Physics data booklet

First assessment 2016

.
 Diploma Programme
Physics data booklet

Published June 2014

Revised edition published January 2016

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Contents
Fundamental constants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Metric (SI) multipliers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Unit conversions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Electrical circuit symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
EquationsCore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
EquationsAHL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
EquationsOptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Physics data booklet

Physics data booklet
Fundamental constants

Quantity Symbol Approximate value

Acceleration of free fall
g 9.81m s 2
(Earths surface)

Gravitational constant G 6.67 1011 Nm2 kg2

Avogadros constant NA 6.02 1023 mol1

Gas constant R 8.31JK 1 mol 1

Boltzmanns constant kB 1.38 1023 JK 1

StefanBoltzmann constant 5.67 108 W m2 K 4

Coulomb constant k 8.99 109 Nm2 C2

Permittivity of free space 0 8.85 1012 C2 N1 m2

Permeability of free space 0 4 107 T m A 1

Speed of light in vacuum c 3.00 108 m s1

Plancks constant h 6.63 1034 Js

Elementary charge e 1.60 1019 C

Electron rest mass me 9.110 1031 kg = 0.000549 u = 0.511MeV c 2

Proton rest mass mp 1.673 1027 kg = 1.007276 u = 938 MeV c 2

Neutron rest mass mn 1.675 1027 kg = 1.008665 u = 940 MeV c 2

Unified atomic mass unit u 1.661 1027 kg = 931.5 MeV c 2

Solar constant S 1.36 103 W m2

Fermi radius R0 1.20 1015 m

Physics data booklet 1

Metric (SI) multipliers
Prefix Abbreviation Value
peta P 1015
tera T 1012
giga G 109
mega M 106
kilo k 103
hecto h 102
deca da 101
deci d 10 1
centi c 10 2
milli m 10 3
micro 10 6
nano n 10 9
pico p 10 12
femto f 10 15

Unit conversions
180
1 radian (rad)

Temperature (K) = temperature (C) + 273

1 light year (ly) = 9.46 1015 m

1 parsec (pc) 3.26 ly

1 astronomical unit (AU) = 1.50 1011 m

1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) = 3.60 106 J

hc = 1.99 1025 Jm = 1.24 10 6 eV m

2 Physics data booklet

Electrical circuit symbols

cell battery

ac supply switch

voltmeter V ammeter A

resistor variable resistor

lamp potentiometer

light-dependent
thermistor
resistor (LDR)

transformer heating element

diode capacitor

Physics data booklet 3

 EquationsCore
Note: All equations relate to the magnitude of the quantities only. Vector notation has
not been used.

Sub-topic 1.2 Uncertainties and errors Sub-topic 1.3 Vectors and scalars
If: y = a b
Adding/subtracting quantities: A
AV
then: y = a uncertainty
+ b in result will be sum
of uncertainties of quantities.
y = Result. AH = Horizontal
component.
Multiplying/dividing quantities: %
a, b, c = Quantities. ab
If: y uncertainties of quantities are added
AV = Vertical
= Uncertainty.
c together to obtain % uncertainty in result.
component.
y a b c
then: = + +
y a b c
AH

If: y an Powers of quantities: % uncertainty of AH = A cos Trigonometric rules of triangles are

quantity is multiplied by power to obtain
applied when taking components of
y a % uncertainty in result. vector quantities.
then: = n A V = A sin
y a

v = Final velocity. F = Resultant force.

Sub-topic 2.1 Motion Sub-topic 2.2 Forces
u = Initial velocity. v = u + at F ma Acceleration due to resultant force m = Mass.
(Newtons 2nd law of motion).
a = Acceleration (g 1 2 Ff sR a = Acceleration.
for gravitational).
s = ut + at Equations applied to Frictional force on a static object.
2 uniform motion (known as
suvat equations). Ff = dR Frictional force on a dynamic object.
s = Coefficient of
s = Displacement. v 2 = u 2 + 2as static friction.

