Essential Physics Rules and Formulas for Students
1. Kinematics
Displacement: s⃗=v⃗⋅t\vec{s} = \vec{v} \cdot ts=v⋅t (Velocity ×\times× Time)
Velocity: v=u+atv = u + atv=u+at (Final Velocity = Initial Velocity +
Acceleration ×\times× Time)
Acceleration: a=ΔvΔta = \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}a=ΔtΔv
Equation of Motion: s=ut+12at2s = ut + \frac{1}{2} a t^2s=ut+21at2
(Displacement in terms of initial velocity, acceleration, and time)
Final Velocity Squared: v2=u2+2asv^2 = u^2 + 2asv2=u2+2as
2. Newton’s Laws of Motion
First Law (Inertia): An object in motion will stay in motion, and an object at
rest will stay at rest unless acted upon by a net external force.
Second Law: F=maF = maF=ma (Force = Mass ×\times× Acceleration)
Third Law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
3. Work, Energy, and Power
Work: W=F⋅d⋅cos(θ)W = F \cdot d \cdot \cos(\theta)W=F⋅d⋅cos(θ) (Work =
Force ×\times× Displacement ×\times× Cosine of the angle between force
and displacement)
Kinetic Energy: KE=12mv2KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2KE=21mv2
Potential Energy: PE=mghPE = mghPE=mgh (Mass ×\times× Gravitational
acceleration ×\times× Height)
Mechanical Energy: E=KE+PEE = KE + PEE=KE+PE
Power: P=WtP = \frac{W}{t}P=tW (Power = Work / Time)
4. Circular Motion and Gravitation
Centripetal Force: Fc=mv2rF_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}Fc=rmv2 (Force = Mass
×\times× Velocity squared / Radius)
Gravitational Force: F=Gm1m2r2F = \frac{Gm_1m_2}{r^2}F=r2Gm1m2
(Newton’s Law of Gravitation)
o GGG is the gravitational constant: G=6.674×10−11 Nm2/kg2G = 6.674
\times 10^{-11} \, \text{Nm}^2/\text{kg}^2G=6.674×10−11Nm2/kg2
Gravitational Potential Energy: U=−Gm1m2rU = -
\frac{Gm_1m_2}{r}U=−rGm1m2
5. Thermodynamics
First Law of Thermodynamics: ΔU=Q−W\Delta U = Q - WΔU=Q−W (Change
in internal energy = Heat added to the system - Work done by the system)
Second Law of Thermodynamics: Entropy of an isolated system always
increases.
Ideal Gas Law: PV=nRTPV = nRTPV=nRT (Pressure ×\times× Volume =
moles ×\times× Gas constant ×\times× Temperature)
6. Electromagnetism
Coulomb's Law: F=keq1q2r2F = k_e \frac{q_1 q_2}{r^2}F=ker2q1q2 (Force =
Coulomb constant ×\times× Charges / Distance squared)
Ohm’s Law: V=IRV = IRV=IR (Voltage = Current ×\times× Resistance)
Magnetic Force on a Moving Charge: F=qvBsin(θ)F = qvB
\sin(\theta)F=qvBsin(θ) (Force = Charge ×\times× Velocity ×\times×
Magnetic field ×\times× Sine of the angle)
Faraday’s Law of Induction: ϵ=−dΦBdt\epsilon = -
\frac{d\Phi_B}{dt}ϵ=−dtdΦB (Induced EMF = Negative rate of change of
magnetic flux)
7. Waves and Optics
Wave Speed: v=fλv = f \lambdav=fλ (Wave speed = Frequency ×\times×
Wavelength)
Snell’s Law: n1sin(θ1)=n2sin(θ2)n_1 \sin(\theta_1) = n_2 \sin(\theta_2)n1
sin(θ1)=n2sin(θ2) (Relates the angles of incidence and refraction to the
refractive indices of two media)
Lens Equation: 1f=1do+1di\frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{d_o} + \frac{1}{d_i}f1=do1
+di1 (Focal length = 1 / Object distance + 1 / Image distance)
