The morning shift of 5 April 2026. Below is the Physics section question by question, the chapter split, where the hundred marks sat, how tough it was, and the official paper and answer key from NTA.
The shift
| Date | 5 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Shift | Shift 1 — 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM IST |
| Paper | Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) |
| Whole paper | 75 questions, 300 marks, 180 minutes |
| Physics | Q26 to Q50 — Section A 20 MCQ (80 marks), Section B 5 numeric (20 marks) |
| Marking | +4 right, −1 wrong, nothing for a blank |
Physics, question by question
| Q | What it asked | Chapter |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Vernier callipers — the zero error | Units and Measurements |
| 27 | Which combination of L, C and R has a given dimension | Units and Measurements |
| 28 | g at the same distance below and above the surface — the change | Gravitation |
| 29 | Three masses over a pulley — ratio of two tensions | Laws of Motion |
| 30 | Wedge pulled sideways with a block sliding on it — time to slide | Laws of Motion |
| 31 | Young’s modulus when the radius and length are doubled | Mechanical Properties of Solids |
| 32 | Two statements — change in internal energy, and gamma from degrees of freedom | Thermodynamics |
| 33 | Five statements on the laws of thermodynamics and on variables | Thermodynamics |
| 34 | Network of resistors — the three branch currents | Current Electricity |
| 35 | Electron in an electric field — de Broglie wavelength at a later time | Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter |
| 36 | Hydrogen transition given by the ratio of orbit radii — wavelength | Atoms |
| 37 | Displacement current in a capacitor — rate of change of voltage | Electromagnetic Waves |
| 38 | Grid of cells and resistors — current between two terminals | Current Electricity |
| 39 | Fringe width when the whole set-up goes into a medium | Wave Optics |
| 40 | Equilateral prism — minimum deviation from the speed of light in it | Ray Optics |
| 41 | Photoelectric effect — work function from the stopping potential | Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter |
| 42 | Microscope objective cut into two plano-convex lenses — tube length | Ray Optics |
| 43 | Two wires and a pan — largest mass that can be added | Mechanical Properties of Solids |
| 44 | Resistor and capacitor on a.c. — current at two frequencies | Alternating Current |
| 45 | Logic circuit driving two LEDs — which inputs light both | Semiconductor Electronics |
| 46 numeric | Cube under a tangential force — sideways displacement | Mechanical Properties of Solids |
| 47 numeric | Ball dropped — height where the speed matches g in number | Motion in a Straight Line |
| 48 numeric | Transverse wave on a string — distance between successive crests | Waves |
| 49 numeric | Charged particle in a magnetic field — unknown in the acceleration | Moving Charges and Magnetism |
| 50 numeric | Three equal inductors — ratio of magnetic energies | Electromagnetic Induction |
Chapter by chapter
| Chapter | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Properties of Solids | 3 | 12 |
| Current Electricity | 2 | 8 |
| Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | 2 | 8 |
| Laws of Motion | 2 | 8 |
| Ray Optics | 2 | 8 |
| Thermodynamics | 2 | 8 |
| Units and Measurements | 2 | 8 |
| Alternating Current | 1 | 4 |
| Atoms | 1 | 4 |
| Electromagnetic Induction | 1 | 4 |
| Electromagnetic Waves | 1 | 4 |
| Gravitation | 1 | 4 |
| Motion in a Straight Line | 1 | 4 |
| Moving Charges and Magnetism | 1 | 4 |
| Semiconductor Electronics | 1 | 4 |
| Wave Optics | 1 | 4 |
| Waves | 1 | 4 |
All 19 shifts of JEE Main 2026, counted together chapter by chapter: JEE Main Physics important chapters.
Elasticity alone carried 12 marks, the most any one chapter has taken in this session.
Where the 100 marks sat
| Part of Physics | Questions | Marks | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrodynamics | 6 | 24 | 24% |
| Properties of Matter and Heat | 5 | 20 | 20% |
| Mechanics | 4 | 16 | 16% |
| Optics and Waves | 4 | 16 | 16% |
| Modern Physics and Electronics | 4 | 16 | 16% |
| Units, Dimensions and Measurement | 2 | 8 | 8% |
The flattest spread of the session. No part took more than a quarter of the marks, and elasticity, usually a two-mark corner of the syllabus, was worth twelve. A student who had skipped properties of solids gave away a lot here.
