Physics data booklet

First assessment 2016

Annotated by Boaz V.
 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:
uncertainty in result will be sum A
AV
then: y = a + b of uncertainties of quantities.
y = Result. AH = Horizontal
component.
a, b, c = Quantities. Multiplying/dividing quantities: %
ab uncertainties of quantities are added AV = Vertical
If: y together to obtain % uncertainty in result.
= Uncertainty. c component.

y a b c
then: = + +
y a b c
AH
Powers of quantities: % uncertainty of
If: y an quantity is multiplied by power to obtain
AH = A cos Trigonometric rules of triangles are
applied when taking components of
% uncertainty in result.
y a vector quantities.
then: = n A V = A sin
y a
F = Resultant force.

v = Final velocity. m = Mass.

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

t = Time elapsed. (v + u ) t
s= Ff = Frictional force.
2
R = Normal reaction
Sub-topic 2.3 Work, energy Sub-topic 2.4 Momentum force.
W = Work done.
and power and impulse
F = Force. W = Fs cos Work done. p mv Momentum.

s = Displacement. 1 p
p = Momentum.
EK mv 2 Kinetic energy.
2 F= Resultant force due to momentum.
EK = Kinetic energy. t m = Mass.
1
Ep = k x 2 Elastic potential energy (in a spring).
p2 v = Velocity.
m = Mass. 2 EK Kinetic energy.
2m
v = Velocity. Ep = mg h Gravitational potential energy. F = Force.

EP = Potential energy. power Fv Power. impulse = F t = p t = Time.

k = Spring constant useful work out EK = Kinetic energy.

efficiency
total work in
x = Extension.
useful power out
g = Earths gravity.
total power in
h = Height.

4 Physics data booklet

 p = Pressure.

F = Force.

A = Area.

Q = Energy/heat. n = Number of moles.

Sub-topic 3.1 Thermal concepts Sub-topic 3.2 Modelling a gas
m = Mass. N = Number of
Q = mc T Energy/heat given/received in changing
F Pressure. atoms.
c = Specific heat
an objects temperature. p
A NA = Avogadros
capacity. Q mL Energy/heat given/received in changing
an objects phase. constant.
N
T = Temperature. n Number of moles of a substance.
NA V = Volume.
L = Specific latent
heat. pV nRT Ideal gas law. R = Gas constant.

T = Temperature.
3 3 R Average kinetic energy per
EK kBT T
2 2 NA molecule of a gas. EK = Kinetic energy.

kb = Boltzmanns
constant.
T = Period. Sub-topic 4.1 Oscillations Sub-topic 4.4 Wave behaviour
n1 sin 2 v 2 Refraction when a wave crosses a
f = Frequency. 1 Period (time taken to complete 1
T oscillation).
= = boundary between 2 media n1/n2 = Index of
f n2 sin 1 v1 (Snells law). refraction.

= Angle of
c = Velocity. Sub-topic 4.2 Travelling waves D
s= Fringe spacing in double slit diffraction. incidence/refraction.
f = Frequency. d
c = f Speed of a wave.
v = Wave velocity.
= Wavelength. Constructive interference:
Sub-topic 4.3 Wave characteristics path difference = n
s = Fringe spacing.
Maxima/minima on
I = Intensity. I A2 Intensity of a wave vs. amplitude. screen in double slit = Wavelength.
Destructive interference: diffraction.
Intensity of a waves radiation at a certain
A = Amplitude. I x 2 distance from the source. 1 D = Distance to
path difference = n + screen.
Transmitted intensity of light incident 2

x = Distance from I = I 0 cos2 on a polariser (Maluss law).
source. d = Slit spacing.

I0 = Original n = Any integer (order

intensity. of minimum/
maximum).
= Angle of
polarizer.

Physics data booklet 5

I = Current.

q = Charge.

t = Time.
Sub-topic 5.2 Heating effect of
F = Force. Sub-topic 5.1 Electric fields electric currents V = Potential.

k = Coulomb q Kirchhoffs circuit laws: I = Current.

constant. I= Current.
t V = 0 (loop)
R = Resistance.
r = Separation qq Force experienced by 2 charges
distance. F k 122 (Coulombs law). I = 0 (junction) P = Power.
r
0 = Permittivity of 1
k V = Resistivity.
free space. Coulomb constant. R Resistance.
4 0 I A = X-sectional area.
V = Potential.
W V 2
V Potential difference. P VI I 2R Power supplied/dissipated. L = Length.
W = Work done. q R
E = Electric field F
E Electric field strength. Rtotal = R1 + R2 + ... Total resistance of resistors
strength. q in series.

