AP Physics 2 Practice Test 5 – 60 Questions with Answers

Test yourself with 60 original AP Physics 2 practice questions covering all 7 units of the course: thermodynamics, electric force, field, and potential, electric circuits, magnetism and electromagnetism, geometric optics, waves, sound, and physical optics, and modern physics. Every answer includes the full working. All questions are algebra-based (no calculus). Take g = 9.8 m/s2 where relevant.

Unit 9: Thermodynamics

Q1. A sealed container holds 1.5 mol of oxygen in a volume of 50 L at a temperature of 290 K. What is the pressure of the gas? (Use R = 8.31 J/(mol.K).)

  • (A) 144594 Pa
  • (B) 72297 Pa
  • (C) 36148 Pa
  • (D) 108446 Pa
Show Answer

Answer: B – PV = nRT gives P = nRT ÷ V = (1.5 × 8.31 × 290) ÷ 0.05 = 72297 Pa.

Q2. A piston chamber contains gas at constant pressure with an initial volume of 15 L at 240 K. The volume changes to 36 L. What is the new temperature of the gas?

  • (A) 1152 K
  • (B) 288 K
  • (C) 576 K
  • (D) 864 K
Show Answer

Answer: C – At constant pressure, V ÷ T is constant, so T2 = T1 × V2 ÷ V1 = 240 × 36 ÷ 15 = 576 K.

Q3. A gas in a cylinder absorbs 1000 J of heat while doing 450 J of work on its surroundings. What is the change in internal energy of the gas?

  • (A) 550 J
  • (B) 1100 J
  • (C) 275 J
  • (D) 825 J
Show Answer

Answer: A – First law: ΔU = Q – W = 1000 – 450 = 550 J.

Q4. A gas expands at a constant pressure of 90 kPa, increasing its volume by 12 L. How much work is done by the gas?

  • (A) 1080 J
  • (B) 2160 J
  • (C) 540 J
  • (D) 1620 J
Show Answer

Answer: A – W = PΔV = 90 kPa × 12 L = 1080 J, since 1 kPa × 1 L = 1 J.

Q5. A lead sphere of mass 1 kg is heated through a temperature rise of 50 °C. The specific heat capacity of the material is 128 J/(kg°C). How much heat is supplied?

  • (A) 6400 J
  • (B) 12800 J
  • (C) 3200 J
  • (D) 9600 J
Show Answer

Answer: A – Q = mcΔT = 1 × 128 × 50 = 6400 J.

Q6. A Carnot engine operates between a hot reservoir at 900 K and a cold reservoir at 270 K. What is its maximum possible efficiency?

  • (A) 70 %
  • (B) 105 %
  • (C) 35 %
  • (D) 30 %
Show Answer

Answer: A – Efficiency = (1 – Tc ÷ Th) × 100% = (1 – 270 ÷ 900) × 100% = 70%.

Q7. A heat engine takes in 4000 J of heat in each cycle and rejects 400 J to the cold reservoir. What is the efficiency of the engine?

  • (A) 10 %
  • (B) 90 %
  • (C) 45 %
  • (D) 99 %
Show Answer

Answer: B – Work per cycle W = Qh – Qc = 4000 – 400 = 3600 J. Efficiency = W ÷ Qh × 100% = 3600 ÷ 4000 × 100% = 90%.

Q8. A fixed volume of gas has a pressure of 150 kPa at 320 K. It is heated to 600 K at constant volume. What is its new pressure?

  • (A) 562 kPa
  • (B) 141 kPa
  • (C) 281 kPa
  • (D) 422 kPa
Show Answer

Answer: C – At constant volume, P ÷ T is constant, so P2 = P1 × T2 ÷ T1 = 150 × 600 ÷ 320 = 281 kPa.

Q9. Two samples of the same liquid, of masses 4 kg at 80 °C and 3 kg at 10 °C, are mixed in an insulated container. What is the final temperature of the mixture? (Ignore heat loss.)

  • (A) 45 °C
  • (B) 70 °C
  • (C) 50 °C
  • (D) 75 °C
Show Answer

Answer: C – Heat lost = heat gained, so for the same material Tf = (m1T1 + m2T2) ÷ (m1 + m2) = (4 × 80 + 3 × 10) ÷ 7 = 50 °C.

