OxNotes > GCSE Physics > GCSE Physics Equations & Formulae - Cheat Sheet

Formula Cheat Sheet:

One simple sheet of formulae and equations, for GCSE Physics.

​AQA below. Scroll down further for OCR.

OCR GCSE Physics Formula Sheet:

See the OCR (9-1) Physics Equation list below. You need to learn the following equations:

Format:  'Equation in word form'   'Equation in symbol form'

P1 Matter
  • Density (kg/m³) = mass (kg)/volume (m³)  ρ = m/V

P2 Forces
  • Distance travelled (m) = speed (m/s) × time(s)  s = v/t
  • Acceleration (m/s²) = change in velocity (m/s)/time(s)  a = (v-u)/t
  • Kinetic energy (J) = 0.5 × mass (kg) × (speed (m/s))²  KE = ½ mv²
  • Force (N) = mass (kg) × acceleration (m/s²)  F = ma
  • Work done (J) = force (N) × distance (m) (along the line of action of the force)  WD = F x D
  • Power (W) = work done (J)/time(s)  P = WD / t
  • Momentum (kgm/s) = mass (kg) × velocity (m/s)  p = mv
  • Weight = gravity force (N) = mass (kg) × gravitational field strength, g (N/kg)  F = W = mg
  • Potential energy (J) (in a gravity field) = mass (kg) × height (m) × gravitational field strength, g (N/kg)  GPE = mgh
  • Pressure (Pa) = Force (N) / Area (m²) (Separate Science only)
  • Moment of a force (Nm) = force (N) x distance (m) (normal to the direction of the force) (Separate Science only)

P3 Electricity
  • Charge flow (C) = current (A) × time (s)  Q = It
  • Potential difference (V) = current (A) × resistance (Ω)  V = IR
  • Energy transferred (J) = charge (C) × potential difference (V)  E = QV
  • Power (W) = potential difference (V) × current (A) = (current (A))² × resistance (Ω)  P = IV = I²R
  • Energy transferred (J, kWh) = power (W, kW) × time (s, h)  E = Pt
P5 Waves
  • Wave speed (m/s) = frequency (Hz) × wavelength (m)  v = fλ

P7 Energy
  • Efficiency = useful output energy transfer (J)/input energy transfer (J)
​
P8 Global Challenges
  • Stopping distance (m) = thinking distance (m) + braking distance (m)
You will be given the following formulae in the exam (OCR GCSE):

P1 Matter

  • Change in thermal energy (J) = mass (kg) × specific heat capacity (J/kg°C) × change in temperature (°C)  E = mCΔT
  • Thermal energy for a change in state (J) = mass (kg) × specific latent heat (J/kg)  E = mL
  • Gases: Pressure (Pa) x volume (m³) = constant (for a given mass of gas and at a constant temperature) (Separate Science only)
  • Pressure due to a column of liquid: (Pa) = height of column (m) x density of liquid (kg/m³) x g (N/kg) (Triple only) (Separate Science only)

P2 Forces
  • Final velocity (m/s))² – (initial velocity (m/s))² = 2 × acceleration (m/s²) × distance (m)  v² – u² = 2as
  • Energy transferred in stretching (J) = 0.5 × spring constant (N/m) × (extension (m))²  E = ½ ke²

P4 Magnetism 
  • Force on a conductor (at right angles to a magnetic field) carrying a current (N) = magnetic field strength (T) × current (A) × length (m) (Higher only)  F = BIl
  • Potential difference across primary coil (V) / potential difference across secondary coil (V) = Number of turns in primary coil / number of turns in secondary coil (Higher only) (Separate Science only)  Vₚ / Vₛ = Nₚ / Nₛ

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