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Vocabulary for MCAT > Physics and Math > Flashcards

Physics and Math Flashcards

1
Q

Aberration

A

Visual alterations as the result of an imperfect optical device; may be chromatic or spherical

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2
Q

Absolute pressure

A

The actual pressure at w given depth in fluid, including both ambient pressure at the surface and the pressure associated with increased depth in the fluid; also called hydrostatic pressure

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3
Q

Absolute zero:

A

The theoretically coldest temperature at which all atomic movements would halt (0 K)

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4
Q

Acceleration

A

The rate of change in the velocity of an object; related to force through mass and measured in m/s2

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5
Q

Accuracy

A

The tendency for data to represent the true answer; also known as validity

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6
Q

Adhesion

A

The intermolecular force between molecules of a liquid and molecules of another substance

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7
Q

Adiabatic

A

A thermodynamic process that occurs with no heat exchange

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8
Q

Algebraic system

A

A method for determining the values of variables that are the same in two or more equations by relating them to each other

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9
Q

Alpha-particle

A

a helium nucleus (4^2He)

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10
Q

Amplitude

A

The maximum displacement from the equilibrium point during wave or oscillatory motion

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11
Q

Antinode

A

A point of zero displacement in a standing wave

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12
Q

Archimede’s principle

A

States that a body immersed in a volume of fluid experiences a buoyant force equal to the weight of the displaced fluid

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13
Q

Atomic Number

A

The number of protons in the nucleus of a given element

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14
Q

Attenuation

A

The loss of energy of a propagating wave as a result of non-conservative forces; also known as damping

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15
Q

Autonomy

A

The ethical principle that states that individuals have the right to make decisions about their own healthcare

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16
Q

Beneficence

A

The ethical principle that states that practitioners should always act in their patients’ best interest; in research ethics, also states that a research project should create a net positive change for both the study population and general population

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17
Q

β-particle

A

An electron emitted during β- decay, or a positron emitted during β+ decay

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18
Q

Bernoulli’s equation

A

An equation that relates static and dynamic pressure exerted on the walls of a tube and the speed of the fluid

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19
Q

Blinding

A

Withholding information about a research subject’s group assignment from the subject or evaluator to remove some potential bias from the results

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20
Q

Boiling point

A

The temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid equals the ambient (incident) pressure, usually atmospheric pressure; the temperature at which the liquid boils

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21
Q

Boundary layer

A

A region of a laminar flow in an otherwise turbulent system that occurs at the very edges of the vessel

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22
Q

Box-and-whisker plot

A

A visual representation of the range of data quantiles, and the interquartile range; may contain outlines as separate points

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23
Q

Buoyancy

A

The upward force that results from immersion in a fluid; described by Archimedes’ principle

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24
Q

Capacitance

A

A measure of the ability of a capacitor to store charge; the magnitude of the charge on one plate divided by the potential difference between the plates; measured in farads (F)

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25
Q

Capacitor

A

Two conducting surfaces that stores charges of equal magnitude but opposite sign when connected to a voltage source

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26
Q

Center of gravity

A

A point such that the entire force of gravity acting on an object can be thought as acting at that point

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27
Q

Center of mass

A

The point that acts as if the entire mass of an object was concentrated at that poin

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28
Q

Centripetal acceleration

A

The acceleration of an object that travels in a circle; it is always directed toward the center of the circle of the object is in uniform circular motion

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29
Q

Centripetal force

A

The force responsible for centripetal acceleration; usually a result of gravity, tension, or a normal force

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30
Q

Charges

A

Entities that can influence the environment through electrostatic forces or be influenced by electrostatic forces, measured in coulombs (C)

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31
Q

Cohesion

A

The intermolecular forces experienced between the molecules of a liquid

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32
Q

Concave

A

A surface that has a similar curvature to the interior of a sphere
)(

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33
Q

Condensation

A

The phase transition from a gas to a liquid

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34
Q

Conductor

A

A material that allows the free movement of electrical charge; one with very low or zero resistance

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35
Q

Confidence

A

A statistical indicator of the likelihood that acquired results did not occur by random chance; equal to 1-α

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36
Q

Confounding

A

An error that results when a causal variable is associated with two other variables in a study but is not accounted for; many falsely indicate that the two variables are associated

