AP Physics B Formula Study Sheet

NEWTONIAN MECHANICS
displacement is a change in
Δx = area under v-t graph position; velocity is the rate
Kinematics of change of displacement,
Δv = area under a-t graph acceleration is the rate of
change of velocity
the sum of all forces is
Net Force Fnet = ma proportional to mass x
acceleration
the friction force is
Friction force Ff = μFN proportional to the coefficient
of friction x the normal force
the acceleration of an object
v2
centripetal acceleration ac =
r
experiencing UCM is equal to
the speed2 / the radius
torque is equal to the
torque τ = rF perpendicular distance x the
force
momentum is equal to mass x
momentum p = mv velocity
impulse is equal to the change
impulse J = FΔt = mΔv in momentum

1 kinetic energy is ½ mass x

kinetic energy K= 2 mv2 velocity2

gravitational potential gravitational potential energy

Ug = mgh is mass x gravitational field x
energy height
work is the energy done by an
mechanical work W = FΔx external force moving
through a displacement
power (general Wnet power is the rate of energy
P= transfer
definition) ∆t

power in terms of power is the rate at which an

P = Fv external force moves through
velocity a displacement
the force in a spring is equal
to the spring constant x the
spring force Fs = kΔx amount of stretch or
compression of the spring
1
the energy stored in a spring
spring potential energy Us = 2 kΔx2 = ½ x spring constant x the
stretch or compression
the period of a spring depends
m
period of a spring Ts = 2π
k
on mass and spring constant
(not amplitude)
the period of a pendulum
l
period of a pendulum Tp = 2π
g
depends on length and
gravitational field
relationship between period and 1 period and frequency are
frequency T= f reciprocals of each other
any two masses exert a
gravitational force between Gm 1 m 2
any two objects with mass
FG = r2
gravitational force on each
other
gravitational potential energy any 2-mass system near has
Gm 1 m 2 potential energy
between any two objects with UG = r
mass

FLUID MECHANICS AND THERMAL PHYSICS

absolute pressure in a
P = P0 + ρgh
fluid
gage pressure P = ρgh
buoyant force Fbouy = ρVg

fluid flow continuity A1v1 = A2v2

volume flow rate A1v1

1
P + ρgy + 2 ρv2 =
Bernoulli’s principle
constant
pressure (general F
P=
definition) A

ideal gas law PV = nRT = NkBT

3
internal energy in a gas Kavg = 2 kBT
velocity of a gas 3RT 3k B T
vrms = = µ
molecule M

W = PΔV or area under

thermal work
graph
change in internal
ΔU = Q + W
energy
Wnet
efficiency (general) e= Qin
TH − TC
ideal (Carnot) efficiency ec = TH
 ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

kq1 q 2
Electrostatic force Fe = r2
kq1
Electrostatic field E= r2
Electrostatic potential kq 1q 2
Ue =
energy r
kq 1
Electrostatic potential V= r

Charge on a capacitor Q = VC
ε0 A
Capacitance C= d
Energy stored in a
UC = ½ QV = ½ CV2
capacitor
∆Q
Current (definition) I= ∆t
ρl
Resistance of a wire R= A

Ohm’s Law V = IR
V2
Power in a circuit P = IV = R
= I2R
Equivalent resistor for
Req = R1 + R2 + …
series
Equivalent resistor for  1 1 
−1

Req = 
 R + R +... 

parallel  1 2 

Equivalent capacitance for  1 1 

−1

Ceq = 
 C + C +... 

series  1 2 

Equivalent capacitance for

Ceq = C1 + C2 +…
parallel
 Magnetic force on a
moving charge in a FB = qvBsinθ
magnetic field
Magnetic force on a
current carrying wire in FB = BIlsinθ
a magnetic field
Magnetic field around a µ0 I
B= 2πr
current carrying wire
Magnetic flux Φm = BAcosθ
Average EMF generated ∆ Φm
by a changing magnetic −
εavg = ∆t
field
EMF generated by a
loop moving into or out ε = Blv
of a magnetic field
Force BIl’s qvB

ε Blvd when the flux is changing.

Take ast
 WAVES AND OPTICS

Velocity of a wave v = fλ
c
Index of refraction n= v

Snell’s Law n1sinθ1 = n2sinθ2

n1sinθ1 = n2sin90 or
Critical angle n2
sinθc = n1
1 1 1
Mirror & lens equation +
si s o
=
f
hi s
Magnification M= =− i
ho so

Focal length in terms of R

f=
radius of curvature 2

Diffraction pattern path

mλ = dsinθ
difference
Diffraction pattern mλL
xm =
spacing d

ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS

Energy of a photon E = hf = pc
Maximum kinetic energy
-φ + hf = Kmax
of an emitted electron
deBroglie wavelength of h
λ=
an emitted electron p

Rest energy of a mass ΔE = (Δm)c2