Formula Sheet, PHYS 1004, W2022 1

Basic math Capacitors RC circuits  

Binomial expansion capacitance: C = Q/∆VC charging: q(t) = C E 1 − e−t/τ
(1 + x)n = 1 + nx + n(n − 1)x2 /2!+
parallel plate: C = ϵ0 A/d discharging: q(t) = C E e−t/τ
n(n − 1)(n − 2)x3 /3! + ... (if |x| < 1)
dielectrics: C = κC0 , ε = κε0 current: i(t) = (E/R) e−t/τ
Circles series: Ceq =
P
−1 P
i 1/Ci , parallel: Ceq = i Ci time constant: τ = RC
Arc length: s = θ r, circumference: C = 2π r
ε0 E 2
Areas stored PE: UC = 12 CV 2 uE = 2 LR circuits
Triangle: 21 bh Cylinder: 2πrh + 2πr2
 
rising: i(t) = (E/R) 1 − e−t/τ , falling: i(t) = (E/R) e−t/τ
Circle: πr2 Sphere: 4πr2 Current, resistance and power time constant: τ = L/R
⃗
i = J⃗ · dA
R
Volumes current: i = dq/dt,
Cylinder: πr2 h Sphere: 4
3
πr3 J⃗ = ne e ⃗vd , ρJ = E ⇔ J⃗ = σ E,
⃗ ⃗ ⃗ σ = 1/ρ
LC circuits
capacitor: q(t) = q0 cos (ω t + ϕ)
Trig and algebra resistance: R = ρLA
, R = ∆VR /I 1
P P
−1 natural frequency: ω = √LC
series: Req = i Ri parallel: Req = i 1/Ri
h f 2 + g 2 = h2
f sin θ = hf cos θ = g Ohm’s Law ⇒ R independent of ∆VR Alternating current (AC)
h
θ power: P = iV voltage: E(t) = Emax sin(ωd t)
g √ if Ohm’s law holds: P = i2 R = V 2 /R current: i(t) = Imax sin(ωd t − ϕ), Imax = Emax /Z
−b± b2 −4ac √ √
if ax2 + bx + c = 0 then x = emf: E = dW
2a
dQ rms values: Irms = Imax /√ 2 Erms = Emax / 2
Mechanics and kinematics Kirchhoff Rule’s loop rule:
P Vrms = Vmax / 2 Pavg = Erms Irms cos ϕ
i ∆Vi = 0 q
P P
constant accelleration: vf = vi + a t junction rule: iin = iout impedance: Z = R2 + (XL − XC )2
vf2 = vi2 + 2 a ∆s 1
capacitive reactance: XC = , VC = Imax XC
sf = si + vi t + 21 a t2 Magnetic fields ωd C

⃗net = m ⃗a, ⃗net = P F⃗i ⃗ = µ0 id⃗s2×r̂ inductive reactance: XL = ωd L, VL = Imax XL

force: F F i Biot-Savart law: dB 4π r (XL −XC ) R
⃗ = µ0 i (direction by RHR) phase angle: tan ϕ = , power factor: cos ϕ =
⃗ · d⃗s Kinetic energy: K = 21 m v 2 long straight wire: B R Z
R
work: W = F 2πr √
solenoid: B ⃗ = µ0 n i n = N/ℓ resonance: XL = XC ωd = ω = 1/ LC
Gravitational potential energy: UG = m g h
⃗ · d⃗s = µ0 ienc + µ0 ε0 dΦE VS NS
H
⃗ · ⃗v Ampere-Maxwell law: B transformers: =
∆Esys = ∆K + ∆U = Wext , power: P = dW = F dt
dt VP NP
v2 Force from B:⃗
circular motion: |⃗a| = ang. freq.: ω = 2πf ⃗ = q ⃗v × B ⃗ EM waves in vacuum
r moving charge F
Pressure: p = F/A current-carrying wire: F ⃗ = iL ⃗ ×B
⃗ ⃗ = Emax sin (k x − ω t) , |B|
|E| ⃗ = Bmax sin (k x − ω t)
2 parallel wires: F∥ = µ02πdlI1 I2
waves (general): v = λ f = ω/k, k = 2π/λ, ω = 2π f
Electric fields and potentials (∥ attract, anti-∥ repel) ⃗ and B
⃗ relations: |E|
⃗ = c |B|,
⃗ √ ⃗ ⊥B ⃗
E c = 1/ ε0 µ0 , E
Cyclotron radius: r = mv qB ⃗ 1 ⃗ ⃗
Poynting vector S = µ0 E × B in direction of wave
⃗ =
Coulomb’s law: F k q1 q2
r̂
r2 magnetic dipole: µ ⃗ = N iA ⃗ (direction RHR for current) Pavg Pavg
⃗ = qE ⃗ ⃗ =
R dq intensity: I = Savg = 1
E2
cµ0 rms
= A
, point src: I = 4π r 2
Electric field: F E 4πε0 r 2
r̂ ⃗ ×B
⃗τ = µ ⃗ potential energy: U = −⃗ µ·B ⃗
⃗ q radiation pressure: pr = I/c (tot. abs.), pr = 2I/c (tot. refl.)
point charge: E = k r2 r̂
non-conducting ∞ sheet: |E| ⃗ = σ/(2ϵ0 ) Magnetic induction polarization: I = I0 /2 (unpol.→pol.), I = I0 cos2 θ (pol.→pol.)
conducting ∞ sheet: |E| ⃗ = σ/(ϵ0 ) R
⃗ · dA
⃗ refraction: n1 sin(θ1 ) = n2 sin(θ2 ) (Snell’s law)
magnetic flux: ΦB = B
⃗ · dA⃗ = qenc /ε0
H
Gauss’s Law: ΦE = E dΦB
Faraday’s law: |E| = dt
(direction from Lenz’ law) Error propagation
R dq
Electric potential: V = 4πϵ0 r several coils: |E| = Ncoils dΦB
(uncorrelated errors)
Rf dt
Vf − Vi = − i E ⃗ · d⃗s q
⃗ E= E ⃗ · d⃗s = − dΦB σf = ( ∂f σ )2 + ( ∂f σ )2 + ...
H
point charge: V = k rq induced E: dt ∂x x ∂y y

