Physics Formulas and Definitions
MECHANICS
Density: the mass per unit volume of an object.
ρ = m/V
Relative Density: compares the density of a substance to the density of water.
ρR = ρsubstance /ρwater
Weight: a body's relative mass or the quantity of matter contained by it.
W = mg
Moments: the product of the force and the perpendicular distance, d, from the pivot
M=Fxd
Principle of Moments: Total Anticlockwise moment = Total Clockwise Moment
Hooke’s Law: states that for an object undergoing elastic deformation, the force
applied is proportional to the extension.
F = ke
Motion:
Distance: how far an object travels
Displacement: how far an object travels in a particular direction
Speed: The rate of change of distance/The change of distance with time.
Velocity: The rate of change of displacement/The change in displacement with time.
v = s/t for an object moving with constant velocity i.e. no acceleration.
For an accelerating body:
a = (v-u)/t
s = ((u+v)/2) xt
s = ut + ½ at2
v2 – u2 = 2as
F = ma
The area under a velocity-time graph is distance travelled
Momentum: the product of its mass and velocity.
p = mv
For all collisions: Total momentum before a collision = Total momentum after a collision
For elastic collisions only: Total EK before = Total EK after
Work is done when a force applied causes the object to move in the direction of the
applied force.
W = F x s Where s = distance in the same direction as the force (parallel distance)
Energy:the ability to do work. When work is done energy is used.
● Potential Energy: the stored energy that an object has due to its state or
position.
Ep = mgh
● Kinetic Energy: the energy that an object has when it is in motion
EK = ½ mv2
● For a falling body
Ep at top = EK at the bottom
Power: the rate at which work is done or energy is used.
P = E/t or P = W/t (W = work)
Efficiency = (Output Energy/Input Energy) x 100%
Pressure: the force acting perpendicular per unit area
P = F/A
Upthrust
U = Weight of water displaced
U = Weight of object in air – weight of object in water
U = weight of object …..Floating
U < weight of object …..Sinking
U > weight of object …..Rising
Pressure in Liquids
P = ρgh where h = depth
THERMAL PHYSICS
T/K = T/oC + 273
T/K = θ/oC + 273
Heat Capacity: the heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by 1K or
1oC.
E = CΔT
Specific Heat Capacity: the heat required to raise the temperature of 1kg of a
substance by 1K or 1oC.
E = mcΔT
C = mc
Latent Heat: the heat energy required to change the state of a substance without a
change in temperature.
E = Lv
E = Lf
Specific Latent Heat: the heat required to change the state of 1kg a substance
without a change in temperature.
E = mlv
E = mlf
Conservation of Heat Energy
Heat lost = Heat gain
Gas Laws
(P x V)/T = constant
P1 x V1 = P2 x V2
T1 T2
Boyle’s Law: states that a gas's pressure and volume are inversely proportional,
when the temperature is kept constant, for a fixed mass of gas.
P1 x V1 = P2 x V2
Charles’ Law: states that the volume of an ideal gas is directly proportional to the
absolute temperature at constant pressure, for a fixed mass of gas.
V1/T1 = V2/T2
Pressure Law: For a fixed mass of gas, at a constant volume, the pressure is
directly proportional to the temperature
P1/T1 = P2/T2
WAVES AND OPTICS
Wave speed: the distance travelled by the wave per unit time.
v = fλ
f = 1/T
Reflection: the bouncing off of a wave from a reflecting surface. A reflecting
surface is usually smooth and shiny.
i=r
Refraction: the abrupt change in speed and or direction of a wave from one
medium to the next.
vd = λd
vs λs
ang = sin θa / sin θg
ng = sin ia / sin rg
Critical Angle: the angle of incidence when the angle of refraction is 90o as the ray
travels from a dense to a less dense medium.
Sin c = 1/n
For TIR, i > c
For Refraction, i < c
Lenses
1/f = 1/u + 1/v
Real is +ve.
Converging or Convex Lens: the point at which rays parallel to the principal
axis meet after passing through the lens.
u < f gives a virtual magnified image
u > f gives a real image
Diverging Lens: the point at which rays parallel to the principal axis appear to
come from after passing through the lens.
ONE type of image only, i.e. virtual and diminished
Magnification
M = v/u
M = Image size/object size
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM
Charge
Q = It
Current: the rate of flow of charge.
I = Q/t
Voltage: or potential difference (p.d) of a battery is the energy per unit charge that
is converted from electrical energy to other forms.
V = E/Q
Resistance: the ratio of the voltage to the current.
V = IR
Electrical Energy
E = VIt
Electrical Power: the electrical energy used per unit time
P = VI
P = I 2R
P = V 2/R
Resistors in Series
RT = R1 + R2
Resistors in Parallel
1/RT = 1/R1 + 1/R2
RT = R1 x R2 / R1 + R2
= product/sum
Transformer:
Power in = Power out
Vs/Vp = Ns/Np = Ip/Is
Turns ratio = Ns/Np
NUCLEAR PHYSICS
Mass number: total number of protons and neutrons in an atom
A=Z+N
Radioactivity: the random decay of the nucleus of an unstable atom by the
spontaneous emission of radiation from the nucleus.
Half Life, T1/2: The time taken to reduce to half of the previous value
Einstein’s Equation
ΔE = Δmc2
