Concourse 8.

02

Formula Sheet

April 13, 2006

Electrostatics
~
F~ = q E

(electric force on a particle with charge q)

The electric field at point P due to a small element of charge dq is

~ =
dE

1 dq
r
40 r2

where ~r (= r
r) is the displacement vector that points from dq to P.
For any closed surface S,
I

~ dA
~ = 1 Qenclosed by S
E
0

(Gausss Law)

Known Electric Field Strengths

Q
40 r2

E=
20 r

E=
20

(point charge Q)

E=

(infinite line of uniform charge density C/m)

(infinite sheet of uniform charge density C/m2 )

Electric Potential
U = qV

(electrostatic potential energy of a particle with charge q)

Z

~
rb

Vb V a =

~ d~l
E

(finding electric potential from electric field)

~
ra

~ = V
~
E

(finding electric field from electric potential)

The electrostatic potential at point P due to a small element of charge dq, relative to V (r = ) = 0, is
dV =

1 dq
40 r

where r is the distance from dq to P.

Capacitance
Q = CV
A
C = 0
d
1
U = CV 2
2

(definition of capacitance)
(for a vacuum- or air-filled parallel-plate capacitor with area A and separation d)
(energy stored in a capacitor)

page 1 of 4

Concourse 8.02

Formula Sheet

April 13, 2006

Electric Field Energy

Electric fields store energy with a density (J/m3 ) of
1
u = 0 E 2
2

Dielectrics
E0
K
A
A
C =  = K0
d
d

(electric field inside a dielectric material placed in an external field E0 )

E=

(for a parallel-plate capacitor filled with a dielectric material)

Current
dq
=
I=
dt

~
J~ dA

(definition of current and current density)

For any closed surface S,

I
Ileaving S =

~ = d Qenclosed by S
J~ dA
dt

(continuity equation)

In a non-ideal conductor with conductivity (resistivity = 1 ),

~
~ = 1E
J~ = E

Resistance
V = IR
l
R=
A

(definition of resistance)
(for a wire with length l and cross-sectional area A)

Magnetostatics
~
F~ = q~v B
~
dF~ = Id~l B

(magnetic force on a particle with charge q and velocity ~v )

(magnetic force on a small segment d~l of wire carrying a current I)

The magnetic field at point P due to a small segment of wire d~l carrying a current I is
~ =
dB

0 Id~l r
4 r2

where ~r (= r
r) is the displacement vector that points from d~l to P.
For any closed loop C,
I

~ d~l = 0 Ienclosed by C
B

page 2 of 4

(Amperes Law)

Concourse 8.02

Formula Sheet

April 13, 2006

Known Magnetic Field Strengths

0 I
2r
B = 0 nI
B=

(infinite straight wire carrying current I)

(inside a long tightly-wrapped solenoid with n turns per unit length)

Circuit Elements
Type

Relationship

Series Combination

Resistor
Capacitor

V = IR
I = C dV
dt

Req = R1 + R2
1
1
1
Ceq = C1 + C2

Parallel Combination
1
Req

= R11 + R12
Ceq = C1 + C2

Electric Power
P =VI

(power consumed by any electrical device)

P =I R
1
U = CV 2
2

(power dissipated as heat in a resistor)

(energy stored in a capacitor)

Math Corner
Solutions to Common Differential Equations
Decaying Exponential
The differential equation

df (t)
+ f (t) = F0
dt

has solutions of the form

f (t) = F0 + Aet/
where:
is called the time constant
A is an arbitrary constant that depends on the initial conditions
Simple Harmonic Oscillator
The differential equation
d2 f (t)
+ 0 2 f (t) = 0
dt2
has solutions of the form
f (t) = A cos(0 t + )
where:
0 is called the angular frequency
A and are arbitrary constants that depend on the initial conditions

page 3 of 4

Concourse 8.02

Formula Sheet

April 13, 2006

Vector Calculus
~ = + + k

x
y
z
f
f
f
~ =
f
+ + k
x
y
z

(the del operator)

(gradient)

Vector Multiplication
  
~B
~ = A
~  B
~  cos A,B = ABk to A = Ak to B B
A

   
 ~ ~   ~  ~ 
A B  = A B  sin A,B = AB to A = A to B B

Geometry
A sphere of radius R has volume 43 R3 and surface area 4R2 .
A cylinder of radius R and height h has volume R2 h and surface area 2Rh + 2R2 (the first term is the area
around the side, the second term is the area of the top and bottom).

Trigonometry

If

sin 45 = cos 45 =

+ 12 cos(2)

sin 30 = cos 60 =

sin2 =

sin( + ) = sin cos + cos sin

cos2 =

cos( + ) = cos cos sin sin

sin(2) = 2 sin cos

1
2
1
2

Quadratic Formula
ax2

12 cos(2)

sin2 + cos2 = 1

+ bx + c = 0 then x =

b2 4ac
.
2a

page 4 of 4

sin 60 = cos 30 =

1
2
1
2

3
2