n = Number of 1 1 1
charges per unit I nAvq Current in a wire. = + + ... Total resistance of resistors
Rtotal R1 R2 in parallel.
volume.
RA
A = X-sectional area. = Resistivity of material of a wire.
L F = Force.
v = Drift velocity. Sub-topic 5.4 Magnetic effects of
Sub-topic 5.3 Electric cells q = Charge.
electric currents
= Emf. v = Velocity of charge.
Force on a charge moving through a
= I (R + r ) Emf of a cell. F = qvB sin
magnetic field.
I = Current. B = Magnitude of
Force on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field.
R = Resistance. F = B IL sin magnetic field.
= Angle with field.
r = Internal resistance.
Sub-topic 6.2 Newtons law of
Sub-topic 6.1 Circular motion F = Force.
v = Velocity. gravitation
G = Gravitational
= Angular velocity. v = r Velocity of body travelling in circle. Mm Force experienced by 2 masses
F G (Newtons law of gravitation). constant.
r2
r = Radius of circle. M = Mass of body.
v 2 4 2 r Centripetal acceleration. F Field strength as experienced by a
a = Acceleration. a= = 2 g mass in the field.
r T m m = Mass of body (in
a field).
T = Period of Field strength at a certain
mv 2 M
rotation. F= = m 2 r Centripetal force. g G distance from body. r = Separation
r r2 distance of bodies.
F = Force.
g = Gravitational
m = Mass. field strength

6 Physics data booklet

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

Sub-topic 7.3 The structure of matter

Baryon Charge Leptons

e = Elementary Charge Quarks e = Electron.
number
charge. 1 e
2 1 u = Muon.
u = Up. e u c t 0
3 3 e
= Tau.
d = Down. All leptons have a lepton number
1 1 of 1 and antileptons have a lepton = Neutrino.
c = Charm. e d s b
3 3 number of 1
s = Strange. All quarks have a strangeness number
of 0 except the strange quark that has
t = Top.
a strangeness number of 1
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
P = Power.
A = Area swept out energy
by turbine blades. power P = e AT 4 Power radiated by a body.
e = Emissivity.
time
= Air density. Wavelength at = Stefan-Boltzmann
1 Power available from a wind 2.90 103
power = Av 3 max (metres) = which intensity of constant.
v = Wind speed. 2 turbine. T (kelvin) radiation is at a
maximum. A = Area.
power
I Intensity of radiation. T = Temperature.
A
= Wavelength.
total scattered power
albedo I = Intensity.
total incident power

Physics data booklet 7

 EquationsAHL
Sub-topic 9.1 Simple harmonic
Sub-topic 9.2 Single-slit diffraction = Angle.
motion
= Angular
frequency. 2 Angle at which first minimum occurs = Wavelength.
= Angular frequency of oscillation. = in single-slit diffraction.
T = Period.
T b b = Slit width.

a = Acceleration. a = 2 x Acceleration of object in SHM.

x = Displacement
from equilibrium.
x0 = Maximum
displacement.
t = Time elapsed.
EK = Kinetic energy.
ET = Total energy.
l = Length of
pendulum.
g = Gravitational field
strength.
k = Spring constant.
= Angle.
Sub-topic 9.3 Interference
Displacement of
x = x0 sin t ; x = x0 cos t n = d sin Path difference between slits for a n = Any integer (for
object in SHM. diffraction grating (constructive/ diffraction grating).
destructive interference).
Velocity of = Wavelength.
v = x0 cos t ; v = x0 sin t object in 1
Constructive interference: 2dn = m +
SHM. 2 d = Slit spacing (for
diffraction grating).
v = ( x0 2 x 2 ) Velocity of object in SHM. Destructive interference: 2dn = m
= Angle.
Interference patterns for thin-film
1 Kinetic energy of object in d = Thickness of
EK = m 2 ( x0 2 x 2 ) SHM.
interference.
2 medium (for TFI).
n = Refractive index
1
ET = m 2 x0 2 Total energy of object in SHM. of medium (for TFI).
2
m = Any integer (for
l Period of oscillation of TFI).
pendulum: T = 2 a pendulum in SHM.
g
Period of oscillation of
m a mass on a spring in
mass-spring:T = 2
k SHM.
f = Perceived
Sub-topic 9.4 Resolution Sub-topic 9.5 Doppler effect frequency.

= Wavelength. f = Actual frequency.

First minimum for diffraction in a circular v
= 1.22 aperture.
Moving source: f = f
b = Slit width/ b v us v = Wave speed.
diameter.
us = Velocity of
v uo
R = Resolvance R= = mN Resolvance of a diffraction grating. Moving observer: f = f
source.
v
= Smallest uo = Velocity of
possible resolvable f v observer.
wavelength = Doppler effect for light.
difference. f c = Wavelength.

m = Diffraction v = Relative speed of

order. observer and source.

