Chapter 2: Scientific notation, symbols, units and equations
Scientific Notation
Scientific notation allows us to easily represent very big or very small numbers.
Some examples:
The speed of light is approximately three hundred million metres per second.
We write this number mathematically as follows:
300 000 000 m s-1 or, using scientific notation, 3 × 108 m s-1
It takes approximately 200 000 (2 × 105) Joules of heat to boil a kettle and 50 000 000 (5 × 107) Joules to
heat a bath of water.
We can also use prefixes as shorthand for some scientific notation:
Prefix Symbol Factor
milli- m × 10-3
micro- μ × 10-6
nano- n × 10-9
pico- p × 10-12
kilo- k × 103
mega- M × 106
giga- G × 109
tera- T × 1012
1 thousandth .001 1 × 10-3
1 millionth .000 001 1 × 10-6
1 billionth .000 000 001 1 × 10-9
1 thousand 1000 1 × 103
1 million 1000 000 1 × 106
1 billion 1000 000 000 1 × 109
For example 1 million Joules = 1 × 106 J = 1 Megajoule = 1 MJ
.0052 metres = 5.2 × 10-3 m = 5.2 millimetres = 5.2 mm
See also the log tables on page 45
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Try to identify the name or the term using the clues below
1. 1 x 1012 firmas
2. 2 x 1012 bulls
3. 1 x 109 lows
4. 2 x 106 phones
5. 1 x 103 manjaros
6. 1 x 103 whales
7. 2 x 103 mockingbirds
8. 1 x 10 -3 pedes
9. 1 x 10-3 nnium
10. 1 x 10-3 taries
11. 2 x 10-6 scopes
12. 3 x 10-6 phones
13. 1 x 10-12 boos
Answers
1. 1 terra firma
2. 1 terabull
3. 1 gigalow
4. 2 megaphones
5. 1 kilomanjaro
6. 1 kilowhale
7. 2 kilomockingbird
8. 1 millipede
9. 1 millennium (so 1 nnium = 106 years)
10. 1 military
11. 2 microscopes
12. 3 microphones
13. 1 picaboo
Question: What is the unit for the level of beauty required to launch a single ship?
Answer: The milliHelen
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SYMBOLS UNITS AND EQUATIONS
‘Maths is what you have left when you start with something interesting and take away the units.’
Well I still get full marks for a maths question if I don’t write down the formula?
Yes, students will be awarded full marks for formula and for substitution if they only present the correctly
substituted formula.
However there is a much greater risk of making an error in substitution if the student hasn't the original
formula written down and that results in zero marks.
This error is quite common.
Best practise: write down the formula!!
Note:
All units are spelled out using lower case, e.g. newtons, joules, volts, kilogram.
Symbols of units that derive from the name of a physicist are all uppercase e.g. J, V etc. while symbols for
all other units remain lowercase, e.g. the symbol for the kilogram is kg.
http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/checklist.html
http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/pdf/typefaces.pdf
(If typing these at any stage, note that both variables and constants should be italicised:
v = u + at rather than v = u + at.)
Check that you know these by covering over all but the first column.
Let me know if I’ve missed any.
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Mechanics
Quantity Symbol Unit Symbol Equation
Area a metres squared m2
Volume v metres cubed m3
Mass m kilogram kg
Density kilogram per metre kg m-3 = m/v
cubed
Displacement s metre m
Velocity v metre per second m s-1 v = d/t
Acceleration a metre per second m s-2
squared
Force F newton N F = ma
Momentum kg m s-1 = mv
Pressure p pascal Pa p = F/a
Moment of a newton metre Nm
force
Torque (couple) T newton metre Nm T=Fxd
Energy E/Q/W joule J
Work w joule J W=Fs
Power p watt W P = W/t
Angle (“theta”) radian rad
Angular velocity (“omega”) radian per second rad/sec = /t
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Heat and Temperature
Quantity Symbol Unit Symbol Equation
Heat Capacity C joule per kelvin J/K Q = c ()
Specific Heat c J/kg/K Q = mc
Capacity
Latent Heat l joule per kilogram J/kg Q = ml
Waves, Sound and Light
Quantity Symbol Unit Symbol Equation
Frequency f hertz Hz
Wavelength (“lamda”) metres m
Velocity v (or c for metre per second m/s v=f
light)
Intensity I watts per metre squared W/m2 S.I. = P/A
Sound Intensity decibels dB
Level
6
Electricity
Quantity Symbol Unit Symbol Equation
Charge Q coulomb C
Electric Field E newtons per coulomb N/C E = F/Q
Strength
Potential V volts V W=VQ
Difference
(“voltage”)
Capacitance C farads F C = Q/V
Current I amperes (amps) A I = Q/t
Power P watt W P = VI
Resistance R ohm Ω R = V/I
Resistivity ohm-metre Ωm = RA /l
Magnetic Flux B tesla T F = BIL
Density
Magnetic Flux Psi weber W = BA
(“sigh”)
Half-Life T1/2 second T1/2 = 0.693/
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EQUATIONS
Many of the maths questions on the Leaving Cert Physics paper rely on you being able to quickly recall
short equations.
