DC current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Traditionally, in undergraduate physics courses, DC current problem solving involves the application of formulas to simple electrical circuits where the flow of charge takes place within metallic conductors. The new MCAT places less emphasis on this type of problem solving, but you still need to master it. Not only because many devices from the medical and life science research context rely on DC current technology, such as electrophoresis apparatus, but also because, like so much with physics, problem solving with the model system is the first step before applying concepts to real world situations. On the new MCAT you are more likely to find situations where charge carriers are ions moving through a solution or across a membrane than to be faced with electrons moving through a metal wire, but to interpret current in the life science context you need to first master the language of voltage, current, resistance, and power to describe circuits composed of wires, resistors, and voltage sources.
WikiPremed Resources
DC Current Cards
Conceptual Vocabulary Self-Test
Basic Terms Crossword Puzzle
Basic Puzzle Solution
Conceptual Vocabulary for DC Current