Quantity

Definition

Electric force F

The magnitude of the force

between two point charges
is directly proportional to
the product of the charges
and inversely proportional
to the square of the
distance between them.
The electric field strength E
at a point is the electric
force per unit charge acting
on a small stationary
positive charge placed at
that point.
The electric potential
energy of a charge placed
at a point in an electric
field is defined as the work
done by an external agent
in moving the charge from
infinity to that point
without a change in the
kinetic energy of the
charge.
The electric potential at a
point in an electric field is
defined as the work done
per unit positive charge by
an external agent in
moving a small test charge
from infinity to that point
without a change in kinetic
energy.

Electric field
strength E

Electric
potential
energy U

Electric
potential V

Formula/Equati
on

Relationshi
p

E = F/q

F = - dU/dr

E = - dV/dr

Chapter 13

Chapter 10
The Principle of Superposition states that when two or more waves of the
same kind overlap, the resultant displacement at any point at any instant is
the vector sum of the displacements that the individual waves would have
separately produced at that point and at that instant.
Interference is the phenomenon which occurs when two or more waves of the
same kind overlap to produce regions of constructive and destructive
summation according to the principle of superposition. Interference causes

the energy of the resultant wave to be distributed such that there are regions
of maxima and minima.
Constructive interference occurs at points where the component waves
superpose to produce a resultant with a maximum amplitude and intensity.
This happens when, at that point, the displacements of the waves are always
in the same direction and add up.
Destructive interference occurs when the component waves superpose with
each other to produce a resultant with a minimum amplitude and intensity.
This happens when, at that point, the displacement due to one of the waves
is always opposite in direction to the displacement due to the other wave.
Diffraction refers to the apparent bending or spreading out of waves when
they travel through a small opening or when they pass round a small
obstacle.

x = D/a

d sin = n
A stationary wave is the result of interference between two identical waves
travelling along the same line with the same speeds but in opposite
directions.
Chapter 3 & 4
N3L: If object A
exerts a force on object B, then object B exerts a force of
equal magnitude but in the opposite direction on object A.

The linear momentum of a moving object p is defined as the product of its

mass m and its velocity v. p = mv
N2L: the rate of change of momentum of a body is directly proportional to the
net force acting on it and the change takes place in the direction of the force.
N1L: a body will continue in its state of rest or uniform motion in a straight
line unless an external resultant force acts on it.
Inertia is the tendency of things to resist changes in motion.
An object will remain in equilibrium if:
-

The resultant force acting on the object must be zero

The resultant torque acting on the object about any axis must be zero.

Impulse of a force equals to the change in momentum.

The principle of the conservation of momentum states that the total
momentum of a system of objects remains constant provided no net external
force acts on the system.
m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2
Elastic collision in which both total liner momentum and total KE of the
isolated system before and after collision is conserved.
Inelastic collision in which total linear momentum is conserved but total KE is
not conserved.
Completely inelastic collision in which total linear momentum is conserved
and the objects stick together after collision, so their final velocities are the
same. Total KE is not conserved.
v2 v1 = u1 u2
Chapter 11
Electric current can be seen as the rate of flow of charges through a
particular cross-sectional area with respect to time.
Q = It
Electric charge: The charge that passes through a given point is the product
of the steady current flowing past the point and the time during which the
current flows.
One coulomb is defined as the quantity of change that flows through a point
when a steady current of one ampere flows for one second.
Q = Ne