Glossary of Key Symbols and Notation

In this glossary, key symbols and notation are briefly defined.

Symbol Definition
any symbol ¯ size 12{ {overline {"any"`" symbol"}} } {}  
average (indicated by a bar over a symbol—e.g., v¯ size 12{ {overline {v}} } {}
is average velocity)  
  ° C size 12{°C} {}
Celsius degree
° F size 12{°F} {}
Fahrenheit degree
// size 12{"//"} {}
parallel
⊥ size 12{ ortho } {}
perpendicular
∝ size 12{ prop } {}
proportional to
± size 12{ +- {}} {}
plus or minus
0 size 12{ {} rSub { size 8{0} } } {}
zero as a subscript denotes an initial value
α size 12{α} {}
alpha rays
α size 12{α} {}
angular acceleration
α size 12{α} {}
temperature coefficient(s) of resistivity
β size 12{β} {}
beta rays
β size 12{β} {}
sound level
β size 12{β} {}
volume coefficient of expansion
β − size 12{β rSup { size 8{ - {}} } } {}
electron emitted in nuclear beta decay
β + size 12{β rSup { size 8{+{}} } } {}
positron decay
γ size 12{γ} {}
gamma rays
γ size 12{γ} {}
surface tension
γ = 1 / 1 − v 2 / c 2 size 12{γ= {1} slash { sqrt {1 - {v rSup { size 8{2} } } slash {c rSup { size 8{2} } } } } } {}
a constant used in relativity
Δ size 12{Δ} {}
change in whatever quantity follows
δ size 12{δ} {}
uncertainty in whatever quantity follows
ΔE size 12{ΔE} {}
change in energy between the initial and final orbits of an electron in an atom
ΔE size 12{ΔE} {}
uncertainty in energy
Δm size 12{Δm} {}
difference in mass between initial and final products
ΔN size 12{ΔN} {}
number of decays that occur
Δp size 12{Δp} {}
change in momentum
Δp size 12{Δp} {}
uncertainty in momentum
Δ PE g size 12{Δ"PE" rSub { size 8{g} } } {}
change in gravitational potential energy
Δθ size 12{Δθ} {}
rotation angle
Δs size 12{Δs} {}
distance traveled along a circular path
Δt size 12{Δt} {}
uncertainty in time
Δt 0 size 12{Δt rSub { size 8{0} } } {}
proper time as measured by an observer at rest relative to the process
ΔV size 12{ΔV} {}
potential difference
Δx size 12{Δx} {}
uncertainty in position
ε 0 size 12{ε rSub { size 8{0} } } {}
permittivity of free space
η size 12{η} {}
viscosity
θ size 12{θ} {}
angle between the force vector and the displacement vector
θ size 12{θ} {}
angle between two lines
θ size 12{θ} {}
contact angle
θ size 12{θ} {}
direction of the resultant
θ b size 12{θ rSub { size 8{b} } } {}
Brewster's angle
θ c size 12{θ rSub { size 8{c} } } {}
critical angle
κ size 12{κ} {}
dielectric constant
λ size 12{λ} {}
decay constant of a nuclide
λ size 12{λ} {}
wavelength
λ n size 12{λ rSub { size 8{n} } } {}
wavelength in a medium
μ 0 size 12{μ rSub { size 8{0} } } {}
permeability of free space
μ k size 12{μ rSub { size 8{k} } } {}
coefficient of kinetic friction
μ s size 12{μ rSub { size 8{s} } } {}
coefficient of static friction
v e size 12{v rSub { size 8{e} } } {}
electron neutrino
π + size 12{π rSup { size 8{+{}} } } {}
positive pion
π − size 12{π rSup { size 8{ - {}} } } {}
negative pion
π 0 size 12{π rSup { size 8{0} } } {}
neutral pion
ρ size 12{ρ} {}
density
ρ c size 12{ρ rSub { size 8{c} } } {}
critical density, the density needed to just halt universal expansion
ρ fl size 12{ρ rSub { size 8{"fl"} } } {}
fluid density
ρ ¯ obj size 12{ {overline {ρ}} rSub { size 8{"obj"} } } {}
average density of an object
ρ / ρ w size 12{ {ρ} slash {ρ rSub { size 8{w} } } } {}
specific gravity
τ size 12{τ} {}
characteristic time constant for a resistance and inductance (RL) size 12{ \( ital "RL" \) } {}

