AP Physics 2 · ⁨AP 물리학 2⁩

Learning Objective 9.2.A: Describe the properties of an ideal gas.

• 9.2.A.1 The classical model of an ideal gas assumes that the instantaneous velocities of atoms are random, the volumes of the atoms are negligible compared to the total volume occupied by the gas, the atoms collide elastically, and the only appreciable forces on the atoms are those that occur during collisions.
• 9.2.A.2 An ideal gas is one in which the relationships between pressure, volume, the number of moles or number of atoms, and temperature of a gas can be modeled using the equation
  • Equation: $PV = nRT = N k_B T$
• 9.2.A.3 Graphs modeling the pressure, temperature, and volume of gases can be used to describe or determine properties of that gas.
• 9.2.A.4 A temperature at which an ideal gas has zero pressure can be extrapolated from a graph of pressure as a function of temperature.

Learning Objective 9.3.A: Describe the transfer of energy between two systems in thermal contact due to temperature differences of those two systems.

• 9.3.A.1 Two systems are in thermal contact if the systems may transfer energy by thermal processes.
  • 9.3.A.1.i Heating is the transfer of energy into a system by thermal processes.
  • 9.3.A.1.ii Cooling is the transfer of energy out of a system by thermal processes.
• 9.3.A.2 The thermal processes by which energy may be transferred between systems at different temperatures are conduction, convection, and radiation.
• 9.3.A.3 Energy is transferred through thermal processes spontaneously from a higher-temperature system to a lower-temperature system.
  • 9.3.A.3.i In collisions between atoms from different systems, energy is most likely to be transferred from higher-energy atoms to lower-energy atoms.
  • 9.3.A.3.ii After many collisions of atoms from different systems, the most probable state is one in which both systems have the same temperature.
• 9.3.A.4 Thermal equilibrium results when no net energy is transferred by thermal processes between two systems in thermal contact with each other.

Learning Objective 9.5.A: Describe the energy required to change the temperature of an object by a certain amount.

• 9.5.A.1 The amount of energy required to change the temperature of a material is related to the material's specific heat.
  • Equation: $Q = mc\Delta T$
• 9.5.A.2 The specific heat of a material is an intrinsic property of that material that depends on the arrangement and interactions of the atoms that make up the material.

Learning Objective 9.5.B: Describe the rate at which energy is transferred by conduction through a given material.

• 9.5.B.1 The rate at which energy is transferred by conduction through a given material is related to the thermal conductivity, the physical dimensions of the material, and the temperature difference across the material.
  • Equation: $\dfrac{Q}{\Delta t} = \dfrac{kA\Delta T}{L}$
• 9.5.B.2 The thermal conductivity of a material is an intrinsic property of that material that depends on the arrangement and interactions of the atoms that make up the material.

Boundary statement: AP Physics 2 will model specific heat as independent of temperature.

Learning Objective 10.1.A: Describe the electric force that results from the interactions between charged objects or systems.

• 10.1.A.1 Charge is a fundamental property of all matter.
  • 10.1.A.1.i Charge is described as positive or negative.
  • 10.1.A.1.ii The magnitude of the charge of a single electron or proton, the elementary charge $e$, can be considered to be the smallest indivisible amount of charge.
  • 10.1.A.1.iii The charge of an electron is $-e$, the charge of a proton is $+e$, and a neutron has no electric charge.
  • 10.1.A.1.iv A point charge is a model in which the physical size of a charged object or system is negligible in the context of the situation being analyzed.
• 10.1.A.2 Coulomb's law describes the electrostatic force between two charged objects as directly proportional to the magnitude of each of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the objects.
  • Equation: $\left|\vec{F}_E\right| = \dfrac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\dfrac{\left|q_1 q_2\right|}{r^2} = k\dfrac{\left|q_1 q_2\right|}{r^2}$
• 10.1.A.3 The direction of the electrostatic force depends on the signs of the charges of the interacting objects and is parallel to the line of separation between the objects.
  • 10.1.A.3.i Two objects with charges of the same sign exert repulsive forces on each other.
  • 10.1.A.3.ii Two objects with charges of opposite signs exert attractive forces on each other.
• 10.1.A.4 Electric forces are responsible for some of the macroscopic properties of objects in everyday experiences. However, the large number of particle interactions that occur make it more convenient to treat everyday forces in terms of nonfundamental forces called contact forces, such as normal force, friction, and tension.

Learning Objective 10.1.B: Describe the electric and gravitational forces that result from interactions between charged objects with mass.

• 10.1.B.1 Electrostatic forces can be attractive or repulsive, while gravitational forces are always attractive.
• 10.1.B.2 For any two objects that have mass and electric charge, the magnitude of the gravitational force is usually much smaller than the magnitude of the electrostatic force.
• 10.1.B.3 Gravitational forces dominate at larger scales even though they are weaker than electrostatic forces, because systems at large scales tend to be electrically neutral.

Learning Objective 10.1.C: Describe the electric permittivity of a material or medium.

• 10.1.C.1 Electric permittivity is a measurement of the degree to which a material or medium is polarized in the presence of an electric field.
• 10.1.C.2 Electric polarization can be modeled as the induced rearrangement of electrons by an external electric field, resulting in a separation of positive and negative charges within a material or medium.
• 10.1.C.3 Free space has a constant value of electric permittivity, $\varepsilon_0$, that appears in physical relationships.
• 10.1.C.4 The permittivity of matter has a value different from that of free space that arises from the matter's composition and arrangement.
  • 10.1.C.4.i In a given material, electric permittivity is determined by the ease with which electrons can change configurations within the material.
  • 10.1.C.4.ii Conductors are made from electrically conducting materials in which charge carriers move easily; insulators are made from electrically nonconducting materials in which charge carriers cannot move easily.

Boundary statement: AP Physics 2 only expects students to make calculations of the electric force between four or fewer interacting charged objects or systems. The analysis of the resulting electric force from more charges is allowed in situations of high symmetry.

Learning Objective 10.2.A: Describe the behavior of a system using conservation of charge.

• 10.2.A.1 The net charge or charge distribution of a system can change in response to the presence of, or changes in, the net charge or charge distribution of other systems.
  • 10.2.A.1.i The net charge of a system can change due to friction or contact between systems.
  • 10.2.A.1.ii Induced charge separation occurs when the electrostatic force between two systems alters the distribution of charges within the systems, resulting in the polarization of one or both systems.
  • 10.2.A.1.iii Induced charge separation can occur in neutral systems.
• 10.2.A.2 Any change to a system's net charge is due to a transfer of charge between the system and its surroundings.
  • 10.2.A.2.i The charging of a system typically involves the transfer of electrons to and from the system.
  • 10.2.A.2.ii The net charge of a system will be constant unless there is a transfer of charge to or from the system.
• 10.2.A.3 Grounding involves electrically connecting a charged system to a much larger and approximately neutral system (e.g., Earth).

Learning Objective 10.4.A: Describe the electric potential energy of a system.

