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MCAT by TD :) > Physics MCAT > Flashcards

Physics MCAT Flashcards

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MCAT flashcards
1
Q

4 major kinematic equations

A
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2
Q

Acceleration of centripetal force

A

a = (v^2)/r

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3
Q

Centripetal force

A

The force that is responsible for rotational motion. This can be gravity (orbital) or force of tension that the string exerts on the mass (the mass is tied to a string and swung around).

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4
Q

Definition of torque

A

Rotational force, caused by a force applied to a lever arm at a certain distance from an object capable of rotating.

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5
Q

Formula to calculate torque

A

t = Fdsin(θ); with θ is the angle btw the lever arm and the force applied.

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6
Q

Definition of Force

A

An interaction that can cause an object (mass) to accelerate.
F = ma
Unit: N or kg*(m/s^2)

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7
Q

Definition of Work

A

The transfer of energy that occurs when an object is moved with a certain displacement.
Unit: Joule (J) = N*m

W = F*d
Angle btw applied force and direction of movement

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8
Q

Conservative force

A

Path-independent; the amount of work done by a conservative force does NOT depend on its path. Care abt displacement only!
Ex: gravitation, spring force, electromagnetic force,…

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9
Q

Non-conservative force

A
  • dissipate energy
  • path-dependent
    Ex: friction, air resistance, viscosity
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10
Q

PV Work (another equation for work)

A

Assume constant pressure, Work a gas does against piston to expand its container.
W = External pressure * Change in V
W = P * delta(V)

If pressure changes, Work = area under the curve of graph of pressure (y-axis) and volume (x-axis).

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11
Q

Mechanical advantage

A

Allows us to deploy less force, but does not do less work!
We apply less force than it would otherwise be necessary to perform a certain amount of work.
Ex: seesaw, inclined plane, pulley, lever

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12
Q

General formula of mechanical advantage

A
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13
Q

Mechanical advantage for inclined plane

A

Mechanical advantage = Length of incline / Height of incline

Mechanical advantage > 1. If = 1, no mechanical advantage.

The more angle increases, the more we shorten length of incline. So it decreases overall mechanical advantage

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14
Q

Power

A

Power = the rate at which work is done; work per unit of time
- More quickly, more powerful

P = W / delta(t)
Unit: watts (W) = J/s

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15
Q

Power of an object maintaining a constant velocity despite a force opposing that motion

A
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16
Q

Formula of gravitation force and spring force

A
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17
Q

Kinetic energy

A

All objects in motion have kinetic E

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18
Q

Formula of Gravitational and Elastic potential energy

A
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19
Q

Conservation of energy

A
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20
Q

Conservation of Energy for non-ideal system

A

When a system loses energy to environment, it’s due to non-conservative forces (friction, air resistance)

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21
Q

Work-Energy theorem

A

The work performed on or by an object is equal to the change of its kinetic energy.
- In an ideal system, the magnitude of work done by object A on object B equals the magnitude of work done by object B on object A.

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22
Q

What does (+) work mean?

A

+ Work done on an object by its environment
+ Increase object’s energy
+ Energy put into a system

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23
Q

What does (-) work mean?

A
  • Work done by object on its environment
  • Decrease object’s energy
  • Energy taken out of a system
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24
Q

Convert Celsius degree to Kelvin

A

Celsius = ( T + 273) K

O C = 273 K

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25
Q

Relationship btw Celsius and Fahrenheit

A

oF = (9/5) C + 32

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26
Q

Reduction potential

A

Tendency to undergo reduction (willingness to gain electrons)

More positive value, greater tendency to gain electron

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27
Q

Cathode and Anode

A

Red Cat And Ox
Cathode is where REDUCTION takes place
Anode is where OXIDATION takes place

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28
Q

Calculate reduction potential of a cell (Ecell)

A

Ecell = Ecathode - Eanode
Unit: V

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29
Q

T/F
Reduction potential of galvanic (voltanic) cell is always positive so that its redox rnx is spontaneous.

A

True

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30
Q

Calculate specific gravity (SG)

A

SG = Density of objection / Density of fluid

SG > 1 -> Obj sinks
SG = 1 -> Obj in equilibrium with fluid
SG < 1 -> Obj floats

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31
Q

Doppler effect

A

When a sound source is approaching an observer, the perceived frequency of the sound increases, resulting higher pitch. This is because the sound waves are compressed as the source moves closer, causing the wavelengths to appear shorter.

When a sound source is moving away from an observer, the perceived frequency of the sound decreases, resulting lower pitch.

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32
Q

Define current (I)

A

Current = the rate of flow of electric charge. Current flows from (+) pt to (-) pt of voltage.

I = q / t

Unit: A = C/s

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33
Q

Define Voltage (V)

A

Voltage = the electric potential difference btw 2 pts

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34
Q

Ohm’s Law

A

V = I*R

V: voltage
I: current
R: resistance

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35
Q

Calculate resistance (R)

A
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36
Q

Calculate Power

A

P = I*V
Unit: Watts (W)

37
Q

A circuit with resistors R wired in SERIES:

A
38
Q

A circuit with resistors R wired in PARALLEL

A
39
Q

How to wire ammeter to measure current

A

An ammeter is wired in series into a circuit.
Ideal ammeter has 0 resistance.

