By the end of this unit the successful student will be able to:
• Understand the definition and function of capacitance, so they can:
o Relate stored charge and voltage for a capacitor. (APIIIB2a1) (17-7)
o Relate voltage, charge, and stored energy for a capacitor. (APIIIB2a2) (17-9)
o Recognize situations in which energy stored in a capacitor is converted to other forms. (APIIIB2a3) (17-9)
• Understand the physics of the parallel-plate capacitor, so they can:
o Describe the electric field inside the capacitor, and relate the strength of this field to the potential difference between the plates and the plate separation. (APIIIB2b1) (17-7)
o Determine how changes in dimension will affect the value of the capacitance. (APIIIB2b4) (17-7)
• Understand the definition of electric current, so they can relate the magnitude and direction of the current to the rate of flow of positive and negative charge. (APIIIC1a) (18-2)
• Understand conductivity, resistivity, and resistance, so they can:
o Relate current and voltage for a resistor. (APIIIC1b1) (18-3)
o Describe how the resistance of a resistor depends upon its length and cross-sectional area, and apply this result in comparing current flow in resistors of different material or different geometry. (APIIIC1b3) (18-4)
o Apply the relationships for the rate of heat production in a resistor. (APIIIC1b6) (18-5)
• Understand the properties of ideal and real batteries, so they can:
o Calculate the terminal voltage of a battery of specified emf and internal resistance from which a known current is flowing. (APIIIC2b1) (19-1)
• Understand the behavior of series and parallel combinations of resistors, so they can:
o Identify on a circuit diagram whether resistors are in series or in parallel. (APIIIC2a1) (19-2)
o Determine the ratio of the voltages across resistors connected in series or the ratio of the currents through resistors connected in parallel. (APIIIC2a2) (19-2)
o Calculate the equivalent resistance of a network of resistors that can be broken down into series and parallel combinations. (APIIIC2a3) (19-2)
o Calculate the voltage, current, and power dissipation for any resistor in such a network of resistors connected to a single power supply. (APIIIC2a4) (19-2)
o Design a simple series-parallel circuit that produces a given current through and potential difference across one specified component, and draw a diagram for the circuit using conventional symbols. (APIIIC2a5) (19-2)
• Apply Ohm’s law and Kirchhoff’s rules to direct-current circuits, in order to:
o Determine a single unknown current, voltage, or resistance. (APIIIC2c1) (19-3)
• Understand the t = 0 and steady-state behavior of capacitors connected in series or in parallel, so they can:
o Calculate the equivalent capacitance of a series or parallel combination. (APIIIC3a1) (19-5)
o Describe how stored charge is divided between capacitors connected in parallel. (APIIIC3a2) (19-5)
o Determine the ratio of voltages for capacitors connected in series. (APIIIC3a3) (19-5)
o Calculate the voltage or stored charge, under steady-state conditions, for a capacitor connected to a circuit consisting of a battery and resistors (APIIIC3a4) (19-6)
• Understand the properties of voltmeters and ammeters, so they can:
o State whether the resistance of each is high or low. (APIIIC2d1) (19-8)
o Identify or show correct methods of connecting meters into circuits in order to measure voltage or current. (APIIIC2d2) (19-8)
Target time (7% of test 7.25 class days)
Due Date Day Assignment
3/7 Fri Scan Chapters 16, 17 (review electrostatics)
3/10 Mon Read 18-1 --> 18-6, 18-8
Do: Ch 16: 40, 58, 64, 71
Ch 17: 27, 49, 54, 65, 71
3/11 Tue Hw Ohm’s law: Do Ch 18: 1, 10,11, 21, 22,30,31,49
3/12 Wed Review 17-7, 17-9;
Read: 19-1 --> 19-5
Scan: 19-7, 19-8
3/13 Thu Lab Ohm’s law 2
3/14 Fri Review Circular motion and gravity (Chapter 5)
Do: Ch 5: 19, 25, 38, 50, 65, 75
3/17 Mon Hw Circuits: Do Ch 19: 5, 11, 13, 14, 25, 32, 37, 38, 46
3/17 Mon Lab Circuits
3/18 Tue Test: Circuits
Multiple Choice Question Survey:
17-7 84:1 88:1
17-9 98:1
18-2 93:1
18-4 84:1 88:1 98:1 04:1
18-5 88:1 93:2 98:1
18-9 93:1
19-2 84:2 88:1 93:2 98:1
19-3 84:2 88:1 93:2 98:1 04:2
19-5 84:1 93:2 04:1
19-6 84:3
Free response q’s almost always involve Kirchhoff’s laws, and determining power, resistance and current in particular circuit elements.
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