Physics 1 · Reference
Symbol index
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Common symbols used throughout the curriculum. Many symbols have different meanings in different contexts — always check the topic.
The college version
Latin Symbols
| Symbol | Meaning | SI Unit | Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| a | Acceleration | m/s² | 1, 2, 5 |
| A | Area; Amplitude | m²; m | 1, 7, 8 |
| B | Magnetic field | T (tesla) | 12, 13, 14 |
| c | Speed of light; Specific heat | m/s; J/(kg·K) | 14, 15, 16; 9 |
| C | Capacitance | F (farad) | 11, 13 |
| d | Distance; Slit separation | m | 1, 15 |
| e | Elementary charge (1.60 × 10-19 C); Efficiency | C; dimensionless | 10; 9 |
| E | Energy; Electric field | J; N/C (or V/m) | 3; 10 |
| f | Frequency; Focal length | Hz; m | 8; 15 |
| F | Force | N (newton) | 2, 3, 6, 10, 12 |
| g | Gravitational acceleration (9.80 m/s²) | m/s² | 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 |
| G | Universal gravitational constant | N·m²/kg² | 6 |
| h | Height; Planck's constant | m; J·s | 3; 16 |
| I | Current; Moment of inertia; Intensity | A; kg·m²; W/m² | 11; 5; 8 |
| k | Coulomb's constant; Spring constant | N·m²/C²; N/m | 10; 3, 8 |
| K | Kinetic energy | J | 3, 5 |
| L | Length; Angular momentum; Inductance | m; kg·m²/s; H | 6; 5; 13 |
| m | Mass | kg | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| n | Index of refraction; Number of moles; Integer | —; mol; — | 15; 9; 8 |
| N | Normal force; Number of turns | N; — | 2; 13 |
| p | Momentum (p = mv); Pressure | kg·m/s; Pa | 4; 7, 9 |
| P | Power; Pressure | W; Pa | 3, 11; 7, 9 |
| q, Q | Electric charge; Heat | C; J | 10, 11; 9 |
| r, R | Radius; Resistance; Distance | m; Ω; m | 5, 6; 11; 1, 10 |
| t | Time | s | throughout |
| T | Period; Temperature; Tension | s; K; N | 8; 9; 2 |
| U | Potential energy; Internal energy | J | 3, 9, 10 |
| v | Velocity; Speed | m/s | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8 |
| V | Voltage (electric potential); Volume | V; m³ | 10, 11; 7, 9 |
| W | Work | J | 3, 9 |
| x | Position (1D) | m | 1, 3, 8 |
Greek Symbols
| Symbol | Meaning | SI Unit | Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| α | Angular acceleration; Temperature coefficient | rad/s² | 5 |
| γ | Lorentz factor | — | 16 |
| Δ | Change in... (e.g., Δx) | — | throughout |
| ε0 | Permittivity of free space | C²/(N·m²) | 10, 11, 14 |
| θ | Angle | rad or degrees | 1, 5, 15 |
| λ | Wavelength; Decay constant | m; s⁻¹ | 8, 14, 15; 16 |
| μ | Coefficient of friction; Linear density | —; kg/m | 2; 8 |
| μ0 | Permeability of free space | T·m/A | 12, 14 |
| ρ | Density; Resistivity | kg/m³; Ω·m | 7; 11 |
| τ | Torque; Time constant | N·m; s | 5, 6; 11, 13 |
| φ | Phase constant; Work function | rad; J | 8; 16 |
| Φ | Magnetic flux; Electric flux | Wb; N·m²/C | 13; 10 |
| ω | Angular frequency; Angular velocity | rad/s | 5, 8, 13 |
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