Energy Concepts

• A one-page handwritten cheat sheet (8½" x 11") is allowed for the test, with information on one side.
• A scanned copy of the cheat sheet can be submitted in Canvas for extra credit.
• The test consists of 72 multiple choice/answer/dropdown type questions and 7 free response questions.
• The test is worth 100 points, with 100 minutes allocated for completion, so pace yourself.
• A red "X" denotes a free-response problem involving the concept in the table of specifications.

Week 5 Learning Objectives

• Energy definition.
• Correct units for energy.
• Relationship between work and energy.
• Kinetic and potential energy differences.
• Forms of energy: macroscopic kinetic, heat, sound, radiant, electrical, gravitational potential, elastic potential, electrostatic potential, magnetic potential, chemical potential, and mass-energy.
• Identify energy forms as kinetic or potential.
• Kinetic energy formula and its calculations.
• Gravitational potential energy formula its calculations.
• Mass-energy formula and its calculations. Energy transforms from one form to another.
• Identify energy transformations in processes.
• Apply the work-energy equivalence to problem-solving.
• State the conservation of energy principle.
• Use energy conservation to explain phenomena + problem-solving.
• Newton's synthesis: Isaac Newton's discovery about gravity universality.
• Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation explained.
• Gravitational force: calculate magnitude and direction between two objects.
• Force, mass, and distance: understand relationships in Newton's Law and predict outcomes.
• Universal gravitation constant (G) is small: Gravity is weak.
• Calculate the weight on Earth's surface.
• Calculate weight anywhere using Universal Gravitation.
• Explain why g ≈ 10 m/s² on Earth.
• True vs. apparent weight definition.
• Einstein's gravitation theory compared to Newton's on planet orbits.
• Black hole meaning and formation.
• Basic black hole properties alongside two pieces of existence evidence.

Week 6 Learning Objectives

• Pressure concept, definition use for pressure, force, area calculations and predictions.
• State the SI unit of pressure + recognize others.
• Pressure cause in resting liquids.
• Pliquid = mass density × g × depth: Use the expression in calculations/predictions about liquid pressures at rest.
• State Pascal's principle.
• Explain hydraulics & predict/calculate unknown forces/piston areas.
• Cause of atmospheric pressure.
• Atmospheric pressure magnitude, why we aren't aware large.
• Pressure differences in fluids and Newton's 2nd Law relationship.
• Phenomena from matter changes due to pressure differences in fluids.
• State Bernoulli's principle explaining moving fluids.
• Apply Bernoulli's principle in explaining phenomena.
• The problem with only using our senses to measure temperature.
• Kinetic theory of matter.
• Distinguish solids, liquids, gases by kinetic theory (particle spacing, motion, forces).
• Kinetic molecular theory defines temperature.
• Absolute zero concept explains particle motion.
• Define heat vs. energy.
• Understand thermal energy transfer (heat flow) and thermal equilibrium conditions.
• Thermal energy definition (internal energy).
• Compare/contrast heat, internal energy, and temperature.
• Three factors affecting object's temp. change with thermal energy transfer.
• Define specific heat capacity.
• Specific heat capacity differences explain phenomena.
• Conduction, convection, and radiation: Define/distinguish and provide examples of the three thermal energy transfer methods.

Week 7 Learning Objectives

• State the 4 fundamental forces in nature.
• The field of electrostatics vs. electrodynamics.
• Subatomic particles (mass, charge, location).
• Neutral atoms vs. ions. How neutral atoms become positively/negatively charged.
• Explain how objects become positively/negatively charged.
• 5 electric charge properties.
• Coulomb as the SI (metric) unit of charge.
• Charging methods: friction, conduction, and induction.
• Conductors, insulators, semiconductors, and superconductors examples.
• State Coulomb's Law.
• Force, charge, distance relationship in Coulomb's Law predictions.
• Electrostatic force (Coulomb's Law) vs. gravitational force (Newton's Law).
• Electric potential energy meaning and factors affecting it.
• Capacitors and their technology uses.
• Electric potential (voltage) definition as electric potential energy per charge.
• Compare and contrast electric potential energy and electric potential
• The Van de Graaff generator: explain purpose and principle of operation.

Week 8 Learning Objectives

• Define electric current and use the definition in performing calculations
• Define the SI unit of electric current
• Distinguish between AC and DC current in circuits
• Define the concept of a voltage source and provide examples of voltage sources.
• Explain how voltage sources cause electric current.
• Explain the basic physical principles behind the operation of voltaic cells
• Explain the meaning of electrical resistance and the cause of electrical resistance in wires.
• Define the SI unit for electrical resistance.
• Describe how the following factors affect the resistance of wires: wire length, wire thickness, wire material, temperature.
• Explain what resistors are and what they are used for.
• State Ohm's Law.
• Use Ohm's Law to make predictions and solve simple circuit problems.
• Compare and contrast an electrical circuit to a hydraulic circuit.
• Compare and contrast series and parallel circuits
• Solve simple circuit problems involving series and parallel circuits.
• Describe electric shock in terms of its cause and its effect upon the human body.
• Describe how electrons move in metallic conductors and give an estimate as to the drift speed of electrons in conductors.
• Distinguish between the drift speed of electrons and the signal speed in the form of the electric field.
• Describe the source of electrons in a circuit.
• Distinguish between electric potential energy and electric kinetic energy.
• Identify electrical energy conversions in circuits.
• State the formula for the electric power in a circuit and use the formula in performing calculations.