Physics data booklet

First assessment 2016

 Diploma Programme
Physics data booklet

Published June 2014

Revised edition published January 2016

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Contents
Fundamental constants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Metric (SI) multipliers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Unit conversions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Electrical circuit symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Equations—Core . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Equations—AHL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Equations—Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Physics data booklet

Physics data booklet
Fundamental constants

Quantity Symbol Approximate value

Acceleration of free fall
g 9.81m s 2
(Earth’s surface)

Gravitational constant G 6.67 × 10−11 Nm2 kg−2 Important

Avogadro’s constant NA 6.02 × 1023 mol−1

Gas constant R 8.31JK 1 mol 1

Boltzmann’s constant kB 1.38 × 10−23 JK −1

Stefan–Boltzmann constant 5.67 × 10−8 W m−2 K −4

Coulomb constant k 8.99 × 109 Nm2 C−2

Permittivity of free space 0 8.85 × 10−12 C2 N−1 m−2

Permeability of free space 0 4π × 10−7 T m A −1

Speed of light in vacuum c 3.00 × 108 m s−1 Important

Planck’s constant h 6.63 × 10−34 Js Important

Elementary charge e 1.60 × 10−19 C Important

Electron rest mass me 9.110 × 10−31 kg = 0.000549 u = 0.511MeV c −2

Proton rest mass mp 1.673 × 10−27 kg = 1.007276 u = 938 MeV c −2

Neutron rest mass mn 1.675 × 10−27 kg = 1.008665 u = 940 MeV c −2

Unified atomic mass unit u 1.661× 10−27 kg = 931.5 MeV c −2

Solar constant S 1.36 × 103 W m−2 Important

Fermi radius R0 1.20 × 10−15 m

Physics data booklet 1

Metric (SI) multipliers
Prefix Abbreviation Value
peta P 1015
tera T 1012
giga G 109
mega M 106
kilo k 103
hecto h 102
deca da 101
deci d 10 –1
centi c 10 –2
milli m 10 –3
micro 10 –6
nano n 10 –9
pico p 10 –12
femto f 10 –15

Unit conversions
180°
1 radian (rad) ≡
π
Temperature (K) = temperature (°C) + 273 important and make sure some T using Kelvin

1 light year (ly) = 9.46 × 1015 m

1 parsec (pc) 3.26 ly

1 astronomical unit (AU) = 1.50 × 1011 m

1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) = 3.60 × 106 J

hc = 1.99 × 10−25 Jm = 1.24 × 10 −6 eV m important and convenient for MCQs

2 Physics data booklet

Electrical circuit symbols

cell battery

ac supply switch

voltmeter V ammeter A

resistor variable resistor

lamp potentiometer

light-dependent
thermistor
resistor (LDR)

transformer heating element

diode capacitor

Physics data booklet 3

 Equations—Core
Note: All equations relate to the magnitude of the quantities only. Vector notation has
not been used.

Sub-topic 1.2 – Uncertainties and errors Sub-topic 1.3 – Vectors and scalars
If: y = a ± b
AV A
then: ∆y = ∆a + ∆b
y = Result.

a, b, c = Quantities. AH = Horizontal
ab Mostly appear in Paper 3 and MCQs
Δ = Uncertainty. If: y AV = Vertical
c
∆y ∆a ∆b ∆c
then: = + +
y a b c
AH

If: y an AH = A cos θ

∆y ∆a
then: = n A V = A sin θ
y a

Sub-topic 2.1 – Motion Sub-topic 2.2 – Forces

v = Final velocity.
v = u + at F ma F = Resultant force.
u = Initial velocity. SUVAT
1 2 Ff ≤ µsR Static object
m = Mass.
a = Acceleration (‘g’ for s = ut + at
gravitational).
2 a = Acceleration.

s = Displacement. Ff = µdR µs = Coefficient of static

v 2 = u 2 + 2as Dynamic object
friction.
t = Time elapsed.
(v + u ) t µd = “ dynamic “.
s= Ff = Frictional force.
2
R = Normal reaction
force.
Sub-topic 2.3 – Work, energy Sub-topic 2.4 – Momentum
and power and impulse
W = Fs cos θ Work done cos90=>can be neglected p mv
1 ∆p
EK mv 2
2 F= Force with the use of momentum
∆t
1
Ep = k ∆ x2 Potential energy for spring
p2
2 EK KE with the use of
2m momentum
∆Ep = mg ∆h Gravitational potential energy
used in object falling
s = Displacement.
Could be shown as the
k = Spring constant power Fv impulse = F ∆t = ∆p area under the curve in
Force-time diagram
x = Extension in spring
system useful work out
efficiency
g = Earth’s gravity
total work in
useful power out
total power in

4 Physics data booklet

 p = Pressure.
Sub-topic 3.1 – Thermal concepts Sub-topic 3.2 – Modelling a gas
F = Force.

