2023

PHYSICS FORMULA SHEET

GCE- 5054 & IGCSE- 0625
 PHYSICAL QUANTITIES AND UNITS
PREFIXES
Factor Name Symbol Factor Name Symbol

109 Giga G 10-3 Milli m

106 Mega M 10-6 Micro u
103 Kilo k 10-9 Nano n
10-2 Centi c
7 BASE QUANTITIES
Quantity Symbol Name Symbol
Length l Meter m
Mass m Kilogram Kg
Time t,T Second s
Electric current I Ampere A
Temperature t , T, θ Kelvin K
Amount of substance n Mole mol
Luminous intensity L Candela Cd
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
No. of 1.245 1.2 1002 3.07 0.001 0.012 0.0230 0.20 190
significant 4 sig. 2 sig. 4 sig. 3 sig. 1 sig. 2 sig. 3 sig. 2 sig. 2 or 3 sig.
figures fig. fig. fig. fig. fig. fig. fig. fig. fig.
SIMPLE PENDULUM
Time period of simple 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 Frequency of 1 1
𝑇= 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 = =
pendulum 𝑛𝑜. 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑠𝑐𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 simple pendulum 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑑 𝑇
KINEMATICS
Stopping Distance = Thinking Distance + Braking Distance
QUANTITY FORMULA UNITS DESCRIPTION
𝑆
Uniform speed 𝑣= m/s
𝑡
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑆 m/s S: the displacement in meters
Average speed 𝑣𝑎𝑣 = = t : the time in seconds
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡
u: initial speed v: final speed
For uniformly accelerating 𝑢+𝑣 m/s
𝑣𝑎𝑣 = vav : average speed
bodies: average speed 2 a: acceleration
∆𝑣 𝑣−𝑢
Acceleration a= = m/s2
𝑡 𝑡
Area under graph of velocity rectangle triangle trapezium
time graph for distance 𝑏×ℎ 1 1
calculation ×𝑏×ℎ × 𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠 × ℎ
2 2
1 𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑎𝑡 u = initial velocity
Equations for uniformly 1 v = final velocity
accelerated motion 2 𝑆 = 𝑢𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2 S = displacement
2
free falls under gravity g = a = 9.81ms-2
3 𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2𝑎𝑆

MASS, WEIGHT AND DENSITY

mass m
Density(ρ) ρ= ρ= Unit: kg m-3
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑉
Weight w = 𝑚𝑔 Unit: Newton (N)
Volume of sphere 4 3 Volume of cube 𝑉 = 𝑙3 Volume of cylinder 𝑉 = 𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ
𝑉= 𝜋𝑟
3
MOMENTUM
Initial Momentum 𝑃𝑖 = 𝑚𝑢
Final Momentum 𝑃𝑓 = 𝑚𝑣
Change in Momentum ∆𝑃 = 𝑃𝑓 – 𝑃𝑖 ∆𝑃 = 𝑚𝑣 – 𝑚𝑢 ∆𝑃 = 𝑚(𝑣 − 𝑢)
Force ∆𝑃 𝑚(𝑣 − 𝑢) F = 𝑚𝑎
𝐹= =
Rate of change in Momentum 𝑡 𝑡
Braking force 𝐹.𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 𝑚 × deceleration
Impulse 𝐼 = 𝐹𝑡 𝐼 = ∆𝑃 𝑚𝑣 – 𝑚𝑢
LAW OF CONSERVATION OF MOMENTUM DURING ELASTIC OR INELASTIC COLLISION
1. Objects travelling in the same direction collide & keep travelling in the same direction.

𝑚1𝑢1 + 𝑚2𝑢2 = 𝑚1𝑣1 + 𝑚2𝑣2

2. Objects travelling in the same direction collide & stick but keep travelling in the same direction.

𝑚1𝑢1 + 𝑚2𝑢2 = (𝑚1 + 𝑚2) 𝑣

 3. Objects travelling in the opposite direction collide & reverse direction of motion.

𝑚1𝑢1 + 𝑚2(−𝑢2) = 𝑚1(−𝑣1) + 𝑚2𝑣2

MOMENT
Moment Moment = Force X perpendicular distance from pivot Unit: Nm
Principle of moments Total Clockwise moments = Total Anticlockwise moments
F1 × d1 = F2 × d2
Conditions of Equilibrium 1. Net force = 0 2. Net moments = 0
WORK, ENERGY AND POWER
Work done 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑒 = 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 ×displacement in the direction of the force 𝑊 = 𝐹𝑆 Unit: Joule
Conditions for Work done = zero 1. Displacement=0 2. F perpendicular to displacement
Kinetic energy 1 m is mass, v is velocity Unit:
𝐾. 𝐸 = 𝑚𝑣 2
2 Joule
Gravitational potential energy 𝐺𝑃𝐸 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ h is height, g is gravitational field strength
Work done in compressing gas 𝑊. 𝑑 = 𝑃∆𝑉 P is pressure , V is volume
Conservation of energy Loss of GPE = gain of KE
𝑊. 𝑑 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦
Power 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = = Unit:
𝑡 𝑡
Watt
Power developed at constant speed 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 × 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
Efficiency 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 − 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 No
𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 = = units
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡
% Efficiency 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡
% 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 = × 100%
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡
DEFORMATION
Extension 𝑥 = 𝑙 − 𝑙0 𝑙: new length 𝑥: extension
Compression 𝑥 = 𝑙0 − 𝑙 𝑙0 : original length
Hooke’s law 𝐹∝𝑥 𝐹 = 𝑘𝑥 𝑘 is the force constant / spring constant / stiffness constant
Springs in series Springs in parallel

1 1 1
𝑥eq = 𝑥1 + 𝑥2 = + 𝑥1 = 𝑥2 = 𝑥 𝑘eq = 𝑘1 + 𝑘2
𝑘𝑒𝑞 𝑘1 𝑘2
 PRESSURE

Upthrust Upthrust = ∆pressure ×area = ∆PA 𝛥𝑃 = 𝜌𝑔𝛥ℎ Δℎ = ℎ𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚 − ℎ𝑡𝑜𝑝

𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 Total pressure in depth of liquid
Pressure (P) Psolids = Pliquids = 𝜌𝑔ℎ
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 Ptotal = Pliquids + Patm ; Patm = 1 x 105 Pa
Force exerted due to liquid 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 = 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 × 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑛 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ × 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝜌𝑔𝑉

Specific Heat Capacity 𝑄 Units : Q is the thermal energy provided/ extracted

𝑐=
𝑚. ∆𝜃 ∆θ is change in temperature
J kg-1K-1
Jkg-1℃-1m is the mass of object heated/ cooled
Conversion of temperature T (℃) is temp. in degree Celsius
𝑇(𝐾) = 𝑇(℃) + 273
from degree Celsius to Kelvin T(K) is temp. in kelvin
Boyle’s Law 𝑃1 𝑉1 = 𝑃2 𝑉2 applicable when temperature and mass of gas is constant

v = orbital speed in meters per second (m/s)

𝑜𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
2𝜋𝑟
Orbital speed 𝑣= = r = average radius of the orbit in metre (m)
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 1 𝑜𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑡 𝑇
T = orbital period in seconds (s)
Hubble’s constant: The
H0 = 2.2 × 10–18 per second
ratio of the speed at which
𝑣 v = recessional velocity of an object, the velocity
the galaxy is moving 𝐻0 = of an object moving away from an observer (km
away from the Earth, to 𝑑
s-1)
its distance from the
d = distance between the object and the Earth
Earth
Tip to remember order of planets
My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Noodles
Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune

DOPPLER’S EFFECT
Stationary observer and Stationary observer and source 𝑓𝑜 : observed frequency
Approaching source moving away 𝑓𝑠 : source frequency
𝒗 𝒗 𝑣𝑠 : speed of source moving
𝒇𝒐 = . 𝒇𝒔 𝒇𝒐 = . 𝒇𝒔
𝒗−𝒗𝒔 𝒗+𝒗𝒔 𝑣: speed of sound in air
 QUANTITY FORMULA UNIT DESCRIPTION
Period / time period 1 s Time to produce one wave cycle
𝑇=
𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦
Frequency 1 Hz Number of complete wave cycles produced in 1
𝑓= second
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑑
Velocity 𝑣=fλ m/s f is frequency of wave
𝑑 λ is wavelength of wave
𝑣= d is the distance covered by the wave
𝑡 T is the time for 1 cycle
𝜆
𝑣= v is velocity or speed
𝑇
Law of reflection ∠ i = ∠r ∠i is incident angle, ∠ r is reflected angle
Refractive Index 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑖) For light travelling from rare to denser
𝑛=
𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑟)
It is the ratio of sin(r) For light travelling from denser to rarer
speeds of light in 2 n=
sin(i)
different mediums No units
𝑐 For comparison of speed of light in vacuum (c)
𝑛=
𝑣 and in medium (𝑣)
1 For using the critical angle
𝑛=
𝑆𝑖𝑛 (𝐶)
Linear ℎ𝑖 𝑑𝑖 No units ℎ𝑖 is the image height, ℎ𝑜 is the object height
𝑀= =
Magnification ℎ𝑜 𝑑𝑜 𝑑𝑖 is the image distance, 𝑑𝑜 is the object distance
from the optical center
Speed of sound 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 For direct method
𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 m/s
Speed of sound 2. 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 For indirect method/ echo
𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
Speed of sound in solid liquid gas
different mediums 5000 m/s 1500 300 m/s
m/s
Human audible frequency range 20Hz – 20,000Hz
Dispersion of light (increasing wavelength or decreasing frequency order)
Violet Indigo Blue Green Yellow Orange Red
Electromagnetic spectrum (increasing wavelength or decreasing frequency order)
Increasing wavelength order or decreasing frequency order