or resistance and capacitance (RC) size 12{ \( ital "RC" \) } {}

circuit  
  τ size 12{τ} {}
characteristic time for a resistor and capacitor (RC) size 12{ \( ital "RC" \) } {}
circuit  
  τ size 12{τ} {}
torque
Υ size 12{Υ} {}
upsilon meson
Φ size 12{Φ} {}
magnetic flux
ϕ size 12{ϕ} {}
phase angle
Ω size 12{ %OMEGA } {}
ohm (unit)
ω size 12{ω} {}
angular velocity
A size 12{A} {}
ampere (current unit)
A size 12{A} {}
area
A size 12{A} {}
cross-sectional area
A size 12{A} {}
total number of nucleons
a size 12{a} {}
acceleration
a B size 12{a rSub { size 8{B} } } {}
Bohr radius
a c size 12{a rSub { size 8{c} } } {}
centripetal acceleration
a t size 12{a rSub { size 8{t} } } {}
tangential acceleration
AC size 12{"AC"} {}
alternating current
AM size 12{"AM"} {}
amplitude modulation
atm size 12{"atm"} {}
atmosphere
B size 12{B} {}
baryon number
B size 12{B} {}
blue quark color
B ¯ size 12{ {overline {B}} } {}
antiblue (yellow) antiquark color
b size 12{b} {}
quark flavor bottom or beauty
B size 12{B} {}
bulk modulus
B size 12{B} {}
magnetic field strength
B int size 12{B rSub { size 8{"int"} } } {}
electron’s intrinsic magnetic field
B orb size 12{B rSub { size 8{"orb"} } } {}
orbital magnetic field
BE size 12{"BE"} {}
binding energy of a nucleus—it is the energy required to completely disassemble it into separate protons and neutrons
BE / A size 12{ {"BE"} slash {A} } {}
binding energy per nucleon
Bq size 12{"Bq"} {}
becquerel—one decay per second
C size 12{C} {}
capacitance (amount of charge stored per volt)
C size 12{C} {}
coulomb (a fundamental SI unit of charge)
C p size 12{C rSub { size 8{p} } } {}
total capacitance in parallel
C s size 12{C rSub { size 8{s} } } {}
total capacitance in series
CG size 12{"CG"} {}
center of gravity
CM size 12{"CM"} {}
center of mass
c size 12{c} {}
quark flavor charm
c size 12{c} {}
specific heat
c size 12{c} {}
speed of light
Cal size 12{"Cal"} {}
kilocalorie
cal size 12{"cal"} {}
calorie
COP hp size 12{ ital "COP" rSub { size 8{"hp"} } } {}
heat pump’s coefficient of performance
COP ref size 12{ ital "COP" rSub { size 8{"ref"} } } {}
coefficient of performance for refrigerators and air conditioners
cos θ size 12{"cos"θ} {}
cosine
cot θ size 12{"cot"θ} {}
cotangent
csc θ size 12{"csc"θ} {}
cosecant
D size 12{D} {}
diffusion constant
d size 12{d} {}
displacement
d size 12{d} {}
quark flavor down
dB size 12{"dB"} {}
decibel
d i size 12{d rSub { size 8{i} } } {}
distance of an image from the center of a lens
d o size 12{d rSub { size 8{o} } } {}
distance of an object from the center of a lens
DC size 12{"DC"} {}
direct current
E size 12{E} {}
electric field strength
ε size 12{ε} {}
emf (voltage) or Hall electromotive force
emf size 12{"emf"} {}
electromotive force
E size 12{E} {}
energy of a single photon
E size 12{E} {}
nuclear reaction energy
E size 12{E} {}
relativistic total energy
E size 12{E} {}
total energy
E 0 size 12{E rSub { size 8{0} } } {}
ground state energy for hydrogen
E 0 size 12{E rSub { size 8{0} } } {}
rest energy
EC size 12{"EC"} {}
electron capture
