By Stephanie saint_steph_@hotmail.

com

Definitions, formulae (most are in the Data Booklet) and derivations

Option A:

Mechanics Extension

A.2.1 Newtons law of universal gravitation: Every body in the universe attracts every other
body with a force that is directly proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to
the square of their separation. Between them the force acts along the line joining the centres
of the 2 particles.

m1m2
mm
and F G 1 2 2
2
r
r

A.2.2 Gravitational field strength: the force per unit mass on a small test mass (due to the
gravitational field of another object)
A.2.3 an expression for the gravitational field as a function of distance from a point mass
F
g
m
Mm
G 2
r

{Newton' s law of universal gravitation, where test mass m and point mass is M }
m
M
G 2
r
A.2.4 an expression for the gravitational field at the surface of a planet
mp
g surface G 2 {from A.2.3, where m p is mass of planet and r0 is radius of planet}
r0
NB: field strength (at any point) is numerically equal to the acceleration that it produces
A.2.6 gravitational potential energy: (of a mass at a point in space) the work done in moving
it from infinity to that point
gravitational potential: (at a point in space) the work done [energy] per unit mass of a body in
a gravitational field
A.2.9 an expression for the escape speed of an object from the surface of a planet
E pi E ki E pf E kf

{conservation of (kinetic and potential) energy}

E pf E pi E ki E kf
E p ( ) E p (surface) E k (surface) E k ( )
G

mpm
r0

1
mv 2
2

2Gm p
r0

2 g 0 r0

{where g 0 is gravitational field strength at surface of planet}

By Stephanie saint_steph_@hotmail.com

Definitions, formulae (most are in the Data Booklet) and derivations

A.3.2 Keplers third law: the square of the period of a satellites orbit is directly proportional
to the cube of the orbits radius (for any closed orbit)
R3
T 2 R 3 or 2 k
T
A.3.3 Keplers third law

gravitational attractive force centripetal force

G

Mm mv 2

r2
r
2
GM v r

{where v is orbital speed}

2r
r
T

GM

{as speed

circumference
}
period

r 3 GM

constant
T 2 4 2

A.3.4 expressions for the kinetic, potential and total energy of an orbiting satellite
1
1 GMm
GM
mv 2
{as v 2
(see A.3.3)}
2
2 r
r
Mm
potential energy G
r
1 GMm
Mm
1 GMm
total energy KE PE
G

2 r
r
2 r
kinetic energy

A.4.3 coefficient of friction: the ratio of the maximum frictional force to the normal reaction
force (acting on an object) on a particular surface
F fr s FN and F fr k FN

A.5.1 torque (moment of a force): the turning action of a force about an axis
Fr sin

By Stephanie saint_steph_@hotmail.com

Definitions, formulae (most are in the Data Booklet) and derivations

Option H:

Optics

H.2.2 normal: the line at right angles to a surface

*incident ray: the line perpendicular to incoming wave fronts incident on a surface
*reflected ray: the line perpendicular to wave fronts that have reflected from a surface
H.2.3 the law of reflection: For a light reflected by a surface, the angle of incidence is equal
to the angle of reflection, and the normal, incident and reflected rays lie in the same plane.
H.3.1 refractive index: the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of
refraction for light rays passing from one medium into another
sin i
n
sin R
H.3.6 formula connecting real depth, apparent depth and refractive index
For refraction at point A for object at O and virtual image at I along normal at point B:
sin i
n
sin R
tan i

tan R
tan AIB
tan AOB
AB
IB
AB
OB
OB

IB
real depth

apparent depth

H.3.10 relationship between the critical angle and refractive indices

For critical ray:
n1 sin i n 2 sin R
n1 sin C n 2 sin 90
sin C

n2
n1

sin C

1
n

{where n is refractive index between mediums 1 and 2}

By Stephanie saint_steph_@hotmail.com

Definitions, formulae (most are in the Data Booklet) and derivations

H.4.3 principal axis: the line directly through the middle of the lens, joining the centres of
curvature of the 2 surfaces
focal point: the point on the principal axis to which light rays (initially) parallel to the
principle axis are brought to focus after passing through the lens
focal length: the distance between the centre of the lens and its focal point
linear magnification: the ratio of the size of the image formed by the lens to the size of the
object
h
m i
ho
H.5.1 near point: the distance between the eye and the nearest object that can be brought into
clear focus (without strain) with the unaided eye ( 25 cm)
far point: the distance between the eye and the furthest object that can be brought into clear
focus (without strain) with the unaided eye ( )
H.5.2 angular magnification: the ratio between the angle that an object subtends normally (at
the near point) and the angle that its image subtends as a result of the optical instrument

M I
o
H.5.3 expression for angular magnification of a simple magnifying glass
For object of height h and distance do from magnifying glass, and near point N:

tan i
M i
o tan o
h
do

h
N
N

do
N

When image is formed at infinity, do = f : M f

When image is formed at near point:
Using thin lens equation

1
1 1
,
do
f N

1 1
N
1
f
f N

M N

H.5.6 equation relating angular magnification and focal lengths of the lenses in an
astronomical telescope
For image between objective and eyepiece lenses with height h:
h

tan i
f
f
M i
e o
h
o tan o
fe
fo