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HSC physics formula sheet (formulae and data sheet): what NESA gives you

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Formula sheet

The card below opens today's Year 12 Physics paper with the sheet in a drawer, so you practise with it as you will in the exam. The contents follow in our own layout. NESA prints the data sheet on one page, the formulae sheet on two pages and the periodic table on the fourth, so check against the official sheet on the NESA site before you rely on a value.

Formula sheet

Year 12 Physics

Open formula sheet

The PDF NESA publishes is headed 2019 and is the sheet that the Physics examination specifications describe. A periodic table of the elements follows the formulae on the fourth page, with standard atomic weights to four significant figures.

Data sheet

QuantitySymbolValueUnit
charge on an electronqe-1.602×10⁻¹⁹C
mass of an electronme9.109×10⁻³¹kg
mass of a neutronmn1.675×10⁻²⁷kg
mass of a protonmp1.673×10⁻²⁷kg
speed of sound in airv340m s⁻¹
gravitational acceleration at Earth's surfaceg9.8m s⁻²
speed of lightc3.00×10⁸m s⁻¹
electric permittivity constantε08.854×10⁻¹²A² s⁴ kg⁻¹ m⁻³
magnetic permeability constantμ04π×10⁻⁷N A⁻²
universal gravitational constantG6.67×10⁻¹¹N m² kg⁻²
mass of EarthME6.0×10²⁴kg
radius of EarthrE6.371×10⁶m
Planck constanth6.626×10⁻³⁴J s
Rydberg constant (hydrogen)R1.097×10⁷m⁻¹
atomic mass unitu1.661×10⁻²⁷kg (931.5 MeV/c²)
one electron volt1 eV1.602×10⁻¹⁹J
density of waterrho1.00×10³kg m⁻³
specific heat capacity of waterc4.18×10³J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹
Wien's displacement constantb2.898×10⁻³m K

Motion, forces and gravity

s=ut+\frac{1}{2}at^2displacement
v=u+atfinal velocity
v^2=u^2+2asvelocity and displacement
F_{net}=manet force
W=F_{\parallel}s=Fs\cos\thetawork done by a force
\Delta U=mg\Delta hgravitational potential energy change
K=\frac{1}{2}mv^2kinetic energy
P=\frac{\Delta E}{\Delta t}power as energy per time
P=F_{\parallel}v=Fv\cos\thetapower of a force
\sum\frac{1}{2}mv^2_{before}=\sum\frac{1}{2}mv^2_{after}conservation of kinetic energy in an elastic collision
\sum mv_{before}=\sum mv_{after}conservation of momentum
\Delta p=F_{net}\Delta timpulse
a_c=\frac{v^2}{r}centripetal acceleration
\omega=\frac{\Delta\theta}{t}angular velocity
F_c=\frac{mv^2}{r}centripetal force
\tau=r_{\perp}F=rF\sin\thetatorque
F=\frac{GMm}{r^2}law of universal gravitation
v=\frac{2\pi r}{T}orbital speed
\frac{r^3}{T^2}=\frac{GM}{4\pi^2}Kepler's third law
U=-\frac{GMm}{r}gravitational potential energy

Waves and thermodynamics

v=f\lambdawave speed
f=\frac{1}{T}frequency and period
d\sin\theta=m\lambdadiffraction grating
n_x=\frac{c}{v_x}refractive index
I=I_{max}\cos^2\thetaMalus's law for polarised light
Q=mc\Delta Theat needed for a temperature change
f_{beat}=\left|f_2-f_1\right|beat frequency
f'=f\frac{v_{wave}+v_{observer}}{v_{wave}-v_{source}}Doppler effect
n_1\sin\theta_1=n_2\sin\theta_2Snell's law
\sin\theta_c=\frac{n_2}{n_1}critical angle
I_1r_1^2=I_2r_2^2inverse square law for intensity
\frac{Q}{t}=\frac{kA\Delta T}{d}conduction of heat

Electricity and magnetism

E=\frac{V}{d}electric field between plates
V=\frac{\Delta U}{q}potential difference
W=qVwork done on a charge
W=qEdwork done in a uniform field
F=qEforce on a charge in a field
F=\frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\frac{q_1q_2}{r^2}Coulomb's law
I=\frac{q}{t}current
V=IROhm's law
P=VIelectrical power
B=\frac{\mu_0I}{2\pi r}field around a long straight wire
B=\frac{\mu_0NI}{L}field inside a solenoid
\Phi=B_{\parallel}A=BA\cos\thetamagnetic flux
\varepsilon=-N\frac{\Delta\Phi}{\Delta t}induced emf (Faraday's law)
F=qv_{\perp}B=qvB\sin\thetaforce on a moving charge
F=lI_{\perp}B=lIB\sin\thetaforce on a current-carrying conductor
\frac{F}{l}=\frac{\mu_0}{2\pi}\frac{I_1I_2}{r}force between parallel wires
\tau=nIA_{\perp}B=nIAB\sin\thetatorque on a coil
\frac{V_p}{V_s}=\frac{N_p}{N_s}transformer voltage ratio
V_pI_p=V_sI_stransformer power

