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 Second Law

F= ma
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
=

Turning effect of Force

Moment of Force
M=Fd

=
A
Pressure of liquid
column
P = hg

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
x = ut + at2
v = final velocity
v2 = u2 + 2ax
t = time
a = acceleration
x = displacement
h = height
vfree fall = 2
g = gravitational constant = 9.81 m/s2

= 0 at equilibrium

For a body in rotational

equilibrium,
Sum of ACW Moment = sum of
CW Moment

Pressure
Pressure
F

Work Done
W = Fd

Average Speed
s = d / t

Newtons First Law

Principle of Moment
Anticlockwise Moment
= Clockwise Moment

M==force
Moment
F

Power
P = W/t = Fv
Kinetic Energy

W = work done
F= force
d= distance in direction of force
Work done per unit time, t

Ek = Kinetic Energy
m = mass
1
2
v = velocity
Gravitational Potential g = gravity =9.81 m/s
= mv
h = height
Energy
2
m = mass
Ep = mgh
Conservation of Energy E1 = Total Energy Before
E 1 = E2
E 2 = 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

d = distance from force to pivot

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O Level Physics Formula Sheet

Light

Practical Electricity

i = r
i
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
n2
sin =
n

Electrical Energy
E = Pt = (VI)t

n1 = refractive index 1

Electromagnetism

r
n2 = refractive index 2

Transformer
Vp = Np
V
N

n = refractive index 1

(ideal transformer)
VPIP = VsIs
Right hand grip

Normal

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

2
P = VI = V 2/R = I R

(special case of Snells

law where r = 90)

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

1
c

n2 = refractive index 2
Refractive
Index
c
=
v
(n of air 1)
Magnification
hi
=
di
= do
ho

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

Flemings Right Hand

Rule

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

Kirchoffs 1st Law

Iin =
Iout
Kirchoffs 2nd Law
V = E. M. F
Resistance in Series
Rtotal = R1 + R2 + R3
Resistance in Parallel
1

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

Flemings Left Hand

Rule

D.C.Conservation
Circuits 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.
I
R1

R2

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

R3

V
R1

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O Level Physics Formula Sheet

1
Rtotal

1
+

R1

References

+
R2

R3

R2

1. PHYSICS Ordinary Level (Syllabus 5058)

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

R3

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