Physics Symbols - List Of Physical Quantities

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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 Nm 2 /C scalar

Q: 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 m 3 Scalar

Q: 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

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.

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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.

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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

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Physical 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
F_B	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
U_E	Electric potential energy	joule	scalar
λ	Linear charge density	Kg/m	scalar
ρ	Volume charge density	Kg/m³	scalar
F_E	Electrostatic field	Newton	vector
σ	Area charge density	Kg/m²	scalar

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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
k	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
a_c	Centripetal acceleration	m/s²	Vector
F_g	Gravitational force	N	Vector
μ	Friction coefficient	No unit	scalar

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Frequently Asked Questions (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.