AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Course Outline

Welcome to your comprehensive guide to AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism! This calculus-based course explores the principles of electrostatics, conductors, electric circuits, magnetic fields, and electromagnetism. Designed for students with a strong foundation in calculus, this course develops the mathematical models and analytical skills needed to understand electromagnetic phenomena.

"The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible." — Albert Einstein

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Unit 1: Electrostatics

This foundational unit explores electric charges, forces, fields, and potentials. You'll apply calculus to develop a comprehensive understanding of electric fields from various charge distributions and learn to use Gauss's Law for symmetrical problems.

Unit Overview: Electrostatics

A comprehensive introduction to fundamental electrostatic principles that govern electric forces, fields, and potentials in various configurations.

Electrostatics

Study the foundational concepts of electric charge, Coulomb's law, and the vector nature of electric forces between charged particles.

Electric Fields & Electric Potential

Explore the concepts of electric fields and potentials, understanding their mathematical relationships and physical interpretations.

Point Charges – Fields & Potentials

Calculate electric fields and potentials from point charges and their distributions, using calculus to solve complex configurations.

Gauss' Law

Master this powerful tool for calculating electric fields from symmetrical charge distributions, applying integral calculus to electrostatics.

Other Charge Distributions – Fields & Potentials

Analyze electric fields and potentials from continuous charge distributions such as lines, rings, disks, and spheres.

Unit 2: Conductors, Capacitors, Dielectrics

This unit explores how electric charges behave in conductors and how capacitors store electrical energy. You'll study the effects of dielectric materials on capacitance and develop the calculus-based models for energy storage in electric fields.

Unit Overview: Conductors, Capacitors, Dielectrics

An introduction to charge behavior in conductors, energy storage in capacitors, and the effects of dielectric materials in electrical systems.

Electrostatics with Conductors

Study how electric charges distribute themselves on and within conductors, exploring concepts like electrostatic shielding and charge induction.

Capacitors

Learn about capacitors as energy storage devices, calculating capacitance for various geometries and analyzing series and parallel combinations.

Dielectrics

Explore how insulating materials affect electric fields and capacitance, incorporating dielectric constants into electrostatic calculations.

Unit 3: Electric Circuits

This unit investigates current, resistance, and the behavior of components in DC circuits. You'll analyze complex circuits using Kirchhoff's rules, study RC circuits' time-dependent behavior, and calculate power dissipation in circuit elements.

Unit Overview: Electric Circuits

An introduction to circuit analysis techniques for DC circuits with resistors, capacitors, and power sources, using calculus to model time-dependent behavior.

Electric Circuits

Study the fundamental principles of electric circuits, including current, resistance, Ohm's law, and Kirchhoff's rules for analyzing complex circuits.

Power in a Circuit

Analyze energy conversion in circuits, calculating power dissipation in resistors and energy transfer from batteries to circuit components.

Steady State Circuits

Examine circuits that have reached equilibrium, applying loop and junction rules to determine currents and voltages in complex networks.

Capacitors in a Circuit

Study the time-dependent behavior of RC circuits, applying differential equations to model capacitor charging and discharging processes.

Unit 4: Magnetic Fields

This unit explores magnetic fields and their interactions with moving charges and current-carrying wires. You'll apply calculus to calculate magnetic fields from various current distributions using the Biot-Savart law and Ampère's law.

Unit Overview: Magnetic Fields

An introduction to magnetic fields, their sources, and interactions with charged particles and current-carrying conductors.

Forces on Moving Charges in Magnetic Fields

Study the Lorentz force law and analyze charged particle motion in magnetic fields, including circular paths and helical trajectories.

Current-Carrying Wires & Magnetic Fields

Examine the magnetic fields produced by current-carrying wires and the forces between parallel current-carrying conductors.

Biot–Savart Law and Ampère's Law

Apply these fundamental laws to calculate magnetic fields from current distributions, using calculus for complex geometries.

Unit 5: Electromagnetism

This culminating unit explores electromagnetic induction, inductance, and Maxwell's equations. You'll study how changing magnetic fields induce EMFs, analyze RL circuits using differential equations, and develop a unified understanding of electromagnetism.

Unit Overview: Electromagnetism

An introduction to electromagnetic induction, Faraday's and Lenz's laws, inductance, and the culmination of electromagnetic theory in Maxwell's equations.

Electromagnetism

Study Faraday's law of induction, Lenz's law, and motional EMF, examining how changing magnetic fields create electric fields.

Inductance

Explore self-inductance and mutual inductance in circuits, analyzing RL circuits and energy stored in magnetic fields.

Maxwell's Equations

Examine the four fundamental equations that unify electricity and magnetism, including the displacement current and electromagnetic waves.

Study Tips for AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism

Mathematical Techniques

Master Vector Calculus: Practice line, surface, and volume integrals essential for electric and magnetic field calculations
Sketch Field Lines: Visualize electric and magnetic fields for different charge and current distributions
Apply Symmetry Arguments: Identify symmetries to simplify complex problems, especially with Gauss's and Ampère's laws
Solve Differential Equations: Practice solving first-order differential equations for RC and RL circuits
Use Multiple Approaches: Develop facility with direct integration, Gauss's law, and potential methods for field problems

Conceptual Understanding

Connect E&M to Mechanics: Recognize parallels between gravitational and electric forces, energy concepts
Understand Field vs. Force: Distinguish between fields (which exist in space) and the forces they create on charges/currents
Link Math to Physics: Connect mathematical operations (divergence, curl) to physical meanings in E&M
Study Maxwell's Equations: Understand how these four equations unify all electromagnetic phenomena
Analyze Boundary Conditions: Focus on behavior of fields at boundaries between different materials or regions

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