ICSE · Class 10 · Code 521

ICSE Class 10 Science — Physics — Important Questions

Question types and patterns from official CISCE board papers 2023, 2024, and 2025. Every topic below has appeared in at least one recent board examination.

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Section A — Compulsory (Questions 1–3, 40 marks)

Q1: 15 MCQs (1 mark each). Q2: Fill-in, short diagram, and short theory (10 marks). Q3: Short answer (2 marks each part).

Force and Rotational Motion

Q1 MCQ + Q2 every year

·Body acted on by two equal opposite non-collinear forces — has rotational motion
·Vector vs scalar quantities — moment of couple is a vector
·Kite hanging from tree — identify centre of gravity position

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Q1 MCQ every year

·Ascending order of EM waves by wavelength: gamma, visible, microwaves
·Refractive index independent of angle of incidence (not temperature or wavelength)

Machines — Levers and Pulleys

Q1 MCQ + Q6 every year

·Graph of load vs effort — slope = MA
·Magnification ratio < 0.5 means object beyond 2F
·Calculate weight of ruler using principle of moments; identify class of lever; compare MA

Light — Refraction and TIR

Q1 MCQ + Q3 + Q4 every year

·Ray does not undergo TIR if angle of incidence < critical angle
·Apparent depth given refractive index; which colour (blue/yellow) has greater apparent depth
·Complete path of ray undergoing TIR inside equilateral prism (42° critical angle)

Sound — Characteristics

Q1 MCQ + Q2 every year

·Pitch of sound from filling container increases as water level rises
·Adjust tension to reduce period PR on displacement-time graph — affects pitch

Electricity — Ohm's Law, Resistances

Q1 MCQ + Q8 every year

·EMF and terminal voltage relation: V = ε − Ir
·Resistors in series vs parallel from circuit diagram
·Calculate resistance, current, brightness change when one bulb removed

Heat — Specific Heat Capacity

Q1 MCQ + Q9 every year

·Tripling mass does not change specific heat capacity
·Substance with lowest specific heat attains highest temperature for same heat
·Calculate mass of water cooled by ice at 0°C using latent heat + specific heat

Radioactivity

Q1 MCQ + Q2 + Q3 every year

·α emission: Z decreases by 2, A decreases by 4 (moves 2 groups left in periodic table)
·1α + 2β decay: identify daughter nucleus position on Z vs N graph
·Lowest ionising power: gamma radiation

Magnetism — Electromagnetic Induction

Q1 MCQ + Q9 every year

·Direction of induced current as magnet falls through ring (Lenz's law)
·Step-up transformer turns ratio > 1; identify AC generator parts

Section B — Attempt any 4 of 5 (Questions 4–9, 40 marks)

Each question has 3 parts worth 3+3+4 marks.

Lenses — Formula and Ray Diagrams

Section B every year (Q4/Q5)

·Calculate focal length of concave lens given u and v
·Ray diagram at 2F; effect of replacing lens with greater focal length
·Name radiations for quartz prism (UV), remote sensing (IR), traffic signals (red-visible)

Force, Energy — Numerical

Section B every year (Q6)

·Balance a metre rule with given weights — calculate weight of ruler
·Calculate KE at point Q from skateboard; find vertical height; KE at R after friction loss

Pulleys — Block and Tackle

Section B every year (Q7)

·Draw block and tackle with VR = 3
·Calculate distance of obstacle using echo with speed of sound in water

Resonance — Sound Box

Section B every year (Q7)

·Explain resonance (forced vibration at natural frequency) causing paper rider to fall
·Compare frequencies of wires in different sound boxes

Household Circuits

Section B every year (Q8)

·Current rating of MCB/fuse from meter room diagram
·Difference between main switch and appliance switches
·Unit displayed by energy meter (kWh)

Calorimetry — Method of Mixtures

Section B every year (Q9)

·Find mass of water using heat lost = heat gained with ice at 0°C
·Compare specific heat capacities; select material for calorimeter

Motor Effect / Fleming's LHR

Section B every year (Q9)

·Determine direction of force on current-carrying rod in magnetic field
·Effect of increasing cross-sectional area on force

Source: All patterns derived from official CISCE ICSE Class 10 board examination papers (2023, 2024, 2025) downloaded from cisce.org. For the actual question papers, view the Science — Physics Previous Year Papers.