AP® Physics 2
Course Summary
Expand your understanding of physics using problem-solving and quantitative reasoning skills. Through interactive media, labs, inquiry projects and assignments, students investigate key physics concepts including atomic and nuclear physics, thermodynamics, electrostatics, circuits, magnetism, electromagnetism, geometric optics, waves, sound, and physical optics.
This course prepares students for the AP® Physics 2 exam.
Course Prerequisite(s):
AP® Physics 1 and Algebra 2
Curriculum
This is a 2-semester course. We do not recommend taking both semesters simultaneously.
Unit 1: Thermodynamics
- Mechanical Equivalent of Heat
- Specific and Latent Heat
- Heat Transfer and Thermal Expansion
Unit 2: Kinetic Theory and Thermodynamics
- Ideal Gases
- Laws of Thermodynamics
Unit 3: Electrostatics
- Electric Charges and Coulomb's Law
- Electric Fields
- Electric Potential
Unit 4: Conductors and Capacitors
- Electrostatics with Conductors
- Capacitors
- Dielectrics
Unit 5: DC Circuits and RC Circuits: Steady State
- Current, Resistance, Power
- DC Circuits with Batteries and Resistors
- Capacitors in Circuits
Unit 6: Magnetism
- Forces on Moving Charges
- Forces on Current-Carrying Wires in Magnetic Fields
- Fields of Long Current-Carrying Wires
Unit 7: Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction
- Flux
- Len's Law
- Electromagnetic Induction
Unit 8: Wave Basics
- Wave Basics
- Sound Waves
- Doppler Effect
Unit 9: Physical Optics
- Interference and Diffraction
- Dispersion of Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
- Thin Film
- Double Slit
Unit 10: Geometric Optics
- Reflection and Refraction
- Mirrors
- Lenses
Unit 11: Atomic Physics
- Photons and the Photoelectric Effect
- Atomic Energy Levels
- Wave-Particle Duality
Unit 12: Nuclear Physics
- Nuclear Reactions
- Mass-Energy Equivalence