AP Physics 2 : AP Physics 2

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics 2

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Mirrors And Lenses

The focal point for a mirror is 56cm behind the mirror. Is the mirror concave or convex, and what is its radius of curvature?

Possible Answers:

Convex with radius of curvature of 112cm

Concave with radius of curvature of 112cm

Concave with radius of curvature of 28cm

Convex with radius of curvature of 28cm

Correct answer:

Convex with radius of curvature of 112cm

Explanation:

Since the focal point falls behind the mirror it must be convex. The radius of curvature can be found using the focal length equation.
 



Example Question #1 : Reflection And Refraction

An incandescent light bulb is shown through a glass prism. The certain wavlength of the light is then directed into a glass cuvette containing an unknown concentration of protein. Commonly, this process is called spectroscopy and is used to determine the concentrations of DNA, RNA, and proteins in solutions. The indices of reflection of air, glass, and the solution are 1, 1.5, and 1.3, respectively.

The process of light entering glass from the air is called __________.

Possible Answers:

diffraction

refraction

reflection

absorption

Correct answer:

refraction

Explanation:

This question is asking us about the different processes that can happen to light upon hitting a surface. Thinking back to the properties of light, we know that absorption, reflection, and refraction are all processes that light can undergo when interacting with a surface.

Absorption means that the energy associated with the light is captured, and no photons are ejected from the surface after the collision of the incident photon and the surface. Reflection occurs when no light enters the new medium and instead bounces off at the angle to normal that it hit. Refraction occurs when some light enters the new medium. In this case, light is entering glass from the air; thus, the process we are concerned about is refraction. 

Example Question #2 : Snell's Law

An incandescent light bulb is shown through a glass prism. The certain wavlength of the light is then directed into a glass cuvette containing an unknown concentration of protein. Commonly, this process is called spectroscopy and is used to determine the concentrations of DNA, RNA, and proteins in solutions. The indices of reflection of air, glass, and the solution are 1, 1.5, and 1.3, respectively.

The red light, selected for by the prism, is shown through air onto the glass cuvette at an angle of 30o to the normal. At what angle to normal does the light have when it is in the glass?

Possible Answers:

30o

45o

19.5o

22o

Correct answer:

19.5o

Explanation:

This problem asks us to consider refraction, that is, the bending of light when it enters a new medium. Thinking back to our light formulas in physics, we know that , where n is the index of refraction of the medium and  is the angle the light ray makes to normal.

Using the information provided in the pre-question text and the question above, we can solve for .

 

Example Question #1 : Velocity And Index Of Refraction

An incandescent light bulb is shown through a glass prism. The certain wavlength of the light is then directed into a glass cuvette containing an unknown concentration of protein. Commonly, this process is called spectroscopy and is used to determine the concentrations of DNA, RNA, and proteins in solutions. The indices of reflection of air, glass, and the solution are 1, 1.5, and 1.3, respectively.

The velocity of the light __________ when it moves from air to glass.

Possible Answers:

decreases

remains the same

cannot be determined

increases

Correct answer:

decreases

Explanation:

This question asks us to consider the relationship between velocity and index of refraction of a medium. If we think back to the definition of index of refraction, we know that it is defined by the ratio of the velocity of light in a vacuum and the velocity of light in some other medium.

n is the index of refraction, c is the speed of light in a vacuum, and v is the speed of light in the new medium.

We can see that n and v are inversely proportional, meaning that the higher the n, the lower the velocity. As the light moved from air (n =1) to glass (n = 1.5), the n increased, and thus the velocity must decrease because the speed of light in a vacuum is constant.

Example Question #1 : Velocity And Index Of Refraction

An incandescent light bulb is shown through a glass prism. The certain wavlength of the light is then directed into a glass cuvette containing an unknown concentration of protein. Commonly, this process is called spectroscopy and is used to determine the concentrations of DNA, RNA, and proteins in solutions. The indices of reflection of air, glass, and the solution are 1, 1.5, and 1.3, respectively.

As light exits from the wall of the cuvette into the solution, its wavelength __________.

Possible Answers:

increases

cannot be determined

decreases

remains the same

Correct answer:

increases

Explanation:

This question asks us to find the relationship between the wavelength and index of refraction. We will need to know two equations to compute the relationship between the two.

First, we need to relate velocity and index of refraction. The definition of index of refraction allows us to relate the two.

 

We also know the relationship between velocity and wavelength.

 We can now set these formulas equal to each other to find the relationship between wavelength and index of refraction.

