Results

• Determine the variables that affect the strength and direction of the electric field for a static arrangement of charges.
• Investigate the variables that affect the strength of the electrostatic potential (voltage).
• Explain equipotential lines and compare them to the electric field lines.
• For an arrangement of static charges, predict the electric field lines. Verify the prediction using vector addition.

• Relate the electrostatic force magnitude to the charges and the distance between them
• Explain Newton's third law for electrostatic forces
• Use measurements to determine Coulomb’s constant
• Determine what makes a force attractive or repulsive

There are many different processes and phenomena that emit electromagnetic radiation. Humans have taken advantage of many of these processes to develop technologies that use electromagnetic radiation.

A force diagram is a useful tool to help us visualise forces acting on an object and gives us informa- tion about the object’s motion. We often use force diagrams when solving calculations involving the forces acting on an object.

• Predict, qualitatively, how an external force will affect the speed and direction of an object's motion.
• Explain the effects with the help of a free body diagram.
• Use free body diagrams to draw position, velocity, acceleration and force graphs and vice versa.
• Explain how the graphs relate to one another.
• Given a scenario or a graph, sketch all four graphs.

The beauty of a coral reef, the warm radiance of sunshine, the sting of sunburn, the X-ray revealing a broken bone, even microwave popcorn—all are brought to us by electromagnetic waves. The list of the various types of electromagnetic waves, ranging from radio transmission waves to nuclear gamma-ray (γ-ray) emissions, is interesting in itself.

Even more intriguing is that all of these different phenomena are manifestations of the same thing—electromagnetic waves (see Figure 15.1). What are electromagnetic waves? How are they created, and how do they travel? How can we understand their widely varying properties? What is the relationship between electric and magnetic effects? These and other questions will be explored.

An image that illustrates light reflecting off a plain mirror.

Photoelectric materials emit electrons when they absorb light of a high-enough frequency.

Outcomes

By the end of this course you will:

• Be able to define the 'reflection of light'
• Understand the difference between reflected and incident rays
• Be familiar with the two types of reflection viz.: regular and irregular reflection
• Have an understanding of the laws of reflection

Defining and comparing tension, weight, friction and normal forces using free body diagrams.