In this glossary, key symbols and notation are briefly defined.
| Symbol | Definition |
|---|---|
| [latex]\overline{\text{any symbol}}[/latex] | average (indicated by a bar over a symbol—e.g., [latex]\bar{v}[/latex] is average velocity) |
| [latex]^{\circ} \text{C}[/latex] | Celsius degree |
| [latex]^{\circ} \text{F}[/latex] | Fahrenheit degree |
| [latex]//[/latex] | parallel |
| [latex]\bot[/latex] | perpendicular |
| [latex]\propto[/latex] | proportional to |
| [latex]\pm[/latex] | plus or minus |
| [latex]_0[/latex] | zero as a subscript denotes an initial value |
| [latex]\alpha[/latex] | alpha rays |
| [latex]\alpha[/latex] | angular acceleration |
| [latex]\alpha[/latex] | temperature coefficient(s) of resistivity |
| [latex]\beta[/latex] | beta rays |
| [latex]\beta[/latex] | sound level |
| [latex]\beta[/latex] | volume coefficient of expansion |
| [latex]\beta ^{-}[/latex] | electron emitted in nuclear beta decay |
| [latex]\beta ^{+}[/latex] | positron decay |
| [latex]\gamma[/latex] | gamma rays |
| [latex]\gamma[/latex] | surface tension |
| [latex]\gamma = 1/ \sqrt{1 - v^2 / c^2}[/latex] | a constant used in relativity |
| [latex]\Delta[/latex] | change in whatever quantity follows |
| [latex]\delta[/latex] | uncertainty in whatever quantity follows |
| [latex]\mathit\Delta E[/latex] | change in energy between the initial and final orbits of an electron in an atom |
| [latex]\mathit\Delta E[/latex] | uncertainty in energy |
| [latex]\mathit\Delta m[/latex] | difference in mass between initial and final products |
| [latex]\mathit\Delta N[/latex] | number of decays that occur |
| [latex]\mathit\Delta p[/latex] | change in momentum |
| [latex]\mathit\Delta p[/latex] | uncertainty in momentum |
| [latex]\mathit\Delta \text{PE}_{\text{g}}[/latex] | change in gravitational potential energy |
| [latex]\mathit\Delta \theta[/latex] | rotation angle |
| [latex]\mathit\Delta s[/latex] | distance traveled along a circular path |
| [latex]\mathit\Delta t[/latex] | uncertainty in time |
| [latex]\mathit\Delta t_0[/latex] | proper time as measured by an observer at rest relative to the process |
| [latex]\mathit\Delta V[/latex] | potential difference |
| [latex]\mathit\Delta x[/latex] | uncertainty in position |
| [latex]\epsilon _0[/latex] | permittivity of free space |
| [latex]\eta[/latex] | viscosity |
| [latex]\theta[/latex] | angle between the force vector and the displacement vector |
| [latex]\theta[/latex] | angle between two lines |
| [latex]\theta[/latex] | contact angle |
| [latex]\theta[/latex] | direction of the resultant |
| [latex]\theta _b[/latex] | Brewster’s angle |
| [latex]\theta _c[/latex] | critical angle |
| [latex]\kappa[/latex] | dielectric constant |
| [latex]\lambda[/latex] | decay constant of a nuclide |
| [latex]\lambda[/latex] | wavelength |
| [latex]\lambda _n[/latex] | wavelength in a medium |
| [latex]\mu _0[/latex] | permeability of free space |
| [latex]\mu _k[/latex] | coefficient of kinetic friction |
| [latex]\mu _s[/latex] | coefficient of static friction |
| [latex]v_e[/latex] | electron neutrino |
| [latex]\pi ^+[/latex] | positive pion |
| [latex]\pi ^-[/latex] | negative pion |
| [latex]\pi ^0[/latex] | neutral pion |
| [latex]\rho[/latex] | density |
