Physics: Electricity and Magnetism Course

Lesson 1 • Nature and Properties of Electric Charge

Covers charge quantization, conservation, and polarity. Anchors all subsequent electrostatic analysis in atomic-level understanding.

Lesson 2 • Superposition Principle for Multiple Charges

Extends Coulomb's law to systems of three or more charges using vector addition. Builds problem-solving fluency needed for electric field work ahead.

Lesson 3 • Charge Distribution and Induction

Examines surface charge distribution on conductors and induction charging. Prepares students for Gauss's law applications in the next chapter.

Lesson 1 • Applying Gauss's Law to Symmetric Systems

Solves for fields of spherical, cylindrical, and planar symmetry using Gauss's law. Reinforces when and why the law simplifies otherwise complex integrals.

Lesson 2 • Gauss's Law: Statement and Flux

Defines electric flux and states Gauss's law in integral form. Establishes the symmetry-based strategy for simplifying field calculations.

Lesson 3 • Electric Field of Continuous Charge Distributions

Applies integration to rods, rings, and disks of charge. Develops calculus-based field calculation skills used throughout the course.

Lesson 4 • Electric Field Concept and Visualization

Introduces the field as force per unit test charge and uses field-line diagrams. Shifts thinking from action-at-a-distance to field-mediated interaction.

Lesson 1 • Relating Electric Field to Potential

Derives the gradient relationship between field and potential. Enables students to extract field information from potential maps and vice versa.

Lesson 2 • Potential of Continuous Charge Distributions

Integrates the point-charge potential over rods, rings, and disks. Extends calculus-based skills from the electric field chapter to scalar quantities.

Lesson 3 • Work, Energy, and Electric Potential

Connects work done by the electric force to changes in potential energy. Motivates the scalar potential as a more convenient alternative to vector fields.

Lesson 4 • Conductors and Potential in Equilibrium

Shows that conductor surfaces are equipotentials and analyzes capacitor geometry. Bridges potential theory to the capacitance chapter that follows.

Lesson 1 • Energy Stored in a Capacitor

Derives the energy stored in terms of charge, voltage, and capacitance. Introduces energy density as a field-based concept applicable to all electromagnetic systems.

Lesson 2 • Practical Capacitor Applications

Surveys real capacitor types, tolerances, and energy-storage use cases. Grounds theoretical knowledge in engineering and technology contexts.

Lesson 3 • Dielectrics and Polarization

Explains molecular polarization, dielectric constant, and its effect on capacitance. Connects microscopic dipole behavior to macroscopic circuit parameters.

Lesson 4 • Capacitance and Capacitor Geometry

Defines capacitance as charge per unit voltage and derives it for parallel-plate, cylindrical, and spherical geometries. Establishes the geometric factors controlling capacitance.

Lesson 1 • Resistors in Series and Parallel

Derives equivalent resistance for series and parallel networks and applies voltage dividers. Builds systematic circuit simplification skills.

Lesson 2 • EMF Sources and Internal Resistance

Models batteries and generators as EMF sources with internal resistance. Explains terminal voltage drop under load, critical for real circuit design.

Lesson 3 • Power Dissipation and Circuit Measurements

Calculates power in resistors and analyzes ammeter and voltmeter loading effects. Connects theoretical analysis to practical measurement accuracy.

Lesson 4 • Current, Resistance, and Ohm's Law

Defines current density, resistivity, and Ohm's law at microscopic and macroscopic levels. Establishes the foundational V-I relationship for all circuit analysis.

Lesson 1 • Circular and Helical Motion in Magnetic Fields

Analyzes cyclotron motion and helical trajectories of charged particles. Applies to mass spectrometers, cyclotrons, and plasma confinement devices.

Lesson 2 • Force on Current-Carrying Conductors

Derives the force on a straight and curved current segment in a magnetic field. Connects particle-level force to macroscopic conductor behavior.

Lesson 3 • Lorentz Force on Moving Charges

Derives the magnetic force on a moving charge and combines it with the electric force. Enables analysis of particle motion in combined E and B fields.

Lesson 4 • Hall Effect and Charge Carrier Identification

Explains the Hall effect and its use in determining carrier sign and density. Demonstrates how magnetic forces reveal microscopic conductor properties.

Lesson 1 • Forces Between Parallel Currents and Magnetic Materials

Derives the force per unit length between parallel wires and introduces magnetic permeability. Connects current-based magnetism to material magnetic properties.

Lesson 2 • Ampere's Law: Statement and Application

States Ampere's law in integral form and identifies symmetry conditions for its use. Parallels the Gauss's law strategy applied earlier to electric fields.

Lesson 3 • Magnetic Field of Loops and Coils

Integrates Biot-Savart over circular loops and Helmholtz coil pairs. Builds toward solenoid and toroid analysis in subsequent sections.

Lesson 4 • Solenoids and Toroids

Applies Ampere's law to derive uniform interior fields of solenoids and toroids. Establishes the basis for inductance and transformer analysis in later chapters.

Lesson 1 • Maxwell's Equations and Electromagnetic Waves

Presents all four Maxwell equations, introduces displacement current, and derives the wave equation. Culminates the course by unifying electricity, magnetism, and optics.

Lesson 2 • Faraday's Law of Electromagnetic Induction

States Faraday's law in terms of changing magnetic flux and derives induced EMF. Unifies electric and magnetic phenomena into a single dynamic relationship.

Lesson 3 • Mutual Inductance and Transformers

Derives mutual inductance and applies it to ideal transformer voltage and current ratios. Connects induction theory to power transmission technology.

Lesson 4 • Lenz's Law and Energy Conservation

Applies Lenz's law to determine induced current direction and verifies energy conservation. Reinforces the physical meaning behind the negative sign in Faraday's law.