Can you manipulate any formula in Physics?

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In physics, equations can often be manipulated using algebra and calculus, allowing for rearrangement to solve for different variables. However, it's crucial to understand the context and applicability of each formula to avoid incorrect combinations. Misusing equations, such as substituting different physical quantities that share symbols, can lead to errors. Therefore, while manipulation is possible, one must ensure that the formulas are relevant to the specific situation. Mastery of when and how to apply these equations is essential for accurate problem-solving in physics.
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Just started an intro to physics course and I noticed a lot of the equations are just manipulated (by algebra) versions of each other. Can you do this with all equations in physics or do some have restrictions? I'm asking because if I'm asked to find say the mass of something can I rearrange the formulas to solve for mass, or is there specific formulas to calculate each thing?
 
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Hi michellemw, welcome to PF!

You can always use algebra and calculus or other mathematical techniques to manipulate physics equations.

However, it is very important to know when a formula applies and when it does not, so that you don't accidentally combine two equations which do not apply together. An obvious example would be substituting a voltage in for a velocity simply because they both use the symbol v, but there can be subtle examples also.
 

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