Q = mc ∆T Energy/ Specific heat energy F A = Area.

p Pressure is force per area
Q = Energy/heat. A n = Number of
moles.
Q mL Energy/ Specific latent energy
m = Mass. N = Number of
N atoms.
c = Specific heat capacity. n
T = Temperature.
NA NA = Avogadro’s
constant.
L = Specific latent heat. Ideal Gas, real gas under low
pV nRT pressure and high temperature
V = Volume.

R = Gas constant.

3 3 R T = Temperature.
EK kBT T Average KE in gas
2 2 NA EK = Kinetic energy.

kb = Boltzmann’s
constant.

Sub-topic 4.1 – Oscillations Sub-topic 4.4 – Wave behaviour

T = Period.

1 n1 sin θ 2 v 2
f = Frequency.
T = = Snell’s Law, the wave crosses the
f n2 sin θ1 v1 thin film

Sub-topic 4.2 – Travelling waves λD

s= Double slit
c = Velocity.
d n1/n2 = Index of
f = Frequency. c = fλ refraction.

θ = Angle of incidence/
λ = Wavelength.
Constructive interference: refraction.
Sub-topic 4.3 – Wave characteristics path difference = nλ v = Wave velocity.
Maxima/minima on screen in double
I A 2 Intensity of a wave is proportional to square of
amplitude.
slit diffraction. s = Fringe spacing.
Destructive interference: λ = Wavelength.
I ∝ x −2 Intensity of a wave’s radiation at a certain distance
⎛ 1⎞
from the source.
path difference = ⎜ n + ⎟ λ D = Distance to
⎝ 2⎠ screen.
I = I 0 cos 2
Polariser, if theta=0, then I=0.5I0
d = Slit spacing.

n = Any integer (order

of minimum/
I = Intensity. maximum).

A = Amplitude.

x = Distance from source.

I0 = Original intensity.

θ = Angle of polarizer.

Physics data booklet 5

 Sub-topic 5.2 – Heating effect of
Sub-topic 5.1 – Electric fields electric currents
∆q Kirchhoff’s circuit laws:
I=
∆t ΣV = 0 (loop)
V = Potential.
q1q2
I = Current.
F k Coulomb’s law ΣI = 0 (junction) I = Current.
q = Charge. r2 R = Resistance.
t = Time.
1 V
P = Power.
F = Force. k Coulomb constant R ρ = Resistivity.
k = Coulomb constant. 4 0 I A = X-sectional area.
r = Separation distance.
W V 2 L = Length.
ε0 = Permittivity of free V Potential difference: Work done per unit charge P VI I 2R Power dissipated or Power
space. q R supplied

V = Potential.
F
W = Work done.
E Electric Field Strength: Force per unit charge Rtotal = R1 + R2 + ... series connection
E = Electric field
strength.
q
n = Number of charges 1 1 1
per unit volume.
I nAvq current in a a wire with cross-sectional area and charge = + + ...
A = X-sectional area. and drift velocity Rtotal R1 R2 parallel connection

v = Drift velocity.
RA
ρ= resistivity of a wire
L
Sub-topic 5.4 – Magnetic effects of
Sub-topic 5.3 – Electric cells F = Force.
electric currents q = Charge.

v = Velocity of
ε = I (R + r ) Emf of a cell with internal and external resistance F = qvB sin θ Force on a charge moving through a magnetic field. charge.

B = Magnitude of
magnetic field.
ε = Emf.

I = Current. F = B IL sin θ Force on a current-carrying wire in a

magnetic field.
θ = Angle with
field.
R = Resistance.

r = Internal resistance.

Sub-topic 6.2 – Newton’s law of

Sub-topic 6.1 – Circular motion
gravitation

v = ωr Mm
Linear velocity and angular velocity relationship F G Newton’s law of gravitation
r2 F = Force.

v = Velocity.
a=
ω = Angular velocity.
r = Radius of circle.
G = Gravitational
v 2 4 π2 r F constant.
= 2 centripetal acceleration g Field strength as experienced by a mass in the field M = Mass of body.
r T m m = Mass of body

a = Acceleration.
mv 2 M r = Separation

= mω 2 r centripetal force toward center and

distance of bodies.
T = Period of rotation. F= g G Field strength at a certain distance from body

F = Force.
r 90 degree to the velocity r2 g = Gravitational
field strength

m = Mass.

