Bilkent PHYS 102 Midterm 1
General Physics II · We broke the last 5 midterms down problem by problem. Continuous-charge integrals and Gauss's law were on all 5, and together they're nearly half the points (49%).
Exam facts
From the official PHYS 102 syllabus, Fall 2026-27.
| Date | Saturday, 24 October 2026 · time TBACommon exam: all sections sit it at the same time. The time hasn't been announced yet: in past terms PHYS 101 and 102 were on the same day but at different times. Room and time lists are announced before the exam (course page / Moodle). |
| Scope | Giancoli Ch. 21–24Electric charge and field, Gauss's law, electric potential, capacitors and dielectrics. |
| Format | 3–4 written problems, ~100 pointsAlmost entirely symbolic. 90–120 minutes (the known ones: 90, 90, and 120 in Spring 2024-25). |
| Weight | 20% of your gradeMT1 20%, MT2 20%, final 30%, lab 20%, quizzes 10%. |
| Rules | No calculator, no formula sheetNo formula sheet is provided (exam rules). Phones are collected before the exam. If you're more than 20 minutes late you're not admitted, no one may leave in the first 20 minutes, and there are no bathroom breaks during the exam. If you don't sign the Honor Code, your paper isn't graded. Bring your Bilkent ID. |
What came up in the last 5 MT1s
Each box is one exam. Filled red box: the topic was a main problem on that exam. Half box: it came up as a part of another problem. Share of points: the topic's percentage of all the points on the 5 exams (parts included).
- Continuous charge: E/V integral (rod, arc, ring)share of points: 27%
- Gauss's law: E(r) region by regionshare of points: 22%
- Capacitors: C, series/parallel, dielectric, energy/workshare of points: 20%
- Potential: V(x), E = −dV/dx, U and energy conservationshare of points: 19%
- Point-charge systems: Coulomb, superposition, equilibriumshare of points: 12%
the integral problem is on every exam. set it up right and the 25–35 points are yours.
Source: the Spring 2023-24, Fall 2024-25, Spring 2024-25, Fall 2025-26 and Spring 2025-26 MT1s, classified problem by problem by us. This is a study aid, not a guarantee of what will be on the exam.
What to expect this term
- Gauss, E(r) region by region. Sphere and shell, coaxial cylinders or a thick slab. E = 0 inside a conductor, and the enclosed charge as a function of r for a volume charge, are the key points.
- A continuous-distribution integral. Arc, ring, rod or semicircle. The pattern never changes: write dq, use symmetry to kill one component, integrate what's left.
- Capacitor + dielectric. A dielectric slides halfway in or out; is the battery connected or disconnected, and how do the energy and the work change?
- Point charges and potential energy. Usually a part of a problem: equilibrium point, stability, speed at infinity.
- Short analysis parts. “Is it stable?”, a limit check, the maximum of a function. One line, but graded.
MT1 in 3 days
If you have 3 days left, start with the topic worth the most points.
- Day 1: Coulomb and continuous distributions (Ch. 21). Add forces as vectors. For arcs and rings, make dq → symmetry → single component automatic.
- Day 2: Gauss and potential (Ch. 22–23). Build a region table for each symmetry. Then the V integral, E = −dV/dx and energy conservation.
- Day 3: Capacitors + a full run (Ch. 24). Gauss gives E, E gives ΔV, ΔV gives C. In the evening, do one MT1 start to finish with a 90-minute timer.
the 7-day plan, with past problems tied to each day, is in the pack.
Official past exams with solutions
These are free and public. We don't sell them; we just take you to the right file.
All terms: www.fen.bilkent.edu.tr/~phys102/past_exams.html · Official syllabus: PHYS 102 syllabus ↗
How to study for it
- Learn Gauss as a table, not a formula. For each region: enclosed charge, surface, E. A three-column table saves you half a page on the exam.
- Setting up the integral matters more than evaluating it. Most of the points are in the dq and symmetry step. Before you compute, write down which component cancels.
- Write “battery connected or not” on the first line. Most capacitor mistakes start here. Connected: V is constant. Disconnected: Q is constant.
- No new topics the night before. On the last evening, do one MT1 in 90 minutes, go back to the topic you got wrong, then sleep.
Finish one pattern free, then decide.
Gauss's law, region by region: an 8:43 video in English, the recipe step by step, and exam-level problems with graded solutions. No sign-up.free
Watch the free Gauss's law patternWant the whole topic? The free unit covers electric flux and symmetric charge distributions: a formula sheet, 8 traps, 5 worked examples and 23 exam-style problems. Open the free unit. Lesson text is in Turkish; problems and videos are in English. Full PHYS 102 MT1 pack: 999 TL, one payment, no subscription · refund policy (Turkish)
FAQ
When is the PHYS 102 Midterm 1?
Saturday, 24 October 2026, the same day as PHYS 101. The time hasn't been announced yet; in past terms the two courses were on the same day at different times. It's a common exam; room and time lists are announced before the exam on the course page / Moodle.
What topics are on PHYS 102 MT1?
Giancoli Ch. 21–24: electric field, Gauss's law, electric potential, capacitors and dielectrics. Across the last 5 exams, continuous-charge integrals and Gauss's law earned the most points.
Where are the past exams and solutions?
The physics department posts recent terms' solved exams on the course page, for free. The links on this page go straight to those PDFs.
How much is MT1 worth, and how do I avoid an FZ?
MT1 is 20% of the letter grade (MT2 20%, final 30%, lab 20%, quizzes 10%). To avoid an FZ, the weighted average of the two midterms must be at least 30, your lab grade at least 60 and your attendance at least 70%.
Are capacitors on MT1?
Yes. Per the syllabus, Ch. 24 is taught the week before the exam, and it came up on 4 of the last 5 MT1s.
Is a calculator allowed?
No. Calculators and phones aren't allowed, and no formula sheet is provided. The problems are almost entirely symbolic.
Is this an official Bilkent resource?
No. Vizekit is an independent study resource. The analysis and lessons are ours; for the official solved exams we only link.
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