AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Ultimate Guide

It is a fundamental property of matter that describes the amount of electrical energy present in an object.

SI unit of charge

It is a fundamental property of matter that arises from the presence or absence of electrons in an atom.

These are materials that allow electric charge to flow freely through them.

These are materials that do not allow electric charge to flow easily.

a set of fundamental principles that govern the behavior of electric charges at rest.

This law states that the force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

A region in space where an electric charge experiences a force.

It is the difference in electric potential between two points in an electric field. It is measured in volts (V).

It is the process of adding electrical energy to a system.

It is the process of releasing electrical energy from a system.

It is the force that exists between electrically charged particles.

It is the force per unit charge experienced by a test charge placed in an electric field. It is a vector quantity and is denoted by E.

devices that store electric charge and energy.

devices that convert electrical energy into mechanical energy.

devices that use electric fields to accelerate charged particles to high speeds.

devices that use electric fields to remove pollutants from the air.

It is the energy that a charged particle possesses due to its position in an electric field. It is defined as the amount of work required to move a charged particle from infinity to a point in the electric field.

SI unit of electric potential energy

It is the difference in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points in an electric circuit.

It is a fundamental principle in electromagnetism that relates the electric flux through a closed surface to the charge enclosed within that surface. It is named after the German mathematician and physicist Carl Friedrich Gauss.

It is the amount of a physical quantity passing through a given surface.

This refer to the distribution of electric charge over a three-dimensional object.

These charge distributions are those where the charge is distributed continuously over a volume or surface.

These charge distributions are those where the charge is distributed uniformly over the surface of a sphere.

These charge distributions are those where the charge is distributed uniformly over the surface of a cylinder.

These charge distributions are those where the charge is distributed uniformly over a flat surface.

Gauss law in Line of Charge

Gauss law in Point, Hoop, or Sphere (fully enclosed)

Gauss law in Sphere (not fully enclosed)

Gauss law in Insulating Sheet of Charge

It is a vector quantity that describes the force experienced by a charged particle in an electric field.

The electric field inside a conductor is _____, and any excess charge resides on the surface of the conductor.

The electric field on the ______ is perpendicular to the surface and is proportional to the surface charge density.

The electric field just ______ of a conductor is perpendicular to the surface and is equal to the electric field inside the conductor.

The electric field just _____ of a conductor is perpendicular to the surface and is equal to the electric field outside the conductor.

The electric field on the surface of a conductor is strongest where the surface is most ____, and weakest where the surface is most flat.

It is the process of reducing the electric field in a space by surrounding it with a conductive material.

It is a type of electric shielding that completely surrounds a space with a conductive material, creating a barrier that prevents electromagnetic waves from entering or leaving the space.

An electronic component that stores electrical energy in an electric field. It consists of two conductive plates separated by a dielectric material.

It is the ability of a capacitor to store charge.

It is a device that stores electrical energy in an electric field between two parallel conducting plates. It consists of two parallel plates separated by a dielectric material.

capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor

electric field between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor

energy stored in a parallel plate capacitor

These are the most commonly used type of capacitor.

These are polarized capacitors that use an electrolyte as the dielectric.

These are non-polarized capacitors that use a thin plastic film as the dielectric.

These are polarized capacitors that use tantalum metal as the anode.

These are capacitors whose capacitance can be adjusted.

energy stored in a capacitor

These are materials that do not conduct electricity easily.

These have a permanent dipole moment due to the presence of polar molecules.

They do not have a permanent dipole moment. They are made up of non-polar molecules and do not align themselves in an electric field.

It is the maximum electric field that a dielectric material can withstand before it breaks down and conducts electricity. It is measured in volts per meter (V/m).

It is the difference in electric potential between two points in a circuit. It is measured in volts (V) and is represented by the symbol "V".

It is the flow of electric charge through a circuit. It is measured in amperes (A) and is represented by the symbol "I". It is the rate at which charge flows through a circuit.

It is the opposition to the flow of electric current in a circuit. It is measured in ohms (Ω) and is represented by the symbol "R". It is determined by the material and dimensions of the conductor.

It is the rate at which energy is transferred in a circuit. It is measured in watts (W) and is represented by the symbol "P". Power is calculated by multiplying voltage and current.

It is the number of cycles per second in an alternating current (AC) circuit. It is measured in hertz (Hz) and is represented by the symbol "f". It determines the speed at which the AC signal alternates.

It is the total opposition to the flow of electric current in a circuit. It is measured in ohms (Ω) and is represented by the symbol "Z". It is a combination of resistance, capacitance, and inductance.

It is the flow of electric charge through a conductor.

Current flows in one direction only.

Current changes direction periodically.

It states that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage across the two points, and inversely proportional to the resistance between them.

Ohm's Law Formula

it is the opposition that a material or a circuit offers to the flow of electric current.

These have a fixed resistance value and cannot be changed.

These have a variable resistance value and can be adjusted.

These have a resistance that varies with temperature.

These have a resistance that varies with light intensity.

These are used to measure various electrical parameters in a circuit.

A versatile tool that can measure voltage, current, and resistance. It is used to troubleshoot circuits and check the continuity of wires and components. They come in both analog and digital versions.

Used to measure and display voltage signals over time. It is used to analyze waveforms and diagnose problems in circuits. They come in both analog and digital versions.

Used to generate various types of waveforms such as sine, square, and triangle waves. It is used to test circuits and simulate different types of signals.

Used to capture and analyze digital signals in a circuit. It is used to troubleshoot digital circuits and analyze the behavior of digital signals.

Used to provide a constant voltage or current to a circuit. It is used to test circuits and power electronic devices.

Used to measure the inductance, capacitance, and resistance of a circuit. It is used to test and design circuits that use inductors, capacitors, and resistors.

It is a circuit in which the components are connected in a single loop, so the current flows through each component in turn.

It is a circuit in which the components are connected in separate branches, so the current divides between them.

These are often used to convert electrical energy into other types of energy.

It is a fundamental law in electrical engineering that states that the sum of all voltages around a closed loop in a circuit must be zero. This law is based on the principle of conservation of energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred from one form to another.

it is a fundamental law in electrical engineering that states that the total current entering a node or junction in a circuit must be equal to the total current leaving that node or junction.

the voltage generated by a battery or other source of electrical energy.

Capacitors in Series Formula

Capacitors in Parallel Formula

These are circuits that contain a resistor and a capacitor. These circuits are used in a variety of applications, including filters, timing circuits, and oscillators.

These are created by moving electric charges.

force from a magnetic field

Lorentz force (When a charged particle moves through a magnetic field, it experiences a force perpendicular to both the direction of motion and the magnetic field. )

When both magnetic and electric fields are present, the particle experiences a combined force that is the vector sum of the two individual forces.

When a wire carrying current is placed in an external magnetic field, it experiences a force.

If the wire is not perpendicular to the magnetic field, then only the component of the magnetic field perpendicular to the wire will cause a force.

When a wire is twisted, a torque is applied to it.

torsional stiffness

internal magnetic field created by a very long current-carrying wire

force between the wires

it states that the magnetic field at a point is proportional to the current density and the distance from the point to the current element.

The law states that the line integral of the magnetic field around a closed loop is equal to the current passing through the loop multiplied by a constant known as the permeability of free space.