Physics Formula Sheet 1

OAT Physics Formula Sheet

On the OAT, you will NOT be given a calculator for the physics section. That being said, you will still be required
to calculate answers involving basic calculations. To make it easier for you, we have compiled the formulas that
you should know before taking the OAT. We highly recommend that you understand the concepts behind every
formula on this formula sheet.

Linear Kinematics

v f⃗ = final velocity (m/s)

v i⃗ = initial velocity (m/s)
Final Velocity: v f⃗ = v i⃗ + a t⃗
a ⃗ = acceleration (m/s2)
t = time (s)

x ⃗ = final position (m)

x 0⃗ = initial position (m)
1
Displacement: x ⃗ = x 0⃗ + v i⃗ t + ⃗ 2
a Δt v i⃗ = initial velocity (m/s)
2 a ⃗ = acceleration (m/s2)
t = time (s)

v f⃗ = final velocity (m/s)

v ⃗2f = v ⃗2i + 2 a Δ
⃗ x⃗ v i⃗ = initial velocity (m/s)
Final Velocity:
a ⃗ = acceleration (m/s2)
Δx⃗ = displacement (m)

Statics

X component: | F x⃗ | = | F ⃗ | cosθ
Fy = y component
Y-component | F y⃗ | = | F ⃗ | sinθ Fx = x component
Fz = z component

Magnitude: | F ⃗| = | F x⃗ |2 + | F y⃗ |2

Unknown angle: | Fy |
ta nθ =
| Fx |

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 Physics Formula Sheet 2

Fg = gravitational force (N)

m = mass (kg)
Weight: Fg = mg
g = acceleration due to gravity
(10 m/s2)

Dynamics

Fnet = net force (N)

Net force: Fnet = m a m = mass (kg)
a = acceleration (m/s2)

Rotational Motion

a ⃗ = centripetal acceleration
v ⃗2
a c⃗ =
(m/s2)
Centripetal acceleration:
r v ⃗ = velocity (m/s)
r = radius (m)

τ = torque (kg⋅m2⋅s-2)
r = radius (m)
Torque: τ = rFsinθ F = force (N)
θ = angle between force and
lever arm

Rotational kinematics:
θ = angle of rotation
ωf = ω0 + αt
ω0 = initial angular velocity (rad/s)
1
θ = ω0t + αt 2 ωf = final angular velocity (rad/s)
2 t = time (s)
ω 2 = ω02 + 2αθ α = angular acceleration (rad/s2)

2π 1 T = period
Period: T= = ω = angular velocity (rad/s)
ω f f = frequency (s-1)

I = moment of inertia (kg⋅m2)

m = mass of rotating bodies (kg)
Moment of inertia: I = mr 2
r = distance of object from
centre of axis of rotation (m)

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 Physics Formula Sheet 3

Fg = gravitational force (N)

G = universal gravitational
constant (6.67x10-11 m3kg-1s-2)
Newtons law of universal GMm
Fg = M = mass of object 1 (kg)
gravitation force: r2 m = mass of object 2 (kg)
r = distance from the centres of
the masses

τ α = angular acceleration (rad/s2)

Newton's second law of
a = net τ = torque (N⋅m)
rotation: I I = moment of inertia (kg⋅m2)

Energy and Momentum

1 m = mass (kg)
Kinetic energy: KE = mv 2
2 v ⃗ = velocity (m/s)

m = mass (kg)
Linear momentum: p = mv
v ⃗ = velocity (m/s)

F = applied force (N)

Impulse: FΔt = Δp
t = elapsed time (s)

F = applied force (N)

Kinetic Energy/ Wnet = ΔK E d = displacement (m)
Work energy theorem: W = F||d = Fdcosθ θ = angle between force vector
and displacement

ΔE ΔE = energy (J)
Power: P=
Δt Δt = elapsed time (s)

Σmi = sum of mass of objects

Σmi xi (kg)
Center of mass: xcm =
Σmi xi = distance from centre of
objects to origin of system (m)

K = kinetic energy (J)

Total mechanical energy: E = K + UG
UG = potential energy (J)

m = mass (kg)
g = acceleration due to gravity
Change in potential ΔUG = mgΔh (10 m/s2)
energy:
Δh = change in height (m)

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 Physics Formula Sheet 4

Ei = Ef (no friction) E = mechanical energy (J)

Conservation of
ΔE = ΔK E + ΔU = − Wfr K = kinetic energy (J)
mechanical energy:
(presence of friction) UG = potential energy (J)

Wout Wout = work done (J)

Efficiency: e=
Ein Ein = input energy (J)

Simple Harmonic Motion

k = spring constant (N/m)