(v + u ) t
t = Time elapsed. s= d = dynamic .
2
Ff = Frictional force.
Sub-topic 2.3 Work, energy Sub-topic 2.4 Momentum
and power and impulse R = Normal reaction
force.
W = Fs cos Work done. p mv Momentum.
W = Work done.
1 p
EK mv 2 Kinetic energy.
F = Force.
2 F=
t Resultant force due to momentum.
s = Displacement. 1
Ep = k x 2 Elastic potential energy (in a spring). p2 p = Momentum.
2 EK Kinetic energy.
EK = Kinetic energy.
2m
Ep = mg h Gravitational potential energy. m = Mass.
m = Mass.
power Fv Power. impulse = F t = p v = Velocity.
v = Velocity.
useful work out F = Force.
EP = Potential energy. efficiency
total work in
t = Time.
k = Spring constant useful power out
EK = Kinetic energy.
x = Extension.
total power in

g = Earths gravity.

4 Physics data booklet

h = Height.
 p = Pressure.

F = Force.

A = Area.

Sub-topic 3.1 Thermal concepts Sub-topic 3.2 Modelling a gas n = Number of moles.

Q = Energy/heat.
Q = mc T Energy/heat given/received in changing F N = Number of

m = Mass.
an objects temperature. p Pressure. atoms.
A
Q mL Energy/heat given/received in changing NA = Avogadros
c = Specific heat an objects phase. N constant.
capacity. n
NA Number of moles of a substance.
V = Volume.
T = Temperature.
pV nRT R = Gas constant.
L = Specific latent Ideal gas law.
heat.
3 3 R T = Temperature.
EK kBT T Average kinetic energy per
2 2 NA molecule of a gas.
EK = Kinetic energy.

kb = Boltzmanns
Sub-topic 4.1 Oscillations Sub-topic 4.4 Wave behaviour constant.
T = Period.

1 Period (time taken to complete 1 n1 sin 2 v 2 Refraction when a wave crosses a

f = Frequency. T = = boundary between 2 media
f oscillation). n2 sin 1 v1 n1/n2 = Index of
(Snells law).
refraction.
Sub-topic 4.2 Travelling waves D
c = Velocity. s= Fringe spacing in double slit diffraction.
= Angle of
d
f = Frequency. c = f incidence/refraction.
Speed of a wave.

= Wavelength.
Constructive interference: v = Wave velocity.
Sub-topic 4.3 Wave characteristics path difference = n
Maxima/minima on s = Fringe spacing.
I A2 Intensity of a wave vs. amplitude. screen in double slit
Destructive interference: diffraction. = Wavelength.
Intensity of a waves radiation at a certain
I x 2 1
distance from the source. path difference = n +
2 D = Distance to
I = Intensity. I = I 0 cos2 Transmitted intensity of light incident on
screen.
a polariser (Maluss law).
A = Amplitude. d = Slit spacing.

x = Distance from n = Any integer (order

source. of minimum/
maximum).
I0 = Original
intensity.

= Angle of
polarizer.

Physics data booklet 5

I = Current.
Sub-topic 5.2 Heating effect of
q = Charge. Sub-topic 5.1 Electric fields electric currents
t = Time. q Kirchhoffs circuit laws: V = Potential.
I=
t Current. V = 0 (loop)
F = Force. I = Current.
q1q2 Force experienced by 2 charges
k = Coulomb F k I = 0 (junction) R = Resistance.
r2 (Coulombs law).
constant.
1 V P = Power.
r = Separation k R
distance.
4 0 Coulomb constant. I Resistance. = Resistivity.
W V 2
0 = Permittivity of V P VI I 2R A = X-sectional area.
free space. q Potential difference. R Power supplied/dissipated.
L = Length.
F
V = Potential. E Rtotal = R1 + R2 + ... Total resistance of resistors in
q Electric field strength.
series.
W = Work done.
1 1 1
I nAvq = + + ... Total resistance of resistors in
E = Electric field
Current in a wire. Rtotal R1 R2 parallel.
strength.
RA
n = Number of = Resistivity of material of a wire.
charges per unit
L
F = Force.
volume. Sub-topic 5.4 Magnetic effects of
Sub-topic 5.3 Electric cells
electric currents q = Charge.
A = X-sectional area.

