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Physics Lab Equipment List for Class 11 and 12: The Complete Guide

A comprehensive reference covering all essential physics laboratory instruments for CBSE and ICSE Class 11-12 practicals — from precision measuring tools and optical instruments to magnetism, electricity, and wave apparatus.
11 July 2026 by
Physics Lab Equipment List for Class 11 and 12: The Complete Guide
Krishan Kant
● Laboratory Reference Guide — Physics

Physics is the most apparatus-intensive subject in the school science curriculum. Unlike chemistry or biology, where many experiments can be conducted with glassware and specimens, physics practicals depend entirely on precision measuring instruments and carefully designed experimental setups. A well-equipped Class 11 and Class 12 physics lab is the single most important factor in whether students can confidently perform their board practical examinations, develop genuine understanding of classical mechanics, optics, electricity, and magnetism, and qualify for competitive entrance exams like JEE, NEET, and CUET.

This guide provides a complete physics lab equipment list for Class 11 and 12, covering all six major experimental domains of the CBSE and ICSE physics practical syllabi: precision measurement, mechanics, optics, magnetism and electricity, wave physics, and general lab support equipment. All instruments are organised by category with technical specifications, CBSE/ICSE syllabus relevance notes, and procurement guidance. Every instrument listed is manufactured and supplied by AJKANT Overseas, a direct physics instrument manufacturer based in Ambala, Haryana — India’s scientific instrument manufacturing capital.

📚 Complete Lab Equipment List Series

◄ Chemistry Lab List ◄ Biology Lab List Physics Lab List ▶ (This Guide)
Table of Contents

1. Precision Measuring Instruments

Precision measurement forms the foundation of all physics practicals. Every Class 11 and 12 physics student must develop proficiency with the following instruments, which are directly tested in CBSE and ICSE practical examinations:

📏 Measurement Instruments Checklist

📏
Vernier Caliper (0–150 mm, LC = 0.02 mm)
50-division vernier, hardened stainless steel, dual metric/imperial scale. Used to measure the diameter of spheres, cylinders, and wires. Core instrument for CBSE Class 11 Practical 1.
🔧
Micrometer Screw Gauge (LC = 0.01 mm)
0–25 mm range, stainless steel thimble and sleeve, ratchet stop mechanism. Used to measure wire diameter for Young's modulus experiments. Higher resolution than vernier caliper.
📊
Spherometer (LC = 0.001 mm)
Tripod-base instrument with a central micrometric screw. Used to measure the radius of curvature of spherical surfaces (lenses and mirrors) in optics practicals. Resolution: 0.001 cm.
⏱
Stop Clock / Stopwatch (0.1 s resolution)
Mechanical stop clock or digital stopwatch for timing oscillations of a simple pendulum and spring-mass system. The mechanical stop clock is standard for CBSE board practical examinations.
🌡️
Laboratory Thermometer (−10°C to 110°C)
Mercury-free alcohol thermometer with 1°C graduation. Used in specific heat and calorimetry experiments. Must have NABL-traceable calibration for accredited school labs.
⚖️
Physical Balance / Spring Balance
Beam balance for measuring mass in density and gravitation experiments; spring balances (0–500 g and 0–5 N range) for measuring force and weight in mechanics.
📚 Deep Dive: Read our dedicated guide on the Vernier Caliper: Parts, Working Principle, Least Count & How to Read for a complete step-by-step tutorial on this essential instrument.

2. Mechanics & Properties of Matter Apparatus

The mechanics section of the Class 11 physics practical syllabus covers Newton's laws of motion, simple harmonic motion, surface tension, viscosity, and elasticity. These experiments require dedicated apparatus setups:

