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Kaplan Physics
MCAT Physics Flashcards
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Work-Energy Theorem | States that the net work performed on an object is related to its change in energy. In most applications, the work-energy theorem is used to relate work and kinetic energy. |
| Nonconservative Force | A force that dissipates mechanical energy from a system. As such, the energy dissipated depends on the path taken from initial to final position. Examples include friction, air resistance, and viscous drag. |
| Conservative Force | A force that does not cause dissipation of mechanical energy from a system. As such, the work performed is independent of the path taken. Examples include gravity and electrostatic forces. Elastic forces are nearly conservative. |
| Conservation of Mechanical Energy | States that when only conservative forces act on an object and work is done, energy is conserved and described by the equation: ΔE = ΔU + ΔK = 0. |
| Work | In mechanics, commonly calculated by the equation W = Fd cos θ, where F is the magnitude of the applied force, d is the magnitude of the displacement, and θ is the angle between these two vectors. The SI unit of work is the joule (J). |
| Gravitational Potential Energy | The energy of an object due to its height above a given datum, calculated by the equation U = mgh and given in the SI unit of joules (J). |
| First Law of Thermodynamics | States that the change in internal energy of a system is equal to the heat transferred into the system minus the work done by the system: ΔU = Q - W. An extension of the law of conservation of energy. |
| Elastic Potential Energy | The energy associated with stretching or compressing a spring, calculated by the equation U =1/2kx^2 and given in the SI unit of joules (J). |
| Wave Speed | The speed of a wave, which is related to its frequency and wavelength by the equation v = fλ. |
| Sound Level | The loudness of a sound, measured in decibels (dB) and denoted by β. Given by the equation β = 10 log (I/I₀) , where I is the intensity of the sound and I₀ is a reference intensity of 10⁻¹² |
| Wavelength | A quantity equal to the distance between any two equivalent consecutive points along a wave, such as two consecutive crests (peaks) or two consecutive troughs (valleys); expressed as λ. The SI unit of wavelength is the meter (m). |
| Frequency | Number of cycles per second measured in units of Hz, where 1 Hz = 1 cycle per second. |
| Dopple Effect | When a source emitting a sound and a detector receiving the sound move relative to each other, the perceived frequency f′ is less than or greater than the actual frequency emitted f f' = f((V+-Vd)/(V+-Vs)) |
| Kinetic Energy | The energy of an object in motion, calculated by the equation K = 1/2mv^2 and given in the SI unit of joules (J). |
| Heat of Transformation | The amount of heat required to change the phase of a substance, calculated by the equation q = mL , where q is heat, m is the mass of the substance, and L is the heat of transformation for that substance. |
| Heat of Vaporization | The heat of transformation corresponding to the solid-liquid phase change is called the heat of fusion; that corresponding to liquid-gas is called the heat of vaporization. |
| Second Law of Thermodynamics | States that for any process, the entropy of the universe either increases (for irreversible processes) or remains constant (for reversible processes). |
| Radiation | Form of heat transfer where the energy is carried by electromagnetic waves; the only form of heat transfer that can be carried out in a vacuum. |
| Heat Transfer | The movement of thermal energy toward a state of thermodynamic equilibrium. Heat spontaneously transfers energy from the object with the higher temperature to the object with the lower temperature. |
| Convection | Form of heat transfer where a heated fluid transfers energy by bulk flow and physical motion over another object, or a cooled fluid absorbs energy by the same means. |
| Conduction | Form of heat transfer where energy is transferred by molecular collisions or direct contact between two objects. |
| Direct Relationship | A relationship between variables such that an increase in one variable is associated with an increase in the other: AB = constant |
| Logarithm | A mathematical function that is the inverse of the exponentiation function. Logarithms with base ten are called common logarithms (log); logarithms with Euler's number (e ≈ 2.72) are called natural logarithms (ln) |
| Inverse Relationship | A relationship between variables such that an increase in one variable is associated with a decrease in the other: A/B = constant. |
| Mode | The most frequently occurring value in a set of observations. |
| Median | The simplest division of a set of values; the middle value that divides the values into the upper half and lower half. |
| Mean | The average, calculated as the sum of observed values divided by the number of observed values. |
| Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics | States that two objects that are in thermal equilibrium with a third object are also in thermal equilibrium with each other. By extension, objects at the same temperature are in thermal equilibrium with no net transfer of heat. |
| Spherical Mirrors | Spherical mirrors have the appearance of a curved surface that is either concave or convex. A converging mirror is a concave mirror with a positive focal length, while a diverging mirror is a convex mirror with a negative focal length. Diverging mirrors always produce virtual images. |
| Speed of Light | The speed of electromagnetic waves traveling through a vacuum, given by the equation c = λf, where c is a constant equal to 3.00x10^8 m/s |
| Snell's Law | Equation describing the angle of refraction for a light ray passing from one medium to another, given by n₁ sin θ₁ = n₂ sin θ₂, where n represents the index of refraction in each medium |
| Plane Mirror | A mirror in which incident light rays remain parallel after reflection, always producing a virtual image that appears to be the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front of the mirror. |
| Lens | A transparent device with a curvature that causes light to bend (refract) as it passes through. May be converging or diverging. A lens with a thick center that converges light rays at a point where the image is formed is called a converging lens. A lens with a thin center that diverges light after refraction and always forms a virtual image is called a diverging lens. |
| Law of Reflection | States that when light waves strike a medium, the angle of incidence θᵢ is equal to the angle of reflection θᵣ. |
| Image | The apparent location of an object perceived through a lens or mirror. An image produced at a point where light does not actually pass through or converge is called a virtual image. An image produced at a point where the light rays actually converge or pass through is called a real image. |
| Total Internal Reflection | The condition in which the incident angle of light traveling from a medium with a high /n/ to a medium with a low n is greater than the critical angle θ_c. This results in all of the light being reflected and none of it being refracted. |
| Plane Polarized Light | Light that has been passed through a polarizing filter, allowing only the transmission of waves containing electric field vectors parallel to the lines of the filter. |
| Magnification | A dimensionless value denoted by m given by the equation: m = - i / o where i is image distance and o is object distance. A negative m denotes an inverted image, whereas a positive m denotes an upright image. |
| Interference | When superimposed waves are in phase, their amplitudes add (constructive interference). When superimposed light waves are out of phase, their amplitudes subtract (destructive interference). |
| Index of Refraction | Ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light though a medium, given by: n = c/v |
| Focal Length | The distance between the focal point and the mirror or lens. For spherical mirrors, the focal length is equal to one-half the radius of curvature. |
| Electromagnetic Waves | When an electric field is changing, it causes a change in a magnetic field and vice versa, resulting in the propagation of a wave containing an electric and a magnetic field that are perpendicular to each other. |
| Electromagnetic Spectrum | The full range of frequencies and wavelengths for electromagnetic waves broken down into the following regions (in descending order of λ): radio, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma ray. |
| Dispersion | The phenomenon observed when white light is incident on the face of a prism and emerges on the opposite side with all its wavelengths split apart, forming the visible spectrum. This occurs because λ is related to the index of refraction by the expression n = c/fλ |
| Diffraction | The spreading-out effect of light when it passes through a small slit opening. |
| Scalar | A quantity that has magnitude but no direction. |
| Newton's Third Law | States that if one object exerts a force on another, the other object exerts a force on the first that is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction; the law of "action and reaction." |
| Newton's Second Law | States that an object will accelerate in proportion to the net force acting on it: Fₙₑₜ = ma. |
| Newton's First Law | States that if no net force acts on an object, its velocity is constant. |
| Frictional Force | An antagonistic force that points parallel and opposite in direction to the direction of movement (or attempted movement) of an object. Related to a coefficient of friction and the normal force: Static friction : 0 ≤ fs ≤ μsN |
| Center of Mass | The point on some object or body where all of its mass is considered to be concentrated. In a uniform gravitational field, this is also the center of gravity. |