6 Physics data booklet

 Sub-topic 7.1 – Discrete energy and
Sub-topic 7.2 – Nuclear reactions
radioactivity
E = Energy.

h = Planck’s constant.
E hf Energy of a photon. ∆E = ∆mc 2 Energy released when nucleons are
assembled into nucleus
Using proton=1.007u, Neutron=1.008u and E = Energy.
f = Frequency. electron=0.0005u
hc m = Mass.
λ = Wavelength.
λ= Wavelength of a photon
can be rewrite to E=hc/λ c = Speed of light.
c = Speed of light. E

Sub-topic 7.3 – The structure of matter

Baryon Charge Leptons

Charge Quarks
number
–1 e
2 1
e u c t 0 νµ ντ
3 3 e

e = Elementary charge.
All leptons have a lepton number
u = Up. 1 1 of 1 and antileptons have a lepton e = Electron.
e d s b
d = Down. 3 3 number of –1 u = Muon.

c = Charm.
All quarks have a strangeness number τ = Tau.

s = Strange. of 0 except the strange quark that has ν = Neutrino.

t = Top. a strangeness number of –1

b = Bottom.

Gravitational Weak Electromagnetic Strong

Particles Quarks, Quarks,

All Charged
experiencing leptons gluons
Particles
Graviton W + , W − , Z0 Gluons
mediating

Sub-topic 8.2 – Thermal energy

Sub-topic 8.1 – Energy sources
transfer
energy Power radiated by a body, sometimes
power P = eσ AT 4 P/A=σ T^4
time

A = Area swept out by 1 2.90 × 10−3 Wavelength at which

turbine blades. power = Aρv 3 λmax (metres) = P = Power.

2 Power available for a wind turbine

T (kelvin) intensity
maximum.
of radiation is at a
e = Emissivity.
ρ = Air density.
σ = Stefan-Boltzmann
v = Wind speed.
power constant.
I A = Area.
A Intensity of radiation.

T = Temperature.

total scattered power λ = Wavelength.

albedo
total incident power I = Intensity.

Physics data booklet 7

 Equations—AHL
ω = Angular frequency.
T = Period.
a = Acceleration.
x = Displacement from
equilibrium.
x0 = Maximum
displacement.
t = Time elapsed.
EK = Kinetic energy.
ET = Total energy.
l = Length of pendulum.
g = Gravitational field
strength.
k = Spring constant.
θ = Angle.
λ = Wavelength.
b = Slit width/diameter.
R = Resolvance
Δλ = Smallest possible
resolvable wavelength
difference.
m = Diffraction order.
N = Number of slits
illuminated.
8 Physics data booklet
Sub-topic 9.1 – Simple harmonic
Sub-topic 9.2 – Single-slit diffraction
motion
2π λ
ω= Angular frequency of oscillation. θ= Angle at which first minimum occurs in
single-slit diffraction.
θ = Angle.
T b λ = Wavelength.
b = Slit width.
a = −ω 2 x Acceleration of object in SHM. Sub-topic 9.3 – Interference
x = x0 sin ω t ; x = x0 cos ω t Displacement of
object in SHM. nλ = d sin θ
Path difference between slits for a diffraction grating (constructive/
destructive interference).
v = ω x0 cos ω t ; v = −ω x0 sin ω t Velocity of object in ⎛ 1⎞
SHM. Constructive interference: 2dn = ⎜ m + ⎟ λ
⎝ 2⎠
n = Any integer (for
diffraction grating).
v = ±ω ( x0 − x )
2 2 Velocity of object in SHM.
Destructive interference: 2dn = mλ λ = Wavelength.
Interference patterns for thin-film interference. d = Slit spacing (for
diffraction grating).
1
EK = mω 2 ( x0 2 − x 2 ) Kinetic energy of object in θ = Angle.
2 SHM.
d = Thickness of
medium (for TFI).
n = Refractive index
1 of medium (for TFI).
ET = mω 2 x0 2 Total energy of object
in SHM. m = Any integer (for
2 TFI).
l
pendulum: T = 2π Period of oscillation of a pendulum
in SHM.
g
m
mass-spring:T = 2π Period of oscillation of a
k mass on a spring in SHM.
Sub-topic 9.4 – Resolution Sub-topic 9.5 – Doppler effect
λ ⎛ v ⎞ V=speed of
θ = 1.22 First minimum for diffraction in a circular Moving source: f ′ = f ⎜ ⎟ wave in air or in f’ = Perceived frequency.
b ⎝ v ± us ⎠
aperture. other
substance f = Actual frequency.
sometime Tanθ=1.22λ/b
v = Wave speed.
λ ⎛ v ± uo ⎞
us = Velocity of source.
Moving observer: f ′ = f ⎜
R= = mN Resolvance of a diffraction grating.
⎟ uo = Velocity of observer.
∆λ ⎝ v ⎠ λ = Wavelength.
v = Relative speed of observer
∆f v ∆λ and source.
= ≈ Doppler effect for light.
f λ c c = Speed of light.
 Sub-topic 10.1 – Describing fields Sub-topic 10.2 – Fields at work
Vg = Gravitational
W = q ∆Ve GM kQ potential.
Potential Vg = − Ve
Work done moving a charge between 2
points in a field.
r r Ve = Electric
potential.

