SCSA provides a Formula and Data Sheet on the WACE Physics exam. It contains around 30 equations across the syllabus. The catch: not every formula you need on exam day is on the sheet, and not every formula on the sheet is one you should reach for first.
Below is the full set of formulas you should be comfortable with by exam day, organised by topic, with the ones not on the SCSA sheet marked. Memorise the unmarked ones; recognise the marked ones.
Mechanics (Year 11 + 12)
| Formula | What it does | Memorise? |
|---|---|---|
| v = u + at | Final velocity from initial, acceleration, time | Yes |
| v^2 = u^2 + 2as | Velocity from displacement | Yes |
| s = ut + 1/2 at^2 | Displacement from time | Yes |
| F = ma | Newton's second law | Yes |
| F_g = mg | Weight | Yes |
| p = mv | Linear momentum | Yes |
| Impulse = F * t = change in p | Impulse-momentum | Yes |
| KE = 1/2 m v^2 | Kinetic energy | Yes |
| PE = mgh | Gravitational PE near Earth | Yes |
Gravity and Orbits (Unit 3)
| Formula | What it does | On SCSA sheet? |
|---|---|---|
| F = G m1 m2 / r^2 | Newton's law of gravitation | Yes |
| g = GM / r^2 | Gravitational field strength | Yes |
| v_orbit = sqrt(GM/r) | Orbital velocity | Yes |
| T^2 = 4 pi^2 r^3 / GM | Kepler's third law (orbital period) | Yes |
| v_escape = sqrt(2GM/r) | Escape velocity | Yes |
| U = -GMm/r | Gravitational PE in orbit | Yes |
Special Relativity (Unit 3)
| Formula | What it does | On SCSA sheet? |
|---|---|---|
| t = t0 / sqrt(1 - v^2/c^2) | Time dilation | Yes |
| L = L0 sqrt(1 - v^2/c^2) | Length contraction | Yes |
| m = m0 / sqrt(1 - v^2/c^2) | Relativistic mass | Yes |
| E = mc^2 | Mass-energy equivalence | Yes |
| gamma = 1/sqrt(1 - v^2/c^2) | Lorentz factor | Memorise it as a shortcut |
Electromagnetism (Unit 4)
| Formula | What it does | On SCSA sheet? |
|---|---|---|
| F = qE | Force on a charge in an E field | Yes |
| F = qvB sin(theta) | Force on a moving charge in B field | Yes |
| F = BIl sin(theta) | Force on a current-carrying wire | Yes |
| EMF = -N (d phi/dt) | Faraday's law of induction | Yes |
| V = IR (Ohm's Law) | Electrical resistance | Yes |
| P = IV = I^2 R = V^2/R | Electrical power | Yes |
| V_s/V_p = N_s/N_p | Transformer ratio | Yes |
| I_p V_p = I_s V_s | Transformer power conservation | Yes |
Modern Physics (Unit 4)
| Formula | What it does | On SCSA sheet? |
|---|---|---|
| E_photon = hf | Energy of a photon | Yes |
| E_K_max = hf - W | Photoelectric kinetic energy | Yes |
| E = hc/lambda | Energy from wavelength | Memorise as combo of above |
| lambda = h/p | de Broglie wavelength | Yes |
| Energy levels: hf = E_n - E_m | Atomic spectra | Yes |
The 5 formulas SCSA does not give you
These are not on the official sheet but appear in exam questions. Memorise them.
- Lorentz factor (gamma). The shortcut for time dilation, length contraction and relativistic mass.
- Centripetal force F = mv^2/r. Strictly derivable from F=ma but you need it instantly.
- Kinetic energy in eV. 1 eV = 1.6 x 10^-19 J. Photoelectric questions often use eV.
- Capacitor charge stored. Q = CV. Some Unit 4 questions use it indirectly.
- Ohm's law for non-ohmic conductors. R is not constant. The relationship V/I varies with current.
A formula sheet is a tool, not a crutch. Reach for it twice per question maximum. If you reach for it more often, you have not done enough practice.
What to actually do this week
- Print the SCSA Physics formula sheet (it is published online with each past paper). Highlight the formulas you do not yet know by heart.
- For each highlighted formula, write three example questions from past papers where it would be used. Memorisation through context is faster than rote.
- Time yourself on a 30-minute past paper section without the formula sheet. Note which formulas you reached for that you did not know. Those are your priority for next week.
If you want a Physics tutor who drills formulas through past paper practice every week, book a free trial class. Our Physics tutoring includes a personalised formula gap check in lesson 1.