How tough it was
| Level | Questions | Share | Which ones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight recall or one step | 8 | 32% | 26, 27, 31, 37, 39, 41, 46, 48 |
| Two or three steps | 12 | 48% | 28, 29, 32, 33, 35, 36, 40, 43, 44, 47, 49, 50 |
| Long or awkward | 5 | 20% | 30, 34, 38, 42, 45 |
Two large circuit diagrams, a wedge with a block sliding on it, a microscope objective cut in half and a logic circuit driving two LEDs were the five that ate the clock. The other twenty were fair, and eight of them could be finished in a minute each.
All 25 Physics questions, solved
Q1 · Units and Measurement · on the pattern of Q26
In a Vernier callipers, when the two jaws touch, the zero of the Vernier scale lies to the right of the zero of the main scale and the 6th Vernier division lines up with a main scale mark. One main scale division is 1 mm and the Vernier scale has 20 divisions. The zero error is ______.
Answer 0.030 cm, a positive zero error
Where it goes wrong Calling it negative. The Vernier zero to the right of the main scale zero is positive; to the left is negative.
Q2 · Units and Dimensions · on the pattern of Q27
L, C and R stand for inductance, capacitance and resistance. Which of these has the dimensions of time? (A) RC (B) L/R (C) √(LC)
Answer All three of them
Where it goes wrong Trying to break every symbol down into M, L, T and A. Remembering the three standard time constants settles this question in seconds.
Q3 · Gravitation · on the pattern of Q28
A person moves from a point 32 km below the earth’s surface to a point 32 km above it. The change in g between the two points is about α % of its value at the surface. The value of α is ______. (Radius of the earth = 6400 km)
Answer 0.5
Where it goes wrong Using the same formula both ways. Going down the fall is d/R; going up it is twice that, 2h/R.
Q4 · Laws of Motion · on the pattern of Q29
A light string over a fixed frictionless pulley carries a 5 kg block on one side. On the other side a 4 kg block hangs from the string, and a 2 kg block hangs from the 4 kg block by a second string. T1 is the tension in the string over the pulley and T2 the tension in the lower string. The ratio T1/T2 is ______.
Answer 3
Where it goes wrong Working out a first. The ratio only needs the masses each string carries; the acceleration cancels, so the numbers never have to be found.
Q5 · Laws of Motion · on the pattern of Q30
A block rests on the frictionless 37° incline of a wedge. The wedge is given a constant horizontal acceleration a, pointing into the slope, so that the block stays at rest relative to the wedge. The value of a is ______ m/s2. (tan37° = 3/4, g = 10 m/s2)
Answer 7.5 m/s2
Where it goes wrong Pointing the pseudo force the same way as the acceleration. In an accelerating frame it always points the opposite way.
Q6 · Mechanical Properties of Solids · on the pattern of Q31
The Young’s modulus of a steel wire of radius r and length L is Y. If both the radius and the length of the wire are doubled, the value of Y becomes ______.
Answer It stays exactly the same
Where it goes wrong Confusing Y with the stiffness of the wire. The stiffness AY/L does change with the shape; the modulus Y does not.
Q7 · Thermodynamics · on the pattern of Q32
Statement I: For n moles of an ideal gas the change in internal energy can be written as ΔU = nCv(Tf − Ti) = nR(Tf − Ti)/(γ − 1). Statement II: The ratio γ = Cp/Cv is linked to the degrees of freedom f by γ = 1 + 2/f. Choose the correct option.
Answer Both statements are true, but Statement II is not the explanation of Statement I
Where it goes wrong Marking II as the explanation because both involve γ. Sharing a symbol is not the same as explaining.
