
= ∆(mv) = m∆v for mass remaining constant, immersed.
rate of change of momentum; Relative Density (RD) and Archimedes’
∆ p/∆ t = m∆v /∆t = ma or principle. Experimental determination of RD
of a solid and liquid denser than water.
p 2 - p1 mv - mu m ( v - u )
{ = = = ma } ; Floatation: principle of floatation; relation
t t t between the density of a floating body, density
of the liquid in which it is floating and the
Simple numerical problems combining
fraction of volume of the body immersed;
F = ∆p /∆t = ma and equations of motion. (ρ 1 /ρ 2 = V 2 /V 1 ); apparent weight of floating
Units of force - only cgs and SI. object; application to ship, submarine,
(iv) Newton’s Third Law of Motion (qualitative iceberg, balloons, etc.
discussion only); simple examples. Simple numerical problems involving
Statement with qualitative discussion; Archimedes’ principle, buoyancy and
examples of action - reaction pairs, (F BA and floatation.
F AB ); action and reaction always act on 5. Heat and Energy
different bodies.
(i) Concepts of heat and temperature.
(v) Gravitation
Heat as energy, SI unit – joule,
Universal Law of Gravitation. (Statement and
equation) and its importance. Gravity, 1 cal = 4.186 J exactly.
acceleration due to gravity, free fall. Weight (ii) Anomalous expansion of water; graphs
and mass, Weight as force of gravity showing variation of volume and density of
comparison of mass and weight; gravitational water with temperature in the 0 to 10 0C
units of force, (Simple numerical problems), range. Hope’s experiment and consequences
(problems on variation of gravity excluded) of Anomalous expansion.
4. Fluids (iii) Energy flow and its importance:
(i) Change of pressure with depth (including the Understanding the flow of energy as Linear
formula p=hρg); Transmission of pressure in and linking it with the laws of
liquids; atmospheric pressure. Thermodynamics- ‘Energy is neither created
nor destroyed’ and ‘No Energy transfer is
Thrust and Pressure and their units; pressure
100% efficient.
exerted by a liquid column p = hρg; simple
daily life examples, (i) broadness of the base (iv) Energy sources.
of a dam, (ii) Diver’s suit etc. some Solar, wind, water and nuclear energy (only
consequences of p = hρg; transmission of qualitative discussion of steps to produce
pressure in liquids; Pascal's law; examples; electricity). Renewable versus non-renewable
atmospheric pressure; common manifestation sources (elementary ideas with example).
and consequences. Variations of pressure
with altitude, (qualitative only); applications Renewable energy: biogas, solar energy,
such as weather forecasting and altimeter. wind energy, energy from falling of water,
(Simple numerical problems) run-of-the river schemes, energy from waste,
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tidal energy, etc. Issues of economic viability consequences of the large difference in these
and ability to meet demands. speeds in air; thunder and lightning.
Non-renewable energy – coal, oil, natural (ii) Infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic frequencies and
gas. Inequitable use of energy in urban and their applications.
rural areas. Use of hydro electrical powers
Elementary ideas and simple applications
for light and tube wells.
only. Difference between ultrasonic and
(v) Global warming and Green House effect: supersonic.
Meaning, causes and impact on the life on 8. Electricity and Magnetism
earth. Projections for the future; what needs
to be done. (i) Simple electric circuit using an electric cell
and a bulb to introduce the idea of current
Energy degradation – meaning and examples.
(including its relationship to charge); potential
6. Light difference; insulators and conductors; closed
(i) Reflection of light; images formed by a pair of and open circuits; direction of current
parallel and perpendicular plane mirrors; (electron flow and conventional)
Laws of reflection; experimental verification; Current Electricity: brief introduction of
characteristics of images formed in a pair of sources of direct current - cells, accumulators
mirrors, (a) parallel and (b) perpendicular to (construction, working and equations
each other; uses of plane mirrors. excluded); Electric current as the rate of flow
(ii) Spherical mirrors; characteristics of image of electric charge (direction of current -
formed by these mirrors. Uses of concave and conventional and electronic), symbols used in
convex mirrors. (Only simple direct ray circuit diagrams. Detection of current by
diagrams are required). Galvanometer or ammeter (functioning of the
Brief introduction to spherical mirrors - meters not to be introduced). Idea of electric
concave and convex mirrors, centre and circuit by using cell, key, resistance
radius of curvature, pole and principal axis, wire/resistance box/rheostat, qualitatively.;
focus and focal length; location of images elementary idea about work done in
from ray diagram for various positions of a transferring charge through a conductor
small linear object on the principal axis of wire; potential difference V = W/q.
concave and convex mirrors; characteristics (No derivation of formula) simple numerical
of images.
problems.
f = R/2 (without proof); sign convention and
direct numerical problems using the mirror Social initiatives: Improving efficiency of
formulae are included. (Derivation of existing technologies and introducing new
formulae not required) eco-friendly technologies. Creating
awareness and building trends of sensitive use
Uses of spherical mirrors.
of resources and products, e.g. reduced use of
Scale drawing or graphical representation of electricity.
ray diagrams not required.
(ii) Induced magnetism, Magnetic field of earth.
