Prepare for MCAT Physics with targeted practice problems, high-yield concept reviews, and strategies to improve accuracy and test performance.
(Note: This resource also appears in our MCAT Ultimate Guide.)
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Introduction
Practice Passage #1
Practice Passage #2
Practice Passage #3
Standalone Practice Questions
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Introduction
The MCAT will be the longest and most difficult test that the majority of premeds take on their way to medical school. Within this beast of an exam, the MCAT includes difficult topics like physics, organic chemistry, and general chemistry.
Physics makes up 25 percent of your chemistry/physics section, give or take 5 percent. So, your exam will likely have between 12 and 18 physics questions. To put this in perspective, however, the entire exam is 230 questions, so physics makes up only around 5 to 7 percent of your entire exam.
Physics is a vast topic, but we’ve shown that it only shows up on a small percentage of your exam. So, how can you achieve a great MCAT score and ace physics questions without spending a disproportionate amount of time studying MCAT physics? In other words, how are you supposed to learn MCAT physics without sacrificing your performance in other sections that will yield more points, like MCAT psychology and sociology?
Practice, practice, practice! By taking physics practice problems, you’ll learn how the test-writers like to ask questions, the high-yield material that is likely to show up on your exam, and what information you should spend your valuable time studying.
Use the following three passages and five standalone questions to test your ability to apply your physics knowledge to real, MCAT-style passages. You’ll notice that each explanation for the passage-based questions has suggestions for what you should review if you miss a question. Good luck!
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Practice Passage #1
Researchers are interested in studying a novel optical system to model the human eye. The experimental set-up includes a lens, object, and image. The object is placed at various positions relative to the lens in order to produce different images.
In Experiment 1, the experimental set-up appears as shown in Figure 1. The object is located at position O, the image is located at position I, and the focal length of the lens is shown at position F.
Figure 1 Experiment 1 set-up.
In Experiment 2, the researchers adjusted the position of the object resulting in a different location of the image. The experimental set-up appears as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2 Experiment 2 set-up.
In Experiment 3, the researchers once again adjusted the position of the object. The experimental set-up appears as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3 Experiment 3 set-up.
Note: The information in this passage was created for the sole purpose of presenting an MCAT-style passage and should not be construed to be factually true.
1. Which of the following determines the focal length of the lens in Figure 1?
A) Radius of curvature of the lens
B) Image distance
C) Object distance
D) The level of lens magnification
2. In Experiment 1, suppose the object distance is 2 cm and the image distance is 3 cm. What is the focal length of the lens?
A) 1/2 cm
B) 3/4 cm
C) 6/5 cm
D) 7/9 cm
3. Which of the experiments produces a virtual image?
A) Experiment 1
B) Experiment 2
C) Experiment 3
D) None of the experiments produce a virtual image.
4. In Experiment 2, suppose the image distance is increased. What effect would this increase have on the absolute value for the magnification of the lens?
A) Increase
B) Decrease
C) Stays the same
D) No change
Practice Passage #1 Answers
1. The correct answer is A. The focal length of the lens is an intrinsic property of the lens that is based on the radius of curvature of the lens (choice A is correct; choices B, C, and D are incorrect).
Review optics.
2. The correct answer is C. The thin lens equation is given by:
1/f = 1/o + 1/i
Thus,
1/f = 1/2 + 1/3 = 3/6 + 2/6 = 5/6
To obtain a value of f, we can take the reciprocal of this value. As a result, f must be equal to 6/5(choice C is correct; choices A, B, and D are incorrect).
Review thin lens equation.
3. The correct answer is C. In Experiment 3, the lens produces an object and image that are on the same side of the image, therefore producing a virtual image (choice C is correct; choices A, B, and D are incorrect).
Review optics.
4. The correct answer is A. The magnification formula is given by m = -i/o. Since the question asks for absolute value, the negative sign can be ignored. As i is increased, m also increases since the two variables are directly proportional (choice A is correct; choices B, C, and D are incorrect).
Review optics and the magnification equation.
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Practice Passage #2
In cellular systems, membranes are often thought of as wires in a circuit system. As such, transmembrane proteins, glycoproteins, and lipid rafts are equivalent to resistors that decrease the current through the membrane.
Researchers are interested in modeling electrical conduction in cells using two different basic circuit systems. In System A, researchers set up a circuit with two resistors in series to replicate the positioning of two adjacent receptor tyrosine kinase proteins within the cell membrane. In System B, researchers set up a circuit with two resistors in parallel to model the positioning of two lipid rafts within the cell membrane. The set-ups of the circuits are shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1 System A (left) and System B (right) set-ups.
Note: The information in this passage was created for the sole purpose of presenting an MCAT-style passage and should not be construed to be factually true.
1. Which of the following formulas best describes the equivalent resistance of System A?
A) 1/Req = R1 + R2
B) 1/Req = 1/R1 + 1/R2
C) Req = R1 + R2
D) Req = 1/R1 + 1/R2
2. Researchers decide to increase the resistance of a model receptor tyrosine kinase protein in System A while holding the voltage constant. Which of the following best describes what the researchers will observe?
A) Current decreases
B) Voltage increases
C) Current increases
D) Voltage decreases
3. Which of the following best describes the units for current?
A) Amperes
B) Volts
C) Farads
D) Ohms
Practice Passage #2 Answers
1. The correct answer is C. The equivalent resistance of a circuit in series is given by:
Req = R1 + R2 + ... + Rn
(choice C is correct; choices A, B, and D are incorrect).
Review circuits.