⚙️ Mechanics Apparatus Checklist

🪛
Simple Pendulum Setup
Brass bob on a silk thread with a rigid suspension clamp and split cork. Thread lengths: 60 cm, 70 cm, 80 cm, 90 cm, 100 cm. Used to find acceleration due to gravity (g) by timing oscillations.
💫
Helical Spring (Spring-Mass System)
Steel helical spring with known spring constant range. Used with slotted weights to study Hooke's Law and determine spring constant. Must have a stiff mounting stand.
💧
Surface Tension Apparatus (Capillary Tubes)
Set of borosilicate glass capillary tubes (different diameters: 0.5 mm to 2 mm bore) for capillary rise experiments to measure surface tension of water.
🧪
Searle's Apparatus (Young's Modulus)
Standard Searle's wire apparatus with two steel wires of identical length, a spirit level, a micrometer, and a loading pan. Determines Young's modulus of elasticity of steel wire.
💬
Inclined Plane with Pulley
Adjustable-angle inclined plane with a frictionless pulley for resolving forces and studying friction, angle of repose, and Newton's second law experiments.
🔧
Slotted Weights Set (10 g to 500 g)
Brass slotted weights with hanger, individually stamped and calibrated. Essential for all spring extension, Searle's apparatus, and force-resolution experiments.

3. Optics Laboratory Equipment

Optics is one of the most apparatus-rich sections of the Class 12 physics practical syllabus. CBSE Class 12 optics practicals include experiments on refraction through prisms and lenses, mirror focal lengths, and optical instrument assembly:

🔭 Optics Apparatus Checklist

🔭
Optical Bench (100 cm) with Uprights
Graduated aluminium optical bench with 4 sliding uprights for positioning lenses, mirrors, and screens. The foundation of all Class 12 optics experiments. Uprights must lock securely at any position.
🔍
Convex Lenses (focal length 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm)
Crown glass biconvex lenses in mounted holders for focal length determination, image formation, and lens combination experiments. Multiple focal lengths required for comprehensive optics coverage.
🌕
Concave Mirror & Convex Mirror Set
Polished glass concave and convex mirrors (focal lengths: 15 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm) in adjustable mounted holders. Used to determine focal length using the pin-parallax method.
📦
Glass Prism (Equilateral, 60°)
Optical glass equilateral prism with polished faces for angle of minimum deviation experiments, determination of refractive index, and spectrum production. Standard for CBSE Class 12 Practical.
📷
Spectrometer (Prism Spectrometer)
Precision spectrometer with a calibrated circular scale (reading to 1′), collimator, telescope, and prism table. Used to measure angle of minimum deviation and determine refractive index of glass.
🔆
Sodium/Mercury Discharge Lamp
Sodium vapour lamp (589 nm yellow doublet) or mercury lamp as a monochromatic light source for spectrometer and diffraction grating experiments. Requires a ballast transformer.
🔯
Diffraction Grating (600 lines/mm)
Plane transmission diffraction grating mounted in a holder. Used with the spectrometer to measure wavelength of light using the grating equation. Standard for ISC and advanced CBSE labs.
🌟
Newton's Rings Apparatus
Plano-convex lens on a flat glass plate with an illumination arm, used with a travelling microscope to measure ring diameters and determine the wavelength of light or radius of curvature. Read our Newton's Ring guide.

4. Magnetism & Electricity Apparatus

The Class 12 physics electricity and magnetism section forms the majority of the practical syllabus. CBSE and ICSE require students to perform Ohm's Law verification, Wheatstone bridge, potentiometer experiments, and magnetic field measurements:

⚡ Magnetism & Electricity Apparatus Checklist

⚡
Metre Bridge (Wheatstone Bridge)
One-metre resistance wire (nichrome/manganin) mounted on a wooden board with copper strips, a galvanometer connection, and a jockey. Used to determine unknown resistance using Wheatstone bridge principle.
🔌
Potentiometer (10-wire, 4 m)
Ten-wire 4-metre potentiometer board for comparing EMFs of cells and determining internal resistance of a battery. The most tested electrical apparatus in CBSE Class 12 board practical exams.
🧭
Dip Circle (Dip Needle)
Standard dip circle with a freely pivoting magnetised needle on a vertical circular graduated scale (0–90° each quadrant). Used to measure the angle of magnetic dip (inclination) at the lab's location. Read our Dip Circle guide.
🧲
Bar Magnets (Alnico, 10 cm)
Pairs of Alnico alloy bar magnets for magnetic field line tracing (using iron filings), magnetometer experiments, and magnetic moment determination. Read our Bar Magnet guide.
🔋
Galvanometer (Moving Coil Type)
Sensitive moving-coil galvanometer for use in metre bridge, potentiometer, and Wheatstone bridge null-deflection experiments. Central-zero type, 30-0-30 divisions.
🔋
Resistance Box (0–9999 Ω)
Decade resistance box with plugs or dials providing 1Ω to 9999Ω in 1Ω steps. Essential for metre bridge and potentiometer experiments as the known resistance standard.
🔌
Rheostat (Sliding Rheostat, 10–50 Ω)
Wire-wound sliding rheostat for controlling current in electrical circuits. Used in Ohm's Law, Joule's law, and potentiometer experiments as the current-controlling element.
📝
Ammeter & Voltmeter (Analogue)
Moving-coil ammeter (0–1 A and 0–3 A range) and voltmeter (0–3 V and 0–15 V range) for circuit experiments. Analogue meters are mandatory for CBSE board practical examinations.

