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Physics Flashcards

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MCAT flashcards
1
Q

Intensity

A

Intensity refers to the amount of energy over area. for the same area, more energy is higher intensity and less energy is lower intensity

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2
Q

SI Base Unit: Length

A

Meter (m)

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3
Q

SI Base Unit: Mass

A

Kilogram (kg)

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4
Q

SI Base Unit: Time

A

Second (s)

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5
Q

SI Base Unit: Current

A

Ampere (A)

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6
Q

SI Base Unit: Substance

A

Mole (mol)

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7
Q

SI Base Unit: Temperature

A

Kelvin (K)

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8
Q

SI Base Unit: Luminous Intensity

A

Candela (cd)

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9
Q

SI Derived Units: Force

A

Newton (N) kg*m/s2

F = ma

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10
Q

SI Derived Units: Energy

A

Joule (J) kg*m2/s2

J = N*m

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11
Q

SI Derived Units: Power

A

Watt (W) kg*m2/s3

W = J/s

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12
Q

Vectors

A

magnitude & direction
ex: velocity, acceleration, displacement
denoted with v or v with arrow, magnitude is |v|

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13
Q

Scalars

A

magnitude only
ex: speed, distance, time
denotes with italics

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14
Q

Normal Force on Inclined plane

A

F = mgcos(theta)

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15
Q

Friction

A

Static Friction: Us is the coefficient of static friction, the object will start moving with force greater than coefficient* force applied

Kinetic Friction: Uk is coefficient of kinetic friction, fK = Uk*N

Static friction is always greater than Kinetic friction

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16
Q

Acceleration

A

delta v / delta t

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17
Q

Friction

A

Static Friction: Us is the coefficient of static friction, the object will start moving with force greater than coefficient* force applied

Kinetic Friction: Uk is the coefficient of kinetic friction, fK = Uk*N

Static friction is always greater than Kinetic friction

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18
Q

Newton’s First Law

A

A motion at rest has a net force of 0

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19
Q

Newton’s Second Law

A

Every action has an equal & opposite reaction

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20
Q

Linear Motion: “The Kinematics Equations”

A
  1. v = v0 + at
    The final velocity is the initial velocity plus acceleration multiplied by time
    MISSING x (displacement)
  2. x = v0 * t + at2/2
    The displacement is the initial velocity multiplied by time plus acceleration multiplied by time squared divided by two. The first part of the equation is what displacement would be without any acceleration
    MISSING v (final velocity)
  3. v2 = (v0)2 + 2ax
    The final velocity squared is the initial velocity squared plus two times acceleration and displacement
    MISSING t (time)
  4. x = vt
    The displacement is equal to the average velocity multiplied by time
    MISSING a (acceleration)
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21
Q

Projectile Motion

A

You need to think about velocity in the x and y plane.
Vx = vcos(theta)
Vy = vsin(theta)

The vertical and horizontal velocity components are independent. The verticle decreases by 9.8 m/s2. The horizontal stays the same

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22
Q

Inclined plane

A

Force parallel to the plane: Fg(parallel) = mg*sin(theta)

Force perpendicular to the plane: Fg(perpendicular) = mg*cos(theta)

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23
Q

Circular Motion

A

The only force that can act in this was is centripetal force, where is always points towards the inside of the circle

Fc = mv2/radius

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24
Q

Mechanical Equilibrium

A

This is when all the forces cancel each other out, and you can draw a free-body diagram to make sure things cancel out

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25
Q

Rotational Motion (think seesaw)

A

Object moving around a fixed point, the fixed point if the fulcrum

Torque T = r * F = rFsin(theta), where r is the distance from the fulcrum and theta is the between the lever and force

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26
Q

Kinetic energy

A

kinetic energy is the energy of motion

The value is given by k=1/2mv2

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27
Q

Potential energy

A

energy related to the position in space

two types:

gravitational - U = mgh
m is for mass, g is 9.8m/s2, h is height in meters

elastic potential E (springs)
U = 1/2 * k * x2 where x is displacement from equilibrium, k is the spring constant

