‘O’ Level Physics Formula Sheet
1
Measurements
Base SI Units
Kg
m
s
A
K
mol
SI Unit for mass: Kilogram
SI Unit for length: metre
SI Unit for time: second
SI Unit for current: Ampere
SI Unit for Temperature: Kelvin
SI Unit for Amount of substance: molar
Number Prefix
n (10-9)
µ (10-6)
m (10-3)
c (10-2)
d (10-1)
K (103)
M (10
6
)
nano
micro
milli
centi
deci
Kilo
Mega
Kinematics
Average Speed
s = ∆d / ∆t
Average Velocity
v = ∆x/∆t
Acceleration
a = ∆v/∆t
∆d = total distance travelled (area under
speed-time graph)
∆x = total displacement
∆t = total time taken
∆v = change in velocity
Velocity (slope of displacement-time graph)
Acceleration (slope of velocity-time graph)
v = u + at
x = ut + ½ at2
v2 = u2 + 2ax
vfree fall =
�2𝑔ℎ
u= initial velocity
v = final velocity
t = time
a = acceleration
x = displacement
h = height
g = gravitational constant = 9.81 m/s2
Dynamics
Newton’s First Law
∑𝐹
= 0 at equilibrium
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/moment acting on the
body.
Newton’s Second Law
F= ma
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/Normal Forces
Resolving forces
Fhorizontal = Fr cos Ө
F
vertical
= F
r
sin Ө
Mass, Weight, Density
Weight
w = mg
w = Weight
m = mass
g = gravitational field strength
Density
ρ=
m
V
ρ = density
m = mass
V = volume
Turning effect of Force
Moment of Force
M = F d
M = Moment
F = force
d = ⊥ distance from force to pivot
Principle of Moment
Σ Anticlockwise Moment
= Σ Clockwise Moment
For a body in rotational
equilibrium,
Sum of ACW Moment = sum of
CW Moment
Pressure
Pressure
𝐏=
F
A
P = Pressure
F = Force over area, A
A = Area
Pressure of liquid
column
P = hρg
P = Pressure
ρ = density,
h = height of liquid column
g = gravitational field strength.
Energy, Work and Power
Work Done
W = Fd
W = work done
F= force
d= distance in direction of force
Power
P = W/t = Fv
Work done per unit time, t
Kinetic Energy
𝐄𝐤=
1
2mv2
E
k
= Kinetic Energy
m = mass
v = velocity
Gravitational Potential
Energy
Ep = mgh
g = gravity =9.81 m/s
h = height
m = mass
Conservation of Energy
E1 = E2
E
1
= Total Energy Before
E2 = Total Energy After
Energy cannot be created or
destroyed. It can only be
transformed or converted into other
forms.
Kinetic Model of Matter
Ideal Gas Law
PV ∞ T
P1V1 = P2V2
P = pressure of fixed mass of gas
V = volume occupies by fixed mass
of gas
T = Temperature of gas
Subscript 1 = initial state
Subscript 2 = final state
Thermal Properties of Matter
Specific Heat Capacity
E = m c ∆T
c = Specific heat capacity (Energy
required to raise the temperature of
1kg of the object by 1 °C)
m = mass
∆T = change in temperature.
Latent Heat
For melting,
E = m Lfusion
For boiling,
E = m Lvaporization
L
fusion
= latent heat of fusion (Energy
required to change 1kg of solid to
liquid at the constant temp)
Lvaporization = latent heat of
vaporization (Energy required to
change 1kg of liquid to gas at the
constant temp)
m = mass
General Wave Properties
Wave Velocity
v = f λ
v = velocity of a wave
f = frequency
λ = wavelength
Wave frequency
f =
1
T
T = Period
f = frequency
F
horizontal
F
vertical Fr
Ө
