Alevel FORMULAS

Quantity Formula Unit / Description

Formula of Vernier calipers: MSR + ( VSR × L.C.) According to L.C.
to measure length
Formula of micrometer Screw Gauge MSR + ( CSR × L.C.) mm
Thickness of wire, paper sheets etc
Number of moles (n) Avogadro’s number = 6.02
n= × 1023
Weight (force of gravity) w = mg Newton
Gravitational field strength g= N/kg
Gravitational acceleration -2
ms
-3
density ρ= = = kg m
-3 -3
kg m ÷ 1000 = g cm

2 different objects ρ1 = ρ2 ρ = density

made up of same materials w = weight
m = mass
v = volume
P = pressure

Speed (Avg) vav = m/s

m/s × 3.6 = km/h
Speed = Gradient of (d-t) graph
Velocity (Avg) vav = = m/s
m/s × 3.6 = km/h
Velocity = Gradient of (d-t) graph
-2
Acceleration (Avg) – ms
a= = =
a = Gradient of (v-t) graph and (v-t) graph
Equations of uniform acceleration (a) V = u + at
2
S = ut + ½ at
2
S = vt - ½ at
S= ×t
2 2
2as = v – u
Projectile Motion Time of flight = T = No horizontal force on projectile
(ball, bullet, missile etc) Fx= 0 , ax= 0
V =√ Max. height = H = Ux = vx = ucosƟ
tan  = Range = R =
Only force on projectile = gravity
(a vertical force)
Horizontal distance = X = (u cosƟ )t ay= -g
2
Vertical distance = Y = (u sinƟ)- ½ gt vy= usinƟ – gt
Resultant Force F = ma Newton
F=P×A P = pressure
Impulsive/resultant force = F = =
Momentum (p) P=mv Kg m/s or Ns
Impulse/ change IN MOMENTUM p = F × t = m (v-u) Kg m/s or Ns
Law of conservation of momentum m1 u1 + m2 u2 = m1 v1 + m2 v2
Elastic collision m1 u1 + m2 u2 = m1 v1 + m2 v2
u1 - u2 = v2 - v1 Relative speed of approach =
relative speed of separation
For 2 bodies separating (exploding M α 1/v
parts) m1 v1 = - m2 v2 If one mass is 3 times the other,
Gun and bullet, parts of a shell, etc then speed of lighter object will
be 3 times of speed of heavier
object
Upthrust in any fluid (liquid/gas) Upthrust F = mg = weight of liquid raised Ρ = density of fluid
(displaced) by object = ρVg V = volume of object immersed
Moment (Torque) τ Moment = Force × perpendicular distance Unit = N m
between pivot and direction of force d = perpendicular distance between
Τ = F × d = F d sinƟ pivot and direction of force

Principle of moments Sum of all clockwise moments = Sum of all

anticlockwise moments
F1 × d1 = F2 × d2
M1 × d1= M2 × d2

Torque of a couple τ = any 1 Force × perpendicular distance between

2 Forces
Work W = force × distance covered along the force= F×d joule(J)
= Fd cosƟ = Area under F—d graph d = distance covered along the force
W = Fd cos (for 0˚ ≤≤90˚ +W) P = pressure
(for 90˚ ≤  ≤ 180˚ -W) V = volume of gas
Work done on a gas = P ΔV
Gravitational potential energy G.P.E. = mgh = wh Joule
h is the vertical height of the
centre of gravity of object
2
Kinetic energy K.E. = ½ mv joule
Work energy principle Work done = change in K.E. + change in P.E.
G.P.E. at top = K.E. at bottom
power Power = p = = = (lifting) = (moving / Watt (W)
1W = !j/s
stopping)
Instantaneous power = p = FV = Fv cosƟ = area
under (F-V) graph

effeciency % efficiency = × 100 = × No unit

Input E. = usefil output E. +
100
wasted E.
Circular (Angular) motion S = rө,
ω= = =2 f
α=
V=rω
a = rα
2
ac = =rω
2
Fc = = mr ω
Gravitational field
F=

g =

ø =-

Absolute G.P.E =
 Ideal Gas N = number of particles
n= number of moles
=
k=
PV = nRT
PV= NkT
2
P= <c >
2
P= <c >

