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AP Physics 2

Interactive visualizations for AP Physics 2 — fluids, thermodynamics, electric forces, circuits, magnetism, and optics.

20 visualizationsFree & interactiveNo login required
Mass Defect & Binding Energy visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

Mass Defect & Binding Energy

Weigh the separate protons and neutrons against the bound nucleus of specific isotopes. Convert the missing mass defect into nuclear strong force binding energy using E=mc².

Quantum Bohr Model visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

Quantum Bohr Model

Visualize electron orbital transitions in Hydrogen-like atoms. Calculate photon emission wavelengths and generate real-time spectral lines (Lyman, Balmer, Paschen).

Entropy in Heat Engines visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

Entropy in Heat Engines

Visualize the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. Build reversible Carnot engines and irreversible real engines to track the exact entropy changes in the hot reservoir, cold reservoir, and the universe.

Ohm's Law & Resistance visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

Ohm's Law & Resistance

Carnot Cycle Explorer visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

Carnot Cycle Explorer

Trace the ideal thermodynamic Carnot Engine. Calculate P-V diagram work area, thermodynamic efficiency, and heat transfer across isothermal and adiabatic processes.

Electric Potential & Equipotentials visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

Electric Potential & Equipotentials

Electromagnetic Induction visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

Electromagnetic Induction

Wave Interference & Double-Slit visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

Wave Interference & Double-Slit

Refraction & Snell's Law visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

Refraction & Snell's Law

Electric Field of Point Charges visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

Electric Field of Point Charges

Pascal's Principle & Hydraulic Systems visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

Pascal's Principle & Hydraulic Systems

Photoelectric Effect visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

Photoelectric Effect

Experiment with the quantum nature of light. Adjust wavelength, intensity, target metal, and stopping potential to verify the Einstein photoelectric equation.

Continuity Equation & Flow Rate visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

Continuity Equation & Flow Rate

Thin Lens Equation Simulator visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

Thin Lens Equation Simulator

Construct dynamic ray diagrams for converging and diverging lenses. Analyze real/virtual image formation using the thin lens equation and magnification formulas.

Series & Parallel Circuits visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

Series & Parallel Circuits

Magnetic Field & Charged Particle visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

Magnetic Field & Charged Particle

RC Circuit Charging & Discharging visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

RC Circuit Charging & Discharging

Millikan Oil Drop Experiment visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

Millikan Oil Drop Experiment

Recreate the 1909 Nobel-winning experiment. Adjust the voltage across two capacitor plates to suspend falling oil drops in mid-air (qE = mg). Fire the X-Ray ionizer to randomly step the charge up or down in discrete quantized increments of 'e'.

Special Relativity: Time Dilation & Length Contraction visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

Special Relativity: Time Dilation & Length Contraction

Visualizes the counter-intuitive effects of velocity approaching the speed of light, exploring time dilation and length contraction through a moving observer frame.

Isobaric & Isochoric PV Processes visualization thumbnail
AP PHYSICS 2

Isobaric & Isochoric PV Processes

Visualize work as the area underneath a PV curve. Discover why an Isochoric process performs zero work while an Isobaric process expands or compresses.

Explore AP Physics 2: Fluids, Thermodynamics, and Electromagnetism

AP Physics 2 picks up where Physics 1 leaves off, exploring more advanced, often invisible physical systems. This algebra-based course dives into topics that are notoriously difficult to conceptualize from a textbook alone, making 3D interactive visualizations absolutely essential for mastering the material.

The curriculum centers around multiple complex systems: Thermodynamics (Unit 1 & 2) involving the kinetic theory of gases and entropy; Electric Force, Field, and Potential (Unit 3); Electric Circuits (Unit 4) dealing with both DC and RC (resistor-capacitor) circuits; Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction (Unit 5); and finally, Geometric and Physical Optics (Unit 6) and Quantum, Atomic, and Nuclear Physics (Unit 7).

Visualizing the Invisible

How do you picture an equipotential line, or the right-hand rule applied to a moving charge in a uniform magnetic field? ShowMeClass provides real-time, sandbox environments where students can drop positive test charges into vector fields, construct interactive ray diagrams for convex and concave lenses, and watch the photoelectric effect unfold photon by photon.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does AP Physics 2 differ from AP Physics 1?

While AP Physics 1 focuses almost entirely on Newtonian mechanics (motion, forces, energy), AP Physics 2 covers entirely different phenomena: thermodynamics, electric circuits, magnetism, optics, and modern quantum physics. Both remain algebra-based.

Can I use these modules to visualize RC circuit transient states?

Absolutely. We have specific interactive modules dedicated to RC (Resistor-Capacitor) circuits where you can watch the exponential charge/discharge curves generate in real-time alongside a visual representation of the capacitor's electric field.

Are ray diagrams difficult to learn on a screen?

Our interactive optics modules make it dramatically easier than drawing on paper. You can dynamically drag the focal point, the object's distance, and height, and immediately watch how the principal rays (parallel, focal, and center) construct the real or virtual image.