GCSE and IGCSE physics equation and formula sheet

This page covers AQA GCSE Physics 8463, with notes for AQA Combined Science Trilogy 8464, then explains what Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 and Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Physics 4PH1 give you. Find the topic, check the units in the note, and use the 'recall list' and 'sheet list' labels to see how AQA's specification sorts each equation.

Board	Official document
AQA GCSE Physics 8463	Physics Equations Sheet, GCSE Physics (8463), for use in June 2027 only (35 equations), and specification Appendix A
AQA GCSE physics specification, Appendix A	Appendix A: Physics equations
AQA Combined Science Trilogy 8464	Physics Equations Sheet (for use in June 2024)
AQA news: equation sheets 2027 and 2028 onwards	GCSE Maths and GCSE Sciences formulae and equation sheets for 2027 and 2028 onwards
Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625	Syllabus for examination in 2026, 2027 and 2028
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Physics 4PH1	Specification Issue 4, Appendix 7, and Equation List for May to June 2025
Pearson: International science qualification news, June 2026	Equation sheets for 2028 onwards

In the booklet means the formula is printed in the official booklet or sheet in the exam; Learn it means students must recall it; See note means it depends on the board.

Your tier

Higher shows every formula; the 7 marked Higher only are not on the Foundation papers.

Energy, work and power

Rows marked 'recall list' are the ones the AQA specification says you should be able to recall; every row is printed on the exam sheet for 2025 to 2027. Older AQA sheets printed only the 12 'sheet list' equations.

Formula	Equation	In the exam
Kinetic energySpec: recall list. E_k in joules (J), m in kg, v in m/s.In the booklet	$E_{k} = \frac{1}{2} m v^{2}$	In the booklet
Gravitational potential energySpec: recall list. E_p in J, m in kg, g in N/kg (gravitational field strength), h in m.In the booklet	$E_{p} = m g h$	In the booklet
Elastic potential energySpec: equation sheet list. E_e in J, k spring constant in N/m, e extension in m. Limit of proportionality only.In the booklet	$E_{e} = \frac{1}{2} k e^{2}$	In the booklet
Work doneSpec: recall list. W in J, F in N, s in m along the line of action of the force.In the booklet	$W = F s$	In the booklet
Power (energy)Spec: recall list. P in watts (W), E in J, t in seconds (s).In the booklet	$P = \frac{E}{t}$	In the booklet
Power (work)Spec: recall list. W in J, t in s. A watt is one joule per second.In the booklet	$P = \frac{W}{t}$	In the booklet
Efficiency (energy)Spec: recall list. A ratio with no units. Multiply by 100 for a percentage.In the booklet	$efficiency = \frac{useful output energy transfer}{total input energy transfer}$	In the booklet
Efficiency (power)Spec: recall list. Same idea using power in W.In the booklet	$efficiency = \frac{useful power output}{total power input}$	In the booklet

Thermal energy, density and pressure

Formula	Equation	In the exam
Change in thermal energySpec: equation sheet list. Δ E in J, m in kg, c specific heat capacity in J/kg °C, Δθ temperature change in °C.In the booklet	$Δ E = m c Δ θ$	In the booklet
Thermal energy for a change of stateSpec: equation sheet list. E in J, m in kg, L specific latent heat in J/kg.In the booklet	$E = m L$	In the booklet
DensitySpec: recall list. ρ in kg/m³, m in kg, V in m³.In the booklet	$ρ = \frac{m}{V}$	In the booklet
PressureSpec: recall list. Physics only. p in pascals (Pa), F in N (normal to the surface), A in m².In the booklet	$p = \frac{F}{A}$	In the booklet
Pressure due to a column of liquidHigher onlySpec: equation sheet list. Physics only and Higher Tier only. p in Pa, h in m, ρ in kg/m³, g in N/kg.In the booklet	$p = h ρ g$	In the booklet
Gas pressure and volumeSpec: equation sheet list. Physics only. For a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature. p and V can be in any consistent units.In the booklet	$p V = constant$	In the booklet

