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CCEA A-level Physics data and formulae sheet: what is on it and what is not

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Formula sheet

The card below opens today's A-level Physics paper with this sheet in the drawer, so you practise the way you will sit the exam. The contents follow in our own layout and words. This is the sheet for A2 Units 1 and 2, and CCEA prints a separate sheet for the AS units. Check against CCEA's Data and Formulae Sheet before you rely on anything here.

Formula sheet

A-level Physics: Year 1

Open formula sheet

Values of constants

QuantitySymbolValueUnit
speed of light in a vacuumc3.00 × 10⁸m s⁻¹
permittivity of a vacuumε₀8.85 × 10⁻¹²F m⁻¹
one over 4πε₀1/4πε₀8.99 × 10⁹F⁻¹ m
elementary chargee1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹C
the Planck constanth6.63 × 10⁻³⁴J s
unified atomic mass unit1 u1.66 × 10⁻²⁷kg
mass of electronmₑ9.11 × 10⁻³¹kg
mass of protonmₚ1.67 × 10⁻²⁷kg
molar gas constantR8.31J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹
the Avogadro constantNA6.02 × 10²³mol⁻¹
the Boltzmann constantk1.38 × 10⁻²³J K⁻¹
gravitational constantG6.67 × 10⁻¹¹N m² kg⁻²
acceleration of free fall on the Earth's surfaceg9.81m s⁻²
electron volt1 eV1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹J
the Hubble constantH₀2.4 × 10⁻¹⁸s⁻¹ (approx.)

Mechanics

\frac{1}{2}mv^2-\frac{1}{2}mu^2=Fsconservation of energy for a constant force
F=kxHooke's law
E=\frac{1}{2}Fx=\frac{1}{2}kx^2strain energy
F=\frac{mv^2}{r}centripetal force
x=A\cos\omega tdisplacement in simple harmonic motion
T=2\pi\sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}simple pendulum
T=2\pi\sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}loaded spiral spring

Waves

\lambda=\frac{ay}{d}two-source interference
d\sin\theta=n\lambdadiffraction grating

Thermal physics

\frac{1}{2}m\overline{c^2}=\frac{3}{2}kTmean kinetic energy of a molecule
pV=\frac{1}{3}Nm\overline{c^2}kinetic theory of gases
Q=mc\Delta\thetaenergy to change temperature

Capacitors

\frac{1}{C}=\frac{1}{C_1}+\frac{1}{C_2}+\frac{1}{C_3}capacitors in series
C=C_1+C_2+C_3capacitors in parallel
\tau=RCtime constant
Q=Q_0e^{-t/CR}\ \text{or}\ V=V_0e^{-t/CR}\ \text{or}\ I=I_0e^{-t/CR}capacitor discharge

Light and electricity

\frac{1}{u}+\frac{1}{v}=\frac{1}{f}thin lens equation
V=E-Irterminal potential difference
V_{out}=\frac{R_1V_{in}}{R_1+R_2}potential divider
E=BAN\omega\sin\omega ta.c. generator

Nuclear physics

r=r_0A^{1/3}nuclear radius
A=-\lambda N,\quad A=A_0e^{-\lambda t}radioactive decay
t_{1/2}=\frac{0.693}{\lambda}half-life

Particles and photons, astronomy

\frac{1}{2}mv_{max}^2=hf-hf_0Einstein's equation
\lambda=\frac{h}{p}de Broglie wavelength
z=\frac{\Delta\lambda}{\lambda}red shift
z=\frac{v}{c}recession speed
v=H_0dHubble's law

What the CCEA A2 sheet does not list

  • The equations of motion, F = ma, momentum, V = IR, electrical power and pV = nRT are not on the A2 sheet.
  • The photoelectric line is written with the threshold frequency, ½mv² = hf − hf₀, not with φ.
  • AS content: CCEA prints a separate sheet for AS units, which we have not covered here.

Learning more than the sheet gives

CCEA's sheet says its equations may be useful in answering some of the questions, so it is a prompt, not a full list. A candidate who relies on it will find large gaps.

Its constants include a Hubble constant of about 2.4 × 10⁻¹⁸ s⁻¹ and g = 9.81 m s⁻², and it lists the elementary charge, Planck, Boltzmann, Avogadro and gravitational constants.

Work out a photon energy from its frequency or wavelength, in units of 10^-19 J.

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

Worked example: Hubble's law

A galaxy has a red shift z = 0.020. Find its recession speed and distance, using c and H₀ from the sheet.

v=zc=0.020\times3.00\times10^{8}=6.0\times10^{6}\ \text{m s}^{-1},\quad d=\frac{v}{H_0}=\frac{6.0\times10^{6}}{2.4\times10^{-18}}=2.5\times10^{24}\ \text{m}

That is about 80 million parsecs. The sheet gives H₀ in s⁻¹, so the distance comes out in metres.

The CCEA sheet and the other boards

BoardSheetWhat it holds
AQAA-level Physics data and formulae (7408), version 1.5Constants and astronomical data, equations by topic, then five option sections
EdexcelList of data, formulae and relationships (9PH0), Issue 3, November 2022Fourteen data values, then equations in twelve sections from Mechanics to Oscillations
OCR AData, Formulae and Relationships Booklet (H156, H556), 8 pagesConstants, conversion factors and maths equations, then equations by module; no kinetic energy line
EduqasData Booklet, A level component 3 (2019 paper)Values and conversions, one list of equations, options A to D, and maths information
WJECData Booklet, A2 unit 3 (2019 paper)The same layout as Eduqas, without the option sections
CCEA (this guide)Data and formulae sheet for A2 Units 1 and 2 (APH11, APH21)Constants and a short list of "useful formulae"; the Hubble constant is given as about 2.4 × 10⁻¹⁸ s⁻¹

The CCEA A2 sheet is by far the shortest of the six. AQA and Edexcel list dozens more equations, and Eduqas and WJEC print a long list with maths information.

Exam answers

After you mark a paper, the answers on this site show worked steps. They are not from CCEA.

Daily papers when the sheet is thin

Because CCEA gives so little, treat Physics 1 and Physics 2 as recall drills: note each time you needed an equation the A2 sheet does not print.

CCEA sheet traps

  • Assuming V = IR is printed.
  • Using the photoelectric line with φ instead of hf₀.
  • Quoting the Hubble constant from another board.

Common questions

Do you get a data sheet in CCEA A-level Physics?
Yes. CCEA prints a Data and Formulae Sheet for the A2 units, with a separate sheet for the AS units.
Is the CCEA sheet a complete list of equations?
No. It says the equations may be useful in answering some of the questions, and it is much shorter than the AQA or Edexcel lists.
What constants does the CCEA sheet give?
The speed of light, permittivity, elementary charge, the Planck constant, atomic mass unit, electron and proton masses, the gas, Avogadro and Boltzmann constants, G, g, the electronvolt and the Hubble constant.
What value of the Hubble constant does CCEA give?
About 2.4 × 10⁻¹⁸ s⁻¹.
Where do I find the CCEA physics data sheet?
CCEA publishes it with the past papers and on its GCE Physics page.

Revision cards

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

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