Theme D · Fields
Physics · Topic Cheatsheet

Theme D · Fields

25 key results accumulated across 3 chapters.

Newton's gravitation
Ch 1
F=Gm1m2r2F = G\frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2}
G=6.67×1011G = 6.67\times10^{-11} N m² kg⁻².
Gravitational field strength
Ch 1
g=Fm=GMr2g = \frac{F}{m} = G\frac{M}{r^2}
Inverse-square; double rr ⇒ quarter gg.
Coulomb's law
Ch 1
F=kq1q2r2F = k\frac{q_1 q_2}{r^2}
k=8.99×109k = 8.99\times10^{9} N m² C⁻².
Electric field strength
Ch 1
E=Fq=kQr2E = \frac{F}{q} = k\frac{Q}{r^2}
Force per unit positive test charge.
Field lines
Ch 1
Leave +, enter −; closer lines = stronger field. Gravity always attractive.
Force on moving charge
Ch 1
F=qvBsinθF = qvB\sin\theta
Perpendicular to both vv and BB (right-hand rule).
Force on current wire
Ch 1
F=BILsinθF = BIL\sin\theta
Circular motion in B-field
Ch 1
qvB=mv2rqvB = \frac{mv^2}{r}
Charged particles follow circular paths in a uniform field; r=mvqBr = \tfrac{mv}{qB}.
Orbital speed
Ch 1
v=GMrv = \sqrt{\frac{GM}{r}}
From gravity = centripetal; independent of the orbiting mass.
Field strength (uniform)
Ch 1
E=VdE = \frac{V}{d}
Between parallel plates; units V m⁻¹ (= N C⁻¹).
Work in a field
Ch 1
W=qV,W=FdW = qV,\quad W = Fd
Energy gained by charge q across p.d. V (J).
Conventional vs electron flow
Ch 1
Magnetic force directions use conventional current (+). Electrons (−) experience the opposite-sense force.
Key SI units
Ch 1
FF: N · gg: N kg⁻¹ (= m s⁻²) · EE field: N C⁻¹ or V m⁻¹ · BB: T · qq: C · rr: m.
Common traps
Ch 1
Inverse-square: doubling r quarters the force; using diameter for r; sinθ\sin\theta on F=qvBF=qvB (zero force if v ∥ B).
Magnetic flux
Ch 2
Φ=BAcosθ\Phi = BA\cos\theta
Webers (Wb); max when field ⟂ surface.
Faraday's law
Ch 2
ε=NdΦdt\varepsilon = -N\frac{d\Phi}{dt}
EMF = rate of change of flux linkage.
Lenz's law (the minus sign)
Ch 2
Induced current opposes the change that made it — energy conservation.
No change → no EMF
Ch 2
A stationary magnet in a coil induces nothing; flux must be *changing*.
Motional EMF (rod)
Ch 2
ε=BvL\varepsilon = BvL
Rod length LL moving at vv across field BB.
Transformer
Ch 2
VsVp=NsNp\frac{V_s}{V_p} = \frac{N_s}{N_p}
Step up/down AC voltage via turns ratio.
Ideal transformer power
Ch 2
VpIp=VsIsV_pI_p = V_sI_s
Step UP voltage ⇒ step DOWN current (power conserved if 100% efficient).
Flux linkage
Ch 2
NΦN\Phi
Units Wb (= T m²); the bigger this changes per second, the bigger the EMF.
Motor effect (the reverse)
Ch 2
F=BILF = BIL
Current in a field feels a force; reverse current OR field to reverse it.
Key SI units
Ch 2
Φ\Phi: Wb · BB: T · AA: m² · ε,V\varepsilon, V: V · NN: (no unit) · dΦdt\tfrac{d\Phi}{dt}: Wb s⁻¹ = V.
Common traps
Ch 2
Dropping the minus sign / forgetting Lenz; a steady (unchanging) flux gives ZERO EMF; using θ\theta from the surface instead of the normal in Φ=BAcosθ\Phi=BA\cos\theta.