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All Physics Symbols Name List

Physics

All Physics Symbols Name List

Reviewed by:

Gaurang Shah

Understand Physics Symbols and Units

Physics relies on symbols to represent quantities, constants, and units concisely. These symbols, from simple letters like F for force to Greek symbols like α\alphaα for angular acceleration, form the universal language of physics. Understanding physics symbols is crucial for solving equations, interpreting scientific texts, and communicating ideas in science.

This guide provides a comprehensive list of physics symbols, their names, and meanings. Whether you are a student learning physics basics or giving insights into complex concepts, this resource will help you decode the notations and make your learning journey smoother. Learn the most commonly used symbols and their significance in physics to enhance your understanding of this interesting subject.

Symbols for Physical Quantities Related to Space and Time

Symbols	Quantity/ Coefficients	S.I. Unit	Physical Quantity (Scalar/Vector)
r	Radius, the radius of curvature	Metre	Functions as both scalar and vector
s	Displacement	Metre	Vector
d	Distance	Metre	Scalar
θ	Angular displacement,	Radian	Vector
φ	The rotational angle	Radian	A uniquely-defined magnitude and direction, but is not a vector quantity. (Does Not obey commutative law)
x, y, z	Cartesian Coordinates	Unitless	Scalar
î, ĵ, k̂	Cartesian unit vectors	Unitless	Vector
r, θ, φ	Spherical coordinates	Metre/Radian	Vector
r̂, θ̂, φ̂	Spherical vectors	Unitless	Vector
r, θ, z	Cylindrical coordinates	Metre/Radian	Scalar
r̂, θ̂, ẑ	Cylindrical vectors	Unitless	Vector
n̂	Normal vector	Unitless	Vector
t̂	Tangential unit vector	Unitless	Vector
h	Height, Depth	Metre	Scalar
ℓ, L	Length	Metre	Scalar
t	Time	Second	Scalar
D (= 2 r)	Diameter	Metre	Scalar
C	Circumference	Metre	Scalar
A	Area	Square Metre	Functions as both scalar and vector (like Area vector in a magnetic flux formula)
V	Volume	Cubic Metre (m3)	Scalar
τ	Time Constant	Second (s)	Scalar
T	Periodic time	Second (s)	Scalar
f	Frequency	1/second or (1/s)	Scalar
ω	Angular frequency	Rad/s	Scalar

Below are some symbols that are used frequently in physics with their names, the type of quantities and their respective SI units in tabular format.

Physics Symbols Related to Mechanics

Symbols	Quantity/ Coefficients	S.I. Unit	Physical Quantity (Scalar/Vector)
v	Velocity, speed	metre/second (m/s)	Speed = Scalar Velocity = vector
a	Acceleration	metre/square second (m/s2)	Vector
g	Acceleration due to gravity	metre/square second	Vector
ac	Centripetal/Centrifugal acceleration	metre/square second	Vector
m	Mass	Kilogram (kg)	Scalar
F	Force	Newton (N)	Vector
W/Fg	Force due to gravity/Weight	Newton	Vector
Fg/ N	Normal force	N	Vector
Ff	Force of friction	N	Vector
µ	Coefficient of friction	Unitless	Scalar
p	Momentum	Kg.m/s	Vector
J	Impulse	N/s	Vector
E	Energy	Joule (J)	Scalar
K	Kinetic energy	J	Scalar
U	Potential Energy	J	Scalar
Vg	Gravitational potential	J/kg	Scalar
η	Efficiency	Unitless	Scalar
P	Power	Watt	Scalar
α	Rotational acceleration	Radian per second squared (Rad/s2)	Vector
ω	Rotational velocity	Rad/s	Vector
τ	Torque	N/m	Vector
L	Angular momentum	Kilogram meter squared per second Kg.m2/s	Vector
ρ	Density Volume Mass density	Kilogram per cubic meter	Scalar
I	Moment of inertia	Kg.m2	Scalar

Physical Symbols Related to Fluid Mechanics

Symbols	Quantity/ Coefficients	S.I. Unit	Physical Quantity (Scalar/Vector)
λ	Linear mass density	kg/m	Scalar
σ	Area mass density	Kilogram per square meter (kg/m2)	Scalar
FB, B	Buoyancy	N	Vector
qm	Mass flow rate	kg/s	Scalar
qV	Volume flow rate	m3/s	Scalar
FD, R	Drag or air resistance	N	Vector
CD	Drag Coefficient	Unitless	Scalar
η	Viscosity	Pascal-second	Scalar
v	Kinematic Viscosity	m2/s	Scalar
σ	Area mass density	kg/m2	Scalar
Re	Reynolds number	Unitless	Scalar
Fr	Froude number	Unitless	Scalar
Ma	Mach number	Unitless	Scalar

Symbols Related to Solid Mechanics

Symbols	Quantity/ Coefficients	S.I. Unit	Physical Quantity (Scalar/Vector)
P	Pressure	Pascal Or N/m2	Scalar
σ	Stress	Pascal	Scalar
τ	Shear stress	Pascal	Scalar
k	Spring constant	N/m	Scalar
E	Young’s modulus of elasticity	Pascal	Scalar
G	Shear modulus of rigidity	Pascal	Scalar
ε	Linear strain	Unitless	Scalar
γ	Shear strain	Unitless	Scalar
θ	Volume strain	Unitless	Scalar
S	Surface Tension	N/m	Scalar
K	Bulk modulus of compression	Pascal	Scalar

