AP Physics 2 Premium, Fourth Edition: Prep Book with 4 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Online Practice (2025)

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ISBN: 978-1-5062-9202-1

About the Authors

Ken Rideout has a B.S. in Honors Physics from Purdue University and an M.S. in Physics from Carnegie Mellon University. He has been teaching high school physics for more than twenty years in the Boston area and is currently teaching at Wayland High School in Wayland, Massachusetts.

Jonathan Wolf is an adjunct professor of physics at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey. He has been teaching physics at both the secondary school and college levels for more than thirty-five years. He has published more than forty professional papers in the fields of astronomy, physics, and physics education and served for more than ten years as assistant editor for The Science Teachers Bulletin published by the Science ­Teachers Association of New York State (STANYS).

Table of Contents

How to Use This Book

Barron’s Essential 5

Introduction

Exam Format

Tips for Section I: Multiple-Choice Questions

Tips for Section II: Free-Response Questions

Scoring of the AP Physics 2 Exam

Units

Mathematical Relationships

Graphs, Fits, and the Linearization of Data

Uncertainty and Percent Error

Objects vs. Systems

Fundamental Particles

Test-Taking Advice and Developing a Study Plan

Summary

DIAGNOSTIC TEST

Diagnostic Test

Answer Explanations

REVIEW AND PRACTICE

1 Thermodynamics

Temperature and Its Measurement

Molar Quantities

The Ideal Gas Law

Kinetic-Molecular Theory

Work Done by Expanding Gases

The First Law of Thermodynamics

The Second Law of Thermodynamics and Heat Engines

Heat Transfer

Specific Heat

Summary

Practice Exercises

Answer Explanations

2 Electric Force, Field, and Potential

The Nature of Electric Charges

The Detection and Measurement of Electric Charges

Coulomb’s Law

The Electric Field

Electric Potential Energy

Electric Potential

Capacitance

Summary

Practice Exercises

Answer Explanations

3 Electric Circuits

Current and Electricity

Electrical Resistance

Electric Power and Energy

Kirchhoff’s Rules

Internal Resistance

Combination Circuits

Capacitors in Circuits

Electrical Energy Is Potential Energy

Summary

Practice Exercises

Answer Explanations

4 Magnetism and Electromagnetism

Magnetic Fields and Forces

Magnetic Force on a Moving Charge

Magnetic Fields Due to Currents in Wires

Magnetic Force Between Two Wires

Induced Motional emf in a Wire

Magnetic Flux and Faraday’s Law of Induction

Summary

Practice Exercises

Answer Explanations

5 Waves, Sound, and Physical Optics

Pulses

Wave Motion

Types of Waves

Standing Waves and Resonance

Sound

The Doppler Effect

Electromagnetic Waves

Interference and Diffraction of Light

Polarization of Light

Summary

Practice Exercises

Answer Explanations

6 Geometric Optics

Reflection

Refraction

Total Internal Reflection

Image Formation in Plane Mirrors

Image Formation in Curved Mirrors

Image Formation in Lenses

Summary

Practice Exercises

Answer Explanations

7 Modern Physics

Photoelectric Effect

Blackbody Radiation

Photon Momentum

Matter Waves

Spectral Lines

Special Relativity

Mass-Energy Equivalence

Atomic Structure and Rutherford’s Model

The Bohr Model

Quantum Mechanics and the Electron Cloud Model

Nuclear Structure and Stability

Binding Energy

Radioactive Decay

Fission

Fusion

Summary

Practice Exercises

Answer Explanations

PRACTICE TESTS

Practice Test 1

Section I: Multiple-Choice

Section II: Free-Response

Answer Explanations

Test Analysis

Practice Test 2

Section I: Multiple-Choice

Section II: Free-Response

Answer Explanations

Test Analysis

APPENDICES

Table of Information for AP Physics 2

Formula Sheet for AP Physics 2

Glossary

Visit Barron’s Online Learning Hub for more full-length practice tests.

How to Use This Book

This book provides comprehensive review and extensive practice for the latest AP Physics 2 course and exam.

About the Exam

Start with the Introduction, which outlines the exam format. Review the advice for ­answering all question types, familiarize yourself with the mathematical relationships and concepts you should know for test day, and learn how to develop a study plan that works for you.