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37
Q

Conservative force

A

A force that does not cause energy to be dissipated from a system, such as gravity, electrostatic forces, and springs (approximately conservative); pathway independent and associated with a potential energy function

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38
Q

Control

A

A set of experimental conditions meant meant to ensure that the results of the experimental groups are a result of the intervention

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39
Q

Convection

A

Heat transfer as a result of bulk flow of a fluid over an object

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40
Q

Converging

A

The tendency to move parallel light rays toward one another; convoke mirror and convex lenses converge parallel light to a focal point

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41
Q

Convex

A

A surface that has a similar curvature to the exterior of a sphere
()

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42
Q

Coulomb’s law

A

Relates the electrostatic force between two charged particles to their charges and the distance between them

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43
Q

Critical angle

A

The angle above which any incident light will undergo total internal reflection; occurs when light is moving from a material within a higher refractive index to one with a lower refractive index

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44
Q

Critical speed

A

The speed above which flow of a fluid will be turbulent

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45
Q

Current

A

The orderly movement of charge, often in a circuit; measured by convention as the direction that positive charge would flow within the circuit, and measured in amperes (A)

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46
Q

Decay constant

A

The proportionality constant between the rate at which radioactivity nuclei decay and the number of radioactive nuclei remaining

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47
Q

Density

A

A measure of mass per unit volume; useful for buoyancy calculations and usually measured in g/cm, kg/m3, or g/mL

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48
Q

Dependent variable

A

The measured or observed variable in an experiment that is affected by manipulations of the independent variable

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49
Q

Detection bias

A

An error in data collection that results from the tendency to look more carefully for certain outcomes because a known association with that outcome exists

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50
Q

Dielectric material

A

An insulating material used to increase capacitance

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51
Q

Diffraction

A

The spreading or bending of light rays

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52
Q

Dispersion

A

The separation of light into its component wavelengths when passing through a medium, such as a prism

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53
Q

Displacement

A

The vector representing the straight-line distance and direction from an initial point; nor necessarily equal to total distance traveled, and measured in meters

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54
Q

Diverging

A

The tendency to move parallel light rays away from one another; convex mirrors and concave lenses diverge parallel light rays from a focal point

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55
Q

Doppler effect

A

Quantifies the perceived change in frequency of sound due to relative movement between the source and detector (observer)

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56
Q

Electric dipole

A

A separation of equal and opposite charge by a small distance; can be seen in polar molecules

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57
Q

Electric field

A

A region generated by an electric charge or multiple charges that can exert a force on another charge brought into the field; measured in N/C

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58
Q

Electric meters

A

Devices used to measure circuit quantities like current, potential difference, or resistance

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59
Q

Electrical potential

A

A measure of electrical potential energy per unit charge, given in volts (V); differences in electrical potential (voltage) also drive current as the electromotive force in a circuit

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60
Q

Electromagnetic radiation

A

A form of energy composed of oscillating electric and magnetic fields perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the direction of propagation; includes visible light and other types of transverse waves, can can travel through a vacuum

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61
Q

Electromotive force

A

The difference in electrical potential (voltage) that drives current in a circuit or battery

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62
Q

Energy

A

The capacity to do work or transfer hear, measured in joules (J)

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63
Q

Entropy

A

A statistical measure of the distribution of unusable energy or heat; randomness introduced to a system, measured in J / (g·K)

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64
Q

Equilibrium

A

The state at which the net torque or net force is equal to zero, such that there is not acceleration

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65
Q

Equipoise

A

The state of not knowing whether there is a difference between two interventions; ethically necessary for comparative study of the interventions

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66
Q

Equipotential lines

A

Regions within an electric field with equal electrical potential; movement from one point on these lines to another causes no change in the energy of the system

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67
Q

Excited state

A

Describes an atom in which an electron occupies an energy state above the minimum energy (ground) state

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68
Q

Exhaustive

A

Describe a set of outcomes that leave no room for other possible outcomes

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69
Q

External validity

A

The ability to apply findings of a research study to other populations; also called generalizability

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70
Q

Field line

A

A visual representation of the electric field; points to the direction a force would be exerted on a positive test charge in the electric field

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71
Q

FINER method

A

A way to determine the usefulness of a research question on the basis of feasibility, interest, novelty, ethics, and relevance

