MCAT Physics

Displacement is the change in position independent of path length

Distance is the length of the path

Average velocity is displacement over time

Average speed is distance over time

Acceleration is v/t

• W=Fdcosθ
• Wnet=ΔKE
• If force is perpendicular to displacement, work is zero
• Power = W/t or Fvcosθ

• KE=1/2*mv^2
• PE=mgh
• E=PE+KE
• W(total)=ΔKE
• KE+PE(initial)=KE+PE(final)
• Increase distance causes a lower force

• p=mv
• J=F(average)t=Δp
• p(initial)=p(final)
• KE(initial)=KE(final)
• KE(initial) doesn't = KE(final)
• Objects stick and move together

A body in motion is stay in motion (same for rest) unless acted upon by a net force

A body will be accelerated in the same direction of the net force applied to it (F=ma)

All forces are equal and opposite in direction

All matter experience attractive force 

0≤f_s≤μ_sF_N

f_k=μ_kF_N

A_c=v²/r

F_c=mv²/r

X_cm=(m₁x₁+m₂x₂+...)/(m₁+m₂+...)

τ=rFsinθ=lF

r₁mgsinθ=r₂Fsinθ

ρ=m/V

ρ_substance/ρ_water

ρgV

P=F/A

• Absolute pressure = atmospheric pressure (typically 10⁵ Pa) + ρgh
• Gauge pressure = absolute pressure-P_atm

F_b=ρgVsubmerged

Fractions of floating object that is submerged = ρ_object/ρ_fluid

A₁v₁=A₂v₂

P+1/2ρv²+ρgh (for state 1)=P+1/2ρv²+ρgh

ΔP=A₁F₂=A₂F₁ and W=F₁h1=F₂h₂



velocity inverse with area and pressure

F=kq₁q₂/d²


E=F/q=kq/d2

• V=kq/d
• U=qΔV=kq1q2/d

Current is the flow of electric charge; opposite of electron flow, electrons flow from negative terminal through circuit to positive terminal)

V=IR

P=IV=I²R=V²/R

R_eq=R₁+R₂+R₃+...

I=I₁=I₂=I₃=...

V=V₁+V₂+V₃+...

R_eq=(R₁+R₂+R₃+...)^-1

I=I₁+I₂+I₃+...

V=V₁=V₂=V₃=...

C=Q/V (farad)

PE=1/2QV=1/2CV²=1/2Q²/C

Adding dielectric increases capacitance

Series: C_eq=(C₁+C₂+C₃+...)^-1

Parallel: C_eq=C₁+C₂+C₃+...

F_B=qvBsinθ (fingers in B, thumb in v, palm is F_B)

qvB=mv²/r

F_B=ILBsinθ (thumb points in direction of current, fingers curl in B)

B=μ₀I₁I₂/d (Tesla)

T=seconds/cycle

f=1/T or cycles/second

ω=2πf

Period and frequency are independent of amplitude

F_s=-kx, PE=1/2kx², 

Equilibrium: v is max, a = 0, KE is max, PE=0

Amplitude: v=0, a is max, KE=0, PE is max

v=fλ

Young's Modulus = (F*L₀)/(A*ΔL)



String: λ_n=2L/n (n=1,2,3...)

Open pipe: λ_n=2L/n (n=1,2,3...)

Closed pipe: λ_n=4L/n (n=1,3,5...)

higher density = lower resistance to compression = lower spreed



f_beat=|f₁-f₂|

 (Vo is + if observer moves toward source; Vs is - if source moves toward observer, + on top and - on bottom if both coming closer)

• lights is an electromagnetic wave that does not need a medium
• wsinθ=nλ (n=1,2,3...)
• n=c/v
• n1sinθ1=n2sinθ2 (n2>n1 light bends toward normal)

Spherical: Real images formed on same side as object; virtual images formed on side opposite of object

• Concave: f=r/2, CCMIBEV (ConCave Mirror Inside focal length image is Behind mirror, Enlarged, and Virtual)
• Convex: f=-r/2, CVMVUO (ConVex Mirror Virtual Upright Only)

Converging: f is positive, CVLBRI (ConVerging Lens Beyond focal point image is Real and Inverted) Diverging: f is negative, DVLVSSO (DiVerging Lens Virtual Image Only Same-side Smaller )

1/f=1/do + 1/di

m=-i/o

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