Download Below is a list of topics that you should know to do well on the first test

Below is a list of topics that you should know to do well on the first test. While I don’t
know what will be on the test, these topics are at least what you should know as a base. I
have also listed a few problems out of the book that help illustrate these points. Make
sure you understand how all of the group/individual problems/quizzes are done. I also
recommend buying the sample exams and solutions packet prepared by the Society of
Physics Students available at the Target Copy Center
Chapter 15
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Coulombs Law: How to calculate the resultant force due to a collections of
charges and the superposition principle; Problems: 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Electric Field: how to calculate the electric filed due to a collection of charges at
any point; 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27
Electric field lines: out from a positive charge, inward from negative charges;
lines go from positive to negative charges; 28, 32, 33
Conductors and the electric filed: blue section on page 481; 33
How charge is distributed on both conductors and insulators:
Electric flux and Gauss’ Law: how to calculate the electric flux through an object
(cube, sheet, etc..), the definition of Gauss’ Law (page 487); 39, 40, 43, 45
Additional Problems: 49, 50, 52, 56, 58, 59
Conceptual Questions: 15, 17, 18
Chapter 16
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How to calculate the electric potential using the potential energy, the electric
field, and from point charges (page 522 has the equations to use for each); 2, 8, 9,
10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 21
The work done when a charge moves in an electric filed; 20
Equipotential surfaces: what they are and how they are related to the electric field;
Capacitors: how to calculate the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor given its
dimensions, how to calculate the equivalent capacitance for capacitors in series
and parallel, how to calculate the charge, energy stored, and voltage across a
capacitor for a given circuit; 22, 25, 28, 29, 34, 37, 39, 40, 44, 46
Using potentials to calculate velocities or other quantities using the work energy
theorem; problems done in discussion
Additional Problems: 53, 55, 56, 58, 66
Conceptual Problems: 11, 12
Chapter 17
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How to calculate the drift speed; 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
How to calculate the current; 1, 2, 3
How to calculate the resistance/Ohm’s Law; 10-19
How to calculate the resistance of a material given its dimensions; 10-19
The difference between resistance and resistivity;
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How to calculate the power of an electrical device; 31-47
Additional Problems: 55, 56, 59, 60, 64
Conceptual Problems: 9
Chapter 18
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How to find the equivalent resistance for resistors in series and in parallel; 6, 7, 8,
9, 13, 14, 15
Know Kirchhoff’s rules and how to use them; 17, 19, 22, 25, 27, 28
Know how much current is flowing through a resistor for a given circuit
Additional Problems: 45, 46, 51, 53, 56