5. Wave Physics & Sound Apparatus

🎶 Wave & Sound Apparatus Checklist

🎶
Sonometer (Monochord)
Wooden resonance box with a taut steel wire, two movable bridges, a pulley, and a weight hanger. Used to verify the laws of vibrating strings and find the frequency of a tuning fork. Complete with a set of tuning forks (256 Hz to 512 Hz).
🔊
Tuning Fork Set (6 forks)
Set of 6 calibrated steel tuning forks (256 Hz, 288 Hz, 320 Hz, 341 Hz, 384 Hz, 512 Hz) for sonometer experiments and resonance tube frequency measurements. Supplied with a rubber mallet.
📡
Resonance Tube Apparatus
Glass or PVC resonance tube with adjustable water column (by raising/lowering a reservoir). Used to determine velocity of sound in air and verify resonance conditions at quarter-wavelength positions.
🌊
Ripple Tank (Wave Tank)
Shallow water tank with a vibrating paddle (motorised) and an overhead illumination system for projecting wave patterns. Used to demonstrate reflection, refraction, and interference of water waves. Common in ISC and advanced CBSE labs.

6. General Lab Support Equipment

In addition to the subject-specific apparatus above, a functional physics laboratory requires the following general support equipment at each student station:

  • Retort Stand with Clamps & Boss Heads: For suspending the simple pendulum, helical spring, and holding optical components. Minimum 2 stands per student bench.
  • Drawing Board (A3 size) with Pins: For ray-tracing experiments in optics (prism, mirror, lens image tracing on white paper).
  • Connecting Wires (Insulated, Banana-to-Banana): 30 cm to 60 cm insulated copper connecting wires with crocodile clips or banana plugs for electrical circuit assembly. Minimum 15 wires per bench.
  • Cells and Battery Eliminators: Leclanché cells or 4V/6V battery eliminators as DC power sources for electrical experiments. Battery eliminators are safer and preferred over dry cells for extended practical sessions.
  • Keys and Switches: Plug keys (one-way and two-way) for circuit completion in metre bridge and potentiometer experiments.
  • Travelling Microscope: For measuring Newton's Ring diameters, capillary rise heights, and small linear dimensions with high precision (LC = 0.001 cm). Read our Travelling Microscope guide.
  • Iron Filings (Sealed Plastic Shaker): For magnetic field line pattern demonstrations with bar magnets and electromagnets.
  • Graph Paper, Semi-Log Paper, and Protractors: For plotting experimental data, velocity-time graphs, and angle measurements in ray-optics experiments.

7. CBSE vs. ICSE Physics Practical Requirements — Comparison

Experiment Category CBSE Class 11 & 12 ICSE / ISC Class 11 & 12
Measurement Vernier caliper (sphere diameter), micrometer (wire diameter), spherometer (lens radius of curvature). All three instruments tested in board practicals. Same three instruments plus additional precision measurement of liquid density using a pyknometer. More emphasis on error analysis and uncertainty calculation.
Mechanics Simple pendulum (g determination), spring constant, inclined plane friction, Searle's apparatus (Young's modulus). All CBSE mechanics experiments plus torsional pendulum for rigidity modulus, and Stoke's method for viscosity.
Optics Convex lens (focal length), concave mirror (focal length), glass prism (refractive index via minimum deviation), convergent lens combinations. All CBSE optics plus diffraction grating (wavelength measurement), Newton's rings (wavelength of light), and polarimeter for optical rotation.
Electricity & Magnetism Ohm's Law, metre bridge (unknown resistance), potentiometer (EMF comparison and internal resistance), dip circle, bar magnet moment. All CBSE electrical experiments plus Kelvin double bridge for low resistance and more detailed potentiometer experiments with two cells.
Waves & Sound Sonometer (laws of vibrating strings and tuning fork frequency), resonance tube (velocity of sound in air). Same plus optional ripple tank for wave behaviour demonstration and more advanced Melde's experiment for transverse waves.

