Physics Terms and Variables (IB physics SL)

SI fundamental unit for length

meter

SI fundamental unit for mass

kilogram

SI fundamental unit for time

second

SI fundamental unit for electric current

ampere

SI fundamental unit for temperature

kelvin

SI fundamental unit for the amount of a substance

mole

SI fundamental unit for luminous intensity

candela

Kinematics: s

displacement

Kinematics: u

Initial velocity

Kinematics: v

Final velocity

Kinematics: t

time

Kinematics: a

acceleration

Forces and momentum: F_f

Frictional force

Forces and momentum: F_N

Normal reaction force

Forces and momentum: μ_s

Static friction coefficient

Forces and momentum: μ_d

Dynamic friction coefficient

Forces and momentum: F_h

Restoring force

Forces and momentum: k

Spring constant

Forces and momentum: x

Displacement from equilibrium

Forces and momentum: F_d

Drag force

Forces and momentum: ƞ

Viscosity of fluid

Forces and momentum: r

Radius of cross section

Forces and momentum: v

Relative motion to fluid

Forces and momentum: F_b

Buoyant force

Forces and momentum: ρ

Density of displaced fluid

Forces and momentum: V

Volume of displaced fluid

Forces and momentum: g

Gravitational field strength

Forces and momentum: F_g

Gravitational force

Forces and momentum: m

Mass of object

Forces and momentum: p

momentum

Forces and momentum: m

mass

Forces and momentum: v (p = mv)

velocity

Forces and momentum: J

impulse

Forces and momentum: F

Net force

Forces and momentum: Δt

Time interval

Forces and momentum: a

acceleration

Forces and momentum: Δp

Change in momentum

Forces and momentum: v (a = v²/r)

speed

Forces and momentum: r (a = v²/r)

radial distance

Forces and momentum: ω (ω²r)

angular speed

Forces and momentum: T

period

Forces and momentum: ω (ωr)

Angular velocity

Forces and momentum: v (v = 2πr/T)

Tangential velocity

Work, energy, and power: W

Work done

Work, energy, and power: F

Force

Work, energy, and power: s

Displacement

Work, energy, and power: θ

Angle between force and displacement

Work, energy, and power: E_k

Kinetic energy

Work, energy, and power: m

mass

Work, energy, and power: v

speed

Work, energy, and power: p

momentum

Work, energy, and power: ΔE_p

Change in gravitational potential energy

Work, energy, and power: m

mass

Work, energy, and power: g

gravitational field strength

Work, energy, and power: Δh

Change in height

Work, energy, and power: E_H

Elastic potential energy

Work, energy, and power: k

Spring constant

Work, energy, and power: Δx

Compression or expansion of spring

Work, energy, and power: P

power

Work, energy, and power: ΔW

Work done

Work, energy, and power: t

time

Work, energy, and power: F

Force

Work, energy, and power: v (P = Fv)

velocity

Work, energy, and power: ƞ

Efficiency

Work, energy, and power: E_output

Useful work out

Work, energy, and power: E_input

Total work in

Work, energy, and power: P_output

Useful power out

Work, energy, and power: P_input

Total power in

Thermal energy transfers: ρ

Density

Thermal energy transfers: m

mass

Thermal energy transfers: V

volume

Thermal energy transfers: Ē_k

Average kinetic energy

Thermal energy transfers: k_b

Boltzmann’s constant

Thermal energy transfers: T

Temperature in Kelvin

Thermal energy transfers: Q

heat

Thermal energy transfers: c

specific heat capacity

Thermal energy transfers: L

specific latent heat

Thermal energy transfers: ΔQ/Δt

Rate of heat transfer

Thermal energy transfers: k

Conductivity constant

Thermal energy transfers: A (ΔQ/Δt = -kA ΔT/Δx)

Cross-sectional area

Thermal energy transfers: ΔT

Temperature difference

Thermal energy transfers: Δx

Length of object

Thermal energy transfers: L (σAT⁴)

Luminosity/power

Thermal energy transfers: σ

Stefan-Boltzmann constant

Thermal energy transfers: A (σAT⁴)

surface area

Thermal energy transfers: b

brightness/intensity

Thermal energy transfers: L (b = L/4πd²)

power of source

Thermal energy transfers: d

Distance from source

Thermal energy transfers: λ_max

Peak wavelength of blackbody

Greenhouse effect: σ

Stefan-Boltzmann constant

Greenhouse effect: T

kelvin temperature

Gas laws: F

force

Gas laws: A

area

Gas laws: n

amount in moles

Gas laws: N

number of particles

Gas laws: N_A

Avogadro’s Constant

Gas laws: P

Pressure

Gas laws: V

Volume

Gas laws: T (PV/T)

Temperature

Gas laws: R

Gas constant