| [latex]\rho _{\text{c}}[/latex] | critical density, the density needed to just halt universal expansion |
| [latex]\rho _{\text{fl}}[/latex] | fluid density |
| [latex]\overline{\rho} _{\text{obj}}[/latex] | average density of an object |
| [latex]\rho / \rho _{\text{w}}[/latex] | specific gravity |
| [latex]\tau[/latex] | characteristic time constant for a resistance and inductance ([latex]RL[/latex]) or resistance and capacitance ([latex]RC[/latex]) circuit |
| [latex]\tau[/latex] | characteristic time for a resistor and capacitor ([latex]RC[/latex]) circuit |
| [latex]\tau[/latex] | torque |
| [latex]\Upsilon[/latex] | upsilon meson |
| [latex]\Phi[/latex] | magnetic flux |
| [latex]\phi[/latex] | phase angle |
| [latex]\Omega[/latex] | ohm (unit) |
| [latex]\omega[/latex] | angular velocity |
| [latex]\text{A}[/latex] | ampere (current unit) |
| [latex]A[/latex] | area |
| [latex]A[/latex] | cross-sectional area |
| [latex]A[/latex] | total number of nucleons |
| [latex]a[/latex] | acceleration |
| [latex]a_{\text{B}}[/latex] | Bohr radius |
| [latex]a_{\text{c}}[/latex] | centripetal acceleration |
| [latex]a_{\text{t}}[/latex] | tangential acceleration |
| [latex]\text{AC}[/latex] | alternating current |
| [latex]\text{AM}[/latex] | amplitude modulation |
| [latex]\text{atm}[/latex] | atmosphere |
| [latex]B[/latex] | baryon number |
| [latex]B[/latex] | blue quark color |
| [latex]\overline{B}[/latex] | antiblue (yellow) antiquark color |
| [latex]b[/latex] | quark flavor bottom or beauty |
| [latex]B[/latex] | bulk modulus |
| [latex]B[/latex] | magnetic field strength |
| [latex]B_{\text{int}}[/latex] | electron’s intrinsic magnetic field |
| [latex]B_{\text{orb}}[/latex] | orbital magnetic field |
| [latex]\text{BE}[/latex] | binding energy of a nucleus—it is the energy required to completely disassemble it into separate protons and neutrons |
| [latex]\text{BE/A}[/latex] | binding energy per nucleon |
| [latex]\text{Bq}[/latex] | becquerel—one decay per second |
| [latex]C[/latex] | capacitance (amount of charge stored per volt) |
| [latex]C[/latex] | coulomb (a fundamental SI unit of charge) |
| [latex]C_{\text{p}}[/latex] | total capacitance in parallel |
| [latex]C_{\text{s}}[/latex] | total capacitance in series |
| [latex]\text{CG}[/latex] | center of gravity |
| [latex]\text{CM}[/latex] | center of mass |
| [latex]c[/latex] | quark flavor charm |
| [latex]c[/latex] | specific heat |
| [latex]c[/latex] | speed of light |
| [latex]\text{Cal}[/latex] | kilocalorie |
| [latex]\text{cal}[/latex] | calorie |
| [latex]\textit{\text{COP}}_{\text{hp}}[/latex] | heat pump’s coefficient of performance |
| [latex]\textit{\text{COP}}_{\text{ref}}[/latex] | coefficient of performance for refrigerators and air conditioners |
| [latex]\text{cos} \theta[/latex] | cosine |
| [latex]\text{cot} \theta[/latex] | cotangent |
| [latex]\text{csc} \theta[/latex] | cosecant |
| [latex]D[/latex] | diffusion constant |
| [latex]d[/latex] | displacement |
| [latex]d[/latex] | quark flavor down |
| [latex]\text{dB}[/latex] | decibel |
| [latex]d_i[/latex] | distance of an image from the center of a lens |
| [latex]d_o[/latex] | distance of an object from the center of a lens |
| [latex]\text{DC}[/latex] | direct current |
