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Useful Information

This appendix is broken into several tables.

Important Constants1
Symbol Meaning Best Value Approximate Value
c Speed of light in vacuum 2.99792458×108m/s 3.00×108m/s
G Gravitational constant 6.67408(31)×1011Nm2/kg2 6.67×1011Nm2/kg2
NA Avogadro’s number 6.02214129(27)×1023 6.02×1023
k Boltzmann’s constant 1.3806488(13)×1023J/K 1.38×1023J/K
R Gas constant 8.3144621(75)J/molK 8.31J/molK=1.99cal/molK=0.0821atmL/molK
σ Stefan-Boltzmann constant 5.670373(21)×108W/m2K 5.67×108W/m2K
k Coulomb force constant 8.987551788...×109Nm2/C2 8.99×109Nm2/C2
qe Charge on electron 1.602176565(35)×1019C 1.60×1019C
ε0 Permittivity of free space 8.854187817...×1012C2/Nm2 8.85×1012C2/Nm2
μ0 Permeability of free space 4π×107Tm/A 1.26×106Tm/A
h Planck’s constant 6.62606957(29)×1034Js 6.63×1034Js
Submicroscopic Masses2
Symbol Meaning Best Value Approximate Value
me Electron mass 9.10938291(40)×1031kg 9.11×1031kg
mp Proton mass 1.672621777(74)×1027kg 1.6726×1027kg
mn Neutron mass 1.674927351(74)×1027kg 1.6749×1027kg
u Atomic mass unit 1.660538921(73)×1027kg 1.6605×1027kg
Solar System Data
Sun mass 1.99×1030kg
average radius 6.96×108m
Earth-sun distance (average) 1.496×1011m
Earth mass 5.9736×1024kg
average radius 6.376×106m
orbital period 3.16×107s
Moon mass 7.35×1022kg
average radius 1.74×106m
orbital period (average) 2.36×106s
Earth-moon distance (average) 3.84×108m
Metric Prefixes for Powers of Ten and Their Symbols
Prefix Symbol Value Prefix Symbol Value
tera T 1012 deci d 101
giga G 109 centi c 102
mega M 106 milli m 103
kilo k 103 micro μ 106
hecto h 102 nano n 109
deka da 101 pico p 1012
100(=1) femto f 1015
The Greek Alphabet
Alpha Α α Eta Η η Nu Ν ν Tau Τ τ
Beta Β β Theta Θ θ Xi Ξ ξ Upsilon Υ υ
Gamma Γ γ Iota Ι ι Omicron Ο ο Phi Φ φ
Delta Δ δ Kappa Κ κ Pi Π π Chi Χ χ
Epsilon Ε ϵ Lambda Λ λ Rho Ρ ρ Psi Ψ ψ
Zeta Ζ ζ Mu Μ μ Sigma Σ σ Omega Ω ω
SI Units
Entity Abbreviation Name
Fundamental units Length m meter
Mass kg kilogram
Time s second
Current A ampere
Supplementary unit Angle rad radian
Derived units Force N=kgm/s2 newton
Energy J=kgm2/s2 joule
Power W=J/s watt
Pressure Pa=N/m2 pascal
Frequency Hz=1/s hertz
Electronic potential V=J/C volt
Capacitance F=C/V farad
Charge C=sA coulomb
Resistance Ω=V/A ohm
Magnetic field T=N/(Am) tesla
Nuclear decay rate Bq=1/s becquerel
Selected British Units
Length 1inch(in.)=2.54cm(exactly)
1foot(ft)=0.3048m
1mile(mi)=1.609km
Force 1pound(lb)=4.448N
Energy 1British thermal unit(Btu)=1.055×103J
Power 1horsepower(hp)=746W
Pressure 1lb/in2=6.895×103Pa
Other Units
Length 1light year(ly)=9.46×1015m
1astronomical unit(au)=1.50×1011m
1nautical mile=1.852km
1angstrom(Å)=1010m
Area 1acre(ac)=4.05×103m2
1square foot(ft2)=9.29×102m2
1barn(b)=1028m2
Volume 1liter(L)=103m3
1U.S. gallon(gal)=3.785×103m3
Mass 1solar mass=1.99×1030kg
1metric ton=103kg
1atomic mass unit(u)=1.6605×1027kg
Time 1year(y)=3.16×107s
1day(d)=86,400s
Speed 1mile per hour(mph)=1.609km/h
1nautical mile per hour(naut)=1.852km/h
Angle 1degree(°)=1.745×102rad
1\phantom{\rule{0.20em}{0ex}}\text{minute of arc}\phantom{\rule{0.20em}{0ex}}{\left(}^{\text{'}}\right)=1/\text{60}\phantom{\rule{0.20em}{0ex}}\text{degree}
1\phantom{\rule{0.20em}{0ex}}\text{second of arc}\text{}\phantom{\rule{0.20em}{0ex}}{\left(}^{\text{''}}\right)=1/\text{60}\phantom{\rule{0.20em}{0ex}}\text{minute of arc}
1grad=1.571×102rad
Energy 1kiloton TNT(kT)=4.2×1012J
1kilowatt hour(kWh)=3.60×106J
1food calorie(kcal)=4186J
1calorie(cal)=4.186J
1electron volt(eV)=1.60×1019J
Pressure 1atmosphere(atm)=1.013×105Pa
1millimeter of mercury(mmHg)=133.3Pa
1torricelli(torr)=1mmHg=133.3Pa
Nuclear decay rate 1curie(Ci)=3.70×1010Bq
Useful Formulae
Circumference of a circle with radius r or diameter d C=2πr=πd
Area of a circle with radius r or diameter d A=πr2=πd2/4
Area of a sphere with radius r A=4πr2
Volume of a sphere with radius r V=(4/3)(πr3)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Stated values are according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology Reference on Constants, Units, and Uncertainty, www.physics.nist.gov/cuu (accessed May 18, 2012). Values in parentheses are the uncertainties in the last digits. Numbers without uncertainties are exact as defined.
  2. 2 Stated values are according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology Reference on Constants, Units, and Uncertainty, www.physics.nist.gov/cuu (accessed May 18, 2012). Values in parentheses are the uncertainties in the last digits. Numbers without uncertainties are exact as defined.

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