PHYSICS FORMULA SUMMARY

TOPIC FORMULA Given and Units PROBLEM SOLUTION

Kinematic d= distance An airplane Given:

Equations v​i​= initial velocity accelerates down a a = +3.2 m/s2
t= time runway at 3.20 m/s​2
t = 32.8 s
for 32.8 s until is
a= acceleration
finally lifts off the vi = 0 m/s
ground. Determine
the distance traveled d=???
before takeoff.
d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t​2
d = (0 m/s)*(32.8 s)+
0.5*(3.20m/s2)*(32.8 s)​2
d = 1720 m

v​f​= final velocity Upton Chuck is riding Given:

v​i​= initial velocity the Giant Drop at a = -9.8 m
a= acceleration Great America. If t= 2.6 s
Upton free falls for ​ m/s
v​i​= 0
t= time
2.60 seconds, what d=???
will be his final v​f​=???
velocity and how far
will he fall? d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
d = (0 m/s)*(2.60 s)+ 0.5*(-9.8
 m/s​2​)*(2.60 s)​2
d = -33.1 m (- indicates direction)

vf = vi + a*t
vf = 0 + (-9.8 m/s​2​)*(2.60 s)
vf = -25.5 m/s (- indicates direction)

v​f​= final velocity A bike accelerates Given:

v​i​= initial velocity uniformly from rest to vi = 0 m/s
a= acceleration a speed of 7.10 m/s vf = 7.10 m/s
over a distance of d = 35.4 m
d= distance
35.4 m. Determine a=???
the acceleration of the
bike. vf​2​ = vi​2​ + 2*a*d
(7.10 m/s)​ = (0 m/s)​2​ + 2*(a)*(35.4 m)
2​

50.4 m​2​/s​2​ = (0 m/s)​2​ + (70.8 m)*a

(50.4 m​2​/s​2​)/(70.8 m) = a
a = 0.712 m/s​2

Laws of F= force (Newtons) A net force of 15 N is Given:

Motion m= mass exerted on an
Fnet = 15 N
a=acceleration encyclopedia to
cause it to accelerate a = 5 m/s​2​.
at a rate of 5 m/s2.
Determine the mass (15 N) = (m)*(5 m/s​2​)
 of the encyclopedia. ​m = 3.0 kg

Work W= work (Joules) Ben Travlun carries a The motion has two parts: pulling
f= force (Newtons) 200-N suitcase up vertically to displace the suitcase
d= distance three flights of stairs vertically (angle = 0 degrees) and
(a height of 10.0 m) pushing horizontally to displace the
and then pushes it suitcase horizontally (angle = 0
with a horizontal force degrees).
of 50.0 N at a
constant speed of 0.5 For the vertical part,
m/s for a horizontal
distance of 35.0 W = (200 N) * (10 m) * cos (0
meters. How much deg) = 2000 J.
work does Ben do on For the horizontal part,
his suitcase during
this entire motion?
W = (50 N) * (35 m) * cos (0
deg) = 1750 J.

The total work done is ​3750 J​ (the sum

of the two parts).

Power P= Power (Watts or A tired squirrel (mass The tired squirrel does 0.50 Joule of
Joules/s) of approximately 1 kg) work in 2.0 seconds. The power rating
W= Work (Joules) does push-ups by of this squirrel is found by
applying a force to
t= time (s) P = W / t = (0.50 J) / (2.0 s) =
elevate its
​0.25 Watts
center-of-mass by 5
cm in order to do a
mere 0.50 Joule of
 work. If the tired
squirrel does all this
work in 2 seconds,
then determine its
power.

Momentum p​= momentum of A car possesses A. ​p = 40 000 units​ (doubling the

moving object 20,000 units of velocity will double the momentum)
m= mass momentum. What
B. ​p = 60 000 units​ (tripling the velocity
would be the car's
v= velocity will triple the momentum)
new momentum if …
C. ​p = 40 000 units​ (doubling the mass
a. its velocity was will double the momentum)
doubled.
D. ​p = 80 000 units​ (doubling the
b. its velocity was velocity will double the momentum and
tripled. doubling the mass will also double the
momentum; the combined result is that
c. its mass was
the momentum is doubled twice
doubled (by adding
-quadrupled)
more passengers and
a greater load)
d. both its velocity
was doubled and its
mass was doubled.

