Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

MCAT > Physics 2 > Flashcards

Physics 2 Flashcards

1
Q

torque

A

T = Fl

T = mgl

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

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

kinetic energy

A

KE = 1/2 m v^2

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

gravitational potential energy

A

PE gravitational = m g h

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

elastic potential energy

A

PE elastic = 1/2 k x^2

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

electrical potential energy

A

PE electrical = (k q1 q2) / r

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

potential energy stored in a capacitor

A

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

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

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

heat energy

A

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

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

internal energy vs heat energy

A

often used interchangeably on the MCAT

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

chemical energy

A

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

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

mechanical energy

A

ME = PE + KE

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

work

A

W = ΔEnergy

W = Fdcosθ

W = Favg d

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

first law of thermodynamics

A

ΔE = W + Q

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

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

machines

A

never reduce the amount of work done

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

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

ramps

A

Fm = mg (h/d)

h = height of ramp

d = distance along ramp’s hypotenuse

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

levers

A

Fm = mg (L1/L2)

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

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

hydraulic lifts

A

Fm = mg (h1/h2)

Fm = mg (A2/A1)

h1 A1 = large plunger

h2 A2 = small plunger

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

power

A
  1. P = ΔE / t
  2. P = W / t
  3. P = Fdcosθ / t
  4. Pi = Fvcosθ
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

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

equipotential lines

A

perpendicular to field lines

represent areas of equal voltage (electric potential)

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

electric force

A

constant E field → F = qE

point charge E field → F = kqq / r^2

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

electric field

A

constant E field → E = F/q or E = V/d

point charge E field → E = kq / r^2

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

electric potential energy

A

constant E field → PE = qEd

point charge E field → PE = kqq / r

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
magnetism
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)
26
magnetic force
F = qvBsinθ
27
magnetic field right hand rule
thumb = direction of current curled fingers = magnetic field
28
magnetic force right hand rule
fingers = magnetic field thumb = velocity palm = magnetic force
29
current
flows opposite direction of e- flow I = Δq / Δt amount of charge (e-) that flows past a fixed point per unit time
30
resistance vs temperature
conductors: ↑ temperature (above room temperature) → ↑ resistivity semiconductors: ↑ temperature (above room temperature) → ↓ resistivity
31
Ohm's law
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
32
resistance
R = pL / A p = resistivity L = length A = cross-sectional area \*\*\* not dependent on current or charge
33
potential energy capacitor
PE = 1/2 C V^2 \*\*\* use C = QV to solve for missing variable
34
dielectric
substance between two plates of capacitor \*\*\* always an insulator ↑ dielectric strength → ↑ capacitance
35
capacitance
C = Q / V
36
plate area vs capacitance
↑ plate area → ↑ capacitance more surface area on inside of plate to store e-
37
plate thickness vs capacitance
plate thickness has no effect on capacitance → e- line up on inside surface of plates
38
distance vs capacitance
↑ distance between plates → ↓ capacitance increased distance → increases voltage for a given Q on plates → decreases capacitance
39
voltage vs capacitance
↑ voltage has no effect on capacitance ↑ voltage increases charge stored but doesn't increase capacitance (charge stored per voltage)
40
resistors in series and parallel
series: Rt = R1 + R2 + R3 parallel: 1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3
41
capacitors in series and parallel
series: 1/Ct = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3 parallel: Ct = C1 + C2 + C3
42
batteries in series and parallel
series: Vt = V1 + V2 + V3 (current and capacity (Ah) stay constant) parallel: add current/capacity (voltage stays constant)
43
Ohm's law across single resistor
voltage drop across that resistor = (current through that resistor) x (resistance of that resistor)
44
intensity
power per unit area units: W / m^2 I ∝ A^2 f^2 for light waves: I ∝ A^2
45
decibles
decible = 10 log (I/I0) I0 = threshold of human hearing, 1 x 10^-22 W/m^2
46
electromagnetic waves
no medium required, can propagate through vacuum, transfer energy and momentum through space transverse only
47
mechanical waves
require a medium, cannot propagate in a vacuum, transfer energy in direction of propagation transverse (require stiff medium) longitudinal (sound)
48
wave velocity
v = squareroot (elastic/inertial) string: v = squareroot (T/u) gas: v = squareroot (B/p) V proportional to squareroot of T
49
standing wave
no net transport of energy and doesn't propagate
50
beat frequency
occurs when two waves with close to the same frequency interfere f beat = I f1 - f2 I
51
color shifts
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
pitch vs frequency
similar, pitch = perceived higher pitch = higher frequency lower pitch = lower frequency
53
harmonics equations
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
harmonics characteristics
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
energy of a photon
E = h f combine with c = f λ
56
Young's double slit experiment
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
diffraction
tendency of light to spread out as it goes around a corner or through a slit
58
electromagnetic spectrum
longer wavelength = lower frequency = less energy shorter wavelength = higher frequency = more energy visible light = 390-700 nm
59
index of refraction
n = c / v n \> 1 → medium more dense than air
60
Snell's law
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
total internal reflection
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
images
virtual: no actual light emanating from or reaching the image real: there is actual light at the image
63
mirrors
concave and convex mirrors follow the same rules as their respective lens
64
mirror equation
f = 1/2 r r = radius of curvature (distance from mirror to center of curvature)
65
thin lens equation
1/f = 1/di + 1/d0 \*\*\* can use for mirrors too
66
magnification
M = -di/d0 = hi/h0
67
lens/mirror rules
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
far-sighted
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
near-sighted
(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
two lens systems
M = m1 m2 P = P1 + P2 \*\*\* image formed by first lens becomes object for second lens
71
converging lens
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
diverging lens
always produces a negative, virtual, upright image \*\*\* always negative focal length (in front of lens)
73
optical power
P = 1 / f \*\*\* ciliary muscle flexing → increased curvature → shorter focal length → increased power diopter = 1 / f (m)
74
aberration
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
e- charge
e- = 1.6 x 10^-19 C
76
electrical power
P = IV
77
voltage
(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
Doppler effect
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
critical angle
θC = arcsin(n2/n1)

MCAT (15 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions