Sym.

Symbol meaning units Motion, forces and gravity

a = acceleration m/s2 1. Kinematics, 2. Dynamics and 5. Advanced Mechanics

a→ = Acceleration (vector) m/s2 Equation Meaning and Use Equation Meaning and Use

ac = Centripetal acc. m/s2 2 kinematics and mechanics ­ kinematics and mechanics ­ final
s = ut + 21 at v = u + at
distance travelled speed from time
∆E = Change in energy J
→
v 2 = u2 + 2as kinematics and mechanics ­ final F net = ma→ Net Force = mass x acceleration.
speed from distance Weight force = mass x acc. due
F = Force N to gravity

Fc = Centripetal force N ΔU = mgΔh Change in Potential Energy close W = F ∥ s = F scosθ Work = Force parallel to the
to the Earth’s surface. distance travelled
→ = Net Force (vector) N
F net ∆E
P = ∆t
Power = change in energy / K = 21 mv 2 Kinetic energy
change in time.
F∥ = Force parallel to N
direction Conservation of Energy ­ Energy P = F ∥ v = F vcosθ P = ∆E
and change in energy
∑ 21 mvbef
2
= ∑ 21 mvaf2 ter before = Energy after
∆t
ore = W = Fs. Therefore, Power=F.s/t
= Force perp. distance N Inelastic collisions
⊥F v=s/t. So we get Power = Fv

→
g = gravity m/s2
Δp→ = F net Δt Change in momentum is due to Conservation of momentum
an impulse = Force x time. ∑ mv→bef ore = ∑ mv→af ter Use in all collisions and
G = gravitational constant kg.m2.kg­2
∆θ Angular momentum ­ for circular v2 Centripetal acceleration towards
= change in height m
ω= t ac =
Δh motion. Use radians r the centre of turn/circle

m = mass kg τ = r⊥ F = rF sin θ Torque = distance x Fc = mv 2 Centripetal force

perpendicular Force. r

M = Mass (of larger object) kg

2πr Orbital speed = distance/time = GM m Newton’s Gravitational force
v= T F = r2
circumference on time.
P = Power W
U= − GM m Potential Energy at larger r3
= GM Kepler’s law of periods. For
Δp→
r 2
= momentum kg.m.s­1 distances and 0 at infinity. T 4π2 bodies that orbit the same central
mass.
r3 r3
r = Radius (distance) m T
2 = T
2

s = displacement m
Not on Data sheet
t = time s

∆t = Change in time s
→
F AB = − F→ BA
When subtracting vectors,
reverse its direction
g= GM
r2
Graviity with changing height

τ = torque Nm F x = F cosθ F y = F sinθ Projectile motion ­ sin and cos Escape vel. Must derive from circ
rule for horiz and vert
components
v esc =
√ 2GM
r motion and Newtons Force

U = GPE J

ΔU = Change in GPE J
→ →
f f riction = μF N Friction force = coefficient of
friction x Normal Force. FN = mg
U +K = − GM m
2r
Total Energy ­

u = Initial velocity m/s

v = Final velocity m/s Waves and Thermodynamics

v→ = Velocity (vector) m/s 3. Waves and Thermodynamics, 7. The Nature of Light

ω = Angular momentum rad/s v = fλ Speed of a wave f beat = |f 2 −f | 1

beats

= Work J
W f′ = f
1 Frequency and period (v wave +v observer ) Doppler effect
f= T −
(v wave v source )

∆θ = Change in angle rad

dsinθ = mλ interference of light n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ2 Snell’s Law

c = Speed of light m/s

c Refractive index n2 Critical angle
nx = vx sin θc = n1
d = Distance between slits m

I = I max cos2 θ Malus’ Law ­ plane polarisation I 1 r12 = I 2 r22 compare the intensity of light at
f = frequency s­1 of light two points

I1 = Intensity of light lux Thermodynamics Q kA∆T Thermodynamics

Q = mcΔT t
= d
Energy with change in temp Energy transfer per area
nx = Refractive index

T = Period (time for one s

wave)

o
ΔT = Change in temp C oK

Q = Energy J

λ = wavelength m
Sym. Symbol meaning units Electricity and Magnetism

A = Area m2 4. Electricity and Magnetism, and 6. Electromagnetism

B = Mag. Field Strength T Equation Meaning and Use Equation Meaning and Use
V Electric Field Strength → → Force in Electric Field
d = Distance btwn plates m E= d F = qE

V = ∆U Voltage definition 1 q1 q2 Force between 2 charges

E = Electric Field Strength V/m q F = 4πε0 r2

ε = EMF/Voltage V W = qV Work = charge x voltage I=

q Current definition
t

E = Energy J
W = q Ed From W = qV and E = V
d
V = IR Voltage = current x resistance

F = Force N μ0 I
B= mag. fields produced by wires P =VI Power = voltage x current
2πr

I = current A
μ0 N I mag. fields produced by Force in Magnetic Field
B= L
F = q v ⊥ B = q vBsinθ
solenoids
L = Length of solenoid m
Φ = B ∥ A = B Acosθ Flux = F = lI ⊥ B = lIBsinθ Motor effect ­ Force in motor
N = Number of turns

= power W
ε= −N ΔΦ
Δt
Lenz’s law ­ change in flux per
time
F
l
=
μ0 I 1 I 2
2π r
Force between 2 wires
P
τ = nIA⊥ B = nIABsinθ Torque in motor
q = charge C

Vp Np Transformer ­ voltage and Transformer ­ conserv. of energy

R = Resistance Ω Vs
= Ns
V pI p = V sI s
number of coils

r = Distance btwn charges m Not on Data sheet

→
t = time s E = Pt In Motion and forces F net = ma→ K = 21 mv 2 In Motion and forces

τ = torque Nm ΣI = 0 Kirchhoff’s current law RSeries = R1 + R2 + ...+ Rn Resistors in series

∆U = Potential Energy J Kirchhoff’s voltage law 1 1 1 1 Resistors in parallel

ΣV = 0 RP arallel = R1 + R2 + ... + Rn

μ0 = Magnetic constant NA­2

V = Voltage V Quantum, special relativity and nuclear

= Work J 7. The Nature of Light 8. From the Universe to the Atom

W
h De Broglie’s matter waves Time dilation
λ= mv
t0
Φ = Flux (mag field lines) Wb t=
√ (1 − v2
c2
)

= angle deg.
θ
−ϕ
√(1 −
K max = hf Photoelectric effect v2
Length contraction
l = l0 c2
)
b = Wein’s displacement mK
constant b m0 v
λmax = Wien’s Law pv = Momentum changes at high
T
c = Speed of light m/s
√ (1 − v2 )
c2
speeds

f = frequency s­1 E = mc2 Energy/mass equivalence N t = N o e−λt Radioactive decay

h = Planck’s constant Js Energy of wave ln2 Decay constant

E = hf λ= t1/2

l = length m
1
λ = R[ 1
n2f
− 1
ni2
] Rhydberg emission spectra

m = mass kg
From Nature of Light but In Waves and Thermodynamics
n = Shell number

dsinθ = mλ interference of light I = I max cos2 θ Malus’ Law ­ plane polarisation

Nt = No of particles at time t of light

= momentum kg.m.s­1 Not on Data sheet

p
E = hf and c = f λ
hc
E= λ From
R = Rydberg constant m­1

t1/2 = Half life time

λ = decay constant

λ = wavelength m

ϕ = Work function=hf0