E cap size 12{E rSub { size 8{"cap"} } } {}
energy stored in a capacitor
Eff size 12{ ital "Eff"} {}
efficiency—the useful work output divided by the energy input
Eff C size 12{ ital "Eff" rSub { size 8{C} } } {}
Carnot efficiency
E in size 12{E rSub { size 8{"in"} } } {}
energy consumed (food digested in humans)
E ind size 12{E rSub { size 8{"ind"} } } {}
energy stored in an inductor
E out size 12{E rSub { size 8{"out"} } } {}
energy output
e size 12{e} {}
emissivity of an object
e + size 12{e rSup { size 8{+{}} } } {}
antielectron or positron
eV size 12{"eV"} {}
electron volt
F size 12{F} {}
farad (unit of capacitance, a coulomb per volt)
F size 12{F} {}
focal point of a lens
F size 12{F} {}
force
F size 12{F} {}
magnitude of a force
F size 12{F} {}
restoring force
F B size 12{F rSub { size 8{B} } } {}
buoyant force
F c size 12{F rSub { size 8{c} } } {}
centripetal force
F i size 12{F rSub { size 8{i} } } {}
force input
F net size 12{F rSub { size 8{"net"} } } {}
net force
F o size 12{F rSub { size 8{o} } } {}
force output
FM size 12{"FM"} {}
frequency modulation
f size 12{f} {}
focal length
f size 12{f} {}
frequency
f 0 size 12{f rSub { size 8{0} } } {}
resonant frequency of a resistance, inductance, and capacitance (RLC) size 12{ \( ital "RLC" \) } {}
series circuit  
  f 0 size 12{f rSub { size 8{0} } } {}
threshold frequency for a particular material (photoelectric effect)
f 1 size 12{f rSub { size 8{1} } } {}
fundamental
f 2 size 12{f rSub { size 8{2} } } {}
first overtone
f 3 size 12{f rSub { size 8{3} } } {}
second overtone
f B size 12{f rSub { size 8{B} } } {}
beat frequency
f k size 12{f rSub { size 8{k} } } {}
magnitude of kinetic friction
f s size 12{f rSub { size 8{s} } } {}
magnitude of static friction
G size 12{G} {}
gravitational constant
G size 12{G} {}
green quark color
G ¯ size 12{ {overline {G}} } {}
antigreen (magenta) antiquark color
g size 12{g} {}
acceleration due to gravity
g size 12{g} {}
gluons (carrier particles for strong nuclear force)
h size 12{h} {}
change in vertical position
h size 12{h} {}
height above some reference point
h size 12{h} {}
maximum height of a projectile
h size 12{h} {}
Planck's constant
hf size 12{ ital "hf"} {}
photon energy
h i size 12{h rSub { size 8{i} } } {}
height of the image
h o size 12{h rSub { size 8{o} } } {}
height of the object
I size 12{I} {}
electric current
I size 12{I} {}
intensity
I size 12{I} {}
intensity of a transmitted wave
I size 12{I} {}
moment of inertia (also called rotational inertia)
I 0 size 12{I rSub { size 8{0} } } {}
intensity of a polarized wave before passing through a filter
I ave size 12{I rSub { size 8{"ave"} } } {}
average intensity for a continuous sinusoidal electromagnetic wave
I rms size 12{I rSub { size 8{"rms"} } } {}
average current
J size 12{J} {}
joule
J / Ψ size 12{ {J} slash {Ψ} } {}
Joules/psi meson
K size 12{K} {}
kelvin
k size 12{k} {}
Boltzmann constant
k size 12{k} {}
force constant of a spring
K α size 12{K rSub { size 8{α} } } {}
x rays created when an electron falls into an n=1 size 12{n=1} {}

