◆ LIST OF PHYSICAL CONSTANTS

Universal gravitational constant G = 6.67 x 10 11 N m2 kg-2

Acceleration due to gravity g = 9.80 m s –2

Radius of the Earth RE = 6380 km

Mass of the Earth ME = 5.98 x 10 24 kg

Mass of the Moon MM = 7.35 x 10 22 kg

Atmosphere Atm = 1.00 x 10 5 N m –2

Boltzmann's constant k = 1.38 x 10 -23 J K –1

Coulomb constant = 9.00 x 10 9 N m 2 C –2

Mass of the electron me = 9.11 x 10 -31 kg

Electron charge e = 1.60 x 10 -19 C

Density of water = 1.00 x 10 3 kg m –3

Resistivity of steel = 1.98 x 10 -7 Ωm

Resistivity of copper = 1.80 x 10 -8 Ωm

Thermal conductivity of copper = 400 W m -1 K –1

Specific heat capacity of aluminium = 910 J kg -1 K –1

Specific heat capacity of copper = 387 J kg -1 K –1

Specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J kg -1 K –1

Specific latent heat of fusion of ice = 3.34 x 10 5 J kg-1

Specific latent heat of vaporisation of water = 2.26 x 106 J kg-1

23
Avogadro number NA = 6.02 x 10 per mole

Speed of light in free space c = 3.00 x 108 m s-1

Permeability of free space µ0 = 4π x 10-7 H m-1

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LIST OF PHYSICAL CONSTANTS (cont’d)

Permittivity of free space ε0 = 8.85 x 10-12 F m-1

The Planck constant h = 6.63 x 10-34 J s

Unified atomic mass constant u = 1.66 x 10-27 kg

Rest mass of proton mp = 1.67 x 10-27 kg

Molar gas constant R = 8.31 J K-1 mol-1

Stefan- Boltzmann constant σ = 5.67 x 10-8 W m-2 K-4

Mass of neutron mn = 1.67 x 10-27 kg

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◆ MATHEMATICAL REQUIREMENTS
Arithmetic

Students should be able to:

1. recognise and use expressions in decimal and standard form (scientific notation);

2. recognise and use binary notations;

3. use appropriate calculating aids (electronic calculator or tables) for addition, subtraction, multiplication
and division. Find arithmetic means, powers (including reciprocals and square roots), sines, cosines,
tangents (and the inverse functions), natural and base-10 (In and Ig);

4. take account of accuracy in numerical work and handle calculations so that significant figures are
neither lost unnecessarily nor carried beyond what is justified;

5. make approximations to check the magnitude of machine calculations.

Algebra

Students should be able to:

1. change the subject of an equation. Most relevant equations involve only the simpler operations but
may include positive and negative indices and square roots;

2. solve simple algebraic equations. Most relevant equations are linear but some may involve inverse and
inverse square relationships. Linear simultaneous equations and the use of the formula to obtain the
solution of quadratic equations are included;

3. substitute physical quantities into physical equations, using consistent units and check the dimensional
consistency of such equations;

4. formulate simple algebraic equations as mathematical models of physical situations, and identify
inadequacies of such models;

5. recognise and use the logarithmic forms of expressions like ab, a/b, xn, ekx , and understand the use of
logarithms in relation to quantities with values that range over several orders of magnitude;

6. express small changes or errors as percentage and vice versa;

7. comprehend and use the symbols <, >, ≈, ⁄, ∝, <x> or = , Σ, Δx, δx, √.

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Geometry and Trigonometry

Students should be able to:

1. calculate areas of right-angled and isosceles triangles, circumferences and areas of circles and areas and
volumes of rectangular blocks, cylinders and spheres;

2. use Pythagoras' theorem, similarity of triangles, and the sum of the angles of a triangle;

3. use sines, cosines and tangents (especially for 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°,). Use the trigonometric
relationship for triangles:

4. use sin θ ≈ tan θ ≈ θ and cos θ ≈ 1 for small θ and sin2θ + cos2θ = 1;

5. understand the relationship between degrees and radians (defined as arc/radius), translate from one to
the other and use the appropriate system in context.