We can see that  and n are inversely related. If n decreases, the wavelength must increase. In our problem, light in moving from a higher index of refraction to a lower one, meaning the wavelength gets longer (increases).

Example Question #3 : Snell's Law

An incandescent light bulb is shown through a glass prism. The certain wavlength of the light is then directed into a glass cuvette containing an unknown concentration of protein. Commonly, this process is called spectroscopy and is used to determine the concentrations of DNA, RNA, and proteins in solutions. The indices of reflection of air, glass, and the solution are 1, 1.5, and 1.3, respectively.

Red light is selected for by the prism and shown onto the glass cuvette at an angle of 30o to the normal. At what angle to normal does the light travel when it is in the solution after it has moved through wall of the cuvette?

Possible Answers:

22.7o

35o

45o

19.5o

Correct answer:

22.7o

Explanation:

Notice that, in this problem, there are two different changes in indices of refraction: air to glass and glass to solution; thus, we need to compute the angle change twice. First, let’s look at how the angle changes from air to glass. We know from Snell’s law that , where n is the index of refraction of the medium and  is the angle the light ray makes to normal.

Rearranging, we can find the angle to normal in the glass.

Now, we can use this angle and repeat the above equation to find the angle that the light enters the solution.

Example Question #21 : Optics

An incandescent light bulb is shown through a glass prism. The certain wavlength of the light is then directed into a glass cuvette containing an unknown concentration of protein. Commonly, this process is called spectroscopy and is used to determine the concentrations of DNA, RNA, and proteins in solutions. The indices of reflection of air, glass, and the solution are 1, 1.5, and 1.3, respectively.

If the solution had a higher protein concentration than expected, how would the angle of refraction change as light travels from the glass into the solution?

Possible Answers:

It would be larger

It would be larger or smaller, depending on the color of the light

It would remain the same

It would be smaller

Correct answer:

It would be smaller

Explanation:

This question is asking us to consider what would happen if the solution were more concentrated, essentially, if there were more particles per unit volume (denser). If we think back to the definition of index of refraction, we know that it relates to the density of a medium. The denser the medium, the higher the index of refraction.

 

Looking at Snell’s law, we can see the relationship between index of refraction and the angle of refraction.

 

If the solution were more concentrated, n2 would increase, making the term on the right side of the equation smaller. The sin function of a smaller number gives a smaller angle; thus, as the concentration increases (and thus the index of refraction increases), the angle of refraction gets smaller.

Example Question #1 : Velocity And Index Of Refraction

How long will it take a photon to travel  through mineral oil?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The index of refraction is equal to the speed of light in a medium divided by the speed of light in a vacuum.

We can find the time to travel a given distance by manipulating this equation and combining it with the equation for rate: .

Plug in the given values and solve for the velocity in the medium.

Now we can return to the rate equation and solve for the time to travel .

We can recognize that the answer can be simplified by converting to nanoseconds.

Example Question #3 : General Principles And Properties

Sound projected from an opera stage strikes a flat wall in the opera house at an angle to the normal. What conclusion can be drawn about the reflection of this sound from the wall back into the room?

Possible Answers:

The reflection will be  to the same side of the normal

The reflection will be to the same side of the normal

The reflection will be  to the opposite side of the normal

The reflection will be  to the opposite side of the normal

The reflection will be  to the opposite side of the normal

Correct answer:

The reflection will be  to the opposite side of the normal

Explanation:

For all waves, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. The projection is to the opposite side of the normal at the same angle as the incident wave.

Think of the wall as a mirror. The angle with which the wave impacts a mirror will be equal to the angle with which it is reflected, but mirrored across the normal.

Example Question #11 : General Principles And Properties

An incandescent light bulb is shown through a glass prism. The certain wavlength of the light is then directed into a glass cuvette containing an unknown concentration of protein. Commonly, this process is called spectroscopy and is used to determine the concentrations of DNA, RNA, and proteins in solutions. The indices of reflection of air, glass, and the solution are 1, 1.5, and 1.3, respectively.

At what angle would the light passing through the glass cuvette need to hit the solution inside the cuvette for no light to enter the solution?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, we need to determine what this question is asking us to do. If no light entered the solution from the glass, we know this is total internal reflection. Remember that total internal reflection occurs when light from one medium hits a second medium at an angle higher that the critical angle. Thinking back to our physics formulas, we know that the critical angle can be determined by the equation below.

Plugging in the values for glass and the solution, we can find the critical angle.


 

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