AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based - College Board

1 AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based Course and Exam Description Including: Course Framework and Sample Exam Questions Effective Fall 2017. About the College Board The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to College success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world's leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to College through programs and services in College readiness and College success including the SAT and the Advanced Placement Program.

2 The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators, and schools. For further information, visit AP Equity and Access Policy The College Board strongly encourages educators to make equitable access a guiding principle for their AP programs by giving all willing and academically prepared students the opportunity to participate in AP. We encourage the elimination of barriers that restrict access to AP for students from ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic groups that have been traditionally underserved.

3 Schools should make every effort to ensure their AP classes reflect the diversity of their student population. The College Board also believes that all students should have access to academically challenging course work before they enroll in AP classes, which can prepare them for AP success. It is only through a commitment to equitable preparation and access that true equity and excellence can be achieved. AP Course and Exam Descriptions AP course and exam descriptions are updated regularly. Please visit AP Central . ( ) to determine whether a more recent course and exam description PDF is available.

4 2017 The College Board . College Board , Advanced Placement Program, AP, AP Central, and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board . All other products and services may be trademarks of their respective owners. Visit the College Board on the Web: ii Contents 1 About This Edition 2 Acknowledgments 3 About AP. 3 Offering AP Courses and Enrolling Students 4 How AP Courses and Exams Are Developed 4 How AP Exams Are Scored 5 Using and Interpreting AP Scores 5 Additional Resources 6 About the AP Physics 2 Course 6 About This Course 6 College Course Equivalent 6 Prerequisites 6 The Laboratory Requirement 6 Participating in the AP Course Audit 9 The AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based Course Framework 9 Overview 11 Science Practices for AP Physics 16 Content Outline 16 Content Area 1: Fluids 21 Content Area 2: Thermodynamics 31 Content Area 3.

5 Electric Force, Field, and Potential 44 Content Area 4: Electric Circuits 49 Content Area 5: Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction 57 Content Area 6: Geometric and Physical Optics 63 Content Area 7: Quantum, Atomic, and Nuclear Physics 75 References 76 The Laboratory Investigations 76 Inquiry Instruction in the AP Science Classroom 77 Expectations for Analysis of Uncertainty in Laboratory Investigations 77 Time and Resources 78 References iii 79 The AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based Exam 79 Exam Information 80 Student Work for Free-Response Sections 80 Terms Defined 81 The Paragraph-Length Response 82 Expectations for the Analysis of Uncertainty 82 Calculators and Equation Tables 83 Time Management 84 Sample Questions for the AP Physics 2 Exam 84 Multiple-Choice Questions 109 Answers to Multiple-Choice Questions 110 Free-Response Questions 117 Scoring Guidelines Appendixes 122 Appendix A: The Big Ideas in AP Physics 2.

6 131 Appendix B: Developing Big Ideas from Foundational Physics Principles 132 Appendix C: AP Physics 2 Equations and Constants 136 Contact Us iv About This Edition This revised edition of the AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based Course and Exam Description provides a stand-alone course and exam description for the AP Physics 2 course. While the scope, sequence, and course content of AP Physics 2 has not changed, this revised edition provides a content outline of the course that is topically arranged. The content outline is also presented in a tabular format to more clearly show the relationships between enduring understandings, learning objectives, and essential knowledge statements.

7 Additional conceptual information related to each enduring understanding and learning objective is included in the essential knowledge sections of the content outline. Relevant equations from the AP Physics 2 Equations and Constants tables have also been added to the essential knowledge sections so that teachers and students can see specific instances where they apply. The AP Physics 1 Course and Exam Description has also been revised in the same way. Return to Course and Exam Description AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based Table of Contents 1.

8 2017 The College Board Acknowledgments The College Board would like to acknowledge the following committee members, consultants, and reviewers for their assistance with and commitment to the development of this curriculum: Members of the AP Physics 1 and 2 Curriculum Development and Assessment Committee Andrew Elby (co-chair), University of Maryland, College Park, MD. Connie Wells (co-chair), Pembroke Hill School, Kansas City, MO. Eugenia Etkina, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ. Dolores Gende, Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, TX. Nick Giordano, Auburn University, Auburn, AL.

9 Robert Morse, St. Albans School, Washington, DC. Deborah Roudebush, Oakton High School, Vienna, VA. Gay Stewart (co-chair), University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. Consultants and Reviewers for the College Board Carlos Ayala, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA. Richard Duschl, Pennsylvania State University State College , PA. Bob Hilborn, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX. Jose Mestre, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL. Jim Pellegrino, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL. Jeanne Pemberton, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.

10 Mark Reckase, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. Nancy Songer, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Marianne Wiser, Clark University, Worcester, MA. Director, Curriculum and Content Development for AP Physics Trinna Johnson Return to 2 AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based Course and Exam Description Table of Contents 2017 The College Board Offering AP Courses and Enrolling Students About AP. About AP. The College Board 's Advanced Placement Program (AP ) enables students to pursue College - level studies while still in high school. Through more than 30 courses, each culminating in a rigorous exam, AP provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to earn College credit and/or advanced placement.