Essential Standard Operating Procedure

(SOP) Required for Affiliation with CBSE

Physics Laboratory

CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION

1. Introduction
Laboratories aim to create opportunities to provide students with hands-on experience of laboratory
experiments, which could bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and their application in everyday
life. The laboratory performance is based on the idea that science focuses on hands-on, minds-on
observational activities and that these activities help students make connections between various scientific
concepts and real-life experiences. If students are to make use of any technology/ scientific skills in their
classrooms, they must learn to make observations, formulate hypotheses, conduct experiments, collect data,
use appropriate tools, analyse the data and interpret the obtained results. The practicals enable students to
connect to other science areas, communicate the information effectively, and argue their conclusions
logically. Students can learn these skills if they can participate in various laboratory exercises.

In the study of Physics, practicals are given special consideration as they are necessary to stimulate creativity,
curiosity and critical thinking among students. Moreover, practicals help increase students' engagement,
thus boosting their interest in the subject. School labs are an excellent place for students which help them
enhance their learning by understanding the theoretical concepts of science taught in classrooms. Well-
designed laboratories make science experiments fun and help students achieve good academic results. It
helps to close the gap in the achievement of learning outcomes, and classroom transactions will shift
towards competency-based learning and education. Hence, a well-equipped Science Laboratory is required
in every school to:
• Make learning Holistic, Integrated, Enjoyable, and Engaging
• Develop conceptual understanding giving a strong emphasis on Experiential learning in all stages of
science education to move toward Competency-focussed education.
• Provide opportunities to students for hands-on learning to observe, experiment and innovate
• Fulfill curricular expectations in a holistic manner
• Create and facilitate a culture of research from the school level itself
• Promote collaborative learning.

2. Curricular expectations:
As per the NCERT Learning Outcomes at Senior Secondary Stage, at this stage Learners are
expected to:
 develop interest to study physics as a discipline;
 strengthen the concepts developed at the secondary stage to acquire firm ground work and foundation
for further learning of Physics more effectively and learning the relationship with real life situations;
 apply reasoning to develop conceptual understanding of Physics concepts;
 realize and appreciate the interface of Physics with other disciplines
 get exposure to different processes used in Physics-related industrial and technological applications;
 develop process-skills and experimental, observational, manipulative, decision-making and
investigatory skills;
 synthesize various science/physics concepts to solve problems and thinking critically in the process of
learning Physics;
 understand the relationship between nature and matter on scientific basis, develop positive scientific
attitude, and appreciate the contribution of Physics towards the improvement of quality of life and
human welfare;
 comprehend the contemporary knowledge and develop aesthetic sensibilities.
 appreciate the role and impact of Physics and technology, and their linkages with
 overall national development.
 3. Pedagogy of Science education as recommended by National Education Policy 2020:
 Chapter 4 of NEP 2020 ‘Curriculum and Pedagogy in Schools: Learning Should be Holistic,
Integrated, Enjoyable, and Engaging’ has laid a wide emphasis on Experiential learning in all stages
of science education in Para 4.6.
 Chapter 7 of NEP 2020 in Para 7.5 has mentioned the importance of well-equipped science
laboratories for strong science education.
 According to Para 12.1 Effective learning requires a comprehensive approach that involves
appropriate curriculum, engaging pedagogy, continuous formative assessment, and adequate
student support. The curriculum must be interesting and relevant, and updated regularly to align
with the latest knowledge requirements and to meet specified learning outcomes which can be
made possible by well-equipped science laboratories.

To align with the recommendations of NEP and for the convenience and clarity of all stakeholders, CBSE has
prepared SOPs for laying down the requirements for Physics Laboratory in schools. The present SOP also
illustrate adequately the safety rules for students and instructions for teachers in this regard. The SOP also
attempt to sensitize schools about proper management of waste generated during the practical exercise
carried out by the students. It is hoped that the SOPs will be helpful for schools and students in adopting basic
rules for safe behaviour and hygiene, to avoid accidents in the laboratory.

4. Model Layout of Physics Laboratory

5. Infrastructure needed for Physics Laboratory:

Recommendations for Infrastructure

Category /
S. No. Requirements
Materials needed
1 Physical  Minimum Lab. Room size 600 Sq.ft.
Infrastructure
2 Storage  A separate room or cupboards within lab for consumables and
non- consumables items in the lock and key mechanism, thus
ensuring a safety, dust and vermin-free environment.
3 Teaching  Preferably an intelligent board with an internet
facility Facility or white / green board.
4 Demonstration  The demonstration table should also have a sink along with a
Table water tap. In the laboratory, seats are made available to the
students, so students sit at the allotted place and note the
instructionsfrom the teacher.
 40 seating facilities (lab stools)
5 Display / Notice  Do’s & Don’ts/ rules for the laboratory use/ safety
Board procedures
 List of practical activities
 Timetable- (laboratory timetable)
 Emergency Contact numbers
6 Gas/ heating  Preferably gas pipeline. (2 heating burners)
7 Sink with Water  8 sinks with water supply
supply
8 Waste  02 bins to be installed for biodegradable and non -
management biodegradable waste.
 Flammable chemicals bottles must be packed separately. Empty
chemical bottles can be packed in cartons/sacks. Disposal must
be sent to the Material Management Division of the school.