Q8 · Thermodynamics · on the pattern of Q33
Which of these statements are correct? A. The zeroth law of thermodynamics leads to the idea of temperature. B. The first law of thermodynamics leads to the idea of internal energy. C. In the isothermal expansion of an ideal gas ΔQ = ΔW. D. The product of an intensive and an extensive variable is extensive. E. An extensive variable divided by mass is still extensive.
Answer A, B, C and D only
Where it goes wrong Reading E too fast. Mass is itself extensive, so dividing one extensive quantity by another removes the size dependence.
Q9 · Current Electricity · on the pattern of Q34
A 12 V battery of negligible internal resistance is joined to a 2 Ω resistor in series with a parallel pair of 6 Ω and 3 Ω resistors. Find the current drawn from the battery and the current in each of the two parallel resistors.
Answer 3 A from the battery; 1 A in the 6 Ω and 2 A in the 3 Ω
Where it goes wrong Splitting the current equally between the two branches. The smaller resistance always takes the larger share, in inverse proportion.
Q10 · Dual Nature of Radiation · on the pattern of Q35
An electron of mass m moves in a uniform electric field E = −3E0j (E0 > 0) with an initial velocity v0j. Writing λ0 = h/(2mv0), its de Broglie wavelength at time t is ______. (e is the size of the electron’s charge)
Answer 2λ0 / [1 + 3eE0t/(mv0)]
Where it goes wrong Letting the electron slow down. Two minus signs meet here, so the force ends up along the motion and the wavelength shrinks.
Q11 · Atoms · on the pattern of Q36
In a hydrogen atom an electron drops from a higher orbit i to a lower orbit f, with ri : rf = 9 : 1. The wavelength of the photon given out is about ______ nm. (Rydberg constant R = 1.097 × 107 /m)
Answer about 103 nm
Where it goes wrong Taking the ratio of radii as the ratio of n. The radius carries n squared, so the square root has to be taken first.
Q12 · Electromagnetic Waves · on the pattern of Q37
A displacement current of 3.0 A is set up in the space between the plates of a 5 μF parallel plate capacitor. The rate of change of the potential difference across the plates is ______ × 105 V/s.
Answer 6.0 × 105 V/s
Where it goes wrong Going back to Maxwell’s integral and the changing flux. The one-line result i = C dV/dt does the whole job.
Q13 · Current Electricity · on the pattern of Q38
Three identical branches are joined side by side between terminals A and B. Each branch has two 5 V cells in series with a 3 Ω resistor, all the cells facing the same way and of negligible internal resistance. A 4 Ω resistor is connected between A and B. The current through that 4 Ω resistor is ______ A.
Answer 2 A
Where it goes wrong Adding the three branch emfs to get 30 V. Identical sources in parallel share the current; they do not raise the voltage.
Q14 · Wave Optics · on the pattern of Q39
In a Young’s double slit experiment the fringe width in air is 3.0 μm. The whole set-up is then placed in a liquid of refractive index 1.25. The new fringe width is ______ μm.
Answer 2.4 μm
Where it goes wrong Multiplying by n instead of dividing. Light slows in the medium, so the wavelength and the fringes both get smaller.
Q15 · Ray Optics · on the pattern of Q40
A ray of light passes through an equilateral prism at minimum deviation, and the angle of minimum deviation is 30°. The speed of light inside the prism material is about ______ × 108 m/s. (c = 3 × 108 m/s)
Answer about 2.12 × 108 m/s
Where it goes wrong Using A alone in the top line. Both the prism angle and the deviation go into the numerator, and only the prism angle into the denominator.
Q16 · Dual Nature of Radiation · on the pattern of Q41
Light of wavelength 400 nm falls on a metal and the stopping potential is 0.5 V. The work function of the metal is α × 10−19 J. The value of α is about ______. (h = 6.62 × 10−34 J·s, e = 1.6 × 10−19 C, c = 3 × 108 m/s)
Answer about 4.17
Where it goes wrong Subtracting 0.5 instead of eV0. The stopping potential is in volts, so it has to be multiplied by the electron charge first.
Q17 · Ray Optics · on the pattern of Q42
A symmetric biconvex lens of focal length 20 cm is cut into two identical plano-convex lenses by a cut right across it, perpendicular to the principal axis. The focal length of each plano-convex lens is ______ cm.
