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Physics Formula List: Form 4
Form 4 Equations/Uses

Chapter 1: Equation to determine the consistency of measurements: relative deviation

Introduction to average deviation
Physics Relative deviation = x 100%
average value

Equation to determine period of oscillation of a simple pendulum system

l
T = 2π T = period (s)
g
l= length of pendulum bob (m)
g = gravitational field strength (10ms-2)

Equation to determine the gradient of a graph

y
Gradient, m =
x

y = change in y

x = change in x

Chapter 2: Equation to determine speed

Forces and Speed = Distance travelled
Motion Time taken

Equation to determine average speed

Average speed = Total distance travelled
Total time taken

Equation to determine velocity

Velocity = Displacement
Time taken

Equation to determine average velocity

Average velocity = Total Displacement
Total time taken

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Equation to determine acceleration
vu
Acceleration, a = v = final velocity (ms-1)
t
u = initial velocity (ms-1)
t = time (s)

Equations to solve the problems involving motion with constant velocity and
motion with constant acceleration
Motion with constant velocity Motion with constant acceleration
s = vav x t uv
s=( )xt
2
v = u + at
1
s = ut + at2
2
2 2
v = u + 2as

Equation to determine momentum of an object

p=mxv p = momentum (kgms-1)
m = mass (kg)
v = velocity (ms-1)

Equation to solve the problems involving elastic collision

m1 u1 + m2 u2 = m1 v1 + m2 v2

Equation to solve the problems involving inelastic collision

m1 u1 + m2 u2 = (m1 + m2) v

Equation to solve the problems involving explosion

m1v1 + m2 v2 = 0

Equation to determine resultant force

F = ma F= Force (N)
m = mass (kg)
a = acceleration (ms-2)

Equations to determine impulse

Impulse = Ft
Impulse = mv – mu m = mass (kg)
u = initial velocity (ms-1)
v = final velocity (ms-1)

Equation to determine impulsive force

mv  mu
F= F = impulsive force (N)
t
m = mass (kg)
u = initial velocity (ms-1)
v = final velocity (ms-1)

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t = time of impact (s)

Equation to determine Weight

W = mg W = weight (N)
m = mass (kg)
g = 10 ms-2

Equations to determine Weight in lift

Situation Explanation
(a)Lift at rest or moves up or
down at a constant
velocity.

Weight, W = mg

(b) Lift moves up with an

acceleration of a ms-2.

Weight, W = m(g+a)

(c)Lift moves down with an

acceleration of a ms-2.

Weight, W = m(g-a)

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Equation to calculate work

W = Fs W = Work (J)
F = Force (N)
s = displacement (m)

Equation to calculate gravitational potential energy

Ep = mgh Ep = gravitational potential energy (J)
m = mass of af bject (kg)
g = 10 ms-2
h = height of object (m)

Equation to calculate kinetic energy

Ek = ½ mv2 Ek = kinetic energy (J)
m = mass of af bject (kg)
v = velocity (ms-1)

Equation to calculate power

W
P= P = Power of a device (W)
t
W = work (J)
T = time to do work (s)

Equations to calculate efficiency

Useful Energy Output
Efficiency x100%
Energy Input

Useful Power Output

Efficiency x100%
Power Input

Equation to solve the problems involving spring (Hooke’s Law)

F=kx F = Force (N)
k =spring constant (Nm-1)
x = extension/compression of a spring (m)

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Equations to determine the elastic potential energy stored in a spring
Ep = ½ Fx Ep = elastic potential energy stored in a spring (J)
Ep= ½ kx2 F = Force (N)
x = extension/compression of a spring (m)
k =spring constant (Nm-1)

Chapter 3: Equation to calculate pressure

Forces and F
Pressure P= P = Pressure (Pa)
A
F = Force (N)
A = Area of contact (m2)

Equation to calculate pressure in liquid

P = hρg P = Pressure in liquid (Pa)
h = depth of liquid (m)
ρ = density of liquid (kgm-3)
g = 10 ms-2

Equation to solve the problems involving Pascal’s Principle

F1 F
= 2 F1 = input force (N)
A1 A2
F2 = output force (N)
A1 = input piston area (m2)
A2 = output piston area (m2)

Equation to determine buoyant force

Buoyant force = ρVg ρ = density of fluid displaced (kgm-3)
V = Volume of fluid displaced (m3)
g = 10 ms-2

Chapter 4: Heat Equation to solve the problem involving calibration of a thermometer

l  l0
θ= x1000C θ = temperature (0C)
l100  l0
l0 = length of mercury thread at 00C (cm)
l100 = length of mercury thread at 1000C (cm)
lθ = length of mercury thread at θ 0C (cm)

Equations to solve the problems involving specific heat capacity

Q = mc θ Q = heat absorbed/released (J)
m = mass of object (kg)
c = specific heat capacity of an object (Jkg-10C-1)
θ = change in temperature (0C)

Pt = mc θ P = Power of heater (W)

t = time of heating (s)

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Equations to solve the problems involving specific latent heat
Q = mlf Q = heat absorbed/released (J)
m = mass of object (kg)
lf = specific latent heat of fusion (Jkg-1)

Q = mlv lv = specific latent heat of vapourization (Jkg-1)

Equation to solve the problems involving Boyle’s Law

P1Vl = P2V2 P1 = Initial pressure of gas (Pa)
P2 = Final pressure of gas (Pa)
V1 = Initial volume of gas (m3)
V2 = Final volume of gas (m3)

Equation to solve the problems involving Charles Law

V1 = V2 V1 = Initial volume of gas (m3)
T1 T2
V2 = Final volume of gas (m3)
T1 = Initial temperature of gas (K)
T2 = Final temperature of gas (K)

Equation to solve the problems involving Pressure Law

P1 P
= 2 P1 = Initial pressure of gas (Pa)
T1 T2
P2 = Final pressure of gas (Pa)
T1 = Initial temperature of gas (K)
T2 = Final temperature of gas (K)

Equation to convert temperature Celcius from to Kelvin

T = θ + 273 T = temperature (K)
θ = temperature (0C)

Chapter 5: Equations to determine refractive index of a transparent medium

Light n = sin i n = refractive index (no unit)
sin r
i = angle of incidence (0)
r = angle of refraction (0)

n= c c = speed of light in vacuum (3x108ms-1)

v
v = speed of light in the medium (ms-1)

n= D D = real depth of object (m)

d
d = apparent depth of image (m)

1
n= c = critical angle of the transparent medium (0)
sin c

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Equations to determine the power of lenses
P= 1 P = power of lens (D)
f
f = Focal length of a lens (m)

Equations to solve the problems involving lenses

1 1 1
+ = f = Focal length of a lens (m)
u v f
u = object distance (m)
v = image distance (m)

v
m= m = linear magnification of a lens (no unit)
u
u = object distance (m)
v = image distance (m)