Unit 10: Electric Force, Field, and Potential

Q10. Two charged balls carry charges of 6 µC and 5 µC and are 50 cm apart in a vacuum. What is the magnitude of the electrostatic force between them? (Use k = 9 × 109 N·m2/C2.)

  • (A) 2.16 N
  • (B) 0.54 N
  • (C) 1.62 N
  • (D) 1.08 N
Show Answer

Answer: D – F = kq1q2 ÷ r2 = (9 × 109 × 6 × 10-6 × 5 × 10-6) ÷ 0.52 = 1.08 N.

Q11. What is the magnitude of the electric field at a distance of 25 cm from a point charge of 6 µC in a vacuum? (Use k = 9 × 109 N·m2/C2.)

  • (A) 1728000 N/C
  • (B) 864000 N/C
  • (C) 432000 N/C
  • (D) 1296000 N/C
Show Answer

Answer: B – E = kQ ÷ r2 = (9 × 109 × 6 × 10-6) ÷ 0.252 = 864000 N/C.

Q12. Two parallel plates are 3 mm apart with a potential difference of 300 V between them. What is the magnitude of the uniform electric field between the plates?

  • (A) 200000 N/C
  • (B) 50000 N/C
  • (C) 100000 N/C
  • (D) 150000 N/C
Show Answer

Answer: C – E = V ÷ d = 300 ÷ 0.003 = 100000 N/C.

Q13. What is the electric potential at a distance of 60 cm from a point charge of 12 µC in a vacuum? (Use k = 9 × 109 N·m2/C2.)

  • (A) 360000 V
  • (B) 180000 V
  • (C) 90000 V
  • (D) 270000 V
Show Answer

Answer: B – V = kQ ÷ r = (9 × 109 × 12 × 10-6) ÷ 0.6 = 180000 V.

Q14. A charge of 10 µC is placed at a point where the electric potential is 250 V. What is its electric potential energy?

  • (A) 0.005 J
  • (B) 0.00125 J
  • (C) 0.0025 J
  • (D) 0.00375 J
Show Answer

Answer: C – U = qV = (10 × 10-6) × 250 = 0.0025 J.

Q15. A charge of 5 µC is placed in a uniform electric field of strength 8000 N/C. What is the magnitude of the electric force on the charge?

  • (A) 0.08 N
  • (B) 0.02 N
  • (C) 0.04 N
  • (D) 0.06 N
Show Answer

Answer: C – F = qE = (5 × 10-6) × 8000 = 0.04 N.

Q16. A uniform electric field of 500 N/C points along a straight path of length 10 cm. What is the potential difference between the ends of the path?

  • (A) 100 V
  • (B) 50 V
  • (C) 25 V
  • (D) 75 V
Show Answer

Answer: B – ΔV = Ed = 500 × 0.1 = 50 V.

Q17. A stationary charge of 4 µC is accelerated from rest through a potential difference of 600 V. What kinetic energy does it gain? (Ignore gravity.)

  • (A) 0.0024 J
  • (B) 0.0048 J
  • (C) 0.0012 J
  • (D) 0.0036 J
Show Answer

Answer: A – Kinetic energy gained = qΔV = (4 × 10-6) × 600 = 0.0024 J.

Q18. Two point charges exert a force of 18 N on each other. If one charge is doubled while everything else stays the same, what is the new force between them?

  • (A) 36 N
  • (B) 72 N
  • (C) 18 N
  • (D) 54 N
Show Answer

Answer: A – Coulomb’s law gives F proportional to q1q2 ÷ r2. For this change the force is multiplied by 2, so F = 18 × 2 = 36 N.

Unit 11: Electric Circuits

Q19. A motor of resistance 4 Ω is connected across a 36 V battery. What current flows through it? (Ignore internal resistance.)

  • (A) 9 A
  • (B) 18 A
  • (C) 4.5 A
  • (D) 13.5 A
Show Answer

Answer: A – I = V ÷ R = 36 ÷ 4 = 9 A.

