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MCAT > Physics > Flashcards

Physics Flashcards

1
Q

What are the units of force?

A

N (kg⋅m/s^2)

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2
Q

What are the units of work/energy?

A

J (kg⋅m^2/s^2)

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3
Q

What are the units of power?

A

W (kg⋅m^2/s^3)

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4
Q

What are the units of velocity?

A

m/s

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5
Q

What are the units of acceleration?

A

m/s^2

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6
Q

What are the units of density?

A

kg/m^3

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7
Q

What are the units of electric field

A

N/C

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8
Q

What are the units of current?

A

C/s

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9
Q

Vector vs. scalar?

A

Vector: quantity that has magnitude and direction (displacement, velocity etc.)

Scalar: quantity that has magnitude only (distance, speed etc.)

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10
Q

How do you add vectors?

A

Tip to tail (place tip of A to tail of B, then line from tail of A to tip of B)

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11
Q

X vector component vs. Y vector component? Pythagorean?

A

x = vcosθ

y = vsinθ

If given x and y: x^2 + y^2 = v^2

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12
Q

Displacement vs. distance? Graph?

A

Displacement: vector quantity, accounts for only the net traveled (final - initial)

Distance: scalar quantity, accounts for total pathway

Area under curve of v vs. t graph

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13
Q

Velocity vs. speed? Equation?

A

v = Δx/Δt

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14
Q

Forces are vectors or scalars? Gravitational, equation? Friction, equation? Normal?

A

Forces are vectors

Gravitational force is an attractive force Fg = Gm1m2/r^2

Frictional force opposes the movement of objects Ff = μkN

  • static: for stationary objects (μs > μk)
  • kinetic: for moving objects

Normal force is the component of force b/w objects that is perpendicular to plane of contact

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15
Q

What is acceleration, equation?

A

Vector quantity, result of a net force applied a = Δv/Δt

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16
Q

Mass vs. weight?

A

Mass: scalar quantity that is the measure of matter in an object

Weight: vector quantity that is the measure of the gravitational force on a mass Fg = mg where g = 10m/s^2

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17
Q

What is Newton’s First Law? Second Law? Third Law?

A

First: F = ma, an object at rest or in motion at constant velocity will remain unless a net force is applied

Second: acceleration only occurs when there is a net force

Third: Force of A on B = - Force of B on A, action/reaction with equal but opposite force between objects

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18
Q

What are the two main linear kinematic equations? What about time up, time down, max height?

A

v = v0 + at

Δx = v0t + 1/2at^2

time up = time down

@max height, v = 0

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19
Q

What is centripetal force?

A

Force in the radial direction to prevent objects from spinning out Fc = mv^2/r

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20
Q

What is the torque equation?

A

τ = rFsinθ, CW is (-), CCW is (+)

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21
Q

What is energy? Kinetic energy? Potential energy, gravitational + elastic? Conservation?

A

KE = 1/2mv^2

Gravitational PE = mgh

Elastic PE = 1/2kx^2

Wnc = KE + PE (so usually KE = PE, if no friction)

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22
Q

Conservative vs. non-conservative forces?

A

Conservative: path independent, doesn’t dissipate energy

Non-conservative: Friction (heat)

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23
Q

What is work, equation? P-V equation?

A

W = Fdcosθ (angle of OBJECT movement)

W = PΔV or area under curve of P-V graph

Work done by a system is (+)
Work done on a system is (-)

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24
Q

What is power, equation?

A

P = W/Δt = F⋅v

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25
Q

What is mechanical advantage, equation? Efficiency?

A

ME = F out, without machine / F in, with machine

Efficiency = W out / W in

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26
Q

What is temperature? K vs. C? Heat?

A

Temp is proportional to the average KE

K = C + 273, 0 K is considered absolute zero

Heat is the transfer of thermal energy b/w objects

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27
Q

Isolated vs. closed vs. open system?

A

Isolated: no exchange of energy or mass

Closed: exchange of energy but not mass

Open: exchange of both mass and energy

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28
Q

What is the internal energy equation or first law of thermodynamics?

A

ΔU = Q - W

U = internal energy of system, (+) when temp increases

Q = heat energy, (+) when heat enters system

W = work, (+) when work is done by system

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29
Q

Conduction vs. convection vs. radiation?

A

Conduction: transfer of heat through direct contact of objects and molecular collisions

Convection: transfer of heat by physical motion of a fluid over a material (liquids, gases)

Radiation: transfer of heat by EM waves

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30
Q

What is the specific heat equation?

A

Q = mcΔT

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31
Q

What are the different phase changes? Temperature they occur at? Equation?

