1619 Study Guide

Pocket physics
a handy guide for bright stars

Miscellaneous
Ideal gases
Pressure (P) pascal (Pa) : 1 Pa = 1 newton per square
__ metre.
where is the density of the gas and c is the mean square speed of the molecules.
1
P = t c2
3
For n moles of gas PV = nRT.

Thermal effects
Temperature T (kelvin) = t (Celsius) + 273.15
Heat Q supplied to a mass m of a substance with specific heat capacity c results in a
DQ
temperature rise DT = mc . Atoms within a substance at temperature T typically have energy ~kBT, where
kB is the Boltzmann constant. In thermal equilibrium, two states 1 and 2 differing in energy by E = E2 E1
have relative populations given by a Boltzmann factor
6 kDTE @ .
N2 / N1 = e

Elastic materials

extension, x

Stress v = F (Pa) : Strain

a

f=

The Young Modulus E = f (Pa)

X
(dimensionless)
L

length, L
cross-sectional
area, A

2
Strain energy = 2 k x

material with
Youngs Modulus, E
sample with
spring constant, k

TIP: compare this formula with that for energy stored in a capacitor.

force, F

Atomic energy and line spectra

electron wave
function energy E2

Electrons in atoms regarded as matter waves.

h ,
De Broglie wavelength for a particle of mass m and speed v is m = mv
where h is the Planck constant. Series of allowed energy
levels E1, E2 etc and consequent characteristic spectrum.

electron wave
function energy E1
+

Photoelectric effect

photon
energy hf

Photons incident on a surface may cause electrons to be emitted.

Maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons is determined by the
frequency of incident radiation and the substance being illuminated.

Simple harmonic motion

Occurs when the force on an object of mass m is directed
towards a point (x = 0) and its magnitude is proportional to
the distance from that point. F = k x
Oscillation frequency, f
f =

1
2r

Maximum speed = A (A = amplitude)

Maximum acceleration = 2A

maximum
electron
energy hfW

substance with work function W

amplitude A

displacement x
x = Acos(t)
0

velocity v
v = Asin(t)

Energy of oscillation, E
E=

1 2
1 2
1 2
kA = kv + kx
2
2
2

X
X
kinetic
potential
energy

energy

time

time

time

maximum speed = A

acceleration a
a = A2 cos(t)
= 2x
0

k
m

potential well for

electron in atom
nucleus with
positive charge

Mechanics
Mechanical quantities
Mass (m) kilogram (kg) Scalar
The mass of an object is a measure of its inertia: the difficulty of changing its velocity.*
1kg is the mass of the international prototype of the kilogram stored at BIPM in Paris.
Force (F) newton (N) Vector
An unbalanced force causes a mass to accelerate: a = F/m.
1 newton is the force required to accelerate 1kg at 1m s2.
The weight W of an object is the (attractive) gravitational force acting on it: W=mg.
On the Earths surface the gravitational field strength is g = 9.8 N/kg, so 1kg weighs approximately 9.8N.
Energy (E) joule (J) Scalar
1 joule is the energy change when a force of 1 newton acts through 1 metre.
Gravitational potential energy change = weight vertical distance moved = m g h.
Kinetic energy (KE) = m v2.
Power (P) watt (W)
Rate of transferring energy 1 watt = 1J/s
Momentum (p) mass velocity (kg m/s) or N s Vector
Force = rate of change of momentum: force time (impulse) = momentum change
Equations of motion v = u + a t : v 2 u2 = 2 as : s = u t + a t2 (for constant acceleration)

Conservation laws
Always apply providing the entire system is taken into account:
energy is conserved, but can transfer from one form to another;
momentum is conserved.

Circular motion
Assume speed is constant (but velocity changing),
~ = angular velocity (v/r) (radian/second), acceleration (toward centre) = v2/r = ~2r,
T = period = time for 1 rotation T = 2r/~
v = r
mass, m
F

Electric circuits
Current and circuits
Charge (Q) coulomb (C)
Current (I) ampere (A)
Potential difference (V) volt (V)

Power (P) watt (W)
Resistance (R) ohm ()

In series: RTotal = R1 + R2

1 coulomb is the SI unit of charge.

1 ampere is a current of 1 coulomb per second*.
1 volt is the potential difference (PD) between two points when 1joule
of electrical work is done per coulomb moving between those points.
Energy dissipated per second = IV.
1 ohm is one volt per ampere: R = V/I *
1
1
1
In parallel:
=
+
R Total

R1

R2

Cells and electromotive force (EMF)

EMF
internal resistance r

The EMF () = the energy supplied to each coulomb by the cell.

Some energy transferred in external resistance R and some in
internal resistance r.
Electrical work done per coulomb through resistor is V = lR.
Electrical work done per coulomb through cell r is v = Ir.
So = IR + Ir.
PD across external resistor V = v.

voltage, V
V = IR
cross-sectional
area, A

material with
resistivity,
L
A

R=

Capacitors
Q is the charge displaced from one plate to the other via the circuit.
Capacitance (C) farad (F): the number of coulombs displaced per volt.
2

C = Q/V energy stored = =

2
1
1
1 Q
QV = CV =
2
2
2 C

In series: C1 = C1 + C1
1
2
Total

TIP: compare with elastic materials.

