what equations to memorize?

[novawildcat]

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ok so i have yet to take a practice mcat exam (i will sooon though). do they give you equations on the mcat to use towards problems or do you have to memorize every equation from chem and physics? also what about fundamental constants? if you do have to memorize equations, which ones should you know like the back of your hand?

 

[braluk]

ok so i have yet to take a practice mcat exam (i will sooon though). do they give you equations on the mcat to use towards problems or do you have to memorize every equation from chem and physics? also what about fundamental constants? if you do have to memorize equations, which ones should you know like the back of your hand?

some of them give you equations, but if you want to do well, the only answer is, to memorize all of them, it will be that much easier to recall and use, especially if you know how the variables are in relation to each other.

 

[xanthomondo]

some of them give you equations, but if you want to do well, the only answer is, to memorize all of them, it will be that much easier to recall and use, especially if you know how the variables are in relation to each other.

memorization is the key to failure

if you want to do well, understand where the equations come from and why they look the way they do...theres really no need to blindly memorize the equations

 

[LifetimeDoc]

memorization is the key to failure

if you want to do well, understand where the equations come from and why they look the way they do...theres really no need to blindly memorize the equations

But there are some equations you just have to memorize, like the classical newtonian physical law equations. EK Audio Osmosis does a good job telling you what you need to memorize, and those that you simply need to understand. Some of the review books let you know which to memorize, and which to simply understand. If the equation is simply a statement of a fundamental law, then you sould know it cold. If it's some complex equation, then you just need to understand the equation, not memorize it.

 

[braluk]

point noted. I just memorized all the equations and remmbered why and how each is related (i.e. pv=nrt) one equation i know i did not memorize was the real gas equation which accounts for discrepances in the ideal gas law, in that equation i memorized why P is not ideal nor V. I also skipped over Bernoulli's Equation and memorized its concepts. Some other things that were just too complex i foregoed and just understand its principle. Luckily enough nothing like that ever showed up in the MCAT. There are things about equations you can memorize without having to go back to formula. For example, incident light and refraction, i think theres an equation for that, but the general consensus is that the angle of incidence is always equal to angle of refraction. Or that when temperature rises, pressure and volume will also rise as well. Relations between variables is extremely helpful when you cannot recall its equation form, and sometimes can stand in its stead.

 

[dwigt]

point noted. I just memorized all the equations and remmbered why and how each is related (i.e. pv=nrt) one equation i know i did not memorize was the real gas equation which accounts for discrepances in the ideal gas law, in that equation i memorized why P is not ideal nor V. I also skipped over Bernoulli's Equation and memorized its concepts. Some other things that were just too complex i foregoed and just understand its principle. Luckily enough nothing like that ever showed up in the MCAT. There are things about equations you can memorize without having to go back to formula. For example, incident light and refraction, i think theres an equation for that, but the general consensus is that the angle of incidence is always equal to angle of refraction. Or that when temperature rises, pressure and volume will also rise as well. Relations between variables is extremely helpful when you cannot recall its equation form, and sometimes can stand in its stead.

Sorry to be nitpicky, but I think you meant reflection. The angle of refraction is almost never equal to the angle of incidence 🙂

 

[dwigt]

To the OP: if you know any calculus, it can be very helpful. If you can integrate, then you really don't need to memorize any of the kinetics equations. You can use the same method to solve just about any kinetics problem, no matter what variables are missing.

 

[braluk]

Sorry to be nitpicky, but I think you meant reflection. The angle of refraction is almost never equal to the angle of incidence 🙂

once the MCAT was done for me, refraction can be the same as menstrual cycle for all i care 😉

 

[braluk]

calculus is helpful yes, but anyone can figure out kinematics equations and rate laws just by looking at concentrations of the reactants and products and determining the ratios. you just need a good eye for math in general and u should be fine. i never really deferred back to any calculus in any of the mcats ive done or practiced.

 

[LifetimeDoc]

once the MCAT was done for me, refraction can be the same as menstrual cycle for all i care 😉

You may not care anymore about refraction, but you're gonna need to know the menstrual cycle in detail when you go through medical school! 😀

 

[braluk]

You may not care anymore about refraction, but you're gonna need to know the menstrual cycle in detail when you go through medical school! 😀

ok then ok then, then refraction can be the same as a train traveling at 60 miles per hour due east for all i care 😉

 

[dwigt]

once the MCAT was done for me, refraction can be the same as menstrual cycle for all i care 😉

I completely understand, I'm one of the few who actually cares about physics. I just didn't want any future mcatters to get mixed up.

 

[LifetimeDoc]

I completely understand, I'm one of the few who actually cares about physics. I just didn't want any future mcatters to get mixed up.

I would have scored higher in the PS section if it wasn't for physics. I do not heart physics. I hope to never see it again! 😀

 

[braluk]

I completely understand, I'm one of the few who actually cares about physics. I just didn't want any future mcatters to get mixed up.

the funny thing is, i used to hate physics. Then i focused my attention onto it, and loved it by the end, and pulled off a 12 on the PS. Now i have some pretty decent memory of it, but it has gotten a little bit rusty since.

 

[dwigt]

calculus is helpful yes, but anyone can figure out kinematics equations and rate laws just by looking at concentrations of the reactants and products and determining the ratios. you just need a good eye for math in general and u should be fine. i never really deferred back to any calculus in any of the mcats ive done or practiced.

Sorry, I was talking about kinetics questions in physics (like initial velocity, acceleration, time, etc), not chemistry kinematics. Calculus is by no means necessary, but most of the kinetics equation are not intuitive, so just understanding the concept won't help a whole lot.