• 10.4.A.1 The electric potential energy of a system of two point charges equals the amount of work required for an external force to bring the point charges to their current positions from infinitely far away.
• 10.4.A.2 The general form for the electric potential energy of two charged objects is given by the equation
  • Equation: $U_E = \dfrac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\dfrac{q_1 q_2}{r} = k\dfrac{q_1 q_2}{r}$
• 10.4.A.3 The total electric potential energy of a system can be determined by finding the sum of the electric potential energies of the individual interactions between each pair of charged objects in the system.

Boundary statement: As the methods to calculate the electric potential energy due to extended charge distributions exceed the scope of the course, AP Physics 2 only requires that students calculate the electric potential energy of configurations of four or fewer point charges.

Learning Objective 10.5.A: Describe the electric potential due to a configuration of charged objects.

• 10.5.A.1 Electric potential describes the electric potential energy per unit charge at a point in space.
• 10.5.A.2 The electric potential due to multiple point charges can be determined by the principle of scalar superposition of the electric potential due to each of the point charges.
  • Equation: $V = \dfrac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\sum_{i}\dfrac{q_i}{r_i}$
• 10.5.A.3 The electric potential difference between two points is the change in electric potential energy per unit charge when a test charge is moved between the two points.
  • Equation: $\Delta V = \dfrac{\Delta U_E}{q}$
  • 10.5.A.3.i Electric potential difference may also result from chemical processes that cause positive and negative charges to separate, such as in a battery.
• 10.5.A.4 When conductors are in electrical contact, electrons will be redistributed such that the surfaces of the conductors are at the same electric potential.

Learning Objective 10.5.B: Describe the relationship between electric potential and electric field.

• 10.5.B.1 The average electric field between two points in space is equal to the electric potential difference between the two points divided by the distance between the two points.
  • Equation: $\left|\vec{E}\right| = \left|\dfrac{\Delta V}{\Delta r}\right|$
• 10.5.B.2 Electric field vector maps and equipotential lines are tools to describe the field produced by a charge or configuration of charges and can be used to predict the motion of charged objects in the field.
  • 10.5.B.2.i Equipotential lines represent lines of equal electric potential in space. These lines are also referred to as isolines of electric potential.
  • 10.5.B.2.ii Isolines are perpendicular to electric field vectors. An isoline map of electric potential can be constructed from an electric field vector map, and an electric field map may be constructed from an isoline map.
  • 10.5.B.2.iii An electric field vector points in the direction of decreasing potential.
  • 10.5.B.2.iv There is no component of an electric field along an isoline.

Boundary statement: As the methods to calculate the electric potential due to extended charges exceed the scope of the course, AP Physics 2 only expects that students calculate the electric potential of configurations of four or fewer particles (or more in situations of high symmetry).

Learning Objective 10.6.A: Describe the physical properties of a parallel-plate capacitor.

• 10.6.A.1 A parallel-plate capacitor consists of two separated parallel conducting surfaces that can hold equal amounts of charge with opposite signs.
• 10.6.A.2 Capacitance relates the magnitude of the charge stored on each plate to the electric potential difference created by the separation of those charges.
  • Equation: $C = \dfrac{Q}{\Delta V}$
  • 10.6.A.2.i The capacitance of a capacitor depends only on the physical properties of the capacitor, such as the capacitor's shape and the material used to separate the plates.
  • 10.6.A.2.ii The capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor is proportional to the area of one of its plates and inversely proportional to the distance between its plates. The constant of proportionality is the product of the dielectric constant, $\kappa$, of the material between the plates and the electric permittivity of free space, $\varepsilon_0$.
    • Equation: $C = \kappa\varepsilon_0\dfrac{A}{d}$
• 10.6.A.3 The electric field between two charged parallel plates with uniformly distributed electric charge, such as in a parallel-plate capacitor, is constant in both magnitude and direction, except near the edges of the plates.
  • 10.6.A.3.i The magnitude of the electric field between two charged parallel plates, where the plate separation is much smaller than the dimensions of the plates, can be described with the equation
    • Equation: $E_C = \dfrac{Q}{\kappa\varepsilon_0 A}$
  • 10.6.A.3.ii A charged particle between two oppositely charged parallel plates undergoes constant acceleration and therefore its motion shares characteristics with the projectile motion of an object with mass in the gravitational field near Earth's surface.
• 10.6.A.4 The electric potential energy stored in a capacitor is equal to the work done by an external force to separate that amount of charge on the capacitor.
• 10.6.A.5 The electric potential energy stored in a capacitor is described by the equation
  • Equation: $U_C = \dfrac{1}{2}Q\Delta V$
• 10.6.A.6 Adding a dielectric between two plates of a capacitor changes the capacitance of the capacitor and induces an electric field in the dielectric in the opposite direction to the field between the plates.

Boundary statement: While other shapes are also able to separate charges, only the analysis and descriptions of parallel-plate capacitors are required for AP Physics 2. Edge effects will be ignored unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Learning Objective 10.7.A: Describe changes in energy in a system due to a difference in electric potential between two locations.

• 10.7.A.1 When a charged object moves between two locations with different electric potentials, the resulting change in the electric potential energy of the object-field system is given by the following equation.
  • Equation: $\Delta U_E = q\Delta V$
• 10.7.A.2 The movement of a charged object between two points with different electric potentials results in a change in kinetic energy of the object consistent with the conservation of energy.

Learning Objective 11.1.A: Describe the movement of electric charges through a medium.

• 11.1.A.1 Current is the rate at which charge passes through a cross-sectional area of a wire.
  • Equation: $I = \dfrac{\Delta q}{\Delta t}$
  • 11.1.A.1.i Electric charge moves in a circuit in response to an electric potential difference, sometimes referred to as electromotive force, or $\mathrm{emf}$ ($\varepsilon$).
  • 11.1.A.1.ii If the current is zero in a section of wire, the net motion of charge carriers in the wire is also zero, although individual charge carriers will not have zero speed.
• 11.1.A.2 Although current is not a vector quantity, it does have a direction. The direction of current is associated with what the motion of positive charge would be but not with any coordinate system in space.
  • 11.1.A.2.i The direction of conventional current is chosen to be the direction in which positive charge would move.
  • 11.1.A.2.ii In common circuits, current is actually due to the movement of electrons (negative charge carriers).

Learning Objective 11.2.A: Describe the behavior of a circuit.

• 11.2.A.1 A circuit is composed of electrical loops, which may include circuit elements such as wires, batteries, resistors, lightbulbs, capacitors, switches, ammeters, and voltmeters.
• 11.2.A.2 A closed electrical loop is a closed path through which charges may flow.
  • 11.2.A.2.i A closed circuit is one in which charges would be able to flow.
  • 11.2.A.2.ii An open circuit is one in which charges would not be able to flow.
  • 11.2.A.2.iii A short circuit is one in which charges would be able to flow with no change in potential difference.
• 11.2.A.3 A single circuit element may be part of multiple electrical loops.
• 11.2.A.4 Circuit schematics are representations used to describe and analyze electric circuits.
  • 11.2.A.4.i The properties of an electric circuit are dependent on the physical arrangement of its constituent elements.
  • 11.2.A.4.ii Circuit elements have common symbols that are used to create schematic diagrams. Variable elements are indicated by a diagonal strikethrough arrow across the standard symbol for that element. (Standard symbols: Battery, Bulb, Switch, Capacitor, Resistor, Ammeter, Voltmeter.)