In parallel: CTotal = C1 + C2

Parallel plate capacitors

C = r 0 A/d (for parallel plates of area A separated by distance d of material with relative permittivity r ).
TIP: compare with radioactive decay.
PD across R: V = Q/C, and I = V/R
Thus I = Q/RC so I is proportional to Q
So rate of loss of Q (i.e. I ) is proportional to Q
Therefore Q = Q0 e(t/RC).
RC is the time constant = time for Q to fall to 1/e of original value.
99% discharge after about 5RC seconds.

fraction of charge remaining

Capacitor discharge through resistor

Q0

Q0
e

0.0

1RC

2RC
time

3RC

The seven SI base units

The SI (Systme International dUnits) is the standard system of units for scientists worldwide. There are
seven base units, from which the other units are derived.
Symbol

Quantity

Unit

Definition

kg

mass

kilogram

The kilogram is the unit of mass; it is equal to the mass of the

international prototype of the kilogram.

length

metre

The metre is the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum

during a time interval of 1/299 792 458 of a second.

time

second

The second is the duration of 9 192 631 770 periods of the

radiation corresponding to the transition between the two
hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium 133 atom.

electric current

ampere

The ampere is that constant current that, if maintained in two

straight parallel conductors of infinite length, of negligible
circular cross-section, and placed 1m apart in vacuum, would
produce between these conductors a force equal to 2 107
newton per metre of length.

temperature

kelvin

The kelvin, unit of thermodynamic temperature, is the fraction

1/273.16 of the thermodynamic temperature of the triple
point of water.

cd

luminous
intensity

candela

The candela is the luminous intensity, in a given direction, of

a source that emits monochromatic radiation of frequency
5401012 hertz and that has a radiant intensity in that
direction of 1/683 watt per steradian.

mol

amount of
substance

mole

The mole is the amount of substance of a system that contains

as many elementary entities as there are atoms in 0.012kg
of carbon 12. When the mole is used, the elementary entities
must be specified and may be atoms, molecules, ions,
electrons, other particles, or specified groups of such particles.

Prefixes
Greater than unity
103

106

109

1012

1015

1018

1021

1024

kilo

Mega

Giga

Tera

Peta

Exa

Zetta

Yotta

Less than unity

103

106

109

1012

1015

1018

1021

1024

milli

(micro)

nano

pico

femto

atto

zepto

yocto

SI derived units
Derived quantity

SI derived unit

Base units

Acceleration

metre per second squared

m s2

Force

newton (N)

kg m s2

Work

joule (J)

kg m2 s2

Pressure/stress

pascal (Pa)

kg m1 s2

Charge

coulomb (C)

As

EMF/potential difference

volt (V)

A1 kg m2 s3
1

Electric field strength

newton per coulomb (NC ) or

volt per metre (Vm1)

A1 kg m s3

Capacitance

farad (F)

A2 kg1 m2 s4

Magnetic field strength

tesla (T)

A1 kg s2

Concentration (of amount of substance)

mole per cubic metre

mol m3

Useful websites
National Physical Laboratory outreach: www.npl.co.uk/educate-explore
Institute of Physics: www.iop.org/careers
Your guide to physics on the web: www.physics.org
Physical and chemical constants reference: www.kayelaby.npl.co.uk

Authors notes
This is intended as a quick revision guide and not a definitive reference.
* indicates an equation is correct but not the definition.

Aged between 16 and 19 and studying physics?

Join the Institute of Physics for free at www.iop.org/16-19

Radioactivity
Nuclear structure
Atomic (proton) number Z = number of protons in the nucleus. In a neutral atom this is also the number of
electrons in the atom (determines the chemical properties).
Mass (nucleon) number A = number of protons plus number of neutrons.
The strong nuclear force binds neutrons to neutrons, protons to protons and neutrons to protons.
Number of neutrons (n) is approximately the same as the number of protons (p).
Isotopes. Atoms with same atomic number Z (and so chemically similar), but different mass numberA.
Isotope shown as ZAK, where K is the chemical symbol. Nuclei have the same number of protons but
different numbers of neutrons.

Nuclear decay
Nuclei typically decay by emitting one of two types of particle ( or ) accompanied by high-frequency
electromagnetic radiation known as radiation.
Alpha () decay

2p
2n

A
Z

Beta () minus emission

A4
Z2

An alpha particle (helium

nucleus: 42He, 2p + 2n) is
emitted from the nucleus.
It is generally followed by a
cascade of radiation.

Gamma () radiation

Z+1

A beta particle (electron) is

emitted from the nucleus
along with an antineutrino. It is
generally followed by a cascade
of radiation.

