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Physical Science: Tables & Formulas
SI Base Units
Base Quantity
Unit Name
Unit Symbol
Amount of substance
mole
Mol
Electric current
ampere
A
Length
meter
M
Luminous intensity
candela
Cd
Mass
kilogram
Kg
Time
second
S
Temperature
Kelvin
K
SI Derived Units
Derived Quantity
Name (Symbol)
Expression in terms of
other SI units
Expression in terms
of SI base units
Area
Square meter (m
2
)
Volume
Cubic meter (m
3
)
Speed/velocity
Meter per second (m/s)
Acceleration
Meter per second squared (m/s
2
)
Frequency
Hertz (Hz)
s
-1
Force
Newton (N)
m
.
kg
.
s
-2
Pressure, stress
Pascal (Pa)
N
.
m
2
m
-1
.
kg
.
s
-2
Energy, work, quantity of heat
Joule (J)
N
.
m
m
2
.
kg
.
s
-2
Power
Watt (W)
J/s
m
2
.
kg
.
s
-3
Electric charge
Coulomb (C)
--
s
.
A
Electric potential difference
Volt (V)
W/A
m
2
·kg·s
-3
·A
-1
Electric resistance
Ohm (Ω)
V/A
m
2
·kg·s
-3
·A
-2
Prefixes used to designate multiples of a base unit
Prefix
Symbol
Meaning
Multiple of base unit
Scientific Notation
tera
T
trillion
1, 000, 000, 000, 000
10
12
giga
G
billion
1, 000, 000, 000
10
9
mega
M
Million
1, 000, 000
10
6
kilo
k
Thousand
1, 000
10
3
centi
c
One hundredth
1/100 or .01
10
-2
milli
m
One thousandth
1/1000 or .001
10
-3
micro
u
One millionth
1/1000000 or .000001
10
-6
Nano
n
One billionth
1/1000000000 or .000000001
10
-9
pico
p
One trillionth
1/1000000000000 or.000000000001
10
-12
In general, when converting from base units (m, l, g, etc) or derived units (m
2
,m
3
, m/s, Hz, N, J, V, etc) to a
multiple greater (kilo, mega, giga, or tera) than the base or derived unit- then divide by the factor. For
example: 10m = 10/1000km = 1/100 km = .01km.
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When converting from base units or derived units to a multiple smaller (centi, milli, micro, nano) than the
base or derived unit- then multiply by the factor. For example: 10m = 10 x 100cm = 1000cm.
Subatomic Particles
Particle
Charge
Mass
Location
Proton
+1
1
nucleus
Neutron
0
1
nucleus
Electron
-1
0
Outside the nucleus
Common Cations
Ion Name (symbol)
Ion Charge
Lithium (Li)
1+
Sodium (Na)
1+
Potassium (K)
1+
Rubidium (Rb)
1+
Cesium (Cs)
1+
Beryllium (Be)
2+
Magnesium (Mg)
2+
Calcium (Ca)
2+
Strontium (Sr)
2+
Barium (Ba)
2+
Aluminum (Al)
3+
Common Anions
Element Name (symbol)
Ion Name (symbol)
Ion Charge
Fluorine
Fluoride
1-
Chlorine
Chloride
1-
Bromine
Bromide
1-
Iodine
Iodide
1-
Oxygen
Oxide
2-
Sulfur
Sulfide
2-
Nitrogen
Nitride
3-
Common Polyatomic Ions
Ion Name
Ion Formula
Ion Name
Ion Formula
Carbonate
CO
3
2-
Nitrite
NO
2
-
Chlorate
ClO
3
-
Phosphate
PO
4
3-
Cyanide
CN
-
Phosphite
PO
3
3-
Hydroxide
OH
-
Sulfate
SO
4
2-
Nitrate
NO
3
-
Sulfite
SO
3
2-
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Prefixes for Naming Covalent Compounds
Number of Atoms
Prefix
Number of Atoms
Prefix
1
Mono
6
Hexa
2
Di
7
Hepta
3
Tri
8
Octa
4
Tetra
9
Nona
5
penta
10
deca
Types of Chemical Reactions
Type of reaction
Generalized formula
Specific Example
Combustion
HC + O
2
H
2
O + CO
2
2C
2
H
6
+ 7O
2
6H
2
O + 4CO
2
Synthesis
A + B AB
2Na + Cl
2
2NaCl
Decomposition
AB A + B
2H
2
O 2H
2
+ O
2
Single Replacement
A + BC AC + B
2Al + 3CuCl
2
3Cu + 2AlCl
3
Double Replacement
AX + BY AY + BX
Pb(NO
3
)
2
+ K
2
CrO
4
PbCrO
4
+ 2KNO
3
The Effects of Change on Equilibrium in a Reversible Reaction (Le Châtelier’s
Principle)
Condition
Effect
Temperature
Increasing temperature favors the reaction that absorbs energy (endothermic)
Pressure
Increasing pressure favors the reaction that produces less gas.
