Physics is the topic where we experience it in our daily lives knowingly or unknowingly. So, while performing basic or complex calculations in physics, we include physical quantities. These physical quantities are represented by notations/symbols to provide convenience to physics users for easy to use and remember.
These notations/symbols are simply known as symbols. These symbols may vastly differ since some physical quantities may have their first letter as a symbol or may have completely unrelated letters as a symbol. In some cases, the physical quantities may have Greek symbols as their symbols.
However, let’s see some of the physics symbols related to modern physics, thermal physics, mechanics, electricity and magnetism, waves and optics, space and time, Along with their names, physical quantity and S.I units.
The below table comprises a category-wise list of physics symbols.
Physics symbols related to modern physics
| Physical Quantity | Symbol | S.I Unit | Scalar/Vector |
| Dose/Dose Absorbed | D | Gray | scalar |
| Wave Function | ψ(r,t), ψ(r)φ(t) | Unitless | vector |
| Work Function | Φ | Joule | scalar |
| Effective Dose | H | Sievert | scalar |
| Lorentz Factor/Lorentz Gamma | Unitless | scalar |
Physics symbols related to thermal physics
| Physical Quantity | Symbol | S.I Unit | Scalar/Vector |
| Coefficient Of Performance | Cop | Unitless | Scalar |
| Ways, Number Of Identical Microstates | W | Unitless | Scalar |
| Entropy | S | Joule Per Kelvin | Scalar |
| Internal Energy | U | Joule | Scalar |
| Emissivity | Ε | Unitless | Scalar |
| Thermal Conductivity | K | Watt Per Meter Kelvin | Scalar |
| Heat Flow Rate | P | Watt | Scalar |
| Number Of Particles | N | Unitless | Scalar |
| Amount Of Substance | N | Mole | Scalar |
| Latent Heat/Specific Latent Heat | L | Joule Per Kilogram | Scalar |
| Specific Heat Capacity | C | Joule Per Kilogram Kelvin | Scalar |
| Heat | Q | Joule | Scalar |
| Volume Expansivity, Coefficient Of Volume Thermal Expansion | B | Inverse Kelvin | Scalar |
| Linear Expansivity, Coefficient Of Thermal Expansion | Α | Inverse Kelvin | Scalar |
| Temperature | T | Kelvin | Scalar |
Physics symbols related to mechanics
| Physical Quantity | Symbol | S.I Unit | Scalar/Vector |
| Velocity, Speed | v | Meter Per Second | Vector |
| Acceleration | a | Meter Per Second Squared | Vector |
| Centripetal/Centrifugal Acceleration | ac | Meter Per Second Squared | Vector |
| Acceleration Due To Gravity | g | Meter Per Second Squared | Vector |
| Mass | m | Kilogram | Scalar |
| Force | F | Newton | Vector |
| Force Due To Gravity/Weight | Fg /W | Newton | Vector |
| Normal Force | Fn, N | Newton | Vector |
| Force Of Friction | Ff | Newton | Vector |
| Coefficient Of Friction | Unitless | Scalar | |
| Momentum | p | Kilogram Meter Per Second | Vector |
| Impulse | J | Newton Second | Vector |
| Energy | E | Joule | Scalar |
| Kinetic Energy | K | Joule | Scalar |
| Potential Energy | U | Joule | Scalar |
| Gravitational Potential | Vg | Joule Per Kilogram | Scalar |
| Efficiency | η | Unitless | Scalar |
| Power | P | Watt | Scalar |
| Rotational Speed, Rotational Velocity | Radian Per Second | Vector | |
| Rotational Acceleration | Radian Per Second Squared | Vector | |
| Torque | Newton Meter | Vector | |
| Moment Of Inertia | I | Kilogram Meter Squared | Scalar |
| Angular Momentum | L | Kilogram Meter Squared Per Second | Vector |
| Angular Impulse | H | Newton Meter Second | Vector |
| Spring Constant | k | Newton Per Meter | Scalar |
| Pressure | p | Pascal | Scalar |
| Stress | Pascal | Scalar | |
| Shear Stress | T | Pascal | Scalar |
