| Syllabus |
Notes |
Experimental Works |
| Gravitational fields Inverse square law |
Newton's law of gravitation for point masses
and its extension to spherically symmetrical bodies (proof not required).
Method of measuring the gravitational constant G is not required. |
|
| Field strength g |
G has taken as force per unit mass.
G
of the earth's field, its relation with g, its variation with height
above the earth's surface and with latitude (assuming the earth to be a
sphere of uniform density). |
|
Gravitational
potential V |
Derivation of  considering
the potential at infinity to be zero. Field strength  .
Velocity of escape and launching satellites. Circular orbits (including
parking orbits). Weightlessness. |
|
| Kepler's
laws |
Derivation of  =
constant from inverse square law. Mean orbit radii and revolution periods
for the planets, and comparison with  . |
|
| Electric
Fields E |
Analogy with gravitational field. Coulomb's
law. E considered as force per unit charge. |
E15 Investigation of the electric field between parallel
metal plates using a charged foil strip (NAP 3.2/E 2). |
Electric
potential
V |
Derivation of  ,  .
Distribution of potential and equi-potential surfaces for charged conducts. |
E16 Observation of Electric field patterns produced by
electrodes of different shapes. (NAP 3.3/E3)
E17 Plotting equipotential lines on a high resistance conducting
surface.
E18 Investigation of the electric potentials between parallel-plate
(NAP 3.8/E4) and around a charged sphere using a flame probe (NAP
3.11/E8a). |
| Storage of charge by capacitors |
Introduction through a series of experiments
with capacitors. |
E19 Introducing capacitors by studying
(a) the charging and discharging through a resistor;
(b) equal and opposite charges on the plates of a capacitor;
(c) charges stored in various capacitors;
(d) charges on a capacitor and the p.d. across it; and
(e) capacitors in series and in parallel.(NAP 2.14/B 14). |
| Capacitance |
Q = CV. The farad F (and the
sub-units  and pF).
 for a parallel-plate capacitor. Series and
parallel combinations of capacitors.Use of reed switch for measuring capacitance.
Measurement of  not required.
Stray capacitance.
|
E20 Study the transfer of charge between
two conductors---the "spooning"of charge froman e.h.t. power supply to
an electrometer (NAP 2.16/B15).
E21 Investigation of the relationship between the charge on a capacitor
and the p.d. across it by charging it with a constant current (NAP 2.15/B15).
E22 Investigation of the factors affecting capacitance of a parallel-plate
capacitor is using an electrometer (e.g. NAP 3.5/E6) and/or a reed switch
(e.g. NAP 3.4/E7).
E23 Using a reed switch to measure the capacitance of capacitors
in series and in parallel (NAP 3.6). |
| Charging
and discharging of capacitors |
Exponential rises and decays of charge with
time. Time constant CR. Derivation of expressions 
and  required. |
E24 Plotting the decay curve of charge in a capacitor
using an electrometer or ammeter (e.g. NAP 2.17/B 20). |
| Energy of a charged capacitor |
Proof of  required. |
E25 Study the energy stored in a charged capacitor by
discharging it through a small motor (NAP 2.18/B 17) |
| Current
electricity |
The general flow equation I = nAvQ
and its application as a simple model for electron conduction in a metal.
Estimation of electron drift velocity and speed of electrical signals. |
|
| Electromotive force |
E.m.f. of a source as the energy imparted
by the source per unit charge passing through it. P.d. between two points
as the energy converted from electrical potential energy to other forms
per unit charge passing between the points outside the source. Internal
resistance of power supplies. |
E26 Demonstration of the drop in terminal p.d. of power
supplies delivering current (NAP 2.12/B8)
E27 Using different voltmeters to measure the terminal p.d. of a
power supply with high internal resistance (NAP 2.13/B8). |
| Resistance,
Ohm's law. Resistivity. Variation of resistance with temperature. |
The variation of current with applied p.d.
in various conductors and circuit elements (metals, electrolytes, thermistors,
and diodes). Ohm's law as a special case of resistance behavior. Complete
circuits and simple networks. Kirchhoff's first law. (Kirchhoff's second
law not required). |
|
| Potential divider |
Rotary or slide-wire types may be used for practical
work. The use of the rotary-type to provide a variable p.d. is essential. |
|
| Shunts and multipliers for electrical meters |
Principle of design and use of D multimeter
for d.c. current. d.c. voltage and resistance measurement. Importance of
movement sensitivity (i.e. current for full-scale deflection). |
|
| Electromagnetism
Force on a current carrying conductor in a magnetic field. Magnetic field
B |
relative directions of force, field and current.
B = F/ IL introduced using a simple current balance, the tesla
(T) as  . The generalized expression  . |
E28 Using a current balance to measure the magnetic fields
(a) between two magnadur magnets;
(b) close to the end of a current carrying coil; and
(c) inside a flat solenoid carrying current. (NAP 7.3/H 4a &
b). |
Force
on a moving charge in a magnetic field.