| Velocity | A vector quantity describing an object's displacement over the elapsed time, expressed as v =Δx/Δt The SI unit of velocity is meters per second (m/s). |
| Vector | A quantity that has both magnitude and direction. |
| Translational Equilibrium | State where the sum of the forces acting on an object is zero, giving it no net acceleration. An object may be in rotational equilibrium, translational equilibrium, or both simultaneously. |
| Torque | A force creating rotation about an axis; measured as the lever arm (the distance between the fulcrum and the applied force) times the magnitude of the force times the sine of the angle between them: τ = rF sin θ. The SI unit of torque is the newton meter (N⋅m). |
| Speed | A scalar quantity describing the distance traveled divided by the time required to travel that distance. The SI unit of speed is meters per second (m/s). |
| Rotational Equilibrium | State where the sum of the torques acting on a body is zero, giving it no net angular acceleration. An object may be in rotational equilibrium, translational equilibrium, or both simultaneously. |
| Normal Force | Perpendicular component of the force caused when two surfaces push against each other, denoted by N. |
| Mass | A scalar quantity used as a measure of an object's inertia. The SI unit of mass is the kilogram (kg). |
| Gravity | A ubiquitous attractive force existing between any two objects, with magnitude directly proportional to the product of the two masses observed and inversely proportional to the square of their distance from each other: Fg=G(m1m2)/r2 As gravity is a force, it is measured in newtons (N). |
| Force | A vector quantity describing the push or pull on an object. The SI unit for force is the newton (N). |
| Displacement | A vector quantity describing the straight-line distance between an initial and a final position of some particle or object. |
| Centripetal Acceleration | The acceleration of an object traveling in a circle that points toward the center of the circle. In uniform circular motion, it is equal in magnitude to the velocity squared divided by the radius of the circle traversed: ac = v^2/r |
| Acceleration | A vector quantity describing a change in velocity over the elapsed time during which that change occurs, expressed as a=Δv/Δt. The SI unit of acceleration is m/s^2 |
| Pascal's Principle | States that when a pressure is applied to one point of an enclosed fluid, that pressure is transmitted in equal magnitude to all points within that fluid and to the walls of its container. This principle forms the basis of the hydraulic lift. |
| Bernoulli's Equation | Equation describing the conservation of energy in fluid flow, given by: P1+(1/2)ρv2/1+ρgh1=P2+(1/2)ρv2/2+ρgh2 . According to the Venturi effect, for a given depth, linear flow speed and pressure are inversely related. |
| Archimedes' Principle | States that a body that is fully or partially immersed in a liquid will be buoyed upwards by a force that is equal to the weight of the liquid displaced by the body: F_buoy = (ρ_fluid)(V_submerged)g. |
| Viscosity | The measure of internal friction in a fluid, often denoted by η. Viscosity is responsible for creating viscous drag, a nonconservative force analogous to air resistance. |
| Turbulent Flow | Type of liquid flow that occurs when the linear flow speed in a tube exceeds the critical speed v_c. The motion of the fluid that is not adjacent to the container walls is highly irregular, forming vortices and a high resistance. |
| Pressure | The force per unit area: P=F/A . May be provided as absolute (hydrostatic) pressure, which is the pressure below the surface of a fluid that depends on gravity and surface pressure, calculated by P = P₀ + ρgz, where P is the absolute pressure, P₀ is the pressure at the surface, ρ is the density of the fluid, g is acceleration due to gravity, and z is depth. The SI unit for pressure is the pascal (Pa). |
| Laminar Flow | The smoothest type of liquid flow through a tube wherein thin layers of liquid slide over one another. Occurs as long as the linear flow speed remains below a critical speed v_c. Laminar flow can be represented by roughly parallel streamlines—lines that trace the path of water particles as they flow in a tube without ever crossing each other |
| Gauge Pressure | The pressure above and beyond atmospheric pressure. When the pressure at the surface is atmospheric pressure, the gauge pressure is given by ρgz, where ρ is the density of the fluid, g is acceleration due to gravity, and z is depth. The SI unit of pressure is the pascal (Pa). |
| Density | A scalar quantity defined as mass per unit volume, often denoted by ρ. Density of an object may be compared to water as a unitless quantity known as specific gravity. |
| Continuity Equation | States that the mass flow rate of fluid must remain constant from one cross-section of a tube to another, given by A₁ v₁ = A₂ v₂. |
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