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National 5 Physics data sheet and relationships sheet: what is on each

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Formula sheet

The card below opens today's National 5 Physics paper with the relationships sheet in the drawer. The contents follow in our own layout. The 2026 sheet is the same as the 2025 sheet. Check it against the 2026 sheet before you rely on this page.

Formula sheet

National 5 Physics

Open formula sheet

Motion, force and energy

d=vtdistance = speed × time
s=vtdisplacement = velocity × time
a=\frac{v-u}{t}acceleration = change in velocity ÷ time
F=maforce = mass × acceleration
W=mgweight = mass × gravitational field strength
E_w=Fdwork done = force × distance
E_p=mghgravitational potential energy
E_k=\frac{1}{2}mv^2kinetic energy

Electricity

Q=Itcharge = current × time
V=IRvoltage = current × resistance
V_1=\frac{R_1}{R_1+R_2}V_svoltage across one resistor in a potential divider
\frac{V_1}{V_2}=\frac{R_1}{R_2}voltage ratio in a potential divider
R_T=R_1+R_2+\cdotsresistors in series
\frac{1}{R_T}=\frac{1}{R_1}+\frac{1}{R_2}+\cdotsresistors in parallel
P=\frac{E}{t}power from energy and time
P=IVpower from current and voltage
P=I^2Rpower from current and resistance
P=\frac{V^2}{R}power from voltage and resistance

Heat and gases

E_h=cm\Delta Theat to change temperature
E_h=mlheat to change state
p=\frac{F}{A}pressure = force ÷ area
p_1V_1=p_2V_2Boyle: pressure and volume at constant temperature
\frac{p_1}{T_1}=\frac{p_2}{T_2}pressure and temperature at constant volume
\frac{V_1}{T_1}=\frac{V_2}{T_2}volume and temperature at constant pressure
\frac{pV}{T}=\text{constant}the three gas laws together

Waves and radiation

v=f\lambdawave speed
T=\frac{1}{f}period
f=\frac{N}{t}frequency from the number of waves
A=\frac{N}{t}activity from the number of decays
D=\frac{E}{m}absorbed dose
H=Dw_Requivalent dose
\dot{H}=\frac{H}{t}equivalent dose rate

Additional relationships

C=2\pi rcircumference of a circle
A=\pi r^2area of a circle
A=4\pi r^2area of a sphere
V=\frac{4}{3}\pi r^3volume of a sphere
\sin\theta=\frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{hypotenuse}}sine
\cos\theta=\frac{\text{adjacent}}{\text{hypotenuse}}cosine
\tan\theta=\frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}}tangent
\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1the link between sine and cosine

The sheet's last page lists the electron arrangements of the elements. Here d is distance and s is displacement, which is why the same relationship is printed twice. The subscript w on work done is part of the symbol, and wR in the equivalent dose is the radiation weighting factor, which comes from the data sheet.

The data sheet

The question paper says candidates may refer to the data sheet on page 2 of the booklet and to the relationships sheet. In the specimen paper the data sheet has tables for the speed of light in materials, gravitational field strengths, specific latent heats of fusion and vaporisation, the speed of sound, specific heat capacities, melting and boiling points, and radiation weighting factors. The values can change between papers, so use the data sheet printed in your paper.

What is not on the relationships sheet

  • Symbols and units. The sheet gives no names for the letters and no units. Learn that Ew is work done, in joules, and that Eh is heat energy.
  • Which one to use. Power appears four times, as P = E/t, P = IV, P = I²R and P = V²/R. Choose the line that holds the quantities the question gives.
  • Data. The values for materials, planets and radiation types are on the data sheet, not here.
  • Rearranging. Each relationship has one quantity on its own, so you rearrange it yourself.
  • Circuit rules. The current in a series circuit is the same everywhere, and the currents in parallel branches add up. These are not printed.

