MCAT Equations

Name Equation Units

Mechanics & Energy

∆x m
Average speed
∆t s
∆d m
Average velocity
∆t s
∆v m
Acceleration
∆t s!
Newton’s Second m
F!"# = ma 1 Newton = 1 kg ∙
Law s!
m
Static Friction F!,!"# = µ! F! 1 Newton = 1 kg ∙ !
s
m
Kinetic Friction F! = µ! F! 1 Newton = 1 kg ∙ !
s
Force of gravity
m
acting perpendicular mgcosθ 1 Newton = 1 kg ∙
s!
to an inclined plane
Force of gravity
m
acting parallel to an mgsinθ 1 Newton = 1 kg ∙
s!
inclined plane

Torque τ = rFsinθ N∙m

Work W = Fdcosθ 1 Joule = N ∙ m

Work (pressure-
W = P∆V J
volume curve)
m! x! + m! x! + m! x!
Center of mass x=
m! + m! + m!
Mechanical F!"#
MA =
Advantage F!"
W ∆E J
Power P= = 1 watt W =
t t s

Power P = Fv W
 1
Kinetic Energy KE = mv ! J
2
Work-Kinetic Energy
W!"# = ∆KE = K ! − K ! J
theorem
Gravitational
U = mgh J
Potential Energy
Elastic Potential 1
U = kx ! J
Energy 2

Hooke’s Law F = −kx N

1 1
Frequency of a wave f= = Hz
T s
m
Speed of a wave v = fλ
s

Fluids
m g
Density ρ=
V cm!
ρ!"#$%&
Specific Gravity
ρ!"#$%

Buoyant Force F! = mg = ρ!"#$% Vg N

F! F!
Pascal’s Law =
A! A!

Hydrostatic Pressure P = P! + ρgz

πr ! ∆P
Poiseuille’s Law Q=
8ηL

Continuity Equation A! v! = A! v!

1
Bernoulli’s Equation P! + ρv!! + ρgh! = P! …
2
Gases
Absolute
K = ℃ + 273
Temperature
F
Pressure P=
A
 Ideal Gas Law PV = nRT

Boyle’s Law P! V! = P! V!
V! V!
Charles’ Law =
T! T!
n! n!
Avogadro’s Law =
V! V!
Average kinetic
3
energy of a gas KE!"# = k ! T J
2
particle
Heat capacity at
constant volume for 3 J
C! = nR
an ideal monatomic 2 K
gas
Heat capacity at
constant pressure for 5 J
C! = nR
an ideal monatomic 2 K
gas
van der Waals nRT n! a
P= −
equation of state V − nb V !

P! = X! P!
Dalton’s Law of
Partial Pressures
P = P! + P! + P!

Thermodynamics
cal J
Heat transferred q = mc∆T 1 = 4.184
g∙K g∙K
Standard Heat of ° °
∆H!,!"#$%&'( − ∆H!,!"#$%#&%'
Reaction
Standard Heat of ° °
∆H!"#$% !"#$%& − ∆H!"#$% !"#$%&
Reaction
Change in Gibbs Free kJ
∆G = ∆H − T∆S
Energy mol
Linear Expansion
∆L = αL∆T
(Solids)
 Volumetric
Expansions (Solids & ∆V = βV∆T
Liquids)

Sound
I
Sound Level β = 10log dB
I!
I!
Sound Level β! = β! + 10log dB
I!
P W
Intensity I=
A m!
v ± v!
Doppler Effect f! = f Hz
v ∓ v!

2L
λ=
n
Waves in Open Pipes
v nv
f= =
λ 2L

4L
λ=
Waves in Closed n
Pipes v nv
f= =
λ 4L

Light & Electromagnetic Radiation

m
Speed of Light c = fλ
s

Energy of Photon E = hf

Geometrical Optics

Law of Reflection 𝜃! = 𝜃!
c
Index of Refraction n=
v
 Snell’s Law n! sinθ! = n! sinθ!
n!
Critical Angle 𝜃! = 𝑠𝑖𝑛!!
n!
1 1 1 2
Optics Equation = + =
f o i r
−i
Magnification m=
o
1
Lens Power P= diopters
f
Focal length of lenses 1 1 1 1 1
= + + + ⋯+
in a series f f! f! f! f!
Power of lenses in a
P = P! + P! + P! + ⋯ + P! diopters
series
Magnification for a
m = m! × m! × m!
system of lenses

Electrostatics
kq! q!
Coulomb’s Law F! = N
r!
F! kQ! N V
Electric Field E= = ! or
q r C m
Electrical Potential kQq
U= J
Energy r
U kQ J
Electrical Potential V= = 1V=1
q r C
Intensity of Uniform V V
Electric Field d m
Voltage (Potential W!"
∆V = V! − V! = Volts
Difference) q

Power VI W

V!
Power W
R
Power I! R W

Circuits
 Q C
Current I= 1A=1
t s

Ohm’s Law V = IR

Resistors in Series R ! = R! + R ! + R ! Ohms (Ω)

1 1 1 1
Resistors in Parallel = + + Ω
𝑅! 𝑅! 𝑅! 𝑅!
𝑅∙𝐴
Resistivity 𝜚= Ohm-meter (Ω ∙ m)
𝐿
𝑄 𝐴 C
Capacitance 𝐶 = = 𝜀! 1F=1
𝑉 𝑑 V
Energy of a Charged Q !
1 1
U= = Q∆V = C(∆V)!
Capacitor C 2 2
1 1 1 1
Capacitors in Series = + + F
𝐶! 𝐶! 𝐶! 𝐶!

Capacitors in Parallel 𝐶! = 𝐶! + 𝐶! + 𝐶! F

Magnetism
N∙s
Magnetic Force F! = qvBsinθ 1T=1
m∙C

Lorentz Force F = qE + qvBsinθ

Atomic Structure & Stoichiometry

Maximum number of
2n!
electrons in a shell
Kinetic Energy of a
hf − ϕ eV
Photoelectron

Bonding & Reactions

1
Formal Charge FC = V − NB − B
2

Dipole Moment p=q∙d C∙m

α!"#
Specific rotation α = degrees
c×l
 Electrochemistry
Electrodeposition It
mol M =
Equation nF

Cell potential cell pot. = red. pot − ox. pot

Kinetics

Rate law rate = k A !

B !

!!!
Arrhenius Equation k = Ae !"
! !
C D
Law of Mass Action k !" = ! !
A B

Molecular Structure & Absorbance Spectra

1
Wavenumber cm!!
λ

Solutions
Autoionization of
K ! = H! O! OH ! = 10!!"
water

pH − log H !

pOH − log OH !

Acid Dissociation H! O! A!
k! =
Constant HA
Base Dissociation B OH !
!
k! =
Constant BOH

pK ! −logK !

pK ! −logK !

Henderson- [Conj base]

pH = pK ! − log
Hasselbalch [Acid]

Point of Inflection pH = pK ! or 14 − pK !
 for A! B! :
Solubility Product
Constant
K !" = A!! !
B !! !

Separations & Purifications

distance spot moved
Retardation factor R! =
distance solvent front moved

Circulation & Respiration

Henry’s Law A = K ! × P!

Amino Acids & Proteins

Electrophoresis
Ez
(migration velocity of v=
f
a molecule)

Genetics

p+q=1
Hardy-Weinberg
p! + 2pq + q! = 1

Enzymes
v!"# S
Michaelis-Menten v=
K ! + [S]

Plasma Membrane & Nervous System

RT
Nernst Equation °
E!"## = E!"## − ln (Q)
nF

Osmotic Pressure Π = iMRT