Physics Formulae &

Equations (Compiled specially for CSEC students)

Formulae/Equations Symbols & Units ݉
= ߩ ,Density
‫ݒ‬⁄ ܶ = moment/torque, Nm
Relative Density, Note that Moment or Torque is NOT Energy
௦௨௕௦௧௔௡௖௘ and cannot be used with the Joule (J).
௥ߩߩ ߩ௪௔௧௘௥ ൗ =
‫ = ܨ‬force, N
݀ = distance (perpendicular fr. pivot to F),
Moment or Torque is the rotational or m
turning effect that a force produces. ܶ = ݀‫ܨ‬
‫ = ܨ‬force, kgms-2≡ N
‫ ݏ‬or ‫ = ݔ‬displacement/extension, m

Hooke’s Law states that Force is

proportional to the extension of spring
or elastic material
provided the elastic limit is not ‫ = ܨ ݔ ∝ ܨ‬force, kgms ≡ N
-2

.exceeded ݉ = mass, kg
ܽ = acceleration, ms-2
Newtonian Laws: ‫ = )ݒ‬final) velocity, ms-1
1 Law - The Law of Inertia 2 Law - ܽ‫ = )ݑ ∝ ܨ‬initial) velocity, ms-1
st nd

݉)‫ ݒ‬− ‫(ݑ‬ ‫ = ݐ‬time, s

=‫ݐ‬ ‫ܨ‬ ݀ = distance, m
ܽ݉ = ‫ܨ‬
‫ ݏ‬or ‫ = ݔ‬displacement, m
rd ‫ ݑ‬+ ‫‍ݒ‬
3 Law - Action = Reaction = 2 ‍ܽ‫݁ݒ‬. ‫ݒ‬

×‫ݑ ݐ‬+‫ݒ‬
݀ =‫ ݑ = ݒ‬+ ܽ‫ݐ‬ 2
1 ଶ
+ 2‫ݐܽ ݐݑ = ݏ‬
‫ ݒ݉ = ݌‬,Momentum Linear
Conservation of Momentum, ‫ = ݌‬momentum, kgms-1
Note that kgms-1 ≠ kgms-2
‫݌‬௧௢௧௔௟before = ‫݌‬௧௢௧௔௟after
݉ = mass, kg
Collision of A and B, ݉஺ = mass of A, kg
݉+ = ݉+ ݉஻ = mass of B, kg
஻ ஺݉) ஻‫ݑ‬஻ ஺‫ݑ‬஺݉‫(ݒ‬
‫ = )ݒ‬final) velocity, ms-1
Repulsion of A and B, ‫=ݑ‬
݉=
஻‫ݒ‬஻ ஺‫ݒ‬஺݉ ஺pre-collision velocity of A, ms-1 ‫= ݑ‬

‫ ݐܨ = ܫ‬,Impulse ஻pre-collision velocity of B, ms-1 ‫= ݒ‬

ߩ = density, kgm-3 velocity of A, ms-1 ‫= ݒ‬
஺post-collision
ߩ=
஻post-collision velocity of B, ms ‫= ܨ‬
-1

௥relative density, [dimensionless] ݉ = mass,

force, kgms-2≡ N
kg
‫ = ܫ‬impulse, Ns ≡ kgms-1
‫ = ݒ‬volume, m3
‫ = ݐ‬time, s
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Physics Formulae &
Equations (Compiled specially for CSEC students)
Formulae/Equations Symbols & Units
ଶ
ଶ݉‫ݒ‬
Energy ௞kinetic energy, J
ܹ = work, Nm ≡ J ‫= )ܧ‬
‫ ܹ = ݏܨ‬,Work ‫ = ܨ‬force (in the dir. of
motion), kgms-2≡ N ‫= ݏ‬ ௣gravitational) potential
Kinetic Energy, ‫ =ܧ‬௞ displacement, m energy, J
ଵ
‫=ܧ‬
(Gravitational) Potential Energy, ℎ௣ = ݉݃‫ܧ‬
ܲ
‫ܧ‬ Pressure Law, ܶ
= ܲ ,Power ൗ = ݇ଷ
‫ݐ‬ൗ
General Gas Law or Combined Gas Equation,
Efficiency ܸܲ
௨௧௢ ܶܿ‫ = ݐ݊ܽݐݏ݊݋‬ൗ
=ߟ ‫ܧ‬௡௜‫ܧ‬ ݉ = mass, kg
ൗ × 100
‫ = ݒ‬velocity, ms-1
݃ = gravitational field strength, ms-2 ℎ =
height, m
‫ = ݐ‬time, s
Pressure
‫ܨ‬ ߟ] = dimensionless] (can be expressed as
=ܲ solely as a number or a percentage when
‫ܣ‬
ൗ that number is multiplied by 100).
ܲ = ݃ߩΔℎ (in fluids) ‫ܧ‬௢௨௧ = energy output, J
‫=ܧ‬

௡௜energy input, J
Archimedes Principle
Upthrust (U)= True Weight of Body (W1) – ܲ = pressure, Nm-2 ≡ Pa
Apparent Weight of Body (W2) ‫ = ܣ‬area, m2
ߩ = density, kgm-3
Upthrust (U)= Apparent Weight Loss of Body ݃ = acceleration of free fall, ms
-2

(W)

Upthrust (U)= Weight of Fluid displaced by

Body (W)

