Below is an elaborated list of the most commonly used list of symbols in physics with

their SI units. Please note that a particular symbol might relate to more than one
quantity.
Symbols for Physical Quantities Related to Space and Time
Quantity/ Physical Quantity
Symbols S.I. Unit
Coefficients (Scalar/Vector)

Radius, the radius Functions as both scalar and

r Metre
of curvature vector

s Displacement Metre Vector

d Distance Metre Scalar

Angular
θ Radian Vector
displacement,

A uniquely-defined magnitude and

The rotational direction, but is not a vector
φ Radian quantity.
angle
(Does Not obey commutative law)

Cartesian
x, y, z Unitless Scalar
Coordinates

Cartesian unit
î, ĵ, k̂ Unitless Vector
vectors

Spherical
r, θ, φ Metre/Radian Vector
coordinates

r̂ , θ̂, φ̂ Spherical vectors Unitless Vector

r, θ, z Cylindrical Metre/Radian Scalar

coordinates

r̂ , θ̂, ẑ Cylindrical vectors Unitless Vector

n̂ Normal vector Unitless Vector

t̂ Tangential unit Unitless Vector

vector

h Height, Depth Metre Scalar

ℓ, L Length Metre Scalar

 t Time Second Scalar

D (= 2 r) Diameter Metre Scalar

C Circumference Metre Scalar

Functions as both scalar and

A Area Square Metre vector (like Area vector in a
magnetic flux formula)

Cubic Metre
V Volume Scalar
(m3)

τ Time Constant Second (s) Scalar

T Periodic time Second (s) Scalar

1/second or
f Frequency Scalar
(1/s)

ω Angular frequency Rad/s Scalar

Below are some symbols that are used frequently in physics with their names, the type
of quantities and their respective SI units in tabular format.
Physics Symbols Related to Mechanics
Symbol Quantity/ Coefficients S.I. Unit Physical Quantity
s (Scalar/Vector)

Speed = Scalar
v Velocity, speed metre/second (m/s)
Velocity = vector

metre/square second
a Acceleration Vector
(m/s2)

g Acceleration due to gravity metre/square second Vector

Centripetal/Centrifugal
ac metre/square second Vector
acceleration

m Mass Kilogram (kg) Scalar

F Force Newton (N) Vector

Force due to
W/Fg Newton Vector
gravity/Weight
 Fg/ N Normal force N Vector

Ff Force of friction N Vector

µ Coefficient of friction Unitless Scalar

p Momentum Kg.m/s Vector

J Impulse N/s Vector

E Energy Joule (J) Scalar

K Kinetic energy J Scalar

U Potential Energy J Scalar

Vg Gravitational potential J/kg Scalar

η Efficiency Unitless Scalar

P Power Watt Scalar

Radian per second

α Rotational acceleration Vector
squared (Rad/s2)

ω Rotational velocity Rad/s Vector

τ Torque N/m Vector

Kilogram meter
squared per second
L Angular momentum Vector
Kg.m2/s

Density
Kilogram per cubic
ρ Volume Scalar
meter
Mass density

I Moment of inertia Kg.m2 Scalar

Physical Symbols Related to Fluid Mechanics

Symbol Quantity/ S.I. Unit Physical Quantity
s Coefficients (Scalar/Vector)

Linear mass
λ kg/m Scalar
density
 Area mass Kilogram per square meter
σ Scalar
density (kg/m2)

FB, B Buoyancy N Vector

qm Mass flow rate kg/s Scalar

qV Volume flow rate m3/s Scalar

Drag or air
FD, R N Vector
resistance

CD Drag Coefficient Unitless Scalar

η Viscosity Pascal-second Scalar

Kinematic
v m2/s Scalar
Viscosity

Area mass
σ kg/m2 Scalar
density

Re Reynolds number Unitless Scalar

Fr Froude number Unitless Scalar

Ma Mach number Unitless Scalar

Symbols Related to Solid Mechanics

Symbol Quantity/ Coefficients S.I. Physical Quantity
s Unit (Scalar/Vector)

Pascal
P Pressure Or Scalar
N/m2

σ Stress Pascal Scalar

τ Shear stress Pascal Scalar

k Spring constant N/m Scalar

Young’s modulus of
E Pascal Scalar
elasticity

G Shear modulus of rigidity Pascal Scalar

 ε Linear strain Unitless Scalar

γ Shear strain Unitless Scalar

θ Volume strain Unitless Scalar

S Surface Tension N/m Scalar

Bulk modulus of
K Pascal Scalar
compression

Physical Quantities Related to Thermal Physics

Symbol Quantity/ Coefficients S.I. Unit Physical Quantity
s (Scalar/Vector)

k Thermal conductivity W/m.K Scalar

P Heat flow rate Watt Scalar

N Number of particles Unitless Scalar

n Amount of substance Mole Scalar

L Latent heat/specific latent heat J/kg Scalar

c Specific heat capacity J/kg. K Scalar

Q Heat J Scalar

Volume expansivity, coefficient of 1/K (inverse

B Scalar
volume thermal expansion Kelvin)

Linear expansivity, coefficient of 1/K (inverse

α Scalar
thermal expansion Kelvin)

T Temperature Kelvin Scalar

Physical Symbol Related to Wave and Optics

Symbo Quantity/ S.I Unit Physical Quantity
l Coefficients (Scalar/Vector)

M Magnification Untiless Scalar

 f Focal length Metre Scalar

n Index of refraction Unitless Scalar

Decibel (dB),
L Level Scalar
decineper

I Intensity W/m2 Scalar

v, c Wave speed m/s Scalar

λ Wavelength Metre (m) Scalar

P Power of a lens Dioptre (D) Scalar

Physics Symbols Related to Electricity and Magnetism

Symbo Quantity/Coefficients S.I Unit Physical Quantity
l (Scalar/Vector)

S Poynting vector, intensity W/m2 Vector

η Energy density J/m3 Scalar

n Turns per unit length 1/m Scalar

N Number of turns Unitless Scalar

φB Magnetic flux Weber Vector

B Magnetic field Tesla Vector

FB Magnetic force N Vector

Siemens/m
σ Conductivity Scalar
(S/m)

G Conductance Siemens Scalar

ρ Resistivity Ohm-m Scalar

Electric resistance/internal
R, r Ohm Scalar
resistance

I Electric current Ampere (A) Scalar

ϵ Dielectric constant Unitless Scalar

 ℰ Electromotive Force Volt (V) Scalar

C Capacitance Farad (F) Scalar

V Voltage, electric potential V Scalar

UE Electric potential energy J Scalar

Newton meter squared

φE Electric flux Vector
per coulomb (N/m2.C)

E Electric field N/C or V/m Vector

FE Electrostatic force N Vector

λ Linear charge density kg/m Scalar

σ Area charge density kg/m2 Scalar

ρ Volume charge density kg/m3 Scalar

q, Q Electric charge Coulomb (C) Scalar

Symbols Used in Modern Physics

Physical Quantity
Symbol Quantity/Coefficients S.I Unit
(Scalar/Vector)

Gray
D Dose/ dose absorbed Scalar
(Gy)

t1⁄2 Half-life Second Vector

ψ(r,t),
Wave function Unitless Scalar
ψ(r)φ(t)

W Work function J Scalar

H Effective Dose Sievert Scalar

Lorentz factor/Lorentz
Γ Unitless Scalar
gamma