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National MDCAT Physics Syllabus
Every chapter and topic of Physics examined in National MDCAT — 16 chapters, 49 topics, plus 56 flashcards written against it.
Physics syllabus — full chapter and topic list
Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Physics in National MDCAT, not a summary of it.
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Vectors and Equilibrium
3 topics- Vector Components
- Addition and Resolution of Vectors
- Conditions of Equilibrium
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Force and Motion
3 topics- Newton's Laws of Motion
- Projectile Motion
- Momentum and Impulse
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Work and Energy
4 topics- Work and Power
- Kinetic and Potential Energy
- Absolute Potential Energy
- Conservation of Energy
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Rotational and Circular Motion
3 topics- Angular Quantities
- Centripetal Force
- Moment of Inertia
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Fluid Dynamics
3 topics- Fluid Flow and Continuity
- Bernoulli's Equation
- Viscosity
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Waves
3 topics- Progressive Waves
- Stationary Waves
- Sound and Resonance
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Thermodynamics
3 topics- First Law of Thermodynamics
- Heat and Internal Energy
- Thermodynamic Processes
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Electrostatics
4 topics- Coulomb's Law
- Electric Field
- Electric Potential
- Capacitors
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Current Electricity
3 topics- Ohm's Law
- Resistance and Resistivity
- Electric Circuits
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Electromagnetism
3 topics- Magnetic Flux Density
- Force on Current-Carrying Conductor
- Magnetic Fields
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Electromagnetic Induction
3 topics- Faraday's Law of Induction
- Lenz's Law
- Self and Mutual Induction
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Alternating Current
3 topics- AC Quantities
- AC Circuits
- Resonance in AC Circuits
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Electronics
3 topics- Semiconductors
- Diodes and Rectification
- Logic Gates
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Dawn of Modern Physics
3 topics- Photoelectric Effect
- Photons and Radiation
- Wave-Particle Duality
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Atomic Spectra
2 topics- Atomic Energy Levels
- Emission and Absorption Spectra
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Nuclear Physics
3 topics- Radioactivity and Half-Life
- Nuclear Reactions
- Biological and Medical Effects of Radiation
Physics flashcards for National MDCAT
24 of 56 cards from the Physics deck — real questions with worked answers.
What is the formula for the x and y components of a vector A making angle θ with the positive x-axis?
Ax = A cos θ and Ay = A sin θ, where A is the magnitude of the vector.
How do you find the magnitude of a vector from its rectangular components Ax and Ay?
A = √(Ax² + Ay²).
How is the direction (angle θ with x-axis) of a vector found from its components?
θ = tan⁻¹(Ay / Ax).
State the head-to-tail rule for vector addition.
Place the tail of each successive vector at the head of the previous one; the resultant is drawn from the tail of the first vector to the head of the last vector.
How are two vectors added using the rectangular component (analytical) method?
Resolve each vector into x and y components, sum them separately (Rx = ΣAx, Ry = ΣAy), then R = √(Rx² + Ry²) and θ = tan⁻¹(Ry/Rx).
What does 'resolution of a vector' mean?
Splitting a single vector into two mutually perpendicular components (usually along the x and y axes).
What is a unit vector and how is it obtained from a vector A?
A unit vector has magnitude 1 and indicates direction; Â = A / |A|.
State the first condition of equilibrium.
The vector sum of all forces acting on a body is zero: ΣF = 0 (i.e., ΣFx = 0 and ΣFy = 0). This ensures no linear acceleration (translational equilibrium).
State the second condition of equilibrium.
The vector sum of all torques acting on a body about any point is zero: Στ = 0. This ensures no angular acceleration (rotational equilibrium).
What is the difference between the first and second conditions of equilibrium?
The first condition (ΣF = 0) ensures translational equilibrium; the second condition (Στ = 0) ensures rotational equilibrium. A body in complete equilibrium satisfies both.
Define torque (moment of force) and give its formula.
Torque is the turning effect of a force about a pivot. τ = r F sin θ, where r is the moment arm and θ is the angle between r and F. SI unit: N·m.
State Newton's first law of motion.
A body at rest remains at rest and a body in motion continues with uniform velocity in a straight line unless acted upon by a net external force (law of inertia).
State Newton's second law of motion and its equation.
The rate of change of momentum is proportional to the applied force and in its direction; F = ma (or F = Δp/Δt). SI unit of force: newton (N).
State Newton's third law of motion.
To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction; the forces act on two different bodies.
Define inertia.
The property of a body by which it resists any change in its state of rest or uniform motion; it depends on (is measured by) the body's mass.
What is the formula for projectile motion's time of flight (launch and landing at same level)?
T = 2 vi sin θ / g, where vi is initial speed and θ is the launch angle.
What is the formula for the maximum height of a projectile?
H = (vi² sin²θ) / (2g).
What is the formula for the horizontal range of a projectile?
R = (vi² sin 2θ) / g.
At what launch angle is the range of a projectile maximum, and why?
At 45°, because R = (vi² sin 2θ)/g is maximum when sin 2θ = 1, i.e. 2θ = 90°.
What are the horizontal and vertical velocity components during projectile motion (ignoring air resistance)?
Horizontal: vx = vi cos θ remains constant. Vertical: vy = vi sin θ − gt changes due to gravity.
Define linear momentum and give its formula and SI unit.
Momentum is the product of mass and velocity: p = mv. It is a vector. SI unit: kg·m/s.
Define impulse and state its relationship to momentum.
Impulse = force × time = F·Δt, and it equals the change in momentum: F·Δt = Δp = m(vf − vi). SI unit: N·s.
State the law of conservation of momentum.
In the absence of an external force, the total momentum of an isolated system remains constant: total momentum before = total momentum after a collision.
What is the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions?
In an elastic collision both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved; in an inelastic collision momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not.
Planning Physics for National MDCAT
Physics is about 28% of the National MDCAT syllabus by topic count — 49 of 177 topics, spread over 16 chapters. At roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, a first pass runs to about 35 hours.
The heaviest chapters are Work and Energy (4 topics), Electrostatics (4 topics), Vectors and Equilibrium (3 topics) . Front-load those while your energy is high; the short chapters are better revision filler later.
Work top-down: read the chapter, then tick topics off individually rather than marking the whole chapter done. Sub-topics are where silent gaps hide.
Physics (National MDCAT) FAQ
What is in the National MDCAT Physics syllabus?
Physics is split into 16 chapters — Vectors and Equilibrium, Force and Motion, Work and Energy, Rotational and Circular Motion, Fluid Dynamics and Waves, and 10 more, containing 49 topics and 0 sub-topics in total.
How is Physics structured in the National MDCAT syllabus?
16 chapters. Physics accounts for about 28% of the topics in the whole National MDCAT syllabus (49 of 177).
How long should I spend on Physics for National MDCAT?
Budget around 35 hours for a first pass through Physics — about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic across its 49 topics. Add revision cycles on top.
Are there flashcards for National MDCAT Physics?
Yes — a 56-card Physics deck. Sample cards are printed on this page, and the full deck is free in the Examius app with spaced repetition scheduling.