Topics Covered
AP Physics 2
A. Fluids
1 Properties of fluids: density and pressure
2 Variation of pressure with depth (Pascal’s Principle)
3 Buoyant force and Archimedes’ Principle
4 Fluid dynamics: continuity equation
5 Bernoulli’s Principle and real-world fluid flow
6 Applications of fluids (blood flow, airplane lift)
B. Thermodynamics
1 Temperature and heat: definitions and units
2 Heat transfer methods: conduction, convection, radiation
3 Specific heat capacity and calorimetry
4 Phase changes and latent heat
5 First Law of Thermodynamics (Energy Conservation)
6 Work done by a gas (P-V diagrams)
7 Ideal gas law and kinetic molecular theory basics
8 Second Law of Thermodynamics: entropy concepts
9 Heat engines and efficiency
C. Electric Force, Field, and Potential
1 Coulomb’s Law (force between point charges)
2 Electric field: definition, calculation, and representation
3 Electric potential energy
4 Electric potential (voltage) and equipotential lines
5 Relationships between electric field and potential
6 Motion of charges in electric fields
D. Electric Circuits
1 Electric current: definition and units
2 Resistance, resistivity, and Ohm’s Law
3 Series and parallel circuits (calculating equivalent resistance)
4 Power in electric circuits
5 Kirchhoff’s loop and junction rules
6 RC circuits (Resistor-Capacitor circuits): charging and discharging
E. Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction
1 Magnetic fields: definition and visualization
2 Magnetic forces on moving charges and current-carrying wires
3 Magnetic fields created by current (Biot-Savart Law basics)
4 Faraday’s Law of Induction
5 Lenz’s Law (direction of induced current)
6 Inductors and simple L-R circuits
7 Applications: electric motors, generators, transformers
F. Geometric and Physical Optics
1 Properties of light: reflection and refraction
2 Mirrors: ray diagrams and image formation
3 Lenses: ray diagrams and image formation
4 Snell’s Law and critical angle
5 Diffraction and interference of waves
6 Young’s Double Slit Experiment
7 Polarization of light
G. Quantum, Atomic, and Nuclear Physics
1 Photons and the photoelectric effect
2 Energy of photons and matter waves
3 Atomic models: Bohr’s model of the atom
4 Nuclear reactions: fission and fusion
5 Mass-energy equivalence (E = mc²)
6 Radioactive decay: alpha, beta, and gamma decay
7 Half-life and decay calculations
