Physics 152 - Objectives

Chapter 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 27 28 29 30

Chapter 15

1. Identify the distinguishing properties of conductors, semiconductors and insulators.
2. Describe the processes involved in charging a conductor by contact and by induction.
3. Describe charging processes from the microscopic perspective of transfer of individual charge units.
4. Use Coulomb's law to determine the net electrostatic force on a point electric charge due to a known distribution
    of a finite number of point charges.
5. Calculate the electric field vector (magnitude and direction) at a specified location in the vicinity of a group of
    point charges.
6. Describe the configuration of electric field lines as they are associated with various patterns of charge distribution
    such as (i) point charge, (ii) dipole, (iii) charged metallic sphere, (iv) parallel plates.
7. State and justify the conditions for charge distribution on conductors in electrostatic equilibrium.

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Chapter 16

8. Calculate the work done and the potential energy change produced when a small charge is moved a specified
    distance in a uniform electric field.
9. Calculate the (scalar) electric potential (in Volts) at a specified distance from a point charge.
10. Calculate the electric potential difference between any two points in a uniform electric field.
11. Calculate the electric potential difference between any two points in the vicinity of a group of point charges.
12. Calculate the electric potential energy associated with a group of point charges.
13. Show, descriptively and qualitatively, that (i) all points on the surface and within a charged conductor are at the
      same potential and (ii) the electric field within a charged conductor is zero.
14. Calculate electric energy and energy changes in electron Volts (eV) and relate these values to energy and
      energy changes expressed in Joules.
15. Use the relationship that defines capacitance (in Farads) to charge and potential difference to find one of these
      quantities, given the other two.
16. For a parallel plate arrangement, apply the relationship between capacitance and the dielectric constant, plate
      area and plate separation to solve simple problems.
17. Determine the equivalent capacitance of a network of capacitors in series-parallel combination and calculate the
      final charge on each capacitor and the potential difference across each when a known potential is applied across
      the combination.

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Chapter 17

18. Define the term, electric current, in terms of rate of charge flow, and its corresponding unit of measure, the
      Ampere.
19. Calculate electron drift velocity and the quantity of charge passing a point in a given time interval for a specified
      current-carrying conductor.
20. Determine the resistance of a conductor using Ohm's law.
21. Distinguish and identify the appropriate units for: resistivity, resistance, conductivity and conductance.
22. Calculate the resistance of a conductor based on its physical characteristics: length, cross-sectional area and
      resistivity.
23. Distinguish between ohmic and nonohmic conductors.
24. Solve problems involving the variation of resistance with temperature, given the temperature coefficient of
      resistivity.
25. Sketch a simple single loop circuit to illustrate the use of basic circuit element symbols and direction of
      conventional current.
26. Use Joule's law to calculate the power dissipated in a resistor.
27. Define the term electromotive force (EMF), as applied to electric circuits and identify typical examples.

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Chapter 18

28. Describe the basic function of a source of electromotive force (EMF).
29. Determine the terminal potential difference of a known source of EMF (with internal resistance) when it is part
      of an open, closed or short circuit.
30. Calculate the current in a single loop circuit and the potential difference between any two points in the circuit.
31. Calculate the equivalent resistance of a group of resistors in parallel, series, or series-parallel combination.
32. Use Ohm's law to calculate the current in a circuit and the potential difference between any two points in a circuit
      which can be reduced to an equivalent simple-loop circuit.
33. Apply Kirchhoff's rules to solve multiloop circuits; that is, find the current at any point and the potential
      difference between any two points.
34. Describe in qualitative terms the manner in which charge accumulates on a capacitor or current in a resistor
      changes with time in a series circuit with battery, capacitor, resistor and switch.
35. Describe the function of each of the following measurement devices: (i) ammeter, (ii) voltmeter, (iii) Wheatstone
      bridge, and indicate the effect of each of these instruments on the circuit property being measured.
36. Understand the circuitry and make calculations for an unknown resistance, using the ammeter-voltmeter method
      and the Wheatstone bridge method.
37. Describe the function of the circuit breaker and the fuse in electric circuits.
38. Compute the total maximum current in a circuit (e.g., in a household or workplace) for appliances and
      instruments of known wattages and operating voltages.

