5 Steps to A 5 : AP Physics B and C

by Jacobs, Greg

• ISBN13: 9780071437134
• ISBN10: 0071437134
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-12-16
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill

Summary

For the more than one million students taking the AP exams each year: Features include:Boxed quotes offering advice from students who have aced the exams and from AP teachers and college professors Sample tests that closely simulate real exams Review material based on the contents of the most recent tests Icons highlighting important facts, vocabulary, and frequently asked questions Websites and links to valuable online test resources, along with author e-mail addresses for students with follow-up questions Authors who are either AP course instructors or exam developers.

Author Biography

Greg Jacobs teaches both the B and C levels of AP physics at Woodberry Forest School, in central Virginia. He is also a reader and consultant for the College Board's AP physics program.

Joshua Shulman aced both the AP Physics B and AP Physics C exams in high school and was chosen as a semifinalist in the selection of the U.S. Physics Team.

Table of Contents

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	(1)
Why This Book?	3	(1)
Organization of the Book	3	(1)
Introduction to the Five-Step Program	4	(1)
Three Approaches to Preparing for the AP Physics Exam	4	(2)
Calendar for Each Plan	6	(3)
Introduction to the Graphics Used in This Book	9	(4)
PART II WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE AP PHYSICS EXAM
Background of the Advanced Placement Program	13	(1)
Who Writes the AP Physics Exam?	13	(1)
The AP Grades and Who Receives Them	13	(1)
What's the Difference Between Physics B and Physics C?	13	(1)
Reasons for Taking the AP Physics Exam	14	(1)
Questions Frequently Asked About the AP Physics Exam	14	(4)
Getting Started: The Diagnostic Exam	18	(6)
Answers and Explanations	24	(7)
PART III PHYSICS-SPECIFIC TEST-TAKING ADVICE
Memorizing Equations in the Shower	31	(6)
How to Approach the Multiple-Choice Section	37	(8)
How to Approach the Free-Response Section	45	(4)
Lab Questions	49	(4)
Extra Review of Fundamental Topics	53	(12)
PART IV COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
A Bit About Vectors	65	(7)
Scalars	65	(1)
Vector Basics	65	(1)
Graphic Representation of Vectors	66	(1)
Vector Components	66	(1)
Adding and Subtracting Vectors	67	(3)
Practice Problems	70	(1)
Solutions to Practice Problems	71	(1)
Free-Body Diagrams and Equilibrium	72	(15)
What Is a Free-Body Diagram?	72	(1)
Equilibrium	73	(2)
Normal Force	75	(1)
Tension	76	(2)
Friction	78	(3)
Inclined Planes	81	(1)
Torque	82	(2)
Practice Problems	84	(1)
Solutions to Practice Problems	85	(1)
Rapid Review	86	(1)
Kinematics	87	(12)
Velocity, Acceleration, and Displacement	87	(1)
Fundamental Kinematics Equations	88	(1)
Kinematics Problem Solving	89	(1)
Freefall	90	(2)
Projectile Motion	92	(2)
Motion Graphs	94	(2)
Practice Problems	96	(1)
Solutions to Practice Problems	97	(1)
Rapid Review	98	(1)
Newton's Second Law, Fnet = ma	99	(10)
The Four-Step Problem-Solving Process	99	(1)
Only NET Force Equals ma	100	(1)
Fnet on Inclines	101	(2)
Fnet for a Pulley	103	(2)
Newton's Third Law	105	(1)
Solution to Example Problem	105	(1)
Practice Problems	106	(2)
Solutions to Practice Problems	108	(1)
Rapid Review	108	(1)
Momentum	109	(7)
Momentum and Impulse	109	(2)
Conservation of Momentum	111	(1)
Elastic and Inelastic Collisions	111	(1)
Two-Dimensional Collisions	112	(1)
Practice Problems	113	(1)
Solutions to Practice Problems	114	(1)
Rapid Review	115	(1)
Energy Conservations	116	(9)
Kinetic Energy and the Work-Energy Theorem	116	(2)
Potential Energy	118	(1)
Conservation of Energy: Problem-Solving Approach	118	(2)
Springs	120	(1)
Power	121	(1)
Potential Energy vs. Displacement Graphs	121	(2)
Practice Problems	123	(1)
Solutions to Practice Problems	124	(1)
Rapid Review	124	(1)
Gravitation and Circular Motion	125	(10)
Velocity and Acceleration in Circular Motion	125	(1)
Centripetal Forces	126	(1)
Mass on a String	127	(1)
Car on a Curve	128	(1)
Newton's Law of Gravitation	129	(1)
Kepler's Laws	130	(2)
Practice Problems	132	(1)
Solutions to Practice Problems	133	(1)