Impulse m= mass (kg) A 50 kg mass is Given:

(change in Δv = change in velocity sitting on a frictionless m= 50 kg
momentum) (m/s) surface. An unknown v​0 (initial
​ velocity)= 0 m/s
constant force pushes v​1​ (final velocity)= 3 m/s
the mass for 2 time = 2 s
 Ft= impulse or seconds until the Ft=???
force*time (kg⋅m/s) mass reaches a
velocity of 3 m/s.What
was the force acting Getting the final and initial
on the mass? What momentum,
was the impulse
acting on the mass? mv​0​ (initial momentum) = 0 kg⋅m/s
mv​1 (final
​ momentum) = (50kg* 3m/s)
=150 kg⋅m/s

Getting the F acting on the mass,

Ft (change in momentum) =(150 kg⋅m/s

– 0 kg⋅m/s)
F (2 sec.) = 150 kg⋅m/s
F= 150 /2
F = 75 kg⋅m/s​2

Multiplying F and t,
F= 75 kg⋅m/s​2
t= 2 s

Ft= 75*2= ​150 kg⋅m/s

Specific Q= Heat (Joules) What quantity of heat Given:

Heat m= mass (kg) is required to raise m = 450 g
c= Specific Heat the temperature of C = 4.18 J/g/°C
450 grams of water Tinitial = 15°C
Capacity (cal/g℃);
from 15°C to 85°C? Tfinal = 85°C
(Remember that The specific heat Q=???
 Specific Heat Capacity capacity of water is
of water: 1 cal/g℃ or 4.18 J/g/°C. ΔT​ can be determined from the initial
4.18 J/g℃) and final temperature.
ΔT= change in T = Tfinal - Tinitial = 85°C -
temperature (℃) (final - 15°C = 70.°C
initial)
Using ​Q = m•C•ΔT,

Q = m•C•ΔT = (450 g)•(4.18

J/g/°C)•(70.°C)
Q = 131670 J

Q = 1.3x105 J = 130 kJ​ (rounded to two

significant digits)

Centripetal F​c​= Centripetal force A 200-gram ball, Given:

Force (Newtons) attached to the end of
m= mass (kg) a cord, is revolved in Object’s​ ​mass​ (m) = 200 grams or 0.2
a horizontal circle with kg
v= velocity(meters/s)
an angular speed of 5
r= radius (meters) rad s​-1​. If cord’s length Angular speed (ω) = 5 rad/s
is 60 cm, what is the
centripetal force​? Cord’s length or radius (r) = 60 cm or
0.6 m

Centripetal force=???
 Using F​c​ = m v​2​/r,

F​c​= (0.2 kg)(5 rad/s)​2 ​(0.6m)= 3 N

Gravitationa F​G​= Gravitational Force Calculate the force of Given:

l Force (Newtons) gravity between two
G= Gravitation Constant 3-kilogram ball m​1​= 3 kg
bearings separated
(6.672 x 10​-11​ N m​2​/ kg​2​)
by a distance of 10 m​2​= 3 kg
m​1​= mass of first object centimeters.
(kg) r= 10 cm or 0.1 m
m​2​= mass of second
object (kg) F​G​= ???
r= radius (m)

Convert the distance between the ball

bearings into meters to match the units

in the gravitational constant, ​G:

Potential PE= Potential Energy A cart is loaded with a Given:
Energy (Joules or 1 kg m​2​/s​2​) brick and pulled at m= 3 kg
2​
m= mass (kg) constant speed along g= 9.8 m/s​ (this is a constant on Earth)
an inclined plane to h= 0.45 m
g= Gravitational
the height of a
Acceleration (9.8 m/s​2​)- seat-top. If the mass
this is a constant on of the loaded cart is PE = m*g*h
Earth 3.0 kg and the height PE = (3 kg ) * (9.8 m/s/s) * (0.45 m)
h= height (m) of the seat top is 0.45
PE = 13.2 J
meters, then what is
the potential energy
of the loaded cart at
the height of the
seat-top?

Kinetic KE= Kinetic Energy Determine the kinetic Given:

Energy (Joules or 1 kg m​2​/s​2​) energy of a 625-kg m= 625 kg
m= mass (kg) roller coaster car that v= 18.3 m/s​2
is moving with a
v= velocity (m/s)
speed of 18.3 m/s. KE = 0.5*m*v2
 KE = (0.5) * (625 kg) * (18.3 m/s)2
KE = 1.05 x10​5​ Joules

Total ME= Total Mechanical A particle has 37.5 Given:

Mechanical Energy joules of kinetic KE= 37.5 J
Energy KE= Kinetic Energy energy and 12.5 PE= 12.5 J
joules of gravitational ME=???
PE= Potential Energy
potential energy at
one point during its ME= KE + PE
fall from a tree to the
ground. An instant ME= 37.5 +12.5 = ​50 J
before striking the
ground, how much
mechanical energy —
rounded to the
nearest joule — does
the particle have?

