Regents and Honors Physics
4th Quarter Topics
Unit 10
Electrostatics
Key terms: charge, electrostatic force, electric field, parallel plate capacitor, potential difference,
induction,
Content:
electrons are regarded as mobile charge carriers
electrical charge is a property of matter (as per atomic theory)
electrical charge is conserved in all interactions
charging by induction, conduction
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Energy may be stored in electric fields. This energy may be transferred through conductors or
space and may be converted to other forms of energy.
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Field strength and direction are determined using a small, positive test charge.
The electrical field between two oppositely charged parallel plates is treated as uniform.
Gravitational forces are only attractive, whereas electrical and magnetic forces can be attractive or
repulsive.
The inverse square law applies to electrical fields produced by point sources.
net electrostatic force in a two-dimensional array of charges
electric potential, net potential
Skills:
Students will:
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calculate the quantity and direction of charge transferred in interactions
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charge an object by induction, conduction
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calculate the net electrostatic force given an array of charges
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Calculate work performed by moving charges across electric fields
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draw electric fields for point charge arrays and charged, parallel plates
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Calculate the net electrostatic force on an electric charge in an array of charges
Calculate and sketch the electric field between charged parallel plates
Calculate and sketch the electric field magnitude and direction at a location relative to a point
charge
Describe and sketch how objects are charged by contact and by induction
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M1.1 Use algebraic and geometric representations to describe and compare data.
• Use scaled diagrams to represent and manipulate vector quantities.
• Represent physical quantities in graphical form.
• Construct graphs of real-world data (scatter plots, line or curve of best fit).
• Manipulate equations to solve for unknowns.
• Use dimensional analysis to confirm algebraic solutions.
Questions:
 How can objects obtain a non-neutral static charge?
 How do electrostatic forces compare to gravitational forces?
 How does the electric field concept compare to the gravitational field concept?
Unit 11
Electric circuits
Key terms: electrical conductor, insulator, potential difference, voltage, volt, electrical resistance,
resistor, electric current, amperage, Ohm, circuit, filament, electrical resistivity, series circuit, parallel
circuit
Content:
Moving electric charges produce magnetic fields. The relative motion between a conductor and a magnetic
field may produce a potential difference in the conductor.
All materials display a range of conductivity. At constant temperature, common metallic conductors obey
Ohm’s Law.
The factors affecting resistance in a conductor are length, cross-sectional area, temperature, and resistivity.
Energy may be stored in electric or magnetic fields. This energy may be transferred through conductors or
space and may be converted to other forms of energy.
All materials display a range of conductivity. At constant temperature, common metallic conductors obey
Ohm’s Law*.
The factors affecting resistance in a conductor are length, cross-sectional area, temperature, and resistivity.
A circuit is a closed path in which a current can exist. (Note: electron current.)
Circuit components may be connected in series or in parallel. Schematic diagrams are used to represent
circuits and circuit elements.
Electrical power and energy can be determined for electric circuits.
Skills:
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recognize and describe conversions among different forms of energy in real or hypothetical
devices such as a motor, a generator, a photocell, a battery
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compare the power developed when the same work is done at different rates
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measure current and voltage in a circuit
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use measurements to determine the resistance of a circuit element
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interpret graphs of voltage versus current
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measure and compare the resistance of conductors of various lengths and cross-sectional areas
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construct simple series and parallel circuits
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draw and interpret circuit diagrams which include voltmeters and ammeters predict the behavior of
lightbulbs in series and parallel circuits
M1.1 Use algebraic and geometric representations to describe and compare data.
• Use scaled diagrams to represent and manipulate vector quantities.
• Represent physical quantities in graphical form.
• Construct graphs of real-world data (scatter plots, line or curve of best fit).
• Manipulate equations to solve for unknowns.
• Use dimensional analysis to confirm algebraic solutions.
Questions:
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What is electric current?
What is potential difference?
What is electric resistance?
How do current and potential differences change when resistors are connected in: series? parallel?
Unit 12
Magnets and Electromagnetism
Key terms: Converging, diverging, convex, concave, principal axis, thin lens, radius of curvature, focal
point, ray diagram, image distance, object distance, Monochromatic, coherent, in-phase, laser, double-slit,
slit-film, Diffraction Grating , Polarization, Filter, magenta, cyan
Content:
Moving electric charges produce magnetic fields. The relative motion between a conductor and a magnetic
field may produce a potential difference in the conductor.
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magnetic field arrays
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electromagnets
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magnetic forces on wires with currents
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inducing current in conductors moving through magnetic fields
Skills:
Students will:
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Map the magnetic field around various magnet geometries, current-carrying wires, and solenoids
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employ three hand rules to determine the direction of: forces, fields, currents and poles
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Calculate the magnitude of the magnetic force on a current-carrying wire or an a moving charge in
a magnetic field
Questions:
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What orientation of conductor, magnetic field, force... will produce the maximum: current?
Unit 13
Modern Physics
Key terms: Converging, diverging, convex, concave, principal axis, thin lens, radius of curvature, focal
point, ray diagram, image distance, object distance, Monochromatic, coherent, in-phase, laser, double-slit,
slit-film, Diffraction Grating , Polarization, Filter, magenta, cyan
Content:
States of matter and energy are restricted to discrete values (quantized).
Charge is quantized on two levels. On the atomic level, charge is restricted to multiples of the elementary
charge (charge on the electron or proton). On the sub-nuclear level, charge appears as fractional values of
the elementary charge (quarks).
On the atomic level, energy is emitted or absorbed in discrete packets called photons.*
The energy of a photon is proportional to its frequency.*
On the atomic level, energy and matter exhibit the characteristics of both waves and particles.
Among other things, mass-energy and charge are conserved at all levels (from sub-nuclear to cosmic).
The Standard Model of Particle Physics has evolved from previous attempts to explain the nature of the
atom and states that:
• atomic particles are composed of sub-nuclear particles
• the nucleus is a conglomeration of quarks which manifest themselves as protons and neutrons
• each elementary particle has a corresponding antiparticle
Behaviors and characteristics of matter, from the microscopic to the cosmic levels, are manifestations
of its atomic structure. The macroscopic characteristics of matter, such as electrical and optical
properties, are the result of microscopic interactions.
The total of the fundamental interactions is responsible for the appearance and behavior of the objects
in the universe.
The fundamental source of all energy in the universe is the conversion of mass into energy.*
Skills:
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interpret energy-level diagrams
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correlate spectral lines with an energy-level diagram
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Identify fundamental particles and follow conservation of charge during interactions
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Calculate mass-equivalence during interactions
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Relate frequency to energy for photons
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Identify and describe differences between fundamental forces (range of interaction, relative
strength)
Questions:
What is a fundamental particle?
What is an anti-particle? (include charge and mass [if any])
How does the photoelectric effect provide evidence of the particle nature of light?
What is a proton composed of?
What quantities are conserved when sub-atomic particles collide?
What is mass-energy equivalence?