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72
Q

Fission

A

The splitting of a large nucleus into smaller nuclei with the release of energy

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73
Q

Fluid

A

A material that conforms to the shape of its container and that can flow

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74
Q

Fluorescence

A

A process in which the electrons of certain substances are excited to high energy levels by high-frequency photons, and then emit visible light as the energy is released in two or more steps back to the ground state

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75
Q

Focal length

A

The distance from a mirror or lens to the focal point

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76
Q

Focal punt

A

The point at which rays of light parallel to the axis of a mirror or lens converge, or from which they appear to diverge when reflected by a mirror or refracted by a lens

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77
Q

Force

A

A push or a pull, measured in newtons (N)

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78
Q

Free fall

A

A system in which the only force is gravity

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79
Q

Freezing

A

The phase transition from liquid to solid; also called solidification

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80
Q

Frequency

A

The rate at which a recurring event occurs; usually measured in hertz (Hz)

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81
Q

Friction

A

A nonconservative force that arises from the interactions between two surfaces in contact

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82
Q

Fundamental frequency

A

The first harmonic of a pipe, string, or other standing wave

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83
Q

Fusion

A

The merging of small nuclei into a larger nucleus with the release of energy

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84
Q

𝛄-rays

A

High-energy photons released during radioactive decay; part of the electromagnetic spectrum

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85
Q

Gauge pressure

A

Pressure above and beyond atmospheric pressure

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86
Q

Gravity

A

An attractive force between two objects that depends on their masses and the distance between them

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87
Q

Ground state

A

The lowest energy state of an atom

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88
Q

Half-life

A

The amount of time it takes for one-half of a sample of radioactive nuclei to decay

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89
Q

Harmonic series

A

The set of frequencies that can create standing waves in a given pipe or string

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90
Q

Hawthorne effect

A

The tendency for research participants to change their behavior because they know they are being observed

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91
Q

Heat

A

The transfer of thermal energy; measured in joules (J), calories (cal), or kilocalories (kcal or Cal)

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92
Q

Heat of transformation

A

The amount of heat necessary to cause a phase transition of a unit mass of a substance at the characteristic temperature and pressure of that phase transition

93
Q

Hill’s criteria

A

A systematized way of evaluating evidence for causality; only temporality is absolutely necessary to demonstrate causality

94
Q

Histogram

A

A visual representation for numerical data; related to a bar char

95
Q

Hydraulic system

A

A simple machine that exerts mechanical advantage using an incompressible fluid; based on Pascal’s principle and conservation of energy

96
Q

Hydrostatics

A

The study of fluid systems at rest

97
Q

Hyperopia

A

Farsightedness, or the ability to see distant objects while nearby objects are unfocused or blurry

98
Q

Hypothesis testing

A

A statistical method used to compare results between groups or to a theoretical value with a given level of confidence

99
Q

Image

A

The region where light rays converge or appear to converge after being reflected from a mirror or passing through a lens

100
Q

Independent variable

A

The manipulated variable in an experiment that affects measurements or observations of the dependent variable

101
Q

Index of refraction

A

A ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in a given medium

102
Q

Inertia

A

An object’s resistance to a change in its motion when a force is applied

103
Q

Informed consent

A

An ethical requirement for treatments or research, which requires that the patient of participant is able to understand the procedure and its consequences and alternatives; related to autonomy

104
Q

Infrared

A

A region of the electromagnetic spectrum that is not visible; may be perceived as heat

105
Q

Infrasonic

A

Sound that has a frequency that is lower than the range of human hearing

106
Q

Insulator

A

A material that resists the movement of share because the electrons are tightly associated with their nuclei

107
Q

Intensity

A

The average rate of energy expenditure (power) per unit area, measured in W/m2; in waves, intensity is related to the amplitude of the wave

108
Q

Interference

A

Interactions between waves traveling in the same space; may be constructive (waves adding together), destructive (waves cancelling each other), partially constructive, or partially destructive

109
Q

Internal validity

A

The ability to infer causality from a study or to replicate its results under the same condition

110
Q

Interquartile range

A

A measure of distribution of a sample; outliers lie at least 1.5 interquartile ranges below Q1 or above Q3