Q20. Three resistors of 10 Ω, 5 Ω and 10 Ω are connected in series. What is their combined resistance?

  • (A) 50 Ω
  • (B) 12.5 Ω
  • (C) 37.5 Ω
  • (D) 25 Ω
Show Answer

Answer: D – For series resistors, R = R1 + R2 + R3 = 10 + 5 + 10 = 25 Ω.

Q21. Resistors of 12 Ω and 6 Ω are connected in parallel. What is their combined resistance?

  • (A) 8 Ω
  • (B) 2 Ω
  • (C) 4 Ω
  • (D) 6 Ω
Show Answer

Answer: C – 1 ÷ R = 1 ÷ 12 + 1 ÷ 6, so R = (12 × 6) ÷ (12 + 6) = 4 Ω.

Q22. A heater operates at 36 V and draws a current of 4 A. What power does it use?

  • (A) 144 W
  • (B) 288 W
  • (C) 72 W
  • (D) 216 W
Show Answer

Answer: A – P = VI = 36 × 4 = 144 W.

Q23. A water heater rated at 250 W runs for 3 hours. How much electrical energy does it use, in kilowatt-hours?

  • (A) 1.5 kWh
  • (B) 0.375 kWh
  • (C) 1.125 kWh
  • (D) 0.75 kWh
Show Answer

Answer: D – Energy = Pt = 250 W × 3 h = 750 Wh = 0.75 kWh.

Q24. A cell of emf 12 V and internal resistance 1 Ω is connected to an external resistor of 11 Ω. What current flows in the circuit?

  • (A) 1 A
  • (B) 2 A
  • (C) 0.5 A
  • (D) 1.5 A
Show Answer

Answer: A – I = emf ÷ (R + r) = 12 ÷ (11 + 1) = 12 ÷ 12 = 1 A.

Q25. In a parallel circuit, one branch of resistance 4 Ω is connected across a 12 V supply. What current flows through that branch?

  • (A) 6 A
  • (B) 1.5 A
  • (C) 4.5 A
  • (D) 3 A
Show Answer

Answer: D – The branch has the full supply voltage, so I = V ÷ R = 12 ÷ 4 = 3 A.

Q26. A wire has a resistance of 12 Ω. If its cross-sectional area is doubled while the material and temperature stay the same, what is its new resistance?

  • (A) 12 Ω
  • (B) 6 Ω
  • (C) 3 Ω
  • (D) 9 Ω
Show Answer

Answer: B – R = ρL ÷ A, so resistance scales as described: R = 12 × 0.5 = 6 Ω.

Q27. Resistors of 6 Ω and 3 Ω are connected in parallel, and this combination is connected in series with a 4 Ω resistor. What is the total resistance of the circuit?

  • (A) 12 Ω
  • (B) 3 Ω
  • (C) 6 Ω
  • (D) 9 Ω
Show Answer

Answer: C – Parallel part = (6 × 3) ÷ (6 + 3) = 2 Ω. Total = 2 + 4 = 6 Ω.

Unit 12: Magnetism and Electromagnetism

Q28. A charge of 2 µC moves at 5000 m/s perpendicular to a uniform magnetic field of 1.0 T. What is the magnitude of the magnetic force on the charge?

  • (A) 0.02 N
  • (B) 0.01 N
  • (C) 0.005 N
  • (D) 0.015 N
Show Answer

Answer: B – F = qvB sin θ with θ = 90° gives F = (2 × 10-6) × 5000 × 1.0 = 0.01 N.

Q29. A straight wire of length 1.5 m carries a current of 5 A perpendicular to a uniform magnetic field of 1.2 T. What is the magnitude of the magnetic force on the wire?

  • (A) 18 N
  • (B) 9 N
  • (C) 4.5 N
  • (D) 13.5 N
Show Answer

Answer: B – F = BIL sin θ with θ = 90° gives F = 1.2 × 5 × 1.5 = 9 N.

Q30. A particle of mass 0.02 kg and charge 2 C moves at 10 m/s perpendicular to a uniform magnetic field of 0.4 T. What is the radius of its circular path?