Concentration
Increasing conc. of one substance favors reaction that produces less of that substance
Common Acids
Acid
Formula
Strength
Hydrochloric (muriatic) acid
HCl
strong
Nitric acid
HNO
3
strong
Sulfuric acid
H
2
SO
4
strong
Acetic acid
CH
3
COOH
weak
Citric acid
C
6
H
8
O
7
weak
Formic
HCOOH
weak
Common Bases
Base
Formula
Strength
Potassium hydroxide (potash)
KOH
strong
Sodium hydroxide (lye)
NaOH
strong
Calcium hydroxide (lime)
Ca(OH)
2
strong
ammonia
NH
3
weak
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pH scale
Strong acids more acidic weak acids
Neutral
Weak bases More basic strong bases
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Types of Nuclear Radiation
Radiation Type
Symbol
Charge
Nuclear Equation
Alpha particle
2
4
He
+2
89
225
Ac
87
221
Fr +
2
4
He
Beta particle
-1
0
e
-1
6
14
C
7
14
N +
-1
0
e
Gamma
γ
0
n/a
Equations
Density = mass ÷ volume (D = m/v) Units: g/cm
3
or g/mL
Rearranged: mass = Density x Volume Units: grams or
Volume = mass ÷ density Units: cm
3
or mL
Moles = mass (grams) x Molar Mass (grams / mol) Molar Mass = atomic mass in grams
Energy = mass x (speed of light)
2
E = mc
2
Units: joules
Speed = distance ÷ time v = d ÷ t Units: meters / second
Rearranged: distance = speed x time Units: meters
time = distance ÷ speed Units: seconds
Momentum = mass x velocity p = m x v Units: kg
.
m/s
Acceleration = (final velocity - initial velocity) ÷ time a = Δv ÷ t Units: meters / (second)
2
Rearranged: Δv = acceleration x time Units: meters/second
time = Δv ÷ a Units: seconds
Force = mass x acceleration F = m x a Units: kg
.
m/s
2
or Newtons (N)
Rearranged: mass = Force ÷ acceleration Units: g or kg
acceleration = Force ÷ mass Units: meters / (second)
2
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Weight = mass x gravity (9.8 m/s
2
) Units: kg
.
m/s
2
or Newtons (N)
Work = Force x distance W = F x d Units: Joules (J)
Rearranged: Force = Work ÷ distance Units: Newtons
distance = Work ÷ Force Units: meters
Power = Work ÷ time P = W ÷ t Units: J/s or Watts (W)
Rearranged: Work = Power x time Units: Joules (J)
time = Work ÷ Power Units: seconds (s)
Mechanical Advantage = Output Force ÷ Input Force (Resistance Force ÷ Effort Force)
or
Mechanical Advantage = Input Distance ÷ Output Distance (Effort Distance ÷ Resistance Distance)
Gravitational Potential Energy = mass x gravity (9.8 m/s
2
) x height GPE = m x g x h Units:
Joules
Rearranged: m = GPE ÷ (g
.
h) h = GPE ÷ (m
.
g)
Kinetic Energy = ½ mass x (velocity)
2
KE = .5 mv
2
Units: Joules
Rearranged: m = 2KE ÷ v
2
v =
Efficiency of a Machine = (Useful Work Output ÷ Work Input) x 100
Temperature Conversions
Celsius-Fahrenheit Conversion:
Fahrenheit temperature = (1.8 x Celsius temperature) + 32.0
0
F = 1.8 (C) + 32
0
Celsius temperature = (Fahrenheit temperature – 32) ÷ 1.8 C = (F – 32) ÷ 1.8
Celsius-Kelvin Conversion:
Kelvin = Celsius + 273 Celsius = Kelvin -273
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Specific Heat Equation
Energy = mass x Specific Heat Value x change in temperature E = m
.
c
.
Δ t Units: Joules
Rearranged: mass = Energy ÷ (c x Δ T) Units: kg Δ T = Energy ÷ (c x mass ) Units: K or
0
C
Wave Speed Equation
Wave’s Speed = frequency x wavelength v = f x λ Units: m/s
Rearranged: Frequency = Wave Speed ÷ wavelength f = v ÷ λ Units: Hertz
Wavelength = Wave Speed ÷ frequency λ = v ÷ f Units: meters / second
Speed of light (in a vacuum) = 3.0 x 10
8
m/s (300,000,000 m/s)
Speed of Sound (in air at 25
0
C) = 346 m/s Speed of Sound (in water at 25
0
C) = 1490 m/s
Speed of Sound (in iron at 25
0
C) = 5000 m/s
Ohm’s Law Equation
Current = Voltage ÷ Resistance I = V / R Units: Amperes (A)
Rearranged: Voltage = Current x Resistance V = I x R Units: Volts (V)
Resistance = Voltage ÷ Current R = V / I Units: Ohms (Ω)
Electric Power Equation
Power = Current x Voltage P = I x V Units: watts (W) or Kilowatts (kW)
Variations: P = I
2
x R P = V
2
/ R
Rearranged: Voltage = Power ÷ Current V = P x I Units: Volts (V)
Current = Power ÷ Voltage I = P ÷ V Units: Amperes (A)
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Electromagnetic Spectrum: Relates the energy, frequency and wavelength of various types of
electromagnetic waves (radio, TV, micro, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma). As energy and
frequency increase the wavelength decreases.
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AM radio - 535 kilohertz to 1.7 megahertz
Short wave radio - bands from 5.9 megahertz to 26.1 megahertz
Citizens band (CB) radio - 26.96 megahertz to 27.41 megahertz
Television stations - 54 to 88 megahertz for channels 2 through 6
FM radio - 88 megahertz to 108 megahertz
Television stations - 174 to 220 megahertz for channels 7 through 13
Garage door openers, alarm systems, etc. - Around 40 megahertz
Standard cordless phones: Bands from 40 to 50 megahertz
Baby monitors: 49 megahertz
Radio controlled airplanes: Around 72 megahertz, which is different from...
Radio controlled cars: Around 75 megahertz
Wildlife tracking collars: 215 to 220 megahertz
MIR space station: 145 megahertz and 437 megahertz
Cell phones: 824 to 849 megahertz
New 900-MHz cordless phones: Obviously around 900 megahertz!
Air traffic control radar: 960 to 1,215 megahertz
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Global Positioning System: 1,227 and 1,575 megahertz
Deep space radio communications: 2290 megahertz to 2300 megahertz