111
Q

Inverted

A

Describes an image that is upside down relative to the object in single-mirror or single-lens systems, inverted images are always real

112
Q

Irreversible

A

A thermodynamic process that is extraordinarily unfavorable in reverse, usually as a result of changes in entropy

113
Q

Isobaric

A

A thermodynamic process that occurs under constant pressure

114
Q

Isothermal

A

A thermodynamic process that occurs under constant temperature

115
Q

Isotopes

A

Atoms of a given element with different numbers of neutrons and therefore different mass numbers

116
Q

Isovolumentric

A

a thermodynamic process that occurs under constant volume; also called isochoric

117
Q

Justice

A

The ethical principle that states that practitioners should fairly distribute healthcare resources, and which requires that differences in treatment choices between individuals are only due to morally relevant differences

118
Q

Kinetic energy

A

The energy of movement, which depends on both mass and speed; measured in joules (J)

119
Q

Kirchoff’s laws

A

Rules that describe the conservation of charge and conservation of energy within an electric circuit; includes the junction rule and loop rule

120
Q

Laminar flow

A

Smooth flow within a fluid; characterized by streamlines that do not cross each other and an absence of backwards movement

121
Q

Lenses

A

Devices that act to create an image by refracting light; usually have spherical surfaces

122
Q

Logarithm

A

The inverse function of exponentiation; logarithmic scales are often used to mask large absolute differences between quantities by presenting them as small scale differences

123
Q

Longitudinal wave

A

A wave in which the oscillation of the material is parallel to the direction of propagation; sound is a classic example

124
Q

Loudness

A

Perceived intensity of a sound, which correlates with sound level; measured in decibels (dB)

125
Q

Magnification

A

Apparent increase or decrease in size of an image as a result of forming the image with a converging or diverging system

126
Q

Mass

A

A measure of inertia or of the amount of “stuff” in an object; measured in kilograms

127
Q

Mass defect

A

The difference between the sum of the masses of unbound nucleons forming a nucleus and the mass of that nucleus in the bound state

128
Q

Mass number

A

The sum of the number of protons and neutrons in an atom; also called the atomic mass

129
Q

Mean

A

The average of a group of data; specifically, the arithmetic mean

130
Q

Mechanical advantage

A

The reduction in input force required to accomplish a desired amount of output work using a simple machine

131
Q

Median

A

The central value of a data set

132
Q

Meltin

A

The phase transition from solid to liquid; also known as fusion

133
Q

Metric system

A

A system of measurements based on the powers of ten; most commonly used in scientific disciplines

134
Q

Microwaves

A

Long-wavelength electromagnetic radiation capable of inducing vibration in bonds

135
Q

Mode

A

The most common data point in a data set

136
Q

Monochromatic

A

Electromagnetic radiation wherein the wavelength is the same for all incident photons

137
Q

Mutually exclusive

A

Describes outcomes that cannot occur simultaneously

138
Q

Myopia

A

Nearsightedness, or the ability to see nearby objects while distant objets are unfocused or blurry

139
Q

Natural frequency

A

The frequency at which a system resonates; also called the resonant frequency

140
Q

Node

A

A point of maximum displacement of a standing wave

141
Q

Nonconservative force

A

A force that causes energy to be dissipated from a system, such as friction, air resistance, and vicious drag; pathway dependent

142
Q

Nonmaleficence

A

The ethical principle that states that practitioners have an obligation to avoid treatments or interventions in which the potential for harm is greater than the potential for good

143
Q

Normal

A

A line perpendicular to the surface of interest

144
Q

Normal force

A

The force that two surfaces in contact exert on each other that is perpendicular to the plane of contact

145
Q

Nucleon

A

A proton or neutron

146
Q

Null hypothesis

A

The hypothesis of no difference; given enough statistical evidence, the null hypothesis may be rejected

147
Q

Ohm’s law

A

Relates voltage, current, and resistance for a given circuit element

148
Q

Outliers

A

A data point that deviates significantly from the perceived pattern of distribution; depending on the context, an outlier may be disregard, analyzed normally, or given disproportionate weight when calculating statistics

149
Q

Parallel

A

An arrangement of circuit elements in which the current can go through one element or the other, but not through both

