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MDCAT Physics Flashcards
52 question-and-answer cards covering Physics as it is examined in MDCAT. 24 of them are printed below, taken from across the deck ā no signup, no paywall on the preview.
24 sample cards from the Physics deck
Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.
In SHM, where are kinetic and potential energy maximum, and what is the total energy?
KE is maximum at equilibrium ($x = 0$); PE is maximum at extremes ($x = \pm A$). Total energy is constant: $$E = \tfrac{1}{2}kA^{2} = \tfrac{1}{2}m\omega^{2}A^{2}.$$
Distinguish between transverse and longitudinal waves with examples.
In transverse waves particles vibrate perpendicular to the direction of propagation (e.g. light, waves on a string). In longitudinal waves particles vibrate parallel to propagation, forming compressions and rarefactions (e.g. sound waves).
State the wave equation relating speed, frequency, and wavelength.
$$v = f\lambda,$$ where $v$ is wave speed, $f$ is frequency, and $\lambda$ is wavelength. Also $v = \frac{\lambda}{T}$.
State the principle of superposition and define constructive/destructive interference.
When waves overlap, the resultant displacement equals the vector sum of individual displacements. Constructive interference occurs at path difference $n\lambda$; destructive at $\left(n + \tfrac{1}{2}\right)\lambda$.
What is the condition for stationary (standing) waves and the distance between adjacent nodes?
Standing waves form when two identical waves travel in opposite directions and superpose. Adjacent nodes (or antinodes) are separated by $\frac{\lambda}{2}$; a node and its nearest antinode by $\frac{\lambda}{4}$.
Give the speed of sound in air and how it depends on temperature.
In air at $0^{\circ}\text{C}$, sound travels at about $331\ \text{m/s}$ (~$343\ \text{m/s}$ at room temperature). Speed increases with temperature: $v \propto \sqrt{T}$ (absolute temperature).
State the Doppler effect and the observed frequency formula for a moving source/observer.
The Doppler effect is the apparent change in frequency due to relative motion between source and observer. $$f' = f\left(\frac{v \pm v_{o}}{v \mp v_{s}}\right),$$ frequency rises on approach and falls on recession.
What are beats and the beat frequency?
Beats are periodic variations in loudness from superposition of two waves of slightly different frequencies. Beat frequency $f_{\text{beat}} = |f_{1} - f_{2}|$.
Distinguish between heat and temperature.
Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles of a body (a state property). Heat is the energy transferred between bodies due to a temperature difference (energy in transit).
Convert between Celsius, Kelvin, and Fahrenheit temperature scales.
$T_{K} = T_{C} + 273.15$; $\ T_{F} = \frac{9}{5}T_{C} + 32$. Absolute zero is $0\ \text{K} = -273.15^{\circ}\text{C}$.
Give the equations for linear thermal expansion and specific heat.
Linear expansion: $\Delta L = \alpha L_{0}\Delta T$. Heat for temperature change: $Q = mc\Delta T$, where $c$ is the specific heat capacity.
What is latent heat, and write the equation for a phase change.
Latent heat is the heat absorbed or released during a phase change at constant temperature: $Q = mL$, where $L$ is the specific latent heat (of fusion or vaporization).
State the first law of thermodynamics.
Energy is conserved: the heat added to a system equals the increase in internal energy plus the work done by the system. $$\Delta Q = \Delta U + \Delta W.$$
Describe isothermal and adiabatic processes.
Isothermal: temperature constant ($\Delta U = 0$, so $\Delta Q = \Delta W$), obeying $PV = \text{constant}$. Adiabatic: no heat exchange ($\Delta Q = 0$, so $\Delta U = -\Delta W$), obeying $PV^{\gamma} = \text{constant}$.
Define isobaric and isochoric processes.
Isobaric: constant pressure; work done $W = P\Delta V$. Isochoric (isovolumetric): constant volume; no work is done ($W = 0$), so $\Delta Q = \Delta U$.
