MCAT
Equation Sheet
For Daily Review
Master every must-know MCAT formula with
this daily review sheet designed to make
memorization effortless and test-day recall
automatic.
MCAT Equation Sheet
Kinematics and Mechanics
TAX
Distance
VAT
VAX
d = vt
vf = v0 + at
v2f = v20 + 2a∆x
Newton’s 2nd Law
Torque
Hooke’s Law
Fnet = ma
τ = Fl sinθ
F = -kx
∆x = v0t +
Law of Gravitation
1 2
at
2
GM1M2
r2
F=
Centripetal motion
Friction
mv2
v2
, Fc =
r
r
Fk = µk FN
Fs ≤ µs FN
ac =
Work, Energy, Momentum
Kinetic energy
KE =
Gravitational PE
Spring PE
PEgrav = mgh
1
PEelastic = 2 kx2
1
mv2
2
Power
P=
Work
Momentum
Conservation of momentum
W = Fd cosθ
p = mv
m1v1i + m2v2i = m1v1f + m2v2f
W
t
Electric Power & Circuits
Current
Electric Power & Ohm’s Law
P = IV
V = IR
I=
Capacitors in series and in parallel
1
1
1
=
+
+...
CS
C1
C2
Cp = C1 + C2 +...
AC Circuits
∆q
∆t
Ims =
Imax
Vmax
,Vms =
2
2
Resistors in series and in parallel
1
1
1
=
+
+...
R1
R2
Rp
Rs = R1 + R2 +...
Electricity & Magnetism
Electric field
Electric field due to
point charge
F
E= q
0
kq
E = r2
Electric potential
due to point charge
Capacitance
Energy stored by
capacitor
kq
E= r
q = VC
Electrostatic force
Fe =
kq1q2
r2
Magnetic force
F = qvB sinθ
F = ILB sinθ
U=
Electrical potential
∆V =
∆U
q0
Magnetic field around
a wire
1
cv2
2
B=
µ0I
2πr
Magnetic field at center of wire loop
B=
µ0I
2r
MCAT Equation Sheet
Fluids and Solids
Density
ρ=
Buoyant force
Pressure
Fb = ρfluidVsubmerged g
P=
Specific gravity
m
v
s.g. =
ρsubstance
ρwater
F
A
Osmotic pressure
Total pressure on fluid
Fluid gauge pressure
Continuity equation
π = MRT
Ptotal = Patm + Pgauge
Pfluid = ρfluid gh
A1v1 = A2v2
Bernoulli’s Equation
Graham’s Law
P + 1 ρv2 + ρgh = const.
2
rate A
=
rate B
MMB
MMA
Thermal expansion
∆L = αL∆T
∆V = βV∆T
Thermodynamics
Heat energy
Latent heat
First Law of Thermodynamics
∆Q = mc∆T
∆Q = mL
∆U = Q-W
Internal energy of an ideal gas
Gibbs free energy
Equilibrium
∆G = ∆H - T∆S
∆G = -RTInKeq
Photon energy
Magnification
U=
3
nRT
2
Light and Optics
Index of refraction
c
n= v
Snell’s Law
n1sinθ1 = n2sinθ2
E = hf =
hc
λ
m=-
Total internal reflection
sinθcrit =
n2
, n < n1
n1 2
i
o
Lensmaker’s Eq.
1
1
1
= o+ i
f
Periodic Motion, Waves and Sound
Wave freq. and period
1
Spring angular freq.
k
f= T
ω = 2πf = m
Wave spped
Doppler effect
f = f’
v±vD
v vS
±
V = fλ
Pendulum angular freq.
g
ω = 2πf = L
MCAT Equation Sheet
Atomic and Nuclear
Alpha decay
A
Z
Beta-minus decay
X → A-4
Z-2 Y + α
A
Z
Beta-plus decay
X → AZ+1 Y + -10 e
A
Z
X → AZ-1 Y ++10 e
General Chemistry
Ideal gas law
Charles’s law
Boyle’s law
Avogardro’s law
PV = nRT
V1
V
= T2
T1
2
P1V1 = P2V2
n1
n
= V2
V1
2
pH
Dilution
Van der Waals equation of state
pH = -log [H+]
MiVi = MfVf
Electromotive force
EMF
Hardy-Weinberg equations
EMF = E°red + E°ox
Ecell = Ecathode - Eanode
p+q=1
p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1
P+
n2a
(V-nb) = nRT
v2
Organic Chemistry - Substitutions/Eliminations
Good nucleophile
Alkyl Halide
Poor nucleophile
(e.g. H2O, HOR)
Strong Base
(e.g. tert-buoxide, OH-)
Weak Base
(e.g. Cl-)
1°
E2 if bulky base,
otherwise SN2 favored
SN2
No Reaction
2°
E2
SN2 in polar approtic
solvents
SN1/E1 in Protic solvents
3°
E2
SN1/E1 in protic solvents
SN1/E1 in Protic solvents
Organic Chemistry - SN2 vs. SN1
SN2
SN2
Kinetics
Rate = k[RX][Nu]
Rate = k[RX]
Mechanism
Concerted, one step
Two step
Stereochemistry
Inversion of configuration
Racemic mixture
Sterics in substrate
Reactivity of alkhyl halides: 1° > 2° > 3°
Reactivity of alkhyl halides: 3° > 2° > 1°
Leaving groups
Best are weak bases
Best are weak bases
Solvent effects
Faster in polar aprotic solvent, slower in protic
Protic solvent
Nucleophiles
Strong bases
Doesn’t matter
0
