Physics 101 Formula Sheet

Last updated 3/4/2024. Please report any errors or accessibility issues to Prof. Ansell at [email protected]

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Contents
Physics 101 Formula Sheet ............................................................................................................................................... 1
Constants ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Useful conversions ....................................................................................................................................................... 2
Greek leter variable names ......................................................................................................................................... 2
Linear Equa�ons .............................................................................................................................................................. 3
Kinema�cs ................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Dynamics ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Work and Energy .......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Impulse and Momentum .............................................................................................................................................. 3
Universal Gravita�on .................................................................................................................................................... 3
Rota�onal Equa�ons ........................................................................................................................................................ 4
Conversion between linear and rota�onal quan��es.................................................................................................... 4
Rota�onal Kinema�cs................................................................................................................................................... 4
Rota�onal Sta�cs and Dynamics ................................................................................................................................... 4
Rota�onal Energy and Angular Momentum .................................................................................................................. 4
Moments of Iner�a (𝐼𝐼) ................................................................................................................................................. 4
Fluids ............................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Heat and Thermodynamics .............................................................................................................................................. 5
Temperature ................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Heat ............................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Ideal Gas Law and Kine�c Theory ................................................................................................................................. 5
Simple Harmonic Mo�on ................................................................................................................................................. 6
Springs ......................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Simple Pendulums........................................................................................................................................................ 6
Waves and Sound............................................................................................................................................................. 6
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Constants
𝑔𝑔 = 9.8 m/s2 (near Earth’s surface)

𝐺𝐺 = 6.7 × 10−11 N ∙ m2 /kg2 (Universal Gravita�onal Constant)

𝜌𝜌𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤 = 1000 kg/m3

𝑣𝑣𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠,𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 = 343 m/s (speed of sound in air)

𝑣𝑣𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙ℎ𝑡𝑡 = 3 × 108 m/s (speed of electromagne�c wave in vacuum)

𝑁𝑁𝐴𝐴 = 6.022 × 1023 molecules/mole (Avogadro’s number)

𝑅𝑅 = 8.31 J/(mol ∙ K) (Ideal gas constant)

𝑅𝑅
𝑘𝑘𝐵𝐵 = 𝑁𝑁 = 1.38 × 10−23 J/K (Boltzmann constant)
𝐴𝐴

𝜎𝜎 = 5.67 × 10−8 J/(s ∙ m2 ∙ K 4 ) (Stefan-Boltzmann constant)

Useful conversions
Change of an arbitrary quan�ty 𝑥𝑥: ∆𝑥𝑥 = 𝑥𝑥𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 − 𝑥𝑥𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖

Period and frequency: 𝜔𝜔 = 2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋 𝑇𝑇 = 1�𝑓𝑓

Units of pressure: 1 atm = 1.01 × 105 Pa 1 Pa = 1 N/m2

Units of volume: 1 m3 = 1000 liters

Area of a circle of radius 𝑟𝑟: 𝐴𝐴 = 𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟 2

Volume of a sphere of radius 𝑟𝑟: 𝑉𝑉 = 43𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟 3

Surface area of a sphere of radius 𝑟𝑟: 𝐴𝐴 = 4𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟 2

Fahrenheit (𝑇𝑇𝐹𝐹 ) to Celsius (𝑇𝑇𝐶𝐶 ): 𝑇𝑇𝐶𝐶 = 59(𝑇𝑇𝐹𝐹 − 32°)

Celsius (𝑇𝑇𝐶𝐶 ) to Kelvin (𝑇𝑇𝐾𝐾 ): 𝑇𝑇𝐾𝐾 = 𝑇𝑇𝐶𝐶 + 273.15

Greek leter variable names

𝛼𝛼 – alpha (use: angular accelera�on, linear expansion) 𝜏𝜏 – tau (use: torque)

𝛽𝛽 – beta (use: volume expansion) 𝜙𝜙 – phi (use: angle)

𝜃𝜃 – theta (use: angle, angular displacement) 𝜔𝜔 – omega (use: angular speed, angular frequency)

𝜆𝜆 – lambda (use: wavelength) Δ – delta (use: to represent change in a variable)

𝜇𝜇 – mu (use: coefficient of fric�on, linear density) Σ – Sigma (use: the sum of the variable that follows)

𝜋𝜋 – pi (use: as a constant) 𝜎𝜎 – sigma (use: as a constant)

𝜌𝜌 – rho (use: volume density) 𝜅𝜅 – kappa (use: as a constant)

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Linear Equa�ons
Kinema�cs
∆𝑥𝑥 ∆𝑣𝑣
𝑣𝑣𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 ≡ ∆𝑡𝑡
𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 ≡ ∆𝑡𝑡