Boundary statement: Unless otherwise specified, all circuit schematic diagrams will be drawn using conventional current.

Learning Objective 11.3.A: Describe the resistance of an object using physical properties of that object.

• 11.3.A.1 Resistance is a measure of the degree to which an object opposes the movement of electric charge.
• 11.3.A.2 The resistance of a resistor with uniform geometry is proportional to its resistivity and length and is inversely proportional to its cross-sectional area.
  • Equation: $R = \dfrac{\rho \ell}{A}$
  • 11.3.A.2.i Resistivity is a fundamental property of a material that depends on its atomic and molecular structure and quantifies how strongly the material opposes the motion of electric charge.
  • 11.3.A.2.ii The resistivity of a conductor typically increases with temperature.

Learning Objective 11.3.B: Describe the electrical characteristics of elements of a circuit.

• 11.3.B.1 Ohm's law relates current, resistance, and potential difference across a conductive element of a circuit.
  • Equation: $I = \dfrac{\Delta V}{R}$
  • 11.3.B.1.i Materials that obey Ohm's law have constant resistance for all currents and are called ohmic materials.
  • 11.3.B.1.ii The resistivity of an ohmic material is constant regardless of temperature.
  • 11.3.B.1.iii Resistors can also convert electrical energy to thermal energy, which may change the temperature of both the resistor and the resistor's environment.
  • 11.3.B.1.iv The resistance of an ohmic circuit element can be determined from the slope of a graph of the current in the element as a function of the potential difference across the element.

Learning Objective 11.4.A: Describe the transfer of energy into, out of, or within an electric circuit, in terms of power.

• 11.4.A.1 The rate at which energy is transferred, converted, or dissipated by a circuit element depends on the current in the element and the electric potential difference across it.
  • Equation: $P = I \Delta V$
  • Equation (derived): $P = I^2 R = \dfrac{(\Delta V)^2}{R}$
• 11.4.A.2 The brightness of a bulb increases with power, so power can be used to qualitatively predict the brightness of bulbs in a circuit.

Learning Objective 11.5.A: Describe the equivalent resistance of multiple resistors connected in a circuit.

• 11.5.A.1 Circuit elements may be connected in series and/or in parallel.
  • 11.5.A.1.i A series connection is one in which any charge passing through one circuit element must proceed through all elements in that connection and has no other path available. The current in each element in series must be the same.
  • 11.5.A.1.ii A parallel connection is one in which charges may flow through one of two or more paths. Across each path, the potential difference is the same.
• 11.5.A.2 A collection of resistors in a circuit may be analyzed as though it were a single resistor with an equivalent resistance $R_{\text{eq}}$.
  • 11.5.A.2.i The equivalent resistance of a set of resistors in series is the sum of the individual resistances.
    • Equation: $R_{\text{eq},s} = \sum_i R_i$
  • 11.5.A.2.ii The inverse of the equivalent resistance of a set of resistors connected in parallel is equal to the sum of the inverses of the individual resistances.
    • Equation: $\dfrac{1}{R_{\text{eq},p}} = \sum_i \dfrac{1}{R_i}$
  • 11.5.A.2.iii When resistors are connected in parallel, the number of paths available to charges increases, and the equivalent resistance of the group of resistors decreases.

Learning Objective 11.5.B: Describe a circuit with resistive wires and a battery with internal resistance.

• 11.5.B.1 Ideal batteries have negligible internal resistance. Ideal wires have negligible resistance.
  • 11.5.B.1.i The resistance of wires that are good conductors may normally be neglected, because their resistance is much smaller than that of other elements of a circuit.
  • 11.5.B.1.ii The resistance of wires may only be neglected if the circuit contains other elements that do have resistance.
  • 11.5.B.1.iii The potential difference a battery would supply if it were ideal is the potential difference measured across the terminals when there is no current in the battery and is sometimes referred to as its $\mathrm{emf}$ ($\varepsilon$).
• 11.5.B.2 The internal resistance of a nonideal battery may be treated as the resistance of a resistor in series with an ideal battery and the remainder of the circuit.
• 11.5.B.3 When there is current in a nonideal battery with internal resistance $r$, the potential difference across the terminals of the battery is reduced relative to the potential difference when there is no current in the battery.
  • Equation (derived): $\Delta V_{\text{terminal}} = \varepsilon - Ir$

Learning Objective 11.5.C: Describe the measurement of current and potential difference in a circuit.

• 11.5.C.1 Ammeters are used to measure current at a specific point in a circuit.
  • 11.5.C.1.i Ammeters must be connected in series with the element in which current is being measured.
  • 11.5.C.1.ii Ideal ammeters have zero resistance so that they do not affect the current in the element that they are in series with.
• 11.5.C.2 Voltmeters are used to measure electric potential difference between two points in a circuit.
  • 11.5.C.2.i Voltmeters must be connected in parallel with the element across which potential difference is being measured.
  • 11.5.C.2.ii Ideal voltmeters have an infinite resistance so that no charge flows through them.
• 11.5.C.3 Nonideal ammeters and voltmeters will change the properties of the circuit being measured.

Boundary statement: AP Physics 2 only expects students to qualitatively discuss how a nonideal ammeter or voltmeter will affect the results of measurements. Unless otherwise stated, all batteries, wires, and meters are assumed to be ideal.

Boundary statement: Circuits with batteries of different potential differences connected in parallel will not be assessed.

Learning Objective 11.5.A: Describe the equivalent resistance of multiple resistors connected in a circuit.

• 11.5.A.1 Circuit elements may be connected in series and/or in parallel.
  • 11.5.A.1.i A series connection is one in which any charge passing through one circuit element must proceed through all elements in that connection and has no other path available. The current in each element in series must be the same.
  • 11.5.A.1.ii A parallel connection is one in which charges may flow through one of two or more paths. Across each path, the potential difference is the same.
• 11.5.A.2 A collection of resistors in a circuit may be analyzed as though it were a single resistor with an equivalent resistance $R_{\text{eq}}$.
  • 11.5.A.2.i The equivalent resistance of a set of resistors in series is the sum of the individual resistances.
    • Equation: $R_{\text{eq},s} = \sum_i R_i$
  • 11.5.A.2.ii The inverse of the equivalent resistance of a set of resistors connected in parallel is equal to the sum of the inverses of the individual resistances.
    • Equation: $\dfrac{1}{R_{\text{eq},p}} = \sum_i \dfrac{1}{R_i}$
  • 11.5.A.2.iii When resistors are connected in parallel, the number of paths available to charges increases, and the equivalent resistance of the group of resistors decreases.

