General Physics I

Formula
Transformation
BASIC MATH FOR PHYSICS

• For example, consider the equation for calculating the speed of an object. As
you may know, the speed of an object is the distance covered divided by the
time required to cover it.
• Instead of writing out the full statement "speed is equal to distance divided
by time" we can write
v = d/t
where v is the speed, d the distance, and t the time.

© 2014 PEARSON EDUCATION, INC.

BASIC MATH FOR PHYSICS

• Any equation can be rearranged to give information about any of the physical quantities in
it.
• For example, suppose you want to find the distance traveled by an object moving with a
certain speed for a certain period of time. To do this, you simply solve the basic equation v
= d/t for the distance (d).
• Starting with the basic equation v = d/t, multiply both sides of the equation by t:
v x t = d/t x t
• Cancelling out the t's on the right side of the equation gives v x t = d or d = v x t.
© 2014 PEARSON EDUCATION, INC.
WRITE THE CORRECT FORMULA FOR THE FOLLOWING
EQUATIONS

Look for a and m

F= ma
 FORMULA TRANSFORMATION

• Look for h and m

PE= mgh
Formula transformation
•Look for m1
F= Gm1 m2
r2
Look for r
F= Gm1 m2
r2
FORMULA TRANSFORMATION

Look for t and vf

a = vf-vi
t
FORMULA TRANSFORMATION

m1v1 +m2v2 = m1v1’ + m2v2’

v
Look for 1’
EQUATIONS : RELATIONSHIPS
IN A CAPSULE
VARIATION OR PROPORTION

One of the most important and useful ideas in

mathematics is the idea that two variables may be
related to each other. This idea, known as
proportion or variation.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW OF MOTION

•The law states that acceleration is directly

proportional to the net force and inversely
proportional to the mass of an object
a=F/m
DIRECT PROPORTION

• One quantity increases as the other quantity increases

C=
-the circumference is directly proportional to its diameter
-the graph is a straight line
INVERSE PROPORTION

•An inverse proportion is one wherein an

increase in one quantity means a decrease in
the other
•Graph is hyperbola
K= P.V
DIRECT SQUARE PROPORTION

•Both quantities are increasing but one quantity

increases faster than the other
•The graph is parabola
A= πr2
INVERSE SQUARE PROPORTION

•One quantity decreases faster as the other

quantity increases
•The graph is hyperbola
• mv 2
=k
What is the relationship?

F= kq1q2
r2
What is the relationship between

a. F and r

b. F and q
1

c. q and r
2
What is the relationship?

F= kq1q2
r2
What is the relationship between

a. F and r

b. F and q
1

c. q and r
2