H2 Physics Formula Sheet 2026-2027 | Data and Formulae
H2 Physics Formula Sheet 2026-2027 | Data and Formulae
Study guide//Updated 02 Sep 2026
Reviewed by
Chee Wei Jie·Academic Advisor (Physics)
H2 Physics formula sheet for 2026 and 2027 (9478): official Data and Formulae pages, where SEAB prints them in Papers 1-3, and what students still need to memorise.
Q: Is there an official H2 Physics formula sheet or data booklet for A-Level 9478? A: Yes. SEAB prints the official Data and Formulae pages inside Papers 1, 2 and 3. Students often call this the H2 Physics formula sheet or data booklet, and this guide shows what is provided, what is not, and how to use it fast.
Last reviewed: 2 September 2026 against the official 2026 and 2027 SEAB 9478 syllabuses and examination rules.
Use this page to find the official documents and check what SEAB provides. For definitions, graph meanings, assumptions, units, and formula conditions, use the H2 Physics definitions checklist.
Open the official Data and Formulae pages
The official 9478 syllabus places the Data and Formulae section on syllabus pages 41 and 42. SEAB says these are printed as pages 2 and 3 in Papers 1, 2 and 3.
Status: SEAB lists H2 Physics 9478 for both the 2026 and 2027 examinations. In both syllabuses, the Data and Formulae pages are printed in Papers 1, 2 and 3.
The pages give relationships, not understanding: Identify the physics model first.
Many mistakes start with units: Convert to SI units before substituting.
A provided formula still needs a reason: Check that its conditions apply.
Example: If a current is given in mA, convert it to A before using a circuit relationship. The document cannot prevent a power-of-ten error.
What the two pages actually contain
The two pages provide a limited set of constants and relationships. They are not a complete formula list for every syllabus topic.
Constants supplied
The constants include:
speed of light in free space
permeability and permittivity of free space
the Coulomb constant written as 1/(4πε0)
elementary charge and the rest masses of the electron and proton
Planck constant and unified atomic mass constant
molar gas constant, Avogadro constant and Boltzmann constant
gravitational constant and acceleration of free fall
Relationships supplied
The formula section includes selected relationships for:
uniformly accelerated motion
work done on or by a gas, pressure and gravitational potential
Celsius-to-Kelvin conversion, ideal-gas pressure and mean translational kinetic energy
simple harmonic motion displacement and velocity
electric current in a conductor, resistor combinations, capacitor combinations, capacitor energy, capacitor discharge and the RC time constant
electric potential due to a point charge
sinusoidal alternating current
magnetic flux density around a long straight wire, a flat circular coil and a long solenoid
particle-in-a-box energy and radioactive decay
The syllabus's Summary of Key Quantities, Symbols and Units is a separate section on pages 39 and 40. Do not assume those summary pages, or a list of SI prefixes, are reproduced as part of the two Data and Formulae pages in the examination.
Common relationships not supplied on these pages
Examples include F=ma, Ek=21mv2, I=Q/t, electrical power relationships, Coulomb's law, the electric field of a point charge, Faraday's law, the transformer relationship, E=hf, photon momentum and the de Broglie relationship. Specific heat capacity and specific latent heat relationships are also not printed there.
Absence from the formula pages does not by itself prove that an equation must be memorised word for word. Check the relevant syllabus learning outcome to see whether candidates are expected to recall, define, derive or use the relationship.
It’s not a replacement for understanding: you still need to know which model applies, how to rearrange equations quickly, and how to justify assumptions in explanations.
How to use Data and Formulae under exam timing
1) Start with units and symbols before you start calculating
Most “formula mistakes” are actually unit mistakes. Before you substitute:
Convert everything to consistent SI units (especially mm, cm, ms, min, mA).
Track powers of ten explicitly (do not “mental-shift” and hope it cancels).
2) Treat the pages as a map, not a memory crutch
Train yourself to find the right relationship quickly:
Identify the target quantity first (what is the question asking for?).
Choose a formula that links the known quantities to the unknown.
