Successful students will:
- Understand the behavior of series and parallel combinations of resistors, so they can:
- Identify on a circuit diagram whether resistors are in series or in parallel. (IIIC2a1) (Knight 31.4, 31.6)
- Determine the ratio of the voltages across resistors connected in series or the ratio of the currents through resistors connected in parallel.(IIIC2a2) (Knight 31.4, 31.6)
- Calculate the equivalent resistance of a network of resistors that can be broken down into series and parallel combinations. (IIIC2a3) (Knight 31.4, 31.6)
- Calculate the voltage, current, and power dissipation for any resistor in such a network of resistors connected to a single power supply. (IIIC2a4) (Knight 31.3 --> 31.7)
- 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. (IIIC2a5) (Knight 31)
- Understand the properties of ideal and real batteries, so they can:
- Calculate the terminal voltage of a battery of specified emf and internal resistance from which a known current is flowing. (IIIC2b1) (Knight 31.5)
- Calculate the rate at which a battery is supplying energy to a circuit or is being charged up by a circuit. (IIIC2b2) (Knight 31.3, 31)
- Apply Ohm’s law and Kirchhoff’s rules to direct-current circuits, in order to:
- Determine a single unknown current, voltage, or resistance. (IIIC2c1) (Knight 31.2, 31.7)
- Set up and solve simultaneous equations to determine two unknown currents. (IIIC2c2) (Knight 31.2, 31.7)
- Understand the properties of voltmeters and ammeters, so they can:
- State whether the resistance of each is high or low. (IIIC2d1) (Knight 31.4, 31.6)
- Identify or show correct methods of connecting meters into circuits in order to measure voltage or current. (IIIC2d2) (Knight 31.4, 31.6)
- Assess qualitatively the effect of finite meter resistance on a circuit into which these meters are connected. (IIIC2d3) (Knight 31.4, 31.6, 31.7)
- Understand the t = 0 and steady-state behavior of capacitors connected in series or in parallel, so they can:
- Calculate the voltage or stored charge, under steady-state conditions, for a capacitor connected to a circuit consisting of a battery and resistors. (IIIC3a4) (Knight 31.9)
- Understand the discharging or charging of a capacitor through a resistor, so they can:
- Calculate and interpret the time constant of the circuit. (IIIC3b1) (Knight 31.9)
- Sketch or identify graphs of stored charge or voltage for the capacitor, or of current or voltage for the resistor, and indicate on the graph the significance of the time constant. (IIIC3b2) (Knight 31.9)
- Write expressions to describe the time dependence of the stored charge or voltage for the capacitor, or of the current or voltage for the resistor. (IIIC3b3) (Knight 31.9)
- Analyze the behavior of circuits containing several capacitors and resistors, including analyzing or sketching graphs that correctly indicate how voltages and currents vary with time. (IIIC3b4) (Knight 31.9)
Due date Day Assignment
3/24 Tue Read/Scan/Use Knight Chapter 31
3/26 Thu Do: Lab 5: Resistors in series and Parallel
3/30 Mon Do: Lab 6: RC Circuits
3/31 Tue Do Ch 31: 8, 9, 17, 21, 28, 31, 58, 63, 73, 76
Test: Unit 4
- MIT's OpenCourseware presents Walter Lewin's videos for 8.02, the freshman electricity and magnetism class. MIT's equivalent of AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism.