Formula Sheet: Physics 220 A.

Carmichael

Position, velocity and acceleration Angular frequency ω = 2πf = 2π/T

Frequency and time period f = 1/T
∆x/∆t = vav ∆v/∆t = aav
Uniform circular motion at = 0, α = 0
dx/dt = v(t) dv/dt = a(t)
Z Z
a(t)dt = ∆v v(t)dt = ∆x Forces and Momentum

Uniformly accelerated linear motion (a=const.) Newton’s 2nd Law F~net = m~a
Potential energy and force (1D) F = −dU/dx
v = u + at s = ut + 21 at2
Potential energy and force (3D) F~ = −∇U
u+v
v 2 = u2 + 2as s= t Linear Momentum p~ = m~v
2
Newton’s second law (general) F~ = d~
p/dt
Alternative form
Impulse for constant force J~ = ∆~
p = F~ ∆t
v = v0 + at x = x0 + v0 t + 21 at2
  Friction (static) fs ≤ fs,max = µs n
2 v0 + v
v = v02 + 2a(x − x0 ) x = x0 + t Friction (kinetic) fk = µk n
2
Weight w = mg
Projectile motion 2D (uniform field g=const.)
Grav. fields due to point or spherical sources
ay = −g = const. ax = 0 = const.
vy (t) = vy (0) − gt vx (t) = vx (0) = const. Force between masses F = Gmm0 /r2
y(t) = y(0) + vy (0)t − 12 gt2 x(t) = x(0) + vx (0)t Gravity field of mass m g = Gm/r2
G.P.E. two masses U = −Gmm0 /r
In terms of v(0) and θ
Grav. potential of m V = −Gm/r
ay = −g = const. ax = 0 = const.
Orbital motion
vy = v(0) sin θ − gt vx = v(0) cos θ = const.
y = y(0) + v(0)t sin θ − 12 gt2 x = x(0) + v(0)t cos θ Kepler’s 2nd Law T 2 = (4π 2 /GM )r3
Orbit (circular) v 2 = GM/r =
v 2 (y) = v 2 (0) − 2g(y − y0 ) Escape velocity v 2 = 2GM/r
vy2 (y) = vy2 (0) − 2g(y − y0 )
Constants related to gravity
Trajectory and velocity equations for x(0) = y(0) = 0
    Universal const. of gravitation G = 6.67 × 10−11 N · m2 /kg2
vy (0) 1 g
y(x) = x− x2 Earth surface gravity g = 9.81 m/s2
vx (0) 2 vx2 (0)

1 g
 Earth mass & G GME = 3.98 × 1014 m3 /s2
y(x) = x tan θ − x2
2 v 2 (0) cos2 θ Solar mass & G GM = 1.33 × 1020 m3 /s2
Range R, height h, flight time T Moon mass & G GM$ = 4.91 × 1012 m3 /s2

h = vy2 (0)/2g h = v 2 (0) sin2 θ/2g Work and energy

2
R = 2vx (0)vy (0)/g R = v (0) sin 2θ/g
Kinetic energy K = 21 mv 2
T = 2vy (0)/g T = 2v(0) sin θ/g Z
Work W = F~ · d~r
R
h= tan θ
4 Power P = dE/dt = dW/dt
Circular motion
Instantaneous Power P = F~ · ~v = Fk · v
2 2 Work-energy theorem Wnet = Wc + Wnc = ∆K
Centripetal acceleration ar = v /r = rω
Arc length s = rθ Work done by con. forces Wc = −∆U
Tangential speed v = rω = 2πr/T Mechanical energy Emech = K + U
Tangetial acceleration at = rα Conservation of mech. energy Ki + Ui + Wnc = Kf + Uf

version: Thursday 31st August, 2017 14:37 Page 1 SFSU Department of Physics
Formula Sheet: Physics 220 A. Carmichael