| [latex]E[/latex] | electric field strength |
| [latex]\epsilon[/latex] | emf (voltage) or Hall electromotive force |
| [latex]\text{emf}[/latex] | electromotive force |
| [latex]E[/latex] | energy of a single photon |
| [latex]E[/latex] | nuclear reaction energy |
| [latex]E[/latex] | relativistic total energy |
| [latex]E[/latex] | total energy |
| [latex]E_0[/latex] | ground state energy for hydrogen |
| [latex]E_0[/latex] | rest energy |
| [latex]\text{EC}[/latex] | electron capture |
| [latex]E_{\text{cap}}[/latex] | energy stored in a capacitor |
| [latex]\textit{\text{Eff}}[/latex] | efficiency—the useful work output divided by the energy input |
| [latex]\textit{\text{Eff}}_{\textit{\text{C}}}[/latex] | Carnot efficiency |
| [latex]E_{\text{in}}[/latex] | energy consumed (food digested in humans) |
| [latex]E_{\text{ind}}[/latex] | energy stored in an inductor |
| [latex]E_{\text{out}}[/latex] | energy output |
| [latex]e[/latex] | emissivity of an object |
| [latex]e^+[/latex] | antielectron or positron |
| [latex]\text{eV}[/latex] | electron volt |
| [latex]\text{F}[/latex] | farad (unit of capacitance, a coulomb per volt) |
| [latex]\text{F}[/latex] | focal point of a lens |
| [latex]\textbf{\text{F}}[/latex] | force |
| [latex]F[/latex] | magnitude of a force |
| [latex]F[/latex] | restoring force |
| [latex]F_{\text{B}}[/latex] | buoyant force |
| [latex]F_{\text{c}}[/latex] | centripetal force |
| [latex]F_{\text{i}}[/latex] | force input |
| [latex]\textbf{F}_{\text{net}}[/latex] | net force |
| [latex]F_{\text{o}}[/latex] | force output |
| [latex]\text{FM}[/latex] | frequency modulation |
| [latex]f[/latex] | focal length |
| [latex]f[/latex] | frequency |
| [latex]f_0[/latex] | resonant frequency of a resistance, inductance, and capacitance ([latex]RLC[/latex]) series circuit |
| [latex]f_0[/latex] | threshold frequency for a particular material (photoelectric effect) |
| [latex]f_1[/latex] | fundamental |
| [latex]f_2[/latex] | first overtone |
| [latex]f_3[/latex] | second overtone |
| [latex]f_{\text{B}}[/latex] | beat frequency |
| [latex]f_{\text{k}}[/latex] | magnitude of kinetic friction |
| [latex]f_{\text{s}}[/latex] | magnitude of static friction |
| [latex]G[/latex] | gravitational constant |
| [latex]G[/latex] | green quark color |
| [latex]\overline{G}[/latex] | antigreen (magenta) antiquark color |
| [latex]g[/latex] | acceleration due to gravity |
| [latex]g[/latex] | gluons (carrier particles for strong nuclear force) |
| [latex]h[/latex] | change in vertical position |
| [latex]h[/latex] | height above some reference point |
| [latex]h[/latex] | maximum height of a projectile |
| [latex]h[/latex] | Planck’s constant |
| [latex]hf[/latex] | photon energy |
| [latex]h_i[/latex] | height of the image |
| [latex]h_o[/latex] | height of the object |
| [latex]I[/latex] | electric current |
| [latex]I[/latex] | intensity |
| [latex]I[/latex] | intensity of a transmitted wave |
| [latex]I[/latex] | moment of inertia (also called rotational inertia) |
| [latex]I_0[/latex] | intensity of a polarized wave before passing through a filter |
| [latex]I_{\text{ave}}[/latex] | average intensity for a continuous sinusoidal electromagnetic wave |
| [latex]I_{\text{rms}}[/latex] | average current |