Rapid Review	134	(1)
Advanced Rotational Motion	135	(10)
Rotational Kinematics	135	(2)
Moment of Inertia	137	(1)
Newton's Second Law for Rotation	138	(1)
Rotational Kinetic Energy	139	(1)
Angular Momentum and Its Conservation	140	(2)
Practice Problems	142	(1)
Solutions to Practice Problems	143	(1)
Rapid Review	144	(1)
Simple Harmonic Motion	145	(8)
Amplitude, Period, and Frequency	145	(1)
Vibrating Mass on a Spring	146	(2)
Simple Pendulums	148	(2)
The Sinusoidal Nature of SHM	150	(1)
Practice Problems	151	(1)
Solutions to Practice Problems	151	(1)
Rapid Review	152	(1)
Thermodynamics	153	(14)
Heat, Temperature, and Power	153	(2)
Thermal Expansion	155	(1)
Ideal Gas Law	155	(1)
Kinetic Theory of Gases	156	(1)
First Law of Thermodynamics	157	(1)
PV Diagrams	158	(4)
Heat Engines and the Second Law of Thermodynamics	162	(2)
Entropy	164	(1)
Practice Problems	164	(1)
Solutions to Practice Problems	165	(1)
Rapid Review	166	(1)
Fluid Mechanics	167	(11)
Pressure and Density	167	(1)
Pressure in a Static Fluid Column	168	(2)
Buoyancy and Archimedes' Principle	170	(1)
Pascal's Principle	171	(1)
Flowing Fluids	172	(3)
Practice Problems	175	(1)
Solutions to Practice Problems	176	(1)
Rapid Review	177	(1)
Electrostatics	178	(14)
Electric Charge	178	(1)
Electric Fields	179	(1)
Force of an Electric Field	180	(1)
Electric Potential	181	(3)
Special Geometries for Electrostatics	184	(4)
Gauss's Law	188	(1)
Practice Problems	189	(1)
Solutions to Practice Problems	190	(1)
Rapid Review	191	(1)
Circuits	192	(18)
Current	192	(1)
Resistance and Ohm's Law	193	(1)
Resistors in Series and in Parallel	194	(2)
The V-I-R Chart	196	(2)
Kirchoff's Laws	198	(3)
Circuits from an Experimental Point of View	201	(1)
RC Circuits: Steady-State Behavior	202	(2)
RC Circuits: Transitional Behavior	204	(2)
Practice Problems	206	(1)
Solutions to Practice Problems	207	(1)
Rapid Review	208	(2)
Magnetism	210	(18)
Magnetic Fields	210	(2)
Long, Straight Current-Carrying Wires	212	(1)
Moving Charged Particles	213	(3)
Mass Spectrometry	216	(1)
Important Consequences of Biot--Savart and Ampere's Law	217	(1)
Induced EMF	218	(4)
Inductors in Circuits	222	(3)
Practice Problems	225	(1)
Solutions to Practice Problems	226	(1)
Rapid Review	226	(2)
Waves	228	(16)
Transverse and Longitudinal Waves	228	(2)
Interference	230	(1)
Standing Waves	231	(3)
Doppler Effect	234	(1)
Electromagnetic Waves	235	(1)
Maxwell's Equations	235	(1)
Single and Double Slits	236	(2)
Index of Refraction	238	(1)
Thin Films	239	(2)
Practice Problems	241	(1)
Solutions to Practice Problems	242	(1)
Rapid Review	243	(1)
Optics	244	(11)
Snell's Law	244	(2)
Mirrors	246	(3)
Lenses	249	(2)
Practice Problems	251	(2)
Solutions to Practice Problems	253	(1)
Rapid Review	254	(1)
Atomic and Nuclear Physics	255	(10)
Subatomic Particles	255	(1)
The Electron-Volt	256	(1)
Energy Levels in an Atom	256	(3)
Momentum of a Photon	259	(1)
de Broglie Wavelength	259	(1)
Three Types of Nuclear Decay Processes	260	(2)
E = mc2	262	(1)
Practice Problems	262	(1)
Solutions to Practice Problems	263	(1)
Rapid Review	264	(1)
Intensive Review of Special Topics	265	(102)
Tension Problems	265	(5)
Electric and Magnetic Fields	270	(2)
Inclined Planes	272	(4)
Motion Graphs	276	(3)
Simple Circuits	279	(6)
PART V PRACTICE EXAMS AND SOLUTIONS
Physics B Practice Exam---Multiple Choice	285	(13)
Physics B Practice Exam---Free Response	298	(4)
Physics B Practice Exam---Multiple-Choice Solutions	302	(6)
Physics B Practice Exam---Free-Response Solutions	308	(5)
Physics C---Mechanics Practice Exam---Multiple Choice	313	(9)
Physics C---Electricity and Magnetism Practice Exam---Multiple Choice	322	(9)
Physics C---Mechanics Practice Exam---Free Response	331	(3)
Physics C---Electricity and Magnetism Practice Exam---Free Response	334	(3)
Physics C---Mechanics Practice Exam---Multiple-Choice Solutions	337	(4)
Physics C---Electricity and Magnetism Practice Exam---Multiple-Choice Solutions	341	(4)
Physics C Practice Exam---Free-Response Solutions	345	(8)
APPENDIXES
Appendix 1: Constants	353	(1)
Appendix 2: Physics B Equations	354	(3)
Appendix 3: Physics C Equations	357	(2)
Appendix 4: Four-Minute Drill Prompts	359	(3)
Appendix 5: Web Sites	362	(1)
Appendix 6: Glossary	363	(4)
Appendix 7: Bibliography	367