ICSE Class 10 Physics Books: Chapters, Practice & PDFs

The ICSE Class 10 Physics books table below lists 12 chapters, and every chapter it lists has its PDF on this page. Each row shows how many named sections the chapter runs, how many practice questions it sets, and how many pages it prints. This is the Physics page of the ICSE Class 10 books hub.

The PDFs alone will not tell you what you are walking into. The chapter-by-chapter breakdown below says what each chapter contains — its named sections, its exercise sizes and its page count — read from the book itself. Use it to find the chapter you need, then take its PDF from the table.

Reference: CISCE-aligned ICSE textbook material.

ICSE Class 10 Physics Books: chapter PDF downloads

Selina Concise

ICSE Class 10 Physics Books: what is inside each chapter

The table above counts three things for each chapter. A section is one of the book’s own main headings; sub-headings are not counted. A practice question is a numbered item under an exercise heading, and pages are the chapter’s pages in its PDF. The sections below say what each chapter actually teaches.

Chapter 1: Force (Selina Concise)

Force is behind turning effects as much as translational motion. The chapter opens with the difference between translational and rotational motions, then defines the moment of a force as a turning effect (torque) and introduces the couple. From there it works through equilibrium of bodies, the principle of moments, the centre of gravity, uniform circular motion, and centripetal and centrifugal force.

• 1.1 Translational and Rotational Motions
• 1.2 Moment (Turning Effect) of a Force or Torque
• 1.3 Couple
• 1.4 Equilibrium of Bodies
• 1.5 Principle of Moments
• 1.6 Centre of Gravity

and 2 more

Exercise-1(A) rounds up the most questions here, at 26.

Chapter 2: Work Energy and Power (Selina Concise)

Work leads the chapter: what it is, how it is measured, the work done by gravity, and the units it is quoted in. Power gets the same treatment, then energy moves into its mechanical forms — potential and kinetic. The chapter works through conversions between forms of energy and the principle of conservation of energy, verified for a freely falling body and applied to a simple pendulum.

• 2.1 Work
• 2.2 Measurement of Work
• 2.3 Work Done by the Force of Gravity W = mgh
• 2.4 Units of Work
• 2.5 Power (P = W/t)
• 2.6 Units of Power

and 12 more

Its Multiple Choice Type block is the chapter’s largest, at 40 questions.

Chapter 3: Machines (Selina Concise)

Machines start with the book’s definition of a machine and its technical terms, then the principle of a machine. The relationship between efficiency, mechanical advantage and velocity ratio ties the chapter’s key quantities together. Levers are sorted into kinds with examples from the human body, and pulleys run from a single fixed pulley to a movable pulley and combinations of pulleys.

• 3.1 Machines
• 3.2 Technical Terms Related to a Machine
• 3.3 Principle of a Machine
• 3.4 Relationship Between Efficiency (eta), Mechanical Advantage (MA) and Velocity Ratio (VR)
• 3.5 Levers
• 3.6 Kinds of Levers

and 5 more

Exercise-3(A) sets 37 questions, more than the chapter’s other exercises.

Chapter 4: Refraction of Light at Plane Surfaces (Selina Concise)

Refraction of light is defined with its laws, the principle of reversibility, and experimental verification that includes measuring the refractive index of glass. The chapter follows light through a rectangular glass block and a prism, then explains real and apparent depth. Transmission from a denser to a rarer medium at different angles of incidence builds toward the critical angle and total internal reflection, with its consequences and its use in prisms.

• 4.1 Refraction of Light
• 4.2 Laws of Refraction
• 4.4 Principle of Reversibility of the Path of Light
• 4.5 Experimental Verification of Laws of Refraction and Determination of Refractive Index of Glass
• 4.6 Refraction of Light Through a Rectangular Glass Block
• 4.7 Multiple Images in a Thick Plane Glass Plate or Thick Mirror

and 10 more

Exercise-4(A) leads the chapter’s sets with 27 questions.