W = m∆Vg ∆Vg ∆Ve G = Gravitational

Field strength g=− E=− constant.

Work done moving a mass between 2 ∆r ∆r k = Coulomb

points in a field. constant.
GMm kQq M = Mass.
Potential energy Ep = mVg = − Ep qVe
r r Q = Charge.

r = Separation
GMm kQq distance.
Force Fg Fe
r2 r2 g = Gravitational field
strength.

E = Electric field
strength.
2GM Escape velocity of a planet
v esc Ep = Potential
r energy.

m = Mass.
W = Work done.
GM q = Charge.
v orbit Velocity of a body in circular orbit
around another body
q = Charge. r Fg = Gravitational
force.
Ve = Electric potential. Fe = Electric force.

V(esc) = Escape
m = Mass. velocity.

Vg = Gravitational potential. V(orbit) = velocity of

orbit.

Physics data booklet 9

 Sub-topic 11.1 – Electromagnetic
Sub-topic 11.3 – Capacitance
induction
Φ = BA cos θ q
Magnetic flux. C Capacitance
V
∆Φ
ε = −N Induced emf in a
∆t coil. Cparallel = C1 + C2 + ... in parallel
C = Capacitance.
Φ = Magnetic flux. q = Charge.
B = Magnitude of ε = Bv l Induced emf in a conductor
moving through a field. 1 1 1 V = Potential
magnetic field. = + + ... in series (difference).
A = Area of coil. ε = Bv l N Induced emf in a coiled wire Cseries C1 C2
moving through a field. ε = Permittivity of
dielectric material.
N = Number of
turns. Sub-topic 11.2 – Power generation and A
C =ε Capacitance of a A = Area of plates.
t = Time elapsed. transmission d capacitor in a
d = Separation of
separation of plates
plates.
v = Speed of
wire. I0 1
Irms Effective (root mean E CV 2 Energy stored in a capacitor.
E = Energy stored.
l = Length of wire. 2 square) current in an AC
2 τ = Time constant.
generator.
R = Resistance.
V0
Vrms Effective (root mean
square) potential τ = RC Time constant for a circuit. q0 = Original charge.
2 difference in an AC
t = Time elapsed.
generator.
t
V0 Vrms q = q0 e
−
τ
I = Current.
R Resistance. Exponential decrease of charge
I0 = Initial maximum
I(rms) = Effective current.
I0 Irms stored for a discharging capacitor.
current.

t V0 = Initial maximum
I0 = Maximum current. −
Pmax I 0V0 Maximum power dissipated. I = I0e τ Exponential decrease of
current for a discharging
potential difference.
V(rms) = Effective pd. capacitor.
V0 = Maximum pd.
1
P I 0V0 Average power dissipated. −
t
Exponential decrease of
R = Resistance
2 V = V0 e τ potential difference for a
P(max) = Maximum discharging capacitor.
power dissipated.
ε p Np I s
P = Power dissipated. = = Ratios of emf, turns and

ε = Emf.
ε s Ns I p current in a transformer.

N = Number of turns.

p/s = Primary/secondary.
Sub-topic 12.1 – The interaction of
Sub-topic 12.2 – Nuclear physics
matter with radiation
1
E hf Energy of a photon.
R R0 A 3 Nuclear radius of an element.

E = Energy.
h = Planck’s constant.
Emax = h f − Φ Kinetic energy of free electron: N = N0 e − λ t Number of nuclei left in a radioactive sample.
photoelectric effect
13.6
E=− eV Quantised energy of A = λ N0 e − λ t Activity of a radioactive sample. R = Nuclear radius.

f = Frequency.
n2 electron in the
hydrogen atom. R0 = Fermi radius
(constant).
Φ = Work function.
nh λ A = Atomic mass number.
mvr = Angular momentum of the sin θ ≈ First minimum of an electron diffraction
2π
n = State of atom. orbiting electron in the hydrogen pattern around a circular object. N = Number of nuclei.
atom. D
m = Mass. N0 = Original number of
nuclei.
2 Probability that an
v = Velocity.
P (r ) = ψ ∆V electron will be found A = Activity.
r = Radius. within a small volume ΔV.
λ = Decay constant.

