AQA GCSE Physics Equation Sheet

Topic 1 - Energy

Equation Symbol Unit

Ek = kinetic energy Ek =
2
Ek = ½ mv m = mass m=
v = speed v=
Ee = elastic potential energy Ee =
Ee = ½ ke2 k = spring constant k=
e = extension e=
Ep = gravitational potential Ep =
energy m=
m = mass g=
Ep = mgh
g = gravitational field h=
strength
h = height
ΔE = change in thermal ΔE =
energy m=
ΔE = mcΔθ m = mass c=
c = specific heat capacity Δθ =
Δθ = temperature change
P = power P=
P=E
E = energy transferred E=
t
t = time t=
P = power P=
P=W
W = work done E=
t
t = time t=
Efficiency = useful energy out
total energy in
Efficiency = useful power out
total power in

Primrose Kitten – YouTube Tutorials for Chemistry, Physics and Maths. 1

Topic 2 – Electricity

Equation Symbols Units

Q = Charge Q=
Q = It I = Current I=
t = Time t=
V = Potential difference V=
V = IR I = Current I=
R = Resistance R=
P = Power P=
P = VI V = Potential difference V=
I = Current I=
P = Power P=
P = I 2R I = Current I=
R = Resistance R=
E = Energy E=
E = Pt P = Power P=
t = Time t=
E = Energy E=
E = QV Q = Charge Q=
V = Potential difference V=

Topic 3 – Particle Model of Matter

Equation Symbols Units

ρ = density ρ=
ρ=m
m = mass m=
V
V = volume V=
ΔE = change in thermal ΔE =
energy m=
ΔE = mcΔθ m = mass c=
c = specific heat capacity Δθ =
Δθ = temperature change
E = Energy E=
E = mL m = mass m=
L = specific latent heat L=
p = pressure p=
pV = constant
V = volume V=

Primrose Kitten – YouTube Tutorials for Chemistry, Physics and Maths. 2

Topic 5 – Forces

Equation Symbols Units

W = weight W=
m = mass m=
W = mg
g = gravitational field g=
strength
W = work done W=
W = Fs F = force F=
s = distance s=
F = force F=
F = ke k = spring constant k=
e = extension e=
Ee = elastic potential energy Ee =
Ee = ½ ke2 k = spring constant k=
e = extension e=
M = moment M=
M = Fd F = force F=
d = distance d=
p = pressure p=
p=F
F = force F=
A
A = area A=
p = pressure p=
h = height h=
p = hρg ρ = density ρ=
g = gravitational field g=
strength
s = distance s=
s = vt v = speed v=
t = time t=
a = acceleration a=
a = Δv
Δv = change in velocity t=
t
t = time
v = final velocity v=
u = initial velocity u=
v2 – u2 = 2as
a = acceleration a=
s = distance s=
F = force F=
F = ma m = mass m=
a = acceleration a=

Primrose Kitten – YouTube Tutorials for Chemistry, Physics and Maths. 3

 p = momentum p=
p = mv m = mass m=
v = velocity v=
F = force F=
F = m Δv m = mass m=
Δt v = velocity v=
t = time t=

Topic 6 – Waves

Equation Symbols Units

Period = 1 . Period =
frequency Frequency =
T=1 T = Period T=
f f = frequency f=
v = velocity v=
v = fλ f = frequency f=
λ = wavelength (lambda) λ=
Magnification = image height Ratio so has no units
object height

Primrose Kitten – YouTube Tutorials for Chemistry, Physics and Maths. 4

Topic 7 – Magnetism and Electromagnetism

Equation Symbols Units

F = force F=
F = BIl
B = magnetic flux density B=
I = Current I=
Note this is a capital I and a
l = length l=
lowercase l

Vp = potential difference Vp =
across the primary coil Vs =
Vs = potential difference np and ns have no units as
Vp = np across the secondary coil they are just numbers
Vs ns np = number of turns on the
primary coil
ns = number of turns on the
secondary coil
Vs = potential difference Vs =
across the secondary coil Vp =
Vp = potential difference Is =
across the primary coil Ip =
Is = current in the secondary
Vs Is = Vp Ip
coil
Ip = current in the primary
coil
Vs Is = power output
Vp Ip = power input

Primrose Kitten – YouTube Tutorials for Chemistry, Physics and Maths. 5