AP Physics 2 : AP Physics 2

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics 2

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Principles Of Quantum Mechanics

Two grams of helium are completely converted into energy and used to power a  man. If all of this energy is converted into kinetic energy of the man, how fast will he move? 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The energy from the two grams of helium can be found using 

This energy can then be equated to the man's kinetic energy, which can then be used to find the man's velocity.

Example Question #2 : Mass Energy Equivalence

If the combination of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus results in a mass defect of , what is the binding energy for this atom?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In this question, we're given the mass defect of an atom's nucleus and are asked to find the binding energy for this atom.

To begin with, it's important to understand that when protons and neutrons come to be held together within the nucleus of an atom, there is a tremendously powerful force holding them together. This incredibly large force accounts for the mass defect. In other words, the total mass of the nucleus is smaller than the sum of the individual masses of the protons and neutrons that make up that nucleus, and this is due to the strong force.

Einstein's mass-energy equivalence explains the observable mass defect; the mass lost is converted into an enormous amount of energy according to the following equation.

But first, we'll need to convert the mass given to us in the question stem into grams.

Furthermore, because we know the value for the speed of light, we can use this information to solve for the binding energy.

Example Question #341 : Ap Physics 2

A student on the Earth observes a spaceship moving at a considerable fraction of the speed of light. As a result of the spaceship's motion, the student observes that the clocks aboard the spaceship are running slower than when the spaceship was on the Earth. When a student aboard the spaceship observes the student's clock on the Earth, what effect will he notice on the rate of the Earth-bound clock?

Possible Answers:

The Earth-bound clock runs at the same rate

The Earth-bound clock first runs slow, then fast

The Earth-bound clock appears to run slower

The Earth-bound clock first runs fast, then slow

The Earth-bound clock appears to run faster

Correct answer:

The Earth-bound clock appears to run slower

Explanation:

For the observer on the spaceship, the Earth appears to be moving, and special relativity tells us that any observer moving at constant speed can consider him/herself stopped. Therefore, the clock on the Earth experiences the same slowing from the spaceship's viewpoint as the spaceship's clock from the Earth viewpoint. It's a little bit like looking at someone from far away. They look small due to the distance, but you do not look big to them, you also look smaller.

Example Question #12 : Quantum And Nuclear Physics

Determine the observed length of a  rod traveling along it's long axis at  in relation to an observer.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Using the formula for length contraction:

Where is the rest length,

is the velocity of the object

is the speed of light

is the observed length

Plugging in values

Example Question #1 : Principles Of Special Relativity

Determine the observed length of a  rod traveling along it's long axis at  in relation to an observer.

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use the following equation:

Where is the rest length,

is the velocity of the object

is the speed of light

is the observed length

Plugging in values

Example Question #1 : Principles Of Special Relativity

 long rod is traveling at  in relationship to an observer along it's long axis. Determine the observed length.

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Using

Plugging in values

Example Question #3 : Principles Of Special Relativity

 tall rocket is traveling at  in relationship to an observer along it's long axis. Determine the observed length.

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Using

Plugging in values

Example Question #1 : Other Principles Of Quantum Mechanics

A proton is confined to a one-dimensional box of length . It has an energy equal to that of a photon with a wavelength of . What excited state is the proton in? (Remember, the first excited state is where  since the ground state is ).

Possible Answers:

Second excited state.

Not enough information to solve the problem.

Ground state.

Fourth excited state.

Correct answer:

Second excited state.

Explanation:

The energy of the quantum system in the  state is given by

where  is Planck's constant,  is the mass of the proton and  is the length of the box. The energy of a photon is given by

where  is the frequency,  is the speed of light and  is the wavelength. Setting these equal we can solve for ,

Since the ground state is , the proton must be in the second excited state.

Example Question #12 : Principles Of Quantum Mechanics

The expectation value  of a particle in a quantum system tells us what about the particle?

Possible Answers:

The exact location of the particle

If the particle exists or not

The most probable location of the particle

The energy of the particle

The momentum of the particle

Correct answer:

The most probable location of the particle

Explanation:

From a statistical standpoint, the expectation value of the position, , can only tell us the most probable location of the particle. A central idea in quantum mechanics is that we can never really know exactly where a particle is as a function of time, but rather where we are most likely to find the particle if we choose to observe it.

Example Question #13 : Principles Of Quantum Mechanics

If a particle in a quantum system is bounded, this means what about the calculated particle energy?

Possible Answers:

The energy must be positive and continuous.

The energy must be negative and continuous.

There is nothing constraining the energy of the particle.

The energy of the particle can be anything, positive or negative.

The energy is described by discrete energy levels, and the particle can only have energy that corresponds to these levels, positive or negative.

Correct answer:

The energy is described by discrete energy levels, and the particle can only have energy that corresponds to these levels, positive or negative.

Explanation:

A key characteristic of bound-state systems is the quantization of the energy into discrete energy levels. The energy can be negative or positive, but the particle can only have an energy that corresponds to one of these energy levels, nothing other. An example is the energy of a hydrogen atom, where the energy levels are given by:

These discrete numbers come from the energy of an electron, which is the fundamental charge.

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