A Level Physics Formulae

10. Creating models

Radioactivity Probability p of decay in time t: Activity: Number of atoms: Half-life:

Exponential decay of charge Change in discharge: Discharge of capacitor: Time constant (charge reduced by 1/e): Charge, capacitance and voltage: Energy stored on capacitor:

p = t

dN = N dt

N = N 0 e t
t1/ 2 = ln 2

dQ Q = dt RC
Q = Q0 e t / RC

= RC
Q = CV
1 1 1 Q2 E = QV = CV 2 = 2 2 2 C

Harmonic oscillators Period of harmonic oscillator:

Period of pendulum of length l: T= 2

= 2

m k

T = 2

l g

Acceleration displacement: Displacement, where is phase angle:

Energy stored in mechanical oscillator:

d 2s k 2 = s = ( 2 f ) s 2 dt m
s = A sin ( 2 ft + ) , i.e. = 2 f

E=

1 2 1 2 kx + mv 2 2

11. Out into space

Centripetal force: Gravitational force between two masses: Gravitational field strength: G.P.E. difference in uniform field: Gravitational potential: Force, momentum and acceleration:
12. Our place in the Universe

F=

mv 2 = m 2 r r

F =
g=

Gm1m2 r2
GM r2

E = mg h
Vgrav = GM r

F=

p v =m = ma t t

Relative velocity from radar: Doppler shift (two-way):

v tback tout = c tback + tout

v v back out = c back + out 2 c

Doppler shift (one-way): Recession velocity: Red-shift:

v c

v = H 0r Robserved = 1+ = 1+ z Remitted emitted

13. Matter: very simple

Ideal gas law: Kinetic model of a gas:

Average kinetic energy of molecule: Internal energy of monatomic gas: Internal energy, work, thermal transfer: Change in energy:

pV = nRT = NkT pV =

p1V1 p2V2 = T1 T2

1 Nmc 2 3

1 2 3 mv = kT 2 2
U=

3 3 NkT = nRT 2 2

U = W + Q
E = m c

Approximate energy of particle:

14. Matter: very hot and very cold

kT

Boltzmann factor: Rate of reaction:

15. Electromagnetic machines

exp ( / kT ) rate exp ( / kT )

Flux

Flux linkage: Permeance, magnetic flux, current-turns: Permeance, area, length: Electromotive force: Flux density: Flux density, where n = turns/metre:
Transformers

flux linkage = N
= =

NI

A
L

e.m.f. = N
B=

d dt

B = nI

Transformer, voltage & turns: Transformer, current & turns: Force on conductor:
16. Charge and field

VS N S = VP N P IS NP = IP NS

F = ILB

Work done: Speed of particle: Electric field strength (NC-1 or Vm-1): Electric potential at point in field:

W = qV
v= E= V=

2qV m
F V = q x E q

Magnetic force on moving charge: Radius of circular path in magnetic field: Electric potential: Electric field strength: Force between two point charges:

F = qvB
r= p qB q

Velec = E= F=

4 0 r
q

4 0 r 2
q1q2 4 0 r 2

17. Probing deep into matter

De Broglie wavelength:

h p

Energy-frequency relationship for photons: E = hf = Einitial E final Energy level spacings in hydrogen:
18. Ionising radiation and risk

En =

13.6eV n2

Exponential attenuation of radiation: Risk: Absorbed dose (measured in gray): Dose (measured in sievert): Rest energy: Binding energy of nucleus:
General / AS formulae

I = I 0e x
risk = probability x consequences
dose = dose =
E m E quality factor m

Erest = mc 2 E = ( mnucleus mnucleons ) c 2

Density, mass and volume: Momentum (for slow particles): Energy transfer in circuit: Force, mass and acceleration:

p=

m V

p = mv E = VIt = Pt = qV
F = ma

Weight: Kinetic energy: Change in potential energy: Work done:

Charge: Potential difference: Electrical power: Resistance: Conductance: Internal resistance: Pressure: Wave speed: Frequency: Impulse: Power: Efficiency: Speed, distance, time: Constant acceleration formulae:

W = mg
K.E. = 1 2 mv 2

P.E. = mg h
Work done = Fs

Q = I t
V = IR

P = IV = I 2 R = R= G= V L = I A I A = V L

V2 R

Vload = E IRinternal P= F A

v= f
f =
1 T

Impulse = F t = mv mu
P= Fs = Fv t
useful energy output total energy output

Efficiency =

v=

s t

1 s = ut + at 2 2

v = u + at

v 2 = u 2 + 2as
Optics: 1 1 1 sin i cvacuum = + ; n= = sin r cmedium v u f