Work done by non-con. forces Wnc = ∆Emech Rolling without slipping vcm = Rω, acm = Rα
GPE uniform field Ugrav. = mgh Substitutions for rotational dynamics
Spring (strain) P.E. Uspring = 21 kx2
s =⇒ ∆θ F~ =⇒ ~Γ
Mechanical energy Emech. = K + Utotal
u =⇒ ω0 m =⇒ I
v =⇒ ω K = 21 mv 2 =⇒ Kr = 21 Iω 2
Theorems for variable forces a =⇒ α p~ = m~v =⇒ L~ = I~
ω
Z
Impulse-momentum J~ = ∆~
p = F~av ∆t = Fnet (t)dt Moments of inertia
Z
Moment Object Axis
Work-energy Wnet = ∆K = F~net · d~r
2
I = MR Uniform ring/tube Through centre
1 2
Centre of mass I= 2MR Uniform disk/cylinder Through centre
1 2
Z I= 12 M L Uniform rod Through centre
~ cm = 1 ~ cm = 1
X
R mi~ri R ~rρdV 1 2
M M I= 3ML Uniform rod Through end
2 2
Types of collision I= 5MR Uniform sphere Through centre
2 2
• totally elastic: No loss of K.E. , e = 1 I= 3MR Hollow sphere Through centre
1 2
I= 3Ma Slab width a Along edge (door)
• inelastic: Some loss of K.E., 0 < e < 1
Rotational motion with (α = const.)
• completely inelastic: v1 = v2 = v, e = 0 Max K.E. loss ω = ω0 + αt ∆θ = ω0 t + 21 αt2
Collision conservation laws (1D & 2D) ω0 + ω
ω 2 = ω02 + 2α∆θ ∆θ = t
2
Momentum m1 ~u1 + m2 ~u2 = m1~v1 + m2~v2
2
Simple harmonic motion (SHM)
K.E. (elastic only) 1
2 m1 u1 + 12 m2 u22 = 12 m1 v12 + 12 m2 v22
Hooke’s Law F (x) = −kx
Newton’s collision law (1D only)
acceleration a(x) = −ω 2 x = −n2 x
p
Newton’s collision law (1D) (v2 − v1 ) = −e(u2 − u1 ) Velocity v(x) = ±ω A2 − x2

1D collision, stationary target (u2 = 0) SPE for a spring U (x) = 21 kx2

Total energy E = 12 kA2 = 12 mω 2 A2
m1 − em2 (1 + e)m1
v1 = u1 v2 = u1 Position x(t) x(t) = A sin(ωt + ϕ)
m1 + m2 m1 + m2
Velocity v(t) v(t) = Aω cos(ωt + ϕ)
Acceleration a(t) a(t) = −Aω 2 sin(ωt + ϕ)
∆K m2
loss of K.E. = (1 − e2 ) 1 2π
r
m
Ki m1 + m2 Period, mass-spring T = = = 2π
f ω k
Rotational motion s
1 2π l
Period, simple pendulum T = = = 2π
Rotational K.E. Kr = 12 Iω 2 f n g
Moment of inertia I = Σ mr2
s
1 2π I
Z Period, physical pendulum T = = = 2π
Moment of inertia I = r2 ρdV f n mgr

Magnitude of torque Γ = rF sin ϕ = rF⊥ Elasticity

Work done by a torque W = Γ · ∆θ = ∆Kr
Hooke’s law (cables) F = (Y A/l) · δl = k · δl = λδl/l
Rotational power P = Γω
Tensile stress stress = F/A
N2 for rotation Γ = Iα
Tensile strain strain = δl/l
N2 for rotation (general form) ~Γ = dL/dt
~
Young’s modulus Y = stress/strain
Angular momentum L = Iω
Strain energy W = U = 21 F · δl = 12 kx2
~
Conservation of L Ii ωi = If ωf

version: Thursday 31st August, 2017 14:37 Page 2 SFSU Department of Physics
Formula Sheet: Physics 220 A. Carmichael

Trigonometry Inverse trig functions where α = principal value

opp. adj. opp. sin θ cos θ = cos α =⇒ θ = ±α + 2nπ
sin θ = cos θ = tan θ = =
hyp. hyp. adj. cos θ sin θ = sin α =⇒ θ = (−1)n α + nπ
tan θ = tan α =⇒ θ = α + nπ
θ(rad) 2π π 2π π
= = 1 rpm = rad/s = rad/s Binomial formulae
θ(deg) 360o 180o 60 30
1
√ (1 + x)n = 1 + nx + n(n − 1)x2 + ... if |x|  1
2!
cos(±π/6) = sin π/3 = sin(2π/3) = 3/2 n
X
cos(±π/3) = sin π/6 = sin(5π/6) = 1/2 (a + b)n = n
Cr an−r br integer n
√ r=0
cos(±π/4) = sin π/4 = sin(3π/4) = 1/ 2
Cominatorics
√ n! n!
cos(±5π/6) = sin(−π/3) = sin(−2π/3) = − 3/2 n n
Cr = Pr =
r!(n − r)! (n − r)!
cos(±2π/3) = sin(−π/6) = sin(−5π/6) = −1/2
√ Quadratic equation y = ax2 + bx + c
cos(±3π/4) = sin(−π/4) = sin(−3π/4) = −1/ 2
√
b b2 − 4ac
Roots at x=− ±
2 2
a = b + c − 2bc cos A Law of cosines 2a 2a
max, min at x = −b/2a
a b c
= = Law of sines
sin A sin B sin C Linear Equation y = mx + b
Given m, (x1 , y1 ) y − y1 = m(x − x1 )
sin (θ ± φ) = sin θ cos φ ± cos θ sin φ  
y2 − y1
cos (θ ± φ) = cos θ cos φ ∓ sin θ sin φ Given (x1 , y1 ), (x2 , y2 ) y − y1 = (x − x1 )
x2 − x1

sin(θ ± π) = − sin θ sin(θ ± π/2) = ± cos θ Exponential behaviour

cos(θ ± π) = − cos θ cos(θ ± π/2) = ∓ sin θ y(t) = y(0)e−t/τ = y(0)e−λt Exponential decay
sin(π ± θ) = ∓ sin θ sin(π/2 ± θ) = cos θ y(t) = y(0)2 −t/Thalf
Exponential decay
cos(π ± θ) = − cos θ cos(π/2 ± θ) = ∓ sin θ Thalf = τ ln 2 Half life
 
y(t) = ymax 1 − e−t/τ Exponential growth
sin2 θ + cos2 θ = 1 sin(ωt ± π/2) = ± cos ωt
sin 2θ = 2 sin θ cos θ cos(ωt ± π/2) = ∓ sin ωt Percent difference between quantities A, B
cos 2θ = cos2 θ − sin2 θ sin(ωt ± π) = − sin ωt |A − B| |A − B|
% diff (A, B) = × 100 = × 200
cos(ωt ± π) = − cos ωt av(A, B) A+B

Sum to product Percent error

|measured − true|
% error = × 100
   
θ±φ θ∓φ
sin θ ± sin φ = 2 sin cos true
2 2
    Mathematical constants
θ+φ θ−φ
cos θ + cos φ = 2 cos cos
2 2 e = 2.71828... 1o = 1.745 × 10−2 rad
10 = 2.9089 × 10−4 rad
   
θ+φ θ+φ π = 3.14159...
cos θ − cos φ = −2 sin sin
2 2 log10 e = 0.434... 100 = 4.8481 × 10−6 rad
Product to sum ln 10 = 2.3025... 1 rad = 57.296o
ln 2 = 0.693... π/6 rad = 30o
2 cos θ cos ϕ = cos(θ − ϕ) + cos(θ + ϕ)
e−1 = 0.368... π/3 rad = 60o
2 sin θ sin ϕ = cos(θ − ϕ) − cos(θ + ϕ)
2 sin θ cos ϕ = sin(θ + ϕ) + sin(θ − ϕ) (1 − e−1 ) = 0.632... π/4 rad = 45o
√
3/2 = 0.866... 1 rpm = 0.1047 rad/s
Small angle formulae for small θ  1 (in radians) √
1/ 2 = 0.707... 1 rad/s = 9.549 rpm
sin θ ≈ θ cos θ ≈ 1 − θ2 /2 tan θ ≈ θ

version: Thursday 31st August, 2017 14:37 Page 3 SFSU Department of Physics
Formula Sheet: Physics 220 A. Carmichael

Letter Upper case Lower case pico p 10−12

Alpha A α
femto f 10−15
Beta B β
Gamma Γ γ atto a 10−18
Delta ∆ δ
Epsilon E , ε Abbreviations used:
Zeta Z ζ SHM = Simple Harmonic Motion
Eta H η GPE = Gravitational Potential Energy
Theta Θ θ SPE = Strain (Spring) Potential Energy
Iota I ι EMF = ElectroMotive Force (voltage)
Kappa K κ EM or E&M = ElectroMagnetism
Lambda Λ λ PE = Potential Energy
Mu M µ PD = Potential Difference
Nu N ν AC = Alternating Current
Xi Ξ ξ DC = Direct Current (or Detective Comics)
Omicron O o con. = conservative (force)
Pi Π π STP = Standard Temperature and Pressure (20o C, 1 atm)
Rho P ρ atm.=atmosphere (pressure)
Sigma Σ σ N1,N2,N3= Newton’s laws of motion
Tau T τ T0,T1,T2,T3= the laws of thermal physics
Upsilon Y υ K1,K2,K3= Kepler’s laws of planetary motion
Phi Φ φ, ϕ
Chi X χ
Psi Ψ ψ
Omega Ω ω