40
Q

How to wire voltmeter to measure voltage

A

A voltmeter is wired in parallel into a circuit.
Ideal voltmeter has extremely high resistance.

41
Q

What is an idealized capacitor?

A
  • Capacitor is for storing charges.
  • Consist of 2 parallel conductive plates separated by a non-conductive, insulating material (dielectric material).
  • Capacitor creates uniform electric field (E)
42
Q

Capacitance

A

The degree to which a capacitor can store charges

Capacitance C = Q / V
or Q = C * V

Unit: Farad (F)
F = C / V

43
Q

Calculate capacitance based on area and distance

A
44
Q

Dielectric constant k and modified capacitance C’

A
45
Q

Electric field (E)

A

Direction: same as the direction of positive test charge movement; from positive to negative

Strength of electric field

46
Q

Potential energy (PE) of capacitor

A
47
Q

Capacitors wired in SERIES

A
48
Q

Capacitors in PARALLEL

A
49
Q

Gases deviate from ideal gas behavior at a

A

Low T and high pressure

50
Q

General formula to calculate mechanical advantage (MA)

A
51
Q

Which force keeps protons together in the nucleus? (overcome repulsive force btw same-charge particles)

A

Strong nuclear force

52
Q

Binding energy of a nucleus

A

A potential energy
- the minimum amount of energy required to disassemble nucleons
- how much less potential E the whole nucleus has compared to the sum of its individual components

53
Q

Calculate binding energy of nucleus

A
54
Q

Mass defect

A

The difference btw predicted mass and actual mass.

  • Principle of mass energy equivalence: some of the subatomic particles’ mass is converted into energy. That is why the actual mass is lower than the predicted mass.
55
Q

de Broglie equation (Planck const, wavelength, mass and velocity)

A
56
Q

Heisenberg uncertainty principle

A

The more precisely we know about the position of a particle, the less precisely we know abt its momentum.

  • Provide the answer why electrons dont collapse into the nucleus
57
Q

Photoelectric effect

A

A substance (usually metal) emits electrons in response to a beam of photons being shined onto it. The energy of incident photons is absorbed by the material and excites electrons to the point that they are ejected from their atoms.

Note: Frequency-dependent (threshold frequency) for this effect to occur

58
Q

Calculate energy of a photon

A
59
Q

Work function in photoelectric effect

A

The minimum amount of energy needed to expel an electron from an atom of a substance.

60
Q

What if a metal is hit by a photon carrying more energy than the bare minimum necessary to eject the electron?

A

Extra energy can go towards the kinetic energy of the electron

61
Q

T/F
Intensity of light corresponds to the number of photons in that light

A

True

62
Q

Rydberg equation

A

R is Rydberg constant

63
Q

In which condition (energy level) does energy (photon) is absorbed?

A

When an electron is being excited to a higher energy level
Ex: from n = 1 to n = 2

64
Q

In which condition (energy level) does energy (photon) is released/ emitted?

A

When an electron is dropping back down to a lower energy level

Ex: from n = 3 to n = 2

65
Q

5 main types of radioactive decay

A
66
Q

Radioactive decay formula
(The amount of material remaining at time t)

A
67
Q

The fraction of material remaining after n half-lives

A
68
Q

Alpha decay

A

Alpha particle (helium nuclei) is emitted.

69
Q

Beta-minus decay

A

Neutron is converted into a proton, so the atomic number increases by 1: Z + 1
An electron is ejected to maintain charge balance

70
Q

Beta-plus decay

A

Proton is converted into a neutron, so atomic number decreases by 1: Z - 1

a positron (e+)/ beta-plus particle is emitted to preserve charge.

71
Q

Gamma decay

A

Emit gamma ray (light), which is a high-energy photon, from an excited nucleus
No atomic number or atomic mass change.

72
Q

Electron capture

A

Nucleus grabs an electron, changing a proton into a neutron.
Atomic weight stays the same, but atomic number Z decreases by 1: Z - 1

73
Q

Calculate remain and how much sample is lost, knowing numbers of half-lives n

A
74
Q

Calculate reduction potential Ecell

A
75
Q

Spring-related formula: Fspring, PEelastic, periodic motion

A
76
Q

Kinetic energy and root mean square of velocity

A
77
Q

1st law of thermodynamics

A

Total energy in an isolated system is constant.

78
Q

The change in entropy due to a reversible process

A
79
Q

Conduction

A

Heat is directly transferred btw 2 substances placed in direct contact with each other, mediated through the transfer of kinetic energy from the particles of one substance to those of the other.

80
Q

Convection

A

Direct transfer of kinetic energy/ heat transfer from one substance to another due to the circulation of fluids.

81
Q

Radiation in thermodynamics

A

Energy is transferred via electromagnetic waves; not require direct contact btw 2 substances.

82
Q

Thermal expansion

A

Heating a substance generally causes it to expand.
Exception: ice is less dense than water.

83
Q

Formula for linear expansion and volume expansion

A
84
Q

Work in terms of pressure and change of volume

A
85
Q

2nd law of thermodynamics

A
86
Q

Why must the person either lean forward or slide their feet under the chair to stand up?

A

To keep the body in equilibrium while rising.

87
Q

Venturi effect

A

The reduction in fluid pressure that results when a fluid flows through a constricted section of a pipe.

88
Q

Example of Venturi Effect

A

MCAT by TD :) (5 decks)

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