Physics Symbols for Some Basic Quantities:

Physical Quantity Symbol(s) Symbol Name Scalar/ Vector SI Unit

Mass m – Scalar Kilogram (Kg)

Time t – Scalar Seconds (s)

Distance, Length l, d, r – Scalar Meter (m)

Area A – Scalar m 2

Volume V – Scalar m 3

Density D – Scalar kg/m 3

Temperature T – Scalar Kelvin (K)

Frequency f, v – Scalar Hertz (Hz)

Heat Q – Vector Joule (J)

Specific Heat Capacity c – Scalar J kg  K

−1 −1

Wavelength λ lambda Scalar meter (m)

Angular Displacement θ theta Scalar Radian (rad)

Speed of light & sound c – Scalar m/s

Angular frequency ω omega Pseudovector Radian per second (rad/s)

Physics symbols in Mechanics:

Symbol Scalar/
Physical Quantity Symbol(s) SI Unit
Name Vector

Velocity v – Vector m/s

meters per second

Acceleration a – Vector
squared (m/s ) 2

Angular radian per second squared

α alpha Vector
acceleration (rad/s )
2

Momentum p – Vector kg⋅m/s

Period T – Scalar S or sec

Force F – Vector Newton (N)

Torque T tau Vector N⋅m

Power P – Scalar Watt (W)

 Mechanical Work W – Scalar Joule (J)

Energy E – Scalar Joule (J)

Pressure p – Scalar Pascal (Pa)

Moment of Inertia I – Scalar kg m2

Angular
L – Vector kg⋅m s 2 -1

Momentum

Friction f – Vector Newton (N)

Coefficient of
µ mu Scalar unitless
Friction

Kinetic Energy K – Scalar Joule (J)

Potential Energy U – Scalar Joule (J)

Physics Symbols in Electricity & Magnetism:

Physical Quantity Symbol(s) Symbol Scalar/ SI Unit
Name Vector

Charge q, Q – scalar Coulomb (C)

Current I – scalar Ampere (A)

Resistance R – scalar Ohms (Ω)

Inductance L – scalar Henry (H)

Capacitance C – scalar Farad (F)

Electric Potential V – scalar Volt (V)

Difference

Electric Field E – vector Newton per coulomb (N

C)
-1

Magnetic Field B – scalar Tesla