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Physics Flashcards

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1
Q

1 Å = ____ m

A

1 Å = 10-10 m

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2
Q

Prefix: giga

A

109 (G)

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3
Q

Prefix: mega

A

106 (M)

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4
Q

prefix: kilo

A

103 (k)

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5
Q

prefix: nano

A

10-9 (n)

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6
Q

prefix: pico

A

10-12 (p)

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7
Q

log(mn)=?

A

log(mn​)=(n)log(m)

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8
Q

velocity

A

v=dx/dt

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9
Q

acceleration

A

a=dv/dt

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10
Q

Kinematic Equations

A
  1. vf=vi+at
  2. d=vit+½at2
  3. vf2=vi2+2ad
  4. vavg=½(vi+vf)
  5. d=vavgt=½(vi+vf)t
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11
Q

Weight

A

weight=mg

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12
Q

Newton’s Laws

A
  1. F=ma
  2. ΣF=ma
  3. FB=-FA
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13
Q

Gravitational Force Equation

A

F=(Gm1m2)/r2

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14
Q

Torque

A

τ=rFsinθ

  • clockwise=neg
  • r=distance between fulcrum and point of application
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15
Q

Uniform Circular Motion

A

F=(mv2)/r

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16
Q

Forces on Inclined Plane

A
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17
Q

Static friction

A
  • between surface and stationary object
  • 0≤fs≤μsFN
  • fs,max> fk
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18
Q

Kinetic Friction

A
  • Between sliding object and surface
  • fk=μkFN
  • less than static friction
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19
Q

Kinetic Energy

A

KE=½mv2

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20
Q

Types of potential energy

A
  • Gravitational
  • Electrical
  • Mechanical
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21
Q

Potential Energy

A

U=mgh

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22
Q

First Law of Thermodynamics

A

Energy is never created or destroyed

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23
Q

What types of forces are conservative?

A

Gravitational and Electrostatic

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24
Q

Work

A

W=Fdcosθ

(J)

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25
Q

Power

A

P=W/t

(Watts)

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26
Q

Completely elastic collision

A

PE and KE conserved

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27
Q

Inelastic collisions

A

PE is conserved, KE is lost (to sound, light, heat, deformation)

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28
Q

Completely inelastic collisions

A

Objects stick together, PE is conserved

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29
Q

Work-Energy Theorem

A

Wnet=ΔKE

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30
Q

Momentum

A

p=mv

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31
Q

Impulse

A

I=FΔt=Δp=m(vf-vi)

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32
Q

What is mechanical advantage?

A

Work accomplished with reduced force via: inclinded plane, wedge, axel/wheel, lever, pulley, screw

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33
Q

Mechanical Advantage Eqn

A

Mech. Adv = Fout/Fin

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34
Q

Efficiency

A

Efficiency=Wout/Win

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35
Q

Center of Mass

A

x=(Σmixi)/(Σmi)

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36
Q

Density

A

ρ=m/v

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37
Q

Density of water

A

ρH2O=1g/mL=1kg/L

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38
Q

Pressure

A

P=F/A

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39
Q

Specific Gravity

A

SG=ρ/ρ<span>H2O</span>

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40
Q

Buoyant Force

A

FB=weight displaced

FB=(ρfluid)(Vsubmerged)(g)

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41
Q

Stress

A

σ=F/A

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42
Q

Strain

A

ε=ΔL/Lo

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43
Q

Young’s Modulus

A

Y=stress/strain

Y=σ/ε

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44
Q

Pascal’s Law

A

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

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45
Q

Gauge pressure

A

P=ρgh

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46
Q

Absolute Pressure

A

P=ρgh+Patm

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47
Q

Continuity Equation

A

Q=AV=dV/dt

Q=A(dL/dt)

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48
Q

Bernoulli’s Equation

A

P + ½ρv2 + ρgh = constant

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49
Q

Thermal Expansion Equation

A

ΔL = αL0ΔT

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50
Q

What is adhesion?

