NGSSAPhigh school
AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based
Master the 7 units of AP Physics 2 -- thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, optics, waves, and modern physics. You will develop the conceptual reasoning and quantitative skills tested on the AP exam, with practice that targets the most common student mistakes.
7units
13topics
180questions
~5hours
Course Units
Learning objectives
- Apply the first law of thermodynamics to analyze energy transfer in thermal processes
- Use the ideal gas law and kinetic theory to relate macroscopic and microscopic properties
- Explain entropy and the second law of thermodynamics in the context of irreversible processes
- Analyze PV diagrams and calculate work done during thermodynamic cycles
- Compare isothermal, adiabatic, isobaric, and isochoric processes on a PV diagram
Topics in this unit
Learning objectives
- Apply Coulomb's law to calculate forces between point charges and analyze charge distributions
- Map electric field lines and calculate field strength for point charges and parallel plates
- Relate electric potential to electric field and calculate potential energy of charge configurations
- Analyze capacitors in series and parallel and calculate stored energy
- Explain how conductors redistribute charge to reach electrostatic equilibrium
Learning objectives
- Apply Ohm's law and Kirchhoff's rules to analyze series, parallel, and combination circuits
- Calculate equivalent resistance, current distribution, and voltage drops in complex circuits
- Determine power dissipated in circuit elements and total circuit power
- Analyze RC circuits qualitatively including charging and discharging behavior
- Predict how adding or removing resistors changes current and voltage throughout a circuit
Topics in this unit
Learning objectives
- Describe magnetic fields produced by currents and permanent magnets using field line diagrams
- Calculate the magnetic force on moving charges and current-carrying wires using the right-hand rule
- Apply Faraday's law and Lenz's law to predict induced EMF and current direction
- Explain the operating principles of generators and transformers
- Distinguish between magnetic force (which does no work) and electric force
Topics in this unit
Learning objectives
- Apply the law of reflection and Snell's law to trace light rays at boundaries between media
- Determine conditions for total internal reflection and calculate the critical angle
- Use ray diagrams and the thin lens/mirror equations to locate images formed by lenses and mirrors
- Classify images as real or virtual, upright or inverted, and magnified or diminished
- Calculate magnification and relate image distance to object distance for converging and diverging optics
Learning objectives
- Describe wave properties including wavelength, frequency, amplitude, and wave speed
- Apply superposition to analyze constructive and destructive interference patterns
- Explain single-slit and double-slit diffraction and calculate fringe spacing
- Analyze standing waves in strings and pipes and apply the Doppler effect to sound waves
- Distinguish between transverse and longitudinal waves and identify examples of each
Topics in this unit
Learning objectives
- Apply the photon model to explain the photoelectric effect and calculate photon energy using E = hf
- Describe wave-particle duality and calculate the de Broglie wavelength of matter
- Compare atomic models from Bohr to quantum mechanical and explain atomic spectra using energy levels
- Analyze nuclear reactions including fission, fusion, and radioactive decay using mass-energy equivalence
- Calculate half-life and predict the remaining quantity of a radioactive sample over time
Topics in this unit