Physics Symbols - List Of Physical Quantities
In Physics, while solving derivations or numerical Symbols, S.I. Units and physical quantity play a vital role. In this article, we will be discussing the symbols used to denote energy, sign, Physical Quantities, and their respective S.I. Units. All symbols are listed in a tabular format.
This Story also Contains
- Symbols in Physics
- Physical quantity related to mechanics
- Physical Quantity Related to Magnetic and Electric Quantity
- Physical Quantities Related to Optics and Waves
- Physical Quantities Related to Space and Time
- Physical Quantities Related to Modern Physics Era
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Symbols in Physics
In Physics, all physical quantities are represented by symbols or signs.
Physical quantities are quantities that are used to quantify the property of any material by measurement. They can be differentiated on the basis of scalar and vector quantity. The difference between scalar and vector quantities lies in the fact that scalars have only magnitude, while vectors have both magnitude and direction.
For example, we can quantify the physical quantity “mass” by n kg. Where kg is a unit and n is a numerical value.
Physical quantity related to mechanics
|
Symbol
|
Quantity
|
S.I unit
|
Physical quantity
|
| a | acceleration | m/s2 | Vector |
| v | Velocity | m/s | vector |
| m | Mass | Kg | scalar |
| F | Force | Newton | vector |
| p | Momentum | Kg m/s | Vector |
| E | Energy | J | Scalar |
| K | Kinetic energy | J | Scalar |
| U | Potential energy | J | Scalar |
| I | Moment of inertia | Kg m2 | Scalar |
| α | Angular acceleration | Rad/s2 | vector |
| W | Mechanical work | J | scalar |
| Friction | f | N | vector |
| T (τ) | Torque | N-m | vector |
| µ | Coefficient of friction | No unit | Scalar |
| L | Angular momentum | kgm2/s | vector |
| T | Period | Second / S | scalar |
| P | Power | Watt(W) | scalar |
| p | Pressure | Pascal | scalar |
Some Basic Physical Quantity
|
quantity
|
symbol
|
S.I unit
|
Physical quantity
|
|
Area
| A | m2 | Scalar |
| Density | D | Kg/m3 | Scalar |
| mass | m | Kg | Scalar |
| Distance | D | Meter(m) | Scalar |
| radius | r | Meter(m) | Scalar |
| length | l | Meter(m) | Scalar |
| temperature | T | Kelvin(K) | Scalar |
| heat | Q | Joule(J) | Scalar |
| wavelength | λ | Meter (m) | Scalar |
| Angular frequency | ω | Rad/s | vector |
| Angular displacement | θ | Rad | Scalar |
| Light and sound speed | ∁ | m/s | Scalar |
| time | t | Seconds(s) | Scalar |
| Specific heat capacity | c | J/kg k | Scalar |
| volume | V | m3 | Scalar |
Physical Quantity Related to Magnetic and Electric Quantity
|
Symbol
|
Quantity
|
S.I unit
|
Physical quantity
|
|
R
| Resistance | Ohm | scalar |
| L | Inductance | Henry | scalar |
| C | Capacitance | Farad | scalar |
| I | Current | Ampere | scalar |
| V | Voltage | Voltage | scalar |
| Q | Charge | Coulomb | scalar |
| ∅E | Electric Flux | Nm2/C | vector |
| B | Magnetic field | Tesla | vector |
| ∅M | Magnetic flux | Weber | scalar |
| ρ | Resistivity | Ohm-meter | scalar |
| η | Energy density | J/m3 | scalar |
| FB | Magnetic force | Newton | vector |
| S | Intensity | watt/m2 | scalar |
| σ | conductivity | Siemens/meter | scalar |
| G | conductance | Siemens | scalar |
| ξ | emf | volt | scalar |
| ∈ | Dielectric constant | No unit | scalar |
| n | Turns ratio | No unit | scalar |
| E | Electric field | Newton/coulomb | vector |
| UE | Electric potential energy | joule | scalar |
| λ | Linear charge density | Kg/m | scalar |
| ρ | Volume charge density | Kg/m3 | scalar |
| FE | Electrostatic field | Newton | vector |
| σ | Area charge density | Kg/m2 | scalar |
Physical Quantities Related to Optics and Waves
|
Symbol
|
Quantity
|
S.I unit
|
Physical quantity
|
| f | Focal length | meter | scalar |
| M | Magnification | No unit | scalar |
| I | Intensity | W/m2 | scalar |
| L | Level | decibel | scalar |
| v, c | Speed of wave | m/s | scalar |