SI units and derived units

Quantity Symbol Unit Name Basic Units
Mass m kg kilogram kg
Length l m meter m
Time t s second s
Force F N Newton kg ms−2
Energy E J Joule kg m2 s−2
Power P W = Js−1 Watt kg m2 s−3
Pressure p Pa = N.m2 Pascal kg/ms2

Metric Prefixes

exa E 1018
peta P 1015
tera T 1012
giga G 109
mega M 106
kilo k 103
hecto h 102
deci d 10−1
centi c 10−2
milli m 10−3
micro µ 10−6
nano n 10−9

version: Thursday 31st August, 2017 14:37 Page 4 SFSU Department of Physics
Formula Sheet: Physics 220 A. Carmichael

Unit Conversions

Quantity Units Conversion or value

Length inch, cm 1 in. = 2.54 cm
Length foot, cm 1 ft = 30.48 cm
Length mile, km 1 mile = 1.609 km
Energy electron-volt, Joule 1 eV = 1.602 × 10−19 J
Energy calorie, Joule 1 cal = 4.1868 J
Energy British thermal unit, Joule 1 Btu = 1055 J
Energy foot-pound, Joule 1 ft · lb = 1.356 J
Energy kilowatt-hour, Joule 1 kW · h = 3.600 MJ
Power horsepower, Watt 1 hp = 746 Watt
Mass atomic unit, kg 1 u = 1.6605 × 10−27 kg
Force pound, Newton 1 lb = 4.442 N
3 3
Density g/cm → kg/m 1 g/cm3 = 1000 kg/m3
Pressure Pascal, psi 1 Pa = 1 N/m2 = 1.450 × 10−4 psi
Pressure atmosphere, Pascal 1 atm = 101, 325 Pa = 760 Torr = 14.7 psi
Pressure psi, Pascal 1 psi = 6.895 × 103 Pa
Pressure mm Hg 1 torr = 1 mm Hg = 0.0394 in Hg = 1.333 × 102 Pa
Pressure bar 1 bar = 105 Pa
Volume litre 1 l = 103 cm3 = 10−3 m3 = 1.057 qt (US)
Volume quart (US) 1 qt (US) = 946 ml
Volume gallon (US) 1 gal.(US) = 3.758 l
Angle rev, rad, deg 1 rev = 360o = 2π rad

Astrophysical Data

Body surface g Mass GM Radius Orbit Radius Orbit Period Symbol

2 3 2
(m/s ) kg (m /s ) m m Earth years
30 20 8
Sun −− 1.99 × 10 1.33 × 10 6.96 × 10 −− −− 
24 14 6 11
Earth 9.81 5.97 × 10 3.98 × 10 6.37 × 10 1.50 × 10 1.00 ♁
22 12 6
Moon 1.62 7.36 × 10 4.91 × 10 1.74 × 10 −− −− $

version: Thursday 31st August, 2017 14:37 Page 5 SFSU Department of Physics
Formula Sheet: Physics 220 A. Carmichael

Symbols used in mechanics:

A Amplitude for SHM
A, A1 , A2 Cross sectional area of pipe
a Acceleration
at Tangential component of acceleration
ar Radial component of acceleration
e Coefficient of resitution
E Total energy
F , Fav Force, average force
f Frequency (rev/second or cycles/second)
f Friction (force)
G Universal gravitation constant
g Gravitational field strength
h depth or height
I Moment of inertia
J~ Impulse (change in momentum J~ = ∆~ p)
K Kinetic energy
Kr Rotational kinetic energy
k Spring constant
k wavenumber 2π/λ
~
L Angular momentum
l Length
M, m Mass
n Normal force
P Power
Pav Average power
p Momentum
r radius
s Displacement
T Time period/ time of flight
T tension
U Potential energy
u velocity at time t = 0
v velocity at time t
W Work
Wc Work done by a con. force(s)
Wnc Work done by non-con. force(s)
Wnet Work done by net force
Y Young’s modulus
α Angular acceleration (rad/s2 )
∆ change in...
µk Coefficient of kinetic friction
µs Coefficient of static friction
ω Angular speed at time t (rad/s)
ω0 Angular speed at time t = 0 (rad/s)
∆θ angular displacement ∆θ = θ − θ0
θ0 Angular position at time t = 0
Γ Torque
ρ density (mass/volume)

version: Thursday 31st August, 2017 14:37 Page 6 SFSU Department of Physics