← Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism syllabus

United StatesPhysics C: Electricity and Magnetism

Unit 10: Conductors and Capacitors

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How is capacitance defined, and how do you find it and the energy stored for parallel-plate and other geometries?

Topic 10.3 Capacitors: define capacitance, derive it for parallel-plate, spherical and cylindrical geometries, and find the stored energy and series and parallel combinations.
A calculus-based answer to AP Physics C E&M Topic 10.3, covering capacitance, the parallel-plate, spherical and cylindrical capacitor (via Gauss's law), energy stored, energy density, and series and parallel combinations.
12 min answer →

How does inserting a dielectric change a capacitor's capacitance, field, voltage and stored energy?

Topic 10.4 Dielectrics: explain how a dielectric increases capacitance and analyze the field, voltage and energy of a capacitor with a dielectric.
A calculus-based answer to AP Physics C E&M Topic 10.4, covering the dielectric constant, polarization, how a dielectric raises capacitance, and the changes to field, voltage and energy at fixed charge or fixed voltage.
10 min answer →

What are the properties of a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium, and why do they hold?

Topic 10.1 Electrostatics with Conductors: describe the field, charge and potential of a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium using Gauss's law.
A calculus-based answer to AP Physics C E&M Topic 10.1, covering the zero interior field, surface charge, equipotential conductors, the field just outside a conductor, and shielding, all justified by Gauss's law.
10 min answer →

How does charge redistribute when conductors are connected, and what equalises between them?

Topic 10.2 Redistribution of Charge between Conductors: predict how charge redistributes when conductors are connected, using the equalisation of potential.
A calculus-based answer to AP Physics C E&M Topic 10.2, covering charge sharing between connected conductors, equalisation of potential, the role of size and curvature, and grounding.
10 min answer →