Learning Objective 11.5.B: Describe a circuit with resistive wires and a battery with internal resistance.

• 11.5.B.1 Ideal batteries have negligible internal resistance. Ideal wires have negligible resistance.
  • 11.5.B.1.i The resistance of wires that are good conductors may normally be neglected, because their resistance is much smaller than that of other elements of a circuit.
  • 11.5.B.1.ii The resistance of wires may only be neglected if the circuit contains other elements that do have resistance.
  • 11.5.B.1.iii The potential difference a battery would supply if it were ideal is the potential difference measured across the terminals when there is no current in the battery and is sometimes referred to as its $\mathrm{emf}$ ($\varepsilon$).
• 11.5.B.2 The internal resistance of a nonideal battery may be treated as the resistance of a resistor in series with an ideal battery and the remainder of the circuit.
• 11.5.B.3 When there is current in a nonideal battery with internal resistance $r$, the potential difference across the terminals of the battery is reduced relative to the potential difference when there is no current in the battery.
  • Equation (derived): $\Delta V_{\text{terminal}} = \varepsilon - Ir$

Learning Objective 11.5.C: Describe the measurement of current and potential difference in a circuit.

• 11.5.C.1 Ammeters are used to measure current at a specific point in a circuit.
  • 11.5.C.1.i Ammeters must be connected in series with the element in which current is being measured.
  • 11.5.C.1.ii Ideal ammeters have zero resistance so that they do not affect the current in the element that they are in series with.
• 11.5.C.2 Voltmeters are used to measure electric potential difference between two points in a circuit.
  • 11.5.C.2.i Voltmeters must be connected in parallel with the element across which potential difference is being measured.
  • 11.5.C.2.ii Ideal voltmeters have an infinite resistance so that no charge flows through them.
• 11.5.C.3 Nonideal ammeters and voltmeters will change the properties of the circuit being measured.

Boundary statement: AP Physics 2 only expects students to qualitatively discuss how a nonideal ammeter or voltmeter will affect the results of measurements. Unless otherwise stated, all batteries, wires, and meters are assumed to be ideal.

Boundary statement: Circuits with batteries of different potential differences connected in parallel will not be assessed.

Learning Objective 11.6.A: Describe a circuit or elements of a circuit by applying Kirchhoff's loop rule.

• 11.6.A.1 Energy changes in simple electrical circuits may be represented in terms of charges moving through electric potential differences within circuit elements.
  • Equation: $\Delta U_E = q \Delta V$
• 11.6.A.2 Kirchhoff's loop rule is a consequence of the conservation of energy.
• 11.6.A.3 Kirchhoff's loop rule states that the sum of potential differences across all circuit elements in a single closed loop must equal zero.
  • Equation: $\sum \Delta V = 0$
• 11.6.A.4 The values of electric potential at points in a circuit can be represented by a graph of electric potential as a function of position within a loop.

Learning Objective 11.7.A: Describe a circuit or elements of a circuit by applying Kirchhoff's junction rule.

• 11.7.A.1 Kirchhoff's junction rule is a consequence of the conservation of electric charge.
• 11.7.A.2 Kirchhoff's junction rule states that the total amount of charge entering a junction per unit time must equal the total amount of charge exiting that junction per unit time.
  • Equation: $\sum I_{\text{in}} = \sum I_{\text{out}}$

Learning Objective 11.8.A: Describe the equivalent capacitance of multiple capacitors.

• 11.8.A.1 A collection of capacitors in a circuit may be analyzed as though it were a single capacitor with an equivalent capacitance $C_{\text{eq}}$.
  • 11.8.A.1.i The inverse of the equivalent capacitance of a set of capacitors connected in series is equal to the sum of the inverses of the individual capacitances.
    • Equation: $\dfrac{1}{C_{\text{eq},s}} = \sum_i \dfrac{1}{C_i}$
  • 11.8.A.1.ii The equivalent capacitance of a set of capacitors in series is less than the capacitance of the smallest capacitor.
  • 11.8.A.1.iii The equivalent capacitance of a set of capacitors in parallel is the sum of the individual capacitances.
    • Equation: $C_{\text{eq},p} = \sum_i C_i$
• 11.8.A.2 As a result of conservation of charge, each of the capacitors in series must have the same magnitude of charge on each plate.

Learning Objective 11.8.B: Describe the behavior of a circuit containing combinations of resistors and capacitors.

• 11.8.B.1 The time constant $\tau$ is a significant feature of an RC circuit.
  • 11.8.B.1.i The time constant of an RC circuit is a measure of how quickly the capacitor will charge or discharge and is defined as $\tau = R_{\text{eq}} C_{\text{eq}}$.
  • 11.8.B.1.ii For a charging capacitor, the time constant represents the time required for the capacitor's charge to increase from zero to approximately 63 percent of its final asymptotic value.
  • 11.8.B.1.iii For a discharging capacitor, the time constant represents the time required for the capacitor's charge to decrease from fully charged to approximately 37 percent of its initial value.
• 11.8.B.2 The potential difference across a capacitor and the current in the branch of the circuit containing the capacitor each change over time as the capacitor charges and discharges, but both will reach a steady state after a long time interval.
  • 11.8.B.2.i Immediately after being placed in a circuit, an uncharged capacitor acts like a wire, and charge can easily flow to or from the plates of the capacitor.
  • 11.8.B.2.ii As a capacitor charges, changes to the potential difference across the capacitor affect the charge on the plates of the capacitor, the current circuit branch in which the capacitor is located, and the electric potential energy stored in the capacitor.
  • 11.8.B.2.iii The potential difference across a capacitor, the current in the circuit branch in which the capacitor is located, and the electric potential energy stored in the capacitor all change with respect to time and asymptotically approach steady state conditions.
  • 11.8.B.2.iv After a long time, a charging capacitor approaches a state of being fully charged, reaching a maximum potential difference at which there is zero current in the circuit branch in which the capacitor is located.
  • 11.8.B.2.v Immediately after a charged capacitor begins discharging, the amount of charge on the capacitor plates and the energy stored in the capacitor begin to decrease.
  • 11.8.B.2.vi As a capacitor discharges, the amount of charge on the capacitor, the potential difference across the capacitor, and the current in the circuit branch in which the capacitor is located all decrease until a steady state is reached.
  • 11.8.B.2.vii After either charging or discharging for times much greater than the time constant, the capacitor and the relevant circuit branch may be modeled using steady-state conditions.

Boundary statement: Descriptions of charging/discharging RC circuits in AP Physics 2 are limited to qualitative descriptions and representations. While students should be able to mathematically describe initial and final states of RC circuits, students are not expected to mathematically model these behaviors with respect to time.

Learning Objective 12.2.A: Describe the magnetic field produced by moving charged objects.