Gas Laws
Boyle’s Law, ܸܲ = ݇ଵ

ܸ
Charles’ Law, ܶ
ൗ = ݇ଶ
 ܸ = volume, m3
ܶ = temperature, K
݇ଵ, ଶ݇ , ଷ݇ = constants

Δℎ = change in height, m

U = upthrust, N
W = weight, N

ܲ = pressure, Nm-2 ≡ Pa
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Physics Formulae &
Equations (Compiled specially for CSEC students)
Formulae/Equations Symbols & Units
ܿ = specific heat capacity, Jkg-1K-1
Heat Capacity, ݉ܿ‫ = ܥ‬Heat Energy, ‫ ܧ‬or ܳ = heat/thermal energy, J
ு

‫ = ܥ‬heat capacity, JK-1

ߠ∆ܿ݉ = in temperature, K
ு‫ܧ‬
∆ߠ) delta theta)= change
݈݉ = ݈௙ = specific latent heat of fusion, Jkg-1 ݈௩ =
௙ ு‫ܧ‬
‫ܧ‬ு = ݈݉௩ specific latent heat of vapourization, Jkg-1

Wave Formulae ‫ = ݒ‬velocity, ms-1

݀ ‫ݒ‬ଵ = velocity of incident wave, ms-1 ‫ݒ‬ଶ =
= ‫‍ݒ‬ൗ velocity of refracted wave, ms-1 ‫ = ݐ‬time, s
‫ߣ݂ = ݒ ‍ݐ‬ ܶ = period, s
1
݂= ܶ ݂ = frequency, s-1 ≡ Hz
1 ݀ = distance, m
ൗ , ܶ = ݂ൗ ߣ = wavelength, m
ߠ= ߣଵ = wavelength of incident wave, m
௥ ௜ߠ ,Reflection
௩
Refraction, (Snell’s Law) ୱ୧୬ ఏమ= భ
ୱ୧୬ ఏభ ఒమ= ݊ refracted wave, m ߠ =
ఒ
௩మ= భ
ߣଶ = wavelength of
Critical Angle – is the angle of incidence
angle of reflection, º
of a wave when the angle of refraction ௥
ߠଵ = angle of incidence, º
is 90º, ௖‫ߠ݊݅ݏ‬௡భ ߠଶ = angle of refraction, º
= ߠ=
௡మ
௖critical angle, º
Lens Magnification
݁ ݅݉ܽ݃݁ ݀݅‫(ݒ) ݁ܿ݊ܽݐݏ‬ ݅݉ܽ݃݁ ‫ݖ݅ݏ‬ ݊ = refractive index, [dimensionless] ݊ଵ =
=‫(ݑ) ݁ܿ݊ܽݐݏ݅݀ ݐܾ݆݁ܿ݋‬ =‫ ݁ݖ݅ݏ ݐܾ݆݁ܿ݋‬Electricity refractive index of first medium,
[dimensionless]
݊ଶ = refractive index of second medium,
௜angle of incident wave, º
ߠ= [dimensionless]
 ܸ = voltage/potential difference/
ܴ ܲ = ܸ‫ܫ = ܸ ܫ‬
‫ܧ‬ current, A
=ܲ ൗ ܴ = resistance, Ω
‫ ܳ = ݐܫ ݐ‬In Series: (Ohm) ܲ = power, Js-1≡
ܸ ଶ W
ܴ = ‫ܫ‬ൗ ‫ ܸܳ = ݐܲ = ܧ ܴ ܲ = ܫ‬ൗ ‫ = ܧ‬energy, J
‫ܧ‬
‫ = ݐ‬time, s
electromotive force
(e.m.f.), V ‫= ܫ‬
ܴ ௧௢௧௔௟ = ଵܴ + ଶܴ + ଷܴ +. .. Q = quantity of charge, As ≡ C

In Parallel:
1 1 1
ܴ௧௢௧௔௟= ܴଵ+ ܴଶ+ ܴଷ+ ⋯1

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Physics Formulae &
Equations (Compiled specially for CSEC students)
Formulae/Equations Symbols & Units
Gamma Emission, ߛ
Ideal Transformer Half Life,ܶଵ⁄ଶ - time taken for half of the atomsin
ܲ௜௡ୀ௢௨௧ ܲ a radiating substance to decay.
Einstein’s Equation – describing nuclear fusion and
௣
ܰ௣= ‫ܫ‬௦‫ܫ‬ fission. Δ‫ = ܧ‬Δ݉ܿଶ
ܲ = power input, W
ܸ௣=ܰ௦ ௜௡
ܲ ௢௨௧ = power output, W
ܸ௦
ܸ = voltage (secondary coil), V
௦
ܸ௣ = voltage (primary coil), V
ܰ௦ = number of turns (secondary coil), no
units
ܰ = number of turns (primary coil), no units ‫ܫ‬
௣
=
Atomic Physics
௣current (primary coil), A
Particle Relationship, ܰ‫ ܣ‬+ ܼ = ஺
Atomic Representation, ௓ܺ Alpha Particle, ߙ ‫ܫ‬௦ = current (secondary coil), A
Beta Particle,ߚ ‫ = ܣ‬nucleon (mass) number
ܼ = proton (atomic) number fr. – from
ܰ = neutron number dir. – direction
ܺ = representing atom incl. – including
ସ
݁ ‫ܪ‬ଶ = ߙ(Helium Particle)
݁ଵ = ିߚ଴(Electron)
ߛ = Gamma Radiation
‫ = ܧ‬Energy, J
݉ = mass, kg
ܿ = speed of electromagnetic waves (incl. light)

Abbreviations:
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