Thoughts on Physical Science

[MD2014786]

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Ok so I understand that conceptual understanding is very important for the MCAT. But what I found while I was studying for physical science (physics especially) is that if you have MEMORIZED the formula that's given in the content books, sometimes even if you dont understand the question/passage or whatever, you might have a shot at answering the question based on the formula that you know.

For example if the passage deals with pendulums and you get stuck on some weird conceptual question about the variables, you can either sit there and try to reason through out the choices, or you can immediatley relate the two pendulum formulas: 1. f = 1/2pi sq rt g/l and 2. T = 2pi sq rt l/g. just by looking at these two equations, you would be able to manipulate certain variables and mess around with relationships, not to mention units. You can also rule out any answer choices that seem like they would go against what's given in the formula.

I found that this little technique helped me greatly in PS. While studying to understand relationships/concepts should remain a top prioroty, I think that sitting down and memorizing formulas could be of great assistance as well. I know some people will be like "oh but if you TRULY understand everything, you don't have to memorize". I understand that this is a valid point, I am simply offering some advice which has helped me.

For anyone that might be struggling, try it and see if it helps

Good Luck

 

[Rabolisk]

That's a good point. But the vast majority of those who got 35+ and 13+ on PS will not only have memorized the formulas, but also understand the concept very well. And your goal, not just as an MCAT taker and a potential med student, but as a person, should be to do as well as you can. Plenty of people get 35+, so there's no reason why you shouldn't try to, and to get such a score, you have to understand the concept. Of course, in the end, when you simply don't have the time to understand a concept deeply, you should memorize the formula. One of the last things the night before the MCAT and the morning of was memorizing/refreshing my physics formulas. But that should be a last resort, not what your goal. By the way, I mean you in the general sense and not you, OP.

 

[h9i9j9]

Although this technique might work....I don't think it'll pay off in the long run.
There's a reason PS is on the MCAT, we might need it in the future...

Anyways, I guess I just want to say that understanding a concept is almost always better than memorizing. Don't give yourself an easy way out, understand the material.

 

[MD2014786]

When would you ever need PS in the future?

Although this technique might work....I don't think it'll pay off in the long run.
There's a reason PS is on the MCAT, we might need it in the future...

Anyways, I guess I just want to say that understanding a concept is almost always better than memorizing. Don't give yourself an easy way out, understand the material.

 

[apumic]

When would you ever need PS in the future?

But seriously...did you really just ask that question? Try... physiology and biochemistry -- two of the underpinnings of modern medicine. Sure, you could try and memorize your way through the medical school versions of these courses but it'll be a heck of a lot easier if you understand the WHY behind the facts.

 

[MD2014786]

Medical School and physio/biochem are a whole other story. I'm certain you wouldn't have to ever find "capacitance" or electric field" after the mcat.

The point of my post was simply to offer advice to those that might be struggling with certain areas. Again, it was meant as an alternative, not a replacement.

Also, by "memorizing" formulas, I don't believe that you are actually "cheating" yourself, as long as you DO have a grasp on the material. If you haven't read anything and are simply memorizing, then that's definatley wrong.

For instance, if you are trying to relate potential energy to electric force, how would you do that?

Well a good approach would be to know that PE= qV, and that F= qE. This rearranges to q = F/E. Now substituing into the scenario, you know that PE = (F/E)V. So an increase in the electric force would increase your PE and and increase in the electric field would decrease your PE.

But seriously...did you really just ask that question? Try... physiology and biochemistry -- two of the underpinnings of modern medicine. Sure, you could try and memorize your way through the medical school versions of these courses but it'll be a heck of a lot easier if you understand the WHY behind the facts.

 

[SN2ed]

Just to clear something up, in medical school, you will have to use numerous physics concepts: capacitance, circuits, flow rate, resistance, Ohm's law, velocity, effects of gravity, to a lesser extent electrical fields, conduction, Nernst equation, osmotic pressure etc. Don't think these are the only physics concepts we've covered either, there are more.