Appendix 7: Equations E=

σ
ε
Students need not memorise formulae for these qualifications.
The formulae below will be supplied in each examination. Any other formulae that are
required will be provided in the question. Symbols used comply with the Association for
Elastic strain energy ∆Eel = 12 F∆x
Science Education (ASE) guidelines (which are based on International Union of Pure and
Applied Physics (IUPAP) recommendations).

Unit 2: Waves and Electricity

Unit 1: Mechanics and Materials
Waves and particle nature of light
Mechanics

Wave speed v = fλ
Kinematic equations of motion (u + v)t
s=
2
v = u + at Speed of a transverse wave on a T
string v=
s = ut + 12 at 2 µ
v 2 = u 2 + 2as
Intensity of radiation P
I=
Forces ΣF = ma A
F
g=
m Refractive index n1 sin θ1= n2 sin θ2
W = mg c
n=
Momentum p = mv v

Moment of force = Fx Critical angle 1

sin C =
n

Materials
Diffraction grating nλ = dsinθ
Density m
ρ=
V
de Broglie wavelength h
λ=
p
Stokes’ law F = 6πηrv

Photon model E = hf
Hooke’s law ∆F = k∆x

Einstein’s photoelectric equation 2

hf = φ + 12 mvmax
Young modulus F
Stress σ =
A
∆x
Strain ε =
x

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 Centripetal force mv 2
Electricity F = ma =
r

Current ∆Q F = mrω2
I=
∆t
Electric and magnetic fields
Potential difference W
V=
Q Electric field F
E=
Q
Resistance V
R=
I Coulomb’s law Q1Q2
F=
Electrical power, energy and P = VI 4πε 0 r 2
efficiency
P = I2R
Q
E=
V2 4 πε 0 r 2
P=
R
V
W = VIt E=
d

Resistivity ρl
R= Electric potential Q
A V=
4 πε 0 r
I = nqvA

Capacitance Q
C=
Unit 4: Further Mechanics, Fields and Particles V

Further mechanics
Energy stored in capacitor W = 12 QV

Impulse F∆t = ∆p W = 12 CV 2
1
Q2
W= 2
Kinetic energy of a p 2
C
non-relativistic particle Ek =
2m
Capacitor discharge Q = Q0 e-t/RC
Motion in a circle v = ωr
2π Resistor-capacitor discharge I = Io e-t/RC
T=
ω V = Vo e-t/RC
v2 t
a= ln Q = ln Q0 −
r RC
a = rω 2

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 t ln 2
ln I = ln I 0 − λ=
RC t 12
t N = N0 e-λt
ln V = ln V0 −
RC A = A0 e-λt

In a magnetic field F = Bqv sin θ

Oscillations
F = BIl sin θ

Simple harmonic motion F = − kx

Faraday and Lenz’s laws − d ( Nφ )
E = a = − ω2x
dt
x = Acos ωt
v = − Aω sin ωt
Nuclear and particle physics
a = − Aω2 cos ωt
1 2π
In a magnetic field p T= =
r= f ω
BQ
ω = 2πf

Mass-energy ∆E = c2∆m
Simple harmonic oscillator m
T = 2π
k
Unit 5: Thermodynamics, Radiation, Oscillations and Cosmology l
T = 2π
g
Thermodynamics

Heating ∆E = mc∆θ Astrophysics and cosmology

ΔE = LΔm
Gravitational field strength g = F/m
Ideal gas equation pV = NkT
Gravitational force Gm1m2
F=
Molecular kinetic theory 1 2
m<c > = kT 3 r2
2 2

Gravitational field Gm
Nuclear decay g=
r2

Mass-energy ∆E = c2∆m
Gravitational potential − Gm
Vgrav =
r
Radioactive decay A = λN
d𝑁𝑁
= −λN
d𝑡𝑡

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Stefan-Boltzmann law L = σT4A Appendix 8: Data sheet
The value of the following constants will be provided in each examination paper.
Wien’s law λmaxT = 2.898 x 10-3 m K

Acceleration of free fall g = 9.81 m s−2 (close to Earth’s

Intensity of radiation L surface)
I=
4πd 2
Boltzmann constant k = 1.38 × 10−23 J K−1
Redshift of electromagnetic ∆λ ∆f v
radiation
z= ≈ ≈
λ f c Coulomb law constant k = 1/4πεo = 8.99 x 109 N m2 C-2

Cosmological expansion v = Hod Electron charge e = −1.60 × 10−19 C

Electron mass me = 9.11 × 10−31 kg

Electronvolt 1 eV = 1.60 × 10−19 J

Gravitational constant G = 6.67 × 10−11 N m2 kg−2

Gravitational field g = 9.81 N kg−1 (close to Earth’s

strength surface)

Planck constant h = 6.63 × 10−34 J s

Permittivity of free space εo = 8.85 × 10−12 F m−1

Proton mass mp = 1.67 × 10−27 kg

Speed of light in a c = 3.00 × 108 m s−1

vacuum

Stefan-Boltzmann σ = 5.67 x 10-8 W m-2 K-4

constant

Unified atomic mass unit u = 1.66 x 10-27 kg

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