AP Physics 2 study guide
AP Physics 2 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based is a College Board course and exam covering thermodynamics, electric force and field, electric circuits, magnetism and electromagnetism, geometric optics, waves and physical optics, and modern physics. It is designed as the equivalent of a second-semester introductory college physics course, so it suits students who have already completed AP Physics 1 or a comparable introductory course and who have taken or are concurrently taking precalculus. The AP Physics 2 study guide has 7 sections and about 1,925 words.
01Thermodynamics
AP Physics 2 thermodynamics centers on the ideal gas law ( PV=nRT ), the first law ( U = Q - W with W the work done by the gas), and the second law (entropy, heat engines, efficiency). Know the four thermodynamic processes: isothermal ( U=0 , Q=W=nRT (V f/V i) ), adiabatic ( Q=0 , so U=-W ), isobaric ( W=P V ), and isochoric ( W=0 ).
289 words, about 1 min02Electric Force, Field, and Potential
Coulomb's law gives the force between point charges: F=k q 1q 2 /r^2 with k 9 10^9\,N\,m^2/C^2 . Electric field is force per unit positive charge, E=F/q , with field lines pointing away from positive and toward negative charge.
285 words, about 1 min03Electric Circuits
Circuits questions test Ohm's law ( V=IR ), power ( P=IV=I^2R=V^2/R ), and rules for series and parallel combinations. In series, current is the same and resistances add; in parallel, voltage is the same and 1/R {eq}= 1/R i .
272 words, about 1 min04Magnetism and Electromagnetism
Magnetic forces act only on moving charges and on current-carrying wires: F=q v B and F=I L B , with magnitude F=qvB . The right-hand rule gives direction (thumb = v or I , fingers = B , palm = force for positive charge).
277 words, about 1 min05Geometric Optics
Geometric optics uses ray diagrams and the mirror/lens equation 1/f=1/d o+1/d i with magnification m=-d i/d o=h i/h o . Sign conventions matter: for mirrors, f 0 for concave; for lenses, f 0 for converging.
289 words, about 1 min06Waves, Sound, and Physical Optics
Wave behavior is captured by v=f . Sound is a longitudinal pressure wave; its speed depends on the medium (faster in solids, ~343 m/s in air at room temperature).
270 words, about 1 min07Modern Physics
Modern physics covers quantization, the photoelectric effect, atomic energy levels, and nuclear processes. Photon energy is E=hf=hc/ , with h 6.63 10^{-34}\,J\,s and hc 1240\,eV\,nm .
243 words, about 1 min