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MCAT > Physics 2 > Flashcards

Physics 2 Flashcards

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MCAT flashcards
1
Q

torque

A

T = Fl

T = mgl

T = Frsinθ → have to use when force isn’t applied at 90°

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2
Q

kinetic energy

A

KE = 1/2 m v^2

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3
Q

gravitational potential energy

A

PE gravitational = m g h

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4
Q

elastic potential energy

A

PE elastic = 1/2 k x^2

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5
Q

electrical potential energy

A

PE electrical = (k q1 q2) / r

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6
Q

potential energy stored in a capacitor

A

PE capacitor = 1/2 C V^2 = 1/2 Q V = (Q^2) / 2 C

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7
Q

internal energy

A

energy of internal vibrations and random motions of atoms/molecules

occur when non-conservative forces act on a moving object and cause conversion of some kinetic energy into internal energy

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8
Q

heat energy

A

energy dissipated as heat, usually dissipated from collision or in a current carrying wire

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9
Q

internal energy vs heat energy

A

often used interchangeably on the MCAT

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10
Q

chemical energy

A

energy contained within chemical bonds or energy stored / released due to separation and/or flow of e-

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11
Q

mechanical energy

A

ME = PE + KE

*** always conserved except in presence of non-conservative forces

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12
Q

work

A

W = ΔEnergy

W = Fdcosθ

W = Favg d

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13
Q

first law of thermodynamics

A

ΔE = W + Q

energy change is not always due to work, some is lost as heat

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14
Q

machines

A

never reduce the amount of work done

only change amount of force required to perform a given amount of work

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15
Q

ramps

A

Fm = mg (h/d)

h = height of ramp

d = distance along ramp’s hypotenuse

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16
Q

levers

A

Fm = mg (L1/L2)

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17
Q

pulleys

A

Fm = mg / (# of ropes directly lifting the mass)

of ropes directly lifting the mass = must lift the mass directly or lift a pulley that is attached to the mass

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18
Q

hydraulic lifts

A

Fm = mg (h1/h2)

Fm = mg (A2/A1)

h1 A1 = large plunger

h2 A2 = small plunger

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19
Q

power

A
  1. P = ΔE / t
  2. P = W / t
  3. P = Fdcosθ / t
  4. Pi = Fvcosθ
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20
Q

electric field lines

A

tails at positive charge, pointing to negative charge

represent current flow (opposite of e- flow)

closer lines = stronger field

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21
Q

equipotential lines

A

perpendicular to field lines

represent areas of equal voltage (electric potential)

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22
Q

electric force

A

constant E field → F = qE

point charge E field → F = kqq / r^2

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23
Q

electric field

A

constant E field → E = F/q or E = V/d

point charge E field → E = kq / r^2

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24
Q

electric potential energy

A

constant E field → PE = qEd

point charge E field → PE = kqq / r

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25
Q

magnetism

A

analogous to electricity ( + → north, - → south, field lines move north → south)

changing electric fields create magnetic fields and changing magnetic fields create electric fields

magnetic fields created by currents (moving charges)

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26
Q

magnetic force

A

F = qvBsinθ

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27
Q

magnetic field right hand rule

A

thumb = direction of current

curled fingers = magnetic field

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28
Q

magnetic force right hand rule

A

fingers = magnetic field

thumb = velocity

palm = magnetic force

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29
Q

current

A

flows opposite direction of e- flow

I = Δq / Δt

amount of charge (e-) that flows past a fixed point per unit time

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30
Q

resistance vs temperature

A

conductors: ↑ temperature (above room temperature) → ↑ resistivity
semiconductors: ↑ temperature (above room temperature) → ↓ resistivity

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31
Q

Ohm’s law

A

V = IR

*** if current is held constant and voltage increases, resistance doesn’t automatically increase, you would need to add more resistors to keep current constant

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32
Q

resistance

A

R = pL / A

p = resistivity

L = length

A = cross-sectional area

*** not dependent on current or charge

33
Q

potential energy capacitor

A

PE = 1/2 C V^2

*** use C = QV to solve for missing variable

34
Q

dielectric

A

substance between two plates of capacitor

*** always an insulator

↑ dielectric strength → ↑ capacitance

35
Q

capacitance

A

C = Q / V

36
Q

plate area vs capacitance

A

↑ plate area → ↑ capacitance

more surface area on inside of plate to store e-

37
Q

plate thickness vs capacitance

A

plate thickness has no effect on capacitance → e- line up on inside surface of plates

38
Q

distance vs capacitance

A

↑ distance between plates → ↓ capacitance

increased distance → increases voltage for a given Q on plates → decreases capacitance

39
Q

voltage vs capacitance

A

↑ voltage has no effect on capacitance

↑ voltage increases charge stored but doesn’t increase capacitance (charge stored per voltage)

40
Q

resistors in series and parallel

A

series: Rt = R1 + R2 + R3
parallel: 1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3

41
Q

capacitors in series and parallel

A

series: 1/Ct = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3
parallel: Ct = C1 + C2 + C3

42
Q

batteries in series and parallel

A

series: Vt = V1 + V2 + V3 (current and capacity (Ah) stay constant)
parallel: add current/capacity (voltage stays constant)

43
Q

Ohm’s law across single resistor

A

voltage drop across that resistor = (current through that resistor) x (resistance of that resistor)

