Objectives for Colonel By IB Physics Electricity and Magnetism Unit

From IB Syllabus © International Baccalaureate Organization 2001, International Baccalaureate Organization, Route des Morillons 15, 1218 Grand-Saconnex, Geneva, SWITZERLAND

Organized by teaching unit in accordance with the course at Colonel By Secondary School, and intended for the use of these students. 

5 Electricity and Magnitism, 11 Electromagnitism Unit

Section Number

Topic

Descriptor

Topic 5: Electricity and Magnetism (15h)
5.1 Electrostatics (6h)
Electric charge
5.1.1

Describe the process of ÒelectrificationÓ by friction.

5.1.2

State that there are two types of electric charge.

5.1.3

State and apply the concept of conservation of charge.

5.1.4

Describe and explain the properties of conductors and insulators.

Students should explain the properties in terms of the freedom of movement of electrons.

5.1.5

Explain and describe the process of electrostatic induction.

5.1.6

Describe the use of the gold leaf electroscope.

Electric force and electric field
5.1.7

State Coulomb's law.

Students should be aware of the law in the forms 202 14 rq q F£k£`=and F = . . 22 1rq kq

5.1.8

 Apply Coulomb's law.

The use of vector addition to determine the net force on a charge due to

two or more other charges is expected.

5.1.9

Define electric field.

Students should understand the meaning of test charge.

5.1.10

Determine the electric field due to one or more point charges.

5.1.11

Draw and explain electric field patterns for different charge configurations.

Students should be familiar with a point charge, a charged sphere, two

point charges and oppositely charged parallel plates. The latter includes

edge effect. Students should be aware of the term radial field.

Electric potential energy and electric potential difference
5.1.12

Define the electric potential energy difference between two points in an electric field.

Calculations are to be confined to uniform electric fields.

5.1.13

Determine the change in potential energy or change in kinetic energy when a charge moves between two points at different potentials.

5.1.14

Define the electronvolt.

Students should be able to relate the electronvolt to the joule.

5.1.15

Define electric potential difference.

5.1.16

Solve problems involving electric potential difference and electric potential energy.

5.2 Electric Current and Electric Circuits (6h)
Electric current
5.2.1

Describe a simple model of electrical conduction in a metal.

Students should be aware of the term drift velocity and of the interactions of conduction electrons with the lattice ions.

5.2.2

Define electric current.

Students should recognize the ampere as a fundamental unit.

5.2.3

Define and apply the concept of resistance.

Students should be aware that R = V/I is a general definition of resistance. It is not a statement of Ohm's law. Students should be familiar with the term resistor.

5.2.4

State Ohm's law.

5.2.5

Compare ohmic and non-ohmic behaviour.

For example, students should be able to draw the I-V characteristics of a filament lamp.

5.2.6

Derive and apply expressions for electrical power dissipation in resistors.

Electric circuits
5.2.7

Define electromotive force.

5.2.8

Describe the concept of internal resistance.

5.2.9

Derive and apply the equations for equivalent resistances of resistors in series and in parallel.

5.2.10

Draw circuit diagrams.

Students should be able to recognize and use the accepted circuit symbols included in the Physics Data Booklet.

5.2.11

Describe the use of ammeters and voltmeters.

Students should be able to describe and draw the correct positioning of ideal ammeters and voltmeters in circuits. Students will not be required to know about shunts and multipliers.

5.2.12

Solve problems involving series and parallel circuits.

Students should appreciate that many circuit problems can be solved by regarding the circuit as a potential divider. Students should be aware that ammeters and voltmeters have their own resistance.

5.3 Magnetism (3h)
Magnets and magnetic fields
5.3.1

Draw the pattern of magnetic field lines of an isolated bar magnet.

5.3.2

Draw the magnetic field pattern for the Earth.

Students should understand that the Earth's magnetic field is similar to that of a bar magnet with a south magnetic pole near the geographic north pole, and that an isolated suspended magnet will orientate itself along the Earth's magnetic field with its magnetic north pole directed towards the Earth's geographic north pole. They should recognize the compass as one example of a suspended bar magnet.