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Chapter 19

39. Use the defining equation for a magnetic field and right-hand rule A to determine the magnitude and direction of
      the magnetic force exerted on an electric charge moving in a region where there is a magnetic field.
40. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the important differences between the forces exerted on electric charges
      by electric fields and those forces exerted on moving charges by magnetic fields.
41. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the magnetic force on a current-carrying conductor when it is placed in
      a magnetic field.
42. Describe the operation of a moving coil galvanometer and how both an ammeter and a voltmeter may be
      constructed by adaptation of the galvanometer.
43. Calculate the radius of the circular orbit of a charged particle moving in a uniform magnetic field and determine
      the period of the circulating charge.
44. Describe the path of an electrically charged particle in a non-uniform field.
45. Calculate the magnitude and determine the direction of the magnetic field in the vicinity of a long, straight
      current-carrying conductor and correctly apply right-hand rule B for this situation.
46. Understand the basis for defining the Ampere and the Coulomb in terms of the magnetic force between
      current-carrying conductors.
47. Calculate the magnetic field at the center of a current loop and at interior points of a solenoid.

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Chapter 20

48. Describe the process of inducing an EMF in a system of primary and secondary coils linked by an iron core.
49. Calculate the magnetic flux through a surface in a region where there is a uniform magnetic field.
50. Calculate the EMF (or current) induced in a circuit when the magnetic flux through the circuit is changing in time
      due to a change in (i) the area of the circuit, (ii) the magnitude of the magnetic field, (iii) the direction of the
      magnetic field, or (iv) the orientation/location of the circuit in the magnetic field.
51. Apply Lenz's law, as a consequence of the law of conservation of energy, to determine the direction of an induced
      EMF or current.
52. Calculate the motional EMF induced between the ends of a conducting bar as it moves through a region where
      there is a constant magnetic field.
53. Describe the operation of commonly used devices which make use of induced EMFs such as the (i) tape
      recorder, (ii) electric generator, and (iii) electric motor.
54. Describe quantitatively the manner in which a back EMF is involved in the operation of an electric motor and
      apply such understanding to determine the current in a circuit with resistance, motor and battery.
55. Describe the manner in which eddy currents are created in a solid metal object and methods used to minimize
      their presence.
56. Define the self-inductance, L, of a circuit in terms of appropriate circuit parameters.
57. Qualitatively describe the manner in which the instantaneous value of the current in an LR circuit changes while
      the current is either increasing or decreasing with time.
58. Calculate the total magnetic energy stored in a magnetic field, given the values of the inductance of the device
      with which the field is associated and the current in the circuit.

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Chapter 21

59. Describe qualitatively the effect that each of the following has on the phase shift behavior of an AC circuit:
      (i) resistance, (ii) capacitance, and (iii) inductance.
60. Apply the formulas that give the reactance values in an AC circuit as a function of (i) capacitance, (ii) inductance,
      and (iii) frequency.
61. Interpret the meaning of the terms phase angle and power factor in an AC circuit.
62. Given an RLC series circuit in which values of resistance, inductance, capacitance, and the characteristics of the
      generator are known, calculate: (i) the instantaneous and rms voltage drop across each component, (ii) the
      instantaneous and rms current in the circuit, (iii) the phase angle by which the current leads or lags the voltage,
      (iv) the power expended in the circuit, and (v) the resonant frequency of the circuit.
63. Understand the manner in which step-up and step-down transformers are used in the process of transmitting
      electrical power over large distances, and make calculations of primary to secondary voltage and current for an
      ideal transformer.
64. Describe the contribution made by James Clerk Maxwell, properly relating the significance of the information
      available to him to the theoretical understanding of the nature of electromagnetic radiation.
65. Describe the essential features of the apparatus and procedure used by Hertz in his experiments leading to the
      experimental confirmation and understanding of the source and nature of electromagnetic waves.
66. Describe the production of electromagnetic waves by an antenna.
67. Summarize the properties of electromagnetic waves.
68. Relate the relative orientation of magnetic field, electric field and direction of propagation in the corresponding
      electromagnetic wave.
69. Describe the basic process by which a carrier electromagnetic wave is used to transmit a sound signal.
70. Give a brief description (related to the source and typical use) of each of the "regions" of the electromagnetic
      spectrum.