7. Sound Neutral points in magnetic fields.
(i) Nature of Sound waves. Requirement of a Magnetism: magnetism induced by bar
medium for sound waves to travel; magnets on magnetic materials; induction
propagation and speed in different media; precedes attraction; lines of magnetic field
comparison with speed of light. and their properties; evidences of existence of
Sound propagation, terms – frequency (f), earth’s magnetic field, magnetic compass.
wavelength (λ), velocity (V), relation V = fλ. Uniform magnetic field of earth and non-
(Simple numerical problems) effect of different uniform field of a bar magnet placed along
factors on the speed of sound; comparison of magnetic north-south; neutral point;
speed of sound with speed of light; properties of magnetic field lines.

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(iii) Introduction of electromagnet and its uses. using displacement method. Also calculate the
same volume from the radius measured using
Self-explanatory.
Vernier callipers. Comment on the accuracies.
5. Obtain five sets of readings of the time taken for
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT OF 20 oscillations of a simple pendulum of lengths
about 70, 80, 90, 100 and 110 cm; calculate the
PRACTICAL WORK time periods (T) and their squares (T2) for each
Candidates will be asked to carry out experiments for length (l). Plot a graph of l vs. T2. Draw the best
which instructions are given. The experiments may be - fit straight - line graph. Also, obtain its slope.
based on topics that are not included in the syllabus Calculate the value of g in the laboratory.
but theoretical knowledge will not be required. A It is 4π2 x slope.
candidate will be expected to be able to follow simple 6. Take a beaker of water. Place it on the wire gauze
instructions, to take suitable readings and to present on a tripod stand. Suspend two thermometers -
these readings in a systematic form. He/she may be one with Celsius and the other with Fahrenheit
required to exhibit his/her data graphically. scale. Record the thermometer readings at 5 to 7
Candidates will be expected to appreciate and use the different temperatures. You may start with ice-
concepts of least count, significant figures and cold water, then allow it to warm up and then heat
elementary error handling. it slowly taking temperature (at regular intervals)
A set of 6 to 10 experiments may be designed as given as high as possible. Plot a graph of T F vs. T C .
below or as found most suitable by the teacher. Obtain the slope. Compare with the theoretical
Students should be encouraged to record their value. Read the intercept on T F axis for T C = 0.
observations systematically in a neat tabular form - in 7. Using a plane mirror strip mounted vertically on a
columns with column heads including units or in board, obtain the reflected rays for three rays
numbered rows as necessary. The final result or incident at different angles. Measure the angles of
conclusion may be recorded for each experiment. incidence and angles of reflection. See if these
Some of the experiments may be demonstrated (with angles are equal.
the help of students) if these cannot be given to each
student as lab experiments. 8. Place three object pins at different distances on a
line perpendicular to a plane mirror fixed
1. Determine the least count of the Vernier callipers vertically on a board. Obtain two reflected rays
and measure the length and diameter of a small (for each pin) fixing two pins in line with the
cylinder (average of three sets) - may be a metal image. Obtain the positions of the images in each
rod of length 2 to 3 cm and diameter 1 to 2 cm. case by extending backwards (using dashed lines),
2. Determine the pitch and least count of the given the lines representing reflected rays. Measure the
screw gauge and measure the mean radius of the object distances and image distances in the three
given wire, taking three sets of readings in cases. Tabulate. Are they equal? Generalize the
perpendicular directions. result.
3. Measure the length, breadth and thickness of a 9. Obtain the focal length of a concave mirror (a)
glass block using a metre rule (each reading by distant object method, focusing its real image
correct to a mm), taking the mean of three readings on a screen or wall and (b) by one needle method
in each case. Calculate the volume of the block in removing parallax or focusing the image of the
cm3 and m3. Determine the mass (not weight) of illuminated wire gauze attached to a ray box. One
the block using any convenient balance in g and could also improvise with a candle and a screen.
kg. Calculate the density of glass in cgs and SI Enter your observations in numbered rows.
units using mass and volume in the respective 10. Connect a suitable dc source (two dry cells or an
units. Obtain the relation between the two density acid cell), a key and a bulb (may be a small one
units. used in torches) in series. Close the circuit by
4. Measure the volume of a metal bob (the one used inserting the plug in the key. Observe the bulb as
in simple pendulum experiments) from the it lights up. Now open the circuit, connect another
readings of water level in a measuring cylinder identical bulb in between the first bulb and the cell
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so that the two bulbs are in series. Close the key. along the magnetic meridian or magnetic north
Observe the lighted bulbs. How does the light south. Plot the magnetic field in the region around
from any one bulb compare with that in the first the magnet. Identify the regions where the
case when you had only one bulb? Disconnect the combined magnetic field of the magnet and the
second bulb. Reconnect the circuit as in the first earth is (a) strongest, (b) very weak but not zero,
experiment. Now connect the second bulb across and (c) zero. Why is neutral point, so called?
the first bulb. The two bulbs are connected in
12. Using a spring balance obtain the weight (in N) of
parallel. Observe the brightness of any one bulb.
a metal ball in air and then completely immersed
Compare with previous results. Draw your own
in water in a measuring cylinder. Note the volume
conclusions regarding the current and resistance in
of the ball from the volume of the water displaced.
the three cases.
Calculate the upthrust from the first two weights.
11. Plot the magnetic field lines of earth (without any Also calculate the mass and then weight of the
magnet nearby) using a small compass needle. On water displaced by the bob M=V.ρ, W=mg). Use
another sheet of paper, place a bar magnet with its the above result to verify Archimedes principle.
axis parallel to the magnetic lines of the earth, i.e.

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