shell vacancy from the n=3 size 12{n=3} {}

shell  
  K β size 12{K rSub { size 8{β} } } {}
x rays created when an electron falls into an n=2 size 12{n=2} {}

shell vacancy from the n=3 size 12{n=3} {}

shell  
  kcal size 12{"kcal"} {}
kilocalorie
KE size 12{"KE"} {}
translational kinetic energy
KE + PE size 12{"KE"+" PE"} {}
mechanical energy
KE e size 12{"KE" rSub { size 8{e} } } {}
kinetic energy of an ejected electron
KE rel size 12{"KE" rSub { size 8{"rel"} } } {}
relativistic kinetic energy
KE rot size 12{"KE" rSub { size 8{"rot"} } } {}
rotational kinetic energy
KE ¯ size 12{ {overline {"KE"}} } {}
thermal energy
kg size 12{"kg"} {}
kilogram (a fundamental SI unit of mass)
L size 12{L} {}
angular momentum
L size 12{L} {}
liter
L size 12{L} {}
magnitude of angular momentum
L size 12{L} {}
self-inductance
ℓ size 12{ℓ} {}
angular momentum quantum number
L α size 12{L rSub { size 8{α} } } {}
x rays created when an electron falls into an n=2 size 12{n=2} {}

shell from the n=3 size 12{n=3} {}

shell  
  L e size 12{L rSub { size 8{e} } } {}
electron total family number
L μ size 12{L rSub { size 8{μ} } } {}
muon family total number
L τ size 12{L rSub { size 8{τ} } } {}
tau family total number
L f size 12{L rSub { size 8{f} } } {}
heat of fusion
L f and L v size 12{L rSub { size 8{f} } " and"` L rSub { size 8{v} } } {}
latent heat coefficients
L orb size 12{L rSub { size 8{"orb"} } } {}
orbital angular momentum
L s size 12{L rSub { size 8{s} } } {}
heat of sublimation
L v size 12{L rSub { size 8{v} } } {}
heat of vaporization
L z size 12{L rSub { size 8{z} } } {}
z - component of the angular momentum
M size 12{M} {}
angular magnification
M size 12{M} {}
mutual inductance
m size 12{m} {}
indicates metastable state
m size 12{m} {}
magnification
m size 12{m} {}
mass
m size 12{m} {}
mass of an object as measured by a person at rest relative to the object
m size 12{m} {}
meter (a fundamental SI unit of length)
m size 12{m} {}
order of interference
m size 12{m} {}
overall magnification (product of the individual magnifications)
m A X size 12{m left ("" lSup { size 8{A} } X right )} {}
atomic mass of a nuclide
MA size 12{"MA"} {}
mechanical advantage
m e size 12{m rSub { size 8{e} } } {}
magnification of the eyepiece
m e size 12{m rSub { size 8{e} } } {}
mass of the electron
m ℓ size 12{m rSub { size 8{ℓ} } } {}
angular momentum projection quantum number
m n size 12{m rSub { size 8{n} } } {}
mass of a neutron
m o size 12{m rSub { size 8{o} } } {}
magnification of the objective lens
mol size 12{"mol"} {}
mole
m p size 12{m rSub { size 8{p} } } {}
mass of a proton
m s size 12{m rSub { size 8{s} } } {}
spin projection quantum number
N size 12{N} {}
magnitude of the normal force
N size 12{N} {}
newton
N size 12{N} {}
normal force
N size 12{N} {}
number of neutrons
n size 12{n} {}
index of refraction
n size 12{n} {}
number of free charges per unit volume
N A size 12{N rSub { size 8{A} } } {}
Avogadro's number
N r size 12{N rSub { size 8{r} } } {}
Reynolds number
N ⋅ m size 12{N cdot m} {}
newton-meter (work-energy unit)
N ⋅ m size 12{N cdot m} {}
newtons times meters (SI unit of torque)
OE size 12{"OE"} {}
other energy
P size 12{P} {}
power
P size 12{P} {}
power of a lens
P size 12{P} {}
pressure
p size 12{p} {}
momentum
p size 12{p} {}
momentum magnitude
p size 12{p} {}
relativistic momentum
p tot size 12{p rSub { size 8{"tot"} } } {}
total momentum
p tot ' size 12{ { {p}} sup { ' } rSub { size 8{`"tot"} } } {}
total momentum some time later
P abs size 12{P rSub { size 8{"abs"} } } {}
absolute pressure
P atm size 12{P rSub { size 8{"atm"} } } {}
atmospheric pressure
P atm size 12{P rSub { size 8{"atm"} } } {}
standard atmospheric pressure
PE size 12{"PE"} {}
potential energy
PE el size 12{"PE" rSub { size 8{"el"} } } {}
elastic potential energy
PE elec size 12{"PE" rSub { size 8{"elec"} } } {}
electric potential energy
PE s size 12{"PE" rSub { size 8{s} } } {}
potential energy of a spring
P g size 12{P rSub { size 8{g} } } {}
gauge pressure
P in size 12{P rSub { size 8{"in"} } } {}
power consumption or input
P out size 12{P rSub { size 8{"out"} } } {}
useful power output going into useful work or a desired, form of energy
Q size 12{Q} {}
latent heat
Q size 12{Q} {}
net heat transferred into a system
Q size 12{Q} {}
flow rate—volume per unit time flowing past a point
+ Q size 12{+Q} {}
positive charge
− Q size 12{ - Q} {}
negative charge
q size 12{q} {}
electron charge
q p size 12{q rSub { size 8{p} } } {}
charge of a proton
q size 12{q} {}