Rearrange algebraically before substituting numbers.
Formula-use checkpoint
Use this checkpoint before copying a relationship from the Data and Formulae pages. It keeps the formula sheet tied to the physics model instead of becoming a search list.
Question cue
First decision
Formula-sheet move
Common trap
Motion with constant acceleration
Check that acceleration is constant and choose a sign convention.
Pick the kinematics equation that contains the unknown and the given quantities.
Using a constant-acceleration equation for a changing-acceleration situation.
Field or force question
Decide whether the field is gravitational, electric, or magnetic.
Match the force relation to the field type before substituting charge, mass, or current.
Swapping symbols because two equations look similar.
Wave, oscillation, or circular-motion question
Identify the repeating quantity: period, frequency, angular speed, or wavelength.
Convert between linked quantities before using the formula that answers the question.
Mixing up period and frequency because both describe repetition.
Graph or practical-style calculation
Decide whether the answer comes from a gradient, area, intercept, or linearised form.
Use the sheet only after reading what the graph axes actually represent.
Treating every straight-line graph as "gradient equals the required answer".
Worked check: if a question gives a displacement-time graph and asks for acceleration, the formula sheet is not the first step. Read the gradient to find velocity information, decide whether velocity is changing, then choose the appropriate kinematics or graph method.
Misconception check: a provided formula does not prove that its assumptions are satisfied. State or check the model first, then use the relationship.
3) Know what is not provided (and must be explained)
Even with Data and Formulae, you’re still examined on:
Clear definitions (what the quantity means physically, not just units).
Interpretation of graphs (gradients/areas; linearisation).
Modelling choices (e.g., assumptions like negligible air resistance, point mass, uniform field).
FAQ (keywords students actually search)
Is there an H2 Physics data booklet like H2 Chemistry?
For 9478 Physics, the official source is the Data and Formulae section embedded in the syllabus and printed as pages 2-3 in Papers 1-3. This is different from the separate Chemistry Data Booklet format.
Is the H2 Physics formula sheet given during the exam?
Yes. Papers 1-3 include the official Data and Formulae pages. You should still practise applying and rearranging the relationships, and you must be able to explain the physics behind your choices.
Can I bring my own printed Data and Formulae pages into the exam?
No. SEAB's examination rules list unauthorised materials such as notes, reference materials and formula sheets kept in a mathematical set or calculator cover. Use your own copy only for practice. In Papers 1-3, the official pages are printed in the question paper.
What formulae do I need to memorise for H2 Physics?
The Data and Formulae pages provide selected relationships, not a complete topic-by-topic formula list. They do not, for example, print every mechanics, thermal physics, electric-field, electromagnetic-induction, wave or quantum relationship. Use the syllabus learning outcomes to distinguish what you must recall, define, derive and use. You also need the physical meaning, assumptions and units behind a relationship.
Is the H2 Physics Data and Formulae sheet the same as a data booklet?
Not exactly. H2 Chemistry uses a separate Data Booklet. For H2 Physics 9478, SEAB identifies two Data and Formulae pages within the syllabus and prints them in Papers 1-3. The format and subject content differ.
Does Paper 4 (Practical) include the Data and Formulae pages?
The syllabus says the Data and Formulae pages appear in Papers 1, 2 and 3. It does not include Paper 4 in that statement. For Paper 4 preparation, follow the practical syllabus requirements and the instructions and information in each question rather than assuming the two-page formula section will be present.
When formula-sheet revision becomes tuition work
The Data and Formulae pages solve document lookup. They do not solve model choice, algebra setup, or explanation marks. Move from formula-sheet revision to a marked support loop when:
The student can find the equation but cannot explain why it applies.
Unit conversion errors keep appearing after practice.
Graph questions fail because the student reads gradient, area, intercept, or linearised axes incorrectly.
Timed Paper 2 and Paper 3 answers lose method marks before the calculation starts.
If that pattern shows up in real scripts, use the A-Level Physics tuition page for weekly support fit and a tuition shortlisting checklist.
