Er.Er.

RAMMOHAN
MUDGAL (BE ,M.Tech.)
RAMMOHAN MUDGAL (BE M.Tech.)

rammohan977@gmail.com

Reference Guide & Formula Sheet for Physics

Dr. Hoselton & Mr. Price

Page 1 of 8

#20
#3

Components of a Vector
if
V = 34 m/sec 48
then

Vi = 34 m/sec(cos 48); and VJ = 34 m/sec(sin 48)

#4

Weight = mg
g = 9.81m/sec near the surface of the Earth
= 9.795 m/sec in Fort Worth, TX
Density = mass / volume

=
#7

#8

m
unit : kg / m 3
V

Ave speed = distance / time = v = d/t

Ave velocity = displacement / time = v = d/t
Ave acceleration = change in velocity / time

#21

#23

Center of Mass point masses on a line

xcm = (mx) / Mtotal

#25

Angular Speed vs. Linear Speed

Linear speed = v = r = r angular speed

#26

Pressure under Water

P = gh
h = depth of water
= density of water

Friction Force
FF = FN

#28

If the object is not moving, you are dealing with static

friction and it can have any value from zero up to s FN

#11

Newton's Second Law

Fnet = FExt = ma

#12

Work = FDcos
Where D is the distance moved and
is the angle between F and the
direction of motion,
unit : J

#16

Power = rate of work done

#19

#29

Mechanical Energy
PEGrav = P = mgh
KELinear = K = mv

#30

Impulse = Change in Momentum

Ft = (mv)

#31

Snell's Law
n1sin 1 = n2sin 2
Index of Refraction
n=c/v
c = speed of light = 3 E+8 m/s

#32

Ideal Gas Law

PV = nRT

= FLsin
Where is the angle between F and L; unit: Nm

Work
time

m1 m2
r2
G = 6.67 E-11 N m / kg

Torque

Power =

Universal Gravitation

F =G

If the object is sliding, then you are dealing with kinetic

friction and it will be constant and equal to K FN

#9

Heating a Solid, Liquid or Gas

Q = mcT (no phase changes!)
Q = the heat added
c = specific heat.
T = temperature change, K
Linear Momentum
momentum = p = mv = mass velocity
momentum is conserved in collisions

n = # of moles of gas
R = gas law constant
= 8.31 J / K mole.

unit : watt

Efficiency = Workout / Energyin

Mechanical Advantage = force out / force in
M.A. = Fout / Fin

#34

Constant-Acceleration Linear Motion

v = v + at
x
(x-x) = vt + at
v
v = v + 2a (x - x) t
(x-x) = ( v + v) t
a
(x-x) = vt - at
v

#35

Version 5/12/2005

Periodic Waves
v = f
f=1/T

T = period of wave

Constant-Acceleration Circular Motion

= + t

= t + t

2
2
= + 2() t
= ( + )t

= t - t

Reference Guide & Formula Sheet for Physics

Dr. Hoselton & Mr. Price

Page 2 of 8

#53
#36

#37

Buoyant Force - Buoyancy

FB = Vg = mDisplaced fluidg = weightDisplaced fluid
= density of the fluid
V = volume of fluid displaced

#54

Resistance of a Wire
R = L / Ax
= resistivity of wire material
L = length of the wire
Ax = cross-sectional area of the wire

#41

1
1
1
1
=
+
+K +
=
R eq
R1 R 2
Rn

Ohm's Law
V = IR
V = voltage applied
I = current
R = resistance

#39

Resistor Combinations
SERIES
Req = R1 + R2+ R3+. . .
PARALLEL

Heat of a Phase Change

Q = mL
L = Latent Heat of phase change

#55

#44

#56

Continuity of Fluid Flow

Ainvin = Aoutvout
Moment of Inertia
I
cylindrical hoop
mr2
solid cylinder or disk
mr2
2
solid sphere
/5 mr2
hollow sphere
mr2
1
thin rod (center)
/12 mL2
thin rod (end)
mL2

#59

Capacitors
Q = CV
Q = charge on the capacitor
C = capacitance of the capacitor
V = voltage applied to the capacitor
RC Circuits (Discharging)
t/RC

