AP Physics 2 : AP Physics 2

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics 2

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Magnetism And Electromagnetism

A charged particle enters a uniform magnetic field, with velocity v perpendicular to the field, and moves in a circular path of radius R. If the particle's mass were doubled, the radius would become __________.

Possible Answers:

R/2

R/4

R

4R

2R

Correct answer:

2R

Explanation:

A charged particle's motion in a uniform magnetic field is described by R = mv/qB, so the radius of the particle's path is proportional to its mass. Thus if mass is doubled, radius is also doubled. 

Example Question #1 : Right Hand Rules

An electron moves at 85km/s to the right along the plane of the page, while a uniform magnetic field points into the page. In what direction does the force act on the moving electron?

Possible Answers:

Out of the page

Upward along the plane of the page

To the right

Downward along the plane of the page

Into the page at an angle

Correct answer:

Upward along the plane of the page

Explanation:

This question requires knowlegde of the right-hand rule. Point the fingers of your right hand in the direction of the electron's velocity (to the right). Point your thumb in the direction of the magnetic field (into the page). Your palm should be facing in the direction of the force on a positive particle. However, electrons are negative, so this direction must be reversed, meaning that the direction of the force is upward along the plane of the page.

Example Question #1 : Magnetic Forces And Energy

An electron is moving at a constant velocity due east. It travels from a region of zero magnetic field into a uniform magnetic field of nonzero magnitude and unknown direction. Which of the following could not describe the electron's motion after entering the field?

Possible Answers:

It travels in a helical path

Its path begins curving to the south

Its path begins curving to the north

It continues traveling east, but at a greater velocity

It continues traveling east at the same velocity

Correct answer:

It continues traveling east, but at a greater velocity

Explanation:

A magnetic force can accelerate a charged particle by changing the direction of its velocity, but cannot change the magnitude of velocity.

If the magnetic field has any components perpendicular to the particle's initial velocity, the particle will experience a force according to the equation:

This force is generated perpendicular to the particle's path and will cause a change in the direction of the particle's velocity. If the magnetic field is parallel to the initial velocity, the particle will experience no magnetic force, and its path will remain unchanged. It is not possible for the particle to accelerate in the magnetic field without changing direction.

Example Question #2 : Velocity And Waves

Through which of the following would you expect a photon to travel fastest?

Possible Answers:

Glass

Vacuum 

Water

Air

Correct answer:

Vacuum 

Explanation:

A photon will travel fastest through a vacuum. Photons are generally massless and can be thought of as a light wave, which travels fastest in a vacuum and slowest through a metal or solid. This can be visualized using the concept of the index of refraction, which describes the speed of light through air compared to the speed through other mediums. A vacuum will be the least dense and cause the least hindrance to a photon as it travels, thus giving it the lowest index of refraction and allowing the fastest speed of light.

Example Question #22 : Light

Which of the following waves carry the greatest amount of energy?

Possible Answers:

X-rays

Infrared waves

Radio waves

Gamma rays

Ultraviolet light

Correct answer:

Gamma rays

Explanation:

The energy of a wave increases with increasing frequency and decreasing wavelength. Considering these different waves, radiowaves possess the longest wavelengths and gamma rays the shortest wavelength, thus gamma rays carry the greatest amount of energy.

Example Question #13 : Circuits

1_a_circuit

What is the resistance through resistor R given that the current through the circuit is 1 A?

Possible Answers:

0.5 Ω

2 Ω

4 Ω

1 Ω

Correct answer:

2 Ω

Explanation:

In order to solve this problem, we must understand that the resistance of parallel resistors is added inversely and that series resistors are added directly.

Series
R_{total}= R_{1} + R_{2} + R_{3}


Parallel
\frac{1}{R_{total}}= \frac{1}{R_{1}} + \frac{1}{R_{2}} + \frac{1}{R_{3}}

Ohm’s Law
V=iR

 

We can first find the total resistance of the circuit to be 4 Ω using ohm's law . Then by subtracting the resistor in series (2 Ω) from the total resistance, we can set the remaining parallel resistors equal to 2 Ω. Finally, we can use the parallel resistor equation to find R. Remember that you can simply count the two resistors in series on the far right branch of the circuit (R and 2 Ω) as one number in the parallel resistor formula giving us

\frac{1}{2}= \frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{2 + R}

we can solve for this to find that R = 2 Ω

Example Question #1 : Current

During the cold winter months, some gloves have the ability to provide extra warmth due to an internal heating source. A simplified circuit, similar to those in electric gloves, is comprised of a 9 V battery with no internal resistance and three resistors as shown in the image below. 

Screen_shot_2013-10-09_at_11.08.15_pm

What direction do electrons flow through the circuit?

Possible Answers:

Cannot be determined

Clockwise

Counterclockwise

Correct answer:

Counterclockwise

Explanation:

Remember that convention dictates that current flows in the direction of positive charge (protons), thus, electrons flow in the opposite direction. Also remember that the larger length on the battery symbol on the circuit diagram indicates that current flows in this direction. In the diagram below, we can see that current flows clockwise, thus electrons flow counterclockwise.

Screen_shot_2013-10-09_at_11.11.43_pm

Example Question #2 : Current

Batteries and AC current are often used to charge a capacitor. A common example of capacitor use is in computer hard drives, where capacitors are charged in a specific pattern to code information. A simplified circuit with capacitors can be seen below. The capacitance of C1 is 0.5 μF and the capacitances of C2 and C3 are 1 μF each. A 10 V battery with an internal resistance of 1 Ω supplies the circuit.

Pretext Question_2

What direction is current flowing through the circuit?

Possible Answers:

Clockwise

Counterclockwise

Cannot be determined

Correct answer:

Counterclockwise

Explanation:

Remember that convention dictates that current flows in the direction of positive charge (protons). Also remember that the larger length on the battery symbol on the circuit diagram indicates that current flows in this direction. In the diagram below, we can see that current flows counterclockwise.

Current_direction

Example Question #611 : Mcat Physical Sciences

Batteries and AC current are often used to charge a capacitor. A common example of capacitor use is in computer hard drives, where capacitors are charged in a specific pattern to code information. A simplified circuit with capacitors can be seen below. The capacitance of C1 is 0.5 μF and the capacitances of C2 and C3 are 1 μF each. A 10 V battery with an internal resistance of 1 Ω supplies the circuit.

PretextQuestion_2

Capacitors in series share the same __________, while capacitors in parallel share the same __________.

Possible Answers:

Current . . . charge

Voltage . . . current

Current . . . voltage

Charge . . . current

Correct answer:

Current . . . voltage

Explanation:

As with resistors, capacitors in series share the same current. This is a re-statement of the law of conservation of charge. In contrast, capacitors and resistors in parallel share the same voltage.

Example Question #1 : Circuits

current flows through a wire with a resistance of . Find the power generated by this current.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Electric power is expressed in a number of ways. We will need to use the relationship that involves current and resistance:

We are given the current and resistance, allowing us to calculate the power.

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