𝑣𝑣 = 𝑣𝑣0 + 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎
𝑥𝑥 = 𝑥𝑥0 + 𝑣𝑣0 𝑡𝑡 + 12𝑎𝑎𝑡𝑡 2

𝑣𝑣 2 = 𝑣𝑣0 2 + 2𝑎𝑎∆𝑥𝑥
𝑣𝑣 2
Centripetal accelera�on around a circular path of radius 𝑅𝑅: 𝑎𝑎𝑐𝑐 = 𝑅𝑅
= 𝜔𝜔2 𝑅𝑅

Dynamics
Newton’s 2nd Law: Σ𝐹𝐹⃗ = 𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑎⃗ x direc�on: Σ𝐹𝐹𝑥𝑥 = 𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑎𝑥𝑥 y direc�on: Σ𝐹𝐹𝑦𝑦 = 𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑎𝑦𝑦

Force defini�ons (magnitudes):

Weight near the surface of Earth: 𝑊𝑊 = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 Spring force for a stretch 𝑥𝑥 from equilibrium: 𝐹𝐹⃗𝑠𝑠 = −𝑘𝑘𝑥𝑥⃗

Fric�on: 𝑓𝑓𝑠𝑠,𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 𝜇𝜇𝑠𝑠 𝐹𝐹𝑁𝑁 𝑓𝑓𝑘𝑘 = 𝜇𝜇𝑘𝑘 𝐹𝐹𝑁𝑁

Work and Energy

Work done by a force 𝐹𝐹 across a distance 𝑑𝑑: 𝑊𝑊 ≡ 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 cos 𝜃𝜃
𝑝𝑝2
Kine�c energy: 𝐾𝐾 ≡ 12𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣 2 =
2𝑚𝑚

Gravita�onal poten�al energy near Earth’s surface: 𝑈𝑈𝑔𝑔 = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 Spring poten�al energy: 𝑈𝑈𝑠𝑠 = 12𝑘𝑘𝑥𝑥 2

Work-Kine�c Energy theorem: 𝑊𝑊𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 = Δ𝐾𝐾

Defini�on of mechanical energy: 𝐸𝐸 = 𝐾𝐾 + 𝑈𝑈

Effect of non-conserva�ve work on mechanical energy: 𝑊𝑊𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 = Δ𝐸𝐸

𝑊𝑊
Defini�on of Power: 𝑃𝑃 ≡ 𝑡𝑡

Impulse and Momentum

Defini�on of momentum: 𝑝𝑝⃗ ≡ 𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣⃗

Impulse: 𝐼𝐼⃗ = �����⃗

∆𝑝𝑝 = 𝐹𝐹⃗𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 ∆𝑡𝑡

Σ𝐹𝐹⃗𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 Δ𝑡𝑡 = Δ𝑃𝑃�⃗𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 x direc�on: Σ𝐹𝐹⃗𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒,𝑥𝑥 Δ𝑡𝑡 = Δ𝑃𝑃�⃗𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡,𝑥𝑥 y direc�on: Σ𝐹𝐹⃗𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒,𝑦𝑦 Δ𝑡𝑡 = Δ𝑃𝑃�⃗𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡,𝑦𝑦

When Σ𝐹𝐹⃗𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 = 0 momentum is conserved

Universal Gravita�on
𝑚𝑚𝑀𝑀 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
For two objects having masses 𝑚𝑚 and 𝑀𝑀: 𝐹𝐹𝐺𝐺 = 𝐺𝐺 𝑅𝑅 2
𝑈𝑈𝐺𝐺 = −𝐺𝐺 𝑅𝑅

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Rota�onal Equa�ons
Conversion between linear and rota�onal quan��es
For rota�ng objects: 𝑥𝑥, 𝑣𝑣, and 𝑎𝑎 describe transla�onal values at some radius 𝑅𝑅
For objects rolling without slipping: 𝑥𝑥, 𝑣𝑣, and 𝑎𝑎 describe center of mass values

Δ𝑥𝑥 = 𝑅𝑅Δ𝜃𝜃 𝑣𝑣 = 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝑎𝑎 = 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅

1 revolu�on = 2𝜋𝜋 radians
𝑚𝑚1 𝑥𝑥⃗1 +𝑚𝑚2 𝑥𝑥⃗2+⋯
Loca�on of center of mass: 𝑥𝑥𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 = 𝑚𝑚1 +𝑚𝑚2 +⋯

Rota�onal Kinema�cs
∆𝜃𝜃 ∆𝜔𝜔
𝜔𝜔𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 ≡ ∆𝑡𝑡
𝛼𝛼𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 ≡ ∆𝑡𝑡

