A-level Physics/Symbols for Physical Quantities

Symbols for Physical Quantities

Latin Letters

A

Amplitude, cross-sectional area

a

Acceleration

c

The speed of light in a vacuum, about 3x10⁸ms^-1

d

Distance

E

Energy, sometimes electromotice force

f

Frequency

F

Force

g

gravitational acceleration (approx. 9.8ms^-2)

G

Universal Gravitational Contant

I

(Uppercase I)

Current

l

(Lowercase L)

Length

m

mass

P

power

p

momentum

Q

Charge

r

Radius of a circle/sphere

R

Resistance

t

Time

T

Temperature; time period for a single rotation or oscillation

u

Initial velocity

v

Velocity

V

Volume, Voltage

W

Weight, work

Greek Letters

Δ

(capital delta)

Change in (eg time)

$\gamma$

(lowercase gamma)

A photon

θ

(theta)

Angle, Temperature (celcius)

λ

(lowercase lambda)

Wavelength

ρ

(rho)

Resistivity

$\varphi$

(phi)

Work function

ω

(lowercase omega)

Angular velocity/frequancy.

Resources

Boise State University