A

Attraction of liquid molecules to another substance

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51
Q

What is viscosity?

A
  • Resistance of a fluid to flow
  • Ideal fluid is inviscid
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52
Q

critical velocity

A

vc=(Re*η)/(ρ*D)

  • η=viscosity
  • Re=Reynolds #
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53
Q

Bulk Modulus

A

B=(F/A)/(ΔV/V)

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54
Q

What is simple harmonic motion?

A

Periodic motion, particle oscillates about equilibrium, has a linear restoring force

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55
Q

Force of a spring? (Hooke’s Law)

A

F=-kx

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56
Q

Angular frequency of a spring?

A

ω=2πf (Hz)

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57
Q

Equation for spring displacement

A

x=Asin(ωt)

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58
Q

Kinetic and Potential Energy of a spring

A

KE=½mv2

U=½kx2

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59
Q

Force on a pendulum

A

F=-mgsin(θ)

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60
Q

Angular frequency of a pendulum

A
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61
Q

Longditudinal wave

A

Particles oscillate along direction of travel of the wave motion

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62
Q

Transverse wave

A

Particles oscillate perpendicular to energy

(ex. light, electromagnetic)

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63
Q

velocity of a wave

A

v=fλ

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64
Q

wave number

A

k=2π/λ

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65
Q

period related to frequency

A

T=1/f

2πf=ω

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66
Q

Standing waves

A
  • f is constant, amplitude changes, nodes at rest
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67
Q

Natural frequency

A
  • f at which object vibrates when disturbed
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68
Q

What is noise?

A

Natural frequencies are multiples but not whole # multiples

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69
Q

What is forced oscillation?

A

Periodically varying force applied to a system

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70
Q

Sound waves

A
  • longditudinal
  • can’t travel through a vacuum
  • speed inversely proportional to (density)½
  • Audible: 20-20,000 Hz
  • Ultrasonic: > 20,000 Hz
  • Infrasonic: < 20 Hz
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71
Q

Equation for sound intensity

A

I=P/A

(W/m2)

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72
Q

Equation for Sound Level

A

β=10log(I/Io)

[dB]

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73
Q

What parameter of a wave is associated with energy?

A

Amplitude

(Greater amplitude = greater energy)

(Higher amplitude = higher intensity)

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74
Q

What is resonance?

A
  • Resonance is when things oscillate at its maximum amplitude.
  • Resonance occurs at resonance frequencies.
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75
Q

Resonance of Standing Waves

A

λ=2L/n

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76
Q

Resonance in Open Pipes

A

λ=2L/n

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77
Q

Resonance in Closed Pipes

A

λ=4L/n

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78
Q

Dopper equation

A

fo=fs(v±vo)/(v±vs)

  • vo is positive when observer moves towards source
  • vs is negative when source is moving towards observer
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79
Q

What is a conductor?

A

Materials in which charges can move freely.

(ex. metal)

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80
Q

What is an insulator?

A

Insulators are materials in which charges can not move freely.

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81
Q

Coulomb’s law?

A

F=kq1q2/r2

(k=9E9 Nm2/C2)

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82
Q

Direction of an electric field?

A

Electric field goes from positive to negative

Unit: N/C

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83
Q

Electric field between a capacitor?

A
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84
Q

Electric field for wires?

A

Radially perpendicular to the wire

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85
Q

Absolute potential (V)

A

V=kq/r

V=U/qo

  • V is absolute potential caused by q, or experienced by q0
  • U is elec. potential energy posessed by q0
  • Unit: Volts (V) = J/C
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86
Q

Potential Difference (ΔV)

A

ΔV=VB-VA

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87
Q

What are equipotential lines?

A
  • Places where the potential is the same
  • Always perpendicular to the electric field lines
88
Q

What is a dipole?

