Level 5 · Science S5.13

Fields

Gravity, electric charge and magnetism all act at a distance through fields that follow similar rules.

Planned. This book is not written yet. Below is its plan, which a teacher can already use.

You are ready for this book if

You can calculate the centripetal force on an object moving in a circle.

The plan

  1. S5.13.1 Gravitational fields
    • Use Newton's law of gravitation to calculate forces
    • Calculate gravitational field strength near a planet
  2. S5.13.2 Gravitational potential and orbits
    • Calculate gravitational potential and escape velocity
    • Derive the period of a circular orbit and explain geostationary orbits
  3. S5.13.3 Electric fields
    • Use Coulomb's law for point charges
    • Calculate field strength between parallel plates
  4. S5.13.4 Electric potential
    • Calculate electric potential and potential energy for point charges
    • Compare gravitational and electric fields in a table
  5. S5.13.5 Charged particles in fields
    • Describe the path of a charged particle between charged plates
    • Calculate the speed of an electron accelerated through a potential difference
  6. S5.13.6 Magnetic force on charges
    • Use F equals BIL and F equals BQv
    • Explain the circular path of a charge in a magnetic field
  7. S5.13.7 Faraday's and Lenz's laws
    • Calculate flux linkage and induced voltage
    • Use Lenz's law to find the direction of an induced current
  8. S5.13.8 Alternating current and transformers
    • Calculate peak and root mean square values
    • Explain energy losses in real transformers

For parents and teachers

Level 5 fits learners who can already: read a textbook. use functions and graphs. In many schools that is about 17 to 20, but start wherever the learner is.

Strand: Forces and motion. Written and drawn by attnom. Free to read, print and share.