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28
Q

Total Mechanical Energy

A

(E) = KE + PE

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29
Q

Conservative Forces

A

The total mechanical energy remains the same, so there is no change in the total mechanical energy

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30
Q

Nonconservative energy

A

When there are forces like friction or heat, energy can get lost in a system

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31
Q

Work

A

Energy transfers from one system to another through movement

W = Fd = Fdcos(theta)

The cos theta term is there when the work applied is not linear to the movement. Think applying a diagonal pressure to a 1 kg box on a flat surface

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32
Q

Pressure and Volume with Work

A

Think of a piston, where changes in pressure or volume makes the lid more up or down

W = Pressure * Volume

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33
Q

Power

A

This is the amount of work over time. Think of cars and cell phone batteries.

P = W/t = change in energy / time

This is in Watts

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34
Q

Work Energy Theorem

A

Work is the change of energy, so it does mean that the change in KE is the final kinetic energy - initial kinetic energy

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35
Q

Mechanical Advantage: Simple Machines

A

Offers a mechanical advantage without electricity

Mechanical Advantage = Fout/Fin

Efficiency = Wout/Win = (load)(load distance)/(effort)(effort distance)

Examples:
Wedge
Lever
Pulley

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36
Q

Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

A

transitive property in a thermal system. If a(object) = b(object) = c(object)

NO net heat flow
It can be contact across space or physical

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37
Q

Third law of Thermodynamics

A

absolute zero (0 K) has an entropy of zero with perfectly organized crystals, there is no thermal energy

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38
Q

Thermal Expansion

A

A change in length or volume due to temperature change. Think of gaps in a bridge for the size of the bridge to change

(delta) L = aL(delta) T
a is the coefficient of linear expansion

(delta) V = beta * V * (delta) T
applicable to both liquid and solid
beta = coefficient of volumetric expansion
V = volume

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39
Q

Systems

A

Systems vs. Surrounding

System Types:

Isolated = no transfer in matter or energy
Closed = transfers energy, but not matter
Open = transfers matter and energy

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40
Q

State function vs. Process function

A

process function is the method that a system for to its state, whereas a state function, is when variables do not depend on the path taken

Process functions:
Heat (Q)
Work (W)

State functions: PaPa HUGS TV
Pressure (P)
Density (p)
Enthalpy (H)
Internal Energy (U)
Gibbs Free Energy (G)
Entropy (S)
Temperature (T)
Volume (V)

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41
Q

First Law of Thermodynamics

A

The change in energy is heat minus work
(delta) E = Q - W

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42
Q

Second Law of Thermodynamics

A

Uneven temperature will cause heat to transfer between objects until it reaches thermal equilibrium, generally means that energy will continue to move until an equilibrium is met, endorses Entropy (S)

Heat Transfers:
Conduction
Convection
Radiation

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43
Q

Specific Heat (c)

A

Property that is intrinsic to a material that is the amount of energy that is needed to increase 1 gram of substance by 1 degree

cal/gK or J/gK

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44
Q

Isothermal

A

Constant temperature, so delta E is 0

Q = W

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45
Q

Adiabatic

A

No heat change, so Q is 0

(delta) E = -W

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46
Q

Isobaric

A

Constant pressure

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47
Q

Isovolumetric

A

No volume change, so W = 0,

(delta) E = Q

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48
Q

Entropy

A

measure of the spontaneous dispersal of energy at a specific temperature

S = Q/T

Greater than zero is SPONTANEOUS - INCREASE in entropy

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49
Q

Fluids

A

Weak-to-shear (tangential) forces

density (rho) = m/v = kg/m3 = g/cm3

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50
Q

Specific gravity

A

Comparing the density to the density of water

SG = density / 1 g/cm3

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51
Q

Pressure

A

This is the amount of force over area in Pascals Pa

1.013X105 Pa = 760 mmHg = 760 Torr = 1atm

52
Q

Absolute pressure

A

the total amount of pressure on an fluid at any given time

53
Q

Atmospheric pressure

A

the amount of pressure from the atmosphere

54
Q

Hydrostatic pressure

A

the amount of pressure from being submerged in a fluid not air

P = P0 +rho *gh

55
Q

Gauge pressure

A

all of the pressure without the atmospheric pressure

56
Q

Archimedes’ Principle

A

Displacement of a liquid depending on the volume that is placed in water

F (buoyancy) = density (fluid) * V (submerged) * g

F (buoyancy) = F (gravity)