A
  • A positive charge and a negative charge separated by some distance
  • In an electric field, it will align itself with electric field
89
Q

Electrostatic Induction

A
  • Where a charged object induces the movement/redistribution of charges in another object
  • Static- charged species polarizes non-charged species by being there
  • ex. comb rubbed against fur- pick up paper with comb
90
Q

Gauss’s Law

A

ΦE=EAcosθ

ΦE=q/ε0

  • ΦE = electric flux
  • E = electric field
  • θ = angle between field and normal of the area
  • ε0 is the permitivity of free space
91
Q

Faraday cage

A

Electric field inside a closed conducting cage is zero

(Charges on the conducting cage will rearrange to cancel out any external field)

92
Q

What is the magnetic field?

A
  • B
  • Exists in a region of space if a moving charge experiences a force due to its motion in that region
  • Unit: Tesla (T) or (N*s)/(m*C)
93
Q

Equation for force on a charge moving in magnetic field

A

F=qVBsinθ

(RHR: thumb is direction of +q, fingers is direction of B, palm is F)

94
Q

Current-carrying wire

A

F=iLBsinθ

  • i = current
  • L = length of wire
  • Currens is direction of moving positive charge
  • Two wires attract eachother if current is in same direction
  • Two wires repel eachother if current is in opposite directions
95
Q

Speed of light in a vacuum

A

c=3x108 m/s

96
Q

Does light change speed in another medium?

A

Yes, light slows down when it travels in another medium

97
Q

Equatino for index of refraction

A

n=c/v

98
Q

Radiation of oscillating electric and magnetic fields are _____ to each other and to the ____.

A

Radiation of oscillating electric and magnetic fields are mutually perpendicular to each other and to the propagation direction.

99
Q

Lower frequency waves have ____ wavelengths, and ____ energy.

A

Lower frequency waves have longer wavelengths, and less energy.

100
Q

Radio waves

A

causes electronic oscillations in the antenna

101
Q

Microwaves

A

cause molecular rotation

102
Q

Infrared

A

Causes molecular vibration

103
Q

Visible light…

A

Can excite electrons to orbits of higher energy.

Ranges from 400-700 nm.

400nm=violet, 700nm=red

104
Q

Ultraviolet light

A

Can break bonds and excite electrons so much as to eject them, which is why UV is considered ionizing radiation

105
Q

X-rays

A

Ionizing radiation, photoelectric effect

106
Q

Types of waves from low frequency to high frequency

A

Lower Frequency, Longer wavelength, less energy

Radio
Microwave
Infrared
Visible
UV
X-ray
Gamma rays

Higher Frequency, Shorter Wavelength, More Energy

107
Q

What conditions must hold for interference of light waves to occur?

A
  • interfering light sources must be coherent (maintain same phase relationship)
    • Light from 2 slits in Young’s double slit experiment are coherent
  • Light source must be monochromatic (of single color/wavelength)
108
Q

Young’s Double Slit Experiment (Include equations)

A

dsinθ=mλ

  • Bright bands at m=0, +/-1, +/-2 …
  • Dark bands at m= +/-0.5, +/- 1.5…
109
Q

Thin films

A
  • Thin films provide a means for interference to occur
  • Light reflecting off the outer and inner boundary of a thin film interfere with eachother
  • Film of oil on water appears like a swirly rainbow
110
Q

Diffraction Grating

A
  • Diffraction= light spreads out after passing through the slit, instead of going in a straight path
  • Diffraction grating = a slap with many slits close together
  • Bright and dark bands occur at same locations
111
Q

Single Slit

A
  • Light through a single slit has a central bright band and maximas and minimas
  • The equation is different: asinθ=mλ (a= width slit)
112
Q

Double slit vs Diffraction Grating vs. Single Slit

A
113
Q

What happens to light shining through a pin hole?

A

Appears as a diffractino pattern of circular bright and dark bands, with a central bright band.

114
Q

What happens to light shining past an opaque boundary?

A

Fringes of bright and dark bands appear above the boundary.

115
Q

What happens to light shining past a penny?

A

Central bright spot, patterns of dark and bright rings.

116
Q

What is unpolarized light?

A

Light with electric field oscillating in many planes

117
Q

What is polarized light?