| [latex]J[/latex] | joule |
| [latex]J / \psi[/latex] | Joules/psi meson |
| [latex]\text{K}[/latex] | kelvin |
| [latex]k[/latex] | Boltzmann constant |
| [latex]k[/latex] | force constant of a spring |
| [latex]K_{\alpha}[/latex] | x rays created when an electron falls into an [latex]n = 1[/latex] shell vacancy from the [latex]n = 3[/latex] shell |
| [latex]K_{\beta}[/latex] | x rays created when an electron falls into an [latex]n = 2[/latex] shell vacancy from the [latex]n = 3[/latex] shell |
| [latex]\text{kcal}[/latex] | kilocalorie |
| [latex]\text{KE}[/latex] | translational kinetic energy |
| [latex]\text{KE} + \text{PE}[/latex] | mechanical energy |
| [latex]\text{KE}_e[/latex] | kinetic energy of an ejected electron |
| [latex]\text{KE}_{\text{rel}}[/latex] | relativistic kinetic energy |
| [latex]\text{KE}_{\text{rot}}[/latex] | rotational kinetic energy |
| [latex]\overline{\text{KE}}[/latex] | thermal energy |
| [latex]\text{kg}[/latex] | kilogram (a fundamental SI unit of mass) |
| [latex]L[/latex] | angular momentum |
| [latex]\text{L}[/latex] | liter |
| [latex]L[/latex] | magnitude of angular momentum |
| [latex]L[/latex] | self-inductance |
| [latex]\ell[/latex] | angular momentum quantum number |
| [latex]L_{\alpha}[/latex] | x rays created when an electron falls into an [latex]n = 2[/latex] shell from the [latex]n = 3[/latex] shell |
| [latex]L_e[/latex] | electron total family number |
| [latex]L_{\mu}[/latex] | muon family total number |
| [latex]L_{\tau}[/latex] | tau family total number |
| [latex]L_{\text{f}}[/latex] | heat of fusion |
| [latex]L_{\text{f}}[/latex] and [latex]L_{\text{v}}[/latex] | latent heat coefficients |
| [latex]L_{\text{orb}}[/latex] | orbital angular momentum |
| [latex]L_{\text{s}}[/latex] | heat of sublimation |
| [latex]L_{\text{v}}[/latex] | heat of vaporization |
| [latex]L_z[/latex] | z – component of the angular momentum |
| [latex]M[/latex] | angular magnification |
| [latex]M[/latex] | mutual inductance |
| [latex]\text{m}[/latex] | indicates metastable state |
| [latex]m[/latex] | magnification |
| [latex]m[/latex] | mass |
| [latex]m[/latex] | mass of an object as measured by a person at rest relative to the object |
| [latex]\text{m}[/latex] | meter (a fundamental SI unit of length) |
| [latex]m[/latex] | order of interference |
| [latex]m[/latex] | overall magnification (product of the individual magnifications) |
| [latex]m(^AX)[/latex] | atomic mass of a nuclide |
| [latex]\text{MA}[/latex] | mechanical advantage |
| [latex]m_{\text{e}}[/latex] | magnification of the eyepiece |
| [latex]m_e[/latex] | mass of the electron |
| [latex]m_{\ell}[/latex] | angular momentum projection quantum number |
| [latex]m_n[/latex] | mass of a neutron |
| [latex]m_{\text{o}}[/latex] | magnification of the objective lens |
| [latex]\text{mol}[/latex] | mole |
| [latex]m_p[/latex] | mass of a proton |
| [latex]m_{\text{s}}[/latex] | spin projection quantum number |
| [latex]N[/latex] | magnitude of the normal force |
| [latex]\text{N}[/latex] | newton |
| [latex]\textbf{\text{N}}[/latex] | normal force |
| [latex]N[/latex] | number of neutrons |
| [latex]n[/latex] | index of refraction |
| [latex]n[/latex] | number of free charges per unit volume |
