O LEVEL PHYSICS CHEATSHEET

Remember your UNITS!

THEME 1: GENERAL PHYSICS

Difference
between
Scalar and
Vector
Period

SI Base
Units
Distance

Displacem
ent
Velocity

Speed

Accelerati
on
Free Fall

Newtons
First Law
Newtons
Second
Law
Friction
Pressure
Air
Resistance
Inertia

Gravitatio
nal field
Gravitatio
nal field
strength
Mass VS
Weight
Density
Moment
Principles
of
Moments
Centre of
gravity
Conditions
for
Equilibriu
m (2)
Stability
Methods
to
increase
stability
(2)
Gravitatio
nal
potential
Energy
Kinetic
Energy
Principle
of
Conservati
on of
energy
Work
Done
Power
Efficiency

Why will feather and coin reach at different times when dropped from
the same height? Same acceleration g but different air resistance.
Does zero resultant force means the object is stationary? No. It just
means that acceleration is zero. Based on Newtons 1st law, the object
can still be moving at constant velocity.

THEME 2: THERMAL PHYSICS

Explain the
arrangement of
particles,
motion, space
and forces
between
particles in
SOLID, LIQUID
AND GAS.
Explain the
shape, volume,
density and
compressibility
of SOLID, LIQUID
AND GAS.
Brownian Motion
Thermal
Equilibrium
Conduction
Convection
Radiation.
Explain how
colour/texture,
surface
temperature and
surface area
affects radiation.
Can it take place in
a vacuum?
Internal energy
Molecular
Potential Energy
Molecular

Solid:
Liquid:
Gas:

Solid:
Liquid:
Gas:

Kinetic Energy
Melting
Solidification
Boiling
Boiling VS
Evaporation
(4 differences)
Factors affecting
rate of
evaporation
(6 factors)

Explain Conduction.
When one end of a solid is heated, the particles in that end gain thermal
energy, and hence vibrate more vigorously about their fixed positions.
They vibrate and collide with neighbouring particles, causing the
neighbouring particles to vibrate more vigorously. Thus, the energy of
the vibrating particles is transferred until all the particles in the solid
vibrate at the same higher rate.
Why is solid a better CONDUCTOR of heat?
Molecules in liquid and gas are further apart than solids, and thus
transfer of energy is slower in liquids than in solid.
Why is metal a good conductor of heat?
Metals have high concentration of fast-moving free electrons and are
able to transfer energy quickly when they collide with atoms or
molecules in the cooler parts of the metal.
Non-metals are poor conductors of heat as they have relatively few free
electrons.
Explain Convection.
When the water at the bottom is heated, it expands and the density
decreases. Thus the hotter water at the bottom rises to the top and
displaces the colder water downwards. The colder water is then heated
by contact with the bottom and the process repeats itself.
Why does convection occur only in fluids?
Molecules in solids are held together by strong intermolecular forces and
cannot move about freely. Convection involves movement of molecules
and cannot occur in solids.
Explain why the temperature of the liquid drops during
evaporation.
When evaporation occurs, molecules with higher kinetic energy escape

from the liquid surface. This reduces the average kinetic energy of the
liquid and therefore the temperature drops.
Explain evaporation.
Evaporation happens when molecules gain enough energy at the
surface of the liquid to overcome attractive intermolecular forces and
escape into the surroundings. The less energetic molecules are left
behind in the liquid.

THEME 3: LIGHT, WAVES AND SOUND

First Law of
reflection
Second Law of
reflection
Refraction
First Law of
Refraction
Second Law of
Refraction
Refractive Index
Principle of
Reversibility
Critical Angle
Total internal
reflection
Focal length
Describe the
image formed in a
plane mirror.
(HINT: size,
real/virtual,
upright/inverted,
distance from
mirror)
Using a ray
diagram, label the
optical centre,
principal axis, focal
point, focal length
and focal plane.
Recall the ray
diagrams as the
object move from
infinity to 2f to f
and less than f.
Describe the
image formed.
Transverse
waves
Longitudinal