Molecular forces in liquids: surface tension = cohesion; meniscus = adhesion

57
Q

Viscosity

A

(n) resistance to flow
Pa*s

58
Q

Laminar flow

A

orderly and predictable

59
Q

Turbulent flow

A

chaotic flow because velocity is too high to remain laminar

60
Q

Poiseulle’s Law

A

the radius is to the fourth, so any changes is significant changes

61
Q

Bernoulli’s Principle

A

The metrics at one point of the fluid will be the same at another point of the fluid

Dynamic pressure: 1/2 * density * v2
Static pressure = P + density * g * h

You would add the dynamic and status pressure together and equate to the dynamic and static pressure at another point

62
Q

Unit Charge

A

1 unit charge = 1.6 x 10 -19 Coulombs = e

63
Q

Coulomb’s Law

A

this is the electrostatic force Fe between 2 charges:

Fe = (k * q1 * q2)/ r2
k = 8.99 x109 Nm2/c2

64
Q

Electric Potential Energy

A

E = kQq/r
This is in Nm or Joules

This is the work required to move a charge there from infinity

65
Q

Electric Potential

A

sounds similar to Electric Potential Energy, right, where is kinda is but not. This is the potential for only the electric field, so there is no one particle or two particles. This is in Volts or Joules/Coulomb.

V = E/q = kQ/r

Voltage is the potential difference between 2 points

66
Q

Dipole moment

A

instead of one source charge, there is 2, so makes the field more interesting

67
Q

Magnetic Field

A

In an electrical field where the charges are examined prior to moving, the magnetic field is what is created when the charges do move.

The SI unit is T (tesla) (Ns/mC)
1 G (gauss) is 10-4 T

68
Q

Diamagnetic substance

A

-no unpaired electrons
-has no magnetic field
-doesn’t interact with magnetic fields
-hydrocarbons, organic materials

69
Q

Paramagnetic substance

A

-has unpaired electrons
-interacts weakly with magnetic forces
-ex: oxygen, gold

70
Q

Ferromagnetic substance

A

-interacts strongly
-ex: iron

71
Q

Current

A

The movement of positive charges; is a measurement of conductivity (siemens, S, 1/(omega)). Resistance is the opposite of current. How much charge is moving in a time

Two Types of Conductivity:
Metallic Conductivity - sea of electrons, think metals
Electrolyte Conductivity - concentration based, think sodium, chlorine

Types of Current:
Direct
Alternating

72
Q

Electron motive force

A

A type of potential difference, which is in voltage

73
Q

Kirchoff’s Junction Rule

A

The amount of the current going into the junction is the same as the ones that is leaving the junction

74
Q

Kirchoff’s Loop Rule

A

All circuits will be loops. The whole loop has to add to 0 V

75
Q

Resistance

A

This is rho, that is resistivity, which is essentially the strength of a filter given a material.

R = (rho * L)/ A
rho = resistivity
L = Length
A = cross-section area

76
Q

Ohm’s Law

A

I = V / R

I = Current
V = Voltage
R = Resistance

77
Q

Power in circuits

A

We typically think about power in the context of doing something, but with circuits, we think about it as the power dissipated by the resistor

Typical:
P = W/t = change in E / t

Circuits:
P = IR = I^2 * R = V^2/R

78
Q

Capacitance

A

The ability to hold a charge

C = Q/V in farad (C/V)

79
Q

Capacitor

A

A material that has capacitance. Not to be confused with a battery, capacitors do not have energy on their own and can only hold a charge for a certain amount of time. A capacitor needs to be charged by a battery.

