Energy is the capacity to do work and comes in many forms, such as kinetic energy, potential energy, thermal energy, and more. In physics, energy is one of the central concepts used in explaining how objects move, interact, and change. For MDCAT students, the different forms of energy and their associated principles are very important in solving questions relating to mechanics, thermodynamics, and other physical systems in the MDCAT Quiz.
Types of Energy in Physics
There are a number of important forms of energy that students must learn about:
Kinetic Energy (KE): Energy that an object has because it is in motion. Given by the expression:
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=
1
2
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2
KE=
2
1
mv
2
where
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m is the mass of the object and
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v is its velocity. The kinetic energy depends upon the speed of the object and rises with increasing velocity.
Potential Energy (PE): energy an object has by virtue of its position or state. For the gravitational potential energy, it takes the form of:
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=
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ℎ
PE=mgh
where
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m is the mass of the object,
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g is the acceleration due to gravity, and
ℎ
h is the height above the reference point.
Thermal Energy: The energy that is associated with the temperature of an object, resulting from the motion of its particles.
Energy is always conserved in a closed system; this is the law of conservation of energy, which says that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. This principle is very important for MDCAT students in understanding and applying while solving problems related to energy.
MDCAT Quiz: Energy-Related Questions
Thus, in the MDCAT Quiz, most of the questions related to energy are focused on the calculations of kinetic energy, potential energy, or analysis in energy transformations. For example, students might be asked to calculate the kinetic energy of a moving object at a given speed or the potential energy of an object at a given height. There are also other types of energy conservation questions about mechanical systems, whereby students are supposed to apply the conservation of energy principle to solve problems. Mastering these concepts and their applications is imperative for scoring well in the MDCAT Quiz.
Free Flashcards for Energy
Free flashcards are helpful as a study aid in strengthening the understanding of energy by MDCAT students. The flashcards can, therefore, be prepared with important formulas like those on kinetic and potential energies, together with examples and explanations. A regular review of these flashcards places a student well to answer any question relating to energy both accurately and within time during the MDCAT Quiz. In the course of preparing with flashcards, a student is able to reinforce information regarding energy and thereby improve on problem-solving.
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