AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based (College Board): complete guide to the units, the science practices and the exam
A complete guide to College Board AP Physics 2 (algebra-based). Covers the course units (thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, optics and waves, and modern physics), the science practices, how Section I (multiple choice) and Section II (free response) work, the equations sheet you are given, the algebra and trigonometry demand, and how to study each unit for a 5.
College Board AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based is designed to be the equivalent of a second-semester, algebra-based introductory college physics course, the companion to AP Physics 1. The course is built on a set of science practices and recurring physics themes, and the content is organized into units that continue the Physics 1 numbering, from Unit 9 to Unit 15. There is no calculus, but laboratory and quantitative reasoning are examined directly in both sections of the exam. This page is the index: below is a map of the units, the exam structure, and how to study each one. This library covers all seven units in full.
The AP Physics 2 units
The College Board organizes the content into units, each carrying an exam weighting (the share of questions it tends to contribute). The course was revised for 2024-25: fluids moved to AP Physics 1, the optics content was split into two units, and modern physics gained blackbody radiation and Compton scattering.
- Unit 9 Thermodynamics (15 to 18%)
- The kinetic theory of gases, temperature and thermal equilibrium, the ideal gas law, the first law of thermodynamics with PV diagrams, specific heat and thermal conductivity, and entropy and the second law.
- Unit 10 Electric Force, Field, and Potential (15 to 18%)
- Electric charge and Coulomb's law, conservation of charge and charging, electric fields, electric potential energy, electric potential and voltage, capacitors, and conservation of electric energy.
- Unit 11 Electric Circuits (15 to 18%)
- Electric current, simple circuits and emf, resistance and Ohm's law, electric power, resistors in series and parallel, Kirchhoff's loop and junction rules, and capacitors and RC circuits.
- Unit 12 Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction (12 to 15%)
- Magnetic fields and the dipole nature of magnets, the magnetic force on moving charges, magnetism and current-carrying wires, and electromagnetic induction with Faraday's and Lenz's laws.
- Unit 13 Geometric Optics (10 to 13%)
- Reflection and the ray model, images formed by mirrors, refraction and Snell's law with total internal reflection, and images formed by lenses.
- Unit 14 Waves, Sound, and Physical Optics (10 to 13%)
- The properties of waves, boundary behavior and polarization, electromagnetic waves and the spectrum, the Doppler effect, wave interference and standing waves, and the diffraction and interference of light.
- Unit 15 Modern Physics (12 to 15%)
- Quantum theory and the photon, the Bohr model and atomic spectra, blackbody radiation, the photoelectric effect and Compton scattering, and nuclear physics and radioactivity.
Exam structure
The AP Physics 2 exam is about 3 hours and has two equally weighted sections. A calculator is allowed throughout, and you are given a formula and constants sheet.
- Section I, multiple choice - 40 questions in 80 minutes, 50%. Four options each; individual questions and question sets, many built on data, graphs, field or circuit diagrams or experimental setups.
- Section II, free response - four questions in 100 minutes, 50%. Free-response questions written from the science practices, including a mathematical-routines question, a question on translating between representations, and a laboratory or experimental-design question.
The free-response questions ask you to create and interpret representations (field diagrams, circuit schematics, ray diagrams), carry out mathematical routines, design and analyze experiments, and construct evidence-based arguments using AP task verbs (Calculate, Describe, Explain, Justify, Derive, Determine).
How to study AP Physics 2
AP Physics 2 rewards clear representations, careful field and circuit reasoning, and confident application of a handful of core laws.
- Work from the Course and Exam Description. Each topic (for example 10.1 Electric Charge and Electric Force) maps to specific learning objectives and essential-knowledge statements that exam questions are written from.
- Draw the diagram first. A correct field-line diagram, circuit schematic or ray diagram is the start of almost every problem; most lost marks come from a missing or mislabelled element.
- Master the core relations. Coulomb's law, the ideal gas law, Ohm's law, Snell's law, the thin-lens equation and recur everywhere; know when each applies.
- Reason with conservation laws. Energy and charge conservation underpin the first law, Kirchhoff's rules and induction; recognizing which law applies is half the battle.
- Rehearse the exam formats. Time yourself on mathematical, representational and laboratory free-response questions, and make every claim include evidence and physics reasoning.
The units, topic by topic
Each topic has a Course-and-Exam-Description-level answer page with worked exam questions and cross-links, plus an overview guide and quiz. This library covers all seven units in full:
- Unit 9: kinetic theory of gases, thermal equilibrium and temperature, the ideal gas law, first law of thermodynamics, specific heat and thermal conductivity, entropy and the second law.
- Unit 10: electric charge and Coulomb's law, conservation of charge and charging, electric fields, electric potential energy, electric potential and voltage, capacitors, conservation of electric energy.
- Unit 11: electric current, simple circuits and emf, resistance and Ohm's law, electric power, resistors in series and parallel, Kirchhoff's loop rule, Kirchhoff's junction rule, capacitors in circuits.
- Unit 12: magnetic fields, magnetism and moving charges, magnetism and current-carrying wires, electromagnetic induction.
- Unit 13: reflection, images formed by mirrors, refraction, images formed by lenses.
- Unit 14: properties of waves, boundary behavior and polarization, electromagnetic waves, the Doppler effect, wave interference and standing waves, diffraction and interference of light.
- Unit 15: quantum theory and the photon, the Bohr model and atomic spectra, blackbody radiation, the photoelectric effect and Compton scattering, nuclear physics and radioactivity.
You can also work through the solving electricity and magnetism problems skills guide and its paired quiz.
For the official Course and Exam Description
The College Board publishes the full Course and Exam Description, released free-response questions, scoring guidelines and the equations sheet at apcentral.collegeboard.org. Always study from the current Course and Exam Description and the College Board's own released exams, because question style and the science practices are board-specific.
Physics 2 guides
In-depth written guides with paired practice quizzes.
Physics 2 practice quizzes
Multiple-choice drills with worked answer explanations. Your scores stay on this device.
The AP system, explained
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