H2 Physics Formula Sheet 2026 (9478) | Data and Formulae Pages
H2 Physics Formula Sheet 2026 (9478) | Data and Formulae Pages
Study guide/
H2 Physics formula sheet 2026 (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.
If you are searching for H2 Physics formula sheet 2026, H2 Physics data booklet, or A-Level Physics data sheet, the official reference is SEAB's Data and Formulae pages for syllabus 9478.
The sheet gives relationships, not understanding: Identify the physics model first.
Most formula-sheet mistakes are unit mistakes: Convert to SI units before substituting.
The right formula still needs assumptions and interpretation: State why the relationship applies.
Concrete example: If a current is given in mA, convert it to A before using circuit formulae. The formula sheet will not protect you from a power-of-ten error.
Search-intent checkpoint
Use this quick route if you arrived from Google and are not sure which Physics document you need.
If you searched for
Use this page for
Then go to
h2 physics formula sheet or a level physics formula sheet
The Data and Formulae pages printed in Papers 1-3.
Status: SEAB's current H2 Physics (9478) syllabus PDF is labelled for 2026. Data and Formulae pages are listed as pp. 41-42 and printed as pp. 2-3 in Papers 1-3.
What’s inside (high-level)
Think of the Data and Formulae pages as the exam’s official quick-reference for:
SI units, prefixes, and common constants.
Standard formulae across the core topics (e.g., motion, fields, waves, electricity).
Relationships you’ll use repeatedly in calculation-heavy questions.
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?
No. For H2 Physics (9478), SEAB provides a Data and Formulae section that appears as pages 2-3 in Papers 1-3. It is not a separate downloadable "data booklet" document.
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-candidates are not allowed to bring unauthorised written/printed materials into the exam venue. Use your own prints only for practice; in the exam, the Data and Formulae pages are already printed inside the question paper.
What formulae do I need to memorise for H2 Physics?
The Data and Formulae pages provide standard relationships (e.g., kinematic equations, field equations, wave relationships, circuit laws). However, you must still memorise definitions (e.g., what gravitational field strength means physically), key derivations that examiners may ask you to show, and any relationships not listed on the pages - such as specific heat capacity, latent heat, and some electromagnetic induction results. The safest approach: practise without the Data and Formulae pages first, then use them as a check.
Is the H2 Physics Data and Formulae sheet the same as a data booklet?
Not exactly. H2 Chemistry has a standalone Data Booklet (a separate document with constants, bond energies, and electrochemical data). H2 Physics does not have a separate booklet - instead, the Data and Formulae pages are printed directly inside each question paper (Papers 1-3). The content is similar in spirit (constants, standard formulae) but the format and scope differ between subjects.
Does Paper 4 (Practical) include the Data and Formulae pages?
No - SEAB states the Data and Formulae pages appear in Papers 1, 2 and 3 only. Paper 4 provides any necessary data within the question itself. During practical exams, you work with your own measured data and any constants given in the question paper.
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.
