GCSE Physics equation sheet

AQA's official sheet (PDF)

1. weight = mass × gravitational field strength

   W = m g

   W weight (N) · m mass (kg) · g gravitational field strength (N/kg)

2. work done = force × distance moved along the line of action of the force

   W = F s

   W work done (J) · F force (N) · s distance (m)

3. force = spring constant × extension

   F = k e

   F force (N) · k spring constant (N/m) · e extension (m)

4. moment of a force = force × distance (normal to direction of force)Physics only

   M = F d

   M moment of a force (N m) · F force (N) · d distance (m)

5. pressure = force normal to a surface ÷ area of that surfacePhysics only

   p = F ÷ A

   p pressure (Pa) · F force (N) · A area (m²)

6. pressure due to a column of liquid = height of column × density of liquid × gravitational field strengthHigherPhysics only

   p = h ρ g

   p pressure (Pa) · h height of column (m) · ρ density (kg/m³) · g gravitational field strength (N/kg)

7. distance travelled = speed × time

   s = v t

   s distance (m) · v speed (m/s) · t time (s)

8. acceleration = change in velocity ÷ time taken

   a = Δv ÷ t

   a acceleration (m/s²) · Δv change in velocity (m/s) · t time (s)

9. resultant force = mass × acceleration

   F = m a

   F force (N) · m mass (kg) · a acceleration (m/s²)

10. momentum = mass × velocityHigher

    p = m v

    p momentum (kg m/s) · m mass (kg) · v speed (m/s)

11. force = change in momentum ÷ time takenHigherPhysics only

    F = m Δv ÷ Δt

    F force (N) · m mass (kg) · Δv change in velocity (m/s) · Δt time taken (s)

12. kinetic energy = 0.5 × mass × (speed)²

    Eₖ = ½ m v²

    Eₖ kinetic energy (J) · m mass (kg) · v speed (m/s)

13. gravitational potential energy = mass × gravitational field strength × height

    Eₚ = m g h

    Eₚ gravitational potential energy (J) · m mass (kg) · g gravitational field strength (N/kg) · h height (m)

14. power = energy transferred ÷ time

    P = E ÷ t

    P power (W) · E energy transferred (J) · t time (s)

15. power = work done ÷ time

    P = W ÷ t

    P power (W) · W work done (J) · t time (s)

16. efficiency = useful output energy transfer ÷ total input energy transfer

    η = E(useful) ÷ E(total)

    η efficiency (no unit) · E(useful) useful output energy transfer (J) · E(total) total input energy transfer (J)

17. efficiency = useful power output ÷ total power input

    η = P(useful) ÷ P(total)

    η efficiency (no unit) · P(useful) useful power output (W) · P(total) total power input (W)

18. wave speed = frequency × wavelength

    v = f λ

    v wave speed (m/s) · f frequency (Hz) · λ wavelength (m)

19. magnification = image height ÷ object heightPhysics only

    magnification = image height ÷ object height

    magnification magnification (no unit) · heights image and object height (the same unit for both)

20. charge flow = current × time

    Q = I t

    Q charge flow (C) · I current (A) · t time (s)

21. potential difference = current × resistance

    V = I R

    V potential difference (V) · I current (A) · R resistance (Ω)

22. power = potential difference × current

    P = V I

    P power (W) · V potential difference (V) · I current (A)

23. power = (current)² × resistance

    P = I² R

    P power (W) · I current (A) · R resistance (Ω)

24. energy transferred = power × time

    E = P t

    E energy transferred (J) · P power (W) · t time (s)

25. energy transferred = charge flow × potential difference

    E = Q V

    E energy transferred (J) · Q charge flow (C) · V potential difference (V)

26. density = mass ÷ volume

    ρ = m ÷ V

    ρ density (kg/m³) · m mass (kg) · V volume (m³)

27. (final velocity)² − (initial velocity)² = 2 × acceleration × distance

    v² − u² = 2 a s

    v final velocity (m/s) · u initial velocity (m/s) · a acceleration (m/s²) · s distance (m)

28. elastic potential energy = 0.5 × spring constant × (extension)²

    Eₑ = ½ k e²

    Eₑ elastic potential energy (J) · k spring constant (N/m) · e extension (m)

29. change in thermal energy = mass × specific heat capacity × temperature change

    ΔE = m c Δθ

    ΔE change in thermal energy (J) · m mass (kg) · c specific heat capacity (J/kg °C) · Δθ temperature change (°C)

30. period = 1 ÷ frequency

    T = 1 ÷ f

    T period (s) · f frequency (Hz)

31. force on a conductor = magnetic flux density × current × lengthHigher

    F = B I l

    F force (N) · B magnetic flux density (T) · I current (A) · l length (m)

32. energy for a change of state = mass × specific latent heat

    E = m L

    E energy for a change of state (J) · m mass (kg) · L specific latent heat (J/kg)

33. for gases: pressure × volume = constantPhysics only

    p V = constant

    p pressure (Pa) · V volume (m³)

34. potential difference across primary × current in primary = potential difference across secondary × current in secondaryHigher

    Vₚ Iₚ = Vₛ Iₛ

    Vₚ potential difference across the primary coil (V) · Iₚ current in the primary coil (A) · Vₛ potential difference across the secondary coil (V) · Iₛ current in the secondary coil (A)

35. p.d. across primary coil ÷ p.d. across secondary coil = turns in primary coil ÷ turns in secondary coilHigherPhysics only

    Vₚ ÷ Vₛ = nₚ ÷ nₛ

    Vₚ, Vₛ potential difference (V) · nₚ, nₛ number of turns (no unit)