Diagnostic Test

Next, take the short diagnostic test to determine which topics you know well and which ones you may want to brush up on. Complete all of the questions, and then check the answer explanations, especially for any questions you may have missed. If you had difficulty answering any of the multiple-choice questions, refer to the brackets at the end of each answer explanation to see which topic each question covers and the corresponding review chapter in this book.

Review and Practice

Study all seven review chapters, which are divided into the following units of the latest AP Physics 2 course and exam: Thermodynamics; Electric Force, Field, and Potential; Electric Circuits; Magnetism and Electromagnetism; Waves; Geometric Optics; and Modern Physics. Each chapter includes a review of all frequently tested topics, clear figures that illustrate key concepts, sample problems with solutions, helpful tips and reminders, chapter summaries, and end-of-chapter practice exercises with detailed answer explanations.

Practice Tests

There are two full-length practice tests toward the end of the book that mirror the actual exam in format, content, and level of difficulty. Each test is followed by detailed answers and explanations for all questions as well as a test analysis sheet for gauging how well you did.

Appendices

Before completing your review, be sure to consult the Appendices at the end of the book for a table of important information to know for test day, key formulas you should be familiar with, and a glossary of common physics terms and their definitions.

Online Practice

There are also two additional full-length practice tests online. You may take these tests in practice (untimed) mode or in timed mode. All questions are answered and explained.

For Students

In this review book, you will find all the material needed to review and prepare for the AP Physics 2 exam, a second-year precalculus course. This book (and the test itself) assumes you have familiarity with the material in the AP Physics 1 curriculum. AP Physics 2 should be seen not only as additional topics in physics but also as a continuation of AP Physics 1 topics.

Preparing for an AP exam takes time and planning. In fact, your preparation should begin in August or September, when you start the class. If you are using this review book during the year, the content review chapters may parallel what you are covering in class. In that case, study all of the topics within each chapter and attempt every practice exercise, as the questions within these sets vary in style and level of difficulty and are intended to test your level of understanding of the review material. If you are using this review book a few weeks prior to the exam and your study time is limited, your strategy needs to change. Instead, review the end-of-chapter summaries and take both full-length practice exams, which test your knowledge of all the various content areas of AP Physics 2. Be sure to read through all the tips and sidebars throughout the book for helpful advice and reminders for test day, and above all, best of luck on your AP Physics 2 exam!

For Teachers

This book is fully aligned with the redesigned curriculum, units, and exam format outlined in the latest AP Physics 2 Course and Exam Description. You can use this book as a resource in the classroom, or you can assign chapters as supplemental reading or practice questions as homework or test material.

As you review the content in this book to work toward earning that 5 on your AP PHYSICS 2 exam, here are five things that you MUST know above ­everything else:

Introduction

The College Board currently offers four AP Physics exams. This book is for students preparing for the AP Physics 2 exam, which corresponds to a second-year algebra-based college course. The other exams are AP Physics 1 (a first-year algebra-based college course), AP Physics C: Mechanics (calculus-based), and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism (also calculus-based). Note that the old AP Physics B is a retired test and is no longer offered by the College Board. Both the AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2 exams focus on conceptual underpinnings and basic scientific reasoning along with the traditional problem-solving aspects of physics. In addition, both exams have questions that require experiential lab understanding. Although there are some calculation-oriented questions, these two tests are designed explicitly to not be plug and chug questions. If you do not thoroughly understand the physics concepts behind the equations, you will find yourself at a disadvantage.

Conventions of AP Physics 2:

The frame of reference of any problem is assumed to be inertial.

Positive work is defined as work done on a system.

The direction of current is conventional current (the direction positive charges would drift).

All batteries and meters are ideal (unless otherwise stated).

Edge effects are assumed for the electric field of a parallel plate capacitor.

For any isolated electrically charged object, the electric potential is defined as zero out at infinity.

The AP Physics 1 exam focuses on kinematics, dynamics, the three conservation laws, oscillations, and fluids. The AP Physics 2 exam assumes you have already covered these topics and understand this material. If you have not studied these topics, it is highly recommended that you review them (with the Barron’s AP Physics 1 Premium book, for example) before using this book. The AP Physics 2 exam not only assumes you have this background information, but it also continues the study of physics with thermodynamics, electric charge and force, magnetism, electromagnetism, introductory circuits, waves, optics, and modern physics.

