A Guide to Equations & Formulae for

Physics

LTSN Physical Sciences

www.physsci.ltsn.ac.uk
ltsn-psc@hull.ac.uk
Version 1 compiled by Simone Richardson and Della Grice.
LTSN Physical Sciences is grateful to the
colleagues who gave their time and comments.
Work and Energy Gravitation

s2 Newton’s Law of Gravitation,

Work Done, W = ∫ F ⋅ ds mm
s1 Fg = G 1 2 2
r
Kinetic Energy, K = 12 mv 2
Acceleration due to gravity on Earth,
Work-Kinetic Energy, GM E
g=
WT = ∆K = 12 mv 2f − 12 mvi2 RE2

∆W Thermal Properties of Matter

Average Power, Pav =
∆t
Ideal-gas Equation, pV = nRT
Instantaneous Power,
dW Total mass, m = nM
P = = F ⋅ v Molecular mass, M = N A m
dt

Potential energy function, ∆U = − W Kinetic energy (ideal gas),

K = 32 nRT = 32 N A kT
Gravitational Potential Energy,
U = U 0 + mgh Root-mean-square speed,
3kT 3RT
v rms = =
Conservative Force, m M
dU
Fx = − and F = − ∇U
dx Molar heat capacities for ideal gases,
(monatomic) CV = 32 R
Motion in one dimension
(diatomic) CV = 52 R
x2 − x1 ∆x
Average velocity, vav = = Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution,
t 2 − t1 ∆t
m 3 2 2 −mv2 / 2kT
f (v) = 4π ( ) v e
Instantaneous velocity, 2πkT
∆x dx
v = lim = Temperature and Heat
∆t → 0 ∆t dt
Temperature Scales, TF = 95 TC + 32°
Constant Acceleration Equations,
v = v0 + at TK = TC + 273.15
x − x0 = 12 (v0 + v ) t
T2 p 2
x = x0 + v0 t + 12 at 2 For Gas-thermometer Scale, =
T1 p1
v 2 = v 0 + 2a ( x − x 0 )
2

Linear change, ∆L = αL0 ∆T

Instantaneous acceleration,
∆v dv
a = lim = Change in Volume,
∆t →0 ∆t dt ∆V = βV0 ∆T β = 3α

mdv Heat energy transferred, Q = mc∆T

Newton’s Law, F = ma =
dt
Heat current (conduction), Doppler Effect,
dQ T − TL v ± vL
H= = kA H fL = fS
dt L v ± vS

Heat current (radiation), H = AeσT 4 Electromagnetic wave speed,

1
Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) c=
ε 0 µ0
2π
Angular Frequency, ω = 2πf = c
T Index of Refraction, n =
v
F k
Acceleration, a = =− x Law of Refraction, na sin θ a = nb sin θ b
m m

Conservation of energy, nb
Total Internal Reflection, sin θ crit =
E = 12 mv 2 + 12 kx 2 = constant na

m Constructive Interference, d sin θ = mλ

Period, T = 2π
k
Destructive Interference,
d sin θ = (m + 12 )λ
L
Period, T = 2π
g
F
(a simple pendulum) Transverse wave in a string, v =
µ
I
Period, T = 2π B
mgd Longitudinal Wave in a fluid, v =
ρ
(a physical pendulum)

Waves Y
Longitudinal Wave in a rod, v =
ρ
2π
Speed, v = fλ k = ω = 2πf
λ Intensity of a wave, I = 12 ωBkA 2
Wave function for a sinusoidal wave,
I
y ( x, t ) = A sin (ωt − kx ) Intensity level, β = (10dB ) log
I0

∂2 y 1 ∂2 y
Wave Equation, = Momentum and Impulse
∂x 2 v 2 ∂t 2
Momentum (particle),
hc dp
Energy of one photon, E = hf = p = mv and ∑ F =
λ dt