Answer 40 cm
Where it goes wrong Cutting the focal length in half. Taking away one curved surface takes away half the bending power, so the focal length doubles.
Q18 · Mechanical Properties of Solids · on the pattern of Q43
Two steel wires hang one below the other, both with breaking stress 12 × 108 N/m2. The upper wire has cross-section 0.006 cm2 and the lower 0.003 cm2. A 30 kg block hangs from the upper wire, a 10 kg block hangs below it from the lower wire, and a light pan hangs from the bottom. The largest mass that can be put in the pan without breaking either wire is ______ kg. (g = 10 m/s2)
Answer 26 kg
Where it goes wrong Checking only the upper wire because it carries more. The lower one is thinner, and here it is the one that gives way first.
Q19 · Alternating Current · on the pattern of Q44
An a.c. source of angular frequency ω is connected across a resistor R and a capacitor C in series, and the current is I. When the frequency is lowered to ω/3 with the voltage unchanged, the current falls to I/2. The ratio of the resistance to the reactance, R/XC, at the original frequency is ______.
Answer √(5/3)
Where it goes wrong Making the reactance smaller when the frequency drops. For a capacitor it is the other way round: lower frequency means larger reactance.
Q20 · Semiconductor Electronics · on the pattern of Q45
In a logic circuit, inputs A and B feed an OR gate. LED-1 is driven by the output of that OR gate. That same output and input C feed an AND gate, whose output drives LED-2. Which input combination makes both LEDs glow?
Answer A = 0, B = 1, C = 1 (any case with at least one of A and B equal to 1, and C = 1)
Where it goes wrong Checking only the final output. Each LED has its own condition, and both have to hold at once.
Q21 · Mechanical Properties of Solids · numeric · on the pattern of Q46
A cube of side 4 cm is made of a material of modulus of rigidity 2 × 105 N/m2. A tangential force of 16 N is applied to its top face while the bottom face is held fixed. The sideways displacement of the top face is ______ mm.
Answer 2 mm
Where it goes wrong Using the volume or the side length in place of the face area. The shearing stress uses the area of the face the force acts on.
Q22 · Motion in a Straight Line · numeric · on the pattern of Q47
A ball is dropped from rest from a height of 20 m above the ground. The height above the ground at which the number measuring its speed in m/s equals the number measuring g in m/s2 is ______ m. (g = 10 m/s2, neglect air resistance)
Answer 15 m
Where it goes wrong Giving the distance fallen rather than the height above the ground. The question asks where the ball is, not how far it has come.
Q23 · Waves · numeric · on the pattern of Q48
A transverse wave on a string is y = 4 sin(50t + 0.025x + π/3), where x and y are in cm and t in seconds. The least distance between two successive crests is about ______ cm. (π = 3.14)
Answer about 251 cm
Where it goes wrong Using the coefficient of t. That one gives the angular frequency and so the time period; the wavelength comes from the coefficient of x.
Q24 · Moving Charges and Magnetism · numeric · on the pattern of Q49
A charged particle moving in a uniform magnetic field B = (2i + 3j) T has an acceleration (6i − xj) m/s2. The value of x is ______.
Answer 4
Where it goes wrong Reaching for the velocity. It is never given and never needed; the right angle between the acceleration and the field settles it in one line.
Q25 · Electromagnetic Induction · numeric · on the pattern of Q50
Three inductors of the same inductance L are connected so that L1 is in series with a parallel pair L2 and L3. A steady current I flows into the circuit. If Ui is the magnetic energy stored in the whole circuit and Uf that stored in L2 alone, the ratio Ui/Uf is ______. (Ignore mutual inductance)
Answer 6
Where it goes wrong Sending the full current I through L2. It only gets half, and since the energy goes as the square of the current, that is a factor of four.
The official paper and answer key
Both are NTA’s own files, opened straight from the government store. Nothing here is a copy.
Official question paper →Official answer key →
Nearby shifts: 4 April Shift 1 · 4 April Shift 2.
All shifts, date by date: JEE Main Previous Years Papers.
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