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Modern Physics Math Notes

The document provides essential information on metric prefixes, trigonometric functions, graph relationships, and formulas for area, perimeter, and volume. It explains how to convert between units using powers of ten, the sine, cosine, and tangent ratios in right triangles, and the characteristics of different graph shapes. Additionally, it includes formulas for various geometric shapes and emphasizes the distinction between square and cubic units for area and volume.

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0 views4 pages

Modern Physics Math Notes

The document provides essential information on metric prefixes, trigonometric functions, graph relationships, and formulas for area, perimeter, and volume. It explains how to convert between units using powers of ten, the sine, cosine, and tangent ratios in right triangles, and the characteristics of different graph shapes. Additionally, it includes formulas for various geometric shapes and emphasizes the distinction between square and cubic units for area and volume.

Uploaded by

omy65451
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

01 • CONVERSION

Metric prefixes made simple — move from the small unit to the big unit by powers of 10.

Prefix Symbol Factor Prefix Symbol Factor

centi c × 10■² kilo k × 10³

milli m × 10■³
mega M × 10■
micro µ × 10■■
giga G × 10■
nano n × 10■■
tera T × 10¹²
angstrom Å × 10■¹■

pico p × 10■¹²

Golden rule: small unit → big unit = use a negative power. Big unit → small unit = use a positive power.

Examples
Length <b>3 cm</b> 3 × 10■² m

Length <b>5 km</b> 5 × 10³ m

Frequency <b>5 GHz</b> 5 × 10■ Hz

Area <b>3 cm²</b> 3 × (10■²)² = 3 × 10■■ m²

Volume <b>3 cm³</b> 3 × (10■²)³ = 3 × 10■■ m³

STUDY NOTES • CONVERSION • TRIG • GRAPHS • GEOMETRY 01


02 • TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
A right triangle gives you three key ratios: sine, cosine and tangent.

hyp = 5
opp = 3 cm

adj = 4 cm

SIN θ COS θ TAN θ

opposite / hypotenuse adjacent / hypotenuse opposite / adjacent


3/5 4/5 3/4

Hypotenuse is always the longest side and is opposite the 90° angle.

Finding an unknown side


For the 3–4–5 triangle:

x = √(opposite² + adjacent²) = √(3² + 4²) = 5

Quick memory trick


SOH • CAH • TOA Sin = Opp/Hyp • Cos = Adj/Hyp • Tan = Opp/Adj

STUDY NOTES • CONVERSION • TRIG • GRAPHS • GEOMETRY 02


03 • GRAPHS & SLOPE
The shape of a graph tells you whether two quantities are constant, directly related, inversely related, or
proportional to a square.

y y

30°

10 20 30 40 x x

DIRECT RELATION SLOPE

A straight line through the origin: y = kx. slope = ∆y / ∆x = tan θ

Worked slope example


Using two points on the straight line: ∆y = 6 and ∆x = 30.

slope = ∆y / ∆x = 6 / 30 = 1/5

Relationship Graph clue Main idea

Constant Horizontal line y stays fixed

Direct Straight line from origin y∝x

Inverse Curved decreasing graph y ∝ 1/x

Square / quadratic Curved increasing graph y ∝ x²

STUDY NOTES • CONVERSION • TRIG • GRAPHS • GEOMETRY 03


04 • AREA, PERIMETER & VOLUME
Keep these formulas together — identify the shape, choose the correct formula, then substitute the values.

SQUARE RECTANGLE TRIANGLE CIRCLE

Shape Area Perimeter / Circumference

Square l² 4l

Rectangle l×w 2(l + w)

Triangle ½bh l■ + l■ + l■

Circle πr² 2πr

3D shapes — volume
Cube l³

Cuboid l■ × l■ × l■

Sphere 4/3 πr³

Cylinder πr²h

Exam tip: Area uses square units (m²), while volume uses cubic units (m³).

STUDY NOTES • CONVERSION • TRIG • GRAPHS • GEOMETRY 04

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