CIE IGCSE Physics Formula Sheet Flashcards

This set of flashcards covers essential vocabulary and key concepts from the CIE IGCSE Physics Formula Sheet, including formulas, definitions, and laws related to various topics in physics.

Average speed

The distance traveled divided by the time taken, expressed as ms−1 (s = d/t, where s is speed, d is distance, and t is time).

Average velocity

The displacement divided by the time taken, expressed as ms−1 (v = x/t, where v is velocity, x is displacement, and t is time).

Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity per unit time, expressed as ms−2 (a = (v - u)/t, where a is acceleration, v is final velocity, u is initial velocity, and t is time).

Weight

The force acting on a mass due to gravity, calculated as mass (kg) times gravitational field strength (N/kg) (W = mg, where W is weight, m is mass, and g is gravitational field strength).

Force

Any interaction that, when unopposed, will change the motion of an object, calculated as mass (kg) times acceleration (ms−2) (F = ma, where F is force, m is mass, and a is acceleration).

Density

The mass per unit volume of a substance, measured in kg/m3 (ρ = m/V, where ρ is density, m is mass, and V is volume).

Hooke’s Law

The force exerted by a spring is proportional to the distance it is stretched, expressed as F = kx (where F is force, k is the spring constant, and x is the displacement from the equilibrium position).

Pressure

The force applied per unit area, measured in Pascals (Pa) (P = F/A, where P is pressure, F is force, and A is area).

Work

The energy transferred when a force is applied over a distance, expressed in joules (J) (W = Fd, where W is work, F is force, and d is distance).

Power

The rate of doing work or transferring energy, expressed in watts (W) (P = W/t, where P is power, W is work, and t is time).

Kinetic Energy

The energy of an object due to its motion, expressed as KE = ½ mv² (where KE is kinetic energy, m is mass, and v is velocity).

Gravitational potential energy

The energy an object possesses due to its position in a gravitational field, calculated as GPE = mgh (where GPE is gravitational potential energy, m is mass, g is gravitational field strength, and h is height).

Efficiency

A measure of how much useful work or energy is obtained from a given input, expressed as a percentage (η = Pout/Pin × 100%, where η is efficiency, Pout is output power, and Pin is input power).

Momentum

The quantity of motion an object has, defined as mass (kg) times velocity (ms−1) (p = mv, where p is momentum, m is mass, and v is velocity).

Impulsive Force

The force exerted during a collision or impact, calculated as change in momentum divided by time (F = Δp/t, where F is impulsive force, Δp is change in momentum, and t is time).

Boyle's Law

A principle that describes the inverse relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas at constant temperature (P1V1 = P2V2, where P is pressure and V is volume).

Specific Heat Capacity

The amount of heat required to change the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius, Q = mcθ (where Q is heat energy, m is mass, c is specific heat capacity, and θ is change in temperature).

Wave speed

The speed at which a wave travels through a medium, calculated as V = fλ (where V is wave speed, f is frequency, and λ is wavelength).

Frequency

The number of cycles of a periodic wave that occur in a unit of time, expressed in Hertz (Hz) (F = 1/T, where F is frequency and T is the period of one cycle).

Refractive Index

A measure of how much the speed of light is reduced within a medium compared to a vacuum, defined as n = c/v (where n is the refractive index, c is the speed of light in a vacuum, and v is the speed of light in the medium).

Current

The flow of electric charge, measured in amperes (A), calculated as I = Q/t (where I is current, Q is charge, and t is time).

Voltage

The potential difference that drives current through a circuit, calculated as V = W/Q (where V is voltage, W is work done, and Q is charge).

Resistance

A measure of the opposition to current flow in an electrical circuit, expressed in ohms (Ω) (R = ρl/A, where R is resistance, ρ is resistivity, l is length, and A is cross-sectional area).

Transformer

A device that transfers electrical energy between two or more galvanically isolated circuits through electromagnetic induction.

Alpha decay

A type of radioactive decay in which an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle, reducing its mass number by 4 and atomic number by 2.

Beta decay

A type of radioactive decay in which a neutron in an atomic nucleus is transformed into a proton while emitting a beta particle, increasing the atomic number by 1.

Gamma decay

A type of radioactive decay in which an excited nucleus releases energy in the form of gamma radiation without changing the mass number or atomic number.

Hubble's Law

A law that describes the expansion of the universe, stating that the velocity of a galaxy is proportional to its distance