HSC Physics exam 2026Exam: Thu 5 Nov · NESA timetable

Components: $v_{0x} = v_0\cos\theta$, $v_{0y} = v_0\sin\theta$.

Banked track (frictionless): $N\cos\theta = mg$, $N\sin\theta = \dfrac{mv^2}{r}$, giving the design speed $\tan\theta = \dfrac{v^2}{rg}$.

Gravitational potential energy in a radial field: $U = -\dfrac{GMm}{r}$, with $U = 0$ taken at $r = \infty$. $U$ is negative for every finite $r$.

For a circular orbit of radius $r$: $K = \dfrac{GMm}{2r}$, $U = -\dfrac{GMm}{r}$, $E = K + U = -\dfrac{GMm}{2r}$.

Field between parallel plates: $E = \dfrac{V}{d}$ (points from the $+$ plate to the $-$ plate).

Force on a wire in a field: $F = BIL\sin\theta$ (maximum $F = BIL$ at $\theta = 90^{\circ}$; zero at $\theta = 0^{\circ}$ or $180^{\circ}$). Direction from the right-hand rule.

Faraday's law: $\varepsilon = -N\dfrac{d\Phi}{dt}$, where $\Phi = BA\cos\theta$ is the flux through one turn.

Torque on a current loop: $\tau = nBIA\cos\theta$ ($\theta$ measured between the coil's plane and the field); maximum $\tau_{\max} = nBIA$ at $\theta = 0^{\circ}$ (plane parallel to field), zero at $\theta = 90^{\circ}$ (plane perpendicular to field, the dead spot).

Double-slit maxima: $d\sin\theta = m\lambda$; minima: $d\sin\theta = (m + \tfrac{1}{2})\lambda$; fringe spacing (small angle): $\Delta y = \dfrac{\lambda L}{d}$.

Photon energy from an atomic transition: $hf = E_i - E_f$.

Photon energy: $E = hf = \dfrac{hc}{\lambda}$.

Lorentz factor: $\gamma = \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{1 - v^2/c^2}}$, always $\geq 1$, equal to $1$ only when $v = 0$, and $\to \infty$ as $v \to c$.

Wien's law: $\lambda_{\max} T = b$, with $b = 2.898 \times 10^{-3}\ \text{m K}$.

Bohr's postulates: (1) stationary non-radiating orbits; (2) quantised angular momentum $m_e v r = n h / 2\pi$; (3) photon energy on transition $hf = E_i - E_f$.

Fermions (matter, spin $\tfrac{1}{2}$): 6 quarks (charge $+\tfrac{2}{3}$ or $-\tfrac{1}{3}$, in $u,d\,|\,c,s\,|\,t,b$) and 6 leptons ($e,\mu,\tau$ each with charge $-1$, plus their neutral neutrinos), in three generations.

Decay law: $N(t) = N_0 e^{-\lambda t}$, equivalently $N(t) = N_0 \left(\dfrac{1}{2}\right)^{t/T_{1/2}}$.