Separation between 2 gas particles √

Pressure Pressure = pascal(Pa)

Fluid Pressure Fluid pressure = ρ g h Pascal (Pa)
(liquid/gas)
Pascal’s law (only for Liquids)

Manometer Excessive Pressure = ρ g h

2 fluids having same pressure ρ1 h1 = ρ2 h2

Boyle’s law (only for Gas at P1 V 1 = P 2 V 2
constant temperature)
Charle’s Law (only for gas at Temp. in kelvin only
constant Pressure) k = c + 273

Deformation Hook’s Law (F = Ke) Large values of K and Y represent

Stress = Strain = a harder material, vice versa.
For springs connected one after
=
the other (in series softer
2 combination)
Strain energy (elastic P.E.) = ½ F e = ½ ke = Area K = K1 + K2 + K3
under Load-extension Graph. For springs connected side by
2 2
Change in strain energy = ½ ke2 - ½ ke1 side (parallel/harder
combination)

Thermal Properties X = Any thermal property

= 


=
Өk = ӨC + 273.15
U : if temp. increases
- U : if temp. decreases
+q: if heat enters syste
st
1 Law of thermodynamics U =q+W -q: if heat leaves the gas
+W: if work is done on the gas
(compressed)
-W: if work is done by the gas
(expands)
 Heat capacity C= = Joule per celcius

Joule per kelvin
Specific heat capacity c= = Joule per kelvin per kg


c=
Latent heat (0f fusion / Lf = Q joule
vaporisation) Lv = Q
Specific latent heat (of fusion / Joule per kg
vaporisation) lf =

lv =

Oscillation X = Xo sinωt ω = 2πf =

V = Xo ω cosωt = Vo cosωt = √
2 2
a =- Xo ω sinωt = - X ω
max. speed = Vo = Xo ω
2
max. Acceleration = X0 ω
2
K.E. = ½ m ω ( )
2
total. Energy = max. P.E = max .K.E = ½ m vo
2 2
= ½ m Xo ω

Waves formulas (V = f ) = = Second (s)

Time period (T)
Frequency (f) f= = ω/2π Hertz (Hz)
Wavelength (λ) = Meter (m)
2
Intensity (I) intensity α A
Amplitude (A) intensity α
Distance travelled (d)
Intensity = I = = A α

2 2
I1 d1 = I2 d2

A1 d1 =A2 d2

Doppler’s Effect Vs = speed of source

V = speed of wave
fo = (for source approaching observer) fs = original frequency of source
fo = frequency observed

fo = (for source leaving observer)

2
Malus’s law Emergent intensity = I = Io cos  Io = max. intensity through a
Only transverse waves can be polaroid
polariesd  = angle of rotation of polaroid

Attenuation/Amplification dB is + if p2 ˃ p1 (Amplification)
dB (deci bell) (vice versa)
dB represents the difference in =
powers and intensities of 2 -μx x1/2 = half value thickness of
I = Io e
waves/signals the medium
μ x1/2 = ln2 = 0.693
 Attenuation per unit length =

Acoustic impedence (z) IR = Reflected intensity

Z = ρc IT = Transmitted intensity
I = IR + IT Intensity reflection coefficient = α = =

-μx
Emergent intensity = I = Io e

Reflected intensity = IR = I

Refractive index n= = constant (= refractive index in case of No unit

light refraction of entering medium) Bending α
Bending α f
n1 = = = (light entering from medium 2
into medium 1)
Superposition For Constructive interference n = 0,1,2,3,….
interference Path difference = n = integral multiple of λ
Phase difference = 2nπ = even multiple of
For Destructive interference
Path difference = (2n+1) = odd multiple of λ/2
Phase difference = (2n+1)π = odd multiple of
Young’s double slit experiment X = fringe spacing = distance
X = between 2 neighboring
maximas/minimas
D = distance between slits and
screen/sensor
a = distance between the centres
of slits
Diffraction Grating n = order of maxima (integer)
Ɵ = angle between a maxima and
n central maxima
d = slit gap =