⃗ from V : Es = − ∂V
E inductance (solenoid): N ΦB = L i, L = µ0 n2 ℓA If f = axp
+ by + cz + ...
∂s
kq1 q2 inductors: Ecoil = di
−L| dt |, U= 1
Li2 , uB = B2 σf = (aσx )2 + (bσy )2 + (cσz )2 + ...
Electric P.E.: Ue = qV = r
, W = −q∆V 2 2µ0
If f = Axnq
y m z p ...
mσ
σf = f ( nσxx )2 + ( y y )2 + ( pσz z )2 + ...
Formula Sheet, PHYS 1004, W2022 2

Fundamental constants Standard symbols Common integrals

Constant Symbol Value Name Symbol SI unit
xa+1
Z
Avogadro’s number NA 6.022×1023 mol−1 Angle θ rad xa dx = (for a ̸= −1)
a+1
gravitational acceleration g 9.81 m/s2 Angular frequency ω rad/s
(ax + b)n+1
Z
speed of light in vacuum c 3.00×108 ms Capacitance C F (ax + b)n dx = (for n ̸= −1)
a(n + 1)
elementary charge e 1.602×10−19 C Charge q, Q C Z
1
mass of electron me 9.11×10−31 kg Conductivity σ Ω−1 m−1 dx = ln |x|
x
mass of proton mp 1.673×10−27 kg Current i, I A Z
c c
mass of neutron mn 1.675×10−27 kg Current density J⃗ A/m2 dx = ln |ax + b|
2 ax + b a
Coulomb constant k 8.99×109 N·m
C2 Electric field ⃗
E N/C or V/m Z
1
permittivity of space ε0 8.85×10−12 N·m C2
Electric flux ΦE V· m eax dx = eax
2 a
−7 T·m
permeability of space µ0 4π×10 A Electric potential V V Z
1
Planck’s constant h 6.626×10−34 J·s Energy E J (or eV) sin ax dx = − cos ax
a
1 eV = 1.6 × 10−19 J
Z
1
cos ax dx = sin ax
SI units Potential U a
Kinetic K
Z
a x
Unit Symbol Quantity Base dx = tan−1
EMF E V a2 + x2 a
Ohm Ω resistance, impedance [V/A] Force F⃗ N
Z
1 p
√ dx = ln x + x2 ± a2
Joule J energy, work [N m] Frequency f Hz x2 ± a2
Ampere A current
Z
Inductance L, M H x p
√ dx = x2 ± a2
Tesla T magnetic field [N/(A m)] Intensity I W/m2 x2 ± a2
Volt V potential, EMF, voltage [J/C]
Z
Mass M, m kg dx x
= √
Newton N force [(kg m)/s2 ] Magnetic field B⃗ T (a2 + x2 )3/2 a2 a2 + x2
Coulomb C charge [A s]
Z
Magnetic flux ΦB Wb x 1
dx = − √
Farad F capacitance [C/V] Period T s (a2 + x2 )3/2 a + x2
2

Watt W power [J/s] Power P W

Webber Wb magnetic flux [T m2 ] Resistance R Ω
Henry H inductance [Wb/A] Resistivity ρ Ωm Trig. identities
Hertz Hz frequency [s−1 ] Time t s
Radian rad angle Voltage V, ∆V V
sin2 θ + cos2 θ = 1
Wavelength λ m or nm
sin(α ± β) = sin α cos β ± cos α sin β
Differentials Work W J
cos(α ± β) = cos α cos β ∓ sin α sin β
Differential Equivalent sin(2θ) = 2 cos θ sin θ
SI prefixes
ds
dx cartesian cos(2θ) = cos2 θ − sin2 θ
r dθ polar Prefix Symbol Value Prefix Symbol Value 1 − cos(2θ)
dx dy cartesian −15
sin2 θ =
peta P 1015
femto f 10 2
dA r dr dθ polar tera T 1012 pico p 10−12 2 1 + cos(2θ)
cos θ =
2πr dr circular ring giga G 109 nano n 10−9 2
dx dy dz cartesian mega M 106 micro µ 10−6
dV
4πr2 dr spherical shell kilo k 103 milli m 10−3
centi c 10−2