A

Light with electric field oscillating in only one plane

118
Q

What is an optically active molecule?

A

Can rotate polarized light clockwise or counterclockwise

119
Q

What is a red shift?

A

frequency decreases

(observer and source move away from eachother)

120
Q

What is a blue shift?

A

Frequency increases

(source and observe moving towards each other)

121
Q

What is a laser?

A
  • Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
  • Normal light emission = spontaneous
  • Laser emission = stimulated emission
122
Q

What is reflection?

A
  • θi=θr
  • mirrors completely reflect light
  • Partial reflection when changing medium
123
Q

Snell’s Law

A

n1sinθ1=n2sinθ2

124
Q

Refraction

A
125
Q

What is dispersion?

A

Dispersion is the change of index of refraction with wavelength

126
Q

Does red or blue light refract more in a prism?

A

Blue light refracts mroe than red light in a prism.

127
Q

Total internal reflection

A
  • going from medium of high n to low n
  • angle of incidence > critical angle
  • Find the critical angle by:
    • n1sinθc = n2sin90°
    • ​n1 > n2

θc = critical angle

128
Q

Concave mirror

A
129
Q

Convex mirror

A
130
Q

_____ mirrors focus light, so it’s converging.

_____ mirrors can’t focus light, so its diverging.

A

**concave **mirrors focus light, so it’s converging.

**convex **mirrors can’t focus light, so its diverging.

131
Q

Focal length = ?

A

f=r/2

132
Q

Converging mirrors have ____ focal length.

Diverging mirrors have ____ focal length.

A

Converging mirrors have positive focal length.

Diverging mirrors have negative focal length.

133
Q

Mirror equation

A

(1/p) + (1/q) = 1/f

(1/o) + (1/i) = 1/f

  • p is always positive
134
Q

If q is positive, the image is ____.

A

If q is positive, the image is real.

135
Q

For mirrors, real images are ____ the mirror.

For lenses, real images are ____ the mirror.

A

For mirrors, real images are in front of the mirror.

For lenses, real images are behind the mirror.

136
Q

Focal length (f) is positive when the mirror/lens is _____.

This is when the mirror is ____ or the lens is ____.

A

Focal length (f) is positive when the mirror/lens is converging.

This is when the mirror is concave or the lens is convex.

137
Q

Equation for magnification

A

M=i/o

138
Q

Real vs. Virtual images

A
  • Real images are inverted and can be cast on a screen
  • Virtual images are always erect and can’t be cast on a screen.
139
Q

For concave mirrors, real images, (positive q) are formed _______ the mirror.

A

For concave mirrors, real images, (positive q) are formed in front of the mirror.

140
Q

For convex mirrors, images are always _______.

A

For convex mirrors, images are always virtual. (negative q)

141
Q

_______ mirrors and lenses can never form real images.

A

Diverging mirrors and lenses (convex mirrors and concave lenses can never form real images.

142
Q

Convex lenses are the same as _____ mirrors, both are _____. Except…

A

Convex lenses are the same as concave mirrors, both are converging.

Except:

  • Real images are on the opposite side of the lens as the object because light travels through the lens and can focus on a screen behind the lens.
  • Virtual images are on the same side of the lens as the object.
143
Q

Concave lenses are the same as ____ mirrors (both are ____).

Except for…

A

Concave lenses are the same as convex mirrors (both are diverging).

Except:

  • A virtual image formed by the lens is on the same side as the object because light can’t focus in front of a lens and be cast on a screen.
144
Q

Converging lens is ____.

A

Converging lens is convex.

145
Q

Is the focal length for a converging lens positive or negative?

A

positive

146
Q

Is the focal length for a diverging lens positive or negative?

A

Negative

147
Q

Diverging lens is _____.

A

Diverging lens is concave.

148
Q

Formula for lens strength or lens power

A

P=1/f

(P in diopters)

149
Q

Spherical aberrations

A

Not all light will focus at the focal point

150
Q

Chromic aberration

A

Blue light gets refracted more than red light, so different colors focus differently.

