Fields
Knowledge you need to have:
Knowledge that an electric field is the region that surrounds electrically charged particles in which a force is exerted on other electrically charged particles.
Definition of electric field strength as the electrical force acting on unit positive charge.
Definition of electrical potential at a point as the work done in moving unit positive charge from infinity to that point.
Knowledge that the energy required to move charge between two points in an electric field is independent of the path taken.
Knowledge of Millikan’s experimental method for determining the charge on an electron.
Knowledge that the electronvolt (eV) is the energy acquired when one electron accelerates through a potential difference of one volt.
Knowledge that electrons are in motion around atomic nuclei and individually produce a magnetic effect.
Knowledge that, for example, iron, nickel, cobalt, and some rare earths exhibit a magnetic effect called ferromagnetism, in which magnetic dipoles can be made to align, resulting in the material becoming magnetised.
Comparison of gravitational, electrostatic, magnetic, and nuclear forces in terms of their relative strength and range.
Explanation of the helical path followed by a moving charged particle in a magnetic field.
Skills you need to develop:
Sketch of electric field patterns around single point charges, a system of charges and in a uniform electric field.
Conversion between electronvolts and joules.
Sketch of magnetic field patterns between magnetic poles, and around solenoids, including the magnetic field pattern around Earth.
Use of appropriate relationships to solve problems involving electrical force, electrical potential and electric field strength around a point charge and a system of charges.
Use of appropriate relationships to solve problems involving charge, energy, potential difference, and electric field strength in situations involving a uniform electric field.
Use of appropriate relationships to solve problems involving the motion of charged particles in uniform electric fields.
Use of an appropriate relationship to solve problems involving magnetic induction around a current-carrying wire, the current in the wire and the distance from the wire.
Use of appropriate relationships to solve problems involving the forces acting on a current carrying wire in a magnetic field and a charged particle in a magnetic field.
