Jack Westin MCAT Podcast MCAT Physics: Forces, Energy & Power Explained I Jack Westin MCAT Podcast
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Sep 10, 2025 Dive deep into the essentials of forces, energy, and power with engaging discussions on Newton's laws. Understand the importance of mastering these concepts for tackling MCAT physics questions. Gain clarity on free body diagrams, action-reaction pairs, and the significance of normal force in everyday scenarios. Explore the concepts of kinetic and potential energy, work, and how friction can remove energy. With practical examples from elevators to airbags, you'll see physics in action and feel more confident. Get ready to tackle your studies with newfound knowledge!
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Core Physics Foundations
- Forces, energy, and power are the foundational physics topics that underlie most MCAT physics questions.
- Mastering these topics helps you reason through many problems in fluids, optics, and electrostatics.
Always Check Net Force First
- Always check for net force: if net force ≠ 0, the object accelerates; if net force = 0, acceleration is zero.
- Use F_net = ma to connect forces, mass, and acceleration when solving problems.
Equal And Opposite On Different Objects
- Newton's third law pairs are equal and opposite but act on different objects, so they never cancel on the same object.
- The normal force and gravity can be equal in magnitude yet are not third-law pairs.