Vectors

Students should be able to:

1. find the resultant of two coplanar vectors, recognising situations where vector addition is appropriate;

2. obtain expressions for components of a vector in perpendicular directions and using this to add or subtract
vectors.

Graphs

Students should be able to:

1. translate information between graphical, numerical, algebraic and verbal forms;

2. select appropriate variables and scales for graph plotting;

3. determine the slope, intercept and intersection for linear graphs;

4. choose by inspection, a line which will serve as the best line through a set of data points presented
graphically;

5. recall standard linear form y = m x + c and rearrange relationships into linear form where appropriate;

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6. sketch and recognise the forms of plots of common simple expressions like 1/x, x2, a/x2, sin x, cos x,
e-x, sin2 x, cos2 x;

7. use logarithmic plots to test exponential and power law variations;

8. understand, draw and use the slope of a tangent to a curve as a means to obtain the gradient, and use
notation in the form dy/dx for a rate of change;

9. understand and use the area below a curve, where the area has physical significance.

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◆ SUMMARY OF KEY QUANTITIES, SYMBOLS AND UNITS
The following list illustrates the symbols and units which will be used in question papers.

Qu a n t i t y Us u a l S y mb o l s Us u a l Un i t

Base Quantities

mass M kg

length L m

time T s

electric current I A

Luminous intensity Iv cd

thermodynamic temperature n K

amount of substance N mol

Other Quantities

distance D m

displacement s, x m

area A m2

volume V, v m3

density ρ kg m-3

speed u, v, w, c m s-1

velocity u, v, w, c m s-1

acceleration a m s-2

acceleration of free fall g m s-2

force F N

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SUMMARY OF KEY QUANTITIES, SYMBOLS AND UNITS (cont’d)

Qu a n t i t y Us u a l S y mb o l s Us u a l Un i t

Other Quantities (cont’d)

weight W N

momentum p Ns

work energy w, W J

potential energy E, U, W J

Ep J

kinetic energy Ek J

heat energy Q J

change of internal energy ΔU J

power P W

pressure p Pa

torque τ Nm

gravitational constant G N kg-2 m2

gravitational field strength g N kg-1

gravitational potential φ J kg-1

angle θ °, rad

angular displacement θ °, rad

angular speed ω rad s-1

angular velocity ω rad s-1

period T s

frequency f Hz

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SUMMARY OF KEY QUANTITIES, SYMBOLS AND UNITS (cont’d)

Qu a n t i t y Us u a l S y mb o l s Us u a l Un i t

Other Quantities (cont’d)

angular frequency ω rad s-1

wavelength λ m

speed of electromagnetic waves c m s-1

electric charge Q C

elementary charge e C

electric potential V V

electric potential difference V V

electromotive force E V

resistance R Ω

resistivity ρ Ωm

electric field strength E N C-1, V m-1

permittivity of free space ε0 F m-1

capacitance C F

time constant τ s

magnetic flux Φ Wb

magnetic flux density Β T

permeability of free space µ0 H m-1

stress σ Pa

strain ε

force constant k N m-1

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 SUMMARY OF KEY QUANTITIES, SYMBOLS AND UNITS (cont’d)

Qu a n t i t y Us u a l S y mb o l s Us u a l Un i t

Other Quantities (cont’d)

Young modulus Ε Pa

Celsius temperature θ °C

molar gas constant R J K-1 mol-1

Boltzmann constant k J K-1

Avogadro constant NA mol-1

number density (number per unit volume) N m-3

Planck constant h Js

work function energy Φ J

activity of radioactive source A Bq

decay constant λ s-1

half-life t½ s

relative atomic mass Ar

relative molecular mass Mr

atomic mass ma kg, u

electron mass me kg, u

neutron mass mn kg, u

proton mass mp kg, u

molar mass M kg

proton number Z

nucleon number A

neutron number N

Stefan-Boltzmann constant σ W m-2 K-4

Wes t e r n Z o n e O f f i c e
2007/06/26

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