𝜔𝜔 = 𝜔𝜔0 + 𝛼𝛼𝛼𝛼

𝜃𝜃 = 𝜃𝜃0 + 𝜔𝜔0 𝑡𝑡 + 12𝛼𝛼𝑡𝑡 2

𝜔𝜔2 = 𝜔𝜔0 2 + 2𝛼𝛼∆𝜃𝜃

Rota�onal Sta�cs and Dynamics

Newton’s 2nd Law: Σ𝜏𝜏⃗ = 𝐼𝐼𝛼𝛼⃗ When Σ𝜏𝜏⃗ = 0 and Σ𝐹𝐹⃗ = 0 the object is in sta�c equilibrium

Torque defini�on (magnitude): 𝜏𝜏 ≡ 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 sin 𝜃𝜃

Work done by a torque: 𝑊𝑊 = 𝜏𝜏∆𝜃𝜃

Rota�onal Energy and Angular Momentum

𝐿𝐿2
Rota�onal Kine�c energy: 𝐾𝐾𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 ≡ 12𝐼𝐼𝜔𝜔2 =
2𝐼𝐼

Total Kine�c energy: 𝐾𝐾𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 = 𝐾𝐾𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 + 𝐾𝐾𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 = 12𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣 2 + 12𝐼𝐼𝜔𝜔2

Defini�on of angular momentum: 𝐿𝐿�⃗ ≡ 𝐼𝐼𝜔𝜔

�⃗

Impulse: 𝐼𝐼⃗ = ∆𝑝𝑝

�����⃗ = 𝐹𝐹⃗𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 ∆𝑡𝑡

Σ𝜏𝜏⃗𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 Δ𝑡𝑡 = Δ𝐿𝐿�⃗𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 When Σ𝜏𝜏⃗𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 = 0 angular momentum is conserved

Moments of Iner�a (𝐼𝐼)

Parallel axis theorem: 𝐼𝐼 = 𝐼𝐼0 + 𝑀𝑀ℎ 2 𝐼𝐼 = 12𝑀𝑀𝑅𝑅2 (solid disk or cylinder)

𝐼𝐼 = Σ𝑚𝑚𝑟𝑟 2 (collec�on of point par�cles) 𝐼𝐼 = 𝑀𝑀𝑅𝑅2 (hoop or hollow cylinder)

𝐼𝐼 = 25𝑀𝑀𝑅𝑅2 (solid sphere or ball) 1
𝐼𝐼 = 12𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 (uniform rod about center)

𝐼𝐼 = 23𝑀𝑀𝑅𝑅2 (hollow sphere or ball) 𝐼𝐼 = 13𝑀𝑀𝐿𝐿2 (uniform rod about one end)

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Fluids
𝐹𝐹 𝑚𝑚
Defini�on of pressure: 𝑃𝑃 ≡ 𝐴𝐴 Defini�on of density: 𝜌𝜌 ≡ 𝑉𝑉

Pressure at a depth 𝑑𝑑 below a point with pressure 𝑃𝑃0 : 𝑃𝑃 = 𝑃𝑃0 + 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌

Force defini�on: Buoyant force (magnitude) 𝐹𝐹𝐵𝐵 = 𝑊𝑊𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 𝜌𝜌𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑔𝑔𝑉𝑉𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

Volume flow rate: 𝑄𝑄 = 𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 Flow con�nuity equa�on: 𝑣𝑣1 𝐴𝐴1 = 𝑣𝑣2 𝐴𝐴2

Bernoulli equa�on: 𝑃𝑃1 + 12𝜌𝜌𝑣𝑣1 2 + 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝑦𝑦1 = 𝑃𝑃2 + 12𝜌𝜌𝑣𝑣2 2 + 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝑦𝑦2

See Constants and Conversions

Heat and Thermodynamics

Temperature
Convert from degrees Fahrenheit (𝑇𝑇𝐹𝐹 ) to degrees Celsius (𝑇𝑇𝐶𝐶 ): 𝑇𝑇𝐶𝐶 = 59(𝑇𝑇𝐹𝐹 − 32°)

Convert from degrees Celsius (𝑇𝑇𝐶𝐶 ) to Kelvin (𝑇𝑇𝐾𝐾 ): 𝑇𝑇𝐾𝐾 = 𝑇𝑇𝐶𝐶 + 273.15

Thermal expansion: ∆𝐿𝐿 = 𝛼𝛼𝐿𝐿0 ∆𝑇𝑇 ∆𝑉𝑉 = 𝛽𝛽𝑉𝑉0 ∆𝑇𝑇 (𝛽𝛽 = 3𝛼𝛼)

Heat
First law of thermodynamics: ∆𝑈𝑈 = 𝑄𝑄 + 𝑊𝑊

Specific heat capacity: 𝑄𝑄 = 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐∆𝑇𝑇

