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MCAT Physics and Math > Frequent Mistakes > Flashcards

Frequent Mistakes Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the equation for the maximum KE of an electron in the photoelectric effect?

A

Kmax = hf - W

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2
Q

What is the work function What does it represent?

A

W = h.ft

ft= threshold frequency
It’s the minimum energy required to eject an electron

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3
Q

What is the equation for exponential decay?

A

n = no . e ^(-lambda.t)

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4
Q

What is the equation for the rate of exponential decay? What about the decay constant?

A

Delta n/Delta t = - lambda . n

n= number that remains
Lambda = decay constant = 0.7/T1/2
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5
Q

Area of a sphere?

A

4.pi.r^2

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6
Q

Volume of a sphere?

A

4/3.pi.r^3

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7
Q

Area of a circle?

A

pi. r^2

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8
Q

Equation for Beta negative decay?

A

X –> (Z+1) Y + Beta -

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9
Q

Equation for Beta positive decay?

A

X –> (Z-1) Y + Beta +

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10
Q

What is ln (1)?

A

0

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11
Q

What is ln(x) when x

A

negative

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12
Q

What is ln(x) when x>0?

A

Positive

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13
Q

What are the steps to solve conservation of energy problems?

A
  1. Write an expression for initial energy E = U + K
  2. If there is friction, air resistance, or drag, the difference between Ei and Ef is the energy lost due to those
  3. If there isn’t any of those than Ei = Ef
  4. Solve for the quantity of interest
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14
Q

How do you calculate the percentage energy lost?

A

Ef/Ei x 100

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15
Q

How to find the horizontal velocity of an object thrown at an angle?

A

Use x = v/t

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16
Q

How to find the initial velocity of an object thrown at an angle and landing further?

A
  1. Find the original velocity with x = v/t

2. Then use trig!

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17
Q

What do to when asked to determine which object will reach the ground first when thrown at different angles and velocities?

A

Compare the initial vertical velocity! The highest one will hit the ground last.

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18
Q

What is the force that holds 2 objects together when they are being slided against each other?

A

Force of friction

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19
Q

How to calculate the net displacement when an object is moving in 3 perpendicular directions?

A

= squaroot of (x^2 + y^2 + z^2)

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20
Q

Can the acceleration be (+) even at constant velocity?

A

Yes! Because the direction could be changing

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21
Q

How to calculate the displacement when given a graph of velocity vs time?

A

Calculate the area between graph and x axis

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22
Q

What is necessary to be able to lift an object?

A

The force applied must be greater than the force of gravity

23
Q

Is the velocity of an object being dropped dependent on its weight?

A

No, only depends on surface area because of friction

24
Q

When can I say that the object is not experiencing a net torque?

A

When it isn’t in rotational motion

25
Q

What happens to one’s velocity when someone jumps off something?

A

If someone/thing jumps and hits the ground, his acceleration will be pretty constant for a while, then decrease (but not reach 0), and finally go back up (gravity!)

26
Q

How to calculate the mass of an object when in equilibrium and a mass hanging from one side?

A

Use torques and the center of mass

27
Q

If 2 objects of different mass are sitting on a spring and the spring propels them up, will one object be propelled higher than the other?

A

No

28
Q

How can I know how far an object will be propelled by a spring?

A

1/2 k. x^2 = mgh

29
Q

What does using a pulley change? What does it not?

A

It changes the force necessary, not the amount of work! n

30
Q

What is the purpose of ideal and non ideal machines?

A

Reduce the force required

31
Q

What is the difference between ideal and non ideal machines?

A

Non ideal machines increase to word required

32
Q

What is the equation I should use for levers?

A

F1 . L1 = F2 . L2

33
Q

What is the equation I should use for work done by machines?

A

Finput . d input = Foutput . d output

34
Q

Resistors experience the same current when they are in?

A

Series!

35
Q

Resistors experience the same voltage when they are in?

A

Parallel!

36
Q

In the doppler effect equation, which v is on top?

A

D!!!

37
Q

During echolocation, what is considered the detector and what is considered the source?

A

Both are the animal using echolocation

38
Q

When we look at things in water, do we see them closer or further than they actually are? Why?

A

Further, because we see the light as straight, and we do not account for bending of the light

39
Q

What does transmutation mean in nuclear reactions?

A

Radioactive decay resulting in a change of atomic number; special type of fission

40
Q

What are newtons in SI units?

A

kg . m / s^2

41
Q

When object are thrown vertically and you are given vo, what does the value represent?

A

The horizontal velocity

42
Q

How to calculate average acceleration when the direction changes?

A

Assign each velocity vector a sign. To the right can be positive, to the left can be negative.

43
Q

Is kinetic energy related to velocity or speed?

A

Speed

44
Q

What are Newtons in terms of Joules?

A

J/m

45
Q

What is happening in translational equilibrium?

A

There is an equal amount of work done by the forces

46
Q

When is the kinetic energy of a substance 0?

A

At absolute 0 (temp)

47
Q

Main difference between convection and conduction?

A

Conduction usually happens through solids with contact, and convection through the bulk movement of fluids: mixing of both objects in the system

48
Q

What is radiation?

A

Heat transfer through electromagnetic waves

49
Q

1 C = ? F

A

1.8 F

50
Q

What does (+) work mean?

A

Work is being done by system (expansion)

51
Q

What does (-) mean?

A

Work is being done on system (compression)

52
Q

What graph will have an area equal to work?

A

P-V graph

53
Q

What is the second law of thermodynamics? What does it have to do with?

A

Objects will transfer heat until they reach thermal equilibrium → entropy : energy spontaneously disperses!

MCAT Physics and Math (8 decks)

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