Chapter 5: Refraction Through a Lens (Selina Concise)

A lens behaves as a set of prisms, and the chapter names the technical terms needed to describe it. Construction rays and ray diagrams come next, then the characteristics and location of images for convex and concave lenses. The sign convention and lens formula ground the calculations, followed by linear magnification, power of a lens, the magnifying glass, applications of lenses, focal length experiments, and ways to tell a convex lens from a concave one.

• 5.1 Lens
• 5.2 Action of a Lens as a Set of Prisms
• 5.3 Technical Terms Related to a Lens
• 5.5 Principal (or Construction) Rays for Ray Diagrams
• 5.6 Construction of Ray Diagram for a Lens
• 5.7 Characteristics and Location of Images for a Convex Lens

and 9 more

The bulk of the practice sits in Exercise-5(B), with 29 questions.

Chapter 6: Spectrum (Selina Concise)

The chapter starts with the deviation a triangular prism produces. It lists the colours of white light with their wavelength and frequency ranges, then shows how dispersion forms a spectrum. The electromagnetic spectrum places visible light among other radiations, whose properties and uses are covered, with ultraviolet, visible and infrared distinguished. Scattering of light and its applications come after.

• 6.1 Deviation Produced by a Triangular Prism
• 6.2 Colours in White Light with Their Wavelength and Frequency Range
• 6.3 Dispersion of White Light Through a Prism and Formation of a Spectrum
• 6.4 Electromagnetic Spectrum
• 6.5 Properties and Uses of Different Radiations of Electromagnetic Spectrum
• 6.6 Distinction Between the Ultraviolet, Visible and Infrared Radiations

and 2 more

Exercise-6(B) holds the chapter’s highest count — 27 questions.

Chapter 7: Sound (Selina Concise)

Chapter 7 covers the physics of sound.

The short and long answer block sets 29 questions.

Chapter 8: Current Electricity (Selina Concise)

Current Electricity builds from charge, current and potential difference to resistance, Ohm’s law and its experimental verification, with ohmic and non-ohmic resistors noted. Resistivity, the choice of wire material and superconductors follow, then the electromotive force of a cell, terminal voltage and internal resistance. Combinations of resistors lead into electrical energy and power, the commercial unit of electrical energy, appliance power ratings, household consumption, and the heating effect of current.

• 8.1 Concept of Charge
• 8.2 Concept of Current
• 8.3 Concept of Potential and Potential Difference (P.D.)
• 8.4 Concept of Resistance
• 8.5 Ohm’s Law (V = IR)
• 8.6 Experimental Verification of Ohm’s Law

and 15 more

The Multiple Choice Type block is the chapter’s biggest, at 69 questions.

Chapter 9: Household Circuits (Selina Concise)

The chapter traces power from the generating station to the consumer and from there into a house, with ring-system wiring explained. Fuses and switches come next, including dual control switches for staircase wiring. Earthing, the three-pin plug and socket, colour coding of wires, high tension wires, and safety precautions while using electricity are then covered.

• 9.1 Transmission of Power from the Generating Station to the Consumer
• 9.2 Power Distribution to a House
• 9.3 House Wiring (Ring System)
• 9.4 Fuse
• 9.5 Switches
• 9.6 Circuits with Dual Control Switches (Staircase Wiring)

and 5 more

Exercise-9(B) carries the chapter’s largest set, 31 questions.

Chapter 10: Electro Magnetism (Selina Concise)

Oersted’s experiment opens the chapter and establishes the magnetic effect of electric current. Field lines around a straight wire, a loop and a solenoid follow, and electromagnets are compared with permanent magnets, including their advantages and uses. The chapter then treats the force on a current-carrying conductor, a simple D.C. motor, electromagnetic induction with Faraday’s laws, the distinction between an A.C. generator and a D.C. motor, and the transformer.

