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MCAT Physics > Physics #1 > Flashcards

Physics #1 Flashcards

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1
Q

base units

A

the standard units around which the system itself is designed
Ex: meter

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2
Q

derived units

A

associated base units with each other

Ex: Newton

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3
Q

what does the metric system use for length

A

meters

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4
Q

what is the imperial system?

A

the British system of measurements: foot, pound, second, mile

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5
Q

what are the units for energy/work (Joules)

A

(kg)(m^2)/(s^2)

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6
Q

what are the units for Power (watts)

A

(kg)(m^2)/(s^3)

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7
Q

what are the units for force (newtons)

A

(kg)(m)/(s^2)

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8
Q

what are Angstroms, nanometers

A

angstroms: 1 A = 10^-10 meters
nanometers: 1 nm = 10^-9 meters

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9
Q

what are the units for electron-Volts

A

1.6x10^-19 J

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10
Q

what are vectors?

A

vectors are numbers that have magnitude and direction

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11
Q

scalars

A

numbers that have magnitude only and no direction

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12
Q

vector or scalar: displacement

A

vector

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13
Q

vector or scalar: velocity

A

vector

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14
Q

vector or scalar: acceleration

A

vector

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15
Q

vector or scalar: force

A

vector

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16
Q

vector or scalar: distance

A

scalar

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17
Q

vector or scalar: speed

A

scalar

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18
Q

vector or scalar: energy

A

scalar

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19
Q

vector or scalar: pressure

A

scalar

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20
Q

vector or scalar: mass

A

scalar

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21
Q

compare distance and displacement for Earth orbit

A

the distance Earth travels is 940 million kilometers but its displacement is 0 (circular)

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22
Q

what is the resultant of two vectors

A

the sum or difference of two or more vectors

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23
Q

when multiplying a vector by a scalar, what will happen?

A

it’s magnitude will change but it will remain parallel or antiparallel to the original vector’s direction.

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24
Q

how is the idea of work tied into vectors?

A

Only need magnitude: dot product

work is Force (dot) displacement = |A||B|cos(theta)

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25
Q

how is the idea of torque tied into vectors?

A

Need both magnitude and direction: cross product

|A||B|sin(theta)

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26
Q

when do you use cross product vs. dot product?

A

dot product: just need magnitude of two vectors multiplied
cross product: need magnitude and direction of two vectors multiplied
RHR: first vector (thumb) x second vector (fingers) = resultant vector (palm)

27
Q

the resultant of a cross product will always be _____ to the plane created by the two vectors

A

perpendicular

28
Q

For cross product, does AxB = BxA?

A

no

29
Q

for cross product, if a magnitude is negative, does it matter?

A

no, just goes into equation as the absolute value.

30
Q

can the magnitude of a vector be negative?

A

no, it is the length of the vector which has no direction and thus is always positive.

31
Q

displacement

A

an object in motion experiences a change in position in space

32
Q

the displacement vector connects _____

A

in a straight line the objects initial and final positions.

33
Q

does displacement or distance take into account the pathway taken?

A

distance

34
Q

compare velocity and speed

A

velocity: displacement/time
speed: actual distance/time

35
Q

True or false: the instantaneous speed of an object will always be equal to the magnitude of the object’s instantaneous velocity

A

true

36
Q

True or false: the average speed of an object will always be equal to the magnitude of the object’s average velocity

A

false

37
Q

every change in velocity is motivated by a _____

A

force

38
Q

friction always ______ an object’s motion and cause it to slow down

A

oppose

39
Q

when a car is driving, what type of friction is a tire experiencing?

A

static friction (the tire is not actually sliding on the road surface but rather it is rolling).

40
Q

kinetic friction will always have a constant value regardless of ____ and _____

A

the surface area of contact or the velocity of the sliding object

41
Q

is the coefficient of static friction greater than or less than that of kinetic friction?

A

greater

42
Q

how does the mass of 1kg compare on the moon vs. Earth?

A

same

43
Q

how does the weight of 1kg compare on the moon vs. Earth?

A

greater on Earth

44
Q

when an object is thrown, the _____ travels in a simple parabolic pathway

A

center of mass

45
Q

what is Newton’s First law of motion?

A

F = ma = 0

an object at rest or in motion with constant velocity will remain that way unless acted upon by a force

46
Q

what is Newton’s second law of motion?

A

F = ma

an object of mass m will accelerate when the vector sum of the forces results in some nonzero resultant force vector.

47
Q

what is Newton’s third law of motion?

A

F(ab) = -F(ba)

To every action, there is always an opposed but equal reaction

48
Q

is Newton’s third law dependent on physical contact?

A

no, force of moon on Earth is same as force of Earth on the moon

49
Q

free fall and kinematics

A

constant acceleration due to gravity, no air resistance, and does not reach terminal velocity.

50
Q

when drag force is introduced to an object in free fall, what happens?

A

eventually, the object will speed up enough so that the drag force is equal to the weight of the ball and the ball will then fall with constant velocity according to Newton’s first law.

51
Q

True or false: the time it takes an object to reach its max height is the same amount of time it takes to fall to its original height?

A

true

52
Q

in uniform circular motion, the instantaneous velocity vector is always____ to the circular path

A

tangent

53
Q

in uniform circular motion, what keeps an object from moving in a tangent to the circular motion and where does it point?

A

centripetal force

always points radially inward

54
Q

In uniform circular motion, the tangential force is equal to _____

A

zero

55
Q

at what angle will objects obtain the greatest vertical and horizontal displacement when launched?

A

vertical: 90 degrees (straight up)
horizontal: 45 degrees

56
Q

because force is a vector, the resultant force is simply the ___ of the forces

A

sum

57
Q

translational equilibrium exists when _____

A

the vector sum of all the forces acting on an object is 0.

58
Q

the lever arm is _____

A

the distance between the applied force and the fulcrum

59
Q

torques that generate clockwise rotation are considered ___

A

negative

60
Q

in translational equilibrium, _____ is 0, while in rotational equilibrium, ____ is 0

A

net force

net torque

61
Q

the coefficient of friction depends on _____

A

the two materials in contact

62
Q

do falling objects with different mass have the same acceleration?

A

yes, gravity acceleration

63
Q

is magnitude positive or negative?

A

always positive

64
Q

The normal force and frictional force ______ as the angle of the incline increases.

A

decrease

MCAT Physics (12 decks)

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