A

Solid –> liquid: melting/fusion
Liquid –> gas: vaporization

Gas –> liquid: condensation
Liquid –> solid: freezing

Solid –> gas: sublimation
Gas –> solid: deposition

Phase changes occur at a constant temperature

Q =mL
L = latent heat

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32
Q

Isovolumetric (isochoric) vs. isothermal vs. isobaric vs. adiabatic

A

Isovolumetric (isochoric): at a constant volume

Isothermal: at a constant temperature

Isobaric: at a constant pressure

Adiabatic: no heat exchange (steeper than isothermal on a P-V graph)

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33
Q

Fluids vs. solids?

A

Fluids: ability to flow and conform to shape of container

Solid: do not flow and are rigid enough to retain shape independent of container

34
Q

What is the density of water?

A

1,000 kg/m^3 or 1 in other units

35
Q

What is specific gravity?

A

SG = p of thing / p of water = % submerged

determines if an object will sink or float by comparing density to water

36
Q

What are the units of pressure?

A

P = F / A Pa = N/m^2

In Pa, mmHg, atm, Torr 1 atm = 1 torr = 760 mmHg

37
Q

What is hydrostatic pressure in terms of submerged, equation?

A

Pressure exerted on an object submerged in water

P = pgz

p = density, g = gravity, z = depth of object

38
Q

What is gauge pressure, equation?

A

Pgauge = P - Patm

Difference b/w hydrostatic pressure inside and atmospheric pressure outside

39
Q

What is Pascal’s Principle, equation? Think hydraulics

A

F2 = F1(A2/A1)

Apply force F1 to an area A1 which transmits force to other side with greater area A2 which results in greater upward force F2

Output side moves a smaller distance than input side

40
Q

What is Archimede’s Principle, equation? Think buoyancy

A

Fbuoyant = p(fluid) V(fluid displaced) g

Volume of fluid displaced = volume of object

Buoyant force is equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces

41
Q

Surface tension vs. cohesion vs. adhesion?

A

Surface tension: the thin but strong layer formed at the surface of a liquid

Cohesion: the attractive force b/w molecules of same liquid that results in surface tension

Adhesion: the attractive force b/w molecules of different substances (think the wall of a container)

42
Q

What is viscocity?

A

The resistance of a fluid to flow (thick, sticky)

43
Q

Laminar vs. turbulent flow?

A

Laminar: smooth and orderly flow parallel to each other that is fastest in the middle away from walls (adhesion to wall slows velocity)

Turbulent: rough and disorderly flow that happens when the critical speed is exceeded (if travels too fast = turbulent)

44
Q

What is the equation of continuity or VFR?

A

VFR = A1v1 = A2v2

Faster flow results in decreased area b/c conservation

45
Q

What is the venturi effect?

A

Areas of increased speed are also areas of reduced pressure

46
Q

What is Bernoulli’s equation?

A

Too long, refer to something

47
Q

Proton vs. electron? Mass? Repel/attract?

A

Protons have much greater mass than electrons

Like charges repel, opposite charges attract

48
Q

Insulators vs. conductors

A

Conductors: metal, charge distributes evenly across surface! (where free electrons are) and can transfer charge

Insulator: nonmetals, charge not even distributed over surface and is not transferrable to another object

49
Q

What is coulomb’s law/electric force?

A

Fe = Kq1q2/r^2

50
Q

What is an electric field? Equation? Field lines? Force on a charge?

A

A field that is set up by electric charges, they exert a force on other charges that move into the field (so it accelerates particles)

E = Fe/q = Kq/r^2 or E = v/d in V/m or N/C

Originate at positive charges and terminate at negative charges

F =qE

51
Q

What is electric potential energy? Equation?

A

PE = qV in joules (J)

52
Q

What is electric potential?

A

V = Kq/r in volts (V)

53
Q

What is current?

A

I = q/Δt, in amps (C/s) charge transmitted by flow of electrons

54
Q

What are Kirchoff’s Laws?

A

Junction: Current into junction is equal to current leaving junction

Loop: Voltage of the source is equal to voltage drop

55
Q

What is resistance? Equation? Temperature effect?

A

R = pL/A

R = resistance
p = resistivity      (inverse of conductivity)
L = length 
A = area

Increased temperature increases resistance
Increased area reduces resistance

56
Q

What is Ohm’s Law?

A

V = IR

57
Q

What are the power equations?

A

P = IV = I^2R = V^2/R

58
Q

What is a capacitor? Equation? PE of a capacitor equation? What is the effect of area/distance?

A

Stores energy in the form of separated charges on parallel plates that can rapidly discharge

C = q/V in C/V q = cV

PE = 1/2CV^2

C = E0(A/d) so increased distance b/w plates reduces capacitance and increased area of overlap increases capacitance

59
Q

Resistors vs. capacitors in series vs. parallel?

A

Resistors in series: Req = R1 + R2 (current carries)
Resistors in parallel: 1/Req = 1/R1 + 1/R2 (voltage carries)

Capacitors in series: 1/Ceq = 1/C1 + 1/C2 (charge carries)
Capacitors in parallel: Ceq = C1 + C2 (voltage carries)

60
Q

Transverse vs. longitudinal wave?

A

Transverse: direction of oscillation is perpendicular to the propagation of the wave (EM waves)

Longitudinal: direction of oscillation is parallel to the propagation of the wave (sound waves)

61
Q

How do you relate velocity, wavelength, frequency?

What is period?

What is angular frequency?

What is amplitude?

A

v = λf

λ = distance b/w one maximum and another
f = number of wavelengths through a point per second (Hz)

T (period) = 1/f or the number of seconds per cycle or wavelength

w = 2πf = 2π/T

Amplitude: maximum magnitude of displacement from center to a maximum

62
Q

What is in-phase vs. out-of-phase? CI vs. DI?

A

In-phase: when the maximums and minimums of two waves line up

Out-of-phase: when the maximum of one wave matches the minimum of another wave with λ/2 or 180 degree phase difference

CI: perfectly in phase waves sum together
DI: out-of-phase waves cancel each other

63
Q

Traveling vs. standing wave? node vs. anti-node?

A

Traveling: fixed on one side, reflects back

Standing: fixed on both sides, appears stationary

Node: area of zero amplitude
Anti-node: area of max amplitude

64
Q

What is the equation for speed of sound through a medium?

A

v = sqrt(B/p)

B = bulk modulus
p = density

So sound is fastest in solids and slowest in gas or non existent in a vacuum

65
Q

What is attenuation?

A

The dampening of the intensity of sound that is greatest in soft materials

66
Q

What is the doppler effect equation?

A

Refer to equations

67
Q

What is the sound intensity equation? Decibel equation?

A

I = P/A or power over area (higher rate results in higher intensity)

Decibel = 10log(I/I0) I0 = threshold of hearing
On a log scale so 1 is ten, 2 is hundred, and 3 is thousand

68
Q

Ultrasound vs. doppler ultrasound?

A

Doppler ultrasound can measure blood flow

69
Q

What is the EM spectrum?

A

Refer to notes

Raging martians invaded venus using x-ray guns

70
Q

Reflected angles are..?

A

Equal to each other, θ1 = θ2

71
Q

What is refraction, equation? Snell’s Law? TIR? Frequency change?

A

The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another and changes speed… Frequency does NOT change between mediums…. Light is slower in a dense medium because it is absorbed by atomic structure and the wavelength is shorter so frequency stays the same

n = c/v n = index of refraction, c= speed of light, v= speed in medium

n1sinθ1 = n2sinθ2
n1>n2: bend away from normal

TIR: when n1>n2

72
Q

What is a real vs. virtual image?

A

Real: light actually converges here
Virtual: no light actually converges here

73
Q

Concave/convex mirror/lens?

A

Concave mirror: converging
Convex mirror: diverging

Concave lens: diverging (for nearsighted, myopia)
Concave lens: converging (for farsighted, hyperopia)

74
Q

What is the optics equation? Focal length and radius equation? Magnification equation?

A 
1/f = 1/o + 1/i
f = focal length (+ for converging, - for diverging)
o = object distance
i = image distance

f = r/2

m = -i/o 
-m: inverted image (always real)
\+m: upright image (always virtual)
absvalue(m) > 1: enlarged image
<1: reduce image
75
Q

Polarization is how many degrees out of phase?

A

90 degrees

76
Q

What is the photoelectric effect equation?

A

If light is a high enough frequency electrons are excited enough to be ejected

E = hf = hc/λ

E = energy of photon, proportional to KE of ejected electron

E = mc^2

77
Q

What is atomic notation?

A

top (A)
bottom (Z) X

A = mass number (neutrons + protons)
Z = atomic number (protons)
X = the element
78
Q

What are the types of radioactive decay?

A

Decay to formation of daughter nuclei

Alpha decay: emission of two neutrons and two protons (alpha particles are big)

Beta- decay: conversion of neutron –> proton and emission of an electron (electron capture)

Beta+ decay: conversion of proton –> neutron and emission of a positron

Gamma decay: emission of high energy photons (charge-less and mass-less)

79
Q

What is the lens power equation?

A

P = 1/f (focal length)

1/f = 1/f1 +1/f2

P = P1 + P2

m = (m1)(m2)

80
Q

Pipe open at both ends equation vs. open at one end?

A

Open at both: L = λ/2

Open at one: L = λ/4

81
Q

What is the magnitude of a magnetic field equation?

A

F = qvB

MCAT (7 decks)

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