N = Number of slits c = Speed of light.

illuminated.

8 Physics data booklet

 Vg = Gravitational
potential.

Ve = Electric
Sub-topic 10.1 Describing fields Sub-topic 10.2 Fields at work
potential.
W = Work done.
W = q Ve GM kQ G = Gravitational
q = Charge. Work done moving a charge
Potential. Vg = Ve constant.
r r
between 2 points in a field.
Ve = Electric k = Coulomb
potential. W = mVg Field strength.
Vg Ve
g= E= constant.
Work done moving a mass r r
m = Mass. between 2 points in a field. M = Mass.
GMm kQq
Vg = Gravitational Potential energy. Ep = mVg = Ep qVe Q = Charge.
potential.
r r
r = Separation
GMm kQq
Force. Fg Fe distance.
r2 r2
g = Gravitational
field strength.
2GM Escape velocity of a planet.
v esc E = Electric field
r
strength.

GM Velocity of a body in circular orbit Ep = Potential

v orbit around another body.
r energy.

m = Mass.

q = Charge.

Fg = Gravitational
force.

Fe = Electric force.

V(esc) = Escape
velocity.

V(orbit) = velocity of
orbit.

Physics data booklet 9

 = Magnetic flux.
Sub-topic 11.1 Electromagnetic C = Capacitance.
B = B = Magnitude of
Sub-topic 11.3 Capacitance
induction
magnetic field. q = Charge.
= BA cos Magnetic flux. q Capacitance of a capacitor.
A = Area of coil. C
V V = Potential

N = Number of turns. = N Induced emf in a coil.
Capacitance of capacitors in
(difference).
t Cparallel = C1 + C2 + ...
parallel. = Permittivity of
Induced emf in a conductor moving
t = Time elapsed.
= Bv l through a field. 1 1 1 Capacitance of capacitors in dielectric material.

Induced emf in a coiled wire moving

= + + ... series.
v = Speed of wire.
= Bv l N Cseries C1 C2 A = Area of plates.
through a field.
l = Length of wire.
Sub-topic 11.2 Power generation and A Capacitance of a capacitor. d = Separation of
C = plates.
transmission d
I(rms) = Effective
current. I0 E = Energy stored.
Irms Effective (root mean square) current in 1
2 an AC generator. E CV 2 Energy stored in a capacitor.
I0 = Maximum current. 2 = Time constant.

V(rms) = Effective pd. V0 Effective (root mean square) potential R = Resistance.

Vrms difference in an AC generator.
= RC Time constant for a circuit.

V0 = Maximum pd.
2
q0 = Original charge.
t
V0 Vrms q = q0 e

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

secondary.

R = Nuclear radius.
E = Energy. Sub-topic 12.1 The interaction of
Sub-topic 12.2 Nuclear physics
matter with radiation R0 = Fermi radius
h = Plancks constant.
1 (constant).
E hf Energy of a photon.
R R0 A 3 Nuclear radius of an element.
f = Frequency.
A = Atomic mass
Kinetic energy of freed electron number.
= Work function. Emax = h f (photoelectric effect) (= e N = N0 e t Number of nuclei left in a radioactive
sample.
stopping voltage). N = Number of
n = State of atom. 13.6 nuclei.
E = 2 eV Quantised energy of electron in the A = N0 e t
Activity of a radioactive sample.
m = Mass. n hydrogen atom.
N0 = Original

v = Velocity. nh Angular momentum of the orbiting number of nuclei.

mvr = sin First minimum of an electron diffraction
2 electron in the hydrogen atom. D pattern around a circular object. A = Activity.
r = Radius.
2 Probability that an electron will be
= Wave function.
P (r ) = V found within a small volume V.
= Decay constant.

= Angle of first
V = Volume. h Uncertainty in momentum and
xp minimum.
4 position of a particle (Heisenberg).
x = Position. = De Broglie
h Uncertainty in energy and lifetime of wavelength.
p = Momentum. E t the state of a particle (Heisenberg).
4
D = Diameter of
t = Time. circular object.

10 Physics data booklet

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
d = Distance from 2

Earth to a star.
Z = c
p = Parallax angle.

L = Luminosity. Sub-topic D.2 Stellar characteristics

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

v = Relative velocity R Red shift depending on cosmic 3H 2

of light source.
z= 1 scale factor. c =
R0 8G
c = Speed of light.
v H0 d
R = Cosmic scale
factor. 1
T
H0
R(0) =

H(0) = Hubble
constant.

d = Distance from Physics data booklet 13

Earth.