Exploring Physics Symbols: Names, Meanings, and Significance

We live in an age of Abbreviations.
Every other text message carries an abbreviation or two. Like, ‘OMG’ or ‘BRB.’
It’s okay if you’re not familiar with the aforementioned abbreviations. But for all those physicists in laboratories, it is absolutely imperative that they garner a fine understanding of all Physics Signs and symbols.
Forget Physicists, even for someone looking to understand the basic concepts of Physics, a grassroots knowledge of the symbols used in Physics becomes an absolute must. After all, the subject entails a vast number of Physical Quantities that need to be included in the midst of all those calculations.
Thus arises the need to represent those Physical Quantities, with Physics Symbols.
In this article you will find a Physics Symbols List, that covers all the symbols used in Physics, that your discerning mind needs to know. Are you ready to uncover all those Physics Symbols, and even some cool Names of Physics Symbols?
Let’s begin, with a closer look at Physics symbols and all that they entail.
Physics Symbols: A Closer Look
When we speak of Physics Symbols, the first thing that comes to mind is those interesting Greek alphabets, that provoke a sense of intrigue. Indeed, strange looking alphabets that lend an uber cool touch to this branch of Science!
Besides Greek alphabets, the other symbols that are commonly used in Physics, are the symbols that we use for making Maths calculations. Moreover, we make use of SI units, to represent Coefficients and Quantities.
Symbols in Physics can be used to denote a variety of things, from Parameters and Constants, to even complicated Physics Equations. They facilitate an easier understanding of difficult Calculations, and help make those vital Representations.
Note: While using symbols in Physics generally makes things a lot easier, it can get a bit tricky at times. This usually happens, because in the field of Physics you will find some symbols that represent more than a single quantity. Like you will come to see, over the course of this article.
Commonly Used Physics Symbols
Since there are ‘6’ Branches in the field of Physics, it would be disastrous to group all the Physics Symbols into one category. It’s easier, though, if we group them in accordance with their uses in the respective Physics branches.
In this section we will touch light upon the most commonly used Physics symbols, in three different categories of Physics.
Physics Symbols: Basic Quantities
It’s only a given, that we begin our exploration of Physics Symbols with a look at symbols assigned to the most Basic quantities.
This list, like the others that follow it, covers the commonly used Physics symbols, and in some cases, the accompanying names of symbols.
Physical Quantity: Mass
Symbol: m
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: Kilogram (kg)
Physical Quantity: Time
Symbol: t
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: Seconds (s)
Physical Quantity: Distance
Symbol: l,d,r
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: Metre (m)
Physical Quantity: Area
Symbol: A
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: m²
Physical Quantity: Volume
Symbol: V
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: m3
Physical Quantity: Density
Symbol: D
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: kg/m3
Physical Quantity: Temperature
Symbol: T
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: Kelvin (K)
Physical Quantity: Frequency
Symbol: f,v
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: Hertz (hz)
Physical Quantity: Heat
Symbol: Q
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Vector
SI Unit: Joule (J)
Physical Quantity: Wavelength
Symbol: λ
Symbol Name: Lambda
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: Metre (m)
Physical Quantity: Angular Displacement
Symbol: θ
Symbol Name: Theta
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: Radian (rad)
Physical Quantity: Angular Frequency
Symbol: Ω
Symbol Name: Omega
Scalar/Vector: Pseudovector
SI Unit: Radian per second (rad/s)
Physics Symbols: Electricity and Magnetism
Up until now, we have merely scratched the surface of all known existing physics symbols.
The following Physics Symbols List, sheds light on the symbols used in Physics vis a vis Electricity and Magnetism.
Physical Quantity: Conductivity
Symbol: σ
Symbol Name: Sigma
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: Siemens per metre
Physical Quantity: Capacitance
Symbol: C
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: Farad (F)
Physical Quantity: Electric Current
Symbol: l
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: Ampere
Physical Quantity: Charge
Symbol: q, Q
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: Coulomb (C)
Physical Quantity: Electromotive Force (emf)
Symbol: ε
Symbol Name: Epsilon
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: Volt
Physical Quantity: Magnetic Field
Symbol: B
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: Tesla
Physical Quantity: Magnetic Force
Symbol: FB
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Functions as Vector
SI Unit: Newton
Physics Symbols: Mechanics
In the arena of Mechanics, too, there’s a plethora of Physics Signs and Symbols.
Physical Quantity: Velocity
Symbol: v
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Vector
SI Unit: m/s
Physical Quantity: Acceleration
Symbol: a
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Vector
SI Unit: Metres per second squared – m/s2.
Physical Quantity: Momentum
Symbol: p
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Vector
SI Unit: kg/ m²
Physical Quantity: Torque
Symbol: T
Symbol Name: Tau
Scalar/Vector: Vector
SI Unit: N.m
Physical Quantity: Angular Acceleration
Symbol: α
Symbol Name: Alpha
Scalar/Vector: Vector
SI Unit: m/s
Physical Quantity: Period
Symbol: T
Symbol Name: Scalar
Scalar/Vector: Vector
SI Unit: s or sec
Physical Quantity: Pressure
Symbol: p
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: Pascal (pa)
Physical Quantity: Coefficient of Friction
Symbol: µ
Symbol Name: mu
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: Unitless
Physical Quantity: Potential Energy
Symbol: U
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: Joule (J)
Physical Quantity: Kinetic Energy
Symbol: K
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: Joule (J)
Physical Quantity: Moment of Inertia
Symbol: I
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Scalar
SI Unit: kg m²
Physical Quantity: Friction
Symbol: f
Symbol Name: –
Scalar/Vector: Vector
SI Unit: Newton (N)
At EuroKids we believe that while it’s a great idea to have your children indulge in cool Physics and Science Experiments, you must take things a step further. You can do this, by exposing them to these cool Physics Symbols, that are sometimes accompanied by even cooler names!