  • (A) 0.5 m
  • (B) 0.25 m
  • (C) 0.125 m
  • (D) 0.375 m
Show Answer

Answer: B – r = mv ÷ qB = (0.02 × 10) ÷ (2 × 0.4) = 0.25 m.


Q31. A long straight wire carries a current of 2 A. What is the magnitude of the magnetic field at a distance of 10 cm from the wire?

  • (A) 0.000008 T
  • (B) 0.000004 T
  • (C) 0.000002 T
  • (D) 0.000006 T
Show Answer

Answer: B – B = µ0I ÷ 2πr = 2 × 10-7 × 2 ÷ 0.1 = 0.000004 T.

Q32. A solenoid has 800 turns per metre and carries a current of 4 A. What is the magnetic field strength inside the solenoid, far from its ends? (Use µ0 = 4π × 10-7 T·m/A.)

  • (A) 0.008042 T
  • (B) 0.004021 T
  • (C) 0.002011 T
  • (D) 0.006032 T
Show Answer

Answer: B – B = µ0nI = (4π × 10-7) × 800 × 4 = 0.004021 T.

Q33. A flat loop of area 0.05 m2 sits in a uniform magnetic field of 0.4 T, with the field making an angle of 60° with the normal to the loop. What is the magnetic flux through the loop?

  • (A) 0.02 Wb
  • (B) 0.005 Wb
  • (C) 0.015 Wb
  • (D) 0.01 Wb
Show Answer

Answer: D – Flux = BA cos θ = 0.4 × 0.05 × 0.5 = 0.01 Wb.

Q34. A coil of 500 turns and area 0.04 m2 experiences a magnetic field change of 0.5 T in 0.1 s, with the field perpendicular to the coil. What is the magnitude of the induced emf in the coil?

  • (A) 100 V
  • (B) 200 V
  • (C) 50 V
  • (D) 150 V
Show Answer

Answer: A – emf = N Δflux ÷ Δt = 500 × 0.04 × 0.5 ÷ 0.1 = 100 V.

Q35. A conducting rod of length 2 m moves at 4 m/s perpendicular to a uniform magnetic field of 0.8 T, sliding on rails as in a motional emf setup. What is the induced emf across the rod?

  • (A) 12.8 V
  • (B) 3.2 V
  • (C) 9.6 V
  • (D) 6.4 V
Show Answer

Answer: D – emf = BLv = 0.8 × 2 × 4 = 6.4 V.

Unit 13: Geometric Optics

Q36. An object is placed 30 cm in front of a concave mirror of focal length 20 cm. What is the image distance? (A positive value means a real image in front of the mirror.)

  • (A) 120 cm
  • (B) 30 cm
  • (C) 90 cm
  • (D) 60 cm
Show Answer

Answer: D – 1 ÷ f = 1 ÷ do + 1 ÷ di gives 1 ÷ di = 1 ÷ 20 – 1 ÷ 30, so di = 60 cm.

Q37. An object placed 60 cm from a mirror forms an image 30 cm from the mirror. What is the lateral magnification?

  • (A) -1
  • (B) -0.25
  • (C) -0.5
  • (D) -0.75
Show Answer

Answer: C – m = -di ÷ do = -30 ÷ 60 = -0.5.

Q38. An object is placed 15 cm in front of a converging lens of focal length 10 cm. What is the image distance? (A positive value means a real image on the opposite side of the lens.)

  • (A) 60 cm
  • (B) 15 cm
  • (C) 45 cm
  • (D) 30 cm
Show Answer

Answer: D – 1 ÷ f = 1 ÷ do + 1 ÷ di gives 1 ÷ di = 1 ÷ 10 – 1 ÷ 15, so di = 30 cm.

Q39. A light ray in air (n = 1) strikes a glass block at an angle of incidence of 45° and refracts at an angle of 60° to the normal. What is the refractive index of the glass? (Use sin 45° = 0.707 and sin 60° = 0.866.)

  • (A) 1.22
  • (B) 0.902
  • (C) 0.41
  • (D) 0.82
Show Answer

Answer: D – Snell’s law: n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ2, so n2 = 0.707 ÷ 0.866 = 0.82.