Photoelectric Effect, eV0 = hf − φ Impulse-momentum Theorem,

t
J = ∫ 2 Fdt = p 2 − p1
hc t1
Emission of X-rays, eV = hf max =
λmin
 dL
Rotational Motion and Total Torque, ∑τ =
dt
Electricity and Magnetism
∆θ dθ
Angular Velocity, ω = lim =
∆t →0 ∆t dt q1 q 2
1
Coulomb’s Law, F =
4πε 0 r 2
Angular Acceleration,
∆ω dω d 2θ q
α = lim = = 2 Electric Field, E =
1
rˆ
∆t → 0 ∆t dt dt 4πε 0 r 2
Constant angular acceleration
Dipole moment, p = ql
θ = θ 0 + ω 0 t + 12 αt 2
ω = ω 0 + αt Vector torque, τ = p × Ε
ω = ω + 2α (θ − θ 0 )
2 2
0
Potential Energy, u = −p ⋅ E
Tangential Speed, v = rω
Gauss’s Law, ∫ E ⋅ dA =
∑q i
=
Qencl
Tangential Acceleration, a = rα ε0 ε0

v2 b
Centripetal Acceleration, a = = rω 2 Potential Difference, Va − Vb = ∫ E ⋅ dl
r a

Moment of Inertia (body), I = ∫ r 2 dm

U 1 qi
Potential, V = =
q ′ 4πε 0
∑r i i
Moment of Inertia (particles),
I = ∑ mi ri 2
i
Electric Field, E = −∇V

Rotational Kinetic Energy, K = 12 Iω 2 Q

Capacitance, C =
V
Torque
A
Torque, τ = Fl Parallel plate capacitor, C = ε 0
d
Vector Torque, τ = r × F Capacitors in series,
1 1 1
Total Torque, ∑τ = Iα =
C C1 C 2
+ + ⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅

Work Done by Torque, Capacitors in parallel,

W = τ (θ 2 − θ 1 ) = τ∆θ
C = C1 + C 2 + ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅

Power, P = τω Energy stored in a capacitor,

Q2 1
Angular Momentum (particle), U= = 2 CV 2 = 12 QV
L = r × p = r × mv 2C

Angular Momentum (rigid body), Energy density, u = 12 ε 0 E 2

L = Iω
Energy density (in a dielectric),
u = 12 εE 2

Current,
∆Q Elasticity
I= = nqAvd
∆t F ∆l F
Stress = Strain = Pressure =
Current Density, A l0 A
J = n1 q1v d + n2 q 2 v d .......
1 2
Stress
Elastic Modulus =
Strain
E
Resistivity, ρ =
J Young’s modulus,
ρL Tensile Stress l 0 F
Resistance, R = Y= =
A Tensile Strain A∆ l
Ohm’s Law, V = IR ∆w ∆l
Poisson’s ratio (σ), = −σ
Terminal potential difference, w0 l0
(source with internal resistance)
V = ε − Ir Bulk Modulus, B = −
∆p
∆V / V0
Power dissipated,
V2 1 1 ∆V
P =V I = I R =
2
Compressibility, k = =−
R B V0 ∆p

Resistors in series, R = R1 + R2 ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ Shear Modulus,

Shear Stress F/A
S= =
Resistors in parallel,
1 1
= +
1
⋅⋅⋅ Shear Strain φ
R R1 R2
Quantum Mechanics
Force on a charge in a magnetic field,
F = qv × B The Schrödinger Equation,
h 2 ⎛ ∂ 2ψ ∂ 2ψ ∂ 2ψ ⎞
− ⎜ + + ⎟ + Uψ = Eψ
Force on a conductor in a magnetic 2m ⎜⎝ ∂x 2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2 ⎟⎠
field, F = Il × B
h
B2 Uncertainty Principle, ∆x∆p x ≥
Energy Density, u = 2π
2µ 0
Fermi-Dirac Distribution,
eh eh 1
Bohr Magneton, µ = = f ( E ) = ( E − EF ) / kT
2m 4πm e +1

Faraday’s Law: induced emf, h

dΦ de Broglie wavelength, λ =
ε =− B p
dt
Energy of a photon,
E = hf = hω