| [latex]N_A[/latex] | Avogadro’s number |
| [latex]N_{\text{r}}[/latex] | Reynolds number |
| [latex]\text{N} \cdot \text{m}[/latex] | newton-meter (work-energy unit) |
| [latex]\text{N} \cdot \text{m}[/latex] | newtons times meters (SI unit of torque) |
| [latex]\text{OE}[/latex] | other energy |
| [latex]P[/latex] | power |
| [latex]P[/latex] | power of a lens |
| [latex]P[/latex] | pressure |
| [latex]\textbf{\text{p}}[/latex] | momentum |
| [latex]p[/latex] | momentum magnitude |
| [latex]p[/latex] | relativistic momentum |
| [latex]\textbf{\text{p}}_{\text{tot}}[/latex] | total momentum |
| [latex]\textbf{\text{p}}^{\prime}_{\text{tot}}[/latex] | total momentum some time later |
| [latex]p_{\text{abs}}[/latex] | absolute pressure |
| [latex]p_{\text{atm}}[/latex] | atmospheric pressure |
| [latex]p_{\text{atm}}[/latex] | standard atmospheric pressure |
| [latex]\text{PE}[/latex] | potential energy |
| [latex]\text{PE}_{el}[/latex] | elastic potential energy |
| [latex]\text{PE}_{\text{elec}}[/latex] | electric potential energy |
| [latex]\text{PE}_s[/latex] | potential energy of a spring |
| [latex]P_g[/latex] | gauge pressure |
| [latex]P_{in}[/latex] | power consumption or input |
| [latex]P_{out}[/latex] | useful power output going into useful work or a desired, form of energy |
| [latex]Q[/latex] | latent heat |
| [latex]Q[/latex] | net heat transferred into a system |
| [latex]Q[/latex] | flow rate—volume per unit time flowing past a point |
| [latex]+Q[/latex] | positive charge |
| [latex]-Q[/latex] | negative charge |
| [latex]q[/latex] | electron charge |
| [latex]q_p[/latex] | charge of a proton |
| [latex]q[/latex] | test charge |
| [latex]\text{QF}[/latex] | quality factor |
| [latex]R[/latex] | activity, the rate of decay |
| [latex]R[/latex] | radius of curvature of a spherical mirror |
| [latex]R[/latex] | red quark color |
| [latex]\overline{R}[/latex] | antired (cyan) quark color |
| [latex]R[/latex] | resistance |
| [latex]\text{R}[/latex] | resultant or total displacement |
| [latex]R[/latex] | Rydberg constant |
| [latex]R[/latex] | universal gas constant |
| [latex]r[/latex] | distance from pivot point to the point where a force is applied |
| [latex]r[/latex] | internal resistance |
| [latex]r_{\bot}[/latex] | perpendicular lever arm |
| [latex]r[/latex] | radius of a nucleus |
| [latex]r[/latex] | radius of curvature |
| [latex]r[/latex] | resistivity |
| [latex]\text{r or rad}[/latex] | radiation dose unit |
| [latex]\text{rem}[/latex] | roentgen equivalent man |
| [latex]\text{rad}[/latex] | radian |
| [latex]\text{RBE}[/latex] | relative biological effectiveness |
| [latex]RC[/latex] | resistor and capacitor circuit |
| [latex]\text{rms}[/latex] | root mean square |
| [latex]r_n[/latex] | radius of the nth H-atom orbit |
| [latex]R_p[/latex] | total resistance of a parallel connection |
| [latex]R_s[/latex] | total resistance of a series connection |
| [latex]R_s[/latex] | Schwarzschild radius |
| [latex]S[/latex] | entropy |
| [latex]\textbf{\text{S}}[/latex] | intrinsic spin (intrinsic angular momentum) |
| [latex]S[/latex] | magnitude of the intrinsic (internal) spin angular momentum |
| [latex]S[/latex] | shear modulus |
| [latex]S[/latex] | strangeness quantum number |