151
Q

Glasses are ____ for near-sightedness, and _____ for far-sightedness.

A
  • Diverging (concave) for near-sightedness
  • Converging (convex) for far-sightedness
152
Q

What is the Bohr model?

A
  • Electron orbits the pos nucleus
  • Electrostatic attraction pulls electron to nucleus
  • Electron orbits at high speed to prevent crashing into nucleus
  • electron orbits at different energy levels (n)
  • Higher energy level = larger radius
153
Q

What happens when an electron transitions from a higher energy level to lower energy level?

A

It emits electromagnetic radiation. Emission spectrum of hydrogen consists of sharp, distinct lines.

154
Q

Equation for energy levels of a hydrogen electron

A

E=-13.6eV/n2

(E is energy, n is energy level)

(All energies are negative- energy contributes to the stability of the system)

155
Q

More negative energy of an electron means…

A

it is less stable in orbit and it is easier to knock out the electron

156
Q

What is the highest energy of an electron?

A

0 eV, no binding energy, the electron dissociates

157
Q

General equation for energy of an electron

A

Z is the atomic number. (Higher Z values give more negative, and more stable energies)

158
Q

What is the Rydberg formula that gives the wavelength of emitted or absorbed radiation?

A

R is rydberg constant, nf and ni are final and initial energy levels

159
Q

Energy of emitted or absorbed radiation

A

E=hf=hv=hc/λ

160
Q

Energy is emitted for transitions to lower or higher energy levels?

A

Energy is emitted for transitions to lower energy levels.

161
Q

What is the atomic number?

A

Number of protons. What defines an element.

162
Q

What defines an element?

A

Number of protons.

163
Q

What is the atomic weight?

A

The weighted average of the atomic mass for all isotopes.

164
Q

Atomic mass = ?

A

Atomic mass = number of protons + neutrons

165
Q

What is the standard notaiton for an atom?

A
166
Q

What is a neutron?

A

Neutral particles in the nucleus

167
Q

What are protons?

A

Positive particles in the nucleus.

168
Q

What are isotopes?

A

Things with same # protons, different # neutrons.

169
Q

What is a nucleon?

A

proton or neutron

170
Q

T or F: Isotpes have similar chemical properties but different stabilities.

A

True

171
Q

What force binds nucleons together and contributes to binding energy?

A

strong force

172
Q

What causes electromagnetic force in the nucleus?

A

Due to electrostatic repulsion between positively charged protons in the nucleus.

173
Q

How does the nucleus stay together?

A

The strong force or nuclear force is much stronger than electromagnetic repulsion.

174
Q

What is alpha decay?

A

Ejection of a helium nucleus at a relatively low speed.

175
Q

In a nearsighted individual, the image of a distance object is focused in front of/behind the retina, requiring divergent/convergent lens correction.

A

In a nearsighted (myopic) individual, the image of a distance object is focused in front of the retina, requiring divergent lens correction.

  • Nearsighted person cannot clearly see objects far away
  • Nearsighted eye has a shorter focal length
176
Q

Equation for Specific Gravity

A

SG=ρsample/ρh2o

177
Q

Avogadro’s number?

A

6.02x1023

178
Q

Mechanical waves in a medium such as water function to transport:

a. matter only
b. energy only
c. matter and energy
d. neigher matter nor energy

A

Energy only.

Mechanical waves, such as sound and water waves, are a local oscillation of material. Only the energy propagates; the oscillating material does not move far from its initial equilibrium position.

179
Q

What is beta decay?

A

Ejection of a high-speed electron/positron.

180
Q

What is gamma decay?

A

Release of high energy electromagnetic wave.

181
Q

What is an alpha particle?

A

Weakest form of radiation. Can be stopped by a sheet of paper. Essentially a low-speed helium nucleus.

182
Q

What is a beta particle?

A

More energy than an alpha particle. Can be stopped by aluminum foil. High speed electron. (Or positron)

183
Q

What is a gamma ray?

A

Strongest form of radiation. High Energy electromagnetic wave. Can be stopped by a hick layer of lead or concrete.

