Edexcel iGCSE Physics Equation Sheet

Units and equations available as readymade flashcards from my website

ALL symbols and units must be learnt – none are given in the exam.

Topic 1 – Forces and Motion

Equations to learn Symbols Units

d=sxt d = distance d = m (meters)
s = speed s = m/s (meters per second)
t = time t = s (seconds)
a=v-u a = acceleration a = m/s2 (meters per second
t squared)
v = final velocity v = m/s (meters per second)
u = initial velocity u = m/s (meters per second)
t = time t = s (seconds)
F=mxa F = force F = N (newtons)
m = mass m = kg (kilograms)
a = acceleration a = m/s2 (meters per second
squared)
W=mxg W = weight W = N (newton’s)
m = mass m = kg (kilograms)
g = gravitational field g = N/kg (newtons per
strength kilogram)
p=mxv p = momentum p = kg m/s (kilograms metre
m = mass per second)
Paper 2 only
v = velocity m = kg (kilograms)
Chemistry only v = m/s (meters per second)
M=Fxd M = moment M = Nm (newton-meters)
Paper 2 only F = force F = N (newtons)
d = distance
Perpendicular distance d = m (meters)
Equations to find on the Symbols Units
formula sheet and use
v2 – u2 = 2as v = final velocity v = m/s (meters per second)
u = initial velocity u = m/s (meters per second)
a = acceleration a = m/s2 (meters per second
s = distance squared)
s = m (meters)

F = (mv – mu) F = force F = N (newtons)

T mv = final momentum mv = kgm/s (kilogram metre
Paper 2 only mu = initial momentum per second)
t = time mu = kgm/s (kilogram metre
Chemistry only per second)
t = s (seconds)

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Topic 2 – Electricity

Equations to learn Symbols Units

P=VxI P = Power P = W (watts)
V = Potential difference V = V (volts)
I = Current I = A (amps)
V=IxR V = Potential difference V = V (volts)
I = Current I = A (amps)
R = Resistance R = Ω (ohms)
Q=Ixt Q = Charge Q = C (coulombs)
I = Current I = A (amps)
t = Time t = s (seconds)
E=QxV E = Energy E = J (joules)
Q = Charge Q = C (coulombs)
V = Potential difference V = V (volts)
Equations to find on the Symbols Units
formula sheet and use
E=IxVxt E = Energy E = J (joules)
I = Current I = A (amps)
V = Potential difference V = V (volts)
t = Time t = s (seconds)

Topic 3 – Waves

Equations to learn Symbols Units

v=fxλ v = velocity v = m/s (meters per second)
f = frequency f = Hz (hertz)
λ = wavelength (lambda) λ = m (meters)
n = sin i n = refractive index n = (there is no unit for this,
sin r i = angle of incidence but the number should be
r = angle of refraction somewhere around a decimal
point of 1 or 2)
i = ˚ (degrees)
r = ˚ (degrees)
sin c = 1 c = critical angle c = ˚ (degrees)
n n = refractive index n = (there is no unit for this,
but the number should be
somewhere around a decimal
point of 1 or 2)
Equations to find on the Symbols Units
formula sheet and use
Frequency = 1 . Frequency = Hz (hertz)
T = time period
Time period Period = s (seconds)

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Topic 4 – Energy Resources and Energy Transfer

Equations to learn Symbols Units

Efficiency = useful energy out x 100
total energy in
W=Fxd W = work done W = J (joules)
F = force F = N (newtons)
d = distance d = m (meters)
GPE = m x g x h GPE = gravitational potential
GPE = J (joules)
energy m = kg (kilograms)
m = mass g = N/kg (newtons per
kilogram)
g = gravitational field strength
h = height h = m (meters)
KE = ½ mv2 KE = kinetic energy KE = J (joules)
m = mass m = kg (kilograms)
v = speed v = m/s (meters per
second)
Remember: Energy transferred = work done = kinetic energy = gravitational potential
energy
In the same system
Equations to find on the Symbols Units
formula sheet and use
P=W P = power P = W (watts)
Tt W = work done E = J (joules)
t = time taken t = s (seconds)

Topic 5 – Solids, liquids and gases

Equations to learn Symbols Units
3
ρ=m ρ = density ρ = kg/m (kilograms per meter
V m = mass cubed
V = volume m = kg (kilograms)
V = m3 (meters cubed)
P=F P = pressure P = Pa (pascals)
A F = force F = N (newtons)
A = area A = m2 (meters squared)
p=hxρxg p = pressure p = Pa (pascals)
h = height h = m (meters)
ρ = density ρ = kg/m3 (kilograms per meter
g = gravitational field cubed
strength g = N/kg (newtons per kilogram)
Equations to find on Symbols Units
the formula sheet and
use
ΔQ = m x c x ΔT ΔQ = change in thermal ΔQ = J (joules)
energy m = kg (kilograms)
Paper 2 only
m = mass c = J/kg˚C (joules per kilogram
c = specific heat capacity degree Celsius)
ΔT = temperature change ΔT = ˚C (degree Celsius)

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 PV = constant p = pressure p = Pa (pascals)
This is what will be V = volume V = m3 (meters cubed)
written on the formula
sheet. What you need to
learn is this:
P1 x V1 = P2 x V2
PT = constant P = pressure P = Pa (pascals)
This is what will be T = temperature T = ˚ (degrees Celcius)
written on the formula
sheet. What you need to
learn is this:
P1 = P2
T 1 T2

Topic 6 – Magnetism and electromagnetism

Equations to learn Symbols Units

Vp = np Vp = potential difference Vp = V (volts)
Vs ns across the primary coil Vs = V (volts)
Vs = potential difference np and ns have no units as they
Paper 2 only
across the secondary coil are just numbers
np = number of turns on the
primary coil
Chemistry only ns = number of turns on the
secondary coil
Vp Ip = Vs Is Vp = potential difference Vp = V (volts)
across the primary coil Vs = V (volts)
Paper 2 only Vs = potential difference Ip = A (Amps or Amperes)
across the secondary coil Is = A (Amps or Amperes)
Ip = current in the primary
coil
Is = current in the secondary
coil
Chemistry only Vp Ip = power input
Vs Is = power output

There are no equations for topic 7. (Radioactivity and particles)

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Topic 8 – Astrophysics

Equations to find on the Symbols Units

formula sheet and use
v=2xπxr v = orbital speed v = km/s or m/s (kilometres
T r = orbital radius per second or meters per
T = time period second)
r = km or m (kilometres or
meters)
T = s (seconds)
λ – λ0 = Δλ =v Δλ = change in wavelength Δλ = km or m (kilometres or
λ0 λ0 c λ0 = reference wavelength meters)
v = velocity of a galaxy λ0 = km or m (kilometres or
Paper 2 only c = speed of light meters)
v = m/s (meters per second)
c = m/s (meters per second)
Chemistry only

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