And yes these are all in the log tables, but if you are looking for an A or B grade then you don’t have time to
go searching.
The variables have deliberately not been arranged in the order in which they would appear in the formula
(because that would just be too easy).
To test yourself, cover the third column and see if you can come up with the relevant equation given the
information in the second column.
If you come across any equations which I have omitted, please let me know and I will update the list.
Hangman takes on a new dimension if you can include equations by allowing spaces for division, power
s(e.g. ^2) etc.
Mechanics
Variables Equation
Equations of Motion v = u + at
s = ut + ½ at2
v2 = u2 + 2as
Force, Mass and acceleration, force, mass F = ma
Momentum
weight , mass W = mg
velocity, mass, momentum = mv
Conservation of m1 u1 + m2 u2 = m1 v3 + m2 v4
Momentum
Pressure area, pressure, force P = F/A
density, height, pressure P = gh
Boyle’s Law P1V1= P2V2
Newton’s Law of gravitational force between two Fg
Gm1m2
d2
Gravitation masses
g at different heights acceleration due to gravity and g = GM/ d2
distance above a planet
Moment of a force distance, moment, force Moment = Force x distance
Torque force, distance, torque T = F x d (between forces)
Work, Energy force, work, displacement W=Fs
Kinetic Energy velocity, mass energy Ek = ½ mv2
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Potential Energy height, mass, energy Ep = mgh
Conservation of Energy mgh = ½ mv2
Power time, power work P = W/t
Percentage Efficiency Power Out / Power In x
100/1
Circular Motion time, angular velocity, theta = /t
linear velocity, angular velocity, v = r
radius
acceleration,
angular velocity, radius, a = r2
linear velocity, radius, acceleration
a = v2/r
force, angular velocity, radius, mass
F = mr2
mass, linear velocity, radius, force,
F = mv2/r
mass of planet, acceleration due to g = GM/R2
gravity, radius of satellite
mass of a planet, radius, 4 2 R 3
T2
periodic tiime GM
Hooke’s Law extension, restoring force F = -k s
S.H.M. acceleration and displacement a = -2 s
periodic time and angular velocity T = 2/
frequency and periodic time T = 1/f
Simple Pendulum T = 2 l/g
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Waves, Sound, Light
Mirrors image distance, magnification, Object distance v
M
u
image height, magnification, object height image _ Hgt
M
object _ Hgt
image distance, magnification, object distance 1 1 1
f u v
Refraction Sin _ i
consant
Sin _ r
real and apparent depth real _ depth
apparent _ depth
reversing direction and critical angle 1
x y
y x
refractive index and speeds C1
C2
refractive index and critical angle 1
SinC
Lenses image distance, mag, v
object distance M
u
image height, mag, object height image _ Hgt
M
object _ Hgt
image distance, magnification, object distance 1 1 1
f u v
power, focal length 1
𝑃=
𝑓
Addition of powers PTotal = P1 + P2
Waves Wavelength, velocity, frequency v=f
Doppler Effect fc
f
cu
Area, Power, S Intensity S.I. = Power / Area
Tension, Frequency, Length 1 T
f
2l
Wavelength of light n = d Sin
Diffraction Grating Distance between slits on a diffraction grating d = 1/n
Formula
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Electricity
Variables Equation
Static Electricity Coulomb’s Law 1 Q1Q2
F = 4 d
2
Relative Permittivity = r o
Electric Field Intensity E = F/Q
Q
Electric Field Strength
F=
4 _ d 2
Potential Difference Charge, Voltage, Work W = QV
Capacitance Charge, Potential difference, Capacitance C= Q/V
Area, Capacitance Distance C = A/d
Work/energy, Voltage Capacitance W = ½ CV2
Current, Charge, Time I = Q/t Q = It
Power, Current, Voltage P = VI
Ohm’s Law R
V
I V = IR
Resistivity R = l/A
Wheatstone Bridge R1 R3
R2 R4
Current, Time Heat = I2Rt
Energy, Resistance,
Joule’s Law Current, Power, Res Power = I2R
Current, Length,
Force, Mag field density F = BIL
Force, Charge, velocity,
Mag field density, F = Bqv
Magnetic Flux Density, = BA
Area, Magnetic Flux
Induced emf E = - N (d/dt)
Vrms, Maximum voltage Vrms= Vmax/(2)
Irms, Maximum current Irms = Imax/(2)
Transformer Vi Np
Vo Ns
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Modern Physics
Variables Equation Year
Force on an electron mv2/r = Bev
Potential energy and eV = ½ mv2
Kinetic energy of
electron
Photoelectric Effect hf = + ½mv2
Frequency, E = hf
Energy of a photon
Wavelength, E = hc/
Energy of a photon
Decay rate, dn/dt = N
Decay constant
Number of atoms
Half life,
Decay constant T1/2 = 0.693/
Energy, E = mc2
Mass
H 11 + Li3 He24 He24
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+ K.E.
