Formula Sheet & Exam Reference: Test Review

Everything for the Unit 6 test on one page: the key facts from all 2 lessons, the mistakes that cost the most marks, and a practice test that points you back to the lessons you need.

Key facts

How to Attack a Physics Problem

Draw something, list the givens with units, convert to base SI, choose the equation, rearrange, then substitute.
Check four things every time: units, magnitude, direction and sign.
For kinematics, pick the equation missing the variable you neither have nor want.
Multiplying or dividing keeps the fewest significant figures; adding or subtracting keeps the fewest decimal places.
Round only at the end, carrying extra digits through intermediate steps.
Show the substitution line — part marks are awarded for a correct equation and substitution.
Keep the calculator in degree mode for the entire course.
A vector answer without a direction is not a complete answer.

Where marks get lost

Meeting the formula sheet for the first time during the test, and losing minutes hunting for the right line. (The SPH3U Formula Sheet, Decoded)
Assuming everything needed is printed on it. Power, efficiency and the average-velocity equation are not. (The SPH3U Formula Sheet, Decoded)
Reading $T$ as temperature in a wave question or as period in a thermal one. Context decides. (The SPH3U Formula Sheet, Decoded)
Forgetting that $\frac{1}{R}$ in the parallel formula still needs inverting to give $R$ . (The SPH3U Formula Sheet, Decoded)
Substituting into $v_{f}^{2} = \dots$ and forgetting the square root, or into $Δ d = \dots Δ t^{2}$ and forgetting to square. (The SPH3U Formula Sheet, Decoded)
Copying $\frac{N _{1}}{N _{2}} = \frac{I _{1}}{I _{2}}$ . The current ratio on the sheet is inverted. (The SPH3U Formula Sheet, Decoded)
Starting to calculate before reading what the question actually asks for. (How to Attack a Physics Problem)
Skipping the diagram. Almost every free-body and circuit error is one a sketch would have prevented. (How to Attack a Physics Problem)
Converting units late, or not at all. Do it when you list the givens. (How to Attack a Physics Problem)
Substituting before rearranging, then trying to extract a squared or buried term. (How to Attack a Physics Problem)
Copying the full calculator display instead of matching significant figures to the data. (How to Attack a Physics Problem)
Leaving a vector answer as a bare number, or as a bare minus sign with no stated convention. (How to Attack a Physics Problem)
Leaving the calculator in radian mode, which silently corrupts every trigonometric answer. (How to Attack a Physics Problem)
Writing only a final answer. Part marks require the equation and the substitution to be visible. (How to Attack a Physics Problem)

Practice test

12 questions from across the unit. Each one shows the lesson it comes from.

The SPH3U Formula Sheet, Decoded
1
Which of these formulas is not printed on the SPH3U formula sheet?
The SPH3U Formula Sheet, Decoded
2
In the equation $v_{so u n d} = 332 + 0.6 T$ , what does $T$ represent?
The SPH3U Formula Sheet, Decoded
3
In the transformer relationship, which ratio is inverted relative to the others?
The SPH3U Formula Sheet, Decoded
4
Match each symbol to what it means on the formula sheet.
$c$
$L_{f}$
$κ$
$μ$
The SPH3U Formula Sheet, Decoded
5
Order these strands as they appear on the SPH3U formula sheet.
1. 1Waves and Sound
2. 2Electricity and Electro Magnetism
3. 3Energy
4. 4Kinematic
5. 5Forces
The SPH3U Formula Sheet, Decoded
6
What unit must mass be in for every formula on the sheet?
How to Attack a Physics Problem
7
A student calculates that a dropped stone lands at $145 m/s$ after falling $8 m$ . What is the most likely error?
How to Attack a Physics Problem
8
Which check would most quickly reveal that a household appliance 'draws $2400 A$ '?
How to Attack a Physics Problem
9
Why should you rearrange an equation before substituting numbers?
How to Attack a Physics Problem
10
A question asks for a displacement and a student answers ' $14 m$ '. What is missing?
How to Attack a Physics Problem
11
Match each recurring trap to the strand it belongs to.
Negative acceleration does not mean slowing down
A perpendicular force does zero work
Echo problems need the factor of 2
Take the reciprocal at the end
How to Attack a Physics Problem
12
Which of these does not limit the significant figures in an answer?

Endless drill

Fresh numbers every time, for the calculation questions in this unit.

Endless drillnew numbers every time