Chapter 18: Glossary of Key Symbols and Notation
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In this glossary, key symbols and notation are briefly defined.
Symbol | Definition |
---|---|
¯ any symbol |
average (indicated by a bar over a symbol—e.g., ˉv is average velocity) |
∘C |
Celsius degree |
∘F |
Fahrenheit degree |
// | parallel |
⊥ | perpendicular |
∝ |
proportional to |
± |
plus or minus |
0 |
zero as a subscript denotes an initial value |
α |
alpha rays |
α |
angular acceleration |
α |
temperature coefficient(s) of resistivity |
β |
beta rays |
β |
sound level |
β |
volume coefficient of expansion |
β− |
electron emitted in nuclear beta decay |
β+ |
positron decay |
γ |
gamma rays |
γ |
surface tension |
γ=1/√1−v2/c2 |
a constant used in relativity |
Δ |
change in whatever quantity follows |
δ |
uncertainty in whatever quantity follows |
ΔE |
change in energy between the initial and final orbits of an electron in an atom |
ΔE |
uncertainty in energy |
Δm |
difference in mass between initial and final products |
ΔN |
number of decays that occur |
Δp |
change in momentum |
Δp |
uncertainty in momentum |
ΔPEg |
change in gravitational potential energy |
Δθ |
rotation angle |
Δs |
distance traveled along a circular path |
Δt |
uncertainty in time |
Δt0 |
proper time as measured by an observer at rest relative to the process |
ΔV |
potential difference |
Δx |
uncertainty in position |
ε0 |
permittivity of free space |
η |
viscosity |
θ |
angle between the force vector and the displacement vector |
θ |
angle between two lines |
θ |
contact angle |
θ |
direction of the resultant |
θb |
Brewster's angle |
θc |
critical angle |
κ |
dielectric constant |
λ |
decay constant of a nuclide |
λ |
wavelength |
λn |
wavelength in a medium |
μ0 |
permeability of free space |
μk |
coefficient of kinetic friction |
μs |
coefficient of static friction |
ve |
electron neutrino |
π+ |
positive pion |
π− |
negative pion |
π0 |
neutral pion |
ρ |
density |
ρc |
critical density, the density needed to just halt universal expansion |
ρfl |
fluid density |
ˉρobj |
average density of an object |
ρ/ρw |
specific gravity |
τ |
characteristic time constant for a resistance and inductance (RL) or resistance and capacitance (RC) circuit |
τ |
characteristic time for a resistor and capacitor (RC) circuit |
τ |
torque |
Υ |
upsilon meson |
Φ |
magnetic flux |
ϕ |
phase angle |
Ω |
ohm (unit) |
ω |
angular velocity |
A |
ampere (current unit) |
A |
area |
A | cross-sectional area |
A | total number of nucleons |
a |
acceleration |
aB |
Bohr radius |
ac |
centripetal acceleration |
at |
tangential acceleration |
AC |
alternating current |
AM |
amplitude modulation |
atm |
atmosphere |
B |
baryon number |
B |
blue quark color |
¯B |
antiblue (yellow) antiquark color |
b |
quark flavor bottom or beauty |
B |
bulk modulus |
B |
magnetic field strength |
Bint |
electron’s intrinsic magnetic field |
Borb |
orbital magnetic field |
BE |
binding energy of a nucleus—it is the energy required to completely disassemble it into separate protons and neutrons |
BE/A |
binding energy per nucleon |
Bq |
becquerel—one decay per second |
C |
capacitance (amount of charge stored per volt) |
C |
coulomb (a fundamental SI unit of charge) |
Cp |
total capacitance in parallel |
Cs |
total capacitance in series |
CG |
center of gravity |
CM |
center of mass |
c |
quark flavor charm |
c |
specific heat |
c |
speed of light |
Cal |
kilocalorie |
cal |
calorie |
COPhp |
heat pump’s coefficient of performance |
COPref |
coefficient of performance for refrigerators and air conditioners |
cosθ |
cosine |
cotθ |
cotangent |
cscθ |
cosecant |
D |
diffusion constant |
d |
displacement |
d | quark flavor down |
dB |
decibel |
di |
distance of an image from the center of a lens |
do |
distance of an object from the center of a lens |
DC |
direct current |
E |
electric field strength |
ε |
emf (voltage) or Hall electromotive force |
emf |
electromotive force |
E |
energy of a single photon |
E |
nuclear reaction energy |
E |
relativistic total energy |
E |
total energy |
E0 |
ground state energy for hydrogen |
E0 |
rest energy |
EC |
electron capture |
Ecap |
energy stored in a capacitor |
Eff |
efficiency—the useful work output divided by the energy input |