150
Q

Parameter

A

A measure of population data

151
Q

Pascal’s prnciple

A

States that pressure applied to a non compressible fluid is distributed equally to all points within that fluid and the walls of the container

152
Q

Period

A

The amount of time it takes for a wave or oscillation to complete one cycle, measured in seconds; the inverse of frequency

153
Q

Pitch

A

A perception of sound that results from its frequency; as frequency increases, pitch gets higher

154
Q

Pitot tubes

A

Measurement devices for pressure or flow rates of a dynamic fluid system

155
Q

Plane mirrors

A

Reflecting surfaces with an infinite radius of curvature, which results in equal image and object distances

156
Q

Plane-polarized light

A

Electromagnetic radiation in which all of the electric field vectors are oriented parallel to one another

157
Q

Poisulille’s law

A

Relates viscosity, tube dimensions, and pressure differentials to the rate of flow between two points in a system

158
Q

Population

A

The group of all individuals who have certain desired characteristics

159
Q

Positrons

A

Antiparticle of an electron; it has the same mass as an electron and the opposite charge (e+ or β+)

160
Q

Potential difference

A

The difference of electrical potential between two distinct points, measured in volts (V): also called voltage

161
Q

Potential energy

A

Energy associated with position, measured in joules (J); includes gravitational, elastic, chemical, and electrical forms

162
Q

Power

A

Rate at which work is accomplished, or energy expenditure per unit time; measured in watts (W)

163
Q

Precision

A

The tendency of measurements to agree with one another; also called reliability

164
Q

Pressure

A

The ratio of force to the area over which it is applied; measured is pascals (Pa), millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or torr, or atmospheres (atm)

165
Q

Process functions

A

Physical quantities that depend on the path taken to get from one state to another; include work and heat

166
Q

Quantum

A

A discrete bundle of energy such as the photon

167
Q

Quartiles

A

Values that separate data in ascending order into four evenly sized groups

168
Q

Radiation

A

A method of heat transfer that relies on electromagnetic waves; can occur in a vacuum

169
Q

Radio waves

A

Very long wavelength electromagnetic radiation

170
Q

Randomization

A

A method of reducing bias and confounding during research in which participants are assigned to a group by a random number generator or similar method; participants or researches cannot choose the groups

171
Q

Range

A

The difference between the smallest number in a data set and the largest

172
Q

Ray diagram

A

Visual representation of a geometrical optics system

173
Q

Real

A

Describes an image on the same side of a lens or mirror as the refracted or reflected light that can be projected on a screen; in a single-mirror or single-lens systems, real images are always inverted

174
Q

Reflection

A

The return of light rays from a medium at an angle equal to the incident angle

175
Q

Refraction

A

The bending of light rays as a result of a change in the index of refraction between media

176
Q

Resistance

A

A measure of the opposition to current flow through a material, measured in ohms (Ω); the inverse of conductance

177
Q

Resistivity

A

A measure of the intrinsic of a material independent of its shape or size; resistivity generally increases with temperature

178
Q

Repect for persons

A

A principle of research ethics that encompasses anatomy and informed consent

179
Q

Right-hand-rule

A

A method for determining the direction of a vector that is the product of two vectors

180
Q

Rotation

A

The turning of an extended body about an axis or center

181
Q

Sample

A

A subset of a population that is used to make generalizations about the population as a whole

182
Q

Sacalar

A

A mathematical quantity that lacks directionality

183
Q

Scientific method

A

A systematized way of evaluating data and investigating new hypotheses

184
Q

Scientific notation

A

A mathematical representation of quantities as multiple of powers of ten

185
Q

Selection bias

A

Occurs when research participants differ from the general population in a meaningful way

186
Q

Series

A

An arrangement of circuit elements in which the current must go through all of the elements

187
Q

Shock wave

A

The buildup of wave fronts that occurs when the source is traveling at or above the speed of sound

188
Q

Significant figures

A

A tool for maintaining appropriate levels of precision when performing mathematical calculations

189
Q

Snell’s law

A

Relates the incident angle, refracted angle, and indices of refraction for two media

190
Q

Solid

A

A material with distinct boundaries and strong intermolecular forces capable of resisting shear forces