5.3.3

Draw and annotate magnetic fields due to currents.

These include fields around a straight wire, a flat circular coil and a solenoid. Students should recognize that the magnetic field pattern of a solenoid is similar to that of a bar magnet.

Magnetic forces
5.3.4

Determine the direction of the force on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field.

Different rules may be used to determine the force direction. Knowledge of any particular rule is not required.

5.3.5

Determine the direction of the force on a charge moving in a magnetic field.

5.3.6

Define the magnitude of the magnetic field strength B.

This can be defined in terms of the force acting either on a current-carrying conductor or on a moving charge.

5.3.7

Solve problems involving the magnetic forces on currents and moving charges.

Students should be able to calculate the force for situations where the velocity is not perpendicular to the magnetic field direction.

5.3.8

Draw the magnetic field pattern due to two parallel current-carrying wires.

5.3.9

Solve problems involving the magnetic forces between two parallel currentcarrying wires.

5.3.10

State and explain the definition of the ampere.

Students should be able to explain how the force between two long parallel currents is the basis of the definition of the ampere.

5.3.11

Explain the operation of a simple direct current (dc) motor.

Students should understand the components of dc motors, such as the commutator and the brushes.

The magnetic field due to currents
5.3.12

Solve problems involving the magnetic field strength around a straight wire.

5.3.13

Solve problems involving the magnetic field strength within a solenoid.

Students should be aware that B depends on the nature of the solenoid core.

Topic 11: Electromagnetism (9h)
11.1 Electrostatic Potential (3h)
Electric potential due to a point charge
11.1.1

Define electric potential.

Students should understand the scalar nature of potential and that the potential at infinity is taken as zero.

11.1.2

Determine the electric potential due to various charge configurations.

This includes single point charge, collections of point charges and the potential outside a charged sphere. Students will not be expected to derive the equation V = .rq0 4 £k£`

11.1.3

State and apply the formula relating electric field strength to potential gradient.

It is sufficient that students know that E = -ÆVx.

11.1.4

Describe the similarities and differences between gravitational fields and electrical fields.

Equipotentials
11.1.5

Describe and sketch patterns of equipotential surfaces.

This should include patterns due to isolated point charges, charged conducting spheres, two point charges and parallel conducting plates.

11.1.6

Explain the relation of equipotential surfaces to electric field lines.

11.2 Electromagnetic Induction (4h)
Induced electromotive force (e.m.f.)
11.2.1

Describe the production of an induced e.m.f. by relative motion between a conductor and a magnetic field (motionally induced e.m.f.).

11.2.2

Derive the formula for the e.m.f. induced in a straight conductor moving in a magnetic field.

11.2.3

Define magnetic flux and flux linkage.

11.2.4

Describe the production of an induced e.m.f. that is produced by a time-changing magnetic flux.

11.2.5

State Faraday's law.

11.2.6

Explain how a motionally induced e.m.f. can be equated to a rate of change of magnetic flux.

Students should be able to show that the induced e.m.f. , Blv, is equal to t ÆÆ £p

11.2.7

State Lenz's law.

11.2.8

Solve electromagnetic induction problems.

11.3 Alternating Current (2h)
11.3.1

Describe the e.m.f. induced in a coil rotating within a uniform magnetic field.

Students should understand, without deriving, that the induced e.m.f. is sinusoidal if the rotation is uniform.

11.3.2

Explain the operation of a basic alternating current (ac) generator.

11.3.3

Define the concepts of root mean square voltage and root mean square current.

11.3.4

Solve ac circuit problems for ohmic resistors.

11.3.5

Describe the components and characteristics of an ideal transformer and explain its operation.

A qualitative explanation is sufficient.

11.3.6

Explain the use of high voltage step-up and step-down transformers in the transmission of electric power.

11.3.7

Solve problems on the operation of ideal transformers and power transmission.

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