HSC Physics Formula Sheet: Every Formula by Module, With Worked Examples
TL;DR
The HSC Physics exam gives you a data sheet with 19 values and a formulae sheet with 62 relationships in four boxes. This page lists the formulas by module, explains every symbol, and works two examples step by step.
Table of Contents
HSC Physics formula sheet: the short version
Yes, you get a formula sheet in the HSC Physics exam. NESA prints a data sheet, a formulae sheet and a Periodic Table at the back of the paper. In the 2025 paper the data sheet held 19 values and the formulae sheet held 62 relationships in four boxes. You do not bring your own sheet. The catch is that the sheet gives you the equations and nothing else: it does not say which one a question needs, how to change the units, or how to rearrange the algebra. This page lists the formulas by syllabus module, explains every symbol, and works two examples all the way through so you can see the method markers reward.
One warning before the lists: the sheet is organised by the kind of physics, not by module. Heating and conduction sit in the waves box, and special relativity sits with quantum and nuclear. A Module 8 question can send you to two different boxes. Learn the four box names and what each holds, and the sheet stops being a wall of symbols.
Figure 1: A blackboard of physics equations. The HSC sheet holds 62 relationships in four boxes, and this page groups them by Module 5 to 8 so you can find the one a question needs. Photo: thepatrick, CC BY, via Flickr.
The data sheet: 19 values to take from the sheet, not from memory
The data sheet is one table of 19 quantities. Take constants from the sheet in the exam, not from memory, so your answer uses the values the markers use. The values you will reach for most are: speed of light c = 3.00 x 108 m/s, acceleration due to gravity g = 9.8 m/s2, Planck constant h = 6.626 x 10-34 J s, charge on the electron e = 1.602 x 10-19 C, electron mass me = 9.109 x 10-31 kg, universal gravitation constant G = 6.67 x 10-11 N m2/kg2, electric permittivity constant epsilon0 = 8.854 x 10-12 A2 s4 kg-1 m-3, and Wien displacement constant b = 2.898 x 10-3 m K. The sheet also lists the masses of the neutron and proton, the speed of sound in air, the mass and radius of Earth, the permittivity and permeability constants, the Rydberg constant, the atomic mass unit, the electron volt in joules, and the density and specific heat capacity of water.
Module 5: Advanced Mechanics
Module 5 covers projectile motion, circular motion and motion in gravitational fields. These are the formulas from the motion, forces and gravity box that Module 5 questions use.
| Formula | Symbols | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| v = u + at | v final velocity, u initial velocity, a acceleration, t time | Velocity after a time at constant acceleration |
| s = ut + 1/2 at2 | s displacement | Distance travelled under constant acceleration |
| v2 = u2 + 2as | As above | Velocity from distance, when time is not given |
| Fnet = ma | Fnet net force (vector), m mass | Net force on a mass (vector: give direction) |
| W = Fs cos theta | W work, F force, s displacement, theta angle between them | Work done by a force at an angle |
| K = 1/2 mv2 | K kinetic energy | Energy of a moving mass. The sheet writes K, not Ek. |
| Change in U = mg change in h | U gravitational potential energy, h height | Energy change when height changes near Earth |
| P = change in E / change in t, and P = Fv cos theta | P power, E energy | Rate of energy use, or force times velocity |
| change in p = Fnet change in t | p momentum, Fnet net force | Impulse as a change in momentum |
| sum of mv before = sum of mv after | m mass, v velocity (vectors) | Conservation of momentum in collisions |
| sum of 1/2 mv2 before = sum of 1/2 mv2 after | m mass, v speed | Conservation of kinetic energy in elastic collisions |
| a = v2/r, F = mv2/r | r radius of the circle | Centripetal acceleration and force |
| Torque = rF sin theta | r distance from the pivot | Turning effect of a force |
| omega = change in theta / t | omega angular speed, theta angle | Angular speed of circular motion |
| v = 2 pi r / T | T orbital period | Speed from circumference and period |
| F = GMm/r2 | G gravitation constant, M and m the two masses, r their separation | Force of gravity between two masses |
| U = -GMm/r | U gravitational potential energy, G gravitation constant, M and m the two masses, r their separation | Potential energy of two masses a distance apart |
| r3/T2 = GM/4 pi2 | T orbital period | Kepler third law for orbits |
Projectile motion uses the three constant-acceleration equations twice, once for the horizontal motion and once for the vertical motion, with the horizontal acceleration set to zero. Conservation of momentum in collisions is on the sheet as a vector equation: the total momentum before equals the total momentum after. Give the direction of any vector answer. NESA feedback for 2024 and 2025 asks for direction on calculated vector quantities, so a size alone leaves marks behind.
