1.

Electrostatics
What it is
Electrostatics = study of electric charges that are not moving.

Atoms normally have:

• equal number of protons (+)

• electrons (−)

So atoms are neutral.

If electrons move:

• Gain electrons → negative charge

• Lose electrons → positive charge

Important

Only electrons move.

Protons stay in the nucleus.

Charge of one electron:

q = -1.6 x 10 to the power of -19 C

Charging objects
1⃣ Negative charge

Object gains electrons

Example:

touching a negatively charged object

2⃣ Positive charge

Object loses electrons

Example:

electrons move away

Forces between charges

2. Coulomb’s Law
Describes the force between electric charges.

F = k q1q2/r2

Where:

• F = force (Newtons)

• q₁, q₂ = charges (Coulombs)

• r = distance (meters)

• k = 9 × 10⁹ N·m²/C²

Important ideas for EST

1⃣ Force depends on charge size

More charge → stronger force

2⃣ Force depends on distance

Very important rule:

F∝1/r2

This is very common EST question.

3. Electric Fields
Electric charges create electric fields around them.

Electric field = region where a charge feels a force.

Field line rules

Positive charge

Field lines leave the charge

Negative charge

Field lines enter the charge

Strength of field

• Lines close together → strong field

• Lines far apart → weak field

Test charge
A test charge is a small positive charge used to detect the electric field.

It does not change the field.

Electric field formula

F = EQ
Where:
F = force
E = electric field strength
Q = test charge
4. Parallel Plate Electric Fields
When two plates are charged:

• positive plate

• negative plate

Electric field:

• goes from positive → negative

• lines are parallel

• field is uniform

At edges:

• lines curve slightly.

5. Potential Difference (Voltage)

Voltage = energy difference between two points.

Symbol:

V
Unit:
Volt (V)

Definition:

Work done per unit charge.

Electron Volt
Energy gained by an electron moving through 1 volt.

Example:

• 1V → 1 eV

• 50V → 50 eV
6. Electric Circuits
Electric circuit = path for charges to flow.

Charge flows:

High potential → low potential

Example uses:

• light bulb

• fan

• motor

Electric current
Current = rate of charge flow.

Symbol:

I
Unit:
Ampere (A)

1 ampere =

1C/s

Also remember:

1C=6.25×1018electrons

7. Resistance
Resistance = opposition to current.

Symbol:

Unit:

Ohm (Ω)

More resistance → less current

8. Ohm’s Law
Relationship between voltage, current, and resistance.

V = IR

Where:

• V = voltage

• I = current

• R = resistance

Useful rearrangements

I = V/R

R = V/I

Example
6V battery
12Ω resistor

I = 6/12 = 0.5 A

9. Series Circuits
Series circuit = one path for current

Properties:

1⃣ Same current everywhere

2⃣ Total resistance:

RT =R1 +R2 +R3

Example:
2Ω + 4Ω + 6Ω
RT = 12 ohms
10. Parallel Circuits
Parallel = multiple paths for current

Properties:

1⃣ Voltage same across branches

2⃣ Current splits

3⃣ Total resistance formula:

1/RT = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3

Important rule
Total resistance is always less than the smallest resistor.

11. Power in Circuits

Power = rate energy is used.

P=VI
Units:
Watts (W)

Power formulas
Also remember:

P = I2R

P = V2/R

Example
Current = 0.05A
Resistance = 4Ω

P = I2R

P = (0.05)2(4)

P=0.01W
12. Capacitors
Capacitors store electric charge.

Example:

camera flash

Capacitance formula
C=VQ

Where:
• C = capacitance

• Q = charge

• V = voltage

Unit:

Farad (F)

Capacitor energy
E = 1/2 CV2

Capacitors in circuits
Parallel

Add directly

CT = C1 + C2 + C3

Series

Use reciprocal

1/CT = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3

Opposite of resistors.
13. Ammeters and Voltmeters
Ammeter

Measures current

Properties:

• very low resistance

• connected in series

Voltmeter

Measures voltage

Properties:

• very high resistance

• connected in parallel

14. Magnets and Magnetic Fields

Magnets have:

• North pole

• South pole

Magnetic field lines

Magnetic field:

• leave North

• enter South

Same idea as electric fields.

They form closed loops.
15. Magnetic Force on Current
A current-carrying wire inside a magnetic field experiences a force.

F=BIL
Where:
• B = magnetic field strength

• I = current

• L = length of wire

Unit of magnetic field:

Tesla (T)

Right Hand Rule

Used to determine direction of force.

Steps:

1⃣ Thumb → current direction

2⃣ Fingers → magnetic field
3⃣ Palm → force direction

Magnetic Field Around a Wire

When current flows in a wire, it produces a magnetic field around the wire.

Field lines form circles around the wire.

Right-Hand Rule (very important)

To find direction of magnetic field:

1⃣ point thumb in direction of current

2⃣ curl fingers around wire
3⃣ fingers show magnetic field direction

Force Between Two Current-Carrying Wires

Two wires with current interact magnetically.

Same current direction

→ attract

Opposite current direction

→ repel
Force on a Moving Charge
A moving charged particle in a magnetic field feels a force.

F = Bqv
Where:
• q = charge

• v = velocity

• B = magnetic field

Circular motion
Magnetic force acts as centripetal force.

Fc = mv2/r
Setting forces equal:

Bqv = mv2/r

This determines the radius of particle motion.

Used in:
• particle accelerators

• cathode ray tubes

• monitors
Magnetic Induction
Discovered by:

• Michael Faraday

• Joseph Henry

Magnetic induction = generating current using changing magnetic fields.

Example:

Moving a wire through a magnetic field → current forms.

Induced current depends on

1⃣ strength of magnetic field
2⃣ speed of wire movement
3⃣ length of wire in field

Induced Voltage (EMF)

Relationship between motion and induced voltage:

EMF=BLV

Where:
• B = magnetic field

• L = wire length

• V = velocity
Electric Generators
Generators convert:

mechanical energy → electrical energy

They use:

• rotating coils

• magnetic fields

Most generators produce AC current.

Alternating Current (AC)

AC current:

• changes direction

• follows wave pattern

AC voltage varies with time.

RMS voltage
Effective AC voltage:

Vrms =0.707Vmax

Power Transmission
Electricity travels from power plants to homes.

But long wires have resistance.

Solution:

Use high voltage transmission.

High voltage → lower current → less energy loss.

Transformers
Transformers change voltage.

Two types:

Step-up transformer

Increases voltage.

Step-down transformer

Decreases voltage.

Transformer equation
Vs/Vp = Ns/Np

Where:
• Vs = secondary voltage

• Vp = primary voltage

• Ns = secondary coils

• Np = primary coils

Example:

8000V input
30,000 primary coils
900 secondary coils

Vs = 8000x900/30,000

Vs =240V

⭐ MOST IMPORTANT EST CONCEPTS

Memorize these:

Charges

• like repel

• unlike attract

Electrostatics

• like charges repel

• opposite charges attract

• electron charge = 1.6x x 10 to the power of -19C

Coulomb’s law

F=k q1q2/r2

Distance squared rule.

Electric field

Positive → outward
Negative → inward

Ohm’s Law

V=IR

Series circuits

RT =R1 +R2 +R3

Parallel circuits

1/RT = 1/R1 + 1/R2

Magnetic field around wire

Use right-hand rule.

Magnetic force

Wire:

F=BIL

Particle:

F=Bqv

Magnetic induction

EMF=BLV

Transformer equation

Vs/Vp = Ns/Np