#45

Projectile Motion
Horizontal: x-x= vt + 0
Vertical: y-y = vt + at

#46

Centripetal Force

Vc = Voe
Vc IR = 0
#60

Thermal Expansion
Linear: L = LoT
Volume: V = VoT

#61

Bernoulli's Equation
P + gh + v = constant
QVolume Flow Rate = A1v1 = A2v2 = constant

mv
= m 2 r
r

#47

Kirchhoffs Laws
Loop Rule: Around any loop Vi = 0
Node Rule: at any node Ii = 0

#51

Minimum Speed at the top of a

Vertical Circular Loop

v = rg

A= Area
v = velocity

#58

mv 2
L
T = tension in string
m = mass of string
L = length of string

F=

mv 2
= mg
r

Speed of a Wave on a String

T=

i =1

Circular Unbanked Tracks

Hooke's Law

Electric Power
P = IR = V / R = IV

Newton's Second Law and

Rotational Inertia
= torque = I
I = moment of inertia = mr (for a point mass)
(See table in Lesson 58 for I of 3D shapes.)

F = kx
Potential Energy of a spring
W = kx = Work done on spring
#42

#62

Rotational Kinetic Energy (See LEM, pg 8)

2
KErotational = I = I (v / r)2
2
KErolling w/o slipping = mv2 + I
Angular Momentum = L = I = mvrsin
Angular Impulse equals
CHANGE IN Angular Momentum
L = orquet = (I)

Version 5/12/2005

Er. RAMMOHAN MUDGAL (BE, M.Tech.)

Reference Guide & Formula Sheet for Physics

Dr. Hoselton & Mr. Price

Page 3 of 8

#75
#63

Thin Lens Equation

f = focal length

Period of Simple Harmonic Motion

T = 2

m
k

i = image distance
1
1
1
1 1
=
+
= +
f
D o D i o i o = object distance

where k = spring constant

f = 1 / T = 1 / period

#64

Banked Circular Tracks

v2 = rgtan

#66

First Law of Thermodynamics

U = QNet + WNet

Magnification
M = Di / Do = i / o = Hi / Ho
Helpful reminders for mirrors and lenses

Change in Internal Energy of a system =

+Net Heat added to the system
+Net Work done on the system

Flow of Heat through a Solid

Q / t = kAT / L
k = thermal conductivity
A = area of solid
L = thickness of solid
#68

#72

#73

mirror

343

vo

343 m

Toward
Away

vs

Object height = Ho

real

virtual

virtual, upright

real, inverted

Magnification

virtual, upright

real, inverted

#76

Coulomb's Law

#77

q1 q 2
r2

N m2
4 o
C2
Capacitor Combinations
PARALLEL
Ceq = C1 + C2+ C3 +
SERIES
k=

= 9E9

C
i =1

#78

Work done on a gas or by a gas

W = PV

#80

Electric Field around a point charge

E=k

#82

q
r2

N m2
4 o
C2
Magnetic Field around a wire
I
B= o
2 r
Magnetic Flux
= BAcos
k =

The change in internal energy of a system is

U = QAdded + WDone On Qlost WDone By

= 9E9

Force caused by a magnetic field

on a moving charge
F = qvBsin

Maximum Efficiency of a Heat Engine

(Carnot Cycle) (Temperatures in Kelvin)

Tc
) 100%
Th

all objects

Image height = Hi

2nd Law of Thermodynamics

% Eff = (1

diverging

Image distance = i

vo = velocity of observer: vs = velocity of source

#74

convex

1
1
1
1
=
+
+K +
=
C eq
C1 C 2
Cn

Sinusoidal motion
x = Acos(t) = Acos(2f t)
= angular frequency
f = frequency
Doppler Effect
f= f

negative

concave

F =k

Simple Pendulum
L and f = 1/ T
T = 2
g

Toward
Away

positive

lens
converging
Object distance = o all objects

Potential Energy stored in a Capacitor

P = CV
RC Circuit formula (Charging)
t / RC
Vc = Vcell(1 e
)
RC = = time constant
Vcell - Vcapacitor IR = 0

#71

Focal Length of:

#83

Entropy change at constant T

S = Q / T
(Phase changes only: melting, boiling, freezing, etc)

Version 5/12/2005

Er. RAMMOHAN MUDGAL (BE, M.Tech.)