• 12.2.A.1 A single moving charged object produces a magnetic field.
  • 12.2.A.1.i The magnetic field at a particular point produced by a moving charged object depends on the object's velocity and the distance between the point and the object.
  • 12.2.A.1.ii At a point in space, the direction of the magnetic field produced by a moving charged object is perpendicular to both the velocity of the object and the position vector from the object to that point in space and can be determined using the right-hand rule.
  • 12.2.A.1.iii The magnitude of the magnetic field is a maximum when the velocity vector and the position vector from the object to that point in space are perpendicular.

Learning Objective 12.2.B: Describe the force exerted on moving charged objects by a magnetic field.

• 12.2.B.1 Magnetic forces describe interactions between moving charged objects.
• 12.2.B.2 A magnetic field may exert a force on a charged object moving in that field.
  • 12.2.B.2.i The magnitude of the force exerted by a magnetic field on a moving charged object is proportional to the magnitude of the charge, the magnitude of the charged object's velocity, and the magnitude of the magnetic field and also depends on the angle between the velocity and magnetic field vectors.
    • Equation: $F_B = qvB\sin\theta$
  • 12.2.B.2.ii The direction of the force exerted by a magnetic field on a moving charged object is perpendicular to both the direction of the magnetic field and the velocity of the charge, as defined by the right-hand rule.
• 12.2.B.3 In a region containing both a magnetic field and an electric field, a moving charged object will experience independent forces from each field.
• 12.2.B.4 The Hall effect describes the potential difference created in a conductor by an external magnetic field that has a component perpendicular to the direction of charges moving in the conductor.

Boundary statement: Quantitative treatment of the magnitude of the magnetic force exerted by a magnetic field on a moving charge is limited to angles of 0, 90, and 180 degrees between the velocity and the magnetic field. Qualitative analysis of other angles is permitted.

Learning Objective 12.3.A: Describe the magnetic field produced by a current-carrying wire.

• 12.3.A.1 A current-carrying wire produces a magnetic field.
  • 12.3.A.1.i The magnetic field vectors around a long, straight, current-carrying wire are tangent to concentric circles centered on that wire. The field has no component toward, away from, or parallel to the long, straight, current-carrying wire.
  • 12.3.A.1.ii At a point in space, the magnitude of the magnetic field due to a long, straight, current-carrying wire is proportional to the magnitude of the current in the wire and inversely proportional to the perpendicular distance from the central axis of the wire to the point.
    • Equation: $B = \dfrac{\mu_0}{2\pi}\dfrac{I}{r}$
  • 12.3.A.1.iii The direction of the magnetic field created by a current-carrying wire is determined with the right-hand rule.
  • 12.3.A.1.iv The direction of the magnetic field at the center of a current-carrying loop is directed along the axis of the loop and can be found using the right-hand rule.
  • 12.3.A.1.v The magnetic field at a location near two or more current-carrying wires can be determined using vector addition principles.

Learning Objective 12.3.B: Describe the force exerted on a current-carrying wire by a magnetic field.

• 12.3.B.1 A magnetic field may exert a force on a current-carrying wire.
  • 12.3.B.1.i The magnitude of the force exerted by a magnetic field on a current-carrying wire is proportional to the current, the length of the portion of the wire within the magnetic field, and the magnitude of the magnetic field, and also depends on the angle between the direction of the current in the wire and the direction of the magnetic field.
    • Equation: $F_B = I\ell B\sin\theta$
  • 12.3.B.1.ii The direction of the force exerted by the magnetic field on a current-carrying wire is determined by the right-hand rule.

Learning Objective 13.1.A: Describe light as a ray.

• 13.1.A.1 A light ray is a straight line that is perpendicular to the wavefront of a light wave and points in the direction of travel of the wave.
  • 13.1.A.1.i Light rays can be used to determine the behavior of light in geometric optics, where the wave nature of light can be neglected.
  • 13.1.A.1.ii Rays are not sufficient to understand the spreading of light. In interference and diffraction, the wave nature of the light is important.
  • 13.1.A.1.iii A laser is a common source of a single coherent, monochromatic beam of light that can be modeled as a ray. The wave nature of lasers will be considered in Unit 14.
• 13.1.A.2 Ray diagrams depict the path of light before and after an interaction with matter.

Learning Objective 13.1.B: Describe the reflection of light from a surface.

• 13.1.B.1 Light that is incident on a surface can be reflected.
• 13.1.B.2 The law of reflection states that the angle between the incident ray and the normal (the line perpendicular to the surface) is equal to the angle between the reflected ray and the normal.
  • Equation: $\theta_i = \theta_r$
• 13.1.B.3 Diffuse reflection is the reflection of light from a rough surface and results in light reflected in many different directions, because the line normal to the surface varies over the area over which the light is incident.
• 13.1.B.4 Specular reflection is the reflection of light from a smooth surface and results in light uniformly reflected from the surface, because the line normal to the surface has an approximately constant direction over the area the light strikes.

Learning Objective 13.2.A: Describe the image formed by a mirror.

• 13.2.A.1 Incident light rays parallel to the principal axis of a concave (converging) mirror will be reflected toward a common location, called the focal point.
• 13.2.A.2 Incident light rays parallel to the principal axis of a convex (diverging) mirror will be reflected such that they appear to have originated from a common location behind the mirror, called the focal point.
• 13.2.A.3 The focal point of a plane mirror is an infinite distance from the mirror.
• 13.2.A.4 The focal point of a spherical mirror may be approximated as a point located on the principal axis of the mirror halfway between the surface of the mirror and the center of the mirror's radius of curvature.
• 13.2.A.5 A real image is formed by a mirror when light rays emanating from a common point are reflected and then intersect at a common point.
• 13.2.A.6 A virtual image is formed by a mirror when reflected light rays diverge such that they appear to have originated from a common point.
• 13.2.A.7 The location of an image depends on the focal length of the mirror and the distance between the object and the surface of the mirror.
  • Equation: $\dfrac{1}{s_i} + \dfrac{1}{s_o} = \dfrac{1}{f}$
  • 13.2.A.7.i The locations of a mirror's focal point, an object near the mirror, and the image of the object formed by the mirror follow sign conventions that are used to determine those locations relative to the mirror itself.
  • 13.2.A.7.ii The distance between the image formed and a plane mirror is equal to the distance between the object and the plane mirror.
• 13.2.A.8 The magnification of an image formed by a mirror is the ratio of the size of the image produced to the size of the object itself and depends on the locations of the object and image relative to the mirror.
  • Equation: $|M| = \left| \dfrac{h_i}{h_o} \right| = \left| \dfrac{s_i}{s_o} \right|$
• 13.2.A.9 Ray diagrams can be used to determine the location, type, size, and orientation of images formed by mirrors.
  • 13.2.A.9.i The three principal rays are typically used to find the images formed by mirrors. The principal rays are 1) the ray parallel to the principal axis, 2) the ray that reflects at the center of the mirror where the principal axis intersects the mirror, and 3) the ray that passes through the focal point of the mirror.
  • 13.2.A.9.ii Images formed by a mirror can be upright or inverted, virtual or real, and reduced, enlarged, or the same size as the object.

