PHYSICS FORMULAS

Density

The formula for density is:

Density (ρ) = Mass (m) / Volume (V)

This means that the density of an object is equal to its mass

divided by its volume.

 ρ (rho): This is the symbol used to represent density.

 m: This represents the mass of the object.
 V: This represents the volume of the object.

Common Units for Density:

 g/cm³: Grams per cubic centimeter (often used for solids and liquids)
 kg/m³: Kilograms per cubic meter (SI unit)
 g/mL: Grams per milliliter (often used for liquids)

Example:

Let's say you have a block of wood that has a mass of 100 grams
and a volume of 50 cubic centimeters. To find its density, you
would use the formula:

Density = Mass / Volume

Density = 100 g / 50 cm³ = 2 g/cm³

So, the density of the wood block is 2 grams per cubic centimeter.

Density is a property of matter that tells us how much mass is

packed into a given volume. Different substances have different
densities. For example, gold is denser than water, which means
that a given volume of gold will weigh more than the same volume
of water.
 SPEED, DISTANCE & TIME
The relationship between speed, distance, and time is
fundamental in physics and everyday life. It can be
expressed in three main formulas:

Speed = Distance / Time

This formula tells us how fast an object is moving.

Speed is calculated by dividing the distance traveled by the
time taken to cover that distance.

Distance = Speed × Time

This formula helps us find the distance traveled by an
object moving at a certain speed for a specific amount of
time.

Time = Distance / Speed

This formula allows us to calculate the time taken to
travel a certain distance at a given speed.

Acceleration
A Measure of Change in Velocity.
Acceleration is a term used in physics to describe
the rate at which an object's velocity changes with respect
to time. It's a vector quantity, meaning it has both
magnitude (how much) and direction.

Positive Acceleration:
Speeding Up: When an object's speed increases over time, it is
experiencing positive acceleration.

Example: A car accelerating from a stoplight.

 Negative Acceleration (Deceleration):

Slowing Down: When an object's speed decreases over time, it is

experiencing negative acceleration, often called deceleration.

Example: A car braking to a stop at a red light.

Changing Direction:
Even at Constant Speed: If an object changes its direction of motion,
even if its speed remains constant, it is still accelerating.

Example: A car turning a corner at a constant speed.

The Formula for Acceleration:

Acceleration (a) = (Final Velocity (v_f) - Initial Velocity (v_i)) / Time (t)

Units of Acceleration:
 SI Unit: Meters per second squared (m/s²)

Visualizing Acceleration:

A velocity-time graph can illustrate acceleration. The slope

of the line on the graph represents the acceleration:
 Positive Slope: Positive acceleration

 Negative Slope: Negative acceleration

 Constant Slope: Constant acceleration

 Zero Slope: Constant velocity (no acceleration)

 velocitytime graph showing different types of acceleration

Real-world Examples of Acceleration:

 A ball rolling down a hill

 A rocket launching into space
 A car braking to a stop
 A planet orbiting the sun

Acceleration is a fundamental concept in physics that

helps us understand how objects move and interact with each
other.
 Calculating Speed and Acceleration
Calculating Speed

Speed is the rate at which an object covers distance.

It's calculated by dividing the distance traveled by the time
taken:

Speed = Distance / Time

Example: If a car travels 120 kilometers in 2 hours, its
speed is:
Speed = 120 km / 2 h = 60 km/h

Calculating Acceleration

Acceleration is the rate at which an object changes

its velocity. It's calculated by dividing the change in
velocity by the time taken:
Acceleration = (Final Velocity - Initial Velocity) /
Time

Example: If a car accelerates from 0 to 60 km/h in 10

seconds, its acceleration is:
Acceleration = (60 km/h - 0 km/h) / 10 s = 6 km/h/s

Note: It's often more convenient to work with SI units

(meters per second, m/s, for speed and meters per
second squared, m/s², for acceleration).
Let's try a practice problem:

A cyclist accelerates from rest to a speed of 10 m/s in

5 seconds.
1. What is the cyclist's acceleration?
2. How far does the cyclist travel during this time?

Solution:

Acceleration:
Initial velocity (u) = 0 m/s

Final velocity (v) = 10 m/s

Time (t) = 5 s

Acceleration (a) = (v - u) / t = (10 m/s - 0 m/s) / 5 s = 2

m/s²

Distance:
We can use the formula:

Distance = Initial velocity × Time + 0.5 × Acceleration × Time²

Distance = 0 m/s × 5 s + 0.5 × 2 m/s² × (5 s)²

= 25 meters

Mass, Weight, and Gravity

Mass
 Definition: Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object.
 Unit: Kilogram (kg)
 Property: Remains constant, regardless of location.
Weight
 Definition: Weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity.
 Unit: Newton (N)
 Property: Varies depending on the gravitational force acting on the
object.

Gravity
 Definition: Gravity is a natural force of attraction between any two
masses.
 Effect: It pulls objects towards the center of a massive body, like Earth.

Relationship

The relationship between mass, weight, and gravity can be expressed by the following
formula:

Weight = Mass × Acceleration due to gravity

Where:

 Weight: The force of gravity on an object.

 Mass: The amount of matter in the object.
 Acceleration due to gravity: The acceleration caused by gravity
(approximately 9.8 m/s² on Earth).

Key Points :
 Mass is constant: No matter where you go, your mass remains the
same.

 Weight varies: Your weight can change depending on the gravitational

force acting on you. For example, you would weigh less on the Moon
than on Earth because the Moon's gravity is weaker.

