Algebra-based

AP Physics 2 mentoring

An algebra-based second course covering thermodynamics, electricity, circuits, magnetism, optics, waves and modern physics, building on the reasoning skills from AP Physics 1.

Units: 7
Topics: 47
Concepts tracked: 62

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Who this course suits

Students who have completed a first physics course such as AP Physics 1.

Every student starts with the free diagnostic, so mentoring begins at the right concept rather than at chapter one. Your mentor then works through the units below in the order your learning path recommends, with practice between classes targeting the exact concepts and errors that need work.

What AP Physics 2 covers

Unit structure follows the current AP course framework. Open a unit to see its topics and the concepts we track in each.

Unit 9Thermodynamics6 topics
- 9.1Kinetic theory of temperature and pressure
  - Kinetic theory of temperature and pressure
- 9.2The ideal gas law
  - Ideal gas law
- 9.3Thermal energy transfer and equilibrium
  - Thermal energy transfer and equilibrium
- 9.4The first law of thermodynamics
  - First law of thermodynamics
  - PV diagrams and gas processes
- 9.5Specific heat and thermal conductivity
  - Specific heat and latent heat
  - Thermal conductivity
- 9.6Entropy and the second law of thermodynamics
  - Entropy and the second law
Free further reading
From College Physics for AP Courses 2e by OpenStax (Rice University), licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Access for free at openstax.org.
Unit 10Electric Force, Field, and Potential7 topics
- 10.1Electric charge and electric force
  - Electric charge and conservation
  - Coulomb's law
- 10.2Conservation of charge and charging processes
  - Electric charge and conservation
- 10.3Electric fields
  - Electric field
  - Superposition of fields
- 10.4Electric potential energy
  - Electric potential energy
- 10.5Electric potential
  - Electric potential
  - Equipotentials and field
- 10.6Capacitors
  - Capacitance
  - Dielectrics
  - Energy stored in capacitors
- 10.7Conservation of electric energy
  - Electric potential energy
  - Conservation of energy
Free further reading
From College Physics for AP Courses 2e by OpenStax (Rice University), licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Access for free at openstax.org.
Unit 11Electric Circuits8 topics
- 11.1Electric current
  - Electric current
- 11.2Simple circuits
  - Resistance and Ohm's law
- 11.3Resistance, resistivity and Ohm's law
  - Resistivity
  - Resistance and Ohm's law
- 11.4Electric power
  - Electric power
- 11.5Compound direct-current circuits
  - Series and parallel combinations
  - EMF and internal resistance
- 11.6Kirchhoff's loop rule
  - Kirchhoff's loop rule
- 11.7Kirchhoff's junction rule
  - Kirchhoff's junction rule
- 11.8Resistor-capacitor circuits
  - RC circuits
Free further reading
From College Physics for AP Courses 2e by OpenStax (Rice University), licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Access for free at openstax.org.
Unit 12Magnetism and Electromagnetism4 topics
- 12.1Magnetic fields
  - Magnetic fields
- 12.2Magnetism and moving charges
  - Magnetic force on moving charges
- 12.3Magnetism and current-carrying wires
  - Magnetic force on current-carrying wires
  - Magnetic field of a current
- 12.4Electromagnetic induction and Faraday's law
  - Magnetic flux
  - Faraday's law
  - Lenz's law
  - Motional emf
Free further reading
From College Physics for AP Courses 2e by OpenStax (Rice University), licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Access for free at openstax.org.
Unit 13Geometric Optics4 topics
- 13.1Reflection
  - Reflection
- 13.2Images formed by mirrors
  - Images formed by mirrors
- 13.3Refraction
  - Refraction and Snell's law
  - Total internal reflection
- 13.4Images formed by lenses
  - Images formed by lenses
Free further reading
From College Physics for AP Courses 2e by OpenStax (Rice University), licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Access for free at openstax.org.
Unit 14Waves, Sound, and Physical Optics9 topics
- 14.1Wave pulses and wave properties
  - Wave pulses and wave properties
- 14.2Periodic waves
  - Periodic waves
  - Sound
- 14.3Boundary behaviour of waves and polarization
  - Boundary behaviour and polarization
- 14.4Electromagnetic waves
  - Electromagnetic waves
- 14.5The Doppler effect
  - Doppler effect
- 14.6Wave interference and standing waves
  - Interference and standing waves
- 14.7Diffraction
  - Diffraction
- 14.8Double-slit interference and diffraction gratings
  - Double-slit interference and gratings
- 14.9Thin-film interference
  - Thin-film interference
Free further reading
From College Physics for AP Courses 2e by OpenStax (Rice University), licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Access for free at openstax.org.
Unit 15Modern Physics9 topics
- 15.1Quantum theory and wave-particle duality
  - Photons and wave-particle duality
  - Matter waves
- 15.2The Bohr model of atomic structure
  - Bohr model and energy levels
- 15.3Emission and absorption spectra
  - Emission and absorption spectra
- 15.4Blackbody radiation
  - Blackbody radiation
- 15.5The photoelectric effect
  - Photoelectric effect
- 15.6Compton scattering
  - Compton scattering
- 15.7Fission, fusion and nuclear decay
  - Mass-energy equivalence
  - Fission and fusion
  - Nuclear decay
- 15.8Types of radioactive decay
  - Nuclear decay
- 15.9Half-life
  - Half-life
Free further reading
From College Physics for AP Courses 2e by OpenStax (Rice University), licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Access for free at openstax.org.

Other AP Physics courses

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