Physics Reference Tables

Physics Reference Tables Physical Constant

Symbol

Value

Acceleration due to gravity on Earth

g

9.8 m /s/s

Coulomb’s law constant

k

2 9.0 × 109 Nm2 C

Elementary charge

e

1.6 × 10−19 C

Electron rest mass

me

9.11 × 10 −31 kg

Gravitational constant

G

2 6.67 × 10−11 Nm2 kg

Proton rest mass

mp

1.67 × 10−27 kg

c

3.00 × 108 m /s

Speed of light in a vacuum Speed of sound in air at STP

331 m /s

The Index of Refraction for Common Substances

NCDPI Reference Tables for Physics (October 2006)

Air

1.00

Alcohol

1.36

Corn Oil

1.47

Diamond

2.42

Glass, Crown

1.52

Glass, Flint

1.61

Glycerol

1.47

Quartz, Fused

1.46

Water

1.33

Page 1

Energy

Mechanics v = Δx Δt

x f = x i + vt

v = velocity t = time x = position

W = FΔx P = W = Fv Δt

a = uniform acceleration

PEg = mgh

a = Δv Δt

F= force

KE = 1 mv2 2

m = mass v = v + 2aΔx 2 i

F= ma Fg = mg F=

Gm1m2 d2

FΔt = Δp = mΔv 2

ac = vr

2 Fc = mv r

Fg = weight g = acceleration due to gravity on Earth G = gravitational constant d = distance between centers of mass p = momentum

F = force x = position

P = power

x f = x i + vit + 1 at 2 2

2 f

W = work

F = −kx

PEs = 1 kx 2 2

t = time v = velocity PEg = gravitational potential energy

m = mass h = height KE = kinetic energy k = spring constant PEs = potential energy stored in a spring

ac = centripetal acceleration Fc = centripetal force r = radius


Page 2

Electricity F =

kq1 q2 d2

V = IR

P = VI = I 2 R = V R

F = force

Series Circuits

k = Coulomb’s law constant

It = I1 = I2 = I3 = ...

q = charge

Vt = V1 + V2 + V3 + ...

d = distance between centers

Req = R1 + R2 + R3 + ...

2

V = electrical potential difference I = current

Parallel Circuits

R = resistance

It = I1 + I2 + I3 + ...

P = power

Vt = V1 = V2 = V3 = ... 1 = 1 + 1 + 1 + ... R eq R1 R2 R3

Mathematical Formulas

a

c

b

Wave Phenomena

a2 + b2 = c2

T = 1 f

T = period

sin θ = a c cos θ = b c tan θ = a b

v = fλ

f = frequency

n= c v

v = speed

n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ 2

λ = wavelength

sin θ c =

Circumference of a circle = 2π r

n2 n1

n1v1 = n2v2

n = index of refraction c = speed of light in a vacuum

Area of a rectangle = length × width

θ = angle

Area of a triangle = 1 base × height 2

θ c = critcal angle


of incidence

Page 3

Electromagnetic Spectrum (measurement in meters) 104

103

102

101

100 10 —1 10 —2 10 —3 10 —4 10 —5 10 —6 10 —7 10 —8 10 —9 10 —10 10 —11 10 —12 10 —13 X rays

Microwaves Infrared

Ultraviolet Gamma rays

Radio waves

Shorter Wavelength

Longer Wavelength Visible Light

Red

Orange

7.0×10—7 6.5×10—7

Yellow Green

5.9×10—7 5.7×10—7

NCDPI Reference Tables for Physics (October 2006) Stock No. 10571

Blue

4.9×10—7

Violet 4.2×10—7

4.0×10—7

Page 4