MCAT FORMULA SHEET: This formula sheet is to be used as a

reference tool. DO NOT MEMORIZE these formulas, instead, understand the

concepts behind the equations and the relationships they represent.



Kinematics and Mechanics

d vt =
distance

0 f
v v a = +
vat
t
2 2
0
2
f
v v a x = +
vax

2
0
1
2
x v t at = +
tax

2 2
,
c c
v mv
a F
r r
= =
centripetal motion

2

law of gravitation
F
r
=

net F ma =
Newton's 2nd law

s s N
F F =
friction
torque
F k x =
hooke's Law



Fluids and Solids


m
V
=
density

. .
substance
water
s g

=
specific gravity

b fluid submerged
F V g =
buoyant force

F
P
A
=
pressure


MRT =
osmotic pressure

total atm gauge
P P P = +
total pressure on fluid

fluid fluid
P gh =
fluid gauge pressure


1 1 2 2
Av A v =
continuity equation

2
1
const.
2
P v gh + + =
Bernoulli's equation

rate A
rate B
B
A
MM
MM
=
Graham's Law

L L T
V V T

=
=
thermal expansion

1 2
GM M


k k N
F F
sin Fl =







































Thermodynamics

Q mc T =
heat energy

Q m =
latent heat
L


U Q W =
first law of
thermodynamics



- G H T S =
Gibbs free energy



ln
eq
G RT K =
equilibrium
Work, Energy, Momentum

2
1
KE
2
mv =
kinetic energy

PE
grav
mgh =
gravitational PE

2
1
2
elastic
kx = PE
spring PE


W
P
t
=
power

W F cos d =
work


p mv =
momentum


1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 i i f
mv m v mv m v + = +
conservation of momentum
f





Rev. 2A Rev. Date: 2/7/2003




Rev. 2A Rev. Date: 2/7/2003
Electricity & Magnetism

1 2
2

electrostatic force
e
kq q
F
r
=

0

electric field
F
E
q
=

2

electric field due
to point charge
kq
E
r
=

0

electrical potential
U
V
q

=


electrical potential
of a point charge
kq
V
r
=

capacitance
q VC =

2
1
2

energy stored
by capacitor
U CV =

0
2

magnetic field
around a wire
I
B
r

=

sin
sin
F qvB
F ILB

=
=
magnetic force

0
2
I
B
r

=
magnetic field @
center of wire loop

Electric Power & Circuits

P IV
V IR
=
=
electrical power &
Ohm's Law

current
q
I
t

max max
,
2 2
AC circuits
rms rms
I V
I V = =


1 2
1 2
1 1 1


capacitors in series
and in parallel
S
P
C C C
C C C
= + +
= + +

1 2
1 2
1 1 1
resistors in series
and in parallel
s
P
R R R
R R R
= + +
= + +

Periodic Motion, Waves and Sound

1
f
T
=
wave freq., period

2
k
f
m
= =
spring angular freq


2
g
f
L
= =
pendulum angular freq

v f =
wave speed

'
D
S
v v
f f
v v
| |
=
|

\ .
Doppler effect

Atomic and Nuclear
4
2
A A
Z Z
X Y

+
alpha decay



0
1 1
A A
Z Z
X Y e
+
+
beta-minus decay

0
1 1
A A
Z Z
X Y e
+
+
beta-plus decay

Light and Optics


c
n
v
=
index of refraction

hc
E hf

= =
photon energy



2 1 1 2
sin sin n n =
Snell's Law


2
2 1
1
sin ,
crit
n
n n
n
= <
total internal reflection

1 1 1
f o i
= +
lensmaker's eq.

Chemistry and Biology

PV nRT =
ideal gas law

1 2
1 2
V V
T T
=
Charles' Law

1 1 2 2
PV PV =
Boyle's Law

1 2
1 2
n n
V V
=
Avogadro's Law

log pH H
+
( =


pH


i i f f
MV M V =
dilution

( )
2
2
-
n a
P V nb nRT
V
| |
+ =
|
\ .

Van der Waals equation of state



red ox
EMF E E = +
electromotive force

-
cell cathode anode
E E E =
EMF

2 2
1
2 1
p q
p pq q
+ =
+ + =


Hardy-Weinberg equations