O Level Physics Formula Sheet

Measurements
Base SI Units
Kg
m
s
A
K
mol
Number Prefix
n (10-9)
(10-6)
m (10-3)
c (10-2)
d (10-1)
K (103)
M (106)

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
nano
micro
milli
centi
deci
Kilo
Mega

Kinematics

Dynamics

Newtons Third Law

Resolving forces
Fhorizontal = Fr cos
Fvertical = Fr sin

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.
The acceleration of an object is
directly proportional to the net force
acting on it and inversely
proportional to its mass.
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
Fr
Fvertical

Fhorizontal

Mass, Weight, Density

w = Weight
m = mass
g = gravitational field strength
= density
m = mass
V = volume

Weight
w = mg
Density
m
=
V

Turning effect of Force

Moment of Force
M=Fd

P = Pressure
F = Force over area, A
A = Area
P = Pressure
= density,
h = height of liquid column
g = gravitational field strength.

Energy, Work and Power

d = total distance travelled (area under

speed-time graph)
x = total displacement
Average Velocity t = total time taken
v = change in velocity
v = x/t
Velocity (slope of displacement-time graph)
Acceleration
Acceleration (slope of velocity-time graph)
a = v/t
v = u + at
u = initial velocity
v = final velocity
x = ut + at2
t = time
v2 = u2 + 2ax
a = acceleration
x = displacement
h = height
vfree fall = 2
g = gravitational constant = 9.81 m/s2

Newtons Second Law

F= ma

Pressure
Pressure
F
=
A
Pressure of liquid
column
P = hg

Work Done
W = Fd

Average Speed
s = d / t

Newtons First Law

= 0 at equilibrium

For a body in rotational

Principle of Moment
Anticlockwise Moment equilibrium,
= Clockwise Moment Sum of ACW Moment = sum of
CW Moment

M = Moment
F = force
d = distance from force to pivot

Power
P = W/t = Fv
Kinetic Energy
1
= mv 2
2
Gravitational Potential
Energy
Ep = mgh
Conservation of Energy
E1 = E2

W = work done
F= force
d= distance in direction of force
Work done per unit time, t
Ek = Kinetic Energy
m = mass
v = velocity
g = gravity =9.81 m/s
h = height
m = mass
E1 = 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 c = Specific heat capacity (Energy
required to raise the temperature of
E = m c T
1kg of the object by 1 C)
m = mass
T = change in temperature.
Lfusion = latent heat of fusion (Energy
Latent Heat
required to change 1kg of solid to
For melting,
liquid at the constant temp)
E = m Lfusion
Lvaporization = latent heat of
vaporization (Energy required to
For boiling,
change 1kg of liquid to gas at the
E = m Lvaporization
constant temp)
m = mass

General Wave Properties

Wave Velocity
v=f
Wave frequency
1
f=
T

v = velocity of a wave
f = frequency
= wavelength
T = Period
f = frequency

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O Level Physics Formula Sheet

Light

Practical Electricity

Law of Reflection
i = r

Normal

Electric Power

2
P = VI = V2/R = I R

i = angle of incidence
r= angle of reflection
Snells Law (refraction)

Normal

n1Sin i = n2Sin r

i = angle of incidence
r = angle of refraction
Critical angle

Electrical Energy
E = Pt = (VI)t

n1 = refractive index 1

Electromagnetism

r
n2 = refractive index 2
Normal

n2
sin =
n1

(special case of Snells

law where r = 90)

n1 = refractive index 1

(n of air 1)
Magnification
hi
di
=
=
ho do

Transformer
Vp Np
=
Vs Ns
(ideal transformer)
VPIP = VsIs
Right hand grip

V = voltage
N = number of coils
I = current
Subscript p = primary coil
Subscript s = secondary coil

n2 = refractive index 2
c = speed of light in vacuum.
v = speed of light in medium
Higher reflective index of a
medium means light travel slower
in the medium
M = magnification
h = height
d = distance from lens
Subscript i = image
Subscript o = object

Refractive Index
c
=
v

P = Power
V = voltage
R = resistance
I = current
E = energy output
P = power
t = time
V = voltage
I = current

Flemings Right Hand

Rule

Current of Electricity
Current = rate of flow of charges
Q = Charge
t=time
V = voltage,
R = resistance
I = current
= resistivity
L = length of wire
A = cross sectional area

Current
I = Q / t
Ohms Law
Resistance
R=V/I
Resistance of a wire
R = L/A

Flemings Left Hand

Rule

D.C. Circuits
Kirchoffs 1st Law
Iin = Iout

Kirchoffs 2nd Law

V = E. M. F

Conservation of charges.
Iin = Sum of current going into a
junction
Iout = Sum of current going out
of a junction
V = Sum of potential difference V
across all components in a circuit
E.M.F = Voltage supplied by the
power supply.

Resistance in Series
Rtotal = R1 + R2 + R3
Resistance in Parallel
1
1
1
1
=
+
+
R total R1 R 2 R 3

Prepared by etuitionx
(http:/physictuition.blogspot.com)

I
R1

R2

R3

V
R1
R2
R3

References

1. PHYSICS Ordinary Level (Syllabus 5058)

2. Education Haven (http://matchtutor.com.sg)
http://physictuition.blogspot.com