EffC |
Carnot efficiency |
Ein |
energy consumed (food digested in humans) |
Eind |
energy stored in an inductor |
Eout |
energy output |
e |
emissivity of an object |
e+ |
antielectron or positron |
eV |
electron volt |
F |
farad (unit of capacitance, a coulomb per volt) |
F |
focal point of a lens |
F |
force |
F |
magnitude of a force |
F |
restoring force |
FB |
buoyant force |
Fc |
centripetal force |
Fi |
force input |
Fnet |
net force |
F∘ |
force output |
FM |
frequency modulation |
f |
focal length |
f |
frequency |
f0 |
resonant frequency of a resistance, inductance, and capacitance (RLC) series circuit |
f0 |
threshold frequency for a particular material (photoelectric effect) |
f1 |
fundamental |
f2 |
first overtone |
f3 |
second overtone |
f_{\mathrm{B}} |
beat frequency |
f_{\mathrm{k}} |
magnitude of kinetic friction |
f_{\mathrm{s}} |
magnitude of static friction |
G |
gravitational constant |
G |
green quark color |
\overline{G} |
antigreen (magenta) antiquark color |
g |
acceleration due to gravity |
g |
gluons (carrier particles for strong nuclear force) |
h |
change in vertical position |
h |
height above some reference point |
h |
maximum height of a projectile |
h |
Planck's constant |
h f |
photon energy |
h_{\mathrm{i}} |
height of the image |
h_{\mathrm{o}} |
height of the object |
I |
electric current |
I |
intensity |
I |
intensity of a transmitted wave |
I |
moment of inertia (also called rotational inertia) |
I_{0} |
intensity of a polarized wave before passing through a filter |
I_{\text {ave }} |
average intensity for a continuous sinusoidal electromagnetic wave |
I_{\text {rms }} |
average current |
\mathrm{J} |
joule |
J / \Psi |
Joules/psi meson |
\mathrm{K} |
kelvin |
k |
Boltzmann constant |
k | force constant of a spring |
K_{\alpha} |
x rays created when an electron falls into an n=1 shell vacancy from the n=3 shell |
K_{\beta} |
x rays created when an electron falls into an n=2 shell vacancy from the n=3 shell |
\text { kcal } |
kilocalorie |
\text { KE } |
translational kinetic energy |
\mathrm{KE}+\mathrm{PE} |
mechanical energy |
\mathrm{KE}_{e} |
kinetic energy of an ejected electron |
\mathrm{KE}_{\mathrm{rel}} |
relativistic kinetic energy |
\mathrm{KE}_{\mathrm{rot}} |
rotational kinetic energy |
\overline{\mathrm{KE}} |
thermal energy |
\mathrm{kg} |
kilogram (a fundamental SI unit of mass) |
L |
angular momentum |
\text { L } |
liter |
L | magnitude of angular momentum |
L | self-inductance |
\ell |
angular momentum quantum number |
L_{\alpha} |
x rays created when an electron falls into an n=2 shell from the n=3 shell |
L_{e} |
electron total family number |
L_{\mu} |
muon family total number |
L_{\tau} |
tau family total number |
L_{\mathrm{f}} |
heat of fusion |
L_{\mathrm{f}} \text { and } L_{\mathrm{v}} |
latent heat coefficients |
\mathrm{L}_{\text {orb }} |
orbital angular momentum |
L_{\mathrm{s}} |
heat of sublimation |
L_{\mathrm{v}} |
heat of vaporization |
L_{z} |
z - component of the angular momentum |
M |
angular magnification |
M |
mutual inductance |
\mathrm{m} |
indicates metastable state |
m |
magnification |
m |
mass |
m |
mass of an object as measured by a person at rest relative to the object |
\mathrm{m} |
meter (a fundamental SI unit of length) |
m |
order of interference |
m |
overall magnification (product of the individual magnifications) |
m\left({ }^{A} \mathrm{X}\right) |
atomic mass of a nuclide |
\text { MA } |
mechanical advantage |
m_{\mathrm{e}} |
magnification of the eyepiece |
m_{\mathrm{e}} |
mass of the electron |
m_{\ell} |
angular momentum projection quantum number |
m_{n} |
mass of a neutron |
m_{\mathrm{o}} |
magnification of the objective lens |
\mathrm{mol} |
mole |
m_{p} |
mass of a proton |
m_{\mathrm{s}} |
spin projection quantum number |
N |
magnitude of the normal force |
\mathrm{N} |
newton |
\mathbf{N} |
normal force |
N |
number of neutrons |
n |
index of refraction |
n | number of free charges per unit volume |
N_{\mathrm{A}} |
Avogadro's number |
N_{\mathrm{r}} |
Reynolds number |
\mathrm{N} \cdot \mathrm{m} |
newton-meter (work-energy unit) |
\mathrm{N} \cdot \mathrm{m} |
newtons times meters (SI unit of torque) |
\text { OE } |
other energy |
P |
power |
P | power of a lens |
P | pressure |
\mathbf{p} |
momentum |
p |
momentum magnitude |
p |
relativistic momentum |
\mathbf{p}_{\text {tot }} |
total momentum |
\mathbf{p}_{\text {tot }}^{\prime} |
total momentum some time later |
P_{\text {abs }} |
absolute pressure |
P_{\text {atm }} |
atmospheric pressure |
P_{\text {atm }} |
standard atmospheric pressure |
\text { PE } |
potential energy |
\mathrm{PE}_{\mathrm{el}} |
elastic potential energy |
\mathrm{PE}_{\text {elec }} |
electric potential energy |
\mathrm{PE}_{\mathrm{s}} |
potential energy of a spring |
P_{\mathrm{g}} |
gauge pressure |
P_{\text {in }} |
power consumption or input |
P_{\text {out }} |
useful power output going into useful work or a desired, form of energy |
Q |
latent heat |
Q |
net heat transferred into a system |
Q |
flow rate—volume per unit time flowing past a point |
+Q |
positive charge |
-Q |
negative charge |
q |
electron charge |
q_{p} |
charge of a proton |
q |
test charge |
\text { QF } |
quality factor |
R |
activity, the rate of decay |
R |
radius of curvature of a spherical mirror |
R |
red quark color |
\overline{R} |
antired (cyan) quark color |
R |
resistance |
\mathrm{R} |
resultant or total displacement |
R |
Rydberg constant |
R |
universal gas constant |
r |
distance from pivot point to the point where a force is applied |
r |
internal resistance |
r_{\perp} |
perpendicular lever arm |
r |
radius of a nucleus |
r |
radius of curvature |
r |
resistivity |
\text { r or rad } |
radiation dose unit |
\text { rem } |
roentgen equivalent man |
\mathrm{rad} |
radian |
\text { RBE } |
relative biological effectiveness |
R C |
resistor and capacitor circuit |
\text { rms } |
root mean square |
r_{n} |
radius of the nth H-atom orbit |
R_{\mathrm{p}} |
total resistance of a parallel connection |
R_{\mathrm{s}} |
total resistance of a series connection |
R_{\mathrm{s}} |
Schwarzschild radius |
S |
entropy |
\mathbf{S} |
intrinsic spin (intrinsic angular momentum) |
S | magnitude of the intrinsic (internal) spin angular momentum |
S | shear modulus |
S | strangeness quantum number |
s |
quark flavor strange |
s |
second (fundamental SI unit of time) |
s |
spin quantum number |
s |
total displacement |
\sec \theta |
secant |
\sin \theta |
sine |
s_{z} |
z-component of spin angular momentum |
T |
period—time to complete one oscillation |
T |
temperature |
T_{\mathrm{c}} |
critical temperature—temperature below which a material becomes a superconductor |
T |
tension |
T |
tesla (magnetic field strength B) |
t |
quark flavor top or truth |
t |
time |
t_{1 / 2} |
half-life—the time in which half of the original nuclei decay |
\tan \theta |
tangent |
U |
internal energy |
u |
quark flavor up |
\mathrm{u} |
unified atomic mass unit |
\mathbf{u} |
velocity of an object relative to an observer |
\mathbf{u}^{\prime} |
velocity relative to another observer |
V |
electric potential |
V |
terminal voltage |
\mathrm{V} |
volt (unit) |
V |
volume |
\mathbf{v} |
relative velocity between two observers |
v |
speed of light in a material |
\mathbf{v} |
velocity |
\overline{\mathbf{v}} |
average fluid velocity |
V_{\mathrm{B}}-V_{\mathrm{A}} |
change in potential |
\mathbf{v}_{\mathrm{d}} |
drift velocity |
V_{\mathrm{p}} |
transformer input voltage |
V_{\text {rms }} |
rms voltage |
V_{\mathrm{s}} |
transformer output voltage |
\mathbf{v}_{\text {tot }} |
total velocity |
v_{\mathrm{w}} |
propagation speed of sound or other wave |
\mathbf{v}_{\mathrm{w}} |
wave velocity |
W |
work |
W | net work done by a system |
\text { W } |
watt |
w |
weight |
w_{\mathrm{fl}} |
weight of the fluid displaced by an object |
W_{\mathrm{c}} |
total work done by all conservative forces |
W_{\mathrm{nc}} |
total work done by all nonconservative forces |
W_{\text {out }} |
useful work output |
X |
amplitude |
\mathrm{X} |
symbol for an element |
{ }_{A}^{Z} X_{N} |
notation for a particular nuclide |
x |
deformation or displacement from equilibrium |
x |
displacement of a spring from its undeformed position |
x |
horizontal axis |
X_{\mathrm{C}} |
capacitive reactance |
X_{\mathrm{L}} |
inductive reactance |
x_{\text {rms }} |
root mean square diffusion distance |
y |
vertical axis |
Y |
elastic modulus or Young's modulus |
Z |
atomic number (number of protons in a nucleus) |
Z |
impedance |