Energy Energy= unit in Joules Child uses a

Efficiency *Energy efficiency is sling-shot to propel a Energy output= 400 J
expressed as a rock into the air. Energy input= 500 J
When the child pulls Efficiency= ???
percentage
on the elastic part of
the sling shot, it (400J/500J) X 100 = ​80%
stores 500 J of
energy. When the
child lets go, the rock
moves with 400 J of
kinetic energy and
100 J are lost to
 friction. ​What is the
energy efficiency of
this sling shot?

Ohm’s Law V= Voltage (V or Volts) A flashlight that is Given:

I= Current (A or powered by 3 Volts V= 3 V
Amperes) and uses a bulb with R= ​ 60 Ω
a resistance of 60 Ω I= ???
R= Resistance (𝛀 or
will have a current of
Ohms) ________ Amps. V= IR or I= V/R

I=( 3 V) /( 60 Ω)
I= 0.05 Amps

Electric P= Power (W or Watts Find the power

Power or J/s) consumed when 3.75 Given:
I= Current (A or amps flows through a
hair dryer plugged I = 3.75 A
Ampetes)
into 120 volts. V = 120 v
V= Voltage (V or Volts) P = ???

P = ( 120 v ) ( 3.75 A )

P = 450 W

Resistors in R​total​= Total Resistance Find the equivalent Given:

Series (also known as R​eq​ or resistance of this
Equivalent Resistance) circuit. R​1​= 17 Ω
R​2​= 12 Ω
R​1​= Resistor 1
R​3​= 11 Ω
R​2​= Resistor 2 R​eq​= ???
R​3​= Resistor 3
 Req = R1 + R2 + R3 = 17 Ω + 12 Ω +
11 Ω = ​40 Ω

Resistors in R​total​= Total Resistance A 5.0 Ω, 7.0 Ω, and Given:

Parallel R​1​= Resistor 1 12 Ω resistor are
R​2​= Resistor 2 placed in parallel. R​1​= 17 Ω
Find the equivalent R​2​= 12 Ω
R​3​= Resistor 3
resistance. R​3​= 11 Ω
R​eq​= ???

1/Req = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3

1/Req = 1/(5.0 Ω) + 1/(7.0 Ω) + 1/(12 Ω)
1/Req= 179/420
Req= 420/179
Req= 2.35 Ω

Capacitanc C= Capacitance (F or Determine the Given:

e Farad) amount of charge on
Q= Charge/ Charge either plate of a C= 4x10​-6​F
capacitor (4x10​-6​ F) V= 12 V
stored (C or Coulombs)
when connected Q=???
V= Voltage (V or Volts) across a 12 v battery.
C = Q/V
 4x10​-6​ F= Q/ 12
Q = 48x10​-6​ C

Capacitors C​total​= Total Capacitance Find the total

in Series C​1​= Capacitor 1 capacitance of this
C​2​= Capacitor 2 circuit.
C​3​= Capacitor 3

Capacitors C​total​= Total Capacitance Find the total Given:

in Parallel C​1​= Capacitor 1 capacitance of this C​1​= 0.1 uF
C​2​= Capacitor 2 circuit. C​2​= 0.2 uF
C​3​= 0.3 uF
C​3​= Capacitor 3
C​total​=???

C​total​= C​1​ + C​2​ +C​3

C​total​= 0.1 uF + 0.2 uF + 0.3 uF

C​total​= 0.6 uF or microfarads

Wave v= velocity (m/s) Mac and Tosh stand Amplitude = 16 cm

Equation f= frequency (Hz or 8 meters apart and
demonstrate the (Amplitude is the distance from
Hertz)
motion of a the rest position to the crest
transverse wave on a position which is half the
 λ= wavelength (m or snakey. The wave e vertical distance from a trough
meters) can be described as to a crest.)
having a vertical
Frequency λ= wavelength (m) distance of 32 cm Wavelength = 96 cm
F = frequency (Hz) from a trough to a
crest, a frequency of (Wavelength is the distance
T=time from crest to crest, which is
2.4 Hz, and a
c= speed of light in a horizontal distance of twice the horizontal distance
vacuum (​300,000 km/s 48 cm from a crest to from crest to nearest trough.)
or186,000 mi/s) the nearest trough. Period = 0.42 s
Determine the
amplitude, period, (The period is the reciprocal of
Time or t=time and wavelength and the frequency. T = 1 / f)
Period f= frequency speed of such a wave
Speed = 230 cm/s

(The speed of a wave is

calculated as the product of the
frequency times the
wavelength.)