Physical Quantities Related to Thermal Physics

Symbols	Quantity/ Coefficients	S.I. Unit	Physical Quantity (Scalar/Vector)
k	Thermal conductivity	W/m.K	Scalar
P	Heat flow rate	Watt	Scalar
N	Number of particles	Unitless	Scalar
n	Amount of substance	Mole	Scalar
L	Latent heat/specific latent heat	J/kg	Scalar
c	Specific heat capacity	J/kg. K	Scalar
Q	Heat	J	Scalar
B	Volume expansivity, coefficient of volume thermal expansion	1/K (inverse Kelvin)	Scalar
α	Linear expansivity, coefficient of thermal expansion	1/K (inverse Kelvin)	Scalar
T	Temperature	Kelvin	Scalar

Physical Symbol Related to Wave and Optics

Symbol	Quantity/Coefficients	S.I Unit	Physical Quantity (Scalar/Vector)
M	Magnification	Untiless	Scalar
f	Focal length	Metre	Scalar
n	Index of refraction	Unitless	Scalar
L	Level	Decibel (dB), decineper	Scalar
I	Intensity	W/m2	Scalar
v, c	Wave speed	m/s	Scalar
λ	Wavelength	Metre (m)	Scalar
P	Power of a lens	Dioptre (D)	Scalar

Physics Symbols Related to Electricity and Magnetism

Symbol	Quantity/Coefficients	S.I Unit	Physical Quantity (Scalar/Vector)
S	Poynting vector, intensity	W/m2	Vector
η	Energy density	J/m3	Scalar
n	Turns per unit length	1/m	Scalar
N	Number of turns	Unitless	Scalar
φB	Magnetic flux	Weber	Vector
B	Magnetic field	Tesla	Vector
FB	Magnetic force	N	Vector
σ	Conductivity	Siemens/m (S/m)	Scalar
G	Conductance	Siemens	Scalar
ρ	Resistivity	Ohm-m	Scalar
R, r	Electric resistance/internal resistance	Ohm	Scalar
I	Electric current	Ampere (A)	Scalar
ϵ	Dielectric constant	Unitless	Scalar
ℰ	Electromotive Force	Volt (V)	Scalar
C	Capacitance	Farad (F)	Scalar
V	Voltage, electric potential	V	Scalar
UE	Electric potential energy	J	Scalar
φE	Electric flux	Newton meter squared per coulomb (N/m2.C)	Vector
E	Electric field	N/C or V/m	Vector
FE	Electrostatic force	N	Vector
λ	Linear charge density	kg/m	Scalar
σ	Area charge density	kg/m2	Scalar
ρ	Volume charge density	kg/m3	Scalar
q, Q	Electric charge	Coulomb (C)	Scalar

Symbols Used in Modern Physics

Symbol	Quantity/Coefficients	S.I Unit	Physical Quantity (Scalar/Vector)
D	Dose/ dose absorbed	Gray (Gy)	Scalar
t1⁄2	Half-life	Second	Vector
ψ(r,t), ψ(r)φ(t)	Wave function	Unitless	Scalar
W	Work function	J	Scalar
H	Effective Dose	Sievert	Scalar
Γ	Lorentz factor/Lorentz gamma	Unitless	Scalar

From the above text on physics symbols, we understand that in Physics, we use various symbols or notations to denote different quantities. The denotations make the representation of the quantities easier.

It was also interesting to see that some physics symbols were very relatable (like “d” for distance) while some were unrelatable (like “c” for the speed of light or “λ” for wavelength). Also, we noticed that a particular symbol was related to more than one quantity.

Conclusion

Physics symbols are the universal language of science, concisely connecting concepts and equations. Mastering these physics symbols name and their meanings simplifies problem-solving and enhances understanding of fundamental principles. Whether you're a student or a science enthusiast, learning these notations opens the door to exploring and communicating the wonders of physics with clarity and confidence.

FAQs on All Physics Symbols Name List

1. What is meant by physics symbols name?

The term physics symbols name refers to the names of symbols used in physics equations to represent quantities like force, velocity, and energy.

2. What does a physics symbols list contain?

A physics symbols list contains the symbols, their corresponding quantities, and sometimes their units for easier reference.

3. What are physics symbols and units?

Physics symbols and units represent quantities (e.g., FFF for force) alongside their standard measurement units (e.g., Newton for force).

4. How do physics symbols and meanings relate?

Physics symbols and meanings help in understanding what each symbol represents in equations, such as V for velocity or a for acceleration.

5. What are scientific symbols in physics?

Scientific symbols in physics are notations used universally to simplify complex physical concepts and equations.

6. What are some different symbols in physics?

Different symbols in physics include Δ\DeltaΔ for change, θ\thetaθ for angles, and EEE for energy, among others.

7. Why is physics symbols name important?

Knowing the physics symbols name is essential for understanding and solving equations effectively in physics.

8. How can I learn all physics symbols list?

To learn an all physics symbols list, refer to physics textbooks, guides, or online resources dedicated to scientific notation.

9. Are scientific symbols in physics universal?

Yes, scientific symbols in physics are standardized and universally used in scientific and academic communities.

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