Physics: Week 32

This week in the Ron Paul Curriculum physics course was about the wave nature of light.This was the last week of the course! The next 4 weeks are going to be spent in review. Diffraction:  This occurs when waves pass through a narrow opening or around an object.  The amount of diffraction depends on the …

Physics: Week 31

This week in the Ron Paul Curriculum physics course was an introduction to geometric optics. The Ray Model of light: It is a useful model for analyzing geometric optics such as lenses and mirrors. It assumes that light traveled in a straight line.  Speed of light: The speed of light depends on the material it …

Physics: Week 30

This week in the Ron Paul Curriculum physics course was an introduction to electromagnetic waves and light. Maxwell's Equations: Maxwell was the the Newton of electromagnetic. He created 4 equations or principles: A generalized equation that related electric field to its source.Electric charge law and a similar law for a magnetic field.An electric field is …

Physics: Week 29

This week in the Ron Paul Curriculum physics course covered the basics and introduction to ac circuit analysis. Basics of AC current AC through a resistor: The current and voltage is always in phase and Ohms law applies.  The energy is transferred into heat and lost in the environment.  Inductor in series: By kerchiefs law, …

Physics: Week 28

In week 28 of the Ron Paul Curriculum physics course, we covered Electromagnetic applications. AC generator and DC generator diagram Generator equations Transformers: a device for increasing or decreasing voltage.  Think of hydro wires, coming from the road to a house. Transformer equations Mutual inductance: Units of inductance: called a henry (H) Self inductance: An …

Physics: week 27

This week in the Ron Paul Curriculum physics course was an intro to the interplay between electricity and magnetism, and AC circuits. Electromagnetic induction: Just as a magnetic field exerts a force on a current carrying wire, making it want to move, if we move a wire through a magnetic field, it creates an electric …

Physics Week 26: Magnetism

This week of the Ron Paul physics course focused on Magnetism. Here are the main points covered. Observations on magnets Attract and repel similar to electric charges.If a magnet is broken in half the pieces will attract or repel each other depending on their orientation. Magnetic poles Every magnet has 2 poles (north and south) …

Physics Week 25: RC circuits in DC

This week of the Ron Paul physics course focused primarily on DC circuits. Lots of diagrams were drawn out and practice problems were given. Lesson 1: Capacitors in parallel Capacitors in series Lesson 2: Charging a capacitor When the switch of a circuit closes the capacitor begins to charge. RC time constant The product of …

Physics Week 24: Introduction to dc circuit analysis

The main topics covered during week 24 in the Physics course from the Ron Paul Curriculum were: EMF, terminal voltage, resistors, resistance circuits, and Kirchhoff's law. Lesson 1: EMF: something that producing energy and an electromotive force Resistors in Series: in a series circuit the total resistance is equal to the sum of the individual …

Physics Week 23: Basic DC circuits

I've made it to my favourite part of every physics course; circuits! When ever there are questions and problems that require you to draw out a circuit and solve it I feel like it is a fun puzzle. Week 23 in the Physics course by the Ron Paul Curriculum focused on electric circuits. Lesson 1: …