Hall
effect Measurement of magnetic fields. |
 . Hall effect
Derivation of the hall voltage  .
Hall probe, current balance, search coil and CRO. |
E29 Using a Hall probe or a search coil to investigate
the magnetic fields
(a) around a long straight wire;
(b) at the centre of a coil;
(c) inside and around a slinky solenoid; and
(d) inside a solenoid, carrying current.(NAP 7.13/H 7). |
| Magnetic
fields around a long straight wire, and inside a long solenoid, carrying
current. |
 and 
should be understood but derivation are not required. These relationships
can be investigated experimentally. |
|
| Definition of the ampere |
Quantitative treatment of the force between
currents in long straight parallel conductors. |
|
| Torque on a rectangular current carrying
coil in a uniform magnetic field. |
 |
|
| Moving-coil galvanometer |
Principles of design and operation. Sensitivity.
Ballistic form not required. |
|
| Electromagnetic induction |
Induced e.m.f. resulting from (i) a moving conductor
in a stationary magnetic field, and (ii) a stationary conductor in a changing
field. Magnetic flux  .  .
Interpretation of B as magnetic flux density. |
E30 Investigation of factors affecting the induced e.m.f.
in a coil (NAP 7.10 excluding 7.10g/H 14, H15). |
| Simple a.c. and d.c. generators d.c. motor
and back e.m.f. |
Derivation of the alternating e.m.f. induced in a rectangular
coil rotating in a uniform magnetic field. |
|
| Eddy currents |
Brief discussion of occurrence and practical uses. |
|
| Transformer |
Derivation of . Energy losses. |
E31 Study of transformer action:
(a) the effect of the flux linkage;
(b) the relationship between voltage ratio and turn ratio;
(c) the dependence of the current in the primary coil on the loading;
and
(d) comparison between input and output power.(NAP 7.11/H20). |
| Self-induction |
 . Derivation of energy stored
in an inductor and analogy with charged capacitor. Implications for switch
design. |
E32 Study of self induction in a coil (NAP 7.12a/H18). |
| Alternating current r.m.s. and peak values |
Relationship for sinusoidal a.c. derived from mean heating
effect in a pure resistance. |
|
| Sinusoidal
a.c. in pure R, C and L taken separately, Phase lead and phase lag |
Rotating vector (phasor) model. Physical origin of phase
difference. |
E33 Study of the phase relationship between p.d. and
current when a low frequency a.c. is passed through
(a) resistor;
(b) capacitance (NAP 6.8/H23), and
(c) inductor. |
| Series combination of L, C and R. Impedance |
Derivation of 
and  . Rotating vector method only. Resonance. |
E34 Study of the phase difference between p.d. and current
in CR and LR circuits using simple split beam CRO. |
| Power factor |
Power absorbed in resistive component only and hence
from vector diagram. Instantaneous power and related derivations or calculations
not required. |
|
| Resonance in parallel LC circuit |
Practical demonstration only (no theory required), application
in radio tuning circuit. |
E35 Study of resonance in parallel LC circuit using a
CRO (NAP 6.17/H26). |
| Electronics diode |
The diode as an uni-directional circuit element (internal
mechanism not required). Half-waveband full-wave rectification. Bridge
rectifier and application in a.c. measuring instruments. |
|
| Power supplies |
Full¡Vwave rectifier with storage capacitor and
inductor smoothing. Qualitative treatment only. |
|
| The NPN silicon bipolar junction transistor |
The transistor as a three-terminal device, the properties
of which can be deduced, the propertied of which can be deduced from measurements
at its terminals. Knowledge of internal structure not required. |
E36 Investigation of the characteristics of a NPN silicon
transistor in the common emitter configuration. |
| Input, current transfer, collector, and input/putout
voltage characteristics in the common emitter configuration. |
Knowledge of internal mechanisms not required. |
|
Current amplification factor  . |
Determination from current transfer characteristic. Simple
calculations involving base and collector currents, input and output voltages. |
|
| Linear voltage amplification |
Single NPN transistor in the common emitter configuration.
Simple biasing techniques. Derivation of voltage gain  . |
E37 The transistor as a linear voltage amplifier. |
| Analogue
systems, amplification and feedback are using a common operational amplifier. |
Essential characteristics of a common operational amplifier
with inverting and non-inverting inputs. Voltage gain. Negative feedback,
summing amplifier. Simple applications; e.g. high impedance voltmeter,
comparator as a switch. |
E38 Study of an operational amplifier:
(a) input and output characteristic of a negative feedback amplifier
circuit (NAPI4);
(b) currents and voltages in an operational amplifier (NAP I5);
(c) using of a negative feedback amplifier (e.g. summing amplifier)
(NAP I6a); and
(d) using the non-inverting input as an amplifier and as a voltage
follower (NAP I 7a,b). |