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Chapter 27

71. Discuss the spectral characteristics of blackbody radiation and the limitations of the classical model predicted by
      the Rayleigh-Jeans law.
72. Given the formula for blackbody radiation proposed by Planck, identify the variables and state the assumption
      made in deriving this formula.
73. Discuss the conditions under which the photoelectric effect can be observed, and those properties of
      photoelectric emission which cannot be explained by classical physics.
74. Describe the Einstein model for the photoelectric effect, and the predictions of the fundamental photoelectric
      effect equation for the maximum kinetic energy of photoelectrons.
75. Describe how Einstein's model of the photoelectric effect involves the photon concept (E = hf), and the fact that
      the basic features of the photoelectric effect are consistent with this model.
76. Describe the production of x-rays and make calculations using Bragg's law.
77. Discuss the wave properties of particles, the de Broglie wavelength concept, and the dual nature of both matter
      and light.

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Chapter 28

78. State the basic postulates of the Bohr model and the simple standing wave model of the hydrogen atom.
79. Sketch the energy level diagram for hydrogen (including assignment of values of the principal quantum number,
      n, show transitions corresponding to spectral lines in the several known series, and make calculations of
      wavelength values.
80. Define the orbital quantum number, l, as it applies to the hydrogen atom and state the range of possible values
      that may be assigned to it in terms of n, the principal quantum number.
81. For each of the quantum numbers, n, l (the orbital quantum number), ml (the orbital magnetic quantum number),
      and ms (the spin magnetic quantum number): (i) qualitatively describe what each implies concerning atomic
      structure, (ii) state the allowed values which may be assigned to each, and the number of allowed states which
      may exist in a particular atom corresponding to each quantum number.
82. Associate the customary shell and subshell spectroscopic notations with allowed combinations of quantum
      numbers n and l.
83. State the Pauli exclusion principle and describe its relevance to the periodic table of the elements, and show how
      the exclusion principle leads to the known electronic ground state configuration of the light elements.
84. Describe the origin of the characteristic x-ray lines in terms of the shell structure of the atom, calculate
      (approximately) the energy of an electron in the K, L or M shell of an atom of known atomic number, and
      calculate the wavelength of an x-ray emitted as a result of transitions between these levels.

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Chapter 29

85. Use the appropriate nomenclature in describing the static properties of nuclei.
86. Describe the experiments of Rutherford which established the nuclear character of the atom's structure.
87. Discuss nuclear stability in terms of the strong nuclear force and a plot of N vs Z.
88. Account for nuclear stability in terms of the Einstein mass-energy relationship.
89. Describe the basis for energy release by fission and fusion in terms of the shape of the curve of binding energy
      per nucleon vs mass number.
90. Identify each of the components of radiation that are emitted by the nucleus through natural radioactive decay
      and describe the basic properties of each.
91. State and apply to the solution of related problems, the formula which expresses decay rate as a function of decay
      constant and number of radioactive nuclei and also apply the exponential formula which expresses the number of
      remaining radioactive nuclei as a function of elapsed time, decay constant or half-life, and the initial number of
      nuclei.
92. Write out typical equations to illustrate the processes of transmutation by alpha and beta decay and make
      calculations of the kinetic energies involved.
93. Write out in equation form a typical sequence of events leading to gamma decay.
94. Describe the properties of the neutrino and explain why it must be considered in the analysis of beta decay.

95. Calculate the Q value of given nuclear reactions and determine the threshold energy of endothermic reactions.

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Chapter 30

96. Write an equation which represents a typical fission event and describe the sequence of events which occurs
      during the fission process.
97. Use data obtained from the binding energy curve to estimate the disintegration energy of a typical fission event.
98. Describe the basic design features and control mechanisms in a fission reactor including the functions of the
      moderator, control rods and heat exchange system.
99. Identify some major safety and environmental hazards in the operation of a fission reactor.
100. Describe the basis of energy release in fusion and write out several nuclear reactions which might be used in a
        fusion powered reactor.
101. Describe briefly the basis of radiation damage in metals and in living cells.
102. Define the roentgen, rad and rem as units of radiation exposure or dose.
103. Describe the basic principle of operation of the Geiger counter, semiconductor diode detector, scintillation
        detector, photographic emulsion, cloud chamber and bubble chamber.

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