Quantum, special relativity and nuclear

\lambda=\frac{h}{mv}de Broglie wavelength
K_{max}=hf-\phiphotoelectric effect
\lambda_{max}=\frac{b}{T}Wien's displacement law
E=mc^2mass-energy equivalence
E=hfphoton energy
\frac{1}{\lambda}=R\left(\frac{1}{n_f^2}-\frac{1}{n_i^2}\right)Rydberg formula
t=\frac{t_0}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}}time dilation
l=l_0\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}length contraction
p_v=\frac{m_0v}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}}relativistic momentum
N_t=N_0e^{-\lambda t}radioactive decay
\lambda=\frac{\ln2}{t_{1/2}}decay constant

What the HSC Physics exam gives you

The examination specifications say the paper includes a data sheet, a formulae sheet and a periodic table, and that NESA-approved calculators, compasses and a protractor may be used. The paper is a single 100-mark exam:

PartMarksWhat it is
Time3 hoursPlus 10 minutes of reading time
Section I20Objective-response questions
Section II8020 to 25 items, at least two worth 7 to 9 marks

Working scientifically skills are assessed throughout, and questions may refer to stimulus material such as a graph, a data table or a diagram. See the HSC Physics guide for the course and the HSC trials guide for when schools run their own exams.

What is not on the HSC physics formula sheet

  • Definitions of the symbols. The sheet uses s, u, v and a without saying which is which, so you must know that u is initial velocity and v is final velocity.
  • Units. Only the data sheet gives units. The formulae sheet shows none.
  • Constant acceleration under gravity as a formula. g = 9.8 m s⁻² is on the data sheet, but the sheet gives no separate projectile equations, so you apply the three motion lines to each direction.
  • Ohm's-law circuit rules. Series and parallel resistance formulas are absent, and so are the rules for current and potential difference in a circuit.
  • Lens and mirror formulas, and the wave equation for standing waves. Nothing on the sheet covers them, so learn any your teacher expects.
  • Rearrangements. Every line appears once in one form, so you rearrange it yourself.
  • Sign conventions and vector directions. The sheet writes the vector forms without telling you which way is positive.

How to use the sheet under exam pressure

  1. Underline what the question gives and what it wants, with units, before you look at the sheet.
  2. Scan the heading that matches the module: motion, waves, electricity, or quantum and nuclear. Four small headings are quicker than 70 equations.
  3. Take every constant from the data sheet, not from memory. The sheet gives g as 9.8, the speed of light as 3.00 × 10⁸ and the Earth's mass as 6.0 × 10²⁴, and your answer should use those.
  4. Convert units first: eV to J, km to m, g to kg, minutes to seconds.
  5. Keep significant figures in line with the data given, and write the unit with the answer.

Example 1: motion under gravity

A ball is dropped from rest and falls 20 m. Ignore air resistance. With u = 0, a = 9.8 m s⁻² and s = 20 m, the third motion line gives its speed:

v^2=u^2+2as=0+2\times9.8\times20=392\quad\text{so}\quad v=19.8\ \text{m s}^{-1}

The time is then v ÷ a = 2.0 s from v = u + at. The Laws of Motion course has graded practice on this.

Example 2: the photoelectric effect

Light of frequency 1.2 × 10¹⁵ Hz falls on a metal with a work function of 3.2 × 10⁻¹⁹ J. What is the maximum kinetic energy of the ejected electrons? Use h from the data sheet:

K_{max}=hf-\phi=6.626\times10^{-34}\times1.2\times10^{15}-3.2\times10^{-19}=4.75\times10^{-19}\ \text{J}

Dividing by 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ J per eV gives 2.97 eV. The data sheet's electron volt line is what lets you move between joules and electron volts without memorising it.

Example 3: a geostationary orbit

A satellite orbits Earth once every 86,400 s. How high above the surface is the orbit? Rearrange Kepler's third law line to r = (GMT² ÷ 4π²)^⅓ and take G, M and the Earth's radius from the data sheet:

r=\left(\frac{6.67\times10^{-11}\times6.0\times10^{24}\times86400^2}{4\pi^2}\right)^{\frac{1}{3}}=4.23\times10^7\ \text{m}

The height above the surface is r minus the Earth's radius of 6.371 × 10⁶ m, which is 3.59 × 10⁷ m. Many students forget that the formula gives the distance from the centre.

Practise with the sheet open

Our Year 12 Physics daily paper is a short timed paper of 8 questions worth 25 to 35 marks, not a full HSC paper and not written by NESA. Treat it as a mini trial: open the sheet, set a timer and mark yourself afterwards. Year 11 Physics works for the earlier modules.

Exam answers

The answers and a worked mark scheme come with today's paper once it is marked. They show which equation each question wanted and where its numbers came from. We do not publish official answers, past paper answers or leaked papers.

Common questions

Do you get a formula sheet in HSC Physics?
Yes. NESA's examination specifications say the paper includes a data sheet, a formulae sheet and a periodic table.
What constants are on the HSC physics data sheet?
Nineteen values, including g = 9.8 m s⁻², the speed of light, Planck's constant, G, the electron, proton and neutron masses, the mass and radius of Earth, and the electron volt.
Is the SUVAT equation on the HSC physics formula sheet?
Yes. The sheet gives s = ut + ½at², v = u + at and v² = u² + 2as, but not the fourth form s = ½(u + v)t.
Are circuit formulas on the sheet?
Only V = IR, P = VI and I = q/t. Series and parallel rules are not given.
Can I use a calculator in HSC Physics?
Yes. NESA-approved calculators, compasses and a protractor are permitted.

Revision cards

Say the answer first, then flip the card to check it.

Where to go next

  • Solve it

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