Balearic PAU Physics study plan

Derive the gravitational field of point masses and extended distributions (rings, shells, solid spheres) from Gauss's law and superposition, writing each derivation from memory without notes

Calculate gravitational potential energy and potential for multi-body configurations, distinguishing the potential of a single mass from the total potential of a system

Solve orbital mechanics problems involving circular and elliptical orbits, applying conservation of angular momentum and mechanical energy to find velocities at periapsis and apoapsis

Compute escape velocity and satellite energy requirements, and explain why the escape condition corresponds to total mechanical energy equal to zero

Apply Gauss's law to electrostatic field problems with spherical, cylindrical, and planar symmetry, deriving field expressions for conductors and uniform charge distributions

Compute electric potential from field by integration and relate equipotential surfaces to field-line geometry in at least five configurations

Solve problems combining gravitational and electrostatic forces on charged particles, including equilibrium positions where the net force vanishes

Distinguish clearly between field, potential, and potential energy, and state the sign conventions for each in written solutions

Calculate magnetic force on moving charges and current-carrying wires, and determine the radius of circular motion of a charge in a uniform magnetic field

Apply the Biot-Savart law and Ampere's law to compute magnetic fields of straight wires, loops, and solenoids, stating the symmetry argument used in each case

Compute magnetic flux and apply Faraday-Lenz to induced EMF problems, determining the direction of induced current from energy conservation arguments

Analyze motion of charged particles in combined electric and magnetic fields, including velocity selectors and mass spectrometers

Derive the equation of a traveling wave from initial conditions and extract amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and phase velocity from a given wave function

Apply the principle of superposition to interference and standing waves, deriving node and antinode positions for strings and pipes with different boundary conditions

Solve problems using the Doppler effect for moving source and moving observer, including cases where both move, and state the sign convention explicitly

Compute intensity, sound level in decibels, and energy transport for mechanical and acoustic waves

Apply Snell's law and the Fresnel reflection/refraction geometry to trace rays through plane and spherical surfaces, including total internal reflection and critical angle calculations

Construct ray diagrams and use the thin-lens and mirror equations to locate images, determining magnification and image character (real/virtual, upright/inverted)

Solve interference problems for Young's double slit and thin films, correctly handling the half-wavelength phase shift on reflection

Analyze diffraction gratings and single-slit diffraction, computing fringe positions and resolving the difference between interference and diffraction patterns

Apply Lorentz transformations to compute time dilation, length contraction, and relativity of simultaneity, and verify each result with the invariant spacetime interval

Solve relativistic momentum and energy problems, using total energy squared equals rest energy squared plus momentum times c squared, and compute kinetic energy relativistically

Apply the photoelectric effect equation to find threshold frequency, stopping potential, and maximum electron kinetic energy, and explain why classical wave theory fails

Compute de Broglie wavelengths and apply the uncertainty principle to estimate minimum uncertainties in position or momentum for given systems

Solve hydrogen atom energy-level problems using the Bohr model and the Rydberg formula, computing emitted and absorbed photon wavelengths for given transitions

Apply mass-energy equivalence and binding energy per nucleon to compare nuclear stability and predict whether fusion or fission releases energy for a given nucleus

Write and balance nuclear decay equations for alpha, beta-minus, beta-plus, and gamma processes, applying conservation of charge and nucleon number

Compute activity, half-life, and remaining quantity using exponential decay, including problems that require converting between activity units and number of nuclei

Complete two full-length timed mock exams under PAU conditions (90 minutes each) and score them against the official marking criteria structure (correct setup, correct result, units, significant figures)

Re-derive from memory the ten formulas most frequently missed in earlier weeks, identified from the week-4 and week-8 error logs

Rewrite solutions to every previously missed problem type, focusing on the reasoning step that failed rather than the arithmetic

Practice explaining physical reasoning in writing for conceptual questions, since PAU problems often award marks for justification, not only for the final number