The Edexcel GCSE Physics and Combined Science equation lists in full: the ones to recall, the ones on the formulae sheet, which are Higher tier only and which are Physics only, and the letters Edexcel uses.
What you will learn
- Say which Edexcel equations you must recall and which are on the formulae sheet
- Spot the Higher tier only and Physics only equations
- Read Edexcel's letters: x, Q and P each mean two things
- Rearrange and use the Edexcel recall equations
Recall these (Edexcel list a)
Edexcel expects you to recall and use these.
A question may ask you to write one down, to use it, or both.
| Quantity | Equation | Units |
|---|---|---|
| distance travelled | distance travelled = average speed × time | m, m/s, s |
| acceleration | a = (v − u) ÷ t | m/s², m/s, s |
| force | F = m × a | N, kg, m/s² |
| weight | W = m × g | N, kg, N/kg |
| momentum (Higher) | p = m × v | kg m/s, kg, m/s |
| change in gravitational potential energy | ΔGPE = m × g × Δh | J, kg, N/kg, m |
| kinetic energy | KE = ½ × m × v² | J, kg, m/s |
| efficiency | useful energy transferred ÷ total energy supplied | no unit, or × 100 for % |
| wave speed | v = f × λ and v = x ÷ t | m/s, Hz, m, s |
| work done | E = F × d | J, N, m |
| power | P = E ÷ t | W, J, s |
| moment of a force (Physics only) | moment = F × d | N m, N, m |
| energy transferred | E = Q × V | J, C, V |
| charge | Q = I × t | C, A, s |
| potential difference | V = I × R | V, A, Ω |
| electrical power | P = I × V and P = I² × R | W, A, V, Ω |
| density | ρ = m ÷ V | kg/m³, kg, m³ |
| force on a spring | F = k × x | N, N/m, m |
| pressure (Physics only) | P = F ÷ A | Pa, N, m² |
Ofqual requires the boards to give an equation sheet in GCSE Physics and Combined Science exams from 2025 for the life of the current specifications (decisions updated 13 Nov 2024 and 5 May 2026). Check the sheet for your own exam series. Knowing which list an equation is on still tells you which ones to know by heart, so you can pick them out quickly.
The rest of this lesson and its 12 practice questions are locked.
In this lesson
- Recall these (Edexcel list a)
- On the formulae sheet (Edexcel list b)
- Edexcel's letters
12 practice questions, marked as you go; about 25 minutes in all.
In this unit: Required practicals, maths skills and the equations
The skills every physics paper tests: units and standard form, uncertainty and errors, planning, graphs, the equations and the required practicals side by side.
- Units, prefixes and standard form
- Measurements, uncertainty and errors
- Variables, planning and risk
- Graphs: gradients, intercepts and areas
- The equations: learn, choose and rearrange
- The required practicals side by side
- Equation list B: recall and the formulae sheet
- Equation list C: word equations, recall and the equation sheet