Q40. Light inside a material of refractive index 2.0 strikes the boundary with air. What is the critical angle for total internal reflection?

  • (A) 30 °
  • (B) 60 °
  • (C) 15 °
  • (D) 45 °
Show Answer

Answer: A – sin θc = 1 ÷ n = 1 ÷ 2.0 = 0.5, so θc = 30°.

Q41. Light travels at 250000000 m/s in a transparent solid. Taking the speed of light in a vacuum as 3 × 108 m/s, what is the refractive index of the solid?

  • (A) 2.4
  • (B) 1.2
  • (C) 0.6
  • (D) 1.8
Show Answer

Answer: B – n = c ÷ v = (3 × 108) ÷ 250000000 = 1.2.

Q42. A spherical mirror has a radius of curvature of 40 cm. What is its focal length?

  • (A) 40 cm
  • (B) 10 cm
  • (C) 20 cm
  • (D) 30 cm
Show Answer

Answer: C – f = R ÷ 2 = 40 ÷ 2 = 20 cm.

Q43. An object is placed 10 cm in front of a converging lens of focal length 15 cm, inside the focal point. What is the image distance? (A negative value means a virtual image on the same side as the object.)

  • (A) -30 cm
  • (B) 30 cm
  • (C) -60 cm
  • (D) -15 cm
Show Answer

Answer: A – 1 ÷ di = 1 ÷ f – 1 ÷ do = 1 ÷ 15 – 1 ÷ 10 = -0.033333, so di = -30 cm.

Unit 14: Waves, Sound, and Physical Optics

Q44. A wave has a frequency of 100 Hz and a wavelength of 2 m. What is its speed?

  • (A) 400 m/s
  • (B) 100 m/s
  • (C) 300 m/s
  • (D) 200 m/s
Show Answer

Answer: D – v = fλ = 100 × 2 = 200 m/s.

Q45. An oscillator completes one full cycle in 0.2 s. What is its frequency?

  • (A) 10 Hz
  • (B) 5 Hz
  • (C) 2.5 Hz
  • (D) 7.5 Hz
Show Answer

Answer: B – f = 1 ÷ T = 1 ÷ 0.2 = 5 Hz.

Q46. A sound source radiates 100 W uniformly in all directions. What is the sound intensity at a distance of 1 m from the source? (Use π = 3.14.)

  • (A) 15.915 W/m2
  • (B) 3.979 W/m2
  • (C) 7.958 W/m2
  • (D) 11.937 W/m2
Show Answer

Answer: C – I = P ÷ 4πr2 = 100 ÷ (4 × 3.14 × 12) = 7.958 W/m2.

Q47. A string of length 1.5 m, fixed at both ends, supports waves travelling at 200 m/s. What is the frequency of its 1th harmonic?

  • (A) 133 Hz
  • (B) 33.333 Hz
  • (C) 100 Hz
  • (D) 66.667 Hz
Show Answer

Answer: D – For a string fixed at both ends, fn = nv ÷ 2L = 1 × 200 ÷ (2 × 1.5) = 66.667 Hz.

Q48. An air column of length 0.5 m, closed at one end, has a fundamental frequency given by v ÷ 4L with v = 343 m/s. What is its fundamental frequency?

  • (A) 172 Hz
  • (B) 343 Hz
  • (C) 85.75 Hz
  • (D) 257 Hz
Show Answer

Answer: A – f1 = v ÷ 4L = 343 ÷ (4 × 0.5) = 172 Hz.

Q49. Two tuning forks of frequencies 512 Hz and 515 Hz sound together. What is the beat frequency heard?

  • (A) 6 Hz
  • (B) 3 Hz
  • (C) 1.5 Hz
  • (D) 4.5 Hz
Show Answer

Answer: B – Beat frequency = |f1 – f2| = |512 – 515| = 3 Hz.

Q50. In a double-slit experiment, light of wavelength 600 nm passes through slits 0.5 mm apart, with a screen 2 m away. What is the distance from the central bright fringe to the first bright fringe on the screen?