8. Bulk Procurement: How to Source Physics Lab Equipment in India

For school administrators, science department heads, and government educational procurement officers setting up or upgrading a physics laboratory, the most cost-effective sourcing strategy is direct procurement from the manufacturer. Ambala, Haryana is home to India's largest concentration of physics instrument manufacturers, producing instruments used in school and college labs across India and in over 50 countries.

AJKANT Overseas manufactures and exports the complete range of physics laboratory instruments listed in this guide:

  • CBSE & ICSE-Aligned Lab Kits: We assemble complete physics lab kits aligned to the current NCERT Class 11 and 12 practical syllabus. Each kit includes all apparatus, support equipment, and documentation needed for a full academic year of practicals.
  • Quantity Pricing for Tenders: Institutional buyers receive factory-wholesale pricing on orders of 10+ units of any instrument. We respond to government school tender requirements with competitive quotations and full tendering documentation.
  • ISO 9001:2015 Quality: All instruments include factory calibration certificates. Vernier calipers, spherometers, and measuring instruments are tested against reference standards and supplied with individual test certificates for NABL-accredited school labs.
  • Global Export: We export physics lab instruments across Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. Regional portals: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Kenya, Philippines, Nepal, and our Global Export Directory.

Explore Physics Instruments & Related Guides

9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. What are the most important physics instruments for CBSE Class 12 practical exams?

The most heavily tested instruments in CBSE Class 12 physics practical exams are: (1) the metre bridge for Wheatstone bridge resistance measurement, (2) the potentiometer for EMF comparison and internal resistance, (3) the vernier caliper / spherometer for measurement practicals, (4) the convex lens and prism for optics, and (5) the sonometer for wave experiments. Ensure your lab has at least one per student pair for all five of these.

Q2. How many sets of physics apparatus does a standard Class 12 lab need?

CBSE recommends enough apparatus for students to work in pairs during practical sessions. For a standard batch of 30 students, you need a minimum of 15 complete sets of each instrument. For CBSE examination centres (where students work individually), you need 1 set per candidate, typically 20–30 sets. For potentiometers and metre bridges — which are more expensive — 10–12 sets per batch are typically sufficient with rotation of student groups.

Q3. What is the difference between a simple pendulum experiment in Class 11 vs. a compound pendulum?

A simple pendulum (Class 11) uses a point mass (brass bob) on a string and determines the acceleration due to gravity (g) by measuring time period vs. length. The formula is T = 2π√(L/g). A compound pendulum is a rigid body swinging about a fixed pivot; it is used to determine the radius of gyration and moment of inertia. Compound pendulum experiments are typically part of ISC and undergraduate level physics, not standard CBSE Class 11 curriculum.

Q4. Can AJKANT Overseas supply a complete Class 11 + Class 12 physics lab kit?

Yes. AJKANT Overseas specialises in supplying complete CBSE-aligned and ICSE/ISC-aligned physics lab kits for a full two-year (Class 11 + 12) physics practical curriculum. Our physics lab kit includes all precision measuring instruments, mechanics apparatus, optics equipment, magnetism and electricity instruments, and wave physics apparatus — all packed in shockproof export crates with a complete item-level packing list and ISO quality certificates. Contact our sales team for a detailed specification sheet and customised institutional quotation.

Set Up Your Physics Lab with AJKANT Overseas

AJKANT Overseas is a direct manufacturer and exporter of precision physics laboratory instruments — vernier calipers, spherometers, optical benches, metre bridges, potentiometers, sonometers, and more — for schools, colleges, and B2B distributors across India and 25+ countries. Get complete lab kit pricing and curriculum-aligned specifications today.

Request Physics Lab Kit Quote →
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