| [latex]s[/latex] | quark flavor strange |
| [latex]\text{s}[/latex] | second (fundamental SI unit of time) |
| [latex]s[/latex] | spin quantum number |
| [latex]\textbf{\text{s}}[/latex] | total displacement |
| [latex]\text{sec} \theta[/latex] | secant |
| [latex]\text{sin} \theta[/latex] | sine |
| [latex]s_z[/latex] | z-component of spin angular momentum |
| [latex]T[/latex] | period—time to complete one oscillation |
| [latex]T[/latex] | temperature |
| [latex]T_c[/latex] | critical temperature—temperature below which a material becomes a superconductor |
| [latex]T[/latex] | tension |
| [latex]\text{T}[/latex] | tesla (magnetic field strength B) |
| [latex]t[/latex] | quark flavor top or truth |
| [latex]t[/latex] | time |
| [latex]t_{1/2}[/latex] | half-life—the time in which half of the original nuclei decay |
| [latex]\text{tan} \theta[/latex] | tangent |
| [latex]U[/latex] | internal energy |
| [latex]u[/latex] | quark flavor up |
| [latex]\text{u}[/latex] | unified atomic mass unit |
| [latex]\textbf{\text{u}}[/latex] | velocity of an object relative to an observer |
| [latex]\textbf{\text{u}}^{\prime}[/latex] | velocity relative to another observer |
| [latex]V[/latex] | electric potential |
| [latex]V[/latex] | terminal voltage |
| [latex]\text{V}[/latex] | volt (unit) |
| [latex]V[/latex] | volume |
| [latex]\textbf{\text{v}}[/latex] | relative velocity between two observers |
| [latex]v[/latex] | speed of light in a material |
| [latex]\textbf{\text{v}}[/latex] | velocity |
| [latex]\overline{\textbf{\text{v}}}[/latex] | average fluid velocity |
| [latex]V_B - V_A[/latex] | change in potential |
| [latex]\textbf{\text{v}}_d[/latex] | drift velocity |
| [latex]V_p[/latex] | transformer input voltage |
| [latex]V_{\text{rms}}[/latex] | rms voltage |
| [latex]V_s[/latex] | transformer output voltage |
| [latex]\textbf{\text{v}}_{\text{tot}}[/latex] | total velocity |
| [latex]v_{\text{w}}[/latex] | propagation speed of sound or other wave |
| [latex]\textbf{\text{v}}_{\text{w}}[/latex] | wave velocity |
| [latex]W[/latex] | work |
| [latex]W[/latex] | net work done by a system |
| [latex]\text{W}[/latex] | watt |
| [latex]w[/latex] | weight |
| [latex]w_{\text{fl}}[/latex] | weight of the fluid displaced by an object |
| [latex]W_c[/latex] | total work done by all conservative forces |
| [latex]W_{nc}[/latex] | total work done by all nonconservative forces |
| [latex]W_{out}[/latex] | useful work output |
| [latex]X[/latex] | amplitude |
| [latex]\text{X}[/latex] | symbol for an element |
| [latex]\begin{matrix} Z \\ A \end{matrix} K_N[/latex] | notation for a particular nuclide |
| [latex]x[/latex] | deformation or displacement from equilibrium |
| [latex]x[/latex] | displacement of a spring from its undeformed position |
| [latex]x[/latex] | horizontal axis |
| [latex]X_C[/latex] | capacitive reactance |
| [latex]X_L[/latex] | inductive reactance |
| [latex]x_{\text{rms}}[/latex] | root mean square diffusion distance |
| [latex]y[/latex] | vertical axis |
| [latex]Y[/latex] | elastic modulus or Young’s modulus |
| [latex]Z[/latex] | atomic number (number of protons in a nucleus) |
| [latex]Z[/latex] | impedance |
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