waves
Explain what it
means by IN
PHASE
Wavelength of
wave
Amplitude of
wave
Period of wave
Frequency of
wave
Speed of wave
Arrange EM Waves
in order of
frequency and
wavelength and
note down their
source and
application.
What properties of
the wave affects
loudness and
pitch?
Explain how the speed of waves change with depth.
When waves enter a shallower depth, the wavelength decreases. The
frequency remains UNCHANGED as it is determined by the source. Thus
the speed of waves decreases when depth decreases.
Remember that ALL waves transfer ENERGY.
Remember that EM waves are TRANSVERSE WAVES and CAN
TRAVEL THROUGH VACUUM.
Remember that Sound waves are LONGITUDINAL WAVES and
CANNOT TRAVEL THROUGH VACUUM. Sound need vibration of
medium particles to propagate.
Explain how sound is produced.
Sound are longitudinal waves where air particles vibrate in the same
direction as that of the propagation of the sound wave. Vibrations
produced create a series of compression (high pressure) and rarefaction
(low pressure) of particles in the surrounding medium.
Explain how speed of sound changes with temperature.
Rate of collisions between gas particles increase with temperature.
Therefore, the speed of sound increases when temperature increases.

Note: other factors affecting speed of sound are wind direction

(molecules move faster in a particular direction) and humidity
(presence of water molecules speed up speed of sound).
Explain why speed of SOUND INCREASES IN DENSER MEDIUM
but speed of LIGHT DECREASES IN DENSER MEDIUM.
Sound travels faster in solid, followed by liquid and travels slowest in
gases. This is due to distance between the molecules in the media.
Molecules that are closer to each other are able to transfer energy
faster.

THEME 4: ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

Electric
Field
Electric
conductors
Electric
insulators
Electrostati
c Charging
Electric
current
E.M.F
Potential
difference
Resistance
Resistivity
Formula for
Power Loss
Short
Circuit
Purpose of
Live:
Live,
Neutral and Neutral:
Earth Wires
Earth:
Fuse and
its location
Circuit
Breaker
Double
Insulation
Three-pin
plug VS
Two-pin
plug
Magnetic
Field
Magnetisati

on
Soft
Magnetic
Material VS
Hard
Magnetic
Material.
Example?
Methods to
magnetise
a magnetic
material
Methods to
demagnetiz
e a magnet
Remember electric field lines:
- Start from positive and end on negative charge
- The closer the spacing between the electric field lines, the
stronger the electric field.
- Field lines do NOT intersect.
Remember that conventional current moves from positive to negative
end of battery but electron flow is the reverse.
Remember the ammeter (very low R) is placed in series to the
resistor but the voltmeter (very high R) is placed in parallel to the
resistor.
Remember that
Series: Current (I) is the same through the resistors, Potential
difference (V) is a sum of individual V, Resistance is a sum of individual
R
Parallel: Potential difference (V) is the same through the resistors,
Current (I) is a sum of individual I, Resistance is 1/R+. = 1/Rtotal
What is the advantage of using parallel circuit over series
circuit?
When an electrical component in a branch of the parallel circuit fails,
current can still flow through the other electrical components. E.g. the
electrical connections in our homes are in parallel so each electrical
device can be switched off independently.
Keywords to explain magnetism questions:
- When a magnet is placed near a magnetic material, the magnetic
material becomes an INDUCED MAGNET. Induced magnetic field
decreases with distance.
- Like poles repel, unlike poles attract
Remember Compass needle points to the direction of magnetic
field
Remember when to use these rules:

Right Hand Grip Rule used when there is a rotating current or

magnetic field, and you are asked to deduce direction of magnetic field
(thumb points to N) or current.
Flemings Left Hand Rule used when there is a magnetic force, and
current and magnetic field are given or asked for.
Note:
- Stationary charged particles (= no current) will not experience
a magnetic force.
- If charged particle is moving parallel to the magnetic field,
there will be NO magnetic force. Flemings left hand rule applies
when the force, magnetic field and current are perpendicular
- RH grip rule: if you strengthen the current/magnetic field, the
induced magnetic field/current gets stronger. If you reverse the
current/magnetic field, the induced magnetic field/current is also
reversed.
- Flemings LH Rule: If you strengthen the current/magnetic field,
the magnetic force is stronger. If you reverse the current/magnetic
field, the magnetic force is also reversed.
- Method to increase magnetic field in Solenoid: increase
current, increase number of turns in solenoid, placing a soft iron
core in the solenoid.