= Emf.
v = Drift velocity.
= I (R + r ) F = qvB sin Force on a charge moving through a v = Velocity of charge.
Emf of a cell. magnetic field.
I = Current. B = Magnitude of
Force on a current-carrying wire in a
F = B IL sin magnetic field.
magnetic field.
R = Resistance.
= Angle with field.
r = Internal resistance. Sub-topic 6.2 Newtons law of
Sub-topic 6.1 Circular motion
gravitation F = Force.

v = r Mm Force experienced by 2 masses (Newtons G = Gravitational

v = Velocity. Velocity of body travelling in circle.
F G law of gravitation).
r2 constant.
= Angular velocity.
v 2 4 2 r F Field strength as experienced by a M = Mass of body.
a= = 2 Centripetal acceleration. g
r = Radius of circle. r T m mass in the field.
m = Mass of body (in
a field).
a = Acceleration. mv 2 M Field strength at a certain distance
F= = m 2 r Centripetal force.
g G from body.
T = Period of rotation.
r r2 r = Separation
distance of bodies.
F = Force.
g = Gravitational field
strength
m = Mass.

6 Physics data booklet

 Sub-topic 7.1 Discrete energy and
E = Energy. Sub-topic 7.2 Nuclear reactions
radioactivity
h = Plancks constant. E hf Energy released when nucleons are
E = mc 2 E = Energy.
Energy of a photon. assembled into nucleus.
f = Frequency.
hc m = Mass.
= Wavelength.
= Wavelength of a photon.
E c = Speed of light.
c = Speed of light.
Sub-topic 7.3 The structure of matter

Baryon Charge Leptons

Charge Quarks
number
1 e
e = Elementary
2 1
charge. e u c t 0
3 3 e
e = Electron.
u = Up.
All leptons have a lepton number
1 1 of 1 and antileptons have a lepton u = Muon.
d = Down. e d s b
3 3 number of 1
= Tau.
c = Charm. All quarks have a strangeness number
of 0 except the strange quark that has = Neutrino.
s = Strange.
a strangeness number of 1
t = Top.

b = Bottom. Gravitational Weak Electromagnetic Strong

Particles Quarks, Quarks,

All Charged
experiencing leptons gluons
Particles
Graviton W + , W , Z0 Gluons
mediating

Sub-topic 8.2 Thermal energy

Sub-topic 8.1 Energy sources
transfer
energy
power P = e AT 4 Power radiated by a body. P = Power.
time
A = Area swept out by e = Emissivity.
turbine blades. 1 2.90 103
power = Av 3 Power available from a wind max (metres) = Wavelength at which
2 turbine. T (kelvin) intensity of radiation = Stefan-Boltzmann
= Air density. is at a maximum. constant.
power
v = Wind speed. I Intensity of radiation.
A = Area.
A
T = Temperature.
total scattered power
albedo = Wavelength.
total incident power
I = Intensity.

Physics data booklet 7

 EquationsAHL
a = Acceleration.
x = Displacement
from equilibrium.
x0 = Maximum
displacement.
t = Time elapsed.
EK = Kinetic energy.
ET = Total energy.
Sub-topic 9.1 Simple harmonic
Sub-topic 9.2 Single-slit diffraction
motion
2 Angle at which first minimum occurs
= =
in single-slit diffraction.
= Angle.
T Angular frequency of oscillation. b
= Wavelength.
a = 2 x Acceleration of object in SHM.
Sub-topic 9.3 Interference
b = Slit width.
x = x0 sin t ; x = x0 cos t Displacement of n = d sin Path difference between slits for a
object in SHM. diffraction grating (constructive/
destructive interference). n = Any integer (for
v = x0 cos t ; v = x0 sin t Velocity of
1 diffraction grating).
object in Constructive interference: 2dn = m +
SHM. 2 = Wavelength.

l = Length of v = ( x0 x )
2 2
Velocity of object in SHM. Destructive interference: 2dn = m d = Slit spacing (for
pendulum. diffraction grating).
1
g = Gravitational field EK = m 2 ( x0 2 x 2 ) Kinetic energy of object in Interference patterns for thin-film = Angle.
strength. 2 SHM. interference.
d = Thickness of
k = Spring constant. 1 medium (for TFI).
ET = m 2 x0 2 Total energy of object in SHM.
2 n = Refractive index
of medium (for TFI).
l Period of oscillation of
pendulum: T = 2 a pendulum in SHM.
g m = Any integer (for
TFI).
Period of oscillation of a
m
mass-spring:T = 2 mass on a spring in
k SHM.

