Physics GRE Equations Sheet

Version 1.0
Contact: Taylor@PhysicsGrad.com

Contents
1 Classical Mechanics

2 Electricity & Magnetism

3 Optics

4 Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics

5 Quantum Mechanics

6 Special Relativity

7 Electronics

8 Special Topics

10

Classical Mechanics

Equations
Kinematics:
1
x = v0 t + at2
2
v 2 = v02 + 2ad
v = +at
v0 + vf
x =
t
2
Newtons Second Law:
F = ma
Momentum:
P = mv
Centripetal Acceleration:
ac = 2 r
= mr 2
2
=
T

Gravitational Potential Energy:

U
U
U

= mgh
m1 m2
= G
R
= W

Kinetic Energy:
1
mv 2
2
p2
2m
1 2
I
2

Uk =
Uk =
Ukrotational =
Parallel Axis Theorem:

I = Icom + M h2
Work:
Z

F s

W =
Moment of Inertia (Point Mass):

I = M R2
Schwarzschild Radius:
Re =

2GM
c2

Lagrangian:
L=T V
Hamiltonian:
H =T +V
Angular Frequency:
=

2
T
s

k
m

SHO =
Period of a SHO:
r

T = 2

m
k

CLASSICAL MECHANICS

Electricity & Magnetism

Equations
Maxwells Equations:

0
~
B = 0
~
~ = B
E
t
~ =
E

~
~ = 0 J~ + 0 0 E
B
t
Coulombs Law:
U

1 dQ
40 R
1 q1 q2
40 R
1 q1 q2
40 R2

Hookes Law:
F = kx
Faradays Law of Induction


 dB 


|| = N 
dt 

Magnetic Flux:
Z Z

~ r, t) dA
B(~

B =
S

Malus Law:
1
I = c0 E02 cos2 ()
2
Gauss Law:
~ dA
~= q
E
0
Larmor Formula:
P =

q 2 a2
60 c3

Lorentz Force:


~
F = q ~v B
Hall Voltage:
VH =

IB
dne

ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM

Optics

Equations
Photoelectric Equation:
Uk = h
Snells Law:
n2
sin(1 )
=
sin(2 )
n1
n-slit constructive interference:
d sin(n ) = n
n-slit destructive interference:
1

d sin(n ) = n +
2


Photon Energy:
E = h
hc
E =

Interference of a thin film:



2


2nd = m +
Light speed through a medium:
v=

1


Traveling wave:
2
y(x, t) = A sin
(x vt)

Drift velocity:
vd =

i
nqA

Compton Equation:
0 =

h
(1 cos())
mp c

OPTICS

THERMODYNAMICS & STATISTICAL MECHANICS

Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics

Equations
Rydberg Formula:
1
1
1
2
= R
2

n 1 n2


Rydberg Formula for Hydrogen like atoms:

1
Hlike

= RZ

1
1
2
2
n1 n2

Moseleys Law:
1
K

= R (Z )

1
1
2
2
n 1 n2

Rydberg Energy:
me e4 Z 2
2 n2
2
h

1
1
E = E0

21 2


1
1
E = n(13.6 eV )

21 22
E =

Heat Capacity:
Q
T
Q
T
S
T
 T 


Q
U
=
T V
T V




Q
H
=
T p
T p

C =
C =
C =
CV

Cp =
Heat:

Q = cmT
First Law of Thermodynamics:
dU

= dQ + dW

dU

= dQ P dV

Ideal Gas Law:

pV = nRT
Thermodynamic Work:
Z Vf

W =

P dV
Vi

THERMODYNAMICS & STATISTICAL MECHANICS

Entropy:
S =

Z T2
dq
T1

Fouriers Law of Heat Conduction:

Q
= k
t

~
T dA

Mean free path:

P (x) = ndx
Stefan-Boltzmanns Law:
j = T 4

Quantum Mechanics

Equations
Particle Location (Probability):
Z b

Pab =

|(x)|2 dx

Infinite Square Well/Particle in a box:

n (x, t) = Asin(kn x)ein t
Planck Length:
s

lp =

Gh
c3

Expectation Value:
hAi =

h |A| i

Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle:

xp

h
2

Spin Operator:
S12 1 = S1 (S1 + 1)1
Probability Current:

~ t) = h
J(x,

2mi
x
x


Quantum Harmonic Oscillator



En = h
n +

1
2

Wave Speed (de Broglie relations):

vp =
vp =

E
p
c2
v

Time-Independent Schrodinger Equation:

E (x) =

2 2
h
(x) + V (x) (x)
2m

QUANTUM MECHANICS

Special Relativity

Equations
Rest Energy:
E = m0 c2
Lorentz Factor:
1
=q
1

v2
c2

Relativistic Energy:
ER = mc2
Relativistic Momentum:
m0 v
prel = m0 v = q
2
1 vc2
Relativistic Energy-Momentum:


E 2 = mc2

2

+ (pc)2

Relativistic sum of velocities:

u0 =
u =

u+v
1 + vu
c2
u0 + v 0
0 0
1 + vcu2

Proper Time:
2 = t2 x2
t2 = 2 + x2
Space-Time Interval:
S 2 = (Ct)2 + x2

SPECIAL RELATIVITY

Electronics

Equations
Ohms Law:
V = IR
Kirchoff s First Law:
n
X

I=0

k=1

Kirchoff s Second Law:

n
X

V =0

k=1

Current:
i=

dq
dt

Faradays law of induction:



 dB 

dt 

= 
Capacitance

C=

Q
V

Frequency of an RLC Circuit

f=

4 LC

ELECTRONICS

Special Topics

Equations
Acoustic Beats:
beats = |f2 f1 |
Doppler Effect:
"

f=

1
1

10

vs ource
vw ave

f0

SPECIAL TOPICS