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Glossary

Term Definition
Ampere's Law Relates magnetic circulation to enclosed current.
Capacitance Charge stored per unit potential difference: \(C=Q/\Delta V\).
Charge Quantization Charge comes in integer multiples of \(e\).
Conductor Material with free mobile charge carriers.
Coulomb's Law Inverse-square force between point charges.
Dielectric Insulating material that polarizes and increases capacitance.
Dipole Moment Vector \(\vec{p}=q\vec{d}\) describing charge separation.
Electric Field Force per unit positive test charge: \(\vec{E}=\vec{F}/q\).
Electric Flux Surface integral of normal component of \(\vec{E}\).
Electric Potential Potential energy per unit charge.
EMF Energy per unit charge supplied by a source: \(\mathcal{E}\).
Faraday's Law Induced EMF equals negative rate of change of flux.
Gauss's Law Electric flux through closed surface equals \(q_{\text{enc}}/\varepsilon_0\).
Insulator Material with negligible free charge carriers.
Kirchhoff's Rules Loop rule and junction rule for DC circuits.
Lorentz Force Force on a moving charge: \(\vec{F}=q\vec{v}\times\vec{B}\).
Magnetic Field Vector field produced by currents and changing electric fields.
Magnetic Flux Surface integral of normal component of \(\vec{B}\).
Maxwell's Equations Four coupled PDEs summarizing classical electromagnetism.
Ohm's Law Linear relation \(V=IR\) for many materials.
Potential Difference Work per unit charge between two points.
RC Time Constant \(\tau=RC\); exponential charging/discharging timescale.
Resistivity Intrinsic property opposing current: \(\rho = E/J\).
Semiconductor Material with intermediate, tunable conductivity.
Superconductor Zero-resistance state below critical temperature.