AP®︎ Physics 2 Unit 11: Notes & Study Guide

Prepare for your quiz, test, or the AP exam with a comprehensive review on Unit 11 of AP Physics 2 – Electric Circuits.

Exam weight: 15%–18%
8 Topics

Unit 11: Electric Circuits

How current flows through resistors and capacitors in series and parallel circuits, governed by Kirchhoff’s rules.

Begin with Topic 11.1: Electric Current

To review Unit 11, go through each of the 8 topics below.

Everything you actually need to know for your Unit 11 test, pulled directly from the AP® Physics 2 curriculum.

Topic 11.1
~7 min
Review
Electric Current
Electric Current
  • What Electric Current Is
  • What Makes Charges Move - Electric Potential Difference (emf)
  • How Charges Actually Move in a Wire
Review
Topic 11.2
~6 min
Review
Simple Circuits
Simple Circuits
  • What a Simple Circuit Is
  • The Three Circuit States
  • Common Circuit Elements and Their Roles
Review
Topic 11.3
~6 min
Review
Resistance, Resistivity, and Ohm’s Law
Resistance, Resistivity, and Ohm’s Law
  • What Resistance Is
  • Resistivity and the Geometry of a Conductor
  • Ohm’s Law and Ohmic Materials
Review
Topic 11.4
~5 min
Review
Electric Power
Electric Power
  • What Electric Power Is in a Circuit
  • The Power Equations You Must Know
  • Power in Different Circuit Elements
Review
Topic 11.5
~6 min
Review
Compound Direct Current (DC) Circuits
Compound Direct Current (DC) Circuits
  • Equivalent Resistance in Compound Circuits
  • Series and Parallel Connections
  • How to Analyze Compound Circuits
Review
Topic 11.6
~6 min
Review
Kirchhoff’s Loop Rule
Kirchhoff’s Loop Rule
  • Energy Changes for Charges in a Circuit
  • Kirchhoff’s Loop Rule
  • Applying the Loop Rule Step by Step
Review
Topic 11.7
~6 min
Review
Kirchhoff’s Junction Rule
Kirchhoff’s Junction Rule
  • What Kirchhoff’s Junction Rule Says
  • Current and Sign Conventions at a Junction
  • How to Apply the Junction Rule
Review
Topic 11.8
~6 min
Review
Resistor-Capacitor (RC) Circuits
Resistor-Capacitor (RC) Circuits
  • Equivalent Capacitance
  • The Time Constant \( \tau \)
  • Charging a Capacitor
Review

Notes

1 credit used · 5/5 remaining