Definition and formulae for semester 2

Definition Formulae
Electrostatic
1 Coulomb’s law
 The electrostatic force F between two point charges
Q and q, which are at a distance r apart is directly 
proportional to the product of the charges and
- permittivity of free space (8.85  10-12 F m-1)
inversely proportional to the square of the distance
between the charges, .
2 Electric field  ;
 A region where a charge object is acted on by an 
electric force.
3 Electric field strength - electric flux
 Electric field strength E at a point in an electric field A – area that is normal to the electric field
is defined as the force per unit positive charge at that
point.
4 Gauss’s law 
 Electric flux through a closed surface is the ratio
of the algebraic sum of the charges enclosed by the 
surface to the permittivity of vacuum.
5 Electric potential
 Electric potential V at a point in an electric field is 
the work done to bring a unit of positive charge from 
infinity to the point. U – electric potential energy
Capacitors
6 Capacitance
 Ratio of the charge on either plate of the capacitor to
the potential difference across the plates. 
C - capacitance
7 Dielectric
Q – charge on either plate
 An insulator which is inserted between the plates of a
V – potential difference between the plates.
parallel-plate capacitor to increase the capacitance
8 Time constant
 The time constant of a charging circuit is the time 
taken for the current I in the circuit to drop to A – area of each plate
d – distance between the plates
of its initial value.
 The time constant of a discharging circuit is the 
time taken for the current I (or charge Q, or potential
- dielectric constant, relative permittivity
Capacitors in series:
difference V) in the circuit to drop to of
its initial value.

Capacitors in parallel

Energy stored in a charged capacitor:

 ; ;

For charging a capacitor through a resistor
  ; ;
For discharging a capacitor through a resistor

 ; ;
Electric current
9 Electric current
 Electric current I is the rate of flow of electric charge
Q. 
10 Electric current density J 
 Ratio of the current to cross-sectional area that the A – cross sectional area of the wire
electrons pass through. n – number of free electrons per unit volume
11 Conductivity e – charge of electron
 Ratio of the current density J to the electric field v – drift velocity
strength E.
12 Resistivity  ;
 The resistance of a metre length of the wire that has a 
cross sectional area of 1 m2


t – mean time between the collision
m – mass of electron


Direct current circuits
13 Kirchhoff’s first law 
 The algebraic sum of the currents entering a junction

in a circuit is zero.  ; ;
14 Kirchhoff’s second law
 The algebraic sum of the products of the current and
resistance in a closed loop is equal to the algebraic

sum of the e.m.f. in the closed loop.

Magnetic fields
15 Magnetic field
 ;
 A field of force produced by current-carrying
conductors or by permanent magnets  ;
16 Magnetic flux density / magnetic field strength Magnetic field for a straight wire
 Magnetic flux density of a magnetic field is the
force on a charge of one coulomb moving with a 
velocity 1 m s-1 at right angles to the magnetic field.
17 Ampere’s law - permeability of free space (4  10-7 H m-1)
 For any closed loop, the sum of the product of the Magnetic field for a circular coil
magnetic field and length elements in the direction of
the length element is equal to the permeability times

the electric current enclosed in the loop.
N – number of turns
Magnetic field for a solenoid,

n – number of turns per unit length
Force between two parallel current-carrying conductors,
 


Electromagnetic induction
18 Magnetic flux  ;
 The magnetic flux through an area represents the
 ;
number of magnetic lines of force that pass through
the area.
 The magnetic flux through an area A which is normal 
to the magnetic field is given by where e.m.f. induced in a linear conductor
direction of the area vector A perpendicular to the
area A. 
19 Faraday’s law e.m.f. induced in a rotating coil
 When the magnetic flux linked with a conductor 
changes, an e.m.f. which is directly proportional to
the rate of change of magnetic flux linkage is

induced in the conductor.
20 Lenz’s law 
 The direction of the induced e.m.f. is such that is
produces a magnetic field that will oppose the

change in the magnetic flux that cause it.
21 Self-inductance
 Ratio of the induced e.m.f. in a conductor to the rate 
of change of current in the same conductor.
22 Mutual inductance
 Ratio of the induced e.m.f. in a conductor to the rate 
of change of current in another conductor.
Alternating current circuits
23 Reactance of pure inductor Alternating current through a resistor
 Opposition of the inductor to the flow of an a.c.

Reactance of pure capacitor
 Opposition of the capacitor to the flow of an a.c. 
Impedance
 The opposition of a circuit to the flow of current. 
 The ratio of the voltage amplitude across the circuit
to the current amplitude in the circuit.



Alternating current through a inductor


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Alternating current through a capacitor

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