Boundary statement: AP Physics 2 limits the study of mirrors to plane mirrors, convex spherical mirrors, and concave spherical mirrors.

Learning Objective 13.3.A: Describe the refraction of light between two media.

• 13.3.A.1 Refraction is the change in direction of a light ray as the ray passes from one medium into another.
• 13.3.A.2 Refraction is a result of the speed of light changing when light enters a new medium.
• 13.3.A.3 The index of refraction of a given medium is inversely proportional to the speed of light in the medium.
  • Equation: $n = \dfrac{c}{v}$
• 13.3.A.4 Snell's law relates the angles of incidence and refraction of a light ray passing from one medium into another to the indices of refraction of the two media.
  • Equation: $n_1 \sin\theta_1 = n_2 \sin\theta_2$
  • 13.3.A.4.i When a light ray travels from a medium with a higher index of refraction into a medium with a lower index of refraction, the ray refracts away from the normal.
  • 13.3.A.4.ii When a light ray travels from a medium with a lower index of refraction into a medium with a higher index of refraction, the ray refracts toward the normal.
  • 13.3.A.4.iii When a light ray is incident along the normal to a surface, the transmitted ray is not refracted.
• 13.3.A.5 Total internal reflection may occur when light passes from one medium into another medium with a lower index of refraction.
  • 13.3.A.5.i Total internal reflection of light occurs beyond a critical angle of incidence.
    • Derived equation: $\theta_{\text{critical}} = \sin^{-1}\left( \dfrac{n_2}{n_1} \right)$
  • 13.3.A.5.ii For incident rays at the critical angle, the ray refracts at 90 degrees and travels along the surface of the material.
  • 13.3.A.5.iii For incident rays beyond the critical angle, all light is reflected (no light is transmitted into the other medium).

Learning Objective 13.4.A: Describe the image formed by a lens.

• 13.4.A.1 Incident light rays parallel to the principal axis of a thin convex (converging) lens will be refracted and converge toward a common location on the transmitted side of the lens, called the focal point.
• 13.4.A.2 Incident light rays parallel to the principal axis of a thin concave (diverging) lens will be refracted and diverge as if they originated from a focal point on the incident side of the lens.
• 13.4.A.3 A real image is formed by a lens when light rays originating from a common point are refracted such that they intersect at another common point.
• 13.4.A.4 A virtual image is formed by a lens when refracted light rays diverge such that they appear to have originated from a common point.
• 13.4.A.5 For a thin lens, the location of an image depends on the focal length of the lens and the distance between the object and the midline of the lens, as given by the thin-lens equation:
  • Equation: $\dfrac{1}{s_i} + \dfrac{1}{s_o} = \dfrac{1}{f}$
  • 13.4.A.5.i The locations of a lens's focal point, an object, and the image of the object formed by the lens follow sign conventions that are used to determine those locations relative to the lens itself.
  • 13.4.A.5.ii Lenses have a focal point on both sides of the lens that depends on the shape of the respective side of the lens.
• 13.4.A.6 For a thin lens, the magnification of an image is the ratio of the size of the image produced to the size of the object itself and depends on the locations of the object and image relative to the lens.
  • Equation: $|M| = \left| \dfrac{h_i}{h_o} \right| = \left| \dfrac{s_i}{s_o} \right|$
• 13.4.A.7 Ray diagrams can be used to determine the location, type, size, and orientation of images formed by lenses.
  • 13.4.A.7.i The three principal rays are typically used to find the images formed by lenses. The principal rays are 1) the ray parallel to the principal axis, 2) the ray that passes through the center of the lens where the principal axis intersects the lens, and 3) the ray that passes through the focal point of the lens.
  • 13.4.A.7.ii Images formed by a lens can be upright or inverted, virtual or real, and reduced, enlarged, or the same size as the object.

Learning Objective 14.2.A: Describe the physical properties of a periodic wave.

• 14.2.A.1 Periodic waves have regular repetitions that can be described using period and frequency.
  • 14.2.A.1.i The period is the time for one complete oscillation of the wave.
  • 14.2.A.1.ii The frequency is the rate at which the wave repeats.
    • Equation: $T = \dfrac{1}{f}$
  • 14.2.A.1.iii The amplitude of a wave is independent of the period and the frequency of that wave.
  • 14.2.A.1.iv The energy of a wave increases with increasing frequency.
  • 14.2.A.1.v The frequency of a sound wave is related to its pitch.
  • 14.2.A.1.vi Wavelength is the distance between successive corresponding positions (such as peaks or troughs) on a wave.
• 14.2.A.2 A sinusoidal wave can be described by equations for the displacement from equilibrium at a specific location as a function of time. A wave can also be described by an equation for the displacement from equilibrium at a specific time as a function of position.
  • Equation: $x(t) = A\cos(\omega t) = A\cos(2\pi f t)$
  • Equation: $y(x) = A\cos\left(2\pi \dfrac{x}{\lambda}\right)$
• 14.2.A.3 For a periodic wave, the wavelength is proportional to the wave's speed and inversely proportional to the wave's frequency.
  • Equation: $\lambda = \dfrac{v}{f}$

Learning Objective 14.3.A: Describe the interaction between a wave and a boundary.

• 14.3.A.1 A wave that travels from one medium to another can be transmitted or reflected, depending on the properties of the boundary separating the two media.
  • 14.3.A.1.i A wave traveling from one medium to another (for example, a wave traveling between low-mass and high-mass strings) will result in reflected and transmitted waves.
  • 14.3.A.1.ii A reflected wave is inverted if the transmitted wave travels into a medium in which the speed of the wave decreases.
  • 14.3.A.1.iii A reflected wave is not inverted if the transmitted wave travels into a medium in which the speed of the wave increases.
  • 14.3.A.1.iv The frequency of a wave does not change when it travels from one medium to another.
• 14.3.A.2 Transverse waves that are reflected from a surface, refracted through a medium, or pass through specific openings may be polarized.
  • 14.3.A.2.i Transverse waves can be polarized and oscillate in a single plane.
  • 14.3.A.2.ii Longitudinal waves cannot be polarized.
• 14.3.A.3 Polarization of a wave may result in a reduction of the wave's intensity.
  • 14.3.A.3.i Intensity is a measure of the amount of power transferred per unit area.
  • 14.3.A.3.ii The intensity of a wave is the average power per unit area over one period of the wave.

Learning Objective 14.4.A: Describe the properties of an electromagnetic wave.

• 14.4.A.1 Electromagnetic waves consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that are mutually perpendicular.
  • 14.4.A.1.i Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves because the oscillations of the electric and magnetic fields are perpendicular to the direction of propagation.
  • 14.4.A.1.ii Electromagnetic waves are commonly assumed to be plane waves, which are characterized by planar wave fronts.
• 14.4.A.2 Electromagnetic waves do not need a medium through which to propagate.
• 14.4.A.3 Categories of electromagnetic waves are characterized by their wavelengths.
  • 14.4.A.3.i Categories of electromagnetic waves include (in order of decreasing wavelength, spanning a range from kilometers to picometers) radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.
  • 14.4.A.3.ii Visible electromagnetic waves are further broken into categories of color, including (in order of decreasing wavelength) red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.
  • 14.4.A.3.iii Visible electromagnetic waves are also called light. Sometimes, electromagnetic waves of all wavelengths are collectively referred to as light or electromagnetic radiation.

