Light and Optics
MCAT Basics (from MedSchoolCoach)
MedSchoolCoach
4.6 • 612 Ratings
🗓️ 5 December 2024
⏱️ 46 minutes
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Summary
A foundational part of the MCAT, light and optics bridge the gap between physics and biology, making them vital for your exam preparation.
In this episode, Sam Smith breaks down the fundamentals of light, covering both its wave and particle properties. From the energy of photons and the photoelectric effect, to wave behavior and the principles of refraction and reflection, Sam simplifies complex concepts to help you grasp key equations and principles. You'll also learn about lenses, ray tracing, and the real-life applications of polarization.
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Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Intro
(01:03) Introduction to light and optics
(03:10) How photons carry energy
(05:34) The photoelectric effect and its significance
(17:47) Introduction to waves and simple harmonic motion
(18:46) Longitudinal vs. transverse waves explained
(21:47) Constructive and destructive interference in wave behavior
(23:40) Polarization, reflection, and refraction in light
(36:40) How lenses and ray tracing work
(44:59) MCAT Advice of the Day
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to MCAT Basics, your ultimate guide to the essential topics you need to master for the MCAT, |
| 0:07.0 | brought to you by the physicians at Med School Coach. |
| 0:10.0 | Every week, Sam Smith breaks down high-yield MCAT topics, ensuring you're primed for success on test day. |
| 0:17.0 | Join Sam as we explore the most crucial subjects outlined by the AAMC, pulled from official practice materials and third-party resources. |
| 0:24.8 | Get ready to elevate your MCAT game with topics tailored to maximize your score potential. |
| 0:30.0 | Hello, I'm Sam Smith. |
| 0:32.4 | This lecture is going to cover light in optics. |
| 0:35.3 | So as I'm sure you know, light has both particle and wave-like |
| 0:39.3 | behavior. Therefore, it's only natural. I talk about photons, which are particles, and then also |
| 0:44.9 | about waves. So this podcast is going to be broken down into three main core topics. I'm going to |
| 0:51.1 | start out discussing photons, mainly regarding their energy. |
| 0:55.0 | I'll talk a little bit about the photoelectric effect. |
| 0:57.0 | Then I'll get onto waves, I'll talk about simple harmonic motion, I'll talk about |
| 1:01.0 | longitudinal versus transverse waves, and also discuss interference a little bit. |
| 1:06.0 | And then I'll tie together photons and waves and I'll talk about light. |
| 1:09.0 | And so this will be a heavy physics |
| 1:10.8 | lecture. I'll talk about polarization, reflection, and then lenses in ray tracing. This information |
| 1:17.5 | will mainly come up on the chem physics section of the MCAT. It's one out of the four. However, |
| 1:22.9 | in terms of physics, this is probably the most high yield. You know, they like to talk about |
| 1:26.9 | this in terms of eyeball and your eye does this or the way |
| 1:31.6 | the MCAT likes to phrase questions in terms of physiology. |
| 1:34.4 | It's easy then to ask questions about optics because that is very related to the eye. |
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