Sub-topic 9.4 Resolution Sub-topic 9.5 Doppler effect

f = Perceived
= Angle. First minimum for diffraction in a circular v frequency.
= 1.22 Moving source: f = f
= Wavelength.
b aperture.
v us f = Actual frequency.

b = Slit width/ v uo v = Wave speed.

diameter. R= = mN Resolvance of a diffraction grating. Moving observer: f = f
v us = Velocity of
R = Resolvance source.
f v
=
= Smallest f c Doppler effect for light. uo = Velocity of
possible resolvable observer.
wavelength
difference. = Wavelength.

m = Diffraction v = Relative speed of

order. observer and source.

N = Number of slits c = Speed of light.

illuminated.

8 Physics data booklet

 Sub-topic 10.1 Describing fields Sub-topic 10.2 Fields at work

W = q Ve GM kQ Vg = Gravitational
Potential. V
g = Ve potential.
Work done moving a charge r r
between 2 points in a field. Ve = Electric
W = mVg Vg Ve potential.
Field strength. g= E=
Work done moving a mass r r
G = Gravitational
between 2 points in a field.
GMm constant.
kQq
Potential energy. Ep = mVg = Ep qVe
r r k = Coulomb
constant.
GMm kQq
Force.Fg Fe
r2 r2 M = Mass.

Q = Charge.
2GM Escape velocity of a planet.
v esc r = Separation
r distance.
W = Work done.

q = Charge. GM Velocity of a body in circular orbit g = Gravitational field

v orbit around another body. strength.
r
Ve = Electric
potential. E = Electric field
strength.
m = Mass.
Ep = Potential
Vg = Gravitational energy.
potential.
m = Mass.

q = Charge.

Fg = Gravitational
force.

Fe = Electric force.

V(esc) = Escape
velocity.

V(orbit) = velocity of
orbit.

Physics data booklet 9

 Sub-topic 11.1 Electromagnetic C = Capacitance.
Sub-topic 11.3 Capacitance
induction
q = Charge.
= BA cos q
Magnetic flux. C Capacitance of a capacitor.
V V = Potential (difference

= N Induced emf in a coil.
t Cparallel = C1 + C2 + ... Capacitance of capacitors in = Permittivity of
parallel. dielectric material.
Induced emf in a conductor moving
= Bv l through a field. 1 1 1
= + + ... Capacitance of capacitors in A = Area of plates.
= Bv l N Induced emf in a coiled wire moving Cseries C1 C2 series.
through a field.
d = Separation of plates
Sub-topic 11.2 Power generation and A
C = Capacitance of a capacitor. E = Energy stored.
transmission d
= Magnetic flux. I0 = Time constant.
Irms Effective (root mean square) current in 1
2 E CV 2
B = B = Magnitude of an AC generator. 2 Energy stored in a capacitor. R = Resistance.
magnetic field.
I(rms) = Effective V0
current.
A = Area of coil.
Vrms Effective (root mean square) potential = RC Time constant for a circuit.
q0 = Original charge.
2 difference in an AC generator.
t = Time elapsed.
I0
N= = Maximum
Number ofcurrent.
turns. t
V0 Vrms q = q0 e

Exponential decrease of charge
R Resistance. stored for a discharging capacitor.
I = Current.
V(rms) = Effective
t = Time elapsed. pd. I0 Irms
t I0 = Initial maximum
V0
v ==Speed
Maximum pd.
of wire. Pmax I 0V0 I = I0e Exponential decrease of current for a current.
Maximum power dissipated. discharging capacitor.
Rl == Length
Resistance
of wire. V0 = Initial maximum
1
P I 0V0
t
Exponential decrease of potential potential difference.
P(max) = Maximum 2 Average power dissipated. V = V0 e
difference for a discharging capacitor.
power dissipated.
p Np I s Ratios of emf, turns and current in a
P = Power dissipated. = =
s Ns I p transformer.
= Emf.

N = Number of turns. Sub-topic 12.1 The interaction of

Sub-topic 12.2 Nuclear physics
matter with radiation
p/s = Primary/
secondary. 1
E = Energy. E hf R R0 A 3
R = Nuclear radius.
Energy of a photon.
Nuclear radius of an element.
R0 = Fermi radius
h = Plancks constant. Kinetic energy of freed electron
Emax = h f N = N0 e t Number of nuclei left in a radioactive (constant).
(photoelectric effect) (= e
sample.
f = Frequency. stopping voltage).
13.6 A = Atomic mass
E= eV Quantised energy of electron in the A = N0 e t number.
= Work function. n2 Activity of a radioactive sample.
hydrogen atom.
N = Number of
n = State of atom. nh nuclei.
mvr = Angular momentum of the orbiting sin First minimum of an electron diffraction
m = Mass. 2 electron in the hydrogen atom. D pattern around a circular object. N0 = Original
2 Probability that an electron will be number of nuclei.
v = Velocity. P (r ) = V
found within a small volume V.
A = Activity.
r = Radius.
h Uncertainty in momentum and
xp = Decay constant.
= Wave function. 4 position of a particle (Heisenberg).