Hookes law: Fx = − k x
x = spring stretch (m)
1 2 k = spring constant (N/m)
Spring potential energy: U= kx
2 x = spring stretch (m)

m
Ts = 2π
Period and frequency of a k m = mass of system (kg)
simple harmonic oscillator: 1 k k = spring constant (N/m)
f =
2π m
vma x = Aω A = amplitude (m)
Max speed and acceleration:
ama x = Aω 2 ω = angular velocity (rad/s)

L L = pendulum length (m)

Period of simple pendulum: Tp = 2π g = acceleration due to gravity
g (10 m/s2)

k = spring constant (N/m)

2π k
Angular frequency: ω= = m = mass of system (kg)
T m T = period (s)

A = amplitude (m)
Position function for simple x = Acos(ωt) ω = angular velocity (rad/s)
harmonic motion: x = Acos(2π f t) t = time (s)
f = frequency (Hz)

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 Physics Formula Sheet 5

Waves

v λ = wavelength
Wavelength: λ= v = velocity (m/s)
f
f = frequency (Hz)

I0 = threshold intensity
( 1x10-12 W/m2 )
Malus law: I = I0cos 2 θ θ = angle between the plane of
the polarizer and the
transmission axes

I I1 = intensity of sound 1 (W/m2)

Intensity of sound: d B = 10log10( 1 ) I0 = threshold intensity
I0 ( 1x10-12 W/m2 )

f1 = frequency of the
first source (Hz)
Beat frequency: fbeat = | f1 − f2 |
f2 = frequency of
second source (Hz)

Fluid Statics

m ρ = density (kg/m3)
Density ρ= m = mass (kg)
V V = volume (m3)

P = pressure (N/m2)
F
Pressure: P= F = force (N)
A A = area (m2)

P = absolute pressure (N/m2)

Liquid pressure:
P0 = atmospheric pressure
(N/m2)
P = P0 + ρgh ρ = fluid density (kg/m3)
g = acceleration due to gravity
(10 m/s2)
h = fluid depth (m)

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 Physics Formula Sheet 6

Conservation of flow/ A = area (m2)

A1v1 = A22v2
equation of continuity:
Fb = ρVg
Archimedes principle:
Fb = ρVsub g = ρVdis g
v = velocity (m/s)
Fb = buoyant force (N)
ρ = fluid density (kg/m3)
V = volume (m3)
g = acceleration due to gravity
(10 m/s2)
Vsub = volume submerged (m3)
Vdis = volume displaced (m3)

ρ = fluid density (kg/m3)

g = acceleration due to gravity
(10 m/s2)
P1 = pressure at elevation 1 (N/
1 2 1 m2)
P1 + ρg y1 + ρv = P2 + ρg y2 + ρv22
Bernoulli’s principle: 2 1 2 v1 = velocity at elevation 1 (m/s)
h1 = height at elevation 1 (m)
P2 = pressure at elevation 2
(N/m2)
v2 = velocity at elevation 2 (m/s)
h 2 = height at elevation 2 (m)
ρobj ρ = object density (kg/m3)
Specific gravity: S.G. =
ρH2O ρ = water density (kg/m3)

Thermal Energy and Thermodynamics

W = work (J)
Work done by gas: W = − PΔV P = pressure (N/m2)
V = volume (m3)

ΔU = change in internal energy

(J)
ΔQ = heat transferred to/from
system(J) [+Q = heat added to
First Law of system , -Q = heat lost from
ΔU = Q + W system]
Thermodynamics:
W = work transferred to/from
system (J) [+W = work done ON
system, -W = work done BY
system]

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 Physics Formula Sheet 7

P = pressure (N/m2)
V = volume (m3)
n = moles (mol)
R = gas constant (8.8314 J
Ideal Gas Equation: PV = n RT = n kBT
mol-1K-1)
T = temperature (K)
kB = Boltzmann constant
(1.38x10-23J/K)

Q = heat transfer (J)

k = thermal conductivity (Watts/
K AΔT m x K)
Conduction: Q=
Δx A = cross sectional area (m2)
ΔT = change in temperature (K)
Δx = thickness (m)

Kavg = average kinetic energy (J)

kB = Boltzmann constant
(1.38x10-23J/K)
Average kinetic 3 3R R = gas constant (0.0821 Latm
energy of the Kavg = KBT = T mol-1K-1)
2 2N0 T = temperature (K)
molecules of a gas:
kB = Boltzmann constant
(1.38x10-23J/K)
N0 = moles (mol)

W QH = heat from high

ef f = temperature source
QH
Efficiency: QC = heat from low
Qh − Qc Qc
ef f = =1− temperature source
Qh Qh W = work (K)

Electrostatics

F E = electric field (V)

