Data given in the exam
The constants printed on the data page. Formulae marked Paper 4 are on the extra page in Paper 4 only.
| Quantity | Formula |
|---|---|
| Acceleration of free fall | g = 9.81 m s⁻² |
| Speed of light in free space | c = 3.00 × 10⁸ m s⁻¹ |
| Elementary charge | e = 1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ C |
| Unified atomic mass unit | 1 u = 1.66 × 10⁻²⁷ kg |
| Rest mass of proton / electron | 1.67 × 10⁻²⁷ kg / 9.11 × 10⁻³¹ kg |
| Avogadro constant | NA = 6.02 × 10²³ mol⁻¹ |
| Molar gas constant | R = 8.31 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ |
| Boltzmann constant | k = 1.38 × 10⁻²³ J K⁻¹ |
| Gravitational constant | G = 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ N m² kg⁻² |
| Permittivity of free space | ε₀ = 8.85 × 10⁻¹² F m⁻¹ |
| Planck constant | h = 6.63 × 10⁻³⁴ J s |
| Stefan–Boltzmann constant | σ = 5.67 × 10⁻⁸ W m⁻² K⁻⁴ |
Formulae given in the exam
| Quantity | Formula |
|---|---|
| Uniformly accelerated motion | s = ut + ½at², v² = u² + 2as |
| Hydrostatic pressure | Δp = ρgΔh |
| Upthrust | F = ρgV |
| Doppler effect (sound) | fo = fsv ÷ (v ± vs) |
| Electric current | I = Anvq |
| Resistors in series / parallel | R = R₁ + R₂ + …, 1/R = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + … |
| Gravitational potential Paper 4 | φ = −GM/r |
| Gravitational potential energy Paper 4 | EP = −GMm/r |
| Pressure of an ideal gas Paper 4 | p = ⅓(Nm/V)⟨c²⟩ |
| Simple harmonic motion Paper 4 | a = −ω²x, v = ±ω√(x₀² − x²) |
| Electric potential Paper 4 | V = Q ÷ 4πε₀r |
| Capacitors in series / parallel Paper 4 | 1/C = 1/C₁ + 1/C₂ + …, C = C₁ + C₂ + … |
| Discharge of a capacitor Paper 4 | x = x₀e−t/RC |
| Hall voltage Paper 4 | VH = BI ÷ ntq |
| Radioactive decay Paper 4 | x = x₀e−λt, λ = 0.693 ÷ t½ |
| Stefan–Boltzmann law Paper 4 | L = 4πσr²T⁴ |
| Doppler redshift Paper 4 | Δλ/λ ≈ Δf/f ≈ v/c |
Not given: learn these (AS)
| Quantity | Formula |
|---|---|
| Uniformly accelerated motion | v = u + at, s = ½(u + v)t |
| Force and momentum | F = ma, p = mv, F = Δp/Δt |
| Work, power, energy | W = Fs, P = Fv, EP = mgh, EK = ½mv² |
| Springs and materials | F = kx, EP = ½kx², Young modulus = stress ÷ strain |
| Waves | v = fλ, I = I₀cos²θ |
| Interference and diffraction | λ = ax/D, d sinθ = nλ |
| Electricity | Q = It, V = IR, P = VI = I²R, R = ρL/A |
Not given: learn these (A Level)
| Quantity | Formula |
|---|---|
| Circular motion | ω = 2π/T, v = ωr, F = mv²/r = mrω² |
| Gravitation | F = Gm₁m₂/r², g = GM/r² |
| Ideal gases | pV = nRT = NkT, mean KE = (3/2)kT |
| First law of thermodynamics | ΔU = q + W, W = pΔV |
| Electric fields | F = qE, E = V/d, F = Q₁Q₂ ÷ 4πε₀r² |
| Capacitance | C = Q/V, W = ½CV², τ = RC |
| Magnetic forces | F = BIL sinθ, F = BQv sinθ, Φ = BA |
| Alternating current | Irms = I₀/√2 |
| Quantum physics | E = hf, hf = Φ + ½mv²max, λ = h/p |
| Nuclear physics | E = mc², A = λN |
The papers
| Paper | Type | Data and formulae page |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Multiple choice (AS) | Yes |
| Paper 2 | AS structured questions | Yes |
| Paper 3 | Advanced practical skills | No |
| Paper 4 | A Level structured questions | Yes, with the extra A Level page |
| Paper 5 | Planning, analysis and evaluation | No |
How to use this sheet
- Learn the “not given” equations with their units.
- The data page uses g = 9.81 m s⁻²; use it unless a question says otherwise.
- The syllabus asks you to derive some equations, such as the equations of motion, so learn where they come from.
- Source: the official Cambridge syllabus (PDF). Cambridge's own booklet is copyright, so this is our own layout of the standard formulae.