Exam Format

You will have three hours to complete the AP Physics 2 exam, which consists of the two sections outlined in Table A.

Table A AP Physics 2 Exam Format

Formulas are provided for your use during the test (see the Appendices of this book). However, it is important that you not only know what the provided equations mean but also are able to quickly determine in what situations they can and should be used. Even if a question is conceptual, having a corresponding equation in mind can guide your thinking. The equation sheet provides a solid foundation. A well-prepared student will be able to find and understand every equation on the equation sheet.

Although you may not need to use your calculator a lot during the exam, one is allowed throughout. (Check the College Board website for an approved list of calculators. Generally, though, all scientific and graphing calculators are allowed.) Make sure your calculators are fully charged and that you have extra batteries for your calculator during the exam. A ruler is also permitted. Its usefulness is likely limited, though, to drawing straight lines, if needed, during the free-response section.

Section I: Multiple-Choice

Without a doubt, multiple-choice questions can be tricky. The AP Physics 2 exam asks multiple-choice questions that can range from a simple recall of information to questions about units, graphs, proportional relationships, formula manipulations, and simple calculations (without a calculator). The questions cover all areas of the course, and the exam weighting per unit for Section I is outlined in Table B.

Table B Exam Weighting for Section I of the AP Physics 2 Exam

Section II: Free-Response

The AP Physics 2 exam includes four free-response questions, each of which is a unique question type requiring specific skills. The general format of Section II is outlined in Table C, followed by a description of each question type.

Table C Section II of the AP Physics 2 Exam

The Mathematical Routines question will require you to use mathematics to analyze and make predictions about a scenario.

The Translation Between Representations question will require you to connect different representations of a scenario and draw graphs that relate quantities within the scenario. Also, you will be asked to make predictions (about different situations or changes to the original scenario) and/or justify your answers or predictions.

The Experimental Design and Analysis question will require you to create scientific procedures and analyze data. This question will be broken down into two sections:

Design: You will be asked to design a high school lab experiment that is based around a scientific question, varies by only one parameter, and measures how that change affects one characteristic. You will also need to describe how data can be collected to help answer that question.

Analysis: You will be given experimental data based on a similar question to that in the Design part, and you will be asked to use that data to create and analyze a graph that will help answer the question.

The Qualitative/Quantitative Translation question will focus on a scenario and require that you make connections between the physical laws that govern the scenario and mathematical representations of the scenario. You will need to make and justify claims about the scenario and derive an equation connected to that scenario. Also, you will be asked to make predictions (about different situations or changes to the original scenario) and/or justify your answers or predictions.

Tips for Section I: Multiple-Choice Questions

Remember that there is no penalty for wrong answers. This means that you should try to answer all the questions.

Guess logically. For the AP Physics 2 exam, all multiple-choice questions will have four answer choices and only one correct answer. If you’re not sure about the correct answer, instead of randomly guessing, you can improve your chances of getting the correct answer by eliminating at least two answer choices.

Look for distractors. Distractors are choices that may look reasonable but are incorrect. For example, if the question is expecting you to divide to get an answer, the distractor may be an answer obtained by multiplying. Watch out for quadratics (such as centripetal force) or inverse squares (such as Coulomb’s law).

If a formula is needed, try to use approximations (or simple multiplication and division). For example, the magnitude of the acceleration due to gravity (g) can be approximated as 10 m/s². You can also use estimations or order of magnitude approximations to see if answers make sense.

Make connections between questions and topics when possible. If you cannot recall some information, perhaps another similar question will cue you as to what you need to know. (Note that you may work on only one part of the exam at a time.) When you read the question, try to link it to the overall general topic, such as electricity. Then narrow down the specific area and the associated formula. Finally, you must know which quantities are vectors and which quantities are scalars.

Practice both with and without timing. At the start of your review, you may want to work without a timer on the multiple-choice questions for the diagnostic test and the first practice test. A few days before the exam (see the sample study plan later in this Introduction), you should attempt the second practice test timed.

Tips for Section II: Free-Response Questions

Be prepared. Make sure that you have a working calculator with extra batteries in the days before your exam.

