Should physics be on the MCAT?
Unless the patient is on a train, physics doesn't help
Train photo courtesy of kaffeeeinstein on Flickr
I forgot how much I hate physics.
If studying for the MCAT only included biology, chemistry, and verbal reasoning, I might have a serious shot. But throwing physics into the mix has me worried.
Way back in first year, almost three years ago, I thought I was saying goodbye to physics. Forever. After writing my exam, I would never have to see its face again. No more calculating the distance traveled by a projectile. Or determining how long it takes a soccer ball thrown from a height of 80 metres with an initial velocity of 10 metres per second to reach the ground. As for those two trains —the ones that are speeding towards each other, with hundreds of hypothetical passengers’ lives at stake — who cares what their final speed is, or how long it takes them to collide? Not me.
At least, I didn’t care until this summer. Now that I’m studying for the MCAT, physics has returned from the past — like a bad guy in an action movie who I thought was dead, but instead of shooting him a second time (just to be sure), I turned my back and didn’t notice the ominous music.
The problem is that the last time we saw each other, it didn’t end very well. Every time I tried to patch things up, physics would bring up the centrifugal force. Now, I’m asking myself: why is physics even tested on the MCAT?
Biology makes sense. Mostly. Some of the specifics seem a little irrelevant, like the details of cellular metabolism, but hey, med school is all about biology, right? And as much as I hate chemistry, I grudgingly accept the fact that it has a place in med school, too. Sure, I’d like to lie to myself and claim that chemistry has no real-world applications in medicine. But then I’d have to ignore the existence of pharmaceuticals (even the boring sections in my organic chemistry textbook are important for future doctors).
But for some reason, back when the MCAT was being created, someone stupidly invited physics to the party. I just don’t see how physics can help a doctor treat their patients. Unless the patient is a passenger on a train. A train that is heading south at a velocity of 80 kilometers per hour, on the same tracks as a train that is heading north at a velocity of 72 kilometers per hour…
I’m on board the physics hating train, but the fact is that physics is applicable to medicine. Perhaps not the GP brand of medicine, but can you imagine a competant radiologist or oncologist without it?
I hate it as much as you do, but I’ve resigned myself to the fact that it will be applicable for many of my colleagues, even if it is of very little use to me. At least you will be able to calculate the force exerted on the manubrium of that car collison trauma patient laying in front of you!
The level of physics knowledge required to succeed on the MCAT is very basic – at the level of Grade 12 or first-year – and doesn’t even assume competence with basic calculus. I’m not sure why it’s too much to ask that prospective physicians be acquainted with physical forces – fluids, charges and currents, etc. I would further argue that physiology – especially cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and neuromuscular – cannot be understood without competence in concepts in basic physics. You won’t need to do many calculations as such, but it’s not like there’s anything all that mathematically challenging on the MCAT.
On the other hand, organic chemistry outside of some nomenclature and redox reactions is almost completely irrelevant. Post-MCAT you can consign any knowledge you had of electrophilic aromatic substitution and countless other mechanisms to the dustbin unless you plan on doing pharmacology research. Biochemistry? Absolutely – though the Krebs cycle isn’t anything you’ll be thinking about on call.
Physics is important…Physics exists in radiology and radiation oncology….and ophthalmology….
No offense Scott but this is the dumbest post I’ve ever seen on Macleans OnCampus.
“Every time I tried to patch things up, physics would bring up the centrifugal force.” Good example, especially since you know, centrifuges are used in medical labs and all.
Not to mention those basic kinematics problems in your post use the same basic physics as things like how much force a hip (or hip replacement) will need to handle.
And you know… blood is a fluid… so the entire circulatory system deals with fluid mechanics. As do the lungs, and the urinary tract. And the entire nervous system deals with electrical conduction. And as pointed out above, the eyes deal with optics, and oncology and radiology both deal with radioactive decay. I could go on, but I think you get the picture.
“Or determining how long it takes a soccer ball thrown from a height of 80 metres with an initial velocity of 10 metres per second to reach the ground.”
That’s more of a basic math problem than a physics problem. The time is just the square root of twice the distance times the acceleration. If you can’t do a square root, you probably shouldn’t be a doctor. Just saying.
No offense taken, Ryan! But if this is the “dumbest post” you’ve ever read on Macleans OnCampus, I guess you don’t read my blog regularly.
@The nurse will see you:
You’ve actually raised some excellent points, thanks. Good thing I didn’t push the ‘wipe physics out of existence’ button.
Physics is an important component such that medical practitioners need to understand how their equipment works however having it on the MCAT is a silly idea as it is not practiced in the arena of surgery.