In Physics, various symbols or notations are used to denote different quantities. The denotations make the representation of the quantities easier. In this article, some of the most popular physics symbols are mentioned.
It is interesting to note that some physics symbols are very relatable (like “d” for distance) while some are unrelatable (like “c” for the speed of light). Below is an elaborate list of the most commonly used symbols in physics with their SI units. It should be noted that a particular symbol might relate to more than one quantity.
Physics Symbols for Some Basic Quantities:
| Physical Quantity | Symbol(s) | Symbol Name | Scalar/ Vector | SI Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | m | – | Scalar | Kilogram (Kg) |
| Time | t | – | Scalar | Seconds (s) |
| Distance, Length | l, d, r | – | Scalar | Meter (m) |
| Area | A | – | Scalar | m2 |
| Volume | V | – | Scalar | m3 |
| Density | D | – | Scalar | kg/m3 |
| Temperature | T | – | Scalar | Kelvin (K) |
| Frequency | f, v | – | Scalar | Hertz (Hz) |
| Heat | Q | – | Vector | Joule (J) |
| Specific Heat Capacity | c | – | Scalar | J kg−1 K−1 |
| Wavelength | λ | lambda | Scalar | meter (m) |
| Angular Displacement | θ | theta | Scalar | Radian (rad) |
| Speed of light & sound | c | – | Scalar | m/s |
| Angular frequency | ω | omega | Pseudovector | Radian per second (rad/s) |
Physics symbols in Mechanics:
| Physical Quantity | Symbol(s) | Symbol Name | Scalar/ Vector | SI Unit |
| Velocity | v | – | Vector | m/s |
| Acceleration | a | – | Vector | meters per second squared (m/s2) |
| Angular acceleration | α | alpha | Vector | radian per second squared (rad/s2) |
| Momentum | p | – | Vector | kg⋅m/s |
| Period | T | – | Scalar | S or sec |
| Force | F | – | Vector | Newton (N) |
| Torque | T | tau | Vector | N⋅m |
| Power | P | – | Scalar | Watt (W) |
| Mechanical Work | W | – | Scalar | Joule (J) |
| Energy | E | – | Scalar | Joule (J) |
| Pressure | p | – | Scalar | Pascal (Pa) |
| Moment of Inertia | I | – | Scalar | kg m2 |
| Angular Momentum | L | – | Vector | kg⋅m2s-1 |
| Friction | f | – | Vector | Newton (N) |
| Coefficient of Friction | µ | mu | Scalar | unitless |
| Kinetic Energy | K | – | Scalar | Joule (J) |
| Potential Energy | U | – | Scalar | Joule (J) |
Physics Symbols in Electricity & Magnetism:
| Physical Quantity | Symbol(s) | Symbol Name | Scalar/ Vector | SI Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charge | q, Q | – | scalar | Coulomb (C) |
| Current | I | – | scalar | Ampere (A) |
| Resistance | R | – | scalar | Ohms (Ω) |
| Inductance | L | – | scalar | Henry (H) |
| Capacitance | C | – | scalar | Farad (F) |
| Electric Potential Difference | V | – | scalar | Volt (V) |
| Electric Field | E | – | vector | Newton per coulomb (N C-1) |
| Magnetic Field | B | – | scalar | Tesla |
These were a few important physical quantities along with their symbols. Students are suggested to remember the symbols properly along with their SI units. Visit SI units list to know the units of some of the most important units.
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