Edexcel physics equations list
Edexcel GCSE Physics (1PH0) uses 31 equations and Edexcel Combined Science (1SC0) uses 27. Pearson prints them on one Equations List that comes with every physics paper, as it has since the 2025 exams, and the list stays in place from 2028. Physics students have four Higher tier equations and Combined Science students have three.
The board's own documents
- Pearson Edexcel GCSE Physics specification (1PH0, Issue 4) (Specification (PDF))
- Pearson Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification (1SC0, Issue 6) (Specification (PDF))
- Pearson GCSE Physics and Combined Science Equations List (June 2025) (Equation sheet (PDF))
Equations the specification lists for recall
| Equation | Physics | Combined Science |
|---|---|---|
| Speed formula: distance = speed × time | Recall Order 1 distance travelled = average speed × time | Recall Order 1 distance travelled = average speed × time |
| Acceleration formula: a = (v − u)/t | Recall Order 2 a = (v − u)/t | Recall Order 2 a = (v − u)/t |
| Force formula: F = ma | Recall Order 3 F = m a | Recall Order 3 F = m a |
| Weight formula: W = mg | Recall Order 4 W = m g | Recall Order 4 W = m g |
| Momentum formula: p = mv | Recall · Higher tier only Order 5 p = m v | Recall · Higher tier only Order 5 p = m v |
| Gravitational potential energy formula: E = m g h | Recall Order 6 ΔGPE = m g Δh | Recall Order 6 ΔGPE = m g Δh |
| Kinetic energy formula: E = ½mv² | Recall Order 7 KE = ½ m v² | Recall Order 7 KE = ½ m v² |
| Efficiency formula | Recall Order 8 useful energy transferred by the device ÷ total energy supplied to the device | Recall Order 8 useful energy transferred by the device ÷ total energy supplied to the device |
| Wave speed equation: v = fλ | Recall Order 9 v = f λ | Recall Order 9 v = f λ |
| Wave speed equation: v = fλ | Recall Order 10 v = x/t | Recall Order 10 v = x/t |
| Work done formula: W = Fs | Recall Order 11 E = F d | Recall Order 11 E = F d |
| Power formula: P = W/t | Recall Order 12 P = E/t | Recall Order 12 P = E/t |
| Energy transferred = charge × potential difference (E = QV) | Recall Order 14 E = Q V | Recall Order 13 E = Q V |
| Moment of a force: M = F d | Recall Order 13 M = F d | Not in this specification |
| Charge equation: Q = It | Recall Order 15 Q = I t | Recall Order 14 Q = I t |
| Potential difference equation: V = IR | Recall Order 16 V = I R | Recall Order 15 V = I R |
| Power equation: P = E/t | Recall Order 17 P = E/t | Recall Order 16 P = E/t |
| Electrical power equation: P = VI | Recall Order 18 P = I V | Recall Order 17 P = I V |
| Power equation: P = I²R | Recall Order 19 P = I² R | Recall Order 18 P = I² R |
| Density formula: ρ = m/V | Recall Order 20 ρ = m/V | Recall Order 19 ρ = m/V |
| Spring force equation: F = k e | Recall Order 21 F = k x | Recall Order 20 F = k x |
| Pressure formula: p = F ÷ A | Recall Order 22 P = F/A | Not in this specification |
Equations the specification gives on the sheet
| Equation | Physics | Combined Science |
|---|---|---|
| The equation v² − u² = 2as | Given on the sheet Order 1 v² − u² = 2 a x | Given on the sheet Order 1 v² − u² = 2 a x |
| Force and change in momentum: F = mΔv/Δt | Given on the sheet · Higher tier only Order 2 F = (m v − m u)/t | Given on the sheet · Higher tier only Order 2 F = (m v − m u)/t |
| E = I V t | Given on the sheet Order 3 E = I V t | Given on the sheet Order 3 E = I V t |
| Force on a current in a magnetic field: F = BIl | Given on the sheet · Higher tier only Order 4 F = B I l | Given on the sheet · Higher tier only Order 4 F = B I l |
| Transformer turns equation: Vp/Vs = Np/Ns | Given on the sheet · Higher tier only Order 5 Vp/Vs = Np/Ns | Not in this specification |
| Transformer power equation: Vp Ip = Vs Is | Given on the sheet Order 6 Vp Ip = Vs Is | Given on the sheet Order 5 Vp Ip = Vs Is |
| Specific heat capacity equation: ΔE = m c Δθ | Given on the sheet Order 7 ΔQ = m c Δθ | Given on the sheet Order 6 ΔQ = m c Δθ |
| Specific latent heat equation: E = m L | Given on the sheet Order 8 Q = m L | Given on the sheet Order 7 Q = m L |
| Elastic potential energy formula: E = ½ k e² | Given on the sheet Order 10 E = ½ k x² | Given on the sheet Order 8 E = ½ k x² |
| Pressure and volume of a gas: pV = constant | Given on the sheet Order 9 P1 V1 = P2 V2 | Not in this specification |
| Pressure in a liquid: p = hρg | Given on the sheet · Higher tier only Order 11 P = h × ρ × g | Not in this specification |
What is on Edexcel's list
Edexcel's specifications, the documents that describe each course, keep the equations in an appendix. Appendix 2 does this for Physics and Appendix 4 for Combined Science. Each appendix has part (a), the equations to recall and apply, and part (b), the ones you select from the list and apply.