184
Q

Equation for half life

A
185
Q

When something is stable, does it decay?

A

No

186
Q

The more unstable something is, the shorter/longer the half life

A

The more unstable something is, the shorter the half life

187
Q

For exponential decay, a semi-log plot is a straight line with a ____ slope.

The semi-log plot intercepts the x-axis where the original y value is ___.

A

For exponential decay, a semi-log plot is a straight line with a negative slope.

The semi-log plot intercepts the x-axis where the original y value is 1.

188
Q

What is fusion?

A

Two nuclei coming together.

(The sun works by fusion- hydrogen fuses to form helium)

189
Q

Mnucleons=?

A

Mnucleons=Matom+binding energy/c2

Mnucleons>Matom because some is converted to binding energy

190
Q

What is the equation for mass deficit?

A

ΔM=Mnucleons-Matom

(Also called mass defect)

191
Q

Convert mass deficit into binding energy

A

Binding energy = ΔMc2

(Energy liberated is binding energy)

192
Q

Equation for Energy with respect to mass and speed of light

A

E=mc2

193
Q

Energy is liberated when mass is ___ during a reaction.

Energy is absorbed when mass is ___ during a reaction.

A

Energy is liberated when mass is lost during a reaction.

Energy is absorbed when mass is gained during a reaction.

194
Q

Binding energy

A
  • Nuclear binding energy (binds nucleons together)
  • The Strong Force
195
Q

Binding energy per nucleon is strongest for ___ and weakest for ___.

A

Strongest: Iron (Fe 56)

Weakest: Deuterium (2-nucleon isotope of hydrogen)

196
Q
A
197
Q

Equation for current?

Direction of current?

Unit?

A

I=ΔQ/Δt

Direction = flow of positive charge

Unit = C/s

198
Q

What is emf?

A
  • Electromotive force, a potential difference, unit: V
  • Battery is a source of emf
  • Battery w/o internal resistance has potential difference = EMF
  • Battery w/ internal resistance: potential difference = EMF - voltage drop
199
Q

What is terminal potential?

A

the voltage across the terminals of a battery.

Terminal potential = EMF -IRinternal

200
Q

Ohm’s Law

A

V=IR

201
Q

Resistors in SERIES

A

Iseries=I1=I2=I3

Vseries=V1+V2+V3

202
Q

Resistors in Parallel

A

Vparallel=V1=V2=V3

Iparallel=I1+I2+I3

203
Q

Resistivity

A
  • ρ = RA/L
  • Inverse of conductivity
  • Greater resistivity = greater internal resistance
204
Q

Resistance fo a wire

A

R = ρL/A

205
Q

Capacitance

A

C=Q/V=εA/d

206
Q

Equation for voltage across a capacitor

A

V=Ed

207
Q

Energy of a charged capacitor

A

U = Q2/2C = ½QΔV = ½C(ΔV)2

208
Q

Capacitors in series? in parallel?

A

Series:

1/Ceq = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3

Parallel:

Ceq = C1+ C2 + C3

209
Q

What is a dielectric?

A

Nonconducting material.

Inserting a dielectric between the plates of a capacitor increases the capacitance by either increasing Q, or decrasing V.

V = V0/κ

C = κC0

210
Q

Charge a capacitor through a resistor

A
211
Q

Discharge of a capacitor through a resistor

A
212
Q

What is conductivity affected by?

A
  • Electrolyte concentration
  • Temp
    • conductivity decreases when metal temp increases, conductivity increases when semi-conductor temp increases
    • Extremely low temperatures= superconductivity = 0 resistance
213
Q

Conductivity (σ) is the inverse of ___.

A

Resistivity.

214
Q

Power in circuits

A

P=IV=I2R

215
Q

Root-mean-square current and voltage

A

Irms = Imax/√2 = 0.7 Imax

Vrms= Vmax/√2 = 0.7 Vmax

Vrms = IrmsR

216
Q
A

MCAT Physical Sciences (2 decks)

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