2027 AP Physics 2 Updates

Since the publication of Barron’s AP Physics 2 Premium, 4^th Edition, the College Board has announced minor updates to the format of the May 2027 exam. These updates affect only the number of multiple-choice questions and the timing for both sections of the exam; they do not change the course content, skills assessed, or topics students are expected to know for the exam.

Barron's AP Physics 2 Premium, 4^th Edition remains a comprehensive resource for AP Physics 2 exam preparation, which provides thorough content review, extensive AP-style practice, and proven test-taking support.

The updates are as follows:

• Section I now has 42 multiple-choice questions (an increase of 2 questions).
• Students now have 85 minutes to complete the multiple-choice questions in Section I (an increase of 5 minutes).
• Students now have 95 minutes to complete the free-response questions in Section II (a decrease of 5 minutes).

To reflect the updated exam format, below are two additional multiple-choice questions (Questions 41 and 42) for each practice test in the book, along with their respective answer explanations. In addition, both online tests that accompany this book have been revised to reflect the exam format updates. 

Questions for Practice Test 1

41. A charged particle can move through a field with constant velocity, while experiencing the forces from both a magnetic field and an electric field, only if

(A) the particle is traveling parallel to the magnetic field lines.

(B) the particle is traveling perpendicular to the electric field lines.

(C) the magnetic field lines and the electric field lines are parallel to each other.

(D) the magnetic field lines and the electric field lines are perpendicular to each other.

42. Compare the total power dissipated by the resistors connected to an ideal battery in these two situations:

Situation A: Two equal resistors in series

Situation B: Two equal resistors in parallel

Which of the following statements is the most accurate?

(A) Since the battery is ideal, the power dissipated will be the same in both situations.

(B) Since the current drawn from the battery is higher in situation B, the power dissipated will be higher in situation B.

(C) Since the equivalent resistance of resistors in parallel is less than that of resistors in series, the power dissipated will be lower in situation B.

(D) Since the voltage required for the two resistors in series will be twice as much as that of the resistors in parallel, the power dissipated in situation A will be twice as much as that in situation B.

Questions for Practice Test 2

41. Two students are discussing the well-known phenomenon of the redshift of light from stars that are moving away from planet Earth. Which of the following statements is the most accurate?

(A) The exact amount of redshift can be used to determine the overall absolute velocity of the star.

(B) The exact amount of redshift can be used to determine the relative velocity of the star (to Earth).

(C) The exact amount of redshift can be used to determine the overall speed (but not the direction) of the star relative to Earth.

(D) The exact amount of redshift can be used to determine only the radial velocity of the star relative to Earth.

42. Two separate loops of conducting wire are placed on a table side by side. If a battery is attached to the loop on the right, such that it causes a current to flow clockwise in that loop, which of the following best describes the induced current in the loop on the left?

(A) There is no induced current in the loop on the left.

(B) There is a constant clockwise induced current in the loop on the left.

(C) There is a temporary clockwise induced current in the loop on the left.

(D) There is a temporary counterclockwise induced current in the loop on the left.

Answer Explanations for Practice Test 1

41. (D) If a charged particle is in an electric field, it will experience a force in the direction of the electric field (or in the opposite direction if the particle is negatively charged). To prevent the particle from accelerating, the magnetic field must provide a force in the exact opposite direction from the electric force. Since magnetic forces are perpendicular to both the velocity of the particle and the magnetic field, the only way a magnetic force can be exactly opposite the electric force is when the magnetic field lines are perpendicular to the electric field lines.

42. (B) An ideal battery will provide the same voltage in all situations. Note that it is easier to consider the power drawn from the battery by the equivalent resistance of the entire circuit rather than adding up the individual powers dissipated by each resistor. Since the resistors in parallel (situation B) have a lower equivalent resistance (compare R/2 for the parallel circuit to 2R for the series circuit), the current drawn from the battery in situation B will be four times higher than that of situation A. Power is the product of current and voltage (P = I∆V); therefore, the power dissipated in situation B will be four times higher than that of situation A.
  

Answer Explanations for Practice Test 2

41. (D) The Doppler effect (a cause of the redshift of light) only depends on the relative motion of a source and an observer toward or away from each other. Sideways motion does not affect the detection of the frequency of the light waves involved in redshift. Since there is a redshift, the star must be moving away in the radial direction. So, the radial direction is known but the sideways motion of the star is not calculable from the redshift. Thus, only the radial velocity of the star relative to Earth can be determined from the exact amount of redshift. The star’s overall velocity cannot be determined based on this information alone.

42. (C) There will only be a temporary induced current as the newly initiated current established by the battery creates the magnetic field lines within the second loop. Since Faraday’s law states that a change in magnetic flux is required for induced voltage to occur, once the current from the battery and its field is established, there will be no additional induced current. The direction of the induced current is determined by Lenz’s law (which states that induced current will create fields that oppose the change). Since the field lines from the battery current on the right will be coming up from the table where the loop on the left is located, the induced current must be clockwise in order to create downward field lines (opposing the change).