Physics equations sheet — GCSE physics
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This comprehensive physics equation sheet gives you everything you need to support your students through GCSE physics exams – all the essential formulae in one clear, printable reference.
What's included
- A complete reference sheet featuring 20+ GCSE physics equations in both word and symbol form
- A gapped practice version for active revision, perfect for testing student recall before exams
- Ready-to-print format that works brilliantly in folders, displayed on walls, or used for starter activities
Download this resource as a free PDF, or access the fully editable Word version with a science subscription.
How exam boards are handling equation sheets
Following the 2018 GCSE specification changes, equation sheets are now provided in physics exams for 2025, 2026, and 2027. Students will receive a clean equation sheet in the exam hall and cannot bring their own annotated versions. While students no longer need to memorise all formulae, they must still understand how to apply them across core topics, including forces, energy, electricity, and waves. This resource covers all the standard equations across AQA, Edexcel, and OCR specifications, making it an ideal tool for familiarising students with the equations they'll encounter in their exams, regardless of which board they're sitting.
GCSE physics equations
This GCSE physics equations sheet includes the following formulae:
| weight = mass × gravitational field strength | W = m g |
| work done = force × distance | W = F s |
| force applied to a spring = spring constant × extension | F = k e |
| distance travelled = speed × time | s = v t |
| acceleration = change in velocity ÷ time taken | a = Δv ÷ t |
| resultant force = mass × acceleration | F = m a |
| momentum = mass × velocity | p = m v |
| kinetic energy = 0.5 × mass × speed² | Ek = ½ m v² |
| gravitational potential energy = mass × gravitational field strength × height | Ep = m g h |
| power = energy transferred ÷ time | P = E ÷ t |
| power = work done ÷ time | P = W ÷ t |
| efficiency = useful output energy transfer ÷ total input energy transfer | |
| efficiency = useful power output ÷ total power input | |
| wave speed = frequency × wavelength | v = f λ |
| charge flow = current × time | Q = I t |
| potential difference = current × resistance | V = I R |
| power = potential difference × current | P = V I |
| power = current² × resistance | P = I² R |
| energy transferred = power × time | E = P t |
| energy transferred = charge flow × potential difference | E = Q V |
| density = mass ÷ volume | ρ = m ÷ V |
How to use this physics equation sheet
This resource works brilliantly in multiple ways throughout the year. Early on, it's perfect for helping students become familiar with the range of equations they'll need. Display it on the board during worked examples or give each student a copy for their revision folder.
As exams approach, the gapped version is a really useful and versatile tool – use it as a low-stakes quiz, a homework task, or a timed starter activity to check retention. You can also cut up the equations for matching activities, asking students to pair the word equations with their symbol equivalents, or match equations to their correct units. You might find it useful to laminate sets for repeated use in intervention sessions or as part of a revision carousel.
Looking for more like this?
Enhance your physics equation teaching with these related resources:
- Maths skills for science: Physics equations
- Physics equations flashcards
- Physics equations and units summary
- GCSE physics energy equations practice
- Forces bumper set: Equations
Or check out these teaching ideas to help build students’ confidence in using physics equations at GCSE.
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