AFIT POST-UTME PHYSICS FORMULA SHEET
Essential Formulas, Symbols, and Concepts for Engineering & Applied Sciences Screening
Exam Tip: AFIT Post-UTME questions emphasize speed and core application. Pay close attention to SI unit conversions (e.g.,
cm to m, g to kg) and standard constants ($g = 10 ext{ m/s}^2$).
1. Mechanics & Properties of Matter
Linear Motion & Ballistics
Concept Formula Description / Symbols
Equations of Motion v = u + at u = initial velocity, v = final velocity, a =
s = ut + ½at² acceleration, s = displacement, t = time.
v² = u² + 2as
s = (½)(u + v)t
Projectile Motion T = (2u sinθ) / g T = Total time of flight, H = Maximum height
H = (u² sin²θ) / 2g reached, R = Horizontal range, θ = angle of
R = (u² sin2θ) / g projection.
Dynamics, Work, Energy & Circular Motion
Concept Formula Description / Symbols
Newton's 2nd Law & Momentum F = ma F = force (N), p = linear momentum, I =
p = mv Impulse, Δp = change in momentum.
I = F Δt = Δp
Work, Energy & Power W = F s cosθ W = work done (J), K.E. = kinetic energy, P.E.
K.E. = ½mv² = potential energy, P = power (W).
P.E. = mgh
P=W/t=Fv
Uniform Circular Motion v=ωr ω = angular velocity (rad/s), ac = centripetal
ac = v² / r = ω²r acceleration, Fc = centripetal force.
Fc = mv² / r
Elasticity (Hooke's Law) F = ke k = stiffness / spring constant, e = extension,
W = ½Fe = ½ke² W = elastic strain energy, A = cross-sectional
Tensile Stress = F / A area, L = original length.
Tensile Strain = e / L
Hydrostatic Pressure & Upthrust P=ρgh P = pressure, ρ = fluid density, h = depth, U =
U = ρfluid Vsub g Upthrust force, Vsub = submerged volume.
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2. Thermal Physics
Concept Formula Description / Symbols
Thermal Expansion α = ΔL / (L0 Δθ) α = linear, β = area, γ = volume expansivity.
β = 2α , γ = 3α Δθ = temperature change.
Quantity of Heat Energy Q = mc Δθ c = specific heat capacity, C = heat capacity
Q = C Δθ (C = mc), L = specific latent heat (fusion/
Q = mL vaporization).
Gas Laws P1V1 / T1 = P2V2 / T2 Temperature T must always be converted to
PV = nRT Kelvin (K = °C + 273). R = universal gas
constant.
3. Waves & Optics
Concept Formula Description / Symbols
General Wave Equation v=fλ v = wave velocity, f = frequency, λ =
f=1/T wavelength, T = period.
Refractive Index (n) n = sin i / sin r i = angle of incidence, r = angle of refraction,
n = v1 / v2 = λ1 / λ2 c = critical angle (dense to rare medium
n = Real Depth / Apparent Depth transition).
n = 1 / sin c
Mirrors & Curved Lenses 1/f = 1/u + 1/v u = object distance, v = image distance, f =
f=r/2 focal length, m = magnification, P = Lens
m = v / u = Hi / Ho power (Diopters, D). Use real-is-positive
P = 1 / f (meters) convention.
4. Electricity & Magnetism
Concept Formula Description / Symbols
Electrostatics (Coulomb) F = k q1q2 / r² F = electrostatic force, E = electric field
E = F / q = k q / r² strength, k = 1 / (4πε0) ≈ 9 × 109 N·m²/C².
Current Electricity & Resistance V=IR V = potential difference, I = current, R =
R=ρL/A resistance, ρ = resistivity, A = cross sectional
Rseries = R1 + R2 + ... area.
1/Rparallel = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + ...
Electrical Power & Cell EMF E.m.f = I(R + r) E.m.f = total cell potential, r = internal
E = V + Ir resistance of cell, V = terminal p.d., P =
P = IV = I²R = V² / R electric power, W = electrical energy.
W = Pt = IVt
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Concept Formula Description / Symbols
Capacitors Q=CV C = capacitance (Farads, F), Q = stored
Cparallel = C1 + C2 + ... charge, W = energy stored in a capacitor.
1/Cseries = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + ... (Note: standard opposite of resistor sorting).
W = ½QV = ½CV²
Transformers Vs / Vp = Ns / Np = Ip / Is p = primary coil, s = secondary coil, N =
Efficiency = (Pout / Pin) × 100% number of turns, V = voltage, I = current. For
ideal transformers, efficiency = 100%.
5. Modern Physics & Radioactivity
Concept Formula Description / Symbols
Photon Energy & Photoelectric E=hf=hc/λ h = Planck's constant, W0 = work function of
E = W0 + [Link] the metal, f0 = threshold frequency, [Link] =
h f = h f0 + ½mevmax² max kinetic energy of emitted photoelectrons.
Radioactive Decay N_t = N_0 (½)n N_0 = initial mass/activity, N_t = remaining
n = t / T½ mass/activity at time t, T½ = half-life, n =
number of half-lives elapsed.
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