Module 6: Electromagnetism
Module 6 covers charged particles, conductors and fields, the motor effect and electromagnetic induction. These are the formulas from the electricity and magnetism box.
| Formula | Symbols | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| E = V/d, and F = qE | E electric field, q charge, V potential difference, d separation | Field in a uniform field, and force on a charge in a field |
| V = change in U / q, and W = qV | U potential energy, W work done on a charge | Potential difference from energy per charge, and work moving a charge |
| W = qEd | W work, E field, d distance moved along the field | Work moving a charge through a uniform field |
| I = q / t | I current, q charge, t time | Current as charge per time |
| F = (1 / 4 pi epsilon0) x q1q2/r2 | epsilon0 permittivity constant, r separation | Coulomb force between two charges |
| B = mu0I / 2 pi r, and B = mu0NI / L | B magnetic field, mu0 permeability constant, I current, N turns, L solenoid length | Field around a wire, and field inside a solenoid |
| F = qvB sin theta, and F = IlB sin theta | v charge velocity, l wire length | Magnetic force on a moving charge, and on a wire |
| F / l = mu0I1I2 / 2 pi r | l wire length, r separation of the wires | Force per length between two parallel wires |
| Torque = nBIA sin theta | n turns, A coil area | Torque on a motor coil |
| Flux = BA cos theta, emf = -N change in flux / change in t | Flux magnetic flux, N turns | Induced emf from a changing flux |
| Vp/Vs = Np/Ns | p primary, s secondary | Transformer voltage ratio |
| VpIp = VsIs | V voltage, I current, p primary, s secondary | Transformer power in equals power out (ideal) |
| V = IR, and P = VI | I current, R resistance | Ohm law and electrical power |
Two traps sit in this box. First, the sheet gives the force on a charge in a field, F = qE, and the force between two charges, but it does not give the field strength around a point charge on its own: that form is yours to derive. Second, the sheet gives Ohm law and electrical power, but it does not give the rules for combining resistors in series and parallel. Know those two rules yourself.
Module 7: The Nature of Light
Module 7 covers the wave model of light, the electromagnetic spectrum, the quantum model of light and special relativity. Its formulas sit in two boxes: waves and thermodynamics, and quantum, special relativity and nuclear.
| Formula | Symbols | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| v = f lambda, and f = 1/T | v wave speed, f frequency, lambda wavelength, T period | Any wave: speed from frequency and wavelength |
| fbeat = |f2 - f1| | fbeat beat frequency, f1 and f2 the two frequencies | Beat frequency of two close waves |
| f' = f (vwave + vobserver) / (vwave - vsource) | f' shifted frequency, v wave speed, observer and source speeds | Doppler shift for a moving observer or source |
| d sin theta = m lambda | d grating spacing, m order (a whole number), theta angle | Diffraction grating bright fringes |
| n = c/v, and n1 sin theta1 = n2 sin theta2 | n refractive index | Refractive index and Snell law |
| sin thetac = n2/n1 | thetac critical angle | Total internal reflection |
| I = Imax cos2 theta | I intensity of polarised light | Light through a polariser |
| I1r12 = I2r22 | I intensity, r distance from the source | Inverse square law: intensity at two distances |
| E = hf | E photon energy, h Planck constant | Photon energy from frequency |
| Kmax = hf - phi | phi work function of the metal | Photoelectric effect: fastest electrons |
| lambdamax = b / T | b Wien constant, T temperature in kelvin | Peak wavelength of a black body |
| t = t0 / sqrt(1 - v2/c2) | t0 proper time | Time dilation |
| l = l0 sqrt(1 - v2/c2) | l0 proper length | Length contraction, along the motion only |
| p = m0v / sqrt(1 - v2/c2) | m0 rest mass | Relativistic momentum |
| E = mc2 | m mass | Mass and energy equivalence |
| Q = mc change in T | Q heat, m mass, c specific heat capacity | Heating: energy to change temperature (waves and thermodynamics box) |
| Q / t = kA change in T / d | Q/t heat flow rate, k thermal conductivity, A area, d thickness | Conduction through a slab (waves and thermodynamics box) |
Photon energy from wavelength is not printed as one line on the sheet. It follows from two lines that are: E = hf and v = f lambda, with v = c for light. Combine them and you get E = hc / lambda, which is the form most questions want. Do the combination in your working so the marker can follow it.
