5 Steps to a 5. AP Physics B and C

385 Pages·2005·3.73 MB·English

by  Greg Jacobs

McGRAW-HILL
5 Steps to a 5
AP Physics B and C
Other books in McGraw-Hill’s 5 Steps to a 5 Series include:
AP Biology
AP Calculus AB
AP Chemistry
AP English Language
AP English Literature
AP Microeconomics/Macroeconomics
AP Psychology
AP Spanish Language
AP Statistics
AP U.S. Government and Politics
AP U.S. History
AP World History
Writing the AP English Essay
McGRAW-HILL
5 Steps to a 5
AP Physics B and C
Greg Jacobs and Josh Schulman
M G -H
C RAW ILL
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DOI: 10.1036/0071460551
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Contents
(Entries preceded by a C! are of special relevance for Physics C students; those preceded
by a B! are relevant for Physics B students)
Preface: How to Approach Your Physics Course / xi
Ignore Your Grade / xi
Don’t Bang Your Head Against a Brick Wall / xi
Work With Other People / xii
Ask Questions When Appropriate / xii
Keep an Even Temper / xii
Don’t Cram / xii
Never Forget, Physics Is “Phun” / xiii
Acknowledgments / xv
PART I HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
Welcome! / 3
Why This Book? / 3
Organization of the Book / 3
Introduction to the Five-Step Program / 4
Three Approaches to Preparing for the AP Physics Exam / 4
Calendar for Each Plan / 6
Introduction to the Graphics Used in This Book / 9
PART II WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT THE AP PHYSICS EXAM
Background of the Advanced Placement Program / 13
Who Writes the AP Physics Exam? / 13
The AP Grades and Who Receives Them / 13
What’s the Difference Between Physics B and Physics C? / 13
Reasons for Taking the AP Physics Exam / 14
Questions Frequently Asked About the AP Physics Exam / 14
Getting Started: The Diagnostic Exam / 18
Answers and Explanations / 24
PART III PHYSICS-SPECIFIC
TEST-TAKING ADVICE
Chapter A Memorizing Equations in the Shower / 31
Chapter B How to Approach the
Multiple-Choice Section / 37
vv
vi • Contents
Chapter C How to Approach the Free-Response Section / 45
Chapter D Lab Questions / 49
Chapter E Extra Review of Fundamental Topics / 53
PART IV COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
Chapter 1 A Bit About Vectors / 65
Scalars / 65
Vector Basics / 65
Graphic Representation of Vectors / 66
Vector Components / 66
Adding and Subtracting Vectors / 67
Practice Problems / 70
Solutions to Practice Problems / 71
Chapter 2 Free-Body Diagrams and Equilibrium / 72
What Is a Free-Body Diagram? / 72
Equilibrium / 73
Normal Force / 75
Tension / 76
Friction / 78
Inclined Planes / 81
Torque / 82
Practice Problems / 84
Solutions to Practice Problems / 85
Rapid Review / 86
Chapter 3 Kinematics / 87
Velocity, Acceleration, and Displacement / 87
Fundamental Kinematics Equations / 88
Kinematics Problem Solving / 89
Freefall / 90
Projectile Motion / 92
Motion Graphs / 94
Practice Problems / 96
Solutions to Practice Problems / 97
Rapid Review / 98
=
Chapter 4 Newton’s Second Law, F ma / 99
net
The Four-Step Problem-Solving Process / 99
Only NETForce Equals ma / 100
F on Inclines / 101
net
F for a Pulley / 103
net
Newton’s Third Law / 105
Solution to Example Problem / 105
Practice Problems / 106
Solutions to Practice Problems / 108
Rapid Review / 108
Chapter 5 Momentum / 109
Momentum and Impulse / 109
Conservation of Momentum / 111
Contents • vii
Elastic and Inelastic Collisions / 111
Two-Dimensional Collisions / 112
Practice Problems / 113
Solutions to Practice Problems / 114
Rapid Review / 115
Chapter 6 Energy Conservation / 116
Kinetic Energy and the Work–Energy Theorem / 116
Potential Energy / 118
Conservation of Energy: Problem-Solving Approach / 118
Springs / 120
Power / 121
C! Potential Energy vs. Displacement Graphs / 121
Practice Problems / 123
Solutions to Practice Problems / 124
Rapid Review / 124
Chapter 7 Gravitation and Circular Motion / 125
Velocity and Acceleration in Circular Motion / 125
Centripetal Forces / 126
