COMMON QUANTITIES INVOLVED IN MECHANICS PROBLEMS

DIMENSIONS DIMENSIONS
GROUP QUANTITY SYMBOL
FORCE SYSTEM MASS SYSTEM
Length L [L] [L]
Other Lengths L0 [L] [L]
Geometric

Angle ψ [1] or [F0L0T0] [1] or [M0L0T0]

Area A [L2] [L2]
Volume V [L3] [L3]
Moment of Inertia (area) I [L4] [L4]
Section Modulus W [L3] [L3]
Normal Strain ε [1] [1]
Shear Strain γ [1] [1]
Displacement δ [L] [L]
Rotation θ [1] [1]
Twist ϕ [1] [1]
Kinematic

Curvature φ [L–1] [L–1]

Linear Acceleration a [LT–2] [LT–2]
Angular Acceleration α [T–2] [T–2]
Linear Velocity v [LT–1] [LT–1]
Angular Velocity ω [T–1] [T–1]
Frequency f [T–1] [T–1]
Spring Constant (linear) k [FL–1] [MT–2]
Point Force F [F] [MLT–2]
Line Force w [FL–1] [MT–2]
Surface Force q [FL–2] [ML–1 T–2]
Moment (Couple) M [FL] [ML2T–2]
Pressure p [FL–2] [ML–1T–2]
Normal Stress σ [FL–2] [ML–1T–2]
Static

Shear Stress τ [FL–2] [ML–1T–2]

Mass m [FL–1 T2] [M]
Density ρ [FL–4 T2] [ML–3]
Weight W [F] [MLT–2]
Specific Weight γ [FL–3] [ML–2T–2]
Energy and Work E&W [FL] [ML2T–2]
Power P [FL T–1] [ML2 T–3]
[FL–2] [ML–1T–2]
Constitutive

Modulus of Elasticity E
Modulus of Rigidity G [FL–2] [FL–2]
Poisson’s Ratio ν [1] [1]
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion α [t–1] [t–1]
Time t [T] [T]
Temperature T [t] or [θ] [t] or [θ]