 Gravity affects weight: A stronger gravitational force results in a

higher weight for the same mass
 Going Round in Circles: Circular Motion
Circular motion is a type of motion in which an object moves in a circular path.
This type of motion is quite common in our everyday lives, from the spinning
of a planet to the motion of a car around a curve.

Concepts in Circular Motion:

Centripetal Force:

This is the force that pulls an object towards the center of a circular
path.

It's essential for maintaining circular motion.

Without this force, the object would fly off in a straight line tangent
to the circle.

Centripetal Acceleration:

This is the acceleration that points towards the center of the circular
path.

It's caused by the change in direction of the object's velocity, even if

its speed remains constant.

Angular Velocity:

This measures how quickly an object rotates around a circle.

It's usually measured in radians per second (rad/s).

Linear Speed:

This is the speed of the object along the circular path.

It's usually measured in meters per second (m/s).

Examples:

 Planets orbiting the Sun: The gravitational force between the Sun and
a planet provides the necessary centripetal force.
 A car turning a corner: The friction between the tires and the road
provides the centripetal force.

 A ball on a string: The tension in the string provides the centripetal
force.
circular motion with centripetal force and acceleration

Force, Mass, and Acceleration

Newton's Second Law of Motion describes the relationship between
force, mass, and acceleration. It states that the acceleration of an object is
directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to
its mass.

Mathematically, this law is expressed as:

Force = Mass × Acceleration

Or, in symbol form:

F=m×a
Where:

 F is the net force acting on the object (measured in Newtons, N)

 m is the mass of the object (measured in kilograms, kg)
 a is the acceleration of the object (measured in meters per second
squared, m/s²)

What does this mean?

 More Force, More Acceleration: If you apply a greater force to an

object, it will accelerate more.
  More Mass, Less Acceleration: If you apply the same force to a
heavier object, it will accelerate less.

Examples:

 Pushing a Cart: The harder you push (more force), the faster the cart
accelerates.
 Kicking a Ball: A harder kick (more force) makes the ball accelerate
faster.
 Lifting Weights: Lifting a heavier weight requires more force to
accelerate it upwards.

Key Points:

 Net Force: The net force is the combination of all forces acting on an
object.
 Direction of Acceleration: The direction of acceleration is the same
as the direction of the net force.
 Constant Velocity: If an object is moving at a constant velocity, the
net force acting on it is zero.

By understanding the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration, you

can explain a wide range of physical phenomena, from the motion of planets
to the everyday actions we perform.

Momentum
Momentum is a fundamental concept in physics that quantifies the
motion of an object. It's defined as the product of an object's mass and its
velocity.

Formula:

Momentum (p) = Mass (m) × Velocity (v)

Key Points:

 Vector Quantity: Momentum is a vector quantity, meaning it has both

magnitude and direction.
 Conservation of Momentum: In the absence of external forces, the total
momentum of a system remains constant. This principle is fundamental
to understanding collisions and explosions.
 Impulse: A change in momentum is known as impulse. It is equal to the
force applied multiplied by the time interval over which the force acts.

Applications:

 Sports: In sports like football and hockey, players use momentum to

tackle, pass, and score.
  Car Crashes: The concept of momentum is crucial in understanding the
impact of car crashes.
 Rocket Propulsion: Rockets use the principle of conservation of
momentum to propel themselves into space.

Example:

Consider two objects:

 Object A: Mass = 2 kg, Velocity = 5 m/s

 Object B: Mass = 5 kg, Velocity = 2 m/s

Calculating their momenta:

 Momentum of A = 2 kg × 5 m/s = 10 kg m/s

 Momentum of B = 5 kg × 2 m/s = 10 kg m/s

Even though the objects have different masses and velocities, their momenta
are equal.

Momentum in Collisions
Conservation of Momentum

One of the most fundamental principles in physics, especially when

dealing with collisions, is the Law of Conservation of Momentum. This law
states that:

 The total momentum of a system of objects remains constant if no

external forces act on the system.

In simpler terms, the total momentum before a collision is equal to the total
momentum after the collision.

Types of Collisions:

Elastic Collisions:

o Kinetic energy is conserved.

o Objects bounce off each other with no loss of kinetic energy.
o Example: Billiard ball collision.

Inelastic Collisions:

o Kinetic energy is not conserved.

o Some kinetic energy is lost to other forms of energy, such as
heat, sound, or deformation.
o Example: Car crash.
Analyzing Collisions:

To analyze collisions, we often use the following approach:

1. Identify the system: Determine the objects involved in the collision.

2. Define the initial and final states: Describe the motion of the objects
before and after the collision.
3. Apply the conservation of momentum principle: Set the total initial
momentum equal to the total final momentum.
4. Solve for unknowns: Use the equation to solve for unknown
quantities, such as velocities or masses.

Example:

Consider a 1-kg ball moving at 5 m/s that collides with a stationary 2-kg ball.
After the collision, the 1-kg ball moves at 2 m/s in the same direction. What is
the velocity of the 2-kg ball after the collision?

 Initial momentum: 1 kg * 5 m/s + 2 kg * 0 m/s = 5 kg m/s

 Final momentum: 1 kg * 2 m/s + 2 kg * v = 2 kg m/s + 2v kg m/s
 Equating initial and final momentum: 5 kg m/s = 2 kg m/s + 2v kg
m/s
 Solving for v: v = 1.5 m/s

Therefore, the 2-kg ball moves at 1.5 m/s after the collision.

By understanding the conservation of momentum and the different types of

collisions, we can analyze and predict the outcomes of various physical
phenomena, from the collision of subatomic particles to the impact of celestial
bodies.