PY212 SUMMER 2003

Study Guide for Midterm Exam I

Professor Milos Steinhart

Tuesday July 22, 2003 1100-1230

bring a pencil/pen and your B.U. ID

Presented bellow is a detailed (though not exhaustive) list of what you are expected to know for each of the major topics to be covered on the exam.

Please note that the exams will test BOTH your understanding of the basic physical concepts AND your problem-solving skills. It will not test memorization; a formula sheet will be appended to the exam. A draft of the formula sheet is appended to this study guide.

You will be expected to know the definitions of relevant concepts, to give concise descriptions of physical laws, to derive relevant equations, and to discuss the various physical models presented in the lectures. You are also expected to master the problem-solving techniques in the discussion sections and the homework.

The exam will consist of 4 problems (each worth 20% of the total) and a set of multiple-choice questions (also worth 20% of the total). To receive a full credit, you must show all of your work.

A Calculator in not necessary and cannot be used during this exam.

Mathematical Concepts

Be able to …

Divide vector into components in orthogonal axes system, add and subtract vectors, calculate and understand the scalar product of two vectors.

Calculate derivatives and integrals of simple functions of one variable.

Solve sets of linear equations, solve a quadratic equation.

Plot graphs of simple functions and indicate slopes, intercepts and areas.

Electrostatics

Be able to …

Understand the concept of the charge and its main properties.

Understand the main properties of forces between point charges.

Understand and use the Coulomb’s law.

Understand the superposition principle.

Understand the concept of the electric field, intensity and its flux.

Understand and use the Gauss’ law.

Understand the concept of a conservative field.

Understand the concept of the potential and potential energy.

Understand the relations between the field potential and intensity at least in fields of special symmetry; uniform and spherically symmetric fields.

Understand the concept of the electric dipole, the field it generates and its behavior in external fields (at least uniform field).

Understand the concept of the capacitance.

Calculate the capacitance for capacitors with simple geometry.

Replace a network of capacitors by a single capacitance. Find individual voltages and charges.

Understand the concepts of potential energy and energy density in electrostatic field.

Electro-kinetics

Be able to …

Understand the concept of the electric current.

Understand the concept of the resistance.

Understand and use the Ohm’s law.

Replace a network of resistors by a single resistor. Find individual currents and voltages.

Understand the concept of the electric circuit and its topology.

Understand and use the Kirchhoff’s laws in simple cases.

Understand the concept of transport of power transport through the electric circuit.

PY212 SUMMER2 2003 ME-1 Formula Sheet

Coulomb’s law (force acting on Q₂) :

;

Electric intensity: The flux of electric intensity:

The Gauss’ law:

Potential and potential energy: DU = Q Dj

The relations of the electric intensity and potential:

Intensity and potential of electric field created by a point charge :

The definition of the capacitance:

Capacitors in series: Q = Q₁ = Q₂; V = V₁ + V₂; 1/C_S = 1/C₁ + 1/C₂

Capacitors in parallel: Q = Q₁ + Q₂; V = V₁ = V₂; C_P = C₁ + C₂

The capacitance of the parallel plate capacitor with dielectric:

The energy of the charged capacitor: Energy density of electric field:

The definition of electric current:

The Ohm’s law:

The electric power:

Kirchhoff’s laws:

Resistors in series and in parallel:

Triangle to star recalculation: