Quantities, units and symbols

The following table shows the units and symbols for a series of quantities that you will meet in Physics. Sometimes the symbol for the quantity is given and sometimes the symbol for the unit which ever is the more appropriate.

Quantity	Unit	Symbol
activity (of a radioactive source)	becquerel	Bq
amount of substance	mole	mol
angular momentum	Js	L
atomic mass	atomic mass unit	u
capacitance	farad (F)	C
current density	Am-1	j
electric charge	coulomb	C
electric potential difference	volt	V
electromotive force	volt	V
electric conductance	siemens	S
electric capacitance	farad	F
electric current	ampere	A
electric potential difference	volt	V
electric field strength	NC-1 or Vm-1	S
electric resistance	ohm	Ω
electrical conductivity	Sm-1	σ
electrical resistivity	Ωm	ρ
force	newton	N
frequency	hertz	Hz
gravitational constant	Nm2kg-2	G
gravitational field strength	Nkg-1	g
gravitational potential	Jkg-1	V
inductance (L)	henry	H
length	metre	m
luminance	lux	lx
luminous flux	lumen	lm
luminous intensity	candela	cd
magnetic flux density	tesla	T
magnetic flux (magnetic induction)	weber	W
mass	kilogram	kg
moment of a force (torque)	Nm	M
moment of inertia	kgm2	I
momentum	Ns	P
permeability	Hm-1	μ
permittivity	Fm-1	ε
power	watt	W
presure and stress	pascal	Pa
specific heat capacity	Jkg-1K-1	c
specific latent heat	Jkg-1	L
surface tension	Nm-1	s
thermal conductivity	Wm-1K-1	k
thermodynamic temperature	kelvin	K
time (t)	second>	s
viscosity	Ns-2	h
work, energy, heat	joule	J
Young modulus	Pa	E