Formulae

O’Level Physics

ito = in terms of, def = defining equation

centi(c) one hundredth (1/100) x10-2

milli(m) one thousandth (1/1000) x10-3

one millionth
micro(µ) x10-6
(1/1000 000)
kilo(k) one thousand (1000) x103

mega(M) one million (1000 000) x106

rect. – l x b
square – s2
area (A) = side x side unit = m2
triangle - ½b x h
circle – π x r2
cuboid – l x b x h
volume (V) = side x side x cube – s3
unit = m3
side sphere – 4/3 π x r3
cylinder – π x r2 x h
gradient = y2 – y1
slope of line
gradient = x2 – x1
period of a simple
T = 2π √(l/g) pendulum; affected only unit = s
by its length
density = mass/volume measure of compactness of
unit = kgm-3
 = m/V substance
relative density(r) =
relative density(r) =
mass of substance
density of substance dimensionless
mass of equal volume
density of water
water
def acceleration: rate of unit = ms-2
a = dv/dt or (v – u)/t
change of velocity gradient of v – t graph
def velocity: rate of change unit = ms-1
v = ds/dt
of displacement gradient of s – t graph
v2 = u2 + 2as equation of motion

v = u + at equation of motion

s = ut + ½at2 or ½t(u + v) equation of motion area under v –t graph

 W = mg def:- weight unit = N
def:- spring constant ito
k = F/e unit = Nm-1
load and extension
unit = kgms-1
p = mv def momentum
 vector quantity
F = ma unit = N
F = mv – mu def force:- rate of change in
unit = N
t linear momentum
Impulse = Ft def:- change in momentum unit = Ns
momentum before = conservation of
momentum after momentum

Moment = F x d Moment of a force unit = Nm

sum of clockwise moments
= sum of anticlockwise Principle of moments
moments
def work:- force by dist.
W = Fs unit = J
moved in dir. of force
def:- kinetic energy: energy
EK = ½mv2 possessed by virtue of unit = J
motion
def:- potential energy:
EP = mgh gravitational: possessed by unit = J
virtue of height
def power:- rate at which
P = W/t or E/t work is done or energy is unit = W
converted
(output/input ) x 100 def efficiency

p= F/A def pressure unit = Nm-2 or Pa

p = gh pressure due to a liquid unit = Nm-2 or Pa

P1V1 = P2V2 Boyle’s Law Temp. constant

Pressure constant;
V1 = V2
Charles’ law temperature must be in
T1 = T2
kelvin
Volume constant;
P1 = P2
Pressure Law temperature must be in
T1 = T2
kelvin
 PV = constant
general gas equation
T n
def:- specific latent heat of
lf = EH l fusion; (solid to liquid or unit = Jkg-1
m vice versa without a EH = mlf
change in temperature)
def:- specific latent heat of
vaporisation; (liquid to
lf = EH l unit = Jkg-1
vapour or vice versa
m EH = mlv
without a change in
temperature)
c = EH l unit = Jkg-1K-1
def:- specific heat capacity
m EH = mc
C = EH l unit = JK-1
def:- heat capacity
 EH = C
Kelvin (absolute) scale of
T/K = /oC + 273
temperature
/oC = X - X0 Temperature ito thermo-
100 X100 – X0 metric property X

v = f wave equation  - wavelength

f = 1/T frequency ito period unit = hertz (Hz)

n = sin i = v1 = 1 N.B. frequency remains

refractive index
n = sin r = v2 = 2 constant
refractive index ito critical
n = 1/sin c
angle c
eq'n for double slit
 = ax/D
interference
magnification = image size mag. = image distance (v)
object size object distance (u)
Q = It def charge unit = coulombs (C)
V = W or E def potential difference or
unit = volts (V)
Q Q voltage
P = IV or I2R or V2/R or
power unit = watts (W)
E/t
R = V/I def resistance unit = ohms ()

RT = R1 + R2 + R3 net resistance in series

1 = 1 + 1 + 1
net resistance in parallel
RT = R1 + R2 + R3
RT = R1 x R2 net resistance for two
R1 + R2 resistors in parallel
NS = VS = IP
transformer equations
NP VP IS
P in = P out power in transformers
A – mass (nucleon) number
A=Z+N Z – proton number
X
N – neutron number
Xo = original mass/
mass/activity after n half-
X= Xo/2n activity
lives
n = no. of half lives
E = mc2 Einstein’s equation