AP Physics B Formula Study Sheet
NEWTONIAN MECHANICS
Kinematics
Δx = area under v-t graph
Δv = area under a-t graph
Net Force
Fnet = ma
Friction force
Ff = μN
centripetal acceleration
v2
r
ac 
torque
τ = rF
momentum
p = mv
impulse
J = FΔt = mΔv
kinetic energy
K = 1 mv2
gravitational potential energy
Ug = mgh
mechanical work
W = FΔx
2
Wnet
t
power (general definition)
P=
power in terms of velocity
P = Fv
spring force
Fs = kx
spring potential energy
Us = 1 kx2
2
period of a spring
Ts =
2
m
k
period of a pendulum
Tp =
2
l
g
relationship between period and frequency
T=
1
f
gravitational force in terms of
Newton’s law of universal gravitation
FG =
Gm1m2
r2
gravitational potential energy in terms of
Newton’s law of universal gravitation
UG =
Gm1m2
r
FLUID MECHANICS AND THERMAL PHYSICS
absolute pressure in a fluid
P = P0 + ρgh
gage pressure
P = ρgh
buoyant force
Fbouy = ρVg
fluid flow continuity
A1v1 = A2v2
volume flow rate
A1v1
Bernoulli’s principle
P + ρgy + 1 ρv2 = constant
2
F
A
P=
pressure (general definition)
ideal gas law
PV = nRT = NkBT
internal energy in a gas
Kavg = 3 kBT
velocity of a gas molecule
2
vrms =
3RT
M
=
3k B T

thermal work
W = PΔV or area under graph
change in internal energy
ΔU = Q + W
efficiency (general)
ideal (Carnot) efficiency
e=
ec =
Wnet
Qin
TH  TC
TH
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM
Electrostatic force
Fe =
Electrostatic field
E=
Electrostatic potential energy
Ue =
kq1 q 2
r2
kq1
r2
kq1 q 2
r
kq1
r
Electrostatic potential
V=
Charge on a capacitor
Q = VC
Capacitance
Energy stored in a capacitor
C=
0 A
d
UC = ½ QV = ½ CV2
Current (definition)
I=
Q
t
Resistance of a wire
R=
l
A
Ohm’s Law
Power in a circuit
Equivalent resistor for series
Equivalent resistor for parallel
Equivalent capacitance for series
Equivalent capacitance for parallel
V = IR
P = IV =
V2
R
= I2R
Req = R1 + R2 + …
1
Req =
 1

1
 
 ... 
 R1 R2

1
Ceq =
 1

1
 
 ... 
 C1 C 2

Ceq = C1 + C2 +…
Magnetic force on a moving
charge in a magnetic field
Magnetic force on a current
carrying wire in a magnetic field
Magnetic field around a current
carrying wire
Magnetic flux
Average EMF generated by a
changing magnetic field
EMF generated by a loop moving
into or out of a magnetic field
Force BIl’s qvB
ε Blvd when the flux is changing.
Take ast
FB = qvBsinθ
FB = BIlsinθ
B=
0 I
2r
Φm = BAcosθ
εavg =  
t
ε = Blv
m
WAVES AND OPTICS
Velocity of a wave
v = fλ
Index of refraction
c
n= v
Snell’s Law
n1sinθ1 = n2sinθ2
n1sinθ1 = n2sin90 or
Critical angle
n2
sinθc = n
1
1 1 1
 
si s o
f
Mirror & lens equation
Magnification
M=
Focal length in terms of radius of
curvature
Diffraction pattern path difference
hi
s
 i
ho
so
f=
R
2
mλ = dsinθ
xm =
Diffraction pattern spacing
m L
d
ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS
Energy of a photon
E = hf = pc
Maximum kinetic energy of an
emitted electron
deBroglie wavelength of an
emitted electron
-φ + hf = Kmax
Rest energy of a mass
ΔE = (Δm)c2
λ=
h
p