BMAT 2006Section 2 Worked Solutions

Detailed worked solutions for BMAT 2006 Section 2. Explore explanations, key concepts, and topics for each question.

Section Review

BMAT Section 2 Overview

BMAT Section 2 assesses Scientific Knowledge and its Application. It typically covers Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics relevant to scientific contexts. The 27 questions, usually multiple-choice or short answer, require not only factual recall but also the ability to apply principles, interpret data, and perform calculations efficiently under time constraints (30 minutes). Calculators are not permitted.

Core Biology Concepts

Key areas often include:
- Cell Biology: Structure of animal and plant cells, organelles, enzymes, cell division (mitosis & meiosis), transport across membranes.
- Physiology: Human systems such as digestive, circulatory (heart, blood vessels, blood), respiratory, nervous, and excretory systems; homeostasis (e.g., temperature regulation, blood glucose control by insulin and glucagon, ADH and water balance).
- Genetics & Inheritance: DNA structure, protein synthesis, mutations, Mendelian genetics (monohybrid and dihybrid crosses, dominant/recessive alleles, codominance, sex-linked inheritance), genetic disorders.
- Disease & Health: Pathogens, immune response, vaccination.
- Ecology: Basic concepts like food chains, nutrient cycles.

Core Chemistry Concepts

Expect questions on:
- Atomic Structure & Bonding: Protons, neutrons, electrons, isotopes, electronic configuration, ionic and covalent bonding, intermolecular forces, properties of different structures (simple molecular, giant covalent, ionic, metallic).
- Periodic Table: Trends in properties, group chemistry (especially Groups 1, 2, 7, 0).
- Stoichiometry & Moles: Relative atomic/molecular mass, mole concept, calculations from balanced equations, concentration of solutions.
- Energetics: Exothermic and endothermic reactions, enthalpy change, reaction profiles, activation energy.
- Rates of Reaction & Equilibria: Factors affecting reaction rates (temperature, concentration, pressure, catalysts), Le Chatelier’s principle.
- Acids, Bases & Salts: pH, properties of acids and bases, neutralisation.
- Redox Reactions: Oxidation and reduction, oxidising and reducing agents.
- Organic Chemistry: Basic nomenclature and reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, carboxylic acids.
- Chemical Analysis: Basic tests for ions and gases.

Core Physics Concepts

Commonly tested topics include:
- Mechanics: Forces (Newton's laws), motion (speed, velocity, acceleration, graphs of motion), energy (kinetic, potential, work, power), moments.
- Electricity & Magnetism: Electric circuits (series and parallel, current, voltage, resistance, Ohm's law, power), basic electromagnetism (magnetic fields around wires/coils).
- Waves: Properties of waves (transverse/longitudinal, wavelength, frequency, speed), sound, electromagnetic spectrum (properties and uses of different EM waves like radio, microwaves, infrared, visible, UV, X-rays, gamma rays), reflection, refraction, dispersion.
- Radioactivity: Types of radiation (alpha, beta, gamma), half-life, nuclear equations, uses and dangers of radiation.
- Thermal Physics: Basic concepts of heat transfer and temperature.
- Pressure: Pressure in fluids.

Core Mathematics Concepts

Mathematical skills are crucial and often embedded within science questions. Key areas include:
- Number: Arithmetic, fractions, percentages, ratios, standard form, estimation, significant figures.
- Algebra: Manipulating equations, solving linear and simultaneous equations (including quadratics that simplify), proportionality.
- Geometry & Measures: Areas and volumes of simple shapes, basic trigonometry (sine, cosine, tangent in right-angled triangles, cosine rule if given), understanding graphs.
- Probability & Statistics: Basic probability, interpreting charts and graphs, calculating means, understanding quartiles.