| P | Lens power | dioptre | scalar |
| n | Refraction index | No unit | scalar |
Physical Quantities Related to Space and Time
|
Symbol
|
Quantity
|
S.I unit
|
Physical quantity
|
|
d
| Distance | meter | scalar |
| r | Radius | radian | Scalar and vector |
| s | Displacement | Meter | vector |
| θ,∅ | Angular displacement | Angle | Scalar and vector |
| n | Unit vector | No unit | Vector |
| h | height | Meter | Scalar |
| l | length | Meter | scalar |
| x,y,z | Cartesian coordinates | No unit | scalar |
| r,∅,θ | Spherical coordinates | No unit | scalar |
| r, θ,z | Cylindrical coordinates | No unit | scalar |
| A | area | m2 | Scalar and vector |
| Frequency | f | hertz | scalar |
| Angular frequency | ω | Rad/s | scalar |
| T | Time constant | s | scalar |
Symbols List of Thermal Physical Quantities
|
Symbol
|
Quantity
|
S.I unit
|
Physical quantity
|
|
| Thermal conductivity | Watt/meter Kelvin | scalar |
| c | Specific heat capacity | Joule/kg Kelvin | scalar |
| B | Volume expansivity | K-1 | scalar |
| Q | heat | Joule | scalar |
| α | linear expansivity | K-1 | scalar |
| U | Internal energy | Joule | scalar |
| n | Amount of substance | mole | scalar |
| P | Heat flow rate | W | scalar |
| L | specific latent heat | Joule/kg | scalar |
| Emissivity | No unit | scalar | |
| T | temperature | kelvin | scalar |
| COP | Coefficient of performance | No unit | scalar |
Physical Quantities Related to Modern Physics Era
|
Symbol
|
Quantity
|
S.I unit
|
Physical quantity
|
|
Ψ
| Wave function | No unit | vector |
| ∅ | Work | Joule | scalar |
| Ѓ | Lorentz factor | No unit | scalar |
| J | impulse | Newton sec | scalar |
| ac | Centripetal acceleration | m/s2 | Vector |
| Fg | Gravitational force | N | Vector |
| μ | Friction coefficient | No unit | scalar |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Scalar quantity | Vector quantity |
Scalar quantity has magnitude | Vector quantity has magnitude |
Scalar quantity has no direction | Vector quantity has direction |
5m is scalar quantity because it denotes only magnitude | 5m west is vector quantity because it denotes both direction and magnitude |
Time, speed, power, energy are scalar quantities | Acceleration, displacement, force, weight are vector quantities |
The physical quantity with unit J/T is magnetic moment. This quantity is the vector quantity with will relating magnetic field with torque.
τ=m×B
is torque
m is the magnetic moment
B is the magnetic field.
It is also defined as magnetic moment is product of area and current. So the unit is given by ampm2
It also defined in terms of torque and magnetic field. So the unit is J/T.
Symbol | Physical quantity | SI unit | Scalar/vector |
Omega ω | Angular frequency | Rad/s | pseudovector |
W | work | joule | scalar |
E | Electric field | Newton/Coulomb | vector |
Ψ | Wave function | No unit | vector |
Symbol | Quantity | S.I unit | Physical quantity |
R | Resistance | Ohm | scalar |
L | Inductance | Henry | scalar |
C | Capacitance | Farad | scalar |
I | Current | Ampere | scalar |
V | Voltage | Voltage | scalar |
Q | Charge | Coulomb | scalar |
∅E | Electric Flux | Nm2/C | scalar |
N is unit stands for newton. 1Newton is the force required to the mass of 1kg to accelerate at the rate of 1 m/s2 .
Symbol | Quantity | S.I unit | Physical quantity |
E | Energy | J | scalar |
F | Force | N | vector |
V | Volume | m3 | Scalar |
Symbol | Quantity |
α | Alpha |
β | Beta |
γ | Gamma |
μ | Permeability |
λ | Lambda |
ξ | zeta |
θ | Theta |
σ | conductivity |
ε | epsilon |
Ψ | psi |
The physical quantities are quantities that are used to quantify the property of any material by measurement. For example, we can quantify the physical quantity “mass” by n kg. Where kg is a unit and n is a numerical value.
Below tabulated the symbols for different types of physical quantities
Mechanics
Time and space
Electricity and magnetic property
Thermal property
Waves and optics
Ohm’s law symbol Ω named after the scientist Georg Ohm.
Magnetic moment.
