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HomeSecondary ScienceO-Level Pack Formula & Definition Sheets
📖 Formula & Definition Sheets

Fast Recall Sheets

Click any card to reveal the answer. Use "Reveal all" to study in reference mode. A formula is only secure when you can identify the right quantities from a word problem and convert units before substituting.

⚡ Physics Formulae
🧪 Chemistry
🧬 Definitions
Speed (average)
speed = distance ÷ time  (m/s)
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Acceleration
a = (v − u) ÷ t  (m/s²)
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Newton's Second Law
F = ma  (N)
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Weight
W = mg  (N; g = 10 N/kg on Earth)
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Density
ρ = m ÷ V  (kg/m³ or g/cm³)
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Moment
moment = force × perpendicular distance  (N·m)
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Pressure (solids)
P = F ÷ A  (Pa = N/m²)
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Pressure (liquids)
P = ρgh  (Pa)
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Work done
W = Fd  (J)
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Power
P = E ÷ t  (W = J/s)
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Kinetic energy
KE = ½mv²  (J)
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Gravitational PE
GPE = mgh  (J)
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Thermal energy (heating)
E = mcΔT  (c = specific heat capacity)
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Thermal energy (change of state)
E = ml  (l = specific latent heat)
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Wave speed
v = fλ  (m/s)
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Total magnification
total = eyepiece mag × objective mag
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Ohm's Law
V = IR  (V; R in Ω)
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Electrical power
P = VI = I²R = V²/R  (W)
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Resistors in series
R_total = R₁ + R₂ + …
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Resistors in parallel
1/R_total = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + …
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Charge and current
Q = It  (C)
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How to use formula recall effectively

Cover the answer, write the formula from memory, then immediately apply it to a word problem. A formula is not secure until you can identify the correct quantities, convert units before substituting, and state the correct unit in the answer.

Moles from mass
moles = mass ÷ Mr
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Concentration
concentration = moles ÷ volume (mol/dm³ or g/dm³)
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Relative formula mass (Mr)
Sum of all relative atomic masses in the formula
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Percentage yield
(actual yield ÷ theoretical yield) × 100%
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Acid + alkali
acid + alkali → salt + water
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Acid + carbonate
acid + carbonate → salt + water + carbon dioxide
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Acid + metal
acid + metal → salt + hydrogen
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Photosynthesis (word)
carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen (light, chlorophyll)
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Complete combustion of methane
CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O
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Oxidation (electrons)
Oxidation = Loss of electrons (OIL)
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Reduction (electrons)
Reduction = Gain of electrons (RIG)
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Cathode (electrolysis)
Reduction occurs — cations are reduced (gain electrons)
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Anode (electrolysis)
Oxidation occurs — anions are oxidised (lose electrons)
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Alkanes general formula
CₙH₂ₙ₊₂
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Alkenes general formula
CₙH₂ₙ
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Test for alkene
Bromine water: orange/brown → colourless
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Diffusion (define)
Net movement of particles from a region of higher concentration to lower concentration down a concentration gradient.
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Osmosis (define)
Net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential to lower water potential through a partially permeable membrane.
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Active transport (define)
Movement of particles against a concentration gradient using energy (ATP) from respiration.
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Transpiration (define)
Loss of water vapour from the aerial parts of a plant, mainly through stomata in the leaves.
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Enzyme (define)
A biological catalyst made of protein that speeds up a chemical reaction without being used up.
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Denaturation
Permanent change in the shape of the enzyme's active site so that the enzyme-substrate complex can no longer form.
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Photosynthesis (complete)
Carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen; requires light energy absorbed by chlorophyll.
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Genotype
The allele combination of an organism (e.g. Aa, BB).
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Phenotype
The observable characteristics of an organism resulting from its genotype and environment.
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Natural selection (4 steps)
1. Variation in population. 2. Selection pressure (predation, disease, competition). 3. Better-adapted individuals survive and reproduce. 4. Advantageous alleles passed to offspring.
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Half-life
Time for the activity/count rate/number of undecayed nuclei to halve.
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Rate of reaction (define)
Change in the amount of reactant used up or product formed per unit time.
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Food chain arrow meaning
The arrow shows the direction of energy transfer from one organism to the next.
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Decomposers (role)
Break down dead organic matter, recycling mineral ions back into the soil for plant uptake.
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Definition answer pattern

For definitions, use the shortest complete statement that contains the scoring idea. For diffusion, always include: net movement, particles, higher to lower concentration, down a concentration gradient. For enzymes, always include: biological catalyst, protein, not used up. Avoid conversational wording when a precise syllabus term exists.