9 Fire extinguisher  To be installed at a prominent place within the laboratory or in

the corridor outside the laboratory.
10 Exhaust fans  2 in number
11 Medical First Aid  2 in number
Kit
12 Heating facility  One Heater should be available in the lab to conduct Heat
related experiments
 6. Minimum requirement of equipment / items for a Physics laboratory

a) List of Non-Consumable Items (for a batch of 40 students):

S. No Materials Required Requirement S. No Materials Required Requirement

1 Ammeters different range 10 27 Rheostat 10
2 Battery eliminator 10 28 Resistance coil different 20
range 1-5 ohms)
3 Daniell cell 8 29 Resonance apparatus 8
4 Drawing board 30 30 Spherometer 30
5 Friction apparatus complete 8 31 Screw gauge 20
set with weight box
6 Galvanometer 10 32 Wooden scale (1-50 cm, 10 each
1-100 cm)
7 Parallelogram apparatus 10 33 Stopwatch 8
8 Key one way 20 34 Sonometer 8
9 Jockey pencil type 10 35 Sprit level 4
10 Two-way key 8 36 Thermometer 10
11 Laclanche cell 8 37 Tuning fork (250 5 each
Hz, 480 Hz and 512
Hz) withpad
12 Meter bridge 8 38 Vernier calliper 20
13 Multimeter digital 4 39 Voltmeter (different 20
range)
14 Multimeter manual 4 40 Beakers 10
15 Magnetic compass 10 41 Connecting wires 1 Kg
16 Optical bench (1 meter 10 42 Charts for display (bio 20
long visuals)
17 Prism (Indian glass) 30 43 Portraits (as per choice) 20
18 Potentiometer 8 44 Concave mirror 10
19 Plier 5 45 Convex mirror 10
20 Cutter 5 46 Convex lens 10
21 Screwdriver 5 47 Concave lens 10
22 Scissor 5 48 Wedge knife edge (for 10
sonometer)
23 Resistance box (different 5 each 49 Glass slab 30
range 0.1 to 10 ohm)
 1 to 10 ohms
 1 to 100 ohms
 1 to 1000 ohms
 1 to 100000 ohms
24 Dry cell 10g (chargeable) 10 50 Pendulum box 20
25 Dry cell charger 8 51 Cork rubber 1.5 inches 20
26 Helical spring apparatus 8 52 Hanger weights 500 gm 8 set
with weights
 S. No. Materials Required Requirement S. No. Materials Required Requirement
53 Insulated copper wire 500 gm 71 Laptop/ desktop set 2 setup
54 Meter tape (1-100 meter) 4 roll 72 Balance ( Physical ) 2
55 Soldering iron 4 73 Boyle’s law apparatus 2
56 Spring balance (0-250 10 74 Fortnis Barometer 2
gm)
57 U-shaped magnet 5 75 Metallic Cylinders 2
58 Copper calorimeter 2 76 Metal Sphere 2
59 Epidiascope 2 77 SG Bottles 2
60 Newton’s Disc 2 78 Grave sand apparatus 2
61 Telescope 2 79 Young’s Modulus 2
62 Camera 2 80 Spectrometer 2
63 Barometer tube 2 81 Hydrometer 2
64 Lactometer 2 82 Spirit Level 2
65 Stove (Oil) 2 83 Potentiometer 2
66 Electric bell 2 84 Silk and cat skin pieces 2
67 Proof Plane 2 85 Gold leaf electroscope 2
68 Binoculars 2 86 Tuning fork 2
69 Soldering rods 2
70 P-N junction diode set up 4

b) List of Consumable Items (for a batch of 40 students at any given time):

S. No. Equipment Requirement

1 Ammonium Chloride` 500 gm

2 All Pins 1.5 “ 2 Packets

3 Copper Sulphate 500 gm

4 Drawing Pins 6 Packets

5 Thread Rolls 1 Roll

7. Safety guidelines

In order to ensure the safety of students in Science Laboratories, the following provisions are
mandatory:

 List of general SOP applicable at all times

 Two wide doors for unobstructed exits from the laboratory.
 An adequate number of fire extinguishers near laboratory.
 Periodically checking vulnerable points in the laboratory about the possibility of mishaps.
 It should be ensured that gas fittings in the laboratory fulfill the desired norms and standards.
 Periodical checking of electrical fittings/ insulations for replacement and repairs
 Timely and repeated instructions to students for carefully handling equipment in the laboratory.
 Display of do’s and don’ts in the laboratory at prominent places.
 Safe and secure storage of all equipments.
 Proper labelling and upkeep of equipments/items.
 Proper safety and protection provisions include a fume hood, goggles and gloves while doing
practical work.
 Careful supervision of students while doing practical work.
 Advance precautionary arrangements to meet any emergencies.
 Conduct any additional experimental work only under supervision and with due advance
permission.
 Availability of First Aid and basic medical facilities in the school.
 Proper location of the laboratories.
 General work procedure for students
 When entering a laboratory, avoid touching equipment, chemicals, electrical and electronic devices,
or other materials until you are instructed to do so.
 The students should be careful when doing electricity experiments.
 He/she should not touch any wires if his/her hands are wet, even for low voltage
equipment.
 Do not start any practical work unless you are clear about its directions. Ask your teacher before
proceeding with the activity.
 Be cautious at all times in the laboratory. Call the teacher immediately if you notice any risky
conditions.
 Never work alone in the laboratory. The presence of a teacher or supervisor is necessary.
 In case of spillage, breakage or injury, report to the teacher instantly: stay calm.
 When removing an electrical plug from its socket, switch off and grasp the plug, not the electrical
cord. Hands must be dry when touching an electrical switch, plug or outlet/ socket.
 Never return unused chemicals to their original container.
 Do not immerse hot glassware in cold water, as the glassware may break. Put the heated glassware
in a different place to be cooled.
 Never look into a container that is being heated. Always observe containers from sideways.
 If the Bunsen burner goes out accidentally, immediately turn off the control device/ gas supply.
 Never leave a lit burner unattended.
 Wash your hands with liquid soap and water on leaving the laboratory.