Kinetic Theory - NEET Previous Year Questions with Solutions

The most important topics are degrees of freedom, the law of equipartition of energy, specific heat capacities of gases (Cv, Cp, and γ), and RMS/mean/most probable speeds. Together, these account for roughly 65–70% of all Kinetic Theory questions that have appeared in NEET.

Kinetic Theory is considered one of the easier chapters in NEET Physics. The concepts are well-defined, the formulas are limited, and question patterns repeat reliably across years. A student who spends 8–10 hours on NCERT theory and PYQs can confidently score full marks from this chapter.

NTA typically asks 1 to 3 questions from Kinetic Theory in NEET every year. Over the last 14 years (2010–2024), this chapter has contributed approximately 28–35 questions in total across all papers. It is a medium-weightage chapter with high predictability, making it worth thorough preparation.

Mean free path (λ) is inversely proportional to pressure (λ ∝ 1/P) and directly proportional to temperature (λ ∝ T) at constant pressure. The formula λ = 1/(√2 · n · π · d²) is the standard relation. NEET questions on this topic typically ask you to predict how λ changes when P or T is doubled — a concept-check question that takes under 30 seconds once the formula is known.

The law of equipartition of energy states that each degree of freedom of a molecule contributes (1/2)k_BT of energy on average, where k_B is Boltzmann's constant and T is absolute temperature. In NEET, this is tested through questions that ask you to calculate the total internal energy of a gas, specific heat ratios, or compare energies of monoatomic and diatomic gases at the same temperature.

Yes — NCERT Class 11 Physics Chapter 13 is the primary source for NEET Kinetic Theory questions. Almost every question asked by NTA can be traced directly to an NCERT concept, example, or exercise. Refer to NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics for fully worked NCERT solutions aligned with the NEET syllabus.