This post contains all the important formulas that you need for GCE O Level Physics. (Equivalent to American High School Diploma) If you do not recognise any of the formulas listed here, you should go review the respective topic. For definitions, please visit All Definitions Needed For O Level.
Measurements
Physical quantity | Base SI unit |
---|---|
Mass (m) | Kilogram (Kg) |
Length ($l$) | Metre (m) |
Time (t) | Second (s) |
Current ($\text{I}$) | Ampere (A) |
Temperature (T) | Kelvin (K) |
Amount of sub. (n) | Molar (mol) |
Luminous Intensity (L) | Candela (cd) |
Number | Prefix | Number | Prefix |
---|---|---|---|
$10^{-9}$ | nano (n) | $10^{-1}$ | deci (d) |
$10^{-6}$ | micro ($\mu$) | $10^{3}$ | Kilo (K) |
$10^{-3}$ | milli (m) | $10^{6}$ | Mega (M) |
$10^{-2}$ | centi (c) | $10^{9}$ | Giga (G) |
$$\text{Reading without zero error} = \text{Reading Obtained}-\text{Zero Error}$$
Kinematics
Average Speed, $s = \frac{\Delta d}{\Delta t}$, d is distance travelled
Average Velocity, $v = \frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t}$, x is displacement
Acceleration, $a = \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}$
$v = u + at$
$x = ut + \frac{1}{2} a t^{2}$
$v^{2} = u^{2} + 2 ax$
$s = \frac{1}{2} \left( u + v \right) t$
Information that you have | Equations of motion to use | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
s | u | v | a | t | |
$v = u + at$ | |||||
$s = ut + \frac{1}{2} at^{2}$ | |||||
$s = \frac{1}{2} (u + v)$ | |||||
$v^{2} = u^{2} + 2as$ |
$v_{free \, fall} = \sqrt{2 gh}$
If a car is driving around a circle at a constant speed, its velocity is not constant! The car is accelerating! Why? Because velocity is a vector (has both magnitude and direction). When the car is travelling around the circle, its direction is changing constantly.
Forces and Turning effect of Force
Newton’s First Law: A body continues to stay in its state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line as long as there is no net force acting on the body.
Newton’s Second Law: The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.
Newton’s Third Law: For every force object A acts on object B, object B will exert an equal and opposite force on object A giving rise to reaction force.
$M = Fd$, M = moment, d = perpendicular dist. from force to pivot
Principle of moment: sum of anti-clockwise moment = sum of clockwise moment. $\rightarrow$ rotational equilibrium.
Mass, Weight and Density
$w = mg$
$\rho = \frac{m}{V}$
Pressure
$P = \frac{F}{A}$
$P_{fluid} = h \rho g$
Hydraulic press: $\frac{F_{1}}{A_{1}} = \frac{F_{2}}{A_{2}}$
Boyles’ law: $P_{1}V_{1} = P_{2}V_{2}$
Work, Energy and Power
$W = Fd$
$P = \frac{W}{t} = Fv$
$E_{k} = \frac{1}{2} m v^{2}$
$E_{g} = mgh$, g = 9.81 $m \, s^{-2}$
Conservation of energy: Initial energy = final energy
Thermal Physics
$PV \propto T$
$P_{1}V_{1} = P_{2} V_{2}$
$E = m c \Delta T$
$E_{fusion} = m L_{fusion}$
$E_{vap.} = m L_{vap.}$
Temperature can be measured using the following methods:
- Expansion of fixed mass of liquid
- Changes in resistance of a piece of metal
- Expansion of gas at constant pressure
Why is there constant temperature during melting?
- During melting, heat energy is used to weaken the attraction between the solid particles and not used to increase the kinetic energy of the particles.
When a thermometer is placed into hot water, why does the reading drops first then increase?
- The glass bulb expands before the mercury expands.
Good radiator of heat
- Black surface
- Rough surface
Waves, Reflection and Refraction of light, Converging lens, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Sound
$v = f \lambda$
$f = \frac{1}{T}$
Law of reflection: $\theta_{i} = \theta_{r}$
Snell’s Law: $n_{1} \sin{\theta_{1}} = n_{2} \sin{\theta_{2}}$
Refractive index: $n = \frac{c}{v}$
Denser to less dense medium: Light ray bends away from normal
Less dense to denser medium: Bends towards normal
$$1 < n \left( \lambda_{\text{red}} \right) < n \left( \lambda_{\text{green}} \right) < n \left( \lambda_{\text{blue}} \right)$$
Critical angle: $\sin{\theta_{c}} = \frac{n_{2}}{n_{1}}$, $n_{2}$ is smaller than $n_{1}$
Magnification: $M = \frac{h_{i}}{h_{o}} = \frac{d_{i}}{d_{o}}$
Note:
- An image that is real is always inverted!
- An image that is virtual is always upright!
When a water wave moves from deep to shallow,
- wavelength become shorter
- Frequency remains the same (Freq. of water wave only depends on SOURCE)
- Speed becomes slower
Factors that affect speed of sound
- Temperature – Higher temperature = higher speed of sound
- Medium – The denser the medium, the higher the speed of sound
- Humidity – Sound travels faster in higher humidity conditions
Characteristics of Image formed on plane mirror
- Same size
- Laterally inverted
- Image is virtual
Go to the next page for more equations
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Yeah my ol exam is starting in 1 hour and im reading this for the 7th time
exams got cancelled here tho lolll
The small tips make it easier
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Asante saana
Can’t understand language
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I needed application of light waves and sound waves to the society at large but it was impossible for me to find
This was really helpful for quick revision right before exams .
Good Bt No Electricity
Page 2 is all about Electricity.
DEAR,I want to print it how can I ?
screenshot then crop and then print
I think I am on the right platform to better my physics up.
I like this. I will be buying MBs to study online.
As a young physicist I love this forum….great Albert decendants
haha
I WANT TO BE BRAVE HOW WILL I DO?
No magnetism or electricity formulas….. insufficiently done
Eat sharks
what about the electrical parts
you guys missed the entire chapter on electrical formulas
Efficiency as well
PAGE 2.
wow!!! tnxs.. d formular are jus ok..
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Please could you make one such for Edexcel AS Physics. .
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Great!There should be more formulas.
Hello, can you suggest formulas to be added to this list?
like formulas from specific heat capacity or latent heat or zero error or graphs of kinematics or electromagnetic spectrum
but this is still very effective i love these notes. have helped me a lot thankyou so much miniphysics
Hello! Thanks for the suggestions! They are added into the list. 🙂
It helped me save a lot of time. I copied all the formulas and practiced question using them. Finding all the formulas in one place helped me finish my revision in 2 hours, other wise it would’ve taken more than 3. Thanks a lot!
Thanks.Having my o levels tomorrow.this helped
Having my pure physics o’s tomorrow this was very helpful! HAHA only started memorising today and this was perfect
Same 🙂 good luck!
Thank you! having my o levels tomorrow :B
hey, i guess you are doing the oct/nov too this year XD, same here , we have physics paper 4 tomorrow
Any way you could upload a downloadable version?
This is very useful for revision.