5 Steps to a 5 AP Physics B & C, 2008-2009 Edition (5 Steps to a 5 on the Advanced Placement Examinations Series)

418 Pages·2007·3.73 MB·English

by  Greg Jacobs

5
FIVE STEPS TO A
AP Physics B and C
2008–2009
Greg Jacobs and Josh Schulman
McG -H
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DOI: 10.1036/0071497978
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BIBLCIOOGNRTAEPNHTYS
Acknowledgments, ix
About the Authors, x
Introduction: The Five-Step Program, xi
Set Up Your Study Program, 1
STEP 1
1 How to Approach Your Physics Course, 3
Ignore Your Grade, 4
Don’t Bang Your Head against a Brick Wall, 4
Work with Other People, 4
Ask Questions When Appropriate, 5
Keep an Even Temper, 5
Don’t Cram, 5
Never Forget, Physics Is “Phun”, 5
2 What You Need to Know About the AP Physics Exam, 7
Background Information, 7
Some Frequently Asked Questions About the AP Physics B&CExams, 8
3 How to Plan Your Time, 15
Specific Advice for Physics B Students, 15
Important Advicer for Physics C Students, 17
Calender for each Plan, 20
Determine Your Test Readiness, 23
STEP 2
4 Fundamentals Quizzes, 25
Mechanics Quiz, 25
Thermodynamic Physics and Fluid Mechanics Quiz, 26
Electricity and Magnetism Quiz, 27
Waves, Optics, Atomic, and Nuclear Physics Quiz, 28
Answers, 29
What Do I Know, and What Don’t I Know?, 34
5 Take a Diagnostic Test, 35
Diagnostic Test, 36
Answers and Explanations, 41
Interpretation: How Ready Are You?, 44
Develop Strategies For Success, 45
STEP 3
6 Memorizing Equations in the Shower, 47
7 How to Approach Each Question Type, 53
Multiple-Choice Questions, 54
The Free-Response Section, 61
Lab Questions, 63
8 Extra Drill on Difficult but Frequently Tested Topics, 69
iv ❯ Contents
Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High, 87
STEP 4
9 A Bit About Vectors, 89
Scalars, 89
Vector Basics, 90
Graphic Representation of Vectors, 90
Vector Components, 91
Adding and Subtracting Vectors, 91
Practice Problems, 93
Solutions to Practice Problems, 94
10 Free-Body Diagrams and Equilibrium, 95
What Is a Free-Body Diagram?, 96
Equilibrium, 97
Normal Force, 98
Tension, 99
Friction, 101
Inclined Planes, 104
Torque, 105
Of Special Interest to Physics C Students, 107
Solutions to Practice Problems, 108
Rapid Review, 110
11 Kinematics, 111
Velocity, Acceleration, and Displacement, 112
Fundamental Kinematics Equations, 113
Kinematics Problem Solving, 113
Freefall, 115
Projectile Motion, 117
Motion Graphs, 118
Of Special Interest to Physics C Students, 121
Solutions to Practice Problems, 122
Rapid Review, 123
=
12 Newton’s Second Law, F ma, 124
net
The Four-Step Problem-Solving Process, 125
Only NET Force Equals ma, 125
F on Inclines, 126
net
F for a Pulley, 128
net
Newton’s Third Law, 130
Solution to Example Problem, 130
Of Special Interest to Physics C Students, 132
Solutions to Practice Problems, 133
Rapid Review, 134
13 Momentum, 135
Momentum and Impulse, 136
Conservation of Momentum, 137
Elastic and Inelastic Collisions, 138
Two-Dimensional Collisions, 138
Of Special Interest to Physics C Students, 141
Solutions to Practice Problems, 142
Rapid Review, 142
Contents ❮ v
14 Energy Conservation, 143
Kinetic Energy and the Work–Energy Theorem, 144
Potential Energy, 146
Conservation of Energy: Problem-Solving Approach, 146
Springs, 148
Power, 149
Of Special Interest to Physics C Students
Practice Problems, 151
Solutions to Practice Problems, 152
Rapid Review, 153
15 Gravitation and Circular Motion, 154
Velocity and Acceleration in Circular Motion, 155
Centripetal Acceleration, 155
Mass on a String, 156
Car on a Curve, 158
Newton’s Law of Gravitation, 159
Of Special Interest to Physics C Students
Practice Problems, 160
Solutions to Practice Problems, 163
Rapid Review, 164