Reference Guide & Formula Sheet for Physics

Dr. Hoselton & Mr. Price

#84

Page 4 of 8

Capacitance of a Capacitor
C = oA / d
= dielectric constant
A = area of plates
d = distance between plates
o = 8.85 E(-12) F/m

#85

Induced Voltage

N = # of loops

Emf = N
t
Lenzs Law induced current flows to create a B-field
opposing the change in magnetic flux.
#86

Inductors during an increase in current

t / (L / R)
VL = Vcelle

#95

Relativistic Time Dilation

t = to /

#96

Relativistic Length Contraction

x = xo
Relativistic Mass Increase
m = mo /

#97

Energy of a Photon or a Particle

E = hf = mc2
h = Planck's constant = 6.63 E(-34) J sec
f = frequency of the photon

#98

Radioactive Decay Rate Law

kt
A = Aoe
= (1/2n)A0 (after n half-lives)
Where k = (ln 2) / half-life

#99

Blackbody Radiation and

the Photoelectric Effect
E= nhf where h = Planck's constant

#100

Early Quantum Physics

Rutherford-Bohr Hydrogen-like Atoms

t / (L / R)

#88

#89

#92

#93

#94

I = (Vcell/R)[ 1 - e
]
L / R = = time constant
Transformers
N 1 / N 2 = V 1 / V2
I1V1 = I2V2
Decibel Scale
B (Decibel level of sound) = 10 log ( I / Io )
I = intensity of sound
Io = intensity of softest audible sound
Poiseuille's Law
4
P = 8LQ/(r )
= coefficient of viscosity
L = length of pipe
r = radius of pipe
Q = flow rate of fluid
Stress and Strain
Y or S or B = stress / strain
stress = F/A
Three kinds of strain: unit-less ratios
I. Linear: strain = L / L
II. Shear: strain = x / L
III. Volume: strain = V / V
Postulates of Special Relativity
1. Absolute, uniform motion cannot be
detected.
2. No energy or mass transfer can occur
at speeds faster than the speed of light.
Lorentz Transformation Factor
v2
= 1 2
c

Version 5/12/2005

1
1
= R 2 2 meters 1

ns n
1

or

f =

1
1
= cR 2 2 Hz

ns n
c

R = Rydberg's Constant
= 1.097373143 E7 m-1
ns = series integer (2 = Balmer)
n = an integer > ns
Mass-Energy Equivalence
mv = mo /
Total Energy = KE + moc2 = moc2 /
Usually written simply as
E = m c2
de Broglie Matter Waves
For light:
Ep = hf = hc / = pc
Therefore, momentum: p = h /
Similarly for particles, p = mv = h / ,
so the matter wave's wavelength must be
=h/mv
Energy Released by Nuclear
Fission or Fusion Reaction
E = moc2

Er. RAMMOHAN MUDGAL (BE, M.Tech)

Reference Guide & Formula Sheet for Physics

Dr. Hoselton & Mr. Price

Page 5 of 8

Fundamental SI Units
Unit
Base Unit

MISCELLANEOUS FORMULAS
Quadratic Formula
if a x + b x + c = 0
then

x=

b b 4ac
2a
2

Trigonometric Definitions
sin = opposite / hypotenuse
cos = adjacent / hypotenuse
tan = opposite / adjacent
sec = 1 / cos = hyp / adj
csc = 1 / sin = hyp / opp
cot = 1 / tan = adj / opp
Inverse Trigonometric Definitions
= sin-1 (opp / hyp)
= cos-1 (adj / hyp)
= tan-1 (opp / adj)

Law of Cosines
a = b + c2 - 2 b c cos A
b2 = c2 + a2 - 2 c a cos B
c = a + b - 2 a b cos C
2

T-Pots
For the functional form

1 1 1
= +
A B C
You may use "The Product over the Sum" rule.

A=

B C
B+C

For the Alternate Functional form

1 1 1
=
A B C
You may substitute T-Pot-d

A=

B C
B C
=
CB
BC

Length
Mass

kilogram

kg

Time
Electric
Current
Thermodynamic
Temperature
Luminous
Intensity
Quantity of
Substance

second

ampere

kelvin

candela

cd

moles

mol

Plane Angle

radian

rad

Solid Angle

steradian

sr or str

Some Derived SI Units

Symbol/Unit Quantity

Law of Sines
a / sin A = b / sin B = c / sin C
or
sin A / a = sin B / b = sin C / c

Symbol

.
meter
m

Base Units

C coulomb

.
Electric Charge As

F farad

Capacitance

A2s4/(kgm2)

H henry

Inductance

kgm2/(A2s2)

Hz hertz

Frequency

s-1

Energy & Work kgm2/s2 = Nm

joule

kgm/s2

N newton

Force

ohm

Elec Resistance kgm2/(A2s2)

Pa pascal

Pressure

kg/(ms2)

T tesla

Magnetic Field

kg/(As2)

V volt

Elec Potential

kgm2/(As3)

W watt

Power

kgm2/s3

Non-SI Units
o

Temperature

eV electron-volt

Energy, Work

C degrees Celsius

Version 5/12/2005

Er. RAMMOHAN MUDGAL (BE ,M.Tech.)

