QCAA Physics Formula Sheet Explained (2025 Formula and Data Book)

The QCAA Physics formula sheet or formula booklet is officially the Physics 2025 formula and data book. It is supplied in the external assessment. This independent reference makes the equations searchable and adds use cases, symbol meanings, units and common-error checks.

Independent study resource: Sylligence is not affiliated with or endorsed by QCAA. Check the official PDF before an assessment because QCAA can update supplied materials.

Open the official Physics 2025 formula and data book.

Data, heating and nuclear physics

Measurement uncertainty and error

range uncertainty, percentage uncertainty and percentage error

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Kelvin and first law

T(K)=T(°C)+273; ΔU=Q+W

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Specific and latent heat

Q=mcΔT; Q=mL

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Efficiency

energy output / energy input × 100%

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Half-life

N=N₀(½)ⁿ

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Mass-energy equivalence

ΔE=Δmc²

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Relativity and electricity

Relativity

time dilation, relativistic momentum and length contraction

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Current and voltage

I=q/t; V=W/q

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Ohm's law and power

V=IR; P=VI; P=I²R; P=W/t

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Series circuits

voltages and resistances add

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Parallel circuits

currents add; reciprocal resistances add

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Fields and electromagnetism

Electric force, field and potential

F=kQq/r²; E=F/q=kQ/r²; V=ΔU/q

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Magnetic forces

F=qvB sinθ; F=BIL sinθ

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Wire and solenoid fields

B=μ₀I/(2πr); B=μ₀nI

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Flux and induction

Φ=BA cosθ; emf=-NΔΦ/Δt

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Ideal transformer

IₚVₚ=IₛVₛ; Vₚ/Vₛ=Nₚ/Nₛ

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Motion, energy, momentum and gravity

Constant acceleration

v=u+at; s=ut+½at²; v²=u²+2as

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Force, work and energy

a=Fnet/m; W=ΔE=Fs; Ek=½mv²; ΔEp=mgΔh; Fg=mg

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Momentum and collisions

p=mv; summed momentum conservation; summed elastic kinetic-energy conservation

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Projectile components

vertical constant-acceleration and horizontal constant-velocity equations

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Circular motion

T=2πr/v; ac=v²/r; Fc=mv²/r

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Gravitation

F=GMm/r²; g=GM/r²

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Kepler's third law

Tₐ²/Tᵦ² = rₐ³/rᵦ³; T²/r³ = 4π²/(GM)

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Waves, quantum physics and Standard Model

Wave basics

v=fλ; f=1/T; I proportional to 1/r²

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Standing waves

closed pipe L=(2n-1)λ/4; open pipe/string L=nλ/2

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Snell's law

n₁sin i/(n₂sin r)=v₁/v₂=λ₁/λ₂

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Blackbody and photons

λmax=b/T; E=hf=hc/λ

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Photoelectric effect

Ek=hf-W; W=hf₀

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Matter waves and Bohr model

λ=h/p; 2πr=nλ; mvr=nh/(2π)

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Rydberg equation

1/λ=R(1/nf²-1/ni²)

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Particle numbers

baryon and lepton number equations

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Physical constants

Thermal constants

heat capacities and latent heats for water phases

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Particle constants

eV conversion, c, atomic mass unit, alpha/electron/neutron/proton masses and electron charge

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Field and astronomical constants

k, μ₀, g, G and Earth, Moon and Sun masses

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

Wave and quantum constants

sound speed, Wien, Planck and Rydberg constants

The interactive page explains when to use this supplied formula family, its symbols and units, and a common mistake to avoid.

How to use this Physics formula reference

  1. Search by topic, formula name, symbol or use case.
  2. Expand the equation and check every symbol and unit.
  3. Attempt a question without the explanation open.
  4. Use the common-mistake prompt to check your working.

Read free Physics notes and start practising free.

Questions about the Physics formula book or booklet

What is the QCAA Physics formula booklet or data booklet called?

QCAA calls it the Physics 2025 formula and data book. Physics formula sheet, formula booklet and data booklet are common student names for the same supplied document.

Is this an official QCAA Physics resource?

No. Sylligence independently explains the equations. Use the linked official PDF for the complete source data.

Does the Physics formula book remove the need to memorise formulas?

It reduces formula recall, but you still need to choose models, rearrange equations, use SI units and explain whether answers are reasonable.

Source and attribution

Modified from Physics 2025 formula and data book, © State of Queensland (QCAA) 2025, licensed under CC BY 4.0. See the QCAA copyright notice. Sylligence added the search, grouping, explanations, symbol definitions and mistake checks.