Learn how charges interact with each other and create electric fields and electric potential landscapes in this introductory-level physics course. Electricity and Magnetism dominate much of the world around us – from the most fundamental processes in nature to cutting edge electronic devices. Electric and magnet fields arise from charged particles. Charged particles also feel forces in electric and magnetic fields. Maxwell’s equations, in addition to describing this behavior, also describe electromagnetic radiation.

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In this course, we focus on Electrostatics. We examine the forces between charges, electric fields, and electric potential, looking at different ways of calculating each. We also look at dipoles and the difference between conductors and insulators. The course ends by explaining capacitors and dielectrics.

This is the first module in a series of three that are based on the MIT course: 8.02, Electricity and Magnetism, a required introductory physics class for all MIT undergraduates, which is being offered as an XSeries. This course is part of the Introductory Electricity and Magnetism XSeries Program .

This course will require the use of calculus.

What you'll learn

- How Electric Fields form and how to measure them

- What are Dipoles

- Gauss’s Law and why it is important

- What is Electric Potential

- How Conductors, Insulators, and Capacitors work