Boundary statement: AP Physics 2 expects students to know the ordering of the electromagnetic spectrum (including visible light). However, students will not be expected to define exact wavelength ranges within the electromagnetic spectrum.

Learning Objective 14.5.A: Describe the properties of a wave based on the relative motion between the source of the wave and the observer of the wave.

• 14.5.A.1 The Doppler effect describes the relationship between the rest frequency of a wave source, the observed frequency of the source, and the relative velocity of the source and the observer.
• 14.5.A.2 A greater relative velocity results in a greater measured difference between the observed and rest frequencies.
  • 14.5.A.2.i For a wave source moving at the same velocity as the observer, the observed frequency is equal to the rest frequency.
  • 14.5.A.2.ii For a wave source moving toward an observer, the observed frequency is greater than the rest frequency.
  • 14.5.A.2.iii For a wave source moving away from an observer, the observed frequency is less than the rest frequency.

Boundary statement: Only qualitative treatments of the Doppler effect are required for AP Physics 2.

Learning Objective 15.1.A: Describe the properties and behavior of an object that exhibits both particle-like and wave-like behavior.

• 15.1.A.1 Quantum theory was developed to explain observations of matter and energy that could not be explained using classical mechanics. These phenomena include, but are not limited to, atomic spectra, blackbody radiation, and the photoelectric effect.
  • 15.1.A.1.i Quantum theory is necessary to describe the properties of matter at atomic and subatomic scales.
  • 15.1.A.1.ii In quantum theory, fundamental particles can exhibit both particle-like and wave-like behavior.
• 15.1.A.2 Light can be modeled both as a wave and as discrete particles, called photons.
  • 15.1.A.2.i A photon is a massless, electrically neutral particle with energy proportional to the photon's frequency.
    • Relevant equations:
    • $E = hf$
    • $\lambda = \dfrac{c}{f}$
  • 15.1.A.2.ii Photons travel in straight lines unless they interact with matter.
• 15.1.A.3 The speed of a photon depends on the medium through which the photon travels.
  • 15.1.A.3.i The speed of all photons in free space is equal to the speed of light, $c = 3.00 \times 10^{8}$ m/s.
  • 15.1.A.3.ii In general, the speed of photons through a given medium is inversely proportional to the index of refraction of that medium.
• 15.1.A.4 Particles can demonstrate wave properties, as shown by variations of Young's double-slit experiment.
  • 15.1.A.4.i A wave model of matter is quantified by the de Broglie wavelength, which increases as the momentum of a particle decreases.
    • Relevant equation:
    • $\lambda = \dfrac{h}{p}$
  • 15.1.A.4.ii Quantum theory is necessary to describe systems where the de Broglie wavelength is comparable to the size of the system.
• 15.1.A.5 Values of energy and momentum have discrete, or quantized, values for bound systems described by quantum theory.

Learning Objective 15.2.A: Describe the properties of an atom.

• 15.2.A.1 Atoms have internal structure.
  • 15.2.A.1.i Atoms consist of a small, positively charged nucleus surrounded by one or more negatively charged electrons.
  • 15.2.A.1.ii The nucleus of an atom is made up of protons and neutrons.
  • 15.2.A.1.iii The number of neutrons and protons in an atom can be represented using nuclear notation.
  • 15.2.A.1.iv An ion is an atom with a nonzero net electric charge.
• 15.2.A.2 Each atomic element has a unique number of protons.
  • 15.2.A.2.i The number and arrangements of electrons affects how atoms interact.
  • 15.2.A.2.ii The total number of neutrons and protons identifies the isotope of an element.
  • 15.2.A.2.iii The mass of an atom is dominated by the total mass of the protons and neutrons in its nucleus.
• 15.2.A.3 The Bohr model of the atom is based on classical physics and was the historical representation of the atom that led to the description of the hydrogen atom in terms of discrete energy states.
  • 15.2.A.3.i In the Bohr model of the atom, electrons are modeled as moving around the nucleus in circular orbits determined by the electron's charge and mass, as well as the electric force between the electron and the nucleus.
    • Relevant equations:
    • $F_e = k\dfrac{q_1 q_2}{r^2}$
    • $F_{\text{net}} = m\dfrac{v^2}{r}$
  • 15.2.A.3.ii The standing wave model of electrons accounts for the existence of specific allowed energy states of an electron in an atom, because the electron orbit's circumference must be an integer multiple of the electron's de Broglie wavelength.

Boundary statement: The analysis and description of electron structure is limited to energy levels and will not include such advanced descriptions as orbitals, orbital shapes, or probability functions.

Learning Objective 15.3.A: Describe the emission or absorption of photons by atoms.

• 15.3.A.1 Energy transfer occurs when photons are absorbed or emitted by an atom, which is modeled as a system consisting of a nucleus and an electron.
• 15.3.A.2 Energy can only be absorbed or emitted by an atom if the amount of energy being absorbed or emitted corresponds to the energy difference between two atomic energy states.
  • 15.3.A.2.i An atom in a given energy state may absorb a photon of the appropriate energy and transition to a higher energy state.
  • 15.3.A.2.ii An atom in an excited energy state may emit a photon of the appropriate energy to spontaneously move to a lower energy state.
  • 15.3.A.2.iii Because an atom is modeled as a system consisting of an electron and a nucleus, a change in the energy state of an atom corresponds to a change in the interaction energy between the electron and the nucleus.
• 15.3.A.3 Transitions between two energy states of an atom correspond to the absorption or emission of a photon of a single frequency and, therefore, a single wavelength.
• 15.3.A.4 Atoms of each element have a unique set of allowed energy levels and thereby a unique set of absorption and emission frequencies. The unique set of frequencies determines the element's spectrum.
  • 15.3.A.4.i An emission spectrum can be used to determine the elements in a source of light.
  • 15.3.A.4.ii An absorption spectrum can be used to determine the elements composing a substance by observing what light the substance has absorbed.
  • 15.3.A.4.iii Energy level diagrams are commonly used to visually represent the energy states of an atom.
• 15.3.A.5 Binding energy is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom, causing the atom to become ionized. An atom in the lowest energy level (ground state) will require the greatest amount of energy to remove the electron from the atom.

Boundary statement: In AP Physics 2, only energy level diagrams of single-electron atoms will be considered.

Learning Objective 15.5.A: Describe an interaction between photons and matter using the photoelectric effect.