44
Q

intensity

A

power per unit area

units: W / m^2

I ∝ A^2 f^2

for light waves: I ∝ A^2

45
Q

decibles

A

decible = 10 log (I/I0)

I0 = threshold of human hearing, 1 x 10^-22 W/m^2

46
Q

electromagnetic waves

A

no medium required, can propagate through vacuum, transfer energy and momentum through space

transverse only

47
Q

mechanical waves

A

require a medium, cannot propagate in a vacuum, transfer energy in direction of propagation

transverse (require stiff medium)

longitudinal (sound)

48
Q

wave velocity

A

v = squareroot (elastic/inertial)

string: v = squareroot (T/u)
gas: v = squareroot (B/p) V proportional to squareroot of T

49
Q

standing wave

A

no net transport of energy and doesn’t propagate

50
Q

beat frequency

A

occurs when two waves with close to the same frequency interfere

f beat = I f1 - f2 I

51
Q

color shifts

A

Doppler effect causes a perceived increase in frequency → white light will shift blue (perceived decrease in wavelength)

Doppler effect causes a perceived decrease in frequency → white light will shift red (perceived increase in wavelength)

52
Q

pitch vs frequency

A

similar, pitch = perceived

higher pitch = higher frequency

lower pitch = lower frequency

53
Q

harmonics equations

A

L = nλ/2 (string or pipe with matching ends—both nodes, or both antinodes) → gives all harmonics

L = nλ/4 (one node and one antinode; e.g., pipe open at one end only) → gives only odd harmonics

54
Q

harmonics characteristics

A

the frequency of the first harmonic is called the “fundamental frequency

the frequency of any harmonic is equal to n*fundamental frequency

the 1st overtone is NOT the same as the 1st harmonic → second harmonic is the 1st overtone, the third harmonic is the 2nd overtone…

for oscillators with matching ends, the wavelength of the second harmonic equals the length of the string/pipe → λ = L

55
Q

energy of a photon

A

E = h f

combine with c = f λ

56
Q

Young’s double slit experiment

A

x = λL / d

x = distance between fringes

λ = wavelength of light used

d = distance between the two slits

L = distance between the double slit and the screen

57
Q

diffraction

A

tendency of light to spread out as it goes around a corner or through a slit

58
Q

electromagnetic spectrum

A

longer wavelength = lower frequency = less energy

shorter wavelength = higher frequency = more energy

visible light = 390-700 nm

59
Q

index of refraction

A

n = c / v

n > 1 → medium more dense than air

60
Q

Snell’s law

A

n1 sinθ1 = n2 sinθ2

*** frequency stays the same as it passes through different mediums, velocity and wavelength change

↓ n = ↑ velocity = ↑ wavelength

↑ n = ↓ velocity = ↓ wavelength

61
Q

total internal reflection

A

light must be passing from a higher-index medium to a lower-index medium

critical angle = angle of incidence where angle of refraction would be 90°

62
Q

images

A

virtual: no actual light emanating from or reaching the image
real: there is actual light at the image

63
Q

mirrors

A

concave and convex mirrors follow the same rules as their respective lens

64
Q

mirror equation

A

f = 1/2 r

r = radius of curvature (distance from mirror to center of curvature)

65
Q

thin lens equation

A

1/f = 1/di + 1/d0

*** can use for mirrors too

66
Q

magnification

A

M = -di/d0 = hi/h0

67
Q

lens/mirror rules

A
  1. object distances (d0) are always +
  2. image distances (di) or focal point distances (f) are always + if they are on the same side as the observer and - if they are on the opposite side from the observer
  3. observer and object are on same side for mirror, observer and object are on opposite sides for lens
  4. PRI / NVU

*** apply to single-lens systems only

68
Q

far-sighted

A

hyperopia

can focus clearly on distant objects, not on close objects

image forms behind retina

eye too short / lens too weak

correct with converging (convex) lens

69
Q

near-sighted

A

(myopia)

able to focus clearly on close objects, not on distant objects

image formed in front of retina

eye too long / lens too strong

correct with diverging (concave) lens

70
Q

two lens systems

A

M = m1 m2

P = P1 + P2

*** image formed by first lens becomes object for second lens

71
Q

converging lens

A

usually produces a positive, real, inverted image

object is inside focal point → produces a negative, virtual, upright image

*** focal length is always positive (behind lens)

72
Q

diverging lens

A

always produces a negative, virtual, upright image

*** always negative focal length (in front of lens)

73
Q

optical power

A

P = 1 / f

*** ciliary muscle flexing → increased curvature → shorter focal length → increased power

diopter = 1 / f (m)

74
Q

aberration

A

spherical aberration = light rays at ends of lens get bent more than ones closer to center

chromatic aberration = some colors get bent more than others (different index of refraction) → red gets bent less, blue gets bent more

75
Q

e- charge

A

e- = 1.6 x 10^-19 C

76
Q

electrical power

A

P = IV

77
Q

voltage

A

(electric potential)

amount of work necessary to move a charge against an electric field

Voltage = Joules / Coulomb

constant E field → V = Ed

point charge E field → V = kq/r

78
Q

Doppler effect

A

Δf / fs = v / c

Δλ / λs = v / c

c light = 3 x 10^8 m/s

c sound = 340 m/s

s = source

v = relative velocity

*** the greater the relative velocity the greater the shift of frequency/wavelength

79
Q

critical angle

A

θC = arcsin(n2/n1)

MCAT (15 decks)

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