Electric field: E= e Fe = electric force (N)
q q = charge (Q)

k = Coulombs constant
(9x109 N · m 2/C 2)
Electric field kQ
E= 2 Fe = electric force (N)
(point charge): r Q = charge (Q)
r = distance of separation (m)
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 Physics Formula Sheet 8

Fe = electric force (N)

r = distance of separation (m)
kq q
Coloumb’s law: F = 12 2 q1,q 2 = charges (Q)
r k = Coulombs constant
(9x109 N · m 2/C 2)

ΔUE = change in electric

potential energy (J)
Electric potential energy: U = qΔV q = charge (Q)
ΔV = change in electric
potential (V)

V = electric potential (V)

Electric potential:
k = Coulombs constant
kQ
V= (9x109 N · m 2/C 2)
r Q = charge (C)
r = distance of separation (m)

ΔV = change in electric
ΔV potential (V)
Electric field strength: E=
Δr Δr = change in distance of
separation (m)

DC Circuits

C = capacitance (F)
k = dielectric constant
A ε0 = permittivity of free space
Capacitance: C = k ε0
d (8.8x10-12 C/N x m2)
A = surface area of plates (m2)
d = distance between plates (m)

I = current (amp)
V V = change in electric potential
Voltage: I=
R (V)
R = resistance (Ω)

P = power (W)
P = IV
I = current (amp)
Power/ P = I 2R V = change in electric potential
Energy dissipation: V2 (V)
P=
R R = resistance (Ω)

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Physics Formula Sheet 9

I = current (amp)
Q
Current I= Q = change in charge (C)
t t = change in time (s)

R = resistance (Ω)
pl p = resistivity (Ω x m)
Resistance R=
A l = length (m)
A = cross sectional area (m2)

Total resistance Rs = total resistance (Ω)

Rs = Σi Ri
(series): Ri = individual resistance (Ω)

Total resistance 1 1 Rp = total resistance (Ω)

= Σi
(parallel): Rp Ri Ri = individual resistance (Ω)

1 1 Cs = total capacitance (F)

Total capacitance = Σi Ci = individual capacitance
(series): Cp Ci
(F)

Cp = total capacitance (F)

Total capacitance
Cp = ΣiCi Ci = individual capacitance
(parallel):
(F)

C = capacitance (F)
Q Q = charge (C)
Charge of capactior: V=
C V = change in electric
potential (V)
1
Uc = QV Uc = energy of capacitor (J)
2
1 Q = charge (C)
Energy of capacitor: Uc = C(V )2
2 V = change in electric
1 Q2 potential (V)
Uc =
2 C

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 Physics Formula Sheet 10

Optics

n = refractive index of a medium

c c = speed of light (3.0x108 m/s)
Index of refraction: n=
v v = velocity of light in a medium
(m/s)

n1 = incident index
θ1 = incident angle
Snell’s Law: n1sin(θ1) = n2 sin(θ2)
n1 = refracted index
θ2 = refracted angle

1 1 1 f = focal length (m)

Thin lens equation/ = + do = object distance (m)
mirror equation: f do di di = image distance (m)

M = magnification
hi d ho = object height (m)
Magnification: M= =− i hi = image height (m)
ho do do = object distance (m)
di = image distance (m)
1 P = lens power (D)
Lens Power: P=
f f = focal length (m)

Units and Vectors

Pre xes
Factor Pre x Symbol
1012 Tera T
109 Giga G
106 Mega M
103 Kilo k
10-2 Centi c
10-3 Mili m
10-6 Micro μ
10-9 Nano n
10-12 Pico P

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Physics Formula Sheet 11

Values of Trigonometric Functions for Common Angles

θ 0o 30o 37o 45o 53o 60o 90o

sinθ 0 1/2 3/5 2 /2 4/5 3 /2 1
cosθ 1 3 /2 4/5 2 /2 3/5 1/2 0
tanθ 0 3 /3 3/4 1 4/3 3 ∞

Constants and Conversion Factors

Proton mass, mp = 1.67 x 10-27 kg

Neutron mass, mn = 1.67 x 10-27 kg

Electron mass, me = 9.11 x 10-31 kg

Electron charge magnitude, e = -1.60 x 10-19 C

1 electron volt, 1eV = 1.60 x 10-19 J

Speed of light, c = 3.00 x 108 m/s

Universal gravitational constant, G = 6.67 x 10-11 Nm2/(kg2)

Acceleration due to gravity at Earths surface, g = 10 m/s2

Avagadro’s number, N0 = 6.02 x 10-23 mol-1

Universal gas constant, R = 8.31 J/(mol x k)

Boltzmann’s constant, kB = 1.38 x 10-23 J/K

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