Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Catz > MCAT Physics 2014 > Flashcards

MCAT Physics 2014 Flashcards

1
Q

Which waves consist of both longitudinal and transverse waves?

A

water waves;

earthquake waves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

T/F:

Longitudinal waves can’t be polarized.

A

tru

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

There are traveling waves, and there are also _____ waves.

A

standing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a standing wave?

A

wave that is trapped in a cavity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the main difference between standing waves and traveling waves?

(hint: frequencies)

A

Standing waves have only certain allowed frequencies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a fundamental?

(waves)

A

The lowest possible frequency for a given standing wave.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

The 2nd lowest frequency achievable by a given standing wave is called:

A

second harmonic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

If the spring constant for a given spring is K, then what is the frequency of that spring’s oscillation?

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

T/F:

The speed of a wave is determined by its frequency.

A

fals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

When a wave passes from one medium into another, its _____ changes, but its _______ does not.

A

speed;

frequency

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What determines the velocity of a wave traveling thru a given medium?

A
  • The type of wave
  • the characteristics of the medium
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

The MCAT may refer to Potential Energy as ____ energy.

A

mechanical

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

An oscillating electrict charge generates a/n ______.

A

electromagnetic wave.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Describe the wave-particle duality.

A

EM radiation travels liek a wave, but interacts with matter like a particle.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

The ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum, to the speed of light in a given medium, is called:

A

Index of refraction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the Index of Refraction?

A

The ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum, to the speed of light in a given medium, is called:

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

The higher an object’s Index of Refraction, the [faster / slower] light travels thru that object:

A

slower

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

A ray of light travels from one medium into another. The light bends (refracts) when it enters the 2nd medium.

If the 2nd medium has a higher index of refraction than the incident (first) medium, then the ray will bend [away from / towards] the normal.

A

towards

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

A ray of light travels from one medium into another. The light bends (refracts) when it enters the 2nd medium.

If the 2nd medium has a [higher / lower] index of refraction than the incident (first) medium, then the ray will bend away from the normal.

A

lower

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is Snell’s Law?

A

n1 * sin θ1 = n2 * sinθ2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How do you figure out the critical angle for total internal reflection?

A

sinθcrit =

(n of the medium beyond the boundary / n of the medium through which “incident” ray is traveling)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

When light passes from one medium into another, there can be a critical angle for total internal reflection ONLY if:

A

if the n (index of refraction) of the original medium through which the “incident” ray travels, is GREATER than the n of the other medium beyond the boundary.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

When white light is split into its monochromatic individual colors, _____ light bends the least, while ______ light bends the most.

A

RED the least;

VIOLET the most

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

When talking about lenses and mirrors, what does f stand for?

A

focal length

25
Q

In optics, what is focal length?

A

distance, from mirror/lens, to focal point

26
Q

[concave / convex] mirrors have an imaginary focal point

A

conVEX

27
Q

What is a real image?

A

An image is real if light rays focus at the position of the image.

28
Q

What is a virtual image, as opposed to a real image?

A

an image is virtual if light rays don’t focus at the apparent location of the image

29
Q

Based on the Mirror Equation (oif) , how do we know that an image is real or virtual?

A

A positive value for i → image is in front of mirror and is real

A negative value for i → image is behind mirror and is virtual

30
Q

In optics, What does it mean if i is positive?

A

image is real

31
Q

T/F:

Virtual images can sometimes be upright

A

fals (technically)

Virtual images are ALWAYS upright.

32
Q

In optics, _____ images are inverted.

A

real

33
Q

In optics, _____ images are upright.

A

virtual

34
Q

T/F:

In optics, if i is postive, then m is negative.

A

tru

And if i is negative, then m is positive.

35
Q

For mirrors, f is positive if:

A

the mirror is concave.

36
Q

In optics, f is negative for mirrors when:

A

the mirror is conVEX.

37
Q

T/F:

Real images are always inverted.

A

tru

38
Q

Lenses that are thicker in the middle are called _____ lenses.

A

converging

39
Q

When switching between mirrors and lenses, which value(s) switch from positive to negative? (o, i, f)

A

f

40
Q

f is positive for a _____ lens.

A

convex / converging

41
Q

A convex lens is the same thing as a _____ lens.

A

converging

42
Q

For lenses, ______ images are formed on the same side of the lens as the object

A

virtual

43
Q

What is the relationship between a lens’s f (focal length) and its power.

A

the shorter the focal length (f), the greater the power

44
Q

What is a diopter?

A

a unit that measures lens power in 1/meter, or meter-1

45
Q

What is the image-drawing method for a converging/convex lens?

A

see p. 231, MCAT PHYSICS

46
Q

What is the image-drawing method for a diverging/concave lens?

A

p. 231 of MCAT Physics

47
Q
  1. What is the image tracing method for a concave mirror?
  2. For a convex mirror?
A

see p 235 of MCAT Physics

48
Q

Two identical electronic devices are connected to the same electrical circuit, in parallel to each other.

Compared to the voltage generated by a single device, the total voltage supplied by the 2 parallel devices will be:

A

the same.

49
Q

Two identical electronic devices are connected to the same electrical circuit, in series to each other.

Compared to the voltage generated by a single device, the total **voltage **supplied by the 2 devices will be:

A

the sum of the two individual voltages. So add the two individual voltages together.

50
Q

T/F:

*Identical *voltage sources, connected in parallel, produce the same output (total) **voltage **as a single source.

A

tru

51
Q

T/F:

*Identical *voltage sources, connected in series, produce the same output (total) **voltage **as a single source.

A

fals

52
Q

State Pascal’s Law

A

if you apply pressure on a liquid, the pressure is transmitted equally to all parts of the liquid.

53
Q

Give the formula for Pascal’s Law

A
54
Q

If given a point that is deep inside a body of water, how do we calculate the pressure of water exerted on that given point?

A

guage Pressure = ρ*g*h

ρ → density of water/fluid

g → acceleration from gravity

h → how deep, under water,

55
Q

State Archimedes’ Principle

A

buoyant force on an object =

weight of the fluid that is **displaced **by the object.

56
Q

Give the eqn for Archimedes’ Principle:

A

**FB **= weightdisplaced =

(massdisplaced)*(g) = (ρfluid)*(Vsubmerged)*(g)

57
Q

Give the eqns for finding Buoyant Force on an object.

A

**FB **on object =

weightdisplaced fluid = (massdisplaced fluid)*(g) = (ρfluid)*(Vsubmerged)*(g)

If the object is COMPLETELY submersed:

FB = [(massobject)*(g)] * (ρfluid) ÷ (ρobject)

FB = (weightobject) * (ρfluid) ÷ (ρobject)

58
Q

When talking about Floating objects, what is the important ratio to remember?

A

Volumedisplaced ÷ Total Volume of Object

=

Densityobject ÷ Densityfluid

Catz (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions