Physics Formulas
Physics Formulas
This document was created by the Guide to IJSO team — a student-led initiative
dedicated to supporting Junior Science Olympiad aspirants around the world. It
contains a carefully curated and organized collection of essential formulas
commonly used in Physics, covering key topics relevant to IJSO level
preparation.
1
Physics Formulas
1. Mechanics
Kinematics
For all equations, the acceleration is constant.
1 "
𝑠 = 𝑣! 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡
2
𝑣# = 𝑣! + 𝑎𝑡
v#" = 𝑣!" + 2𝑎𝑠
𝑣# + 𝑣!
𝑣$%& =
2
Newton’s laws of motion
F = force, a = acceleration, μ = friction coefficient
Newton's 2nd law : 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎
Weight : 𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔
Static friction : 𝑓( ≤ 𝜇( 𝑁
Kinetic friction : 𝑓) = 𝜇) 𝑁
Work, Energy, and Power
Work : 𝑊 = 𝐹𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
*
Kinetic Energy : 𝐾𝐸 = 𝑚𝑣 "
"
Potential energy : 𝑃𝐸 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ
Conservation of energy : 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 = 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦
+
Power :𝑃 =
,
Power : 𝑃 = 𝐹𝑣
2
Physics Formulas
Momentum and Collisions
MOMENTUM IS CONSERVED UNLESS AN EXTERNAL NET FORCE IS
ACTING ON THE OBJECT!!!
Linear Momentum : 𝑝 = 𝑚𝑣
Impulse : 𝐽 = 𝐹𝛥𝑡 = 𝛥𝑝
Rotational Motion
*
Angular displacement : 𝜃 = ⍵! 𝑡 + 𝛼𝑡 "
"
Angular velocity : ⍵ = ⍵! + 𝛼𝑡
*
Rotational Kinetic Energy : 𝐾𝐸-., = 𝐼⍵"
"
Torque : 𝜏 = 𝑟𝐹 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
Newton's 2nd law for rotation : 𝜏 = 𝐼𝛼
Angular Momentum : 𝐿 = 𝐼⍵
/0
Torque :𝜏=
/,
ANGULAR MOMENTUM IS CONSERVED UNLESS AN EXTERNAL NET
FORCE IS ACTING ON THE OBJECT!!!
Circular Motion
%!
Centripetal Force : 𝐹1 = 𝑚
-
%!
Centripetal Acceleration : 𝑎1 =
-
Gravitation
234
Newton's law of Gravitation :𝐹 =
-!
23
Gravitational field :𝑔 =
-!
234
Gravitational PE :𝑈 = −
-
23
Orbital velocity :𝑉 = L
-
3
Physics Formulas
"23
Escape Velocity : 𝑉5 = L
6
where, R represents the radius of the celestial body.
Fluid Mechanics
3
Density :𝜌 =
7
8
Pressure :𝑃 =
9
Hydrostatic Pressure : 𝑃 = 𝑃! + 𝜌𝑔ℎ where, 𝑃! = atmospheric
pressure.
Buoyant Force : 𝐹: = 𝜌𝑉𝑔
Equation of Continuity : 𝐴* 𝑉* = 𝐴" 𝑉"
!
Bernoulli's Equation :𝑃 + 𝜌𝑣 " + 𝜌𝑔ℎ = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
"
2. Waves and Oscillations
Hooke's Law : 𝐹 = −𝑘𝑥
In simple harmonic motion (SMH):
● Displacement : x = 𝐴 𝑐𝑜𝑠 (𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)
● Velocity : v = 𝐴𝜔 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)
● Acceleration : v = 𝐴𝜔" 𝑐𝑜𝑠 (𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)
)
● Angular frequency :𝜔 = L
4
4
● Period : 𝑇 = 2𝜋 L
)
Wave speed : 𝑣 = 𝑓𝜆
% ±%"
Doppler Effect : 𝑓′ =
% ±%#
4
Physics Formulas
3. Optics
Snell's Law : 𝑛* 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃* = 𝑛" 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃"
BE CAREFUL TO USE A PROPER SIGN CONVENTION!!
* * *
Mirror Equation : = +
# /" /$
* * *
Lens Equation : = −
# /$ /"
<$ /$
Magnification :𝑀 =| | = | |
<" /"
* * *
Lens Maker's Formula : = (𝜇 − 1)( − )
# 6% 6!
where 𝜇 is the refractive index of the material.
4. Thermodynamics
Thermal Expansion : 𝛥𝐿 = 𝛼𝐿! 𝛥𝑇
Heat Transfer : 𝛥𝑄 = 𝑚𝑐𝛥𝑇
Change in State : 𝛥𝑄 = 𝑚𝐿
First law of Thermodynamics : 𝛥𝑈 = 𝛥𝑄 – 𝛥𝑊
=% 7% =! 7!
Universal gas law : =
>% >!
Ideal Gas law : 𝑃𝑉 = 𝑛𝑅𝑇
Work done by gas : 𝑊 = 𝑝𝛥𝑉
5
Physics Formulas
5. Electricity and Magnetism
Ohm's Law : 𝑉 = 𝐼𝑅
0
Resistance :𝑅 = 𝜌
9
7!
Power : 𝑃 = 𝑉𝐼 = 𝐼" 𝑅 =
6
?
Capacitance :𝐶 =
7
@& 9
Capacitance :𝐶 =
/
* * * ?!
Energy stored in a Capacitor :𝑈 = 𝐶𝑉 " = 𝑄𝑉 =
" " " A
Magnetic Force for a Particle : 𝐹 = 𝑞𝑣𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
Magnetic Force in a Current : 𝐹 = 𝐵𝐼𝐿 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
6. Modern Physics
Energy of a Photon : 𝐸 = ℎ𝑓
Photoelectric Effect : 𝐸 = ℎ𝑓 − 𝜙
< <
De Broglie Wavelength :𝜆 = =
B 4%
Mass-Energy equivalence : 𝐸 = 𝑚𝑐 "
