IGCSE Physics Formula Sheet

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IGCSE Physics formula sheet

  • Following is the complete list of IGCSE Formulae for IGCSE Physics.These formulae are valid for the examinations in the years 2023 / 2024 / 2025 / 2026 / 2027 Exams

 

 Topic 1: Motion, forces and energy 

1.1 Physical quantities and measurement techniques:

  • density= mass/ volume

1.2 Motion

  • Speed = Distance/ Time
  • Average speed= Total distance travelled / Total time taken
  • Acceleration= Change in velocity/ Change in time

1.3 Mass and weight

  • Weight= Mass x Gravitational field strength

1.4 Density

  • Density = Mass/ Volume

1.5 Forces 

1.5.1 Effects of forces

  • F= k(x)  ; F= Force , k = Spring constant and x =Extension
  • F = ma  ; F =Net force ; m= mass  and a = acceleration

1.5.2 Turning effect of forces

  • Moment of a force = Force × Perpendicular distance from the pivot

1.5.3 Centre of gravity 

  • No definitions for this sub-topic

1.6 Momentum

  • Impulse = Force x Time
  • Resultant force = Change in momentum / Change in time

1.7 Energy, work and power 

1.7.1 Energy

  • Kinetic energy= 0.5 m v2 ; m= mass  and v= velocity
  • Potential energy = mgh   ; m= mass , g= gravitational field strength and h= height of the object above the ground

1.7.2 Work

  • Work = Force x Distance travelled in the direction of the force

1.7.3 Energy resources

  • Percentage efficiency = [ Useful energy output / Total energy input] x 100
  • Percentage efficiency = [ Useful power output / Total power  input] x 100

1.7.4 Power

  • Power= Work done / Time taken
  • Power= Energy transferred / Time taken

1.8 Pressure

  • Pressure = Force / Area
  • Pressure = Height x Density x gravitational field strength

 

2 Thermal physics 

No definitions for these sub-topics:

  • 2.1 Kinetic particle model of matter / 2.1.1 States of matter  /2.1.2 Particle model

2.1.3 Gases and the absolute scale of temperature

  • Temperature in Kelvin = Temperature in Celsius + 273
  • Boyle's law PV= Constant

2.2 Thermal properties and temperature

2.2.1 Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases

  • No definitions for these sub-topic

2.2.2 Specific heat capacity

  • Specific heat capacity = Change in energy  / Mass x Change in temperature

2.2.3 Melting, boiling and evaporation

  • No definitions for this sub-topic

2.3 Transfer of thermal energy

2.3.1 Conduction / 2.3.2 Convection  / 2.3.3 Radiation / 2.3.4 Consequences of thermal energy transfer-  No definitions for these sub-topics

 

3  Waves

3.1 General properties of waves

Wave Equation :

velocity = frequency x wavelength

3.2 Light

  • Refractive Index (n)= Sin(i)/Sin(r)  [ Use this when measures f angle "i" and angle "r" are known ]
  • Refractive Index (n) = 1/Sin(c)  [ use this when the value of critical angle is known]

3.2.3 Thin lenses

  • No definitions

3.2.4 Dispersion of light

  •  No formulae

3.3 Electromagnetic spectrum

  • Know the value of speed of light :  3.0 × 108m/s

3.4 Sound

  • Know the value of Human Audio Frequency : 20 Hz to 20 000 Hz
  • Know the value of speed of sound in air : 330–350 m/s

 

4 Electricity and magnetism 

4.1 Simple phenomena of magnetism

  • No definitions

4.2 Electrical quantities

  • No definitions

4.2.1 Electric charge

  • No definitions

4.2.2 Electric current

  • I=Q/t [ Current = Charge per unit time]

4.2.3 Electromotive force and potential difference

  • E=W/Q  [ E=  Emf ]

4.2.4 Resistance

  • R=V/I 

4.2.5 Electrical energy and electrical power

  • P = IV
  • E = IVt

4.3.1 Circuit diagrams and circuit components

  • No definitions

4.3.2 Series and parallel circuits

4.3.3 Action and use of circuit components

  • Equation for two resistors used as a potential divider  R1 / R2 = V1 / V2

4.4 Electrical safety

  • No definitions

4.5 Electromagnetic effects

4.5.1 Electromagnetic induction

  • No definitions

4.5.2 The a.c. generator

  • No definitions

4.5.3 Magnetic effect of a current

  • No definitions

4.5.4 Force on a current-carrying conductor

  • No definitions

4.5.5 The d.c. motor

4.5.6 The transformer

  • Transformer Equation: Vp  / Vs  = Np / Ns
  • Efficiency equation :  Ip Vp= Is Vs
  • P= I2R

 

 

 5 Nuclear physics

This lesson does not have any formulae

5.1 The nuclear model of the atom

5.1.2 The nucleus

5.2 Radioactivity

5.2.1 Detection of radioactivity

5.2.2 The three types of nuclear emission

5.2.3 Radioactive decay

5.2.4 Half-life

5.2.5 Safety precautions

 

6 Space physics

6.1 Earth and the Solar System

6.1.1 The Earth

  •  v =[ 2 (pi) r] / T ;  "r" is the average radius of the orbit and "T" is the orbital period

6.1.2 The Solar System

  • No definitions

6.2 Stars and the Universe

  • No definitions

6.2.1 The Sun as a star

  • No definitions

6.2.2 Stars

  • Know that one light-year is equal to 9.5 × 1015m

6.2.3 The Universe

  • Know that Hubble constant ( Ho)  value is  is 2.2 × 10–18 per second
  •  Equation for the age of the universe : d  / v= 1 / Ho

 

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