test charge
QF size 12{"QF"} {}
quality factor
R size 12{R} {}
activity, the rate of decay
R size 12{R} {}
radius of curvature of a spherical mirror
R size 12{R} {}
red quark color
R ¯ size 12{ {overline {R}} } {}
antired (cyan) quark color
R size 12{R} {}
resistance
R size 12{R} {}
resultant or total displacement
R size 12{R} {}
Rydberg constant
R size 12{R} {}
universal gas constant
r size 12{r} {}
distance from pivot point to the point where a force is applied
r size 12{r} {}
internal resistance
r ⊥ size 12{r rSub { size 8{ ortho } } } {}
perpendicular lever arm
r size 12{r} {}
radius of a nucleus
r size 12{r} {}
radius of curvature
r size 12{r} {}
resistivity
r or rad size 12{"r or rad"} {}
radiation dose unit
rem size 12{"rem"} {}
roentgen equivalent man
rad size 12{"rad"} {}
radian
RBE size 12{"RBE"} {}
relative biological effectiveness
RC size 12{ ital "RC"} {}
resistor and capacitor circuit
rms size 12{"rms"} {}
root mean square
r n size 12{r rSub { size 8{n} } } {}
radius of the nth H-atom orbit
R p size 12{R rSub { size 8{p} } } {}
total resistance of a parallel connection
R s size 12{R rSub { size 8{s} } } {}
total resistance of a series connection
R s size 12{R rSub { size 8{s} } } {}
Schwarzschild radius
S size 12{S} {}
entropy
S size 12{S} {}
intrinsic spin (intrinsic angular momentum)
S size 12{S} {}
magnitude of the intrinsic (internal) spin angular momentum
S size 12{S} {}
shear modulus
S size 12{S} {}
strangeness quantum number
s size 12{s} {}
quark flavor strange
s size 12{s} {}
second (fundamental SI unit of time)
s size 12{s} {}
spin quantum number
s size 12{s} {}
total displacement
sec θ size 12{"sec"θ} {}
secant
sin θ size 12{"sin"θ} {}
sine
s z size 12{s rSub { size 8{z} } } {}
z-component of spin angular momentum
T size 12{T} {}
period—time to complete one oscillation
T size 12{T} {}
temperature
T c size 12{T rSub { size 8{c} } } {}
critical temperature—temperature below which a material becomes a superconductor
T size 12{T} {}
tension
T size 12{T} {}
tesla (magnetic field strength B)
t size 12{t} {}
quark flavor top or truth
t size 12{t} {}
time
t 1 / 2 size 12{t rSub { size 8{ {1} slash {2} } } } {}
half-life—the time in which half of the original nuclei decay
tan θ size 12{"tan"θ} {}
tangent
U size 12{U} {}
internal energy
u size 12{u} {}
quark flavor up
u size 12{u} {}
unified atomic mass unit
u size 12{u} {}
velocity of an object relative to an observer
u ' size 12{ { {u}} sup { ' }} {}
velocity relative to another observer
V size 12{V} {}
electric potential
V size 12{V} {}
terminal voltage
V size 12{V} {}
volt (unit)
V size 12{V} {}
volume
v size 12{v} {}
relative velocity between two observers
v size 12{v} {}
speed of light in a material
v size 12{v} {}
velocity
v ¯ size 12{ {overline {v}} } {}
average fluid velocity
V B − V A size 12{V rSub { size 8{B} } - V rSub { size 8{A} } } {}
change in potential
v d size 12{v rSub { size 8{d} } } {}
drift velocity
V p size 12{V rSub { size 8{p} } } {}
transformer input voltage
V rms size 12{V rSub { size 8{"rms"} } } {}
rms voltage
V s size 12{V rSub { size 8{s} } } {}
transformer output voltage
v tot size 12{v rSub { size 8{"tot"} } } {}
total velocity
v w size 12{v rSub { size 8{w} } } {}
propagation speed of sound or other wave
v w size 12{v rSub { size 8{w} } } {}
wave velocity
W size 12{W} {}
work
W size 12{W} {}
net work done by a system
W size 12{W} {}
watt
w size 12{w} {}
weight
w fl size 12{w rSub { size 8{"fl"} } } {}
weight of the fluid displaced by an object
W c size 12{W rSub { size 8{c} } } {}
total work done by all conservative forces
W nc size 12{W rSub { size 8{"nc"} } } {}
total work done by all nonconservative forces
W out size 12{W rSub { size 8{"out"} } } {}
useful work output
X size 12{X} {}
amplitude
X size 12{X} {}
symbol for an element
Z A X N size 12{"" lSub { size 8{Z} } lSup { size 8{A} } X rSub { size 8{N} } } {}
notation for a particular nuclide
x size 12{x} {}
deformation or displacement from equilibrium
x size 12{x} {}
displacement of a spring from its undeformed position
x size 12{x} {}
horizontal axis
X C size 12{X rSub { size 8{C} } } {}
capacitive reactance
X L size 12{X rSub { size 8{L} } } {}
inductive reactance
x rms size 12{x rSub { size 8{"rms"} } } {}
root mean square diffusion distance
y size 12{y} {}
vertical axis
Y size 12{Y} {}
elastic modulus or Young's modulus
Z size 12{Z} {}
atomic number (number of protons in a nucleus)
Z size 12{Z} {}
impedance
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