16 Rotational Motion (for Physics C Students Only), 165
Rotational Kinematics, 166
Moment of Inertia, 168
Newton’s Second Law for Rotation, 169
Rotational Kinetic Energy, 170
Angular Momentum and Its Conservation, 171
Practice Problems, 173
Solutions to Practice Problems, 174
Rapid Review, 176
17 Simple Harmonic Motion, 177
Amplitude, Period, and Frequency, 178
Vibrating Mass on a Spring, 179
Simple Pendulums, 180
Of Special Interest to Physics C Students
Practice Problems, 183
Solutions to Practice Problems, 183
Rapid Review, 184
18 Thermodynamics (for Physics B Students Only), 185
Heat, Temperature, and Power, 186
Thermal Expansion, 188
Ideal Gas Law, 189
Kinetic Theory of Gases, 190
First Law of Thermodynamics, 191
PV Diagrams, 191
Heat Engines and the Second Law of Thermodynamics, 196
Entropy, 197
Practice Problems, 198
Solutions to Practice Problems, 199
Rapid Review, 200
vi ❯ Contents
19 Fluid Mechanics (for Physics B Students Only), 201
Pressure and Density, 202
Pressure in a Static Fluid Column, 203
Buoyancy and Archimedes’ Principle, 205
Pascal’s Principle, 206
Flowing Fluids, 207
Practice Problems, 210
Solutions to Practice Problems, 211
Rapid Review, 212
20 Electrostatics, 213
Electric Charge, 214
Electric Fields, 215
Force of an Electric Field, 216
Electric Potential, 217
Special Geometries for Electrostatics, 220
Of Special Interest to Physics C Students
Practice Problems, 226
Solutions to Practice Problems, 227
Rapid Review, 228
21 Circuits, 229
Current, 230
Resistance and Ohm’s Law, 230
Resistors in Series and in Parallel, 232
The V-I-R Chart, 234
Kirchoff’s Laws, 236
Circuits from an Experimental Point of View, 239
RC Circuits: Steady-State Behavior, 241
Of Special Interest to Physics C Students
Practice Problems, 244
Solutions to Practice Problems, 245
Rapid Review, 246
22 Magnetism, 248
Magnetic Fields, 249
Long, Straight Current-Carrying Wires, 251
Moving Charged Particles, 252
Mass Spectrometry, 255
Induced EMF, 259
Of Special Interest to Physics C Students
Practice Problems, 264
Solutions to Practice Problems, 266
Rapid Review, 267
23 Waves, 268
Transverse and Longitudinal Waves, 269
Interference, 271
Standing Waves, 272
Doppler Effect, 275
Electromagnetic Waves, 276
Contents ❮ vii
Single and Double Slits, 276
Index of Refraction, 279
Of Special Interest to Physics C Students
Practice Problems, 282
Solutions to Practice Problems, 283
Rapid Review, 284
24 Optics (for Physics B Students Only), 286
Snell’s Law, 287
Mirrors, 288
Lenses, 291
Practice Problems, 294
Solutions to Practice Problems, 296
Rapid Review, 297
25 Atomic and Nuclear Physics (for Physics B Students Only), 298
Subatomic Particles, 299
The Electron-Volt, 300
Energy Levels in an Atom, 300
Momentum of a Photon, 303
de Broglie Wavelength, 303
Three Types of Nuclear Decay Processes, 304
E = mc2, 306
Practice Problems, 306
Solutions to Practice Problems, 307
Rapid Review, 308
Build Your Test-Taking Confidence, 309
STEP 5
Physics B Multiple-Choice Questions, 311
Physics B Free-Response Questions, 324
Physics B Multiple-Choice Solutions, 329
Physics B Free-Response Solutions, 335
Physics C Mechanics Multiple-Choice Questions, 341
Physics C Mechanics Free-Response Questions, 349
Physics C Electricity and Magnetism Multiple-Choice Questions, 353
Physics C Electricity and Magnetism Free-Response Questions, 361
Physics C Mechanics Multiple-Choice Solutions, 364
Physics C Electricity and Magnetism Multiple-Choice Solutions, 368
Physics C Mechanics Free-Response Solutions, 372
Physics C Electricity and Magnetism Free-Response Solutions, 375
Appendixes, 385
Constants, 387
Physics B Equations, 388
Physics C Equations, 391
Four-Minute Drill Prompts, 393
Web Sites, 396
Glossary, 397
Bibliography, 401
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