How the paper uses the sheets

The course specification gives the question paper 110 marks and 2 hours, in two sections: 20 marks of multiple choice and 90 of written answers. It also says a data sheet and a relationships sheet are provided. The assignment is worth 20 marks, scaled to 28. In the 2027 timetable the paper is on Tuesday 4 May from 13:00 to 15:00 (Exam Timetable 2027, version 02). Our National 5 Physics guide covers the course and the grades.

Using the sheets under exam pressure

  1. List what you are given, with units, and what you are asked for.
  2. Find the relationship that holds exactly those quantities.
  3. If a value is missing, look on the data sheet before you decide you cannot answer.
  4. Rearrange before you substitute, and give the unit.

Work done and heat

A force of 120 N moves a trolley 3.5 m. The work done is

E_w=Fd=120\times3.5=420\ \text{J}

To heat 0.50 kg of water by 60 °C, use Eh = cmΔT with c from the data sheet. The specimen data sheet gives 4180 J/kg/°C for water, so

E_h=cm\Delta T=4180\times0.50\times60=125400\ \text{J}

Resistors in parallel

A 6 Ω and a 12 Ω resistor are in parallel across a 12 V supply. Find the total resistance, the current and the power.

\frac{1}{R_T}=\frac{1}{6}+\frac{1}{12}=\frac{3}{12}\quad\text{so}\quad R_T=4\ \Omega
I=\frac{V}{R}=\frac{12}{4}=3\ \text{A},\qquad P=IV=3\times12=36\ \text{W}

Using 6 + 12 = 18 Ω is the usual slip: that is the series formula. In parallel the total is smaller than the smallest resistor.

Wave speed

A wave has frequency 50 Hz and wavelength 0.40 m. Its speed is v = fλ = 50 × 0.40 = 20 m/s. Check it in the Wave Speed Calculator.

Practise the wave equation in the Light and Energy course, then press Mark.

Find a wavelength or frequency from c = f lambda, with the unit shown beside the answer.

Press Mark to have your answer marked in the Light & Energy course.

Equivalent dose: both sheets at once

A person absorbs 2.0 µGy of alpha radiation. The relationship H = D wR needs a weighting factor, and the specimen data sheet gives 20 for alpha:

H=Dw_R=2.0\times20=40\ \mu\text{Sv}

Exam answers

The answers and a worked mark scheme come with today's paper once it is marked. Sit the paper with the sheet open beside you, mark it, and the worked answers show which line each question wanted. We do not publish official or past paper answers.

Use the sheet with today's paper

Uni-Sine publishes a free daily paper for National 5 Physics. It is a short timed paper of 8 questions worth 25 to 35 marks, not a full SQA paper and not set by SQA. Many schools set a longer prelim in winter: see our prelims guide. Open the sheet, set a timer, and write the line you use at the start of each answer.

Common mistakes

  • Using series for parallel. Add the reciprocals in parallel, and then invert.
  • Mixing up d and s. Distance and speed go together, and displacement and velocity go together.
  • Forgetting the data sheet. If a question needs c for water or the weighting factor for alpha, the value is there.
  • Not converting units. Change grams, centimetres and minutes to kilograms, metres and seconds first.
  • Squaring the wrong thing. In Ek = ½mv² only the speed is squared.

Common questions

Do you get a data sheet and a relationships sheet in National 5 Physics?
Yes. The course specification says a data sheet and a relationships sheet are provided with the question paper.
What is on the National 5 Physics relationships sheet?
Equations for motion, force and energy, electricity, heat and gases, waves and radiation, plus the circle, sphere and trigonometry relationships and the electron arrangements of the elements.
What is on the National 5 Physics data sheet?
In the specimen paper: the speed of light and of sound in materials, gravitational field strengths, specific latent heats, specific heat capacities, melting and boiling points and radiation weighting factors.
Are the units given on the relationships sheet?
No. The sheet gives the relationships only, so you must know the unit for each quantity.
Is the National 5 Physics relationships sheet the same each year?
The 2026 sheet was the same as the 2025 sheet. Check the sheet in a recent paper for changes.

Revision cards

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

Where to go next

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