AP Physics 2 is frequently misread as the sequel to Physics 1. It is a separate course with its own topic list.
What it covers
Thermodynamics, electric force, field and potential, circuits, magnetism and electromagnetism, geometric optics, waves, sound and physical optics, and the foundations of modern physics. Fluids moved to Physics 1 in the 2024-25 redesign.
Most of this never appears in Physics 1. For a student who has already taken Physics 1, this is new material rather than revision.
The prerequisite question
There is no formal requirement, but the syllabus assumes you know the force, energy and momentum ideas from Physics 1. Those ideas are used directly in thermodynamics and electricity.
Going straight into Physics 2 is possible and means studying those ideas separately.
Character of the exam
The same as Physics 1: the free response section asks for reasoning rather than numbers, experimental design questions appear, and an answer that reaches the right result without justification loses marks.
This is the single most common reason strong students underperform on AP Physics.
Taking both in one year
It is possible and it doubles the May load, because both exams fall in the same window. The decision belongs to the student, and the calendar decides more often than the difficulty does.
Where both are wanted, the usual sequence is Physics 1 first, then Physics 2 the following year.
Who it suits
Students heading for medicine, biology or the health sciences, where thermodynamics, optics and electricity matter more than calculus based mechanics.
Students heading for engineering are usually better served by Physics C.