C = (epsilon)0 * A/d

C = capacitance
Epsilon 0 = E not, constant, 8.85 x 10^-12
A = Area
d = distance between plates

80
Q

Meters

A

ammeters - measures current in amps, circuit on
voltmeter - measures voltage drops in volts, circuit on
ohmmeter - measures resistance in ohms, circuit off

81
Q

General Wave Characteristics

A

MCAT only cares about sinusoidal waves, smooth periodic waves

Types:
Transverse wave - particle movement is perpendicular to the movement. Ex: electromagnetic waves, microwaves, lights

Longitudinal waves - particles move parallel to the propagation of the wave. Ex: sound waves

Propagation speed = v = frequency * wavelength

Angular frequency (think springs and pendulums (harmonic motion)) = w = 2 * pi * f = radians/ second

82
Q

Principle of superposition

A

displacement of the resultant wave at any point is the sum of displacement of two interacting waves

83
Q

Destructive interference

A

two waves that cancel out each other

84
Q

Constructive interference

A

two waves that amplify each other

85
Q

Sound production

A

Mechanical disturbance of particles in a material along the sound wave’s direction of movement (propagation)

Speed of sound = v = sqrt (B/rho)

86
Q

Doppler Effect

A

(applies to all waves) the difference between the actual frequency of the sound and the perceived frequency when the sound and the sound detector are moving relative to one another

87
Q

Attenuation (damping)

A

The presence of a nonconservative force causes the system to decrease in amplitude during each oscillation

88
Q

Harmonic

A

number of half-wavelengths of this standing wave supported by the string

Harmonic Series: for Closed/Closed pipe
wavelength = 2L/n
Length of string/pipe
n = number of nodes

89
Q

Ultrasound

A

high-frequency sound waves outside the range of human hearing to compare the relative densities of tissues in the body

90
Q

Doppler Ultrasound

A

determine the flow of blood within the body by detecting the frequency shift that is associated with movement toward or away from the receiver

91
Q

Electromagnetic Spectrum

A

These are transverse waves. The speed of light is 3X10^8 m/s, which is denoted as c.

c= frequency * wavelength

92
Q

Rectilinear propagation

A

goes in a straight line when in a homogenous medium

93
Q

Law of Reflection

A

The angle that light hits the surface is equal to the angle of the reflection based on the normal straight up line

94
Q

Plane Mirror Images

A

Real-light converges where the image appears and can be projected to a screen

Virtual- converges somewhere else, looks like its somewhere where it is not

95
Q

Spherical Mirror

A

center of curvature C
radius of curvature r
half of the radius is the focal length
o is the object distance, WILL ALWAYS BE POSITIVE
i is the image distance
concave from the inside - converging
convex on the outside - diverging, will only ever form virtual, upright, and reduced images

1/f = 1/o + 1/i = 2/r

i > 0 real image
i < 0 virtual image

96
Q

Magnification

A

m = -i/o

if it is positive, then the image is upright
if it is negative, then the image is inverted

97
Q

Refraction

A

When light goes into a different medium and therefore reduces speed

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

98
Q

Snell’s Law

A

Defines the refraction in changing mediums

n1sin(theta1) = n2sin(theta2)

n1<n2 = towards normal
n1>n2 = away from normal

99
Q

Total Internal Reflection

A

For this case, n1 must be greater than n2 and the critical angle must be less than 90 degrees

Critical angle - the point where the reflection brings the ray back within itself

100
Q

Lenses

A

These operate under refracting light, unlike mirrors that work under reflecting light. They have 2 different surfaces.