Stationery waves For a string / pipe open at both ends

Gap between 2 neighboring (for antinode at both ends or nodes at both ends) Phase difference between 2
nodes/antinodes = fn = points at either side of a node is
n = 1,2,3,… π.
Distance between a node and
antinode = For a pipe closed at one end
(for antinode at one end and node at other end)
fn =
n = 1,3,5,… (odd numbers only)
Coulomb (C)
Charge (Q) Q = number of electrons × e = I × t = 1C = 1A × 1s
e = elementary charge
-19
= 1.6 × 10 C
E = electric field intensity Q = field charge
F = electrostatic force between 2 E =(-) = = q = testing charge
charges
V = electric potential
F=
 V= =

Capacitance (C) Q=CV

C = = Gradient of (Q-V) graph
2
Energy stored in capacitor = E = ½ QV = ½ CV =
Area under (Q-V) graph
2 2
Change in energy = ½ CV2 - ½ CV1
Ampere (A)
Current (I) I = Anvq = 1A =
n= n = number of free charge
carriers density

Elelctromotive force (emf) ϵ =emf = Volt (V)

emf = E = I(R + r) = V + Ir

Potential difference (V) V= Volt (V)

Resistance (R) Ohm (Ω)

R=

Electric power supplied P=E×I E = emf

Electric Power dissipated (p) 2 Watt (W)

P = VI = I R =

Electrical energy supplied (E) 2 Joule (J)

E = p × t = VIt = V Q = I Rt =

resistivity Ωm

For series circuit V1 = , V2 =

Equivalent resistance= Re = R1 + R2 + R3

For parallel circuit

For 2 conductors made up of same

material have same resistivity

Alternating Current I = Io sinӨ = Io sin t = = Io sin2πft

V = Vo sinӨ = Vo sin t = = Vo sin2πft
Irms = = 0.7 Io
√
Vrms = = 0.7 Vo
√
Magnetic field Force on a current carrying wire of length L in a
B = magnetic field intensity = magnetic field
magnetic flux density F = ILB sinƟ
Force on a moving charge in a magnetic field
F = qvB sinƟ
t = thickness of conductor
qvB =
Hall’s Voltage = VH =

Electromagnetic induction Magnetic flux = Ø = BA = BA sinӨ N = number of turns

 Total flux = ø = N BA
Induced emf = ε =- =-

Kilowatt-hour (kWh) Electric energy in kWh = No. of kWh = kWh

-19
1 ev = 1.6 × 10 j
Transformer Magnetic flux = magnetic field
strength × area facing the field

Operational Amplifier
Gain =

Gain of inverting op. Amp. = =

Gain of non- inverting op. Amp. = =

Quantum Physics E = hf =

2
hf = hfo +( ½ mv )max

2
( ½ mv )max = Volt q
λ=
hf = E2 – E1
A -19
General Symbol of a nucleus = Xz Z = number of protons 1 ev = 1.6 × 10 J
-13
A = number of nucleons (P + N) 1 Mev = 1.6 × 10 J
Number of neutrons = A – Z
Mass defect = m = Zmp – (A-Z)mn
A A-4 4
Alpha, beta and gamma emission Xz ------------ Yz-2 + He2 (α)
equations
- β emission
Quarks (d  u + e(-β) + antineutrino )
1 1 0 2
Hadrons ( no  p1 + β -1 + antineutrino + E ) E = Energy = mc
A A 0
Xz ------------ Yz+1 + e-1 (β) + antineutrino + E
+ β emission
Quarks u  d + e(+β) + neutrino )
1 1 0
Hadrons ( no  p1 + β +1 + neutrino +(- E) ) -E = energy absorbed

A A 0
Xz ------------ Yz-1 + e+1 (+β) + neutrino + (-E)
*A A
Xz ------------ Xz + ϒ ray

Number of half lives = No = initial number of undecayed

nuclie
N = present number of
λ= undecayed nuclie
A=λN
-λt
N = No e
-λt
A = Ao e
λ T1/2 = ln(2) = 0.693
 1 235 92 141 1
Fission reaction of Uranium N0 + U92 ------------ Kr36 + Ba56 +3 N0
+ eneergy
Astronomy and Cosmology Radiated power = luminosity = L d = distance from luminous
object
radiant Flux Intensity = F = L/4 d2
T = temperature
Wein’s Law λmax α 1/T
(λ1 T1 = λ2T2)
2 4
Stefan – Boltzmann Law L = 4 r T
Hubble’s law
~ ~
V = Hod