Read the entire question carefully and plan your response. Before solving the problem, make sure you know what the question is asking of you. Write down the general concept being used—for example, conservation of mechanical energy or conservation of energy. Then write down the equations you plan to use. For example, if the problem requires you to use conservation of mechanical energy (potential and kinetic energies), write out those equations:

Review the equation sheet. An equation sheet will be provided on exam day. Make sure you know where the formulas and constants can be found on this sheet. One of the first things you may notice is that you are not given every formula you have ever learned. Some teachers may let you use a formula sheet during their classroom exams, and some teachers may require you to memorize formulas. Even if you get to use a formula sheet during a classroom exam, you should memorize derivations and variations of formulas. Furthermore, since you are not given specific formulas for some concepts, you should begin learning how these formulas are derived, starting at the beginning of the school year. For example, you will not be given the specific formulas for projectile motion problems since these are easily derived from the standard kinematics equations. If you begin reviewing a few weeks before the AP exam, you may want to make index cards of formulas to help you to learn them.

Show all of your work. Include all formulas, substitutions, and general concepts used to earn full credit. When you are making substitutions, indicate to the grader what you are doing. For example, if you are calculating the net force on a mass, write as neatly as possible:

Include all relevant information. Show the grader that you understand what the question is asking. You may want to make a few sketches or write down your thoughts in an attempt to find the correct solution path. If a written response is requested, make sure you write neatly and answer the question in full sentences.

Remember to label all diagrams. Sometimes the question may refer to a lab experiment typically performed in class or simulated data are given. In that case, you may be asked to make a graph. Make sure the graph is labeled correctly (with axes labeled and units clearly marked), points are plotted as accurately as possible, and best-fit lines or curves are used where appropriate. Do not connect the dots. Always use the best-fit line for calculating slopes. Make sure you include units on all final answers, including slopes. If you are drawing vectors, make sure the arrowheads are clearly visible. For angles, there is some room for variation. If you are asked to draw a free-body diagram, include only actual applied forces; do not include component forces. Centripetal force is not an applied force and should not be included on a free-body diagram.

Pay attention to your calculator mode. Since angles are measured in degrees, be sure your calculator is in the correct mode. If scientific notation is used, make sure you know how to input the numbers into your calculator correctly. Remember, each calculator is different.

When you are not sure how to solve a problem, don’t panic! Follow these ten tips:

Make sure you understand the general concepts involved, and jot down those concepts, plus all appropriate equations.

Try to see how this problem may be similar to one you have solved before.

Determine what information is relevant and what information is irrelevant to what is being asked.

Rephrase the question in your mind. Maybe the question is worded in a way that is different from what you are used to.

Draw a sketch of the situation if one is not provided.

Write out what you think is the best way to solve the problem. This sometimes triggers a solution.

Use numbers or estimations if the solution is strictly algebraic manipulation, such as deriving a formula in terms of given quantities or constants.

Relax. Sometimes if you move on to another problem, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and just relax for a moment, the tension and anxiety may go away and allow you to continue.

Do not leave anything out. Unlike on the multiple-choice questions, you need to show all of your work to earn credit.

Understand what you are being asked to do. The AP Physics 2 exam requires you to respond in specific ways to certain key words or task verbs:

Calculate—provide numerical and algebraic work leading to the final answer (and don’t forget units and significant figures!)

Compare—elaborate on similarities and/or differences

Derive—mathematically manipulate a fundamental equation (such as those given on the equation sheet) into the desired form

Describe—list the relevant characteristics

Determine—after explaining or calculating, arrive at a conclusion

Draw—create a diagram that shows physical objects and their relationships

Estimate—roughly calculate (to the closest power of 10), indicate greater/less than, or indicate positive/negative values (no need to show work)

Indicate—simply provide information (without explanation)

Justify—provide qualitative (not mathematical) reasons to support your claim

Label—indicate unit, scale, or components in a graph or other representation

Plot—place specific data points onto a scaled grid; do not connect the dots (although trends, especially linear ones, may be superimposed on the graph)

Rank—order by magnitude

Sketch—without numerical scaling or specific data points, draw a representation that captures the key trend in the relationship (curvature, asymptotes, and so on)

Verify—show that the specific condition is met and explain why it applies

Scoring of the AP Physics 2 Exam

The AP Physics 2 exam is scored on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. Table D describes each score.

Table D AP Physics 2 Exam Scores

Scores of 3 or above