= Angle of first
V = Volume. h Uncertainty in energy and lifetime of
E t the state of a particle (Heisenberg). minimum.
4
x = Position.
= De Broglie
wavelength.
p = Momentum.
10 Physics data booklet
D = Diameter of
t = Time.
circular object.
EquationsOptions
Sub-topic A.1 The beginnings of Sub-topic A.2 Lorentz
relativity transformations
x = x v t 1
=
v2
u = u v 1
c2

Sub-topic A.3 Spacetime diagrams x = ( x vt ); x = ( x v t )

v vx vx
= tan1 t = t ; t = t c 2
c c 2

u v
u =
uv
1 2
c

t = t0

L0
L=

(ct )2 ( x)2 = (ct )2 ( x )2

Sub-topic A.4 Relativistic mechanics Sub-topic A.5 General relativity

(HL only) (HL only)
E = m0 c 2 f g h
=
f c2
E0 m0 c 2
2GM
EK = ( 1) m0 c 2 Rs
c2
p = m0v t0
t =
Rs
E 2 = p 2c 2 + m0 2c 4 1
r
qV = EK

Physics data booklet 11

 Sub-topic B.1 Rigid bodies
Sub-topic B.2 Thermodynamics
and rotational dynamics
= Fr sin Q = U + W

I = mr 2 3
U nRT
2
= I
Q
= 2f S =
T
f = i + t 5
pV 3 constant (for monatomic gases)
f2 = 2i + 2
W = pV
1
= i t + t 2
2 useful work done
=
L = I energy input

1 2 Tcold
EKrot = I Carnot = 1
2 Thot

Sub-topic B.3 Fluids and fluid Sub-topic B.4 Forced vibrations and
dynamics (HL only) resonance (HL only)

energy stored
B = fVf g Q = 2
energy dissipated per cycle

energy stored
P = P0 + f gd Q = 2 resonant frequency
power loss

Av constant

1 2
v + gz + p = constant
2

FD = 6 rv

vr
R=

12 Physics data booklet

 Sub-topic C.1 Introduction to Sub-topic C.2 Imaging
imaging instrumentation
1 1 1 fo
= + M
f v u fe
1 Sub-topic C.3 Fibre optics
P
f
1
h
n
v sin c
m= i =
ho u
I
i attenuation 10 log
M= I0
o
Sub-topic C.4 Medical imaging
D D (HL only)
Mnear point = + 1; Minfinity =
f f I1
LI 10 log
I0

I = I0e x

x 1 = In2
2

Z = c

Sub-topic D.2 Stellar characteristics

Sub-topic D.1 Stellar quantities
and stellar evolution
d = Distance from
Earth to a star. 1 Relation between
d (parsec) Distance to a maxT = 2.9 103 mK
p = Parallax angle.
p (arc-second) star in parsec. wavelength of maximum
intensity radiation of a star
and its temperature.
L = Luminosity. L = AT 4 Luminosity of a star. L M 3 .5
Mass-luminosity relation for main
= Stefan-Boltzmann L sequence stars.
b= Apparent brightness of a star.
constant. 4d 2
A = Area. Sub-topic D.5 Further cosmology
Sub-topic D.3 Cosmology
(HL only)
T = Temperature. = Wavelength.
v Red shift of a star/galaxy moving 4G
b = Apparent z= v= r T = Temperature.
z brightness.
= Red shift. 0 c away from us. 3
L = Luminosity.
d ==Emitted
(0) Distance to star. R Red shift depending on cosmic scale 3H 2
wavelength. z= 1 c =
R0 factor.
8G M = Mass.

v = Relative velocity of
light source. v H0 d

c = Speed of light. 1
T
R = Cosmic scale H0
factor.

R(0) =

H(0) = Hubble Physics data booklet 13

constant.

d = Distance from