  • (A) 0.48 cm
  • (B) 0.12 cm
  • (C) 0.24 cm
  • (D) 0.36 cm
Show Answer

Answer: C – y = λL ÷ d = (600 × 10-9 × 2) ÷ (0.5 × 10-3) = 0.0024 m = 0.24 cm.

Q51. A siren emitting 500 Hz moves toward a stationary observer at 60 m/s. Taking the speed of sound as 343 m/s, what frequency does the observer hear?

  • (A) 426 Hz
  • (B) 500 Hz
  • (C) 606 Hz
  • (D) 727 Hz
Show Answer

Answer: C – f’ = f × v ÷ (v – vs) = 500 × 343 ÷ (343 – 60) = 606 Hz.

Unit 15: Modern Physics

Q52. What is the energy, in electron-volts, of a blue photon of wavelength 480 nm? (Use hc = 1240 eV·nm.)

  • (A) 2.58 eV
  • (B) 5.17 eV
  • (C) 1.29 eV
  • (D) 3.88 eV
Show Answer

Answer: A – E = hc ÷ λ = 1240 ÷ 480 = 2.58 eV.

Q53. Light of photon energy 5 eV strikes a potassium surface whose work function is 1.5 eV. What is the maximum kinetic energy of an emitted photoelectron?

  • (A) 7 eV
  • (B) 3.5 eV
  • (C) 1.75 eV
  • (D) 5.25 eV
Show Answer

Answer: B – KEmax = hf – work function = 5 – 1.5 = 3.5 eV.

Q54. An electron of mass 9.11 × 10-31 kg moves at 3000000 m/s. What is its de Broglie wavelength? (Use h = 6.63 × 10-34 J·s.)

  • (A) 0.243 nm
  • (B) 0.486 nm
  • (C) 0.1215 nm
  • (D) 0.3645 nm
Show Answer

Answer: A – λ = h ÷ mv = (6.63 × 10-34) ÷ (9.11 × 10-31 × 3000000) = 0.242591 nm.

Q55. What is the energy of a hydrogen atom in the n = 2 energy level? (Ground-state energy is -13.6 eV.)

  • (A) -27.2 eV
  • (B) 3.4 eV
  • (C) -6.8 eV
  • (D) -3.4 eV
Show Answer

Answer: D – En = -13.6 ÷ n2 = -13.6 ÷ 4 = -3.4 eV.

Q56. A hydrogen atom drops from the n = 4 level to the n = 1 level. What is the energy of the photon emitted?

  • (A) 6.38 eV
  • (B) 25.5 eV
  • (C) 12.75 eV
  • (D) 0.85 eV
Show Answer

Answer: C – ΔE = 13.6 × (1 ÷ 1 – 1 ÷ 16) = 12.75 eV.

Q57. A nucleus has a mass defect of 0.02 u. What is its total binding energy in MeV? (1 u corresponds to 931.5 MeV.)

  • (A) 37.26 MeV
  • (B) 9.315 MeV
  • (C) 27.945 MeV
  • (D) 18.63 MeV
Show Answer

Answer: D – Binding energy = mass defect × 931.5 MeV/u = 0.02 × 931.5 = 18.63 MeV.

Q58. An radon sample of mass 80 g decays through 3 half-lives. What mass remains?

  • (A) 20 g
  • (B) 5 g
  • (C) 15 g
  • (D) 10 g
Show Answer

Answer: D – After 3 half-lives the fraction remaining is (1 ÷ 2)3 = 0.125, so mass = 80 × 0.125 = 10 g.

Q59. A clock moving at 0.8c relative to an observer ticks with a proper time interval of 8 s between two events. What time interval does the stationary observer measure?

  • (A) 4.8 s
  • (B) 8 s
  • (C) 20 s
  • (D) 13.33 s
Show Answer

Answer: D – With v = 0.8c, the Lorentz factor is 1.667, so Δt = 1.667 × 8 = 13.334 s.

Q60. A rod of proper length 40 m moves at 0.6c relative to an observer. What length does the observer measure?

  • (A) 50 m
  • (B) 40 m
  • (C) 32 m
  • (D) 16 m
Show Answer

Answer: C – L = L0 ÷ gamma = 40 ÷ 1.25 = 32 m.

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