Skills

Physics 2: Electricity and Magnetism

14 weeks · 4 milestones

Charges, fields, potential, magnetism, induction and Maxwell's equations. Course 2 of the Varsity Curriculum: Physics. Free sources only.

Part of: Physics · Proves for: UG, College Applications, Career

Milestone map

4 milestones

Charges, fields and Gauss's law

4 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)

Read Volume 2 chapters 5–6 and the matching 8.02 course notes. Then solve the odd-numbered problems of chapters 5–6. Self-check: University Physics Volume 2, Answer Keys, chapters 5–6.

Proof required

Link the public repo with the odd-numbered problems of chapters 5–6 written up (a typeset PDF, LaTeX source or notebook), and show the self-check: which answers matched and how you fixed the ones that did not.

What gets checked

Field directions are drawn before any sum or integral.
Each Gauss's-law problem justifies its surface by symmetry.
Answers are checked against the key, and misses are reworked.

Common mistakes

Answers copied from the key with no working.
Wrong units or missing signs.

Powstik Guide

A public write-up of the odd-numbered problems of chapters 5–6, with the self-check shown.

Steps

Study the linked course and chapters.
Solve the problems on your own first.
Check them against the self-check and rework the misses.
Typeset the write-up (LaTeX or a notebook) in a public repo.
Ask someone who knows physics to check it.

Template

README
Physics 2: Electricity and Magnetism, unit 1: Charges, fields and Gauss's law
Problems:
Self-check result (matched / reworked):
What I got wrong first and why:

What gets sent back

No working shown.
The self-check result is missing.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Field directions are drawn before any sum or integral.
Each Gauss's-law problem justifies its surface by symmetry.
Answers are checked against the key, and misses are reworked.
Is the physics right, not just the final number?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Potential, capacitance and current

4 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)

Read Volume 2 chapters 7–9 and the matching 8.02 notes. Then solve the odd-numbered problems of chapters 7–9. Self-check: University Physics Volume 2, Answer Keys, chapters 7–9.

Proof required

Link the public repo with the odd-numbered problems of chapters 7–9 written up (a typeset PDF, LaTeX source or notebook), and show the self-check: which answers matched and how you fixed the ones that did not.

What gets checked

Potential and field are linked correctly (E = −∇V).
Energy stored in a capacitor is worked out two ways.
Answers are checked against the key, and misses are reworked.

Common mistakes

Answers copied from the key with no working.
Wrong units or missing signs.

Powstik Guide

A public write-up of the odd-numbered problems of chapters 7–9, with the self-check shown.

Steps

Study the linked course and chapters.
Solve the problems on your own first.
Check them against the self-check and rework the misses.
Typeset the write-up (LaTeX or a notebook) in a public repo.
Ask someone who knows physics to check it.

Template

README
Physics 2: Electricity and Magnetism, unit 2: Potential, capacitance and current
Problems:
Self-check result (matched / reworked):
What I got wrong first and why:

What gets sent back

No working shown.
The self-check result is missing.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Potential and field are linked correctly (E = −∇V).
Energy stored in a capacitor is worked out two ways.
Answers are checked against the key, and misses are reworked.
Is the physics right, not just the final number?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Magnetism, induction and Maxwell's equations

4 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)

Read Volume 2 chapters 11–16 and the matching 8.02 notes. For a final test of the whole course, take the free Saylor PHYS102 final exam. Then solve the odd-numbered problems of chapters 11–13. Self-check: University Physics Volume 2, Answer Keys, chapters 11–13.

Proof required

Link the public repo with the odd-numbered problems of chapters 11–13 written up (a typeset PDF, LaTeX source or notebook), and show the self-check: which answers matched and how you fixed the ones that did not.

What gets checked

Right-hand rules are applied and shown.
Lenz's law gives the direction of every induced current.
Answers are checked against the key, and misses are reworked.

Common mistakes

Answers copied from the key with no working.
Wrong units or missing signs.

Powstik Guide

A public write-up of the odd-numbered problems of chapters 11–13, with the self-check shown.

Steps

Study the linked course and chapters.
Solve the problems on your own first.
Check them against the self-check and rework the misses.
Typeset the write-up (LaTeX or a notebook) in a public repo.
Ask someone who knows physics to check it.

Template

README
Physics 2: Electricity and Magnetism, unit 3: Magnetism, induction and Maxwell's equations
Problems:
Self-check result (matched / reworked):
What I got wrong first and why:

What gets sent back

No working shown.
The self-check result is missing.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Right-hand rules are applied and shown.
Lenz's law gives the direction of every induced current.
Answers are checked against the key, and misses are reworked.
Is the physics right, not just the final number?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Solve for the field of a capacitor in code

4 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)

Make a notebook that solves Laplace's equation by relaxation for a parallel-plate capacitor and compares the field with the formula. Use a grid with the plates as fixed potentials, iterate until the change is small, then plot field lines and the field between the plates.

Proof required

Link the public repo with the notebook, the result with its uncertainty, and a README that says what you did and what limits the result.

What gets checked

The solver stops on a stated convergence test.
Near the middle of plates much longer than their gap, the field matches V/d to a stated accuracy.
The fringe field at the edges is shown and explained.

Common mistakes

A result with no uncertainty.
Code or data that cannot be rerun from the repo.

Powstik Guide

A notebook that solves Laplace's equation by relaxation for a parallel-plate capacitor and compares the field with the formula, in a public repo.

Steps

Write down what you expect before you start.
Use a grid with the plates as fixed potentials, iterate until the change is small, then plot field lines and the field between the plates.
Work out the uncertainty from your own data.
Compare with the accepted value and explain any gap.
Write the README and ask someone who knows physics to check it.

