Useful Formulas for the IGCSE Physical Science Examinations

General Physics
Formula in Symbols Formula in Words
v=d/t speed = total distance / total time
w=mxg weight = mass x acceleration of gravity
a=v/t acceleration = change in speed / change in time
d=m/v density = mass / volume
F=mxa force = mass x acceleration
x=kxF extension = a constant x load
W=Fxd work = force x distance
p.e. = m x g x h potential energy = mass x acceleration of gravity x height
k.e. = ½ x m x v2 kinetic energy = ½ x mass x velocity squared
e = Eout / Ein x 100% energy efficiency = energy output / energy input x 100%
E=W energy used = work done
E = m x c2 energy of a nuclear reaction = mass x speed of light squared
P=E/t power = energy / time

Physics of Waves
Formula in Symbols Formula in Words
c=fxλ speed of a wave = frequency x wavelength
i=r angle of incidence = angle of reflection
n = sin i / sin r index of refraction = sine of incident angle / sine of refracted angle

Electricity and Magnetism

Formula in Symbols Formula in Words
I=Q/t current = charge / time
R=V/I resistance = potential difference / current
R=kxl/A resistance = a constant x length / cross sectional area
R = R1 + R2 resistances in series add together
1 / R = 1 / R1 + 1 / R2 reciprocals of resistances in parallel add together
I = I1 + I2 currents in parallel add together
Iin = Iout total current into a point = total current out of a point
V = V1 + V2 voltage of source = sum of all voltage drops in a circuit
P=IxV power used in an electric circuit = current x voltage
E=IxVxt energy used in an electric circuit = current x voltage x time
Vp = Np voltage in primary coil = number of turns in primary coil
Vs = Ns voltage in secondary coil number of turns in secondary coil
Vp x Ip = Vs x Is power in primary coil = power in secondary coil (for a perfect transformer)

Geometry
Formula in Symbols Formula in Words
a = s2 area of a square = length of side squared
a=lxw area of a rectangle = length x width
a=½xbxh area of a triangle = ½ x base x height
a = π x r2 area of a circle = Pi x radius squared
v = s3 volume of cube = length of side cubed
v=lxwxh volume of cuboid = length x width x height
v = π x r2 x h volume of cylinder = Pi x radius squared x height

You should be able to solve equations with three variables for any variable.
For example, if a = b x c, then b = a / c and c = a / b.
Formulas in bold are for core. Other formulas are extended, but they also help for many core
questions.