Physics on the MCAT appears in the Chemical and Physical Foundations section, applied to biological and experimental scenarios rather than tested as abstract problem sets. This guide covers the high-yield physics topics, how the exam frames them, and how to study physics efficiently.
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check_circleMCAT physics is tested in the Chemical and Physical Foundations section.
check_circleIt is applied to biology and experiments, with limited heavy calculation.
check_circleFluids, optics, electricity/circuits, and thermodynamics are high-yield.
check_circleUnderstand concepts and units rather than memorizing many equations.
check_circlePractice passages train the applied, data-interpretation style.
How Physics Is Tested
On the MCAT, physics is applied within experimental and often physiological contexts rather than presented as pure problem sets, and calculators are not allowed, so the math is kept manageable. Questions reward conceptual understanding, dimensional reasoning, and interpreting graphs and data over rote plugging into equations. Physics frequently connects to biology — for example, fluid dynamics to blood flow and optics to the eye.
High-Yield Topics
Prioritize the topics that recur and link to physiology: fluids and hydrostatics (pressure, flow, and their application to the circulation), optics (lenses, mirrors, the eye and corrective lenses), electricity and circuits (Ohm's law, capacitors, and their link to the nervous system), and thermodynamics and energy. Kinematics and forces, waves and sound, and basic atomic and nuclear physics round out the content.
Connecting Physics to Biology
Much MCAT physics is best understood through its biological applications: Poiseuille and Bernoulli principles explain blood flow and vascular resistance; optics explains vision and its correction; circuit concepts parallel nerve conduction and membrane potentials; and thermodynamics connects to metabolism. Framing physics this way both matches how the exam tests it and makes the concepts easier to retain.
How to Study Physics
Focus on understanding the core relationships and their units rather than memorizing a long formula list, and be comfortable estimating and reasoning without a calculator. Prioritize the high-yield topics above and their biological applications, and use AAMC and third-party practice passages to train the applied, data-driven style. Reviewing why each answer is right builds the reasoning the section rewards.
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In physics, what is a 'force'?
Answer: B. In physics, a force is a push or a pull that can start, stop, speed up, slow down, or change the direction of an object's motion (or change its shape). The amount of matter in an object (A) is its mass, the distance traveled (C) is a measure of length, energy stored in bonds (D) is chemical energy, and temperature (E) relates to particle motion as heat. A force is a push or a pull.
Source: Hewitt, P. G. (2015). Conceptual physics (12th ed.). Pearson.
In physics, 'acceleration' occurs whenever an object...
Answer: A. Acceleration is any change in an object's velocity, which means it occurs when the object speeds up, slows down, OR changes direction, since velocity includes both speed and direction. Moving at a constant speed in a straight line (B) means zero acceleration, being at rest (C) also means no acceleration, having large mass (D) relates to inertia rather than acceleration, and giving off heat (E) is unrelated. Acceleration is a change in velocity.
Source: Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. (2018). Physics for scientists and engineers (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
A person pushes as hard as they can against a massive, immovable brick wall, but the wall does not move at all. In the physics sense, how much mechanical work does the person do ON the wall?
Answer: B. In physics, work equals force multiplied by the displacement in the direction of the force (W = F × d); because the wall does not move, the displacement is zero, so the work done on the wall is zero — no matter how hard the person pushes. A is wrong because effort without displacement does no mechanical work, C and D misuse the formula, and E is incorrect because the value is clearly defined as zero. With no displacement, the work done is zero.
Source: Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. (2018). Physics for scientists and engineers (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
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MCAT physics appears in the Chemical and Physical Foundations section, applied to biological and experimental scenarios rather than as abstract problem sets. Calculators are not allowed, so the math is manageable, and questions emphasize concepts, units, and data interpretation over rote calculation.
What are the high-yield MCAT physics topics?expand_more
High-yield topics include fluids and hydrostatics (applied to blood flow), optics (lenses and the eye), electricity and circuits (linked to the nervous system), and thermodynamics and energy, along with kinematics and forces, waves and sound, and basic atomic and nuclear physics.
How should I study physics for the MCAT?expand_more
Focus on understanding core relationships and units rather than memorizing many equations, and practice reasoning without a calculator. Prioritize the high-yield topics and their biological applications, and use practice passages to train the applied, data-interpretation style the exam uses.
How does MCAT physics connect to biology?expand_more
MCAT physics is often framed biologically: fluid dynamics explains blood flow and vascular resistance, optics explains vision, circuit concepts parallel nerve conduction, and thermodynamics connects to metabolism. Learning physics through these applications matches how the exam tests it.
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