GCSE Physics Equations to Learn (and How to Memorise Them)

7 min read · FlashDeck

The GCSE physics equations to learn are the ones your exam board expects you to recall from memory, such as W = mg, s = vt, F = ma, KE = ½mv², P = E/t, V = IR, P = IV, Q = It, v = fλ and ρ = m/V. Others, like ΔE = mcΔθ and v² − u² = 2as, are printed on the physics equation sheet in the exam. Learn the recall list with flashcards, including the units, and practice using both lists in questions.

If your problem is that equations blur together the second you see a calculation, FlashDeck turns your equation list into cards and drills only the ones you're about to forget: Build my study plan.

Which equations you must learn

Quick heads-up: the exact list depends on your exam board (AQA, Edexcel, OCR) and whether you're doing combined science or triple physics. The list below is based on AQA's GCSE physics specification, which is what most people are searching for. Always cross-check with your own board's spec, where the list lives in an appendix or equations section.

Also watch for (HT) in your spec, which means higher tier only, and content marked as physics-only (triple).

Here's the recall list, grouped so it's easier to learn:

#	Equation	In words
1	W = mg	weight = mass × gravitational field strength
2	W = Fs	work done = force × distance
3	F = ke	force = spring constant × extension
4	M = Fd	moment = force × distance (triple)
5	p = F/A	pressure = force ÷ area (triple)
6	s = vt	distance = speed × time
7	a = Δv/t	acceleration = change in velocity ÷ time
8	F = ma	resultant force = mass × acceleration
9	p = mv	momentum = mass × velocity (HT)
10	Ek = ½mv²	kinetic energy = 0.5 × mass × speed²
11	Ep = mgh	GPE = mass × g × height
12	P = E/t	power = energy transferred ÷ time
13	P = W/t	power = work done ÷ time
14	efficiency = useful output ÷ total input	energy or power version
15	v = fλ	wave speed = frequency × wavelength
16	Q = It	charge = current × time
17	V = IR	potential difference = current × resistance
18	P = VI	power = potential difference × current
19	P = I²R	power = current² × resistance
20	E = Pt	energy = power × time
21	E = QV	energy = charge × potential difference
22	ρ = m/V	density = mass ÷ volume

Yeah, that's a lot. But around 20 short equations is very doable with the right method. More on that below.

Equations you're given in the exam

These are on the physics equation sheet (AQA) so you don't have to memorize them, but you do need to know when to use them. Examples:

Ee = ½ke² — elastic potential energy
ΔE = mcΔθ — change in thermal energy (specific heat capacity)
E = mL — energy for a change of state (specific latent heat)
v² − u² = 2as — for uniform acceleration
T = 1/f — period and frequency
F = BIl — force on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field (HT)
Vp/Vs = np/ns and VsIs = VpIp — transformers (check tier and triple)

Pro move: make cards for these too, but flip them. Front: "Which equation do you use for energy needed to melt ice?" Back: "E = mL (given on the sheet)." Knowing which equation is half the battle.

Energy and electricity equations

This group shows up constantly, from Paper 1 energy questions to circuits.

Energy stores

Ek = ½mv² — don't forget to square the speed, not the half.
Ep = mgh — g is usually 9.8 N/kg on AQA papers (they tell you in the question).
P = E/t and E = Pt — same equation, rearranged.

Electricity equations for GCSE physics

V = IR — the classic.
P = VI and P = I²R — two ways to find power.
Q = It — charge in coulombs, time in seconds.
E = QV — energy transferred per charge.

Unit trap: time is always in seconds in these. "5 minutes" means 300 s. Make a card for it.

Forces and motion equations

s = vt — speed, distance, time.
a = Δv/t — change in velocity, so final minus initial.
F = ma — resultant force, not just any force.
W = mg — weight in newtons, mass in kg.
W = Fs — work done in joules.
F = ke — extension in meters, not cm.
p = mv (HT) — momentum.
M = Fd and p = F/A — moments and pressure, if you're on the triple course.

Waves and density equations

v = fλ — wave speed = frequency × wavelength. Frequency in Hz, wavelength in m.
ρ = m/V — density. Check units: kg/m³ or g/cm³, and don't mix them.
T = 1/f — given, but used alongside v = fλ a lot.

That's all the equations needed for GCSE physics in one place, split into "learn" and "given."

How to memorise equations with cards

Here's where people go wrong: they stare at the equation sheet, maybe draw an equation triangle, and call it revised. Then in the exam they write P = V/I.

Recognition isn't recall. You need to produce the equation from nothing.

The 3-card method per equation

For each recall equation, make three cards:

Words → symbols. "Equation linking power, current and resistance?" → "P = I²R"
Units. "Unit of charge?" → "Coulomb (C)"
Rearrange. "Rearrange V = IR for R" → "R = V/I"

Then quiz yourself daily. Equations you get right wait a few days. Ones you miss come back tomorrow. After two or three weeks, they're automatic.

Why equation triangles aren't enough

Triangles help you rearrange, but they don't help you remember the equation in the first place, and they break down for ones like Ek = ½mv². Use them as a backup, not the main method.

The catch with the 3-card method: that's about 60 cards, and keeping track of which ones you've been missing is honestly the hardest part.

FlashDeck handles the tracking. Paste this equation list (or your teacher's sheet) and it writes one question-and-answer card per formula. Each day you see only the ones you're about to forget, tap Knew it or Missed it, and it spaces the rest out. It even shows how many cards you've learned, which are due and which you missed. Build my study plan

GCSE physics equation practice

Cards get the equations into your head. Practice questions get them onto the page. After your daily cards, do 3 to 5 calculation questions. Always:

Write the equation.
Convert units.
Substitute.
Rearrange if needed.
Answer with units.

Physics mocks coming up? Plug this into the 2-week science mock plan. Only got a day? The one-day revision plan works for physics too: just swap chemistry calculations for these equations.

Start memorizing your physics equations tonight

The GCSE physics equations to learn stop being scary once you're quizzing yourself on them daily. Paste this list into FlashDeck, get your equation cards in seconds, and spend about ten minutes a day on only the ones you're about to forget.

Build my study plan

FAQ

How many equations do you need to learn for GCSE physics?

On AQA it's roughly 20 to 23 recall equations, depending on whether you're doing combined or triple and higher or foundation tier. Other boards have similar but not identical lists. Check the equations appendix in your own specification for the exact list.

Do you get an equation sheet in GCSE physics?

Yes, most boards give you a physics equation sheet with some equations on it, but not all of them. The ones you must recall, like V = IR, F = ma and KE = ½mv², are not on the sheet. You still need to know when to use the given ones.

What's the best way to memorize equations for physics?

Use active recall: cards with the equation in words on the front and symbols on the back, plus cards for units and rearranging. Review missed cards the next day and correct ones a few days later. Then use them in practice questions so they stick in context.

Are physics equation triangles useful for GCSE?

They can help you rearrange simple three-part equations like V = IR or s = vt. They don't help you remember the equation itself and don't work well for equations with squares or halves. Learn the equations properly and use triangles only as a backup for rearranging.

Is there a GCSE physics equations quiz I can use?

You can turn the list above into your own quiz by covering the right-hand column. FlashDeck can build the quiz for you from pasted notes and show you only the equations you're about to forget, and you can share the deck with friends by link.