School of Physics
PHYS1004 Physics 1 (Environmental) – Semester 2, 2016
MODULE 1 OUTLINE: ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM
Unit Description
This module is one of 3 comprising PHYS 1004 Physics 1 (Environmental). This document describes details of
this module and should be read in conjunction with the more general unit of study outline for PHYS 1004
Physics 1 (Environmental).
General goals of this module
This lecture module aims to develop the ideas of electricity and magnetism and illustrates their practical
applications in the environmental and life sciences. The module investigates the concepts of charge,
conservation of charge and the forces between charges. The module also investigates the nature of electric
and magnetic fields, and how they can be produced and the interactions between them.
MODULE DEFINITION & OBJECTIVES – ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM
(specified as references from the text: College Physics: A Strategic Approach by R.D. Knight, B. Jones & S.
Field, 3rd edition published by Pearson/Addison Wesley, 2007.)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
For each topic in this Module the Specific Objectives define what we expect you to learn and understand.
“Understanding” a term or concept means that you should be able to:
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explain its meaning,
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interpret it correctly when you read or hear it,
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use it correctly in your own writing.
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apply it correctly to examples and problems.
There is no easy road to learning. Your marks will depend on the work that you do. You should therefore read
through and understand the sections of the textbook specified below, and work through the specified
examples. You should then attempt as many as possible of the recommended questions, exercises and
problems. Problem solving skills can only be acquired by practice.
This module is also supported by some web-based material accessible through the eLearning page for this
unit.
MODULE CONTENT
ELECTROSTATICS
The electrostatics section of this module covers the ideas of electric charge, electric field, electric forces,
electric potential, potential difference and capacitance.
ELECTRIC CHARGE
Chapter 20
Sections 20.1 – 20.3
Questions
1 to 10, 22, 26, 27
Problems
1 to 17
Specific Objectives -after studying this chapter you will be able to
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describe the basic properties of electric charge
describe the difference between insulators and conductors
describe ways of charging objects
describe how charges interact and be able to apply Coulomb's Law
ELECTRIC FIELDS
Chapter 20
Questions
Problems
PHYS1004 Module 1 Outline
Section 20.4 – 20.7
11 to 21, 23 to 25, 28
18 to 37
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Copyright © 2016, The University of Sydney
Specific Objectives -after studying this chapter you will be able to
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explain the concept of electric field and field lines
calculate the electric field due to a point charge
describe the effect of a conductor on an electric field
calculate the force on a charge due to an electric field
apply these concepts to the electric field around the heart and electrophoresis of DNA
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
Chapter 21
Sections 21.1 – 21.6
Questions
1 to 8, 20, 21, 23, 31
Problems
1 to 24
Specific Objectives -after studying this chapter you will be able to
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understand the concepts of electric potential energy, electric potential and potential difference
apply these concepts to a uniform electric field
discuss the concept of equipotential surfaces
discuss applications in electrocardiograph (ECG)
CAPACITANCE
Chapter 21
Sections 21.7 – 21.8
Questions
9 to 19, 21, 24 to 30
Problems
25 to 44
Specific Objectives -after studying this chapter you will be able to
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explain the concept of capacitance
describe the use of a capacitor for storing charge
calculate the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor
calculate the energy stored in a capacitor
explain and calculate the effect of placing different dielectrics between the plates of a capacitor
CURRENT AND CIRCUITS
The Current and Circuits section of the module presents some basic concepts of electric circuits which you
will have seen in the laboratory section of this course. In this section we will very briefly review these concepts
and see how they relate to some applications of electricity in everyday life.
CURRENT AND RESISTANCE
Chapter 22
Sections 22.1 – 22.6
Questions
1 to 30
Problems
1 to 41
Specific Objectives -after studying this chapter you will be able to
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explain and apply the concepts of electric current and resistance
calculate values of current, voltage and resistance using Ohm's Law
calculate the electrical power dissipated in a circuit
calculate resistance of a wire using the resistivity equation
CIRCUITS
Chapter 23
Sections 23.1 – 23.6, 23.8 – 23.9
Questions
1 to 28
Problems
1 to 35
Specific Objectives -after studying this chapter you will be able to
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explain the difference between real and ideal sources of EMF
explain the concept of potential difference around a circuit
calculate current, voltage and power in simple circuits
discuss basic principles of electrical safety in the house
apply what you have learnt about circuits, capacitance and resistance to signal propagation along a nerve
cell.
MAGNETISM
The magnetism section of this module covers the ideas of magnetic fields, magnetic forces, magnetic
induction and magnetic materials.
MAGNETIC FIELDS & MAGNETISM OF MATTER
Chapter 24
Sections 24.1 – 24.2
Questions
1 to 5, 28
Problems
44 to 46
PHYS1004 Module 1 Outline
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Copyright © 2016, The University of Sydney
Specific Objectives -after studying this chapter you will be able to
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explain the concept of magnetic field and magnetic field lines
draw simple magnetic fields
Explain the source of magnetism in permanent magnets
discuss earth's magnetic field and its variation over time
MAGNETIC FIELDS DUE TO CURRENTS
Chapter 24
Sections 24.3 – 24.8
Questions
7 to 27, 29 to 35
Problems
1 to 43
Specific Objectives -after studying this chapter you will be able to
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describe and calculate the magnetic fields generated by currents
calculate the force between current carrying wires
calculate the magnetic field due to a long current carrying wire
calculate the magnetic force on a charge
describe the motion of a moving charged particle in a magnetic field
describe how charged particles in trapped in the earth’s magnetic field cause aurora
explain the operation of a mass spectrometer in terms of the force of charges in a magnetic field
describe how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) works
INDUCTION AND INDUCTANCE
Chapter 25
Sections 25.1 – 25.4
Questions
1 to 17, 26 to 30
Problems
1 to 24
Specific Objectives -after studying this chapter you will be able to
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explain and apply Faraday's Law
explain and apply Lenz's Law
discuss the energy transfers in the process of induction
explain the concept of eddy currents
PHYS1004 Module 1 Outline
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Copyright © 2016, The University of Sydney