Reference Guide & Formula Sheet for Physics

Dr. Hoselton & Mr. Price

Page 6 of 8

Aa acceleration, Area, Ax=Cross-sectional Area,

Amperes, Amplitude of a Wave, Angle,
Bb Magnetic Field, Decibel Level of Sound,
Angle,
Cc specific heat, speed of light, Capacitance,
Angle, Coulombs, oCelsius, Celsius
Degrees, candela,
Dd displacement, differential change in a variable,
Distance, Distance Moved, distance,
Ee base of the natural logarithms, charge on the
electron, Energy,
Ff Force, frequency of a wave or periodic motion,
Farads,
Gg Universal Gravitational Constant, acceleration
due to gravity, Gauss, grams, Giga-,
Hh depth of a fluid, height, vertical distance,
Henrys, Hz=Hertz,
Ii Current, Moment of Inertia, image distance,
Intensity of Sound,
Jj Joules,
Kk K or KE = Kinetic Energy, force constant of
a spring, thermal conductivity, coulomb's
law constant, kg=kilograms, Kelvins,
kilo-, rate constant for Radioactive
decay =1/=ln2 / half-life,
Ll Length, Length of a wire, Latent Heat of
Fusion or Vaporization, Angular
Momentum, Thickness, Inductance,
Mm mass, Total Mass, meters, milli-, Mega-,
mo=rest mass, mol=moles,
Nn index of refraction, moles of a gas, Newtons,
Number of Loops, nano-,
Oo
Pp Power, Pressure of a Gas or Fluid, Potential
Energy, momentum, Power, Pa=Pascal,
Qq Heat gained or lost, Maximum Charge on a
Capacitor, object distance, Flow Rate,
Rr radius, Ideal Gas Law Constant, Resistance,
magnitude or length of a vector,
rad=radians
Ss speed, seconds, Entropy, length along an arc,
Tt time, Temperature, Period of a Wave, Tension,
Teslas, t1/2=half-life,
Uu Potential Energy, Internal Energy,
Vv velocity, Velocity, Volume of a Gas, velocity of
wave, Volume of Fluid Displaced, Voltage, Volts,
Ww weight, Work, Watts, Wb=Weber,
Xx distance, horizontal distance, x-coordinate
east-and-west coordinate,
Yy vertical distance, y-coordinate,
north-and-south coordinate,
Zz z-coordinate, up-and-down coordinate,

Alpha angular acceleration, coefficient of

linear expansion,
Beta coefficient of volume expansion,
Lorentz transformation factor,
Chi
Delta =change in a variable,
Epsilon = permittivity of free space,
Phi Magnetic Flux, angle,
Gamma surface tension = F / L,
1 / = Lorentz transformation factor,
Eta
Iota
Theta and Phi lower case alternates.
Kappa dielectric constant,

Lambda wavelength of a wave, rate constant

for Radioactive decay =1/=ln2/half-life,
Mu friction, o = permeability of free space,
micro-,
Nu alternate symbol for frequency,
Omicron
Pi 3.1425926536,
Theta angle between two vectors,
Rho density of a solid or liquid, resistivity,
Sigma Summation, standard deviation,
Tau torque, time constant for a exponential
processes; eg =RC or =L/R or =1/k=1/,
Upsilon
Zeta and Omega lower case alternates
Omega angular speed or angular velocity,
Ohms
Xi
Psi
Zeta

Version 5/12/2005

Er. RAMMOHAN MUDGAL (BE , M.Tech.)

Reference Guide & Formula Sheet for Physics

Dr. Hoselton & Mr. Price

Values of Trigonometric Functions
for 1st Quadrant Angles

Page 7 of 8

Prefixes

(simple mostly-rational approximations)

sin

cos

tan

Factor Prefix Symbol Example

0
0
1
0
10o
1/6
65/66
11/65
15o
1/4
28/29
29/108
20o
1/3
16/17
17/47
29o
151/2/8
7/8
151/2/7
30o
1/2
31/2/2
1/31/2
o
37
3/5
4/5
3/4
42o
2/3
3/4
8/9
45o
21/2/2
21/2/2
1
o
49
3/4
2/3
9/8
53o
4/5
3/5
4/3
60
31/2/2
1/2
31/2
61o
7/8
151/2/8
7/151/2
o
70
16/17
1/3
47/17
o
75
28/29
1/4
108/29
80o
65/66
1/6
65/11
o

90
1
0
(Memorize the Bold rows for future reference.)