Latent heat of fusion (solid↔liquid): 𝑄𝑄 = 𝐿𝐿𝑓𝑓 𝑀𝑀 Latent heat of vaporiza�on (liquid↔gas): 𝑄𝑄 = 𝐿𝐿𝑣𝑣 𝑀𝑀
𝑄𝑄 𝜅𝜅𝜅𝜅(𝑇𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 −𝑇𝑇𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 )
Rate of heat transfer by conduc�on (magnitude): 𝐻𝐻 = 𝑡𝑡
=
𝐿𝐿
𝑄𝑄
Rate of heat transfer by radia�on: 𝐻𝐻 = 𝑡𝑡
= 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑇𝑇 4 𝐴𝐴 𝜎𝜎 = 4.67 × 10−8 J/(s ∙ m2 ∙ K 4 )

Net heat transfer rate by a radia�ng object in an environment with 𝑇𝑇0 : 𝑃𝑃𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 = 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒�𝑇𝑇 4 − 𝑇𝑇0 4 �

Ideal Gas Law and Kine�c Theory

𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 = 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 = 𝑁𝑁𝑘𝑘𝐵𝐵 𝑇𝑇 (see Constants)

For monatomic gases: 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 = 32𝑘𝑘𝐵𝐵 𝑇𝑇 = 12𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 2 𝑈𝑈 = 32𝑁𝑁𝑘𝑘𝐵𝐵 𝑇𝑇 = 32𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛

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Simple Harmonic Mo�on
Springs
Force exerted by a stretched spring (Hooke’s Law): 𝐹𝐹⃗𝑠𝑠 = −𝑘𝑘𝑥𝑥⃗

Poten�al energy stored in a stretched spring: 𝑈𝑈𝑠𝑠 = 12𝑘𝑘𝑥𝑥 2

𝑘𝑘 2𝜋𝜋 𝑚𝑚
Angular frequency: 𝜔𝜔 = �𝑚𝑚 Period: 𝑇𝑇 = 𝜔𝜔
= 2𝜋𝜋� 𝑘𝑘

Equa�ons of mo�on (depend on ini�al condi�ons):

Common op�on 1: Common op�on 2:

𝑥𝑥 (𝑡𝑡) = 𝐴𝐴 cos(𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔) 𝑥𝑥 (𝑡𝑡) = 𝐴𝐴 sin(𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔)
𝑣𝑣(𝑡𝑡) = −𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 sin(𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔) 𝑣𝑣(𝑡𝑡) = 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 cos(𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔)
𝑎𝑎(𝑡𝑡) = −𝐴𝐴𝜔𝜔2 cos(𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔) 𝑎𝑎(𝑡𝑡) = −𝐴𝐴𝜔𝜔2 sin(𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔)

Maximum values: 𝑥𝑥𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 𝐴𝐴 𝑣𝑣𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 𝐴𝐴𝜔𝜔2

Simple Pendulums
𝑔𝑔 𝐿𝐿
Angular frequency: 𝜔𝜔 = � 𝐿𝐿 Period: 𝑇𝑇 = 2𝜋𝜋�𝑔𝑔

Waves and Sound

𝐹𝐹
Speed of a wave on a string: 𝑣𝑣 = � 𝑇𝑇
𝑚𝑚/𝐿𝐿

Rela�onship between speed, wavelength, and frequency: 𝑣𝑣 = 𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆

Resonator wavelengths:
2
Resonator with nodes at both ends: 𝜆𝜆𝑛𝑛 = 𝑛𝑛 𝐿𝐿 (𝑛𝑛 = 1,2,3, …)
4
Resonator with a node at one end, an�node on the other: 𝜆𝜆𝑛𝑛 = 𝐿𝐿 (𝑛𝑛 = 1,3,5, …)
𝑛𝑛
𝑃𝑃
Sound intensity: 𝐼𝐼 = 4𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟 2

𝐼𝐼 𝐼𝐼
Loudness: 𝛽𝛽 = (10 dB) log10 �𝐼𝐼 � Change in loudness: 𝛽𝛽2 − 𝛽𝛽1 = (10 dB) log10 �𝐼𝐼2 �
0 1
[Conver�ng with log base ten: 𝑥𝑥 = log10 (𝑦𝑦) ↔ 𝑦𝑦 = 10𝑥𝑥 ]

Frequency shi� due to Doppler Effect:

𝑣𝑣𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 ±𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜
𝑓𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = � 𝑣𝑣𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 ∓𝑣𝑣𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
� 𝑓𝑓𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠

In the numerator: In the denominator:

Use + if the observer moves toward the source Use − if the source moves toward the observer
Use − if the observer moves away from the source Use + if the source moves away from the observer

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