Module 8: From the Universe to the Atom
Module 8 covers the quantum mechanical nature of the atom, the origin of the elements and the properties of the nucleus. Its formulas sit in the quantum, special relativity and nuclear box, with the wave box behind them.
| Formula | Symbols | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| lambda = h / mv | lambda de Broglie wavelength, m particle mass, v velocity | Wave nature of a particle |
| 1 / lambda = R (1 / nf2 - 1 / ni2) | R Rydberg constant, nf and ni final and initial levels | Hydrogen spectral lines |
| E = hf | As in Module 7 | Photon energy in atomic transitions |
| N = N0 e-lambda t | N undecayed nuclei, N0 starting number, lambda decay constant, t time | Radioactive decay |
| t1/2 = ln 2 / lambda | t1/2 half-life | Half-life from the decay constant |
Lambda does two jobs on the sheet. It is wavelength in the wave and quantum lines, and it is the decay constant in the radioactive decay lines. The half-life line is the one that links the decay constant to half-life, so check which lambda a question wants before you substitute. The sheet writes kinetic energy as K and gravitational potential energy change as change in U, not Ek and Ep. Define your own symbols in a working line if you write them differently.
What is not on the sheet
- Weight as mass times g: the only line with g in it is the change in gravitational potential energy near Earth. Know F = mg yourself.
- Speed from angular speed: angular speed is printed, and so is speed as circumference over period, but there is no line for speed as radius times angular speed.
- Field strength around a point mass or point charge: you get the force between two masses, the force between two charges, and the force on a charge in a field. The field strength forms are yours to derive.
- Resistors in series and parallel: Ohm law and electrical power are printed, and combining resistances is not.
- A single line for momentum: momentum shows up in conservation of momentum, in impulse, and as relativistic momentum. There is no bare p = mv line on the sheet.
- Photon energy as hc over wavelength: not printed as one line. Combine E = hf with v = f lambda.
- Inverse square law as I = P / 4 pi r2: the sheet prints the ratio form I1r12 = I2r22 instead. The P form follows from it, but it is not a printed line.
- Latent heat as Q = mL: the sheet prints Q = mc change in T and the conduction rate Q/t = kA change in T / d, but no latent heat line. Know Q = mL yourself.
Figure 2: Exam day. Do calculation questions with the sheet open next to the paper from the same year, and write each answer the way the strong column below does. Photo: ccarlstead, CC BY, via Flickr.
Worked example 1: acceleration and distance (Module 5)
A car starts from rest and reaches 28 m/s in 8.0 s at constant acceleration. Find the acceleration and the distance travelled.
Step 1, record the data: u = 0 m/s, v = 28 m/s, t = 8.0 s. Step 2, pick the formula: v = u + at. Step 3, rearrange: a = (v - u) / t. Step 4, substitute: a = (28 - 0) / 8.0 = 28 / 8.0 = 3.5 m/s2. Step 5, pick the distance formula: s = ut + 1/2 at2. Step 6, substitute: s = 0 x 8.0 + 0.5 x 3.5 x 8.02 = 0 + 0.5 x 3.5 x 64 = 112 m. Check it with the third equation: v2 = u2 + 2as gives 282 = 0 + 2 x 3.5 x 112, which is 784 = 784. The answer is acceleration 3.5 m/s2 and distance 112 m.