Gamma rays X-rays Ultraviolet Visible Infrared Microwaves Radio waves

Trick to remember order of electromagnetic
spectrum in decreasing wavelength order.
 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑄 SI unit is
Electric Current 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 𝐼=
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡 Ampere (A)
To find no. of Q = ne Q is total electric charge, n is no. of electrons, e is charge of 1 electron
electrons
EMF a source is defined as the POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE
amount of energy converted between two points is defined as the
from non-electrical form to amount of energy that converts from
electrical form when unit electrical form to non-electrical
positive charge passes around form when unit positive charge
the complete circuit passes between two points in a
circuit.
Electromotive 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑏𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑒 𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑢𝑖𝑡 𝑊 SI unit is
𝐸𝑀𝐹 = 𝐸𝑀𝐹 =
force (EMF) 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑄 Volts (V)
Potential 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑏𝑦 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑎 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑊
𝑃. 𝑑 = 𝑃. 𝑑 =
difference (P.d) 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑄

Ratio of P.d to 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑉 𝐽𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑒

Resistance R/Ω 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 𝑅= 𝑂ℎ𝑚 =
current 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐼 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑏

Resistivity 𝑅𝐴 Resistivity of a material is defined as the resistance offered by the unit

ρ=
ρ / Ωm 𝑙 cube (cube having sides 1.0 m each) between its opposite faces.
Under constant physical conditions
such as temperature the current through
a metallic conductor is directly
Ohm’s Law V=IR proportional to the potential difference
applied across its ends.

NON- OHMIC CONDUCTORS

Conductors which do not obey Ohm’s Law
Filament lamp (bulb) Thermistor Semi-Conductor Diode
 Electrical Power P/W: Electrical energy dissipated per unit time by an appliance is electrical power.
𝑊 𝐸 𝑉2
𝑃= 𝑃= 𝑃 = 𝑉𝐼 𝑃= 𝑃 = 𝐼2𝑅 SI unit is Watt (W)
𝑡 𝑡 𝑅
Electrical Energy E/J: Energy possessed by charges such as electrons is called electrical energy.
𝑉2
𝑊 = 𝑃𝑡 𝐸 = 𝑃𝑡 𝐸 = 𝑉𝐼𝑡 𝐸= 𝑡 𝐸 = 𝐼 2 𝑅𝑡 SI unit is Joule (J)
𝑅
V is P.d / voltage applied across appliance t is total time for which electric appliance was ON
I is electric current through appliance R is total resistance of appliance
Kilowatt hour /KWh
6
Kilowatt hour /KWh: It is the industrial unit of energy 1 𝑘𝑊ℎ = 3.6 × 10 𝐽

EMF IN SERIES EMF IN PARALLEL

Total EMF increases but the Opposing series Combination battery time increases but the EMF
battery life stays the same Effective EMF stays the same
Effective EMF:
𝐸𝑒𝑓𝑓 = 𝐸1 + 𝐸2 If 𝐸1 > 𝐸2: 𝐸𝑒𝑓𝑓 = 𝐸1 − 𝐸2
If 𝐸2 > 𝐸2: 𝐸𝑒𝑓𝑓 = 𝐸2 – 𝐸1

Resistors in series Resistors in parallel

𝑅𝑇 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 1 1 1
= +
𝑅𝑇 𝑅1 𝑅2
Current remains same ; voltage is distributed
voltage remains same ; current is distributed
For series voltage can be calculated using:
For parallel current can be calculated using:
RIGHT-HAND GRIP RULE FOR CONDUCTOR Magnetic field is stronger
1. When it is closer to the
wire
2. When the larger current
flows through wire

RIGHT-HAND GRIP RULE FOR SOLENOID Magnetic field is stronger

1. Increasing the current in
the coil
2. Increasing the number of
coils in the solenoid; and
3. Using a soft iron core
within the solenoid.