High-frequency electromagnetic
wave (f > 1017 Hz).

number of undecayed nuclei

Decay constant
N
1 dN
gradient proportional to
8 B
Probability of decay in a fixed time: m =
number of nuclei undecayed
N dt
When some have decayed,

dN
activity =
= N
fewer remain so the rate of decay (the activity) falls. N = N0 et
N
dt
2
TIP: compare with decay of charge on a capacitor.
half life
N
Half-life (T)
4
Time for half to decay T = ln(2)/ = 0.69/
time
Radioactivity quantities and units
Activity becquerel (Bq) is 1 disintegration per second.
Absorbed dose gray (Gy) is the dose when 1 joule is absorbed by 1kg of tissue.
Dose equivalent sievert (Sv) is related to the biological harm caused by the absorbed dose.*
Binding energy
If protons and neutrons are bound into a nucleus, nuclear mass is m less than the sum of the masses of
the constituent protons and neutrons.
Binding energy = mc2, where c is the speed of light in a vacuum.

Fields
Fields due to an isolated spherical charge or mass
Inverse square law of force due to an isolated charge (Q) or mass (M),
+Q

F =

kQq
r2

(where k = 4rf
0

+q

in a vacuum) : F = -

r
F

GMm
(where G is gravitational constant).
r2

Field strength Vector. Examples are force per unit charge E, or force per unit mass g.
Force on 1 coulomb E =

+ kQ
r2

: Force on 1 kilogram g =

GM
.
r2

For fields within a substance of relative permittivity r electric fields are reduced by factor r.
There is no known type of gravitational permittivity.
Field strength = negative potential gradient = - dV .
dr

Field potential
Field potential (V) Scalar. Potential energy of unit electric charge (or unit mass).
Energy required to bring unit electric charge (or mass) from infinity to the point in question.
Electrical (repulsive force for positive Q): Velec = kQ/r
Gravitation (attractive force for positive M): Vgrav = GM/r.
Potential energy of charge q (or mass m ) in the field: qVelec (or mVgrav).
Uniform fields. Field lines are parallel; field strength is given by the negative of potential gradient E = V/d.

Magnetic fields
Magnetic field strength (B) tesla (T) Vector. 1 tesla is the magnetic field strength that gives rise to a force
of 1 newton per metre on a wire carrying 1 ampere.
Density of field lines in diagrams is proportional to field strength.
Magnetic flux () weber ( Wb )
N
S
Through an area A : = BA (field lines perpendicular to A).
Forces in a magnetic field
Force on a wire length l carrying current I
I
perpendicular to field B has magnitude F = BIl, which acts
S
N
perpendicular to B and I as given by a left-hand rule.
B
F
Force on a charge q travelling with speed v perpendicular to
magnetic field B has magnitude F = Bqv, which acts perpendicular
to B and v as given by a left-hand rule. Charge moves in arc of circle of radius r = mv/qB.
Induced EMF in a magnetic field
dz
dz
For a loop of wire threaded by flux , f =
. For a coil of N loops each with flux , f = N
dt
dt

Waves
Energy transfer by waves
Transfer of energy without the transfer of matter.

Speed of waves
For both transverse and longitudinal v = f m :
v = speed: f = frequency: m = wavelength

Interference

single slit
intensity

Diffraction pattern from single slit

Diffraction results from interruption of part of the
wavefront. An explanation can be given using
Huygens construction.
Electrons and other particles can be diffracted to
show their wave properties.
For first minimum sin = m
b
For small angles sin (rads)

Double slit
Assume that waves at each slit are coherent and
in-phase.
For constructive interference on the screen, the
path difference = n m.
(for small angles)
sin = nm ; m = s
d
d
L

Diffraction grating (multiple slits)

Different wavelengths produce constructive
interference at different angles given by
n = d sin i.
Same formula as two slits, but grating forms
narrow distinct lines. d usually small, so i large.

Electromagnetic radiation
Speed of light in a vacuum: c =

diffraction angle

Radiation wavelength m
Slit width b

intensity

path difference

S1
d

S2

s
L
L>>d

n=1
direction for
constructive
interference

n=0

n=1

intensity

1
f0 n 0

Refractive index measures the reduction in the speed of light within a medium.
A refractive index of 1.5 means light travels at 1/1.5 times the speed of light in a vacuum.
Energy of a photon is E = h f
(h is the Planck constant).

Data
Acceleration of free fall (in UK)

9.81

Gravitational field strength (in UK)

9.81

Gravitational constant
Electric force constant
Speed of light in a vacuum

m s2
N kg1

6.67 10
1

k = 4rf
0

Permeability of free space

Permittivity of free space

11

8.98 109

Nm2 kg2
Nm2 C2

m s1

N A2

3.00 10
4r 10

8.85 1012
34

F m1

Planck constant

6.63 10

Elementary electron charge

1.60 1019

Electron rest mass

9.11 1031

kg

Electronvolt

eV

1.60 1019

Unified atomic mass constant

1.66 1027

kg

Proton rest mass

mp

1.673 1027

kg

Neutron rest mass

mn

27

Molar gas constant

8.31

Boltzmann constant

kB

1.38 1023

J K1

Avogadro constant

NA

23

mol1

Standard temperature and pressure

STP

Molar volume at STP

Vm

myphysicscourse.org

1.675 10

Js

kg
J K1 mol1

6.02 10

273.15 K and 1.01 105 Pa

22.4 103

m3 mol1

Finding the
right degree

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