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MCAT · Physics · New York, USA

Physics for the MCAT Exam — New York candidates

10% of the MCAT test plan. Kinematics, mechanics, thermodynamics, optics, electrostatics, and circuits are tested in the MCAT C/P section with a biological and clinical context. Calibrated for New Yorker candidates.

Examiners do not award marks for content alone — they award them for the ability to demonstrate competency in the precise format the test demands. Physics sits at roughly 10% of the Medical College Admission Test content distribution — Physics comprises roughly 25% of the C/P section. Unlike an undergraduate physics course, MCAT physics questions are almost always passage-based and apply concepts to biological systems: fluid mechanics (blood pressure, Poiseuille's law), optics (the eye as a lens), circuits (membrane potential analogies), and sound (ultrasound, Doppler). Mastery requires understanding the conceptual meaning of each equation, not just plugging numbers in. Pass rates for the MCAT are published annually by the awarding body and vary by cohort and locale. For New York candidates preparing for MCAT, the calibration of study to local context matters: New York is a top-3 state for NCLEX-RN, MCAT, and GRE candidates. NY State Education Department (NYSED) handles RN licensure differently from compact states.

Pass rates for MCAT (New York, USA) are published periodically by the awarding body.

Common failure modes

These are the patterns that cause most candidates to lose marks on this topic. Recognising them in advance is half the work.

  • !Not recognising when to use kinematics vs. energy conservation — both may solve a problem, but one is much faster
  • !Confusing series and parallel resistance/capacitance rules — they invert between the two configurations
  • !Misapplying the lens equation (1/f = 1/do + 1/di) — especially sign conventions for concave vs. convex lenses
  • !Forgetting that MCAT fluid mechanics uses Bernoulli and Poiseuille — both appear in cardiovascular physiology passages

Study tips

  • 1Memorize the six key physics equations that AAMC lists as foundational: F = ma, W = Fd, P = W/t, PV = nRT, Q = mcΔT, and the wave equation v = fλ.
  • 2Practice Bernoulli's equation using blood-flow examples. Venturi effect (narrowed vessels = faster flow, lower pressure) is a common MCAT passage theme.
  • 3Drill the thin-lens equation with sign conventions: real images have positive image distance; virtual images negative. For the eye, hyperopia needs converging lens, myopia diverging.
  • 4Review the Doppler effect conceptually — the MCAT tests direction (source approaching = higher frequency) more than calculation.
  • 5For NCLEX-RN: NYSED is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a NY licence does not transfer to other states without endorsement. Consider this if you plan to work in NJ/CT after graduating.
  • 6For MCAT: most NY medical schools (Columbia, Cornell, Mount Sinai, NYU) cap MCAT scores accepted at 3 years old — verify your target schools' exact policy.
  • 7For CDL: NY DMV requires a 14-day permit-holding period before scheduling the CDL skills test; budget this gap into your training schedule.

Sample MCAT Physics questions

These sample items mirror the format and difficulty of real MCAT questions. Practice with thousands more on the free Koydo question bank.

  1. 1

    A ball is dropped from rest at a height of 80 m. Ignoring air resistance, what is the ball's speed just before it hits the ground? (g = 10 m/s²)

    • A20 m/s
    • B40 m/sCorrect
    • C80 m/s
    • D160 m/s
    Why this answer?

    Using energy conservation: mgh = ½mv². Simplify: v = √(2gh) = √(2 × 10 × 80) = √1600 = 40 m/s. This is faster than using kinematics equations and reflects the MCAT preference for energy methods. (Illustrative.)

  2. 2

    A patient has a blood vessel with radius r. Atherosclerosis reduces the radius to r/2. By what factor does resistance to blood flow change? (Poiseuille's Law: R ∝ 1/r⁴)

    • A2-fold increase
    • B4-fold increase
    • C8-fold increase
    • D16-fold increaseCorrect
    Why this answer?

    Poiseuille's Law: resistance R = 8ηL/(πr⁴). If r decreases by factor of 2, resistance increases by 2⁴ = 16-fold. This is why even modest arterial narrowing dramatically increases cardiac work — a high-yield MCAT physiology-physics bridge concept.

  3. 3

    An object is placed 30 cm from a converging lens with focal length 10 cm. The image is:

    • AVirtual, erect, and magnified
    • BReal, inverted, and located 15 cm beyond the lensCorrect
    • CReal, inverted, and located at infinity
    • DVirtual, inverted, and diminished
    Why this answer?

    1/f = 1/do + 1/di → 1/10 = 1/30 + 1/di → 1/di = 1/10 − 1/30 = 3/30 − 1/30 = 2/30 → di = 15 cm. Positive di means the image is real and on the opposite side of the lens. Real images from converging lenses are always inverted.

Frequently asked questions

How much calculus is on the MCAT physics section?
None. MCAT physics uses algebra only. There are no derivatives or integrals in the test questions. Understanding the conceptual meaning of calculus-derived formulas (like work as area under a force-displacement curve) is sufficient.
Is electromagnetic induction tested on the MCAT?
The MCAT includes basic electromagnetism: Coulomb's law, electric field and potential, and simple circuits (Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's rules). Faraday's law and induction appear only at a conceptual level. Focus on electrostatics, basic circuits, and magnetism concepts over complex induction problems.
What is the MCAT pass rate for New Yorker candidates?
Pass rates for MCAT candidates in New York, USA are published periodically by the awarding body. Practice questions, full-length simulations, and weak-area drills are the highest-impact way to improve your odds.
How long should New Yorker candidates study Physics for the MCAT?
For most candidates, focused mastery of Physics requires 20–40 hours of deliberate practice — drilling sample questions, reviewing failure modes, and timing yourself against exam conditions. New York is a top-3 state for NCLEX-RN, MCAT, and GRE candidates. NY State Education Department (NYSED) handles RN licensure differently from compact states. Combine Physics study with full-length mock exams in the final two weeks before your test date.

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Related study guides

Regulatory citation: AAMC MCAT 2015 Content Specifications — Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems.