AP Physics Review Flashcards

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from AP Physics 1 and 2, focusing on thermodynamics, electric forces, circuits, and magnetism.

Pressure

The force applied per unit area, given by the equation P = F / A.

Ideal Gas Law

An equation of state for ideal gases, represented as PV = nRT.

PV

The product of pressure (P) and volume (V) in the Ideal Gas Law.

N (in Ideal Gas Law)

The number of moles of gas.

R (in Ideal Gas Law)

The gas constant, approximately 8.31 J/(mol K).

T (in Ideal Gas Law)

The absolute temperature in Kelvin.

Boltzmann’s Constant (KB)

A constant related to the energy of particles in a gas, equal to 1.38 x 10^-23 J/K.

Kinetic Theory of Gas

A theory that describes the behavior of gases in terms of the motion of their molecules.

Kavg

Average kinetic energy of gas molecules.

VRms

Root mean square velocity of gas molecules, represented as (3kBT/m)^(1/2).

Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution

A statistical distribution of speeds of particles in a gas.

Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

If two systems are each in thermal equilibrium with a third system, they are in thermal equilibrium with each other.

First Law of Thermodynamics

The law of conservation of energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed.

Piston in Thermodynamics

A boundary between the system (gas) and surroundings that can do work.

dU

Change in internal energy of a system.

Q

Heat added to or removed from a system.

W

Work done on or by the system.

Isovolumetric Process

A thermodynamic process where volume remains constant (dV = 0).

Isothermic Process

A thermodynamic process where temperature remains constant (dT = 0).

Isobaric Process

A process where pressure remains constant (dP = 0).

Adiabatic Process

A process where no heat is exchanged with the surroundings (Q = 0).

Entropy

A measure of the disorder of a system; total entropy of a system will never decrease.

Specific Heat Capacity (c)

The amount of heat required to change the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius.

Conduction

Heat transfer through direct contact of molecules.

Convection

Heat transfer by the bulk movement of fluids.

Radiation

Heat transfer through electromagnetic waves.

Stefan-Boltzmann Equation

P = σeAT^4, describes the power radiated by a black body.

Coulomb’s Law

Describes the electrostatic force between charged objects: FE = k(q1q2/r^2).

Electric Field (E)

A field around a charged object where other charges experience a force.

Electric Dipole

A pair of equal and opposite charges separated by a distance.

Uniform Electric Field

An electric field with a constant strength throughout.

Conductors

Materials that allow the flow of electric charge.

Insulators

Materials that do not allow electric charge to flow.

Charging by Friction

Removing electrons from one object by rubbing it against another.

Electrostatic Shielding

The phenomenon where the electric field inside a conducting cage is zero.

Electric Potential Energy (Ue)

The work done on a charge by an electric field.

Equipotential Surfaces

Surfaces over which the electric potential is constant.

Capacitance (C)

The ability of a system to store an electric charge, given by C = Q/dV.

Dielectric Constant (K)

A measure of a material's ability to insulate charges from each other.

Current (I)

The flow of electric charge.

Ohm’s Law

The relationship between voltage (dV), current (I), and resistance (R): I = dV/R.

Kirchhoff’s Loop Rule

The total voltage around a closed loop is equal to zero.

Magnetic Field (B)

A field around magnetic materials and moving charges.

Magnetic Permeability (μ)

A measure of how well a material supports the formation of a magnetic field.

Magnetic Force on a Moving Charge

FB = qv x B; the force experienced by a charge moving in a magnetic field.

Right Hand Rule

A way to determine the direction of the magnetic force on a charge.

Motional EMF (ε)

Induced voltage due to a change in magnetic environment of a circuit.

Faraday’s Law of Electromagnetic Induction

States that a changing magnetic flux induces an electromotive force (emf) in a circuit.

Magnetic Flux (Φ)

The product of the magnetic field and the area through which it passes: Φ = BAcosθ.

Lenz’s Law

The direction of induced current opposes the change in magnetic flux.

Electric Potential (V)

The potential energy per unit charge at a point in an electric field.

P (in Stefan-Boltzmann)

Total power radiated per second.

ε/NA

Relationship between macroscopic gas behavior and microscopic particle behavior.

Gas Constant (R)

8.31 J/(mol·K) in the Ideal Gas Law.

Work Done

The energy transferred by a force over a distance, calculated by W = -PdV.

Heat Reservoir

A system with a large thermal mass that can absorb or release heat.

Electric Field Vector (E)

A vector quantity that represents the force experienced by a unit charge in an electric field.

Resistance (R)

A measure of the opposition to current flow in an electrical circuit.

Voltage (dV)

The electric potential difference between two points.

Specific Heat Capacity Equation

Q = mcΔT, where Q is the total heat, m is mass, c is specific heat capacity, and ΔT is change in temperature.

Work Done by Gas

Positive if work is done on the gas; negative if the gas does work on the surroundings.

Change in Internal Energy (dU)

Equals the heat added to the system (Q) plus the work done on the system (W).

Constant Temperature Process

Isothermal process where the temperature of the gas remains constant.

Constant Pressure Process

Isobaric process where the pressure of the gas remains constant.

First Law of Thermodynamics Formula

dU = Q + W.

Dependence of Electric Field Strength (E)

E = F/q, where F is the force and q is the charge.

Example of Direct Current

Current that flows in one direction only.

Induced Current

Current created by a changing magnetic field.

Ohm’s Law Variables

dV = IR, relating voltage, current, and resistance.

Power in Circuit Formula

P = IV, where P is power, I is current, and V is voltage.

Equipotential Lines

Lines along which the electric potential is constant.

Field Around Positive Charge

The electric field radiates outward from a positive charge.

Net Electric Field

The vector sum of electric fields from multiple charges.

Diverse Applications of Capacitors

Used in filtering, timing, and energy storage in circuits.

Electric Potential Near a Point Charge

V = kQ/r, where V is electric potential, k is Coulomb's constant, Q is charge, and r is distance.

Magnetic Field Lines

Imaginary lines that represent the magnetic field direction and strength.