Physics Basic Formulas Flashcards

Speed and Velocity

• Speed is calculated as distance divided by time (s = d/t), expressed in m/s or cm/s.
• Velocity is defined as displacement divided by time (v = d/t) and includes direction, also measured in m/s.

Acceleration and Gravity

• Acceleration (a) formula: (final velocity - initial velocity) divided by time, measured in m/s².
• The acceleration due to gravity (g) is approximately 10 m/s² for free-falling objects.

Force and Weight

• Newton's Second Law states that force (F) equals mass (m) multiplied by acceleration (a), expressed in Newtons (N).
• The gravitational force acting on an object (Fg) calculates to mass multiplied by gravity, representing its weight (W), also measured in Newtons (N).

Hooke's Law and Kinetic Energy

• Hooke's Law states that the extension of a spring (x) is proportional to the load applied (F), expressed as F = kx, where k is the spring constant in N/m or N/cm.
• Kinetic Energy (Ek) is given by the formula Ek = 1/2mv², where m is mass and v is velocity, measured in Joules (J).

Gravitational Potential Energy

• Gravitational Potential Energy (Ep) is calculated using Ep = mhg, where m is mass, h is height, and g is acceleration due to gravity (10 m/s²). Measured in Joules (J).
• Conservation of energy states that at the top of a fall, gravitational potential energy (mgh) equals kinetic energy (1/2mv²) at the bottom of the fall.

Work and Energy

• Work (W) is defined as force (F) multiplied by distance (d), measured in Joules (J).
• Work done changes an object's energy, either its kinetic or potential energy (W = ΔE).
• Conservation of energy in a system asserts that work done results in an equivalent change in energy (W = ΔEk or ΔEp).

Power and Efficiency

• Power (P) is the rate of doing work or transferring energy, calculated as P = W/t or P = ΔE/t, measured in Watts (W) or Joules per second (J/s).
• Efficiency is calculated by the formula: (useful work output / total work input) x 100%, expressed as a percentage (%).

Pressure and Heat Energy

• Pressure (P) is defined as force divided by area (P = F/A), with depths in a fluid contributing to pressure calculated as P = pgh, where p is density, g is gravity, and h is height (or depth), measured in Pascals (Pa) or N/m².
• Heat energy (Q) required to change the temperature of a mass (m) without a phase change is given by Q = mcΔT, where ΔT is the change in temperature, measured in Joules (J).

Specific Heat Capacity and Phase Change

• Specific heat capacity (c) measures the heat required to change 1 kg of a substance by 1°C, given by c = Q/(mΔT), expressed in J/kg°C.
• Heat energy for phase change, either melting (Lf) or boiling (Lv), is represented by Q = mL, measured in Joules (J).