| Density, Volume Mass Density | Kilogram Per Cubic Meter | Scalar | |
| Area Mass Density | Kilogram Per Square Meter | Scalar | |
| Linear Mass Density | Kilogram Per Meter | Scalar | |
| Buoyancy | FB, B | Newton | Vector |
| Mass Flow Rate | qm | Kilogram Per Second | Scalar |
| Volume Flow Rate | qv | Cubic Meter Per Second | Scalar |
| Drag Or Air Resistance | FD, R | Newton | Vector |
| Drag Coefficient | CD | Unitless | Scalar |
| Viscosity | Pascal Second | Scalar | |
| Kinematic Viscosity | v | Square Meter Per Second | Scalar |
| Mach Number | Ma | Unitless | Scalar |
| Reynolds Number | Re | Unitless | Scalar |
| Froude Number | Fr | Unitless | Scalar |
| Young’s Modulus Of Elasticity | E | Pascal | Scalar |
| Shear Modulus Of Rigidity | G | Pascal | Scalar |
| Bulk Modulus Of Compression | K | Pascal | Scalar |
| Linear Strain | Unitless | Scalar | |
| Shear Strain | Unitless | Scalar | |
| Volume Strain | Unitless | Scalar | |
| Surface Tension | Newton Per Meter | Scalar |
Physics symbols related to electricity and magnetism
| Physical quantity | symbol | S.I Unit | Scalar/vector |
| Pointing vector, intensity | S | Watt per square meter | Vector |
| Energy density | Joule per cubic meter | Scalar | |
| Turns per unit length | n | Inverse meter | Scalar |
| Number of turns | N | Unitless | Scalar |
| Magnetic flux | B | Weber | vector |
| Magnetic field | B | Tesla | Vector |
| Magnetic force | FB | Newton | Vector |
| Conductivity | Siemens per meter | scalar | |
| conductance | G | Siemens | scalar |
| Resistivity | Ohmmeter | scalar | |
| Electric resistance/internal resistance | R, r | ohm | scalar |
| Electric current | I | Ampere | scalar |
| Dielectric constant | ϵ | Unitless | scalar |
| Capacitance | C | Farad | scalar |
| Electromotive force (EMF) | volt | scalar | |
| Voltage, electric potential | V | Volt | scalar |
| Electric potential energy | UE | Joule | scalar |
| Electric flux | E | Newton meter squared per coulomb | Vector |
| Electric field | E | Newton per coulomb/volt per meter | Vector |
| Electrostatic force | FE | Newton | Vector |
| Linear charge density | Kilogram per meter | Scalar | |
| Area charge density | Kilogram per square meter | Scalar | |
| Volume charge density | Kilogram per cubic meter | Scalar | |
| Electric charge | q, Q | Coulomb | Scalar |
For the quick guides of physics symbols related to space and time & waves and optics, visit the list of physics symbols. Here you can find all the physics symbols in detail.
All the physics symbols we have discussed here and included for quick reference cover almost all major physics symbols, which are up to date and helpful for that sudden grasping moment.
The bottom line
Physics is not only that subject where we will learn only in school or colleges but also we live in this world which is filled with great physics examples and knowingly or unknowingly, we are the part of physics where gravity, tension, mass, weight, time, distance, force, energy, current are already part of us.
To understand physics, knowing about both subjects and taking real-life examples as us will help grasp the subject correctly. One important saying goes like “understanding the sentences are way different and far from understanding the essence and true meaning of the sentences”.
So, to sum up, this quick guide is just for you so that you don’t confuse the Greek symbols. Just sit back and give a good reading and understanding of the Greek symbols and names to have at least the basic idea. But don’t forget to give a quick look for these symbols right before exams because you don’t want to lose significant grades for not having a quick look.