FORCE ON CURRENT-CARRYING CONDUCTOR Force produced is stronger

FLEMING’S LEFT HAND RULE by
1. Increasing the current in
the conductor
2. Increasing length of
conductor within magnetic
3. Angle between the
magnetic field and current
directions should be 90o
4. Use stronger magnet

FLEMING’S LEFT HAND RULE

If the forefinger points in the direction Fleming's left -Hand Rule is
of magnetic field, the thumb point in suitable to find
the direction of motion of the 1. the direction of force on
conductor, then the middle finger will current carrying conductor
point in the direction of induced EMF 2. the direction of force on
(or current) positive and alpha particle
3. DC motor
FLEMING’S RIGHT HAND RULE
If the forefinger points in the direction Fleming's Right-Hand Rule is
of magnetic field, the thumb point in suitable to find
the direction of motion of the 1. the direction of induced
conductor, then the middle finger will EMF or induced current
point in the direction of induced EMF 2. AC generator
(or current) 3. Force on an electron and
beta particle in magnetic
field

TRANSFORMER FORMULAE DESCRIPTION

For 100% Efficient Pp =Primary Power
transformer PS = secondary voltage
𝑃𝑝 = 𝑃𝑠 Vs = secondary output voltage
𝑉𝑝 𝑁𝑝 Ip = alternating current in primary coil
= Is = alternating induced current in in
𝑉𝑠 𝑁𝑠
𝑉𝑝 𝐼𝑠 secondary coil
= Np = number of turns in primary coil
𝑉𝑠 𝐼𝑝
Ns = number of turns in secondary coil
𝐼𝑠 𝑁𝑝 I = current
=
𝐼𝑝 𝑁𝑠 t = time
Step up transformer 𝑉𝑝 < 𝑉𝑠 𝑁𝑝 < 𝑁𝑠 𝐼𝑝 > 𝐼𝑠 R = resistance of transmission lines
Step down transformer 𝑉𝑝 > 𝑉𝑠 𝑁𝑝 > 𝑁𝑠 𝐼𝑝 < 𝐼𝑠
Power losses in electric cables Unit is Watt PLoss = I2R
Energy losses in electric cables Unit is Joule Eloss = I2Rt

Nuclide Symbol 𝐴
𝑍 𝑋 , where A: Atomic Mass Z: Atomic number
Nucleon number A=N+Z Nucleon no. = neutron no. + proton no.
𝑨−𝟒
Alpha decay 𝑨
𝒁𝑿→ 𝒁−𝟐𝒀 + 𝟒𝟐𝜶. X is parent element
4
2𝛼 is released alpha
0
𝑨 𝑨
+ −𝟏𝟎𝜷 Y is daughter element −1𝛽 released is beta
Beta decay 𝒁𝑿→ 𝒁+𝟏𝒀
𝐴∗ is the excited atom 0
∗ 𝟎 0𝛾 is the released
Gamma decay 𝑨 →A+ 𝟎𝜸 A is a relaxed state of the
gamma ray photon
initial excited atom
𝑵𝒇 𝟏 𝒏 𝑁𝑓 is the quantity that has not yet decayed
=( )
𝑵𝒊 𝟐 𝑁𝑖 is the initial quantity before decay
Half Life
n is the no. of half-lives
𝑻 = 𝒏 ∗ 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝟏 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 T is total time to decay
 Alpha particles Beta particles Gamma rays
Nature Helium nucleus: Negative Beta −10𝛽 − Very high energy, high
two protons and two neutrons High energy electron ejected by a frequency & very short
nucleus wavelength
electromagnetic wave
Charge +2𝑒 = +2(1.6 × 10−19 𝐶) Negative Beta −10𝛽 − Neutral
= +3.2 × 10−19 𝐶
−𝑒 = −1.6 × 10−19 𝐶

Mass 4𝑢 = 4(1.66 × 10−27 𝐾𝑔) 1 No physical mass

𝑚𝑒 ≈ 𝑢 = 9.11 × 10−31 𝐾𝑔
= 6.4 × 10−27 𝐾𝑔 1840
Speed 1 Up to 𝑐 = 3.00 × 108 𝑚𝑠 −1
𝑐 = 0.1(3.00 × 108 𝑚𝑠 −1 )
10 9
= 3.0 × 107 𝑚𝑠 −1 𝑐 = 0.99 × 3.00 × 108 𝑚𝑠 −1
10
= 2.97 × 108 𝑚𝑠 −1
Range in air 3-4 cm About 50 cm several meters
Ionization Strong , 10,000 electron-ion Weak Negligible
power pairs in 1 cm
Penetration Weak Medium Strong
Stopped by Paper 3-5 mm Aluminum 5 cm thick lead
Dangerous Yes Yes Yes
Effect of Parabolic arcs inside electric field whereas
electric field straight lines outside
on ‘α’, β and
‘γ’

Effect of Circular arcs inside magnetic field for alpha

magnetic field and beta
(magnetic No deflection for gamma
field into the
page)