191
Q

Sound

A

The perception of longitudinal waves of pressure changes in air and other media

192
Q

Specific gravity

A

The ratio of an object’s density to the density of water; unitless

193
Q

Specific heat

A

The relationship between thermal energy and temperature change per unit mass of a substance, measured in J / (g·K)

194
Q

Speed

A

The ratio of distance traveled to time; at any given point, instantaneous speed is the magnitude of instantaneous velocity; measured in m/s

195
Q

Spherical mirror

A

A mirror that causes convergence or divergence of light rays incident upon its surface

196
Q

Standard deviation

A

A measure of distribution of data from the mean of a sample; outliers lie at least three standard deviations above of below the mean

197
Q

Standing waves

A

Waveforms with steady nodes and antinodes formed from the interference of incident and reflected waves at a boundary

198
Q

State functions

A

Physical quantities that can be determined based not he state of an object, such as pressure, density, temperature, volume, enthalpy, internal energy, Gibbs free energy, and entropy; pathway independent

199
Q

Statistic

A

A measure of sample data

200
Q

Streamlines

A

Visual representations of the movement of fluid during laminar flow

201
Q

Surface tension

A

The result of the cohesive forces in a liquid creating a barrier at the interface between a liquid and the environment

202
Q

Surroundings

A

Everything that is not being measured as part of a given system

203
Q

System

A

The observed and quantified region of the universe of interest to the experimenter

204
Q

Temperature

A

A measure of the average kinetic energy of particles in a substance; measured in degrees Fahrenheit (°F), degrees of Celsius (°C), or kelvins (K)

205
Q

Terminal velocity

A

The velocity at which air resistance is equal to gravitational force and no acceleration occurs for an object in free fall

206
Q

Thermal exansion

A

An increase in length of volume of a substance as a result of an increase in temperature

207
Q

Torque

A

The primary motivator for rotational movement that combines force, lever arm, and the angle between them; measured in N·m

208
Q

Traveling wave

A

A wave that propagates through a medium with changes in the locations of crests and troughs

209
Q

Translation

A

Motion through space without rotation

210
Q

Transverse wave

A

A wave that propagates in a direction perpendicular to the direction of oscillation

211
Q

Turbulent flow

A

Fluid movement that does not follow parallel streamlines; has back flow, eddies, and swirls

212
Q

Twin study

A

A research design used heavily in psychology to differentiate between genetic and environmental effects

213
Q

Ultrasonic

A

Above the frequencies that humans can hear

214
Q

Ultrasound

A

A treatment and diagnostic modality using ultrasonic waves for medical purposes

215
Q

Ultraviolet

A

A region of the electromagnetic spectrum that is not visible; primarily responsible for the damaging effects of sunlight on skin

216
Q

Upright

A

Describes an image that is the same orientation as the object; in single-mirror or single-lens systems, upright images are always virtual

217
Q

Vaporization

A

The phase transition from solid to gas; also called boiling or evaporation

218
Q

Vector

A

A mathematical quantity that has both magnitude and direction

219
Q

Velocity

A

The rate of change in the displacement of an object; measured in m/s

220
Q

Venturi effect

A

Describes the relationship between the continuity equation and Bernoulli’s equation; as cross-sectional area of a tube decreases, the speed of the fluid increases, and the pressure exerted on the walls of the tube decreases

221
Q

Virtual

A

Describes an image on the opposite side of a lens of mirror as the refracted or reflected light; in single-mirror or single-lens, virtual images are always upright

222
Q

Viscosity

A

A measure of the resistance to flow in a fluid

223
Q

Wavelength

A

The distance between two corresponding points of successive cycles in a waveform, measured in meters

224
Q

Weight

A

The force of gravity acting on an object

225
Q

Work

A

A function of the applied force and the distance through which it is applied of the pressure and volume changes in a gas system; work is the use of energy to accomplish something and is measured in joules (J)

226
Q

Work-energy theorem

A

States that net work is equal to the change in energy (usually kinetic energy) of an object

227
Q

X-rays

A

A type of electromagnetic radiation; primarily used for medical imaging

228
Q

Resonance

A

Oscillation at maximum amplitude as the result of a periodically applied force at the natural (resonant) frequency of an object

229
Q

Resultant

A

The sum, difference, or product of vector mathematics; also refers to the sum or difference of two waves

Vocabulary for MCAT (11 decks)

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