Ψ = Wave function. h θ = Angle of first

∆ x∆p ≥ Uncertainty in momentum and position minimum.
V = Volume. 4π of a particle (Heisenberg).
λ = De Broglie
wavelength.
x = Position.
h Uncertainty in energy and D = Diameter of circular
p = Momentum. ∆E ∆t ≥ lifetime of the state of a particle object.

t = Time. 4π (Heisenberg).

10 Physics data booklet

Equations—Options
Sub-topic A.1 – The beginnings of Sub-topic A.2 – Lorentz
relativity transformations
x′ = x − v t 1
γ=
v2
u′ = u − v 1−
c2

Sub-topic A.3 – Spacetime diagrams x′ = γ ( x − vt ); ∆ x′ = γ ( ∆ x − v ∆t )

⎛v ⎞ ⎛ vx ⎞ ⎛ v∆x ⎞
θ = tan−1 ⎜ ⎟ t′ = γ ⎜t − ; ∆t ′ = γ ⎜ ∆t − c 2 ⎟
⎝c⎠ ⎝ c 2 ⎟⎠ ⎝ ⎠

u −v
u′ =
uv
1− 2
c

∆t = γ ∆t0

L0
L=
γ

(ct ′)2 − ( x′)2 = (ct )2 − ( x )2

Sub-topic A.4 – Relativistic mechanics Sub-topic A.5 – General relativity

(HL only) (HL only)
E = γ m0 c 2 ∆f g ∆h
=
f c2
E0 m0 c 2
2GM
EK = (γ − 1) m0 c 2 Rs
c2
p = γ m0v ∆t0
∆t =
Rs
E 2 = p 2c 2 + m0 2c 4 1−
r
qV = ∆EK

Physics data booklet 11

 Sub-topic B.1 – Rigid bodies
Sub-topic B.2 – Thermodynamics
and rotational dynamics
Γ = Fr sin θ tork of a stick
Q = ∆U + W

I = ∑ mr 2 Moment of inertia
3
U nRT
2
Γ = Iα Tork with moment of inertia and
angular acceleration

∆Q
ω = 2πf ∆S =
T
ωf = ωi + α t 5

SUVAT for rotational dynamics pV 3 constant (for monatomic gases)

Conservation of energy:
mgh=0.5Iω^2+0.5mv^2
ω f2 = ω 2i + 2αθ
W = p∆V
1
θ = ωi t + α t 2
2 useful work done
η=
L = Iω Momentum for rotational dynamics energy input

1 2 Tcold
EKrot = Iω KE for rotational dynamics
ηCarnot = 1 −
2 Thot

Sub-topic B.3 – Fluids and fluid Sub-topic B.4 – Forced vibrations and
dynamics (HL only) resonance (HL only)

energy stored
B = ρ fVf g Q = 2π
energy dissipated per cycle

energy stored
P = P0 + ρ f gd Q = 2π × resonant frequency ×
power loss

Av constant

1 2
ρv + ρ gz + p = constant
2

FD = 6πη rv

vr ρ
R=
η

12 Physics data booklet

 Sub-topic C.1 – Introduction to Sub-topic C.2 – Imaging
imaging instrumentation
1 1 1 fo
= + M
f v u fe
1 Sub-topic C.3 – Fibre optics
P
f
1
h
n
v sin c
m= i =−
ho u
I
θi attenuation 10 log
M= I0
θo
Sub-topic C.4 – Medical imaging
D D (HL only)
Mnear point = + 1; Minfinity =
f f I1
LI 10 log
I0

I = I0e − µ x

µ x 1 = In2
2

Z = ρc

Sub-topic D.2 – Stellar characteristics

Sub-topic D.1 – Stellar quantities
and stellar evolution
1
d (parsec) λmaxT = 2.9 × 10−3 mK
p (arc-second)

L = σ AT 4 L M 3 .5

L
b=
4πd 2
Sub-topic D.5 – Further cosmology
Sub-topic D.3 – Cosmology
(HL only)
∆λ v 4πG ρ
z= ≈ v= r
λ0 c 3

R 3H 2
z= −1 ρc =
R0 8πG

v H0 d

1
T
H0

Physics data booklet 13