List of Symbols for the AS Course

(you need to know the equations in bold, the rest are on the formula sheet)

quantity symbol unit symbol equation(s) you find

it in
acceleration a metres per second ms-2 v = u + at
squared s = ½ at2
v2 = u2 + 2as
F = ma
angle between centre  degrees o
n = d sin 
max and nth order
o
angle of incidence i degrees n = sin i/sin r
o
angle of refraction r degrees n = sin i/sin r
area (see also cross  metre squared m-2 P = F/A
sectional area)
change in  - -
charge Q coulombs C V = W/Q or V = E/Q
Q = It
conductance G siemens S G=I/V
G = G1 + G2..
conductivity  ohm-1 metres-1 -1 m-1 G = A/l
G =I/V
o
critical angle c degrees n = 1/sin c
cross sectional area A metres squared m2 R = l/A
(see also area)  = F/A
G = A/l
current I amps A R = V/I
P = VI , P = I2R
W = VIt
V = E -Irinternal
Q = It
G =I/V
density or D) kilograms per kgm-3  = m/V or D = m/V
metre cubed
distance between slits d metres m n = d sin 
distance/displacement s metres m s = ½ at2
v2 = u2 + 2as
v = s/t
E = Fs
electromotive force E volts V V = E -Irinternal
(emf)
energy of a photon E joules J E = hf
extension x metres m  = x/l
F = kx
quantity symbol unit symbol equation(s) you find
it in
final speed v metres per second ms-1 v = u + at
v2 = u2 + 2as
k.e. = ½ mv2
focal length f metres m P = 1/f
1/v = 1/u + 1/f
force F newtons N  = F/A
F = ma
E = Fs
P = F/A
F = kx
Impulse = Ft
F = mv/t
frequency f hertz Hz v=fx
E = hf
f = 1/T
gravitational field g newtons per N/kg W = mg
strength kilogram
image distance v metres m 1/v = 1/u + 1/f
m = v/u
impulse newton seconds Ns Impulse = Ft
initial speed u metres per second ms-1 v = u + at
v2 = u2 + 2as
internal resistance rinternal ohms  V = E -Irinternal
kinetic energy k.e. joules J k.e. = ½ mv2
length l metres m R = l/A
G = A/l
magnification m metres m m = v/u
mass m kilograms kg F = ma
k.e. = ½ mv2
 = m/V or D = m/V
p = mv
W = mg
momentum p kilogram metre kgms-1 p = mv
per second F = mv/t
= h/p
number of bits n no unit Number of
alternatives = 2n
object distance u metres m 1/v = 1/u + 1/f
m = v/u
order of maximum n no unit n = d sin 
original length l metres m  = x/l
periodic time or T seconds s f = 1/T
period or time period
Planck's constant h joules seconds Js E = hf
quantity symbol unit symbol equation(s) you find
it in
power P dioptres D P = 1/f
power P watts W P = VI
P = E/t
P = Fv

pressure P newtons per Nm-2 P = F/A

metre squared
refractive index n no unit n = sin i/sin r
n = 1/sin c
resistance R ohms  R = V/I
P = I2R
R = R1 + R2.. (in
series)
R = l/A
resistivity  ohm metres m R = l/A
speed (see also v metres per second ms-1 v = s/t
velocity) k.e. = ½ mv2
spring constant k newtons per Nm-1 F = kx
metre
strain  no unit  = x/l
E = 
stress  newtons per Nm-2  = F/A
metre squared E = 
time t seconds s W = VIt
Q = It
v = u + at
P = E/t
Impulse = Ft
F = mv/t
v = s/t
time period or T seconds s f = 1/T
periodic time or
period
velocity (see also v metres per second ms-1 v = s/t
speed) p = mv
voltage V volts V R = V/I
G =I/V
P = VI
W = VIt
V = E -Irinternal
V = W/Q or V = E/Q
volume V metre cubed m-3  = m/V or D = m/V
wave speed v metres per second ms-1 v=fx
 quantity symbol unit symbol equation(s) you find
it in
wavelength  metres m v=fx
n = d sin 
= h/p

weight W newtons N W = mg
work done E joules J E = Fs
P = E/t
work done/energy W joules J V = W/Q or V = E/Q
W = VIt
Young's Modulus E newtons per Nm-2 E = 
metre squared

Note that Energy E and Work W or Work done W are all the same thing.