• 15.5.A.1 The photoelectric effect is the emission of electrons when electromagnetic radiation is incident upon a photoactive material.
• 15.5.A.2 The emission of electrons via the photoelectric effect requires a minimum frequency of incident light, called the threshold frequency.
  • 15.5.A.2.i Light that is incident on a material and is at the threshold frequency or higher will induce electron emission, regardless of the number of photons that strike the material.
  • 15.5.A.2.ii The energy of the emitted electrons is not dependent on the number of photons that are incident upon the material, which provides evidence that light is a collection of discrete, quantized energy packets called photons.
• 15.5.A.3 The maximum kinetic energy of an emitted electron is related to the frequency of the incident light and the work function of the material, $\phi$.
  • 15.5.A.3.i The work function of a material is the minimum energy required to emit an electron from atoms in the material.
  • 15.5.A.3.ii The maximum kinetic energy of an emitted electron is given by the equation $K_{\max} = hf - \phi$.
  • 15.5.A.3.iii In a typical experimental setup to demonstrate the photoelectric effect and determine the work function of a metal, two metal plates are placed in a vacuum chamber and connected to a variable source of potential difference. One of the plates is illuminated by monochromatic light that causes electrons to be ejected and the potential difference between the plates is adjusted until no current is measured in the circuit.

Boundary statement: Where applicable, work functions for materials will be provided on the exam; students are not expected to know values of work functions or variables of a material that influence the magnitude of its work function.

Learning Objective 15.6.A: Describe the interaction between photons and matter using Compton scattering.

• 15.6.A.1 In Compton scattering, a photon interacts with a free electron. The Compton effect is when a photon that emerges from the interaction has a lower energy and longer wavelength than the incoming photon. The magnitude of the change is related to the direction of the photon after the collision.
• 15.6.A.2 Compton scattering provides evidence that light is a collection of discrete, quantized energy packets called photons.
  • 15.6.A.2.i Compton scattering can be explained by treating a photon as a particle and applying conservation of energy and conservation of momentum to the collision between the photon and electron.
  • 15.6.A.2.ii The transfer of a photon's energy to an electron results in the energy, momentum, frequency, and wavelength of the photon changing.
    • Relevant equations:
    • $E = hf$
    • $\lambda = \dfrac{h}{p}$
• 15.6.A.3 The change in wavelength experienced by a photon after colliding with an electron is related to how much the photon's direction changes.
  • Relevant equation:
  • $\Delta\lambda = \dfrac{h}{m_e c}(1 - \cos\theta)$

Boundary statement: AP Physics 2 includes full quantitative and qualitative treatments of conservation of momentum in two dimensions.

Learning Objective 15.7.A: Describe the physical properties that constrain the behavior of interacting nuclei, subatomic particles, and nucleons.

• 15.7.A.1 The strong force is exerted at nuclear scales and dominates the interactions of nucleons (protons or neutrons).
• 15.7.A.2 Possible nuclear reactions are constrained by the law of conservation of nucleon number.
• 15.7.A.3 The behavior of the constituent particles of a nuclear reaction is constrained by laws of conservation of energy, energy-mass equivalence, and conservation of momentum.
• 15.7.A.4 For all nuclear reactions, mass and energy may be exchanged due to mass-energy equivalence.
  • Relevant equation:
  • $E = mc^2$
• 15.7.A.5 Energy may be released in nuclear processes in the form of kinetic energy of the products or as photons.
• 15.7.A.6 Nuclear fusion is the process by which two or more smaller nuclei combine to form a larger nucleus, as well as subatomic particles.
• 15.7.A.7 Nuclear fission is the process by which the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei, as well as subatomic particles.
• 15.7.A.8 Nuclear fission may occur spontaneously or may require an energy input, depending on the binding energy of the nucleus.

Learning Objective 15.7.B: Describe the radioactive decay of a given sample of material consisting of a finite number of nuclei.

• 15.7.B.1 Radioactive decay is the spontaneous transformation of a nucleus into one or more different nuclei.
  • 15.7.B.1.i The time at which an individual nucleus undergoes radioactive decay is indeterminable, but decay rates can be described using probability
  • 15.7.B.1.ii The half-life, $t_{1/2}$, of a radioactive material is the time it takes for half of the initial number of radioactive nuclei to have spontaneously decayed.
  • 15.7.B.1.iii The decay constant $\lambda$ can be related to the half-life of a radioactive material with the equation $\lambda = \dfrac{\ln 2}{t_{1/2}}$.
• 15.7.B.2 A material's decay constant may be used to predict the number of nuclei remaining in a sample after a period of time, or the age of a material if the initial amount of material is known.
  • Relevant equation:
  • $N = N_0 e^{-\lambda t}$
  • Derived equation:
  • $\ln\left(\dfrac{N}{N_0}\right) = -\lambda t$
• 15.7.B.3 Different unstable elements and isotopes may have vastly different half-lives, ranging from fractions of a second to billions of years.

Learning Objective 15.8.A: Describe the processes by which individual nuclei decay.

• 15.8.A.1 Some processes by which nuclei decay emit subatomic particles with unique properties.
  • 15.8.A.1.i An alpha particle, or helium nucleus, consists of two neutrons and two protons and is symbolized by $\alpha$ or $\text{He}^{2+}$. (In Physics 2, only He-4 nuclei will be considered.)
  • 15.8.A.1.ii Neutrinos and antineutrinos are subatomic particles that have no electrical charge, have negligible mass, and are symbolized by $\nu$ and $\bar{\nu}$, respectively.
  • 15.8.A.1.iii Neutrinos and antineutrinos only interact with matter via the weak force and the gravitational force, which results in very little interaction with normal matter.
  • 15.8.A.1.iv Positrons, or antielectrons, are subatomic particles that have an electric charge opposite that of an electron, have the same mass as an electron, and are symbolized by $e^+$ or $\beta^+$.
• 15.8.A.2 Nuclei can undergo radioactive decay via alpha decay, beta-minus decay ($\beta^-$), beta-plus decay ($\beta^+$), and gamma decay ($\gamma$).
  • 15.8.A.2.i In all nuclear decays, nucleon number (the number of neutrons and protons), lepton number (the number of electrons and neutrinos), and charge are conserved.
  • 15.8.A.2.ii Alpha decay occurs when a nucleus ejects an alpha particle.
  • 15.8.A.2.iii Beta-minus decay occurs when a neutron changes to a proton by emitting an electron and antineutrino.
  • 15.8.A.2.iv Beta-plus decay occurs when a proton changes to a neutron by emitting a positron and neutrino.
  • 15.8.A.2.v Gamma decay occurs after a nucleus has undergone alpha or beta decay and the excited nucleus decays to a lower energy state by emitting a photon.
• 15.8.A.3 The type of decay exhibited by a given nucleus is determined by the isotope of the element.

Boundary statement: AP Physics 2 does not expect students to memorize the processes by which specific isotopes decay or the half-lives of specific isotopes. Neutron emission and electron capture are not included in the AP Physics 2 curriculum framework. Additionally, types of neutrinos, the characteristics that distinguish neutrinos and antineutrinos, and an explanation or application of the weak force are not within the scope of this course.