Derivatives of Polynomials
For polynomials, with individual terms of the form Axn,
we define the derivative of each term as

( )

d
Ax n = nAx n 1
dx

1018

exa-

1015

peta-

1012

tera-

0.3 TW (Peak
power of a
1 ps pulse
from a typical
Nd-glass laser)

109

giga-

22 G$ (Size of
Bill & Melissa
Gates Trust)

106

mega-

6.37 Mm (The
radius of the
Earth)

103

kilo-

1 kg (SI unit
of mass)

10-1

deci-

10 cm

10-2

centi-

2.54 cm (=1 in)

10-3

milli-

1 mm (The
smallest
division on a
meter stick)

10-6

micro-

10-9

nano-

510 nm (Wavelength of green

light)

10-12

pico-

10-15

1 pg (Typical
mass of a DNA
sample used in
genome
studies)

femto-

10-18

atto-

To find the derivative of the polynomial, simply add the

derivatives for the individual terms:

d
3x 2 + 6 x 3 = 6 x + 6
dx

Integrals of Polynomials
For polynomials, with individual terms of the form Axn,
we define the indefinite integral of each term as

1
(Ax )dx = n + 1 Ax
n

n +1

To
find the indefinite
integral of the polynomial, simply add the integrals for
the individual terms and the constant of integration, C.

(6 x + 6)dx = [3x

+ 6x + C

]
Version 5/12/2005

38 Es (Age of
the Universe
in Seconds)

600 as (Time
duration of the
shortest laser
pulses)

Er. RAMMOHAN MUDGAL (BE, M.Tech.)

Reference Guide & Formula Sheet for Physics

Dr. Hoselton & Mr. Price

Page 8 of 8

Linear Equivalent Mass

Rotating systems can be handled using the linear forms
of the equations of motion. To do so, however, you must
use a mass equivalent to the mass of a non-rotating
object. We call this the Linear Equivalent Mass (LEM).
(See Example I)

The only external force on this system is the weight of

the hanging mass. The mass of the system consists of
the hanging mass plus the linear equivalent mass of the
fly-wheel. From Newtons 2nd Law we have
F = ma, therefore,

mg = [m + (LEM=M)]a
mg = [m + M] a

For objects that are both rotating and moving linearly,

you must include them twice; once as a linearly moving
object (using m) and once more as a rotating object
(using LEM). (See Example II)

(mg ma) = M a
m(g a) = Ma

The LEM of a rotating mass is easily defined in terms of

its moment of inertia, I.

m = Ma / (g a)
m = 4.8 1.00 / (9.81 1)

LEM = I/r2
For example, using a standard table of Moments of
Inertia, we can calculate the LEM of simple objects
rotating on axes through their centers of mass:
I

LEM

mr2

Solid disk

mr2

Hollow sphere

2
mr2
5

Solid sphere

mr2

Cylindrical hoop

m = 0.27 kg
If a = g/2 = 4.905 m/s2,

m = 2.4 kg

If a = g = 7.3575 m/s2,

m = 7.2 kg

Note, too, that we do not need to know the radius unless

the angular acceleration of the fly-wheel is requested. If
you need , and you have r, then = a/r.
Example II

5m

Find the kinetic energy of a disk, m = 6.7 kg, that is

moving at 3.2 m/s while rolling without slipping along a
flat, horizontal surface. (IDISK = mr2; LEM = m)

Example I
A flywheel, M = 4.80 kg and r = 0.44 m, is wrapped
with a string. A hanging mass, m, is attached to the end
of the string.
When the
hanging mass is
released, it
accelerates
downward at
1.00 m/s2. Find
the hanging
mass.

The total kinetic energy consists of the linear kinetic

energy, KL = mv2, plus the rotational kinetic energy,
KR = (I)()2 = (I)(v/r)2 = (I/r2)v2 = (LEM)v2.
KE = mv2 + (LEM=m)v2
KE = 6.73.22 + (6.7)3.22
KE = 34.304 + 17.152 = 51 J
Final Note:

To handle this problem using the linear form of

Newtons Second Law of Motion, all we have to do is
use the LEM of the flywheel. We will assume, here, that
it can be treated as a uniform solid disk.

This method of incorporating rotating objects into the

linear equations of motion works in every situation Ive
tried; even very complex problems. Work your problem
the classic way and this way to compare the two. Once
youve verified that the LEM method works for a
particular type of problem, you can confidently use it for
solving any other problem of the same type.

Version 5/12/2005