Pair Production γ rays e- + e+ + K.E.
Particle Annihilation e- + e+ 2γ + K.E.
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Advice from Physics teacher David Hobson
Be familiar with the log tables
Pages 50 to 63 are the most important - they contain most of the formulas that you need.
Not all the formulas are relevant -
when revising a topic go through your copy and highlight the ones you need to know.
Write notes about each formula, the context in which it is used, what the letters stand for and maybe
even an example of using it.
The Prefixes used in SI units are on page 45.
The Fundamental Physical constants are given on pages 46 - 47.
For Physics use the Periodic Table on page 79 and the first table on page 82.
Many of the maths questions on the Leaving Cert Physics paper rely on you being able to quickly recall
short equations.
While most of these are available in the log tables, a good student shouldn’t need to look them up.
To test yourself cover the third column and see if you can come up with the relevant equation given the
information in the second column
Hangman takes on a new dimension if you can include equations by allowing spaces for division, powers
(e.g. ^2) etc.
The variables have deliberately not been arranged in the order in which they would appear in the formula
(because that would just be too easy)
Those formulae which are highlighted are NOT in the log tables.
See below for a list of formulas NOT in the log tables or in a different form to that in the log tables
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Formulas not in tables or in a different form
Mechanics
Boyle’s Law Volume of gas and Pressure pV = k OR p1V1= p2V2
Conservation of Energy Gravitational Potential Energy and Kinetic Energy mgh 12 mv 2
F
Weight Given g W mg
m
GM
Gravity & Circular Motion Velocity, radius of orbit and mass of central body v2
R
Components of a Vector Horizontal x V cos and vertical y V sin
Waves, Sound, Light
Mirrors & Lenses Magnification, Image height, Object height Image Height
(or size in any direction) m
Object Height
Refraction Real and apparent depth Real Depth
n
Apparent Depth
Reversing direction and refractive indices
n2 1
1
2 n1
Sound Intensity Sound Intensity, Area, Power Intensity, I = Power / Area
Dedibels Decibels and sound intensity Double I = an increase of 3 dB
Speed of sound Standing wave in tube closed at one end c f [4( L 0.3d )]
Grating Formula Distance between slits on a diffraction grating d = 1/n
Electricity
Static Electricity Relative Permittivity = r o
1 Q
Electric Field Strength (Due to Q) E=
4 d 2
Current/Charge Current, Charge, Time Q = It OR I = Q/t
Joule’s Law Power, Current, Resistance Power RI 2 ( Heat RI t )
2
d ( ) d ( NBA)
Magnetic Induction Induced E.M.F. in a coil with N turns E N
dt dt
Transformer Power in = Power out 𝑉𝑖𝑛 𝐼𝑖𝑛 = 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝐼𝑜𝑢𝑡
Modern Physics
Electron moving in a magnetic field moves in mv 2
Force on an electron
a circle Bev
r
Ek of an electron Kinetic energy of electron (V is voltage) eV 21 mv 2
Half life Half-life, Decay constant T1/2 = 0.693/
Walton Split nucleus and release energy H 11 + Li37 He24 He24 + K.E.
Pair Production Photon to particles (Note: one photon) γ photon e– + e+ + K.E.
Particle Annihilation Particles to photons (Note: two photons) e- + e+ 2γ photons + K.E.
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