Forces and motion

Formula	Equation	In the exam
WeightSpec: recall list. W in N, m in kg, g in N/kg.In the booklet	$W = m g$	In the booklet
Force and spring extensionSpec: recall list. F in N, k in N/m, e in m. Up to the limit of proportionality.In the booklet	$F = k e$	In the booklet
Moment of a forceSpec: recall list. Physics only. M in newton metres (N m), F in N, d in m measured at right angles to the force.In the booklet	$M = F d$	In the booklet
Distance travelledSpec: recall list. s in m, v in m/s, t in s.In the booklet	$s = v t$	In the booklet
AccelerationSpec: recall list. a in m/s², Δ v change in velocity in m/s, t in s.In the booklet	$a = \frac{Δ v}{t}$	In the booklet
Uniform accelerationSpec: equation sheet list. v final and u initial velocity in m/s, a in m/s², s in m.In the booklet	$v^{2} - u^{2} = 2 a s$	In the booklet
Newton's second lawSpec: recall list. F is the resultant force in N, m in kg, a in m/s².In the booklet	$F = ma$	In the booklet
MomentumHigher onlySpec: recall list. Higher Tier only. p in kg m/s, m in kg, v in m/s.In the booklet	$p = m v$	In the booklet
Force and change in momentumHigher onlySpec: equation sheet list. Physics only and Higher Tier only. mΔ v is the change in momentum in kg m/s, Δ t in s.In the booklet	$F = \frac{m Δ v}{Δ t}$	In the booklet

Waves

Formula	Equation	In the exam
Wave speedSpec: recall list. v in m/s, f frequency in hertz (Hz), λ wavelength in m.In the booklet	$v = f λ$	In the booklet
PeriodSpec: equation sheet list. T in s, f in Hz.In the booklet	$T = \frac{1}{f}$	In the booklet
MagnificationSpec: equation sheet list. Physics only (lenses). A ratio, so both heights must use the same unit.In the booklet	$magnification = \frac{image height}{object height}$	In the booklet

Electricity

Formula	Equation	In the exam
Charge flowSpec: recall list. Q in coulombs (C), I in amperes (A), t in s.In the booklet	$Q = I t$	In the booklet
Potential differenceSpec: recall list. V in volts (V), I in A, R resistance in ohms (Ω).In the booklet	$V = I R$	In the booklet
Electrical powerSpec: recall list. P in W, V in V, I in A.In the booklet	$P = V I$	In the booklet
Power in a resistorSpec: recall list. P in W, I in A, R in Ω.In the booklet	$P = I^{2} R$	In the booklet
Energy transferred (power)Spec: recall list. E in J, P in W, t in s.In the booklet	$E = Pt$	In the booklet
Energy transferred (charge)Spec: recall list. E in J, Q in C, V in V.In the booklet	$E = Q V$	In the booklet

Magnetism and transformers

All three are Higher Tier only. The Combined Science 8464 sheet prints F = BIl and V_pI_p = V_sI_s but not the turns ratio.

Formula	Equation	In the exam
Force on a conductor in a magnetic fieldHigher onlySpec: equation sheet list. Higher Tier only. F in N, B magnetic flux density in tesla (T), I in A, l length in m. Conductor at right angles to the field.In the booklet	$F = B I l$	In the booklet
Transformer: turns ratioHigher onlySpec: equation sheet list. Higher Tier only. Physics only on the printed sheet. p is primary, s is secondary, n is number of turns.In the booklet	$\frac{V _{p}}{V _{s}} = \frac{n _{p}}{n _{s}}$	In the booklet
Transformer: power in equals power outHigher onlySpec: equation sheet list. Higher Tier only. For a 100 per cent efficient transformer.In the booklet	$V_{p} I_{p} = V_{s} I_{s}$	In the booklet

Rules in the specification that the sheet does not print

These are in the AQA specification content but are not on the Physics Equations Sheet, so you must know them.

Formula	Equation	In the exam
Series circuit: total resistanceSame current through each component. Total p.d. is shared between components.Learn it	$R_{total} = R_{1} + R_{2}$	Learn it
Parallel circuit: total currentSame p.d. across each branch. Total resistance is less than the smallest resistor.Learn it	$I_{total} = I_{1} + I_{2}$	Learn it
Conservation of momentumHigher onlyHigher Tier only. In a closed system. Use p = m v on each object, with direction as positive or negative.Learn it	$total momentum before = total momentum after$	Learn it
Work done and energyUse with W = F s when a force moves an object, for example against friction.Learn it	$work done = energy transferred$	Learn it

Equations other boards print that AQA does not

Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 and Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Physics 4PH1 include these. The In the exam column is left blank here because it depends on the board: see the next part of the page.

Formula	Equation	In the exam
Refractive index (Cambridge Supplement, Edexcel list)Cambridge: recall and use (Supplement). Edexcel: printed on the equation list.See note	$n = \frac{s i n i}{s i n r}$	See note
Critical angle (Cambridge Supplement, Edexcel list)Same as n = 1 / sin c.See note	$sin c = \frac{1}{n}$	See note
Orbital speed (Cambridge Supplement, Edexcel list)r orbital radius in m, T orbital period in s.See note	$v = \frac{2 π r}{T}$	See note
Pressure and temperature of a gas (Edexcel list)Fixed mass at constant volume. T must be in kelvin.See note	$\frac{p _{1}}{T _{1}} = \frac{p _{2}}{T _{2}}$	See note
Kelvin and Celsius (Cambridge)Cambridge syllabus: recall and use.See note	$T (in K) = θ (in^{\circ} C) + 273$	See note
Energy from current, voltage and time (Edexcel list)Combines P = IV and E = Pt.See note	$E = I V t$	See note

What Cambridge and Edexcel give you

Read this before you assume a sheet will be in the room: the two boards differ from AQA.

