One Day to Prepare for E&M Midterm: What to Focus On?

[Gale]

So i have a midterm tomorrow in E&M and I'm not well prepared at all. The whole class is pretty much already prepared to fail... so I'm not alone in that at least. Basically, i have one more day (tomorrow) to study, so i best make the best of it. We get to bring index card "cheat sheets" that have any formulas we think will be handy, so i won't waste time memorizing that stuff. Basically, i was hoping you all could point me in the most efficient directions and tell me what are probably the most important concepts and ideas, and will likely be tested.

The topics we're covering are:
capacitors and capacitance
current
-Ohms law
Resistors
batteries
wheatstone bridge... kirkoff rules?
RC circuits
AC power
magnetism? (my notes have gone that far, but i went to class last week and we weren't any where near magnetism, so i don't know if that'd be on the test)

So ya, hopefully you can just tell me what you think the most important stuff to study would be, and then i can do that. Thank you.

 

[dextercioby]

The topics we're covering are:
capacitors and capacitance
current
-Ohms law
Resistors
batteries
wheatstone bridge... kirkoff rules?
RC circuits
AC power
magnetism? (my notes have gone that far, but i went to class last week and we weren't any where near magnetism, so i don't know if that'd be on the test)

Ohm's law and Kirchhoff's (sic) laws are essential.And u should be able to apply them on every possible problem involving continuous current.

If u have a sheet with formulas,then u should be able to deal with formuleas involving capacitors and resistors.RC circuits involve a little calculus.Hoe you're familiar with it.

As for Wheatstone bridge,if u know how to use Kirchhoff's (sic) laws,then it should be okay.

So i really cannot say what formulas you should write on that paper,but i hope u'll know how to use everyone of them properly and,of course,get their meaning.

Dunno what u covered from magnetism (magnetostatics,i guess),it's a vast subject.I advise to write a few formulas from there,too,just in case the prof. would try to surprise you in a bad way.

I can say "Good luck !"

And do this sort of activity during the day,and not after midnight,okay?


Daniel.

 

[sir-pinski]

First of all, don't panic. It's understandable that you're feeling overwhelmed and unprepared, but it's important to stay calm and focused in order to do your best on the midterm. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your one day of preparation:

1. Prioritize the topics: From the list you provided, it seems like the main topics you need to focus on are capacitors and capacitance, current and Ohm's law, resistors, batteries, RC circuits, and AC power. Make a list of these topics in order of importance and start studying the ones that you feel least confident about first.

2. Review the basics: Before diving into the specific topics, make sure you have a good understanding of the basic concepts in electricity and magnetism. This will help you better understand the more complex topics and solve problems more efficiently.

3. Practice with problems: The best way to prepare for a physics exam is to practice solving problems. Look for practice questions and try to solve them on your own before checking the answers. This will help you identify your weak areas and give you a chance to work on them.

4. Use cheat sheets wisely: While cheat sheets can be helpful, don't rely on them too much. Use them as a reference for formulas or concepts that you tend to forget, but make sure you still understand how and when to use them.

5. Focus on key concepts: It's important to have a good understanding of the key concepts in each topic. Instead of trying to memorize every detail, focus on the main ideas and how they relate to each other.

6. Don't neglect magnetism: Even though you haven't covered magnetism in class recently, it's still important to review it. It's a fundamental concept in electricity and magnetism and may be included in the midterm.

7. Get some rest: It's tempting to stay up all night studying, but it's important to get a good night's sleep before the exam. Your brain needs rest in order to function at its best, so make sure you get enough sleep.

Remember, the most important thing is to stay calm and focused. Don't waste time stressing about what you don't know, instead focus on what you can still learn and understand. Good luck on your midterm!