In Physics, part (a) has 21 different equations. It has 22 rows, because power = energy transferred ÷ time taken is printed twice, under two topics. Part (b) has 10 more. For exams since 2025, the Equations List in the paper prints parts (a) and (b) together, so the old split no longer affects what you see in the exam.
Part (a) holds the everyday relationships. You get a = (v − u)/t, F = m a, W = m g and p = m v. The energy ones are ΔGPE = m g Δh, KE = ½ m v², E = F d and P = E/t. Waves give v = f λ, and there is a second wave speed form, v = x/t, which only Edexcel lists. For circuits you have E = Q V, Q = I t, V = I R, P = I V and P = I² R. Density is ρ = m/V and the spring equation is F = k x. Distance travelled = average speed × time and efficiency are given in words only.
Part (b) holds v² − u² = 2 a x, F = (mv − mu)/t, E = I V t, F = B I l, Vp Ip = Vs Is, ΔQ = m c Δθ, Q = m L and E = ½ k x². Physics adds the turns equation, Vp/Vs = Np/Ns, and P1 V1 = P2 V2 for a gas.
Physics 1PH0 against Combined Science 1SC0
Edexcel marks content that belongs to the Physics course only with a P after the specification number, such as 9.7P. Four equations carry that mark. Two are from part (a): the moment of a force and pressure = force ÷ area. The other two are from part (b): the transformer turns equation and the gas law.
Take those four away and you have the Combined Science set: 19 equations to recall and 8 from the list. Pearson prints one Equations List for both courses. Its second page covers everyone. The third page adds the extra equations that only Physics students need, so Combined Science students can ignore it.
Higher tier on Edexcel
Edexcel prints its Higher tier equations in bold. In Physics there are four. Momentum, p = m v, comes from part (a). Force = change in momentum ÷ time, F = (mv − mu)/t, force on a conductor, F = B I l, and the transformer turns equation come from part (b).
Combined Science has three, because the turns equation is not in that course. Unlike AQA, Edexcel does not make Vp Ip = Vs Is Higher tier only. Foundation students can meet it too, and Edexcel's wording adds that it is for a transformer that is 100% efficient.
What makes Edexcel different
Edexcel's physics course gives pressure in a liquid, p = h ρ g, as a Higher tier equation on the sheet. The combined science course leaves it out. Edexcel also has no period = 1 ÷ frequency and no magnification.
The letters need care. Edexcel uses x for distance in v² − u² = 2 a x and for extension in F = k x. It uses Q for thermal energy in ΔQ = m c Δθ and Q = m L, and Q also stands for charge in Q = I t. Pressure is a capital P, so P can mean power or pressure. Read each symbol in the context of the question.
Edexcel lists power = energy transferred ÷ time taken, P = E/t, and in part (b) it gives E = I V t for electrical energy. It does not print E = P t on its own. The energy, power and time page shows how these fit together.
Pearson's own documents
These are the files this page is checked against. Pearson is the company that runs the Edexcel exams.
- GCSE Physics 1PH0 specification, Appendix 2
- GCSE Combined Science 1SC0 specification, Appendix 4
- Equations List for 1PH0 and 1SC0, the May to June 2025 insert
To compare Edexcel with AQA and OCR, see the physics equation sheet overview.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up the two uses of Q. In ΔQ = m c Δθ it is energy in joules, and in Q = I t it is charge in coulombs.
- Reading the third page of the Equations List in a Combined Science paper. Those equations belong to the Physics course only.
Practise Edexcel forms such as F = k x in the Equation Rearranger game.
Questions people ask
How many equations are on the Edexcel GCSE physics list?
Physics (1PH0) has 31 different equations and Combined Science (1SC0) has 27. One power equation is printed twice in the specification, and it counts once.
Why does Edexcel use x for distance?
It is Edexcel's choice of letter for distance and for extension. The physics is the same, so use whichever letter your own list shows.
Is the Edexcel list the same as the AQA sheet?
No. The lists overlap a lot, but Edexcel has fewer equations, uses different letters in places, and has no period or magnification equation. It gives liquid pressure only in the physics course, at Higher tier.