Two types -

thin spherical lens (important for MCAT), where the thickness of the lens is negligible, the same snells law, real and virtual are opposite, sign for convex and concave are opposite

real lenses (not important for MCAT) lensmaker’s equation

101
Q

Myopia

A

-Near-sightedness
-Caused by the rays of light converging too early, because the lens is too strong
-Want a diverging lens or a concave lens

102
Q

Hyperopia

A

-Far-sightedness
-Caused by the rays of light converging way to far, so it does not hit the retina
-Wants a converging lens or a convex lens

103
Q

Power in lenses

A

Think about power of reading glass at a drug store, usually negative, because its mostly for nearsightedness, which needs diverging lenses

Power = 1/f in diopters (1/m)

104
Q

Spherical aberration

A

lenses aren’t perfect and sometimes the rays don’t converge at the same spot, makes the image blurry

105
Q

Dispersion

A

When the light goes through a lens, and the colors can separate, chromatic aberration

106
Q

Diffraction - not tested often

A

The process in which a beam of light is spread out as a result of passing through a narrow hole.

Single-slit:
asin(theta) = n*wavelength
a = slit width
theta = from slit to dark spot
n = fringe #

Double-slit:
dsin(theta) = (n +1/2)* wavelength
d = distance between two slits
theta = from midpoint of 2 slits

Diffraction grading - formed when there are more than 2 slits

107
Q

Polarization

A

Can manipulate the waveform of the light, by either linear or circular.

The application of the MCAT is to deal with stereoisomers in organic chemistry. The idea is that you want to hit the center of the stereoisomer with linearly polarized light to see the light that comes back out. You would be able to see the angle of reflection, where it shows if the stereoisomer is chiral and the specific rotation of the stereoisomer.

108
Q

The Photoelectric Effect

A

When high frequency light strikes on a metal, then the metal will emit an electron, electrons that were emitted will produce a charge flow. The incident frequency must be larger than the threshold frequency

109
Q

Threshold frequency (fT)

A

the minimum amount of frequency that will result in emitting electrons (all or nothing)

110
Q

Photon

A

light quanta that light consists of, which is proportional to the frequency of light

Energy of a photon:

E = hf
h = Planck’s constant 6.626 x 10-34 J
f = frequency

Work function is the minimum energy required to eject an electron, so if you remove this from the initial incident energy, you can find the leftover energy

111
Q

Absorption

A

absorb precisely enough energy to jump between orbits

112
Q

Emissions

A

When the electron falls from higher energy level to lower energy level, while emitting a photon (the light energy is equivalent to the energy difference between the two orbits)

113
Q

Infrared (IR) spectroscopy

A

determine chemical structure (each bond emits different wavelength)

114
Q

UV-Vis spectroscopy

A

examine the absorption of light invisible and UV range

115
Q

Fluorescence

A

the excitement of fluorescence substance with UV radiation, which causes it to glow with visible light

116
Q

Mass defect

A

The phenomenon that the actual mass of the nucleus is slightly less than the sum of all the protons and neutrons (excluding hydrogen). This is due to some matter being converted into energy.

E = mc2
m = amount of mass missing
E = nuclear binding energy

117
Q

Fusion

A

a small nuclei combine to form a large nucleus (example sun)

118
Q

Fission

A

a large nucleus splits into smaller nuclei (example: nuclear power plants), will be written in isotopic notation, can cause chain reactions of fission

119
Q

Alpha Decay

A

-Radioactive decay
-emits alpha particle, which is basically a helium atom
-atomic number = -2 (two protons)
-mass number = -4 (two protons, two neutrons)

120
Q

Beta-negative decay

A

-Radioactive decay
-emits an electron by taking a neutron and making it a proton
-atomic number = +1
-mass number same

121
Q

Beta-positive decay

A

-Radioactive decay
-emits a positron, by taking a proton into a neutron
-atomic number = -1
-mass number same

122
Q

Gamma decay

A

-Radioactive decay
-emits only energy
-atomic number and mass number same

123
Q

Electron capture

A

-Radioactive decay
-electron is taken from the surrounding
-atomic number = -1
-mass number same

124
Q

Half-life

A

the time is takes for half of the sample to decay, exponential decay

125
Q

The resistance of an object acting as a resistor is directly proportional to its:

A

resistivity and length

MCAT (7 decks)

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