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Important Physics Formulas for MCAT Flashcards

Physics formulas vital to have memorized for MCAT examination. These are taken from "ExamKrackers" MCAT Physics review.

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446261121This equation can describe velocity or speed. When d represents distance, the equation describes speed. When d represents displacement, v is equal to velocity.0
446261122This equation describes acceleration, which is the change in velocity, or displacement/ unit time, per unit time. SI units are in m/s^21
447980776This equation requires constant acceleration to hold true. x is displacement, v is velocity, t is time, and a is the acceleration.2
447980777This equation requires constant acceleration to hold true. v is velocity, a is acceleration, and t is time.3
447980778This equation requires constant acceleration to hold true. v is velocity, a is acceleration, x is displacement.4
447980779This equation requires constant acceleration to hold true. v(avg) is average velocity, v(o) is original velocity, v is current velocity.5
447980780This equation requires constant acceleration to hold true. v is velocity, g is gravitational acceleration (9.8m/s/s) and h is height fallen.6
449101852This equation describes an object moving in a circle at a constant speed v which experiences a centripetal acceleration a(c) that is proportional to the square of its speed and inversely proportional to the radius of the circle which is circumscribes.7
449101853This equation describes the centripetal force applied to an object to give it a certain centripetal acceleration.8
449101854This equation describes the force due to gravity on two objects of masses m(1) and m(2) at a distance r. G is the gravitational constant.9
449101855This equation is Hooke's law, which describes the force generated when an object is deformed. k is the spring constant unique to the specific object, and x is the displacement from the rest position.10
449101856This equation describes the force which acts on an object directly down the plane of an inclined plane when gravity is the only force on that object.11
449101857This equation describes the normal force which acts on an object on an inclined plane when gravity is the only force on that object.12
449101858This equation describes the force on an object due to kinetic friction. Note, in order for friction to kinetic, both plane of the objects MUST be SLIDING past each other. This means cars tires do NOT experience kinetic friction.13
449101859This equation describes static friction acting between two objects which are stationary due to each other. This force must be overcome to slide the objects past each other.14
449101860This is Newton's second law, stating that the Force (net force) on an object is proportional to is mass and acceleration.15
449101861This equation describes power. P is power, E is energy, and t is time.16
449101862This equation describes power. P is power, F is force, v is velocity, and theta is the angle between F and v.17
449142695This equation describes elastic potential energy. k is the spring constant, x is displacement.18
449142696This equation describes gravitational potential energy. m is mass, g is gravitational acceleration, and h is height.19
449142697This equation describes kinetic energy.20
449142698This equation describe torque. Tau is torque, F is the force, and l is the lever arm (direction of force perpendicular to the axis of rotation.21
449142699This equation describes work. F is force, d is distance, and theta is the angle between the force and displacement.22
449142700This equation describes total work when no heat is gained or lost. K is kinetic energy, U is potential energy, and E(i) is internal energy.23
449142701This equation describes impulse.24
449142702This equation describes momentum25
449142703This equation describes rest mass energy.26
449470238This equation describes fluid density. Rho is density, m is mass, and V is volume. Unit are usually Kg/m^3.27
449470239This equation describes pressure due to a liquid at rest. P is pressure, F is force, and A is area.28
449470240This equation describes the S.G. of a fluid. The S.G of water is 1. Fluids with higher S.G than 1 are more dense than water.29
449470241This equation describes pressure due to a colummn of fluid at rest. P is pressure, rho is density, g is the gravitational constant, and y is the height of the column.30
449470242This equation describe the buoyant force on an object immersed in a fluid.Rho is the density of the fluid, V is the volume of fluid displaced by object, and g is gravitational acceleration.31
449470243This equation describes volume flow rate. Q is rate, A is area, v is velocity of the fluid.32
449470244Thisis bernoullis equation. K is a constant, P is pressure, rho is density, v is velocity, g is gravitational acceleration, and h is height.33
449470245This equation describes the velocity of a steam of water coming from a spigot at a height h below an open container of water. v is velocity, g is gravitational acceleration, and h is the height difference. Note for this equation to hold true, the spigot and container must be exposed to the same external pressure (atm)34
449470246Modulus of elasticity35
449608827This equation describes decibel levels.36
449608828This equation describes resonant frequency for a pipe open or closed at both ends, or a string with both ends tieddown37
449608829This equation describes beat frequency38
449608830This equation describes resonant frequency for a string tied at one end of a pipe open at one end39
449608831The doppler effect40
449608832The doppler effect41
449608833Velocity of electromagnetic radiation (c = 3 x 10^8)42
449608834Period of a wave43
449608835This equation describes the maximum voltage of an AC current. V(rms) is the root mean square voltage (120 in AC outlets)44
449608836This equation describes the maximum current of an AC circuit. I(rms) is the root mean square voltage.45
449608837This equation describes capacitance. C is capacitance in farads, Q is charge on the plates, V is voltage between the plates.46
449608838This equation describes potential energy of a capacitor47
449608839This equation describes potential energy of a capacitor48
449608840This equation describes potential energy of a capacitor49
449608841This equation describes the force on a charge q due to an electric field E50
449608842This equation describes the potential energy of a point charge in an electric field due to an electric force times displacement of the charge (arbitrary, similar to gravitational pot energy)51
449608843Voltage. E field strength times distance52
449608844Potential energy. Voltage times charge53
449608845Force due to two point charges with charge q1 and q2 and distance between them r54
449608846Potential energy due to two point charges55
449608847Electric field due to a point charge56
449608848Electric field due to a point charge57
449608849Magnetism. q = charge, v = velocity , B= mag field strength, theta = angle between v and B58
449608850Voltage = current times resistance59
449608851Power = current times voltage60
449608852Power = current squared times resistance61
449608853Power = voltage squared divided by resistance62
449823153This equation relates the speed of electromagnetic radiation, c, to its frequency and wavelength63
449823154This is the relative speed of light in a medium. C is speed of light in a vacuum.64
449823155This equation describes the energy of a photon.65
449823156This equation describes the refraction of a light wave when passing between two medium of different indices of refraction. Note, a higher index of refraction results in a lower speed in that medium.66
449823157Equation relating focal point of mirror to center of curvature.67
449823158The thin lens equation.68
449823159Lens power. (focal point)69
449823160Magnification70

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