SAT Physics Formula Sheet- What You Need to Know
What This Article Actually Covers
You're taking the SAT and need physics formulas. This isn't a textbook. It's what you actually need to memorize, understand, and use on test day. No filler.
First, the uncomfortable truth: memorizing formulas won't save you if you don't know when to apply them. But you'll struggle without them too. Here's both sides.
The Core Formulas You Can't Skip
These appear on every SAT Physics test. Know them cold.
Mechanics
- Velocity: v = v₀ + at
- Displacement: x = v₀t + ½at²
- Final velocity squared: v² = v₀² + 2ax
- Force: F = ma
- Weight: W = mg (g = 9.8 m/s² on Earth)
- Momentum: p = mv
- Work: W = Fd cosθ
- Kinetic energy: KE = ½mv²
- Potential energy: PE = mgh
- Power: P = W/t
Waves and Optics
- Wave equation: v = fλ
- Period: T = 1/f
- Snell's Law: n₁sinθ₁ = n₂sinθ₂
- Mirror/lens equation: 1/f = 1/dₒ + 1/dᵢ
- Magnification: M = -dᵢ/dₒ = hᵢ/hₒ
Electricity and Magnetism
- Ohm's Law: V = IR
- Power: P = IV = I²R = V²/R
- Coulomb's Law: F = kq₁q₂/r²
- Capacitance: C = Q/V
Heat and Thermodynamics
- Heat transfer: Q = mcΔT
- Ideal gas law: PV = nRT
- Efficiency: e = W/Qₕ = 1 - Qc/Qₕ
How to Actually Use These on the SAT
The test won't hand you a question that says "use F = ma." You'll get a scenario and need to identify which formula applies.
Example trap: Students see "ball thrown upward" and immediately grab equations for vertical motion. Sometimes horizontal motion equations are faster. Read the question.
The Plug-and-Chug Reality
Most SAT Physics questions are straightforward calculations. You identify the known variables, pick the right formula, solve for the unknown. That's it.
Where students lose points:
- Using the wrong formula because they didn't read carefully
- Solving for the wrong variable
- Forgetting to convert units
- Misreading what the question actually asks
What the SAT Actually Tests
It's not a physics knowledge test. It's a reasoning test with physics content. You need to understand concepts, not just memorize.
The test covers:
- Kinematics and dynamics (40%)
- Waves and optics (20%)
- Heat and thermodynamics (15%)
- Electricity and magnetism (15%)
- Miscellaneous (10%)
Quick Reference Table
| Topic | Key Formula | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Projectile Motion | v² = v₀² + 2ax | Using vertical g for horizontal components |
| Circular Motion | a = v²/r | Forgetting centripetal force direction |
| Conservation of Energy | KE₁ + PE₁ = KE₂ + PE₂ | Ignoring non-conservative forces |
| Electric Circuits | V = IR | Mixing series/parallel rules |
| Wave Interference | v = fλ | Confusing wavelength with amplitude |
Getting Started: Your Action Plan
- Print this list or write it by hand. Physical repetition beats reading.
- Test yourself daily — cover the right side, solve for variables.
- Do practice problems that require these formulas. Not just plug-and-chug. Scenarios that make you choose the right formula.
- Memorize units — knowing that force is in Newtons (kg·m/s²) catches unit conversion errors instantly.
What You Don't Need
Skip the obscure formulas. The SAT won't ask you to calculate the moment of inertia for a non-standard shape. Focus on the fundamentals above. Advanced derivations are wasted study time.
Also skip: detailed thermodynamics derivations, advanced circuit analysis, relativistic physics. The test doesn't go there.
The Bottom Line
You need roughly 20-25 core formulas memorized. Know when to use each one. Practice with real questions. Check your work.
That's it. No magic. Just the formulas, the practice, and attention to detail on test day.