Worked example 2: photon energy (Module 7)
Find the energy of a photon of green light with wavelength 500 nm, in joules and in electron volts.
Step 1, record the data and convert the units: lambda = 500 nm = 500 x 10-9 m = 5.00 x 10-7 m. Step 2, find the frequency from the wave equation: f = c / lambda = 3.00 x 108 / 5.00 x 10-7 = 6.00 x 1014 Hz. Step 3, photon energy: E = hf = 6.626 x 10-34 x 6.00 x 1014 = 3.9756 x 10-19 J, which rounds to 3.98 x 10-19 J. Step 4, convert to electron volts using 1 eV = 1.602 x 10-19 J: E = 3.9756 x 10-19 / 1.602 x 10-19 = 2.48 eV. The answer is 3.98 x 10-19 J, or 2.48 eV. The same answer comes from E = hc / lambda in one step: 6.626 x 10-34 x 3.00 x 108 / 5.00 x 10-7 = 3.98 x 10-19 J.
How to use the sheet in the exam
NESA marking feedback for 2024 and 2025 gives three instructions that bear on the sheet: show full working including the formula and the substitution, be familiar with the constants and formulas on the data and formulae sheets, and include correct units, with directions for vector quantities. Rearrange the algebra first and substitute numbers last, so rounding errors do not stack up. Convert kilometres to metres and minutes to seconds before you substitute. Practise with the sheet open next to the paper from the same year, and print the sheets from the back of a past paper on the NESA site, which publishes each year's exam pack with the paper, the marking guidelines and the marking feedback.
Sources: AusGrader, HSC Physics Formula Sheet: Data and Formulae Sheets Explained (NESA) (2025 paper, data sheet 19 values, formulae sheet 62 relationships in four boxes: motion, forces and gravity 20 lines, waves and thermodynamics 12, electricity and magnetism 19, quantum, special relativity and nuclear 11; sheets on pages 37 to 39 of the 2025 paper PDF; formulas not on the sheet: weight as mg, speed as radius times angular speed, field strength forms, series and parallel resistors, a single momentum line, photon energy as hc over wavelength); A+ Tutoring, Formula sheets (study transcription of the NESA sheets, with constants and the motion, waves, electricity and light lines); NESA, 2025 HSC Physics exam pack (general instructions: data sheet, formulae sheet and Periodic Table provided, NESA approved calculators may be used); KIS Academics, HSC Physics guide (100 marks, four Year 12 modules: Module 5 Advanced Mechanics, Module 6 Electromagnetism, Module 7 The Nature of Light, Module 8 From the Universe to the Atom; 2026 students sit the Physics Stage 6 Syllabus 2017). Formulas are facts and are not copyrighted paper content. Figures checked 15 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Do you get a formula sheet in the HSC Physics exam?
Yes. NESA prints a data sheet, a formulae sheet and a Periodic Table at the back of the paper. In the 2025 paper they are on pages 37 to 39 of the PDF. You do not bring your own sheet.
How many formulas are on the HSC Physics formula sheet?
62 relationships in four boxes in the 2025 paper: 20 in motion, forces and gravity, 12 in waves and thermodynamics, 19 in electricity and magnetism, and 11 in quantum, special relativity and nuclear. The data sheet adds 19 values.
Is E = hc / lambda on the HSC Physics formula sheet?
Not as one line. The sheet prints E = hf and v = f lambda, so you combine them with v = c to get E = hc / lambda. Show the combination in your working.
How long is the HSC Physics exam?
3 hours for 100 marks, which is about 1.8 minutes per mark. NESA approved calculators may be used.
Where can I get the official HSC Physics formula sheet?
From the back pages of any past HSC Physics paper in the exam pack on the NESA site. Print the sheets from the same year as the paper you are practising on, as the contents can change between years.
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