Formula	Equation	In the exam
Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625: what the syllabus saysThe 2026 to 2028 syllabus uses 'recall and use' for its equations in both Core and Supplement. It lists no equation sheet, so treat every equation as one to memorise.See note	$recall and use F = ma, ρ = \frac{m}{V}, V = I R \dots$	See note
Edexcel International GCSE Physics 4PH1: what the list givesPearson provides an Equation List for 2025 to 2027 and has said the same will apply from 2028. The main list is for 4PH1 and 4SD0 papers; extra equations (momentum, F = change in momentum over time, moment, thermal energy, transformers, redshift) are for Physics papers 2P and 2PR only.See note	Equation List in the exam room	See note
Edexcel list does not print everythingThe main part prints F = ma, W = mg, P = IV, Q = It, V = IR, wave speed and f = 1/T, but not P = I²R, specific latent heat or Hooke's law. Thermal energy and moment appear only in the extra part for papers 2P and 2PR.See note	A list, not one equation: see the note	See note

Learn these: not in the booklet

Series resistance $R_{total} = R_{1} + R_{2}$
Parallel circuits $I_{total} = I_{1} + I_{2}$ The potential difference is the same across each branch.
Conservation of momentum (Higher Tier)Total momentum before an event equals total momentum after it, in a closed system.
Work done $W = F s$ Work done equals energy transferred.

Study booklets for your board

Our printable version of each board's official booklet: everything it prints (formulas, constants, data and statistical tables) in the board's own order, plus what you must learn and exam tips. Choose your board, then click a booklet to open it or use Download to save the PDF.

AQA2 booklets

GCSE Physics 8463 Foundation and HigherPDF, 4 pages, 0.4 MB
Download
GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 8464 Physics equations and periodic tablePDF, 6 pages, 0.7 MB
Download

Edexcel1 booklet

GCSE Physics 1PH0 and Combined Science 1SC0 Foundation and HigherPDF, 4 pages, 0.4 MB
Download

OxfordAQA2 booklets

International GCSE Physics 9203PDF, 4 pages, 0.4 MB
Download
International GCSE Combined Science 9204 PhysicsPDF, 3 pages, 0.4 MB
Download

How to use the formula sheet in the exam

Scan the sheet for the quantity you are asked for, then check the unit in the question before you substitute.
Convert units first: grams to kilograms, centimetres to metres, minutes to seconds, kilowatts to watts.
Write the equation, then the substitution, then the answer with its unit. Marks are for each stage.
Pick the right power equation: P = E/t, P = W/t, P = VI or P = I²R depending on the data you are given.
Foundation students can skip equations marked Higher Tier only, and Combined Science students can skip those marked physics only.

Common questions

Is there a GCSE physics equation sheet in the AQA exam?

Yes. AQA gives a Physics Equations Sheet as an insert with Physics 8463 papers 1 and 2, the Combined Science Trilogy physics papers and Synergy. The 2027 sheet is the same as 2026, and AQA says sheets continue from 2028.

Do I have to memorise GCSE physics equations?

For exams in 2025, 2026 and 2027 AQA says students do not need to memorise them. Before 2025 the sheet printed only 12 equations, and the specification still lists 23 as 'recall' equations, so knowing them makes questions faster. AQA has said it will explain later how 'write down the equation' questions will work from 2028.

Which GCSE physics equations are Higher Tier only?

Six equations, plus the conservation of momentum rule: momentum, force equals change in momentum over time, pressure in a liquid column, force on a conductor in a magnetic field, the transformer turns ratio and V_pI_p = V_sI_s.

Does Cambridge IGCSE Physics give you an equation sheet?

The 2026 to 2028 syllabus says candidates must 'recall and use' its equations and does not mention an equation list. Learn every equation in the syllabus, and ask your teacher or check the exam paper instructions.

Does Edexcel International GCSE Physics give you equations?

Yes. Pearson provides an Equation List in the exam room for 2025 to 2027 and has said the same will apply from 2028. The specification itself says these relationships are not provided, so practise with the list but know what each means.

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Formulas checked against the official documents linked above. Boards update their booklets from time to time: always practise with the version your exam uses.