• 10.1 Oersted’s Experiment on the Magnetic Effect of Electric Current
• 10.2 Magnetic Field and Field Lines Due to Current in a Straight Wire
• 10.3 Rule to Find the Direction of Magnetic Field
• 10.4 Magnetic Field Due to Current in a Loop (or Circular Coil)
• 10.5 Magnetic Field Due to a Current Carying Cylindrical Coil (or Solenoid)
• 10.6 Electromagnet

and 10 more

Exercise-10(C) sets the most questions in the chapter — 42.

Chapter 11: Calorimetry (Selina Concise)

Heat and temperature are set up as distinct concepts, with the factors that decide how much heat a body absorbs. Heat capacity and specific heat capacity follow, and the calorimeter introduces the principle of method of mixtures. Change of phase comes next — melting and boiling, their heating curves, the effects of pressure and impurities — and latent heat with specific latent heat follows.

• 11.1 Concept of Heat
• 11.2 Concept of Temperature
• 11.3 Factors Affecting the Quantity of Heat Absorbed to Increase the Temperature of a Body
• 11.4 Difference Between Heat and Temperature
• 11.5 Thermal (or Heat) Capacity (C’ = Q / Delta T)
• 11.6 Specific Heat Capacity

and 20 more

The Multiple Choice Type block runs 30 questions, the chapter’s biggest set.

Chapter 12: Radioactivity (Selina Concise)

The structure of the atom and its nucleus comes first, with the atomic model, then isotopes, isobars and isotones. Radioactivity is presented as the emission of alpha, beta and gamma radiations, each with its own properties and the changes they cause inside the nucleus. Uses of radio-isotopes and the harmful effects of radiation follow, then nuclear energy with the distinction between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.

• 12.1 Structure of the Atom and Nucleus
• 12.2 Atomic Model
• 12.3 Isotopes
• 12.4 Isobars
• 13.5 Isotones
• 12.6 Radioactivity

and 17 more

Exercise-12(A) tops the chapter’s practice at 47 questions.

How to revise Class 10 Physics chapter by chapter

1. Mechanics group: Chapter 1 Force, then Chapter 2 Work Energy and Power, then Chapter 3 Machines. Chapter 3 relies on the work and energy terms that Chapter 2 sets up, so keep this order.
2. Optics group: Chapter 4 Refraction of Light at Plane Surfaces, then Chapter 5 Refraction Through a Lens, then Chapter 6 Spectrum. Chapter 5 assumes the refraction behaviour from Chapter 4, and Chapter 6 continues with prism dispersion and scattering.
3. Electricity group: Chapter 8 Current Electricity, then Chapter 9 Household Circuits, then Chapter 10 Electro Magnetism. Household Circuits uses the energy, power and commercial unit ideas that come out of Chapter 8.
4. Standalone chapters: Chapter 7 Sound, Chapter 11 Calorimetry and Chapter 12 Radioactivity. They do not depend on the other groups, so revise them any time — or close to the exam. Other subjects use the same format on the ICSE Class 10 books hub.

The 12 chapter counts in the table add up to 901 practice questions. Chapter 2 Work Energy and Power carries the heaviest load (116 questions), Chapter 8 Current Electricity comes next (113), and Chapter 7 Sound the lightest (33). Every chapter runs a Multiple Choice Type block; Chapter 8 alone sets 69 multiple choice questions — open that block first if time is limited.

By structure, Calorimetry names the most sections (26) and Current Electricity the next most (21).

Sources and data verification

• Which book the counts describe: Selina Concise Physics for Class 10 (ICSE), the book named in each row of the table above.
• How the counts were read: every section count, exercise count, question count and page count was read from the book, and any of them can be checked against the chapter PDF on this page.
• Coverage: all 12 chapters of the book are on this page; none are pending.
• Who settles the syllabus: CISCE sets the ICSE syllabus and examinations — open cisce.org to verify the current Class 10 Physics syllabus and specimen papers. Schools choose their textbooks, and CISCE prescribes none of them.

Class 10 Physics books: frequently asked questions