✓ Given in booklet

IB Physics HL — 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

A.4 Rigid body mechanics

1.4

angular velocity (constant angular acceleration)

A.4 Rigid body mechanics

1.4

angle turned (constant angular acceleration)

A.4 Rigid body mechanics

1.4

angle = average angular velocity × time (area under an ω–t graph)

A.4 Rigid body mechanics

1.4

angular velocity–angle (no time)

A.4 Rigid body mechanics

1.4

rim (linear) speed of a rotating point

A.4 Rigid body mechanics

1.4

torque of a force

A.4 Rigid body mechanics

1.4

moment of inertia

A.4 Rigid body mechanics

1.4

Newton's second law for rotation

A.4 Rigid body mechanics

1.4

angular momentum

A.4 Rigid body mechanics

1.4

angular impulse

A.4 Rigid body mechanics

1.4

rotational kinetic energy