✓ Given in booklet

IB Physics SL — Data Booklet

Every formula printed in your official IB data booklet, organised by topic. Knowing whichformulas you're given frees up mental space to memorise what isn't here.

★ Must memorise — NOT in the booklet

• Resolving a vector into components (F cos θ along, F sin θ perpendicular)
• Reading a graph: gradient and area (e.g. area under an a–t graph = Δv)
• SI prefixes (n, μ, m, k, M, G) and unit conversions
• Significant figures and propagating uncertainties (add for ±, % for ×/÷)
• Free-body diagrams and the equilibrium condition (ΣF = 0, Στ = 0)
• When a relationship is directly proportional — a straight line through the origin

Physics gives you a data booklet of equations and constants in every paper — the skill is choosing and rearranging the right one, not recalling it. The items above are not printed, so practise them until they are automatic.

Mathematical equations

Area of a triangle

math

b is the base, h is the height

Area of a circle

math

r is the radius

Circumference of a circle

math

Volume of a cuboid

math

length × width × height

Volume of a cylinder

math

Volume of a prism

math

A is the area of cross-section

Volume of a sphere

math

Curved surface of a cylinder

math

Resolving a vector

math, 1.2

horizontal component

Resolving a vector

math, 1.2

vertical component

Trigonometric relationship

math

Trigonometric identity

math

Uncertainties

Adding / subtracting

6.1

absolute uncertainties add

Multiplying / dividing

6.1

fractional uncertainties add

Powers

6.1

fractional uncertainty × |n|

Fundamental constants

Acceleration of free fall

const

Earth's surface

Gravitational constant

const

Avogadro constant

const

Gas constant

const

Boltzmann constant

const

Stefan–Boltzmann constant

const

Coulomb constant

const

Permittivity of free space

const

Permeability of free space

const

Speed of light in vacuum

const

Planck constant

const

Elementary charge

const

Unified atomic mass unit

const

Solar constant

const

A. Space, time and motion

A.1 Kinematics

1.1

displacement = average velocity × time (area under a v–t graph)

A.1 Kinematics

1.1

final velocity (constant acceleration)

A.1 Kinematics

1.1

displacement (constant acceleration)

A.1 Kinematics

1.1

velocity–displacement (no time)

A.2 Forces and momentum

1.2

static friction

A.2 Forces and momentum

1.2

dynamic friction

A.2 Forces and momentum

1.2

Hooke's law

A.2 Forces and momentum

1.2

viscous drag (Stokes' law)

A.2 Forces and momentum

1.2

buoyancy (Archimedes)

A.2 Forces and momentum

1.2

weight

A.2 Forces and momentum

1.2

momentum

A.2 Forces and momentum

1.2

impulse

A.2 Forces and momentum

1.2

Newton's second law

A.2 Forces and momentum

1.2

centripetal acceleration

A.2 Forces and momentum

1.2

speed in a circle

A.3 Work, energy and power

1.3

work done by a force

A.3 Work, energy and power

1.3

kinetic energy

A.3 Work, energy and power

1.3

gravitational PE change

A.3 Work, energy and power

1.3

elastic PE

A.3 Work, energy and power

1.3

power

A.3 Work, energy and power

1.3

efficiency

B. The particulate nature of matter

B.1 Thermal energy transfers

2.1

density

B.1 Thermal energy transfers

2.1

average kinetic energy of a particle

B.1 Thermal energy transfers

2.1

specific heat capacity

B.1 Thermal energy transfers

2.1

latent heat

B.1 Thermal energy transfers

2.1

thermal conduction

B.1 Thermal energy transfers

2.1

Stefan–Boltzmann (luminosity)

B.1 Thermal energy transfers

2.1

apparent brightness

B.1 Thermal energy transfers

2.1

Wien's displacement law

B.2 Greenhouse effect

2.2

B.2 Greenhouse effect

2.2

B.3 Gas laws

2.3

pressure

B.3 Gas laws

2.3

number of moles

B.3 Gas laws

2.3

combined gas law

B.3 Gas laws

2.3

ideal gas law

B.3 Gas laws

2.3

kinetic model of a gas

B.3 Gas laws

2.3

internal energy of an ideal gas

B.5 Current and circuits

2.5

electric current

B.5 Current and circuits

2.5

potential difference

B.5 Current and circuits

2.5

resistance

B.5 Current and circuits

2.5

resistivity

B.5 Current and circuits

2.5

electrical power

B.5 Current and circuits

2.5

resistors in series (I same, V adds)

B.5 Current and circuits

2.5

resistors in parallel (V same, I adds)

B.5 Current and circuits

2.5

emf and internal resistance

C. Wave behaviour

C.1 Simple harmonic motion

3.1

defining condition for SHM

C.1 Simple harmonic motion

3.1

period, frequency, angular frequency

C.1 Simple harmonic motion

3.1

mass–spring period

C.1 Simple harmonic motion

3.1

simple-pendulum period

C.2 Wave model

3.2, 3.4

wave equation (also used for standing waves in C.4)

C.3 Wave phenomena

3.3

Snell's law

C.3 Wave phenomena

3.3

C.3 Wave phenomena

3.3

C.3 Wave phenomena

3.3

double-slit fringe spacing

C.5 Doppler effect

3.5

Doppler effect for a moving sound source (− approaching, + receding)

C.5 Doppler effect

3.5

Doppler shift (v ≪ c)

D. Fields

D.1 Gravitational fields

4.1

Newton's law of gravitation

D.1 Gravitational fields

4.1

gravitational field strength

D.2 Electric and magnetic fields

4.2

Coulomb's law

D.2 Electric and magnetic fields

4.2

electric field strength

D.2 Electric and magnetic fields

4.2

uniform field between plates

D.3 Motion in electromagnetic fields

4.3

force on a moving charge

D.3 Motion in electromagnetic fields

4.3

force on a current-carrying wire

D.3 Motion in electromagnetic fields

4.2, 4.3

force between parallel currents

E. Nuclear and quantum physics

E.1 Structure of the atom

5.1

photon energy

E.1 Structure of the atom

5.1

photon energy from wavelength

E.3 Radioactive decay / E.4 Fission

5.3, 5.4

mass–energy equivalence

E.5 Fusion and stars

5.5

stellar parallax distance

E.5 Fusion and stars

5.5

apparent brightness (inverse-square law)

E.5 Fusion and stars

5.5

Stefan–Boltzmann law (stellar luminosity)

E.5 Fusion and stars

5.5

Wien's displacement law

Source: IB Diploma Programme Physics data booklet (first examinations 2025). Always verify against your official IB materials.