2. The correct answer is A. Ohm’s law is given by V = IR. By rearranging the variables, we can show that I = V/R. Given that voltage is held constant according to the question stem (choices B and D are incorrect) and resistance is increased, it is clear that current will decrease due to the inversely proportional relationship by I and R (choice A is correct; choice C is incorrect).
Review Ohm’s law.
3. The correct answer is A. The units for current are given by amperes (choice A is correct). Volts are the units for voltage (choice B is incorrect). Farads are the units for capacitance (choice C is incorrect). Ohms are the units for resistance (choice D is incorrect).
Review units for common circuit variables.
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Practice Passage #3
Researchers are studying the reflection of radioactive particles off of mirrors in a novel study. To generate radioactive beta particles, a radioactive 15C15C isotope with an 11-minute half-life is used. The radioactive particles are concentrated into a single beam using a series of slits and electromagnetic field. After concentration, the particles with the desired path are focused towards a mirror at a range of angles.
The beta particles make contact with the mirror, and the angle at which the particles are reflected is measured by observing the point of contact of the beta particle with a counting surface and the time it takes for the beta particle to reach the counting surface. In this experiment, the counting surface contains a molecule that can react specifically with the beta particle to detect its presence. In addition, the counting surface is located at a fixed distance away from the initial point of contact along a vertical plane.
After conducting a series of measurements using the radioactive 15C15C isotope, researchers test several additional isotopes. In Experiment 2, researchers want to develop a system to detect the reflection of alpha particles.
Note: The information in this passage was created for the sole purpose of presenting an MCAT-style passage and should not be construed to be factually true.
1. Assuming that the beta particles reflected by the mirror follow the law of reflection, which of the following best represents the angle of reflection of the reflected beta particles if the angle of incidence is 38°?
A) 19°
B) 38°
C) 48°
D) 76°
2. A researcher begins with 1 g of 15C. After thirty-three minutes, how much 15C does the researcher have remaining?
A) 500 mg
B) 250 ng
C) 150 ng
D) 125 mg
3. Which of the following best depicts the particle used in Experiment 2?
A) 0−1e
B) 01e
C) 00γ
D) 42He
4. A plane of light hits a mirror at an angle of 37°. What is this angle called?
A) Snell’s angle
B) Angle of incidence
C) Angle of reflection
D) Angle of refraction
MCAT Physics Practice Passage #3 Answers
1. The correct answer is B. The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection are the same (choice B is correct; choices A, C, and D are incorrect).
Review law of reflection.
2. The correct answer is D. After 11 minutes, 500 mg of 15C remain. After the next 11 minutes, 250 mg of 15C remain. After the final 11 minutes, 125 mg of 15C remain (choice D is correct; choices A, B, and C are incorrect).
Review half-life and units of measurement.
3. The correct answer is D. An alpha particle is a Helium atom (choice D is correct; choices A, B, and C are incorrect).
Review radioactive decay.
4. The correct answer is B. The initial light hitting the mirror forms the angle of incidence (choice B is correct; choices A and D are incorrect). The reflected light forms an angle of reflection (choice C is incorrect).
Review law of reflection.
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Standalone Practice Questions
Question 1: The Heisenberg uncertainty principle states that which of the following cannot be measured simultaneously?
A) Velocity and acceleration
B) Position and displacement
C) Acceleration and composition
D) Velocity and position
Question 2: Researchers carry out a reaction and determine the presence of two products. Product 1 both forms and degrades quickly whereas product 2 both forms and degrades slowly. Which of the following best describes the product 1 and product 2, respectively?
A) Kinetic, kinetic
B) Thermodynamic, thermodynamic
C) Kinetic, thermodynamic
D) Thermodynamic, kinetic
Question 3: A mouse is given 50 mg of oxaliplatin. If the half-life of the drug is 6 hours, how much will remain in the mouse at 24 hours?
A) 12.50 mg
B) 6.250 mg
C) 3.125 mg
D) 1.562 mg
Question 4: A researcher sets up a simple series circuit with a single resistor. Over time, the resistance of the resistor decreases. Which of the following best describes the effect of a decreasing resistance on current, given a constant voltage?
A) Current increases
B) Current decreases
C) Current remains the same
D) Current can no longer be calculated
Question 5: Which of the following is the ideal gas law?
A) PE = mgh
B) F = ma
C) PV = nRT
D) V = IR
Standalone Practice Questions Answers
The correct answer is D. The Heisenberg uncertainty principle states that velocity and position cannot be measured simultaneously (choice D is correct; choices A, B, and C are incorrect).
Review quantum mechanicsThe correct answer is C. Kinetic products form more quickly but are less stable whereas thermodynamic products form more slowly but have greater stability (choice C is correct; choices A, B, and D are incorrect).
The correct answer is C. After 6 hours, 25 mg remain. After 12 hours, 12.5 mg remain. After 18 hours, 6.250 mg remain. After 24 hours, 3.125 mg remain (choice C is correct; choices A, B, and D are incorrect).
The correct answer is A. Ohm’s law is V=IR where V = voltage, I = current, and R = resistance. By rearranging the equation to I = V/R, we see that decreasing R while holding V constant leads to an increase in I (choice A is correct; choices B, C, and D are incorrect).
The correct answer is C. PV = nRT is the ideal gas law (choice C is correct). PE = mgh is the equation for gravitational potential energy (choice A is incorrect). Newton’s second law states that force is equal to mass multiplied by acceleration (choice B is incorrect). V = IR is Ohm’s Law for circuits (choice D is incorrect).
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