Mass on a String / 127
Car on a Curve / 128
Newton’s Law of Gravitation / 129
C! Kepler’s Laws / 130
Practice Problems / 132
Solutions to Practice Problems / 133
Rapid Review / 134
Chapter 8 Advanced Rotational Motion / 135
C! Rotational Kinematics / 135
C! Moment of Inertia / 137
C! Newton’s Second Law for Rotation / 138
C! Rotational Kinetic Energy / 139
C! Angular Momentum and Its Conservation / 140
C! Practice Problems / 142
C! Solutions to Practice Problems / 143
C! Rapid Review / 144
Chapter 9 Simple Harmonic Motion / 145
Amplitude, Period, and Frequency / 145
Vibrating Mass on a Spring / 146
Simple Pendulums / 148
C! The Sinusoidal Nature of SHM / 150
Practice Problems / 151
Solutions to Practice Problems / 151
Rapid Review / 152
Chapter 10 Thermodynamics / 153
B! Heat, Temperature, and Power / 153
B! Thermal Expansion / 155
B! Ideal Gas Law / 155
B! Kinetic Theory of Gases / 156
B! First Law of Thermodynamics / 157
viii • Contents
B! PVDiagrams / 158
B! Heat Engines and the Second Law of Thermodynamics / 162
B! Entropy / 164
B! Practice Problems / 164
B! Solutions to Practice Problems / 165
B! Rapid Review / 166
Chapter 11 Fluid Mechanics / 167
B! Pressure and Density / 167
B! Pressure in a Static Fluid Column / 168
B! Buoyancy and Archimedes’ Principle / 170
B! Pascal’s Principle / 171
B! Flowing Fluids / 172
B! Practice Problems / 175
B! Solutions to Practice Problems / 176
B! Rapid Review / 177
Chapter 12 Electrostatics / 178
Electric Charge / 178
Electric Fields / 179
Force of an Electric Field / 180
Electric Potential / 181
Special Geometries for Electrostatics / 184
C! Gauss’s Law / 188
Practice Problems / 189
Solutions to Practice Problems / 190
Rapid Review / 191
Chapter 13 Circuits / 192
Current / 192
Resistance and Ohm’s Law / 193
Resistors in Series and in Parallel / 194
The V-I-RChart / 196
Kirchoff’s Laws / 198
Circuits from an Experimental Point of View / 201
RC Circuits: Steady-State Behavior / 202
C! RC Circuits: Transitional Behavior / 204
Practice Problems / 206
Solutions to Practice Problems / 207
Rapid Review / 208
Chapter 14 Magnetism / 210
Magnetic Fields / 210
Long, Straight Current-Carrying Wires / 212
Moving Charged Particles / 213
Mass Spectrometry / 216
C! Important Consequences of Biot–Savart and Ampere’s Law / 217
B! C! Induced EMF / 218
C! Inductors in Circuits / 222
Practice Problems / 225
Solutions to Practice Problems / 226
Rapid Review / 226
Contents • ix
Chapter 15 Waves / 228
Transverse and Longitudinal Waves / 228
Interference / 230
Standing Waves / 231
Doppler Effect / 234
Electromagnetic Waves / 235
C! Maxwell’s Equations / 235
B! Single and Double Slits / 236
Index of Refraction / 238
Thin Films / 239
Practice Problems / 241
Solutions to Practice Problems / 242
Rapid Review / 243
Chapter 16 Optics / 244
B! Snell’s Law / 244
B! Mirrors / 246
B! Lenses / 249
B! Practice Problems / 251
B! Solutions to Practice Problems / 253
B! Rapid Review / 254
Chapter 17 Atomic and Nuclear Physics / 255
B! Subatomic Particles / 255
B! The Electron-Volt / 256
B! Energy Levels in an Atom / 256
B! Momentum of a Photon / 259
B! de Broglie Wavelength / 259
B! Three Types of Nuclear Decay Processes / 260
B! E =mc2 / 262
B! Practice Problems / 262
B! Solutions to Practice Problems / 263
B! Rapid Review / 264
Chapter 18 Intensive Review of Special Topics / 265
Tension Problems / 265
Electric and Magnetic Fields / 270
Inclined Planes / 272
Motion Graphs / 276
Simple Circuits / 279
PART V PRACTICE EXAMS AND SOLUTIONS
Physics B Practice Exam—Multiple Choice / 285
Physics B Practice Exam—Free Response / 298
Physics B Practice Exam—Multiple-Choice Solutions / 302
Physics B Practice Exam—Free-Response Solutions / 308
Physics C—Mechanics Practice Exam—Multiple Choice / 313
Physics C—Electricity and Magnetism Practice Exam—
Multiple Choice / 322
Physics C—Mechanics Practice Exam—Free Response / 331
Physics C—Electricity and Magnetism Practice Exam—
Free Response / 334