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A fresh physics question every day. Master fluids, thermodynamics, electricity, optics, and modern physics one problem at a time!
Thursday, July 2, 2026
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AP Physics 2 is an algebra-based, second-year physics course that picks up where Physics 1 leaves off and, after the 2024-25 redesign, no longer includes fluids (now part of Physics 1). The course concentrates on thermodynamics; electric force, field, and potential; electric circuits; magnetism and electromagnetic induction; geometric and physical optics; waves and sound; and modern physics, including quantum, atomic, and nuclear phenomena along with topics like blackbody radiation and Compton scattering added in the revision. As an algebra-based course it avoids calculus but demands sophisticated conceptual reasoning across a broad range of phenomena that are often less intuitive than mechanics. Students must reason about invisible fields, energy at the particulate and electromagnetic level, and wave behavior, and they must connect microscopic models to macroscopic observations. The exam, like Physics 1, emphasizes explanation and argumentation: free-response questions require translating between representations, designing experiments, and justifying conclusions in clear prose, not just computing answers. Common difficulties include applying conservation principles in electrical and thermal contexts, keeping track of signs and directions for fields and forces, and analyzing circuits with combinations of resistors and capacitors. Optics trips up many students because ray diagrams, lens/mirror equations, and interference all require careful sign conventions and geometric reasoning. The four-option multiple-choice format and removal of multi-select questions match the broader AP Physics redesign. The most effective preparation revisits Physics 1 reasoning habits while drilling each new domain conceptually, practicing released free-response questions against official rubrics, and treating diagrams, equations, and words as equivalent ways to express the same physics.
Two sections over 3 hours, each worth 50%: Section I is 40 single-select multiple-choice questions (four options) in 80 minutes; Section II is 4 free-response questions in 100 minutes with varying point values, spanning question types such as mathematical routines, translation between representations, experimental design, and qualitative/quantitative translation.
Section I (50%) and Section II (50%) combine into a composite that is converted to the reported AP score of 1 to 5.