Template

README
Physics 2: Electricity and Magnetism — Solve for the field of a capacitor in code
What I expected:
Method:
Result (value ± uncertainty):
Accepted value and comparison:
What limits the result:

What gets sent back

No uncertainty, or one that is guessed.
Code that does not run.

Resources

Foundationstart here

What a verifier looks for

The solver stops on a stated convergence test.
Near the middle of plates much longer than their gap, the field matches V/d to a stated accuracy.
The fringe field at the edges is shown and explained.
The uncertainty is worked out from the data or runs (spread of repeats, instrument limits, fit errors or a range of inputs), not guessed, and it is shown on the result.
Is the physics right, and could someone rerun it from the repo?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Part of

Physics 2: Electricity and Magnetism →

Related outcomes

Milestone map

4 milestones

Charges, fields and Gauss's law

4 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)

Read Volume 2 chapters 5–6 and the matching 8.02 course notes. Then solve the odd-numbered problems of chapters 5–6. Self-check: University Physics Volume 2, Answer Keys, chapters 5–6.

Proof required

What gets checked

Field directions are drawn before any sum or integral.
Each Gauss's-law problem justifies its surface by symmetry.
Answers are checked against the key, and misses are reworked.

Common mistakes

Answers copied from the key with no working.
Wrong units or missing signs.

Powstik Guide

A public write-up of the odd-numbered problems of chapters 5–6, with the self-check shown.

Steps

Study the linked course and chapters.
Solve the problems on your own first.
Check them against the self-check and rework the misses.
Typeset the write-up (LaTeX or a notebook) in a public repo.
Ask someone who knows physics to check it.

Template

README
Physics 2: Electricity and Magnetism, unit 1: Charges, fields and Gauss's law
Problems:
Self-check result (matched / reworked):
What I got wrong first and why:

What gets sent back

No working shown.
The self-check result is missing.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Field directions are drawn before any sum or integral.
Each Gauss's-law problem justifies its surface by symmetry.
Answers are checked against the key, and misses are reworked.
Is the physics right, not just the final number?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Potential, capacitance and current

4 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)

Read Volume 2 chapters 7–9 and the matching 8.02 notes. Then solve the odd-numbered problems of chapters 7–9. Self-check: University Physics Volume 2, Answer Keys, chapters 7–9.

Proof required

What gets checked

Potential and field are linked correctly (E = −∇V).
Energy stored in a capacitor is worked out two ways.
Answers are checked against the key, and misses are reworked.

Common mistakes

Answers copied from the key with no working.
Wrong units or missing signs.

Powstik Guide

A public write-up of the odd-numbered problems of chapters 7–9, with the self-check shown.

Steps

Study the linked course and chapters.
Solve the problems on your own first.
Check them against the self-check and rework the misses.
Typeset the write-up (LaTeX or a notebook) in a public repo.
Ask someone who knows physics to check it.

Template

README
Physics 2: Electricity and Magnetism, unit 2: Potential, capacitance and current
Problems:
Self-check result (matched / reworked):
What I got wrong first and why:

What gets sent back

No working shown.
The self-check result is missing.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Potential and field are linked correctly (E = −∇V).
Energy stored in a capacitor is worked out two ways.
Answers are checked against the key, and misses are reworked.
Is the physics right, not just the final number?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Magnetism, induction and Maxwell's equations

4 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)

Proof required

What gets checked

Right-hand rules are applied and shown.
Lenz's law gives the direction of every induced current.
Answers are checked against the key, and misses are reworked.

Common mistakes

Answers copied from the key with no working.
Wrong units or missing signs.

Powstik Guide

A public write-up of the odd-numbered problems of chapters 11–13, with the self-check shown.

Steps

Study the linked course and chapters.
Solve the problems on your own first.
Check them against the self-check and rework the misses.
Typeset the write-up (LaTeX or a notebook) in a public repo.
Ask someone who knows physics to check it.

Template

README
Physics 2: Electricity and Magnetism, unit 3: Magnetism, induction and Maxwell's equations
Problems:
Self-check result (matched / reworked):
What I got wrong first and why:

What gets sent back

No working shown.
The self-check result is missing.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Right-hand rules are applied and shown.
Lenz's law gives the direction of every induced current.
Answers are checked against the key, and misses are reworked.
Is the physics right, not just the final number?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Solve for the field of a capacitor in code

4 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)

Proof required

Link the public repo with the notebook, the result with its uncertainty, and a README that says what you did and what limits the result.

What gets checked

The solver stops on a stated convergence test.
Near the middle of plates much longer than their gap, the field matches V/d to a stated accuracy.
The fringe field at the edges is shown and explained.

Common mistakes

A result with no uncertainty.
Code or data that cannot be rerun from the repo.

Powstik Guide

A notebook that solves Laplace's equation by relaxation for a parallel-plate capacitor and compares the field with the formula, in a public repo.

Steps

Write down what you expect before you start.
Use a grid with the plates as fixed potentials, iterate until the change is small, then plot field lines and the field between the plates.
Work out the uncertainty from your own data.
Compare with the accepted value and explain any gap.
Write the README and ask someone who knows physics to check it.

Template

README
Physics 2: Electricity and Magnetism — Solve for the field of a capacitor in code
What I expected:
Method:
Result (value ± uncertainty):
Accepted value and comparison:
What limits the result:

What gets sent back

No uncertainty, or one that is guessed.
Code that does not run.

Resources

Foundationstart here

What a verifier looks for

The solver stops on a stated convergence test.
Near the middle of plates much longer than their gap, the field matches V/d to a stated accuracy.
The fringe field at the edges is shown and explained.
The uncertainty is worked out from the data or runs (spread of repeats, instrument limits, fit errors or a range of inputs), not guessed, and it is shown on the result.
Is the physics right, and could someone rerun it from the repo?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.