State the second law of thermodynamics and Carnot engine efficiency.
Heat cannot spontaneously flow from a colder to a hotter body; no engine can be 100% efficient. Carnot efficiency: $$\eta = 1 - \frac{T_{C}}{T_{H}},$$ with temperatures in kelvin.
State the postulates of the kinetic theory of gases.
Gas consists of many tiny molecules in random motion; molecular volume is negligible; collisions are perfectly elastic; there are no intermolecular forces except during collisions; and average KE is proportional to absolute temperature.
Give the ideal gas law and the kinetic theory expression for pressure.
Ideal gas law: $PV = nRT$. Kinetic pressure: $$P = \frac{1}{3}\frac{Nm\overline{v^{2}}}{V} = \frac{1}{3}\rho\overline{v^{2}}.$$
Relate average kinetic energy of gas molecules and rms speed to temperature.
Average translational KE per molecule: $\overline{KE} = \frac{3}{2}k_{B}T$. Root-mean-square speed: $v_{\text{rms}} = \sqrt{\frac{3k_{B}T}{m}} = \sqrt{\frac{3RT}{M}}$.
State Coulomb's law and the value of the Coulomb constant.
The electrostatic force between two point charges is $$F = k\frac{q_{1}q_{2}}{r^{2}}, \quad k = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_{0}} \approx 9 \times 10^{9}\ \text{NĀ·m}^{2}/\text{C}^{2}.$$
Define electric field intensity and give the field of a point charge.
Electric field is force per unit positive test charge: $\vec{E} = \frac{\vec{F}}{q_{0}}$, in $\text{N/C}$ or $\text{V/m}$. For a point charge: $E = k\frac{q}{r^{2}}$, directed radially.
State Gauss's law.
The total electric flux through a closed surface equals the enclosed charge divided by $\varepsilon_{0}$: $$\Phi_{E} = \oint \vec{E}\cdot d\vec{A} = \frac{q_{\text{enc}}}{\varepsilon_{0}}.$$
Define capacitance and give the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor.
Capacitance is charge stored per unit potential: $C = \frac{Q}{V}$, in farads. Parallel-plate capacitor: $$C = \frac{\varepsilon_{0}\varepsilon_{r}A}{d},$$ where $A$ is plate area and $d$ their separation.
Give the equivalent capacitance for capacitors in series and in parallel, and the energy stored.
Series: $\frac{1}{C_{\text{eq}}} = \frac{1}{C_{1}} + \frac{1}{C_{2}} + \cdots$. Parallel: $C_{\text{eq}} = C_{1} + C_{2} + \cdots$. Energy stored: $U = \frac{1}{2}CV^{2} = \frac{Q^{2}}{2C}$.
What this deck covers
The Physics deck follows the MDCAT Physics syllabus ā 5 chapters and 16 topics ā so questions land on material that is genuinely examinable rather than trivia around it. That works out to roughly 10.4 cards per chapter.
Answers are written to be recallable, not just readable ā averaging about 181 characters, which is long enough to carry the reasoning and short enough to say out loud.
A deck like this earns its keep on the second and third pass. Read the syllabus first so you know the shape of the subject, then use the cards to find the specific facts that have not stuck.
Physics flashcards FAQ
How many Physics flashcards are in this MDCAT deck?
52 cards. This page previews 24 of them, sampled evenly across the deck so you can judge the difficulty before installing anything.
Are these MDCAT flashcards free?
Yes. The preview here is free to read with no signup, and the full 52-card deck is free inside the Examius app.
What do the Physics cards cover?
They follow the MDCAT Physics syllabus ā 5 chapters and 16 topics ā so the questions track what is actually examinable.
How should I use these flashcards?
Read the syllabus first so you know the shape of the subject, then drill the deck. Examius schedules each card with spaced repetition, so cards you keep missing come back sooner and ones you know drift further apart.