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Physics Symbols - List Of Physical Quantities
Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Jun 13, 2022 09:01 AM IST
In this article we will be discussing the symbols used in physics, symbols used in law, what are physical quantities and its unit, symbols to denote energy, symbols to mention electricity like voltage V and current I. in order to understand the physics symbols and signs, all physics symbols are tabulated in a list.
Symbols in physics
In physics, all physical quantities are represented in symbols or signs. 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 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
The term physicist pronunciation/ physicist is pronounced as fi·zuh·suhst.
Also read -
- NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics
- NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics
- NCERT Solutions for All Subjects
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 |
Also read :
- NCERT notes Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 Units and Measurement
- NCERT solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 Units and Measurement
- NCERT Exemplar Class 11 Physics Solutions Chapter 2 Units and Measurement
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Download E-bookPhysical quantity related to magnetic quantity 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 |
Related Topics Link, |
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 |
NCERT Physics Notes:
physics 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 era of physics
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 |
Also check-
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)
1. Difference between scalar quantity and vector quantity?
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 |
2. Name the physical quantity with unit J/T?
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.
3. In physics the symbol like Ψ, W, e, for which physical quantities is used.
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 |
4. State some physical quantities related to the electric field and magnetic field
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 |
5. What is N stands in physics?
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 .
6. What are symbol used for energy, force, volume, scientific symbols?
Symbol | Quantity | S.I unit | Physical quantity |
E | Energy | J | scalar |
F | Force | N | vector |
V | Volume | m3 | Scalar |
7. What are Greek symbols used in physics?
Symbol | Quantity |
α | Alpha |
β | Beta |
γ | Gamma |
μ | Permeability |
λ | Lambda |
ξ | zeta |
θ | Theta |
σ | conductivity |
ε | epsilon |
Ψ | psi |
8. What is known as physical quantity? what are its types?
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
9. How does Ohm’s law symbol come from?
Ohm’s law symbol Ω named after the scientist Georg Ohm.
10. Name the physical quantity having unit J/T.
Magnetic moment.
11. What does the v symbol represent?
The V symbol represents velocity and volume.
12. How is the energy symbol denoted?
Energy is denoted by E.
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