Back to table of contentsAppendix A Units

Appendix A Units

Quantity Common Symbol Unit Unit in Terms of Base SI Units
Acceleration a m/s2 m/s2
Amount of substance n mole mol
Angle θ,ϕ radian (rad)
Angular acceleration α rad/s2 s−2
Angular frequency ω rad/s s−1
Angular momentum L kg·m2/s kg·m2/s
Angular velocity ω rad/s s−1
Area A m2 m2
Atomic number Z
Capacitance C farad (F) A2·s4/kg·m2
Charge q, Q, e coulomb (C) A·s
Charge density:
    Line λ C/m A·s/m
    Surface σ C/m2 A·s/m2
    Volume ρ C/m3 A·s/m3
Conductivity σ 1/Ω·m A2·s3/kg·m3
Current I ampere A
Current density J A/m2 A/m2
Density ρ kg/m3 kg/m3
Dielectric constant κ
Electric dipole moment p C·m A·s·m
Electric field E N/C kg·m/A·s3
Electric flux Φ N·m2/C kg·m3/A·s3
Electromotive force ε volt (V) kg·m2/A·s3
Energy E,U,K joule (J) kg·m2/s2
Entropy S J/K kg·m2/s2·K
Force F newton (N) kg·m/s2
Frequency f hertz (Hz) s−1
Heat Q joule (J) kg·m2/s2
Inductance L henry (H) kg·m2/A2·s2
Length: ,L meter m
    Displacement Δx,Δr
    Distance d, h
    Position x,y,z,r
Magnetic dipole moment μ N·J/T A·m2
Magnetic field B tesla (T) =(Wb/m2 ) kg/A·s2
Magnetic flux Φm weber (Wb) kg·m2/A·s2
Mass m, M kilogram kg
Molar specific heat C J/mol·K kg·m2/s2·mol·K
Moment of inertia I kg·m2 kg·m2
Momentum p kg·m/s kg·m/s
Period T s s
Permeability of free space μ0 N/A2=(H/m ) kg·m/A2·s2
Permittivity of free space ε0 C2/N·m2=(F/m ) A2·s4/kg·m3
Potential V volt (V) =(J/C ) kg·m2/A·s3
Power P watt (W) =(J/s ) kg·m2/s3
Pressure p pascal (P) =(N/m2 ) kg/m·s2
Resistance R ohm (Ω) =(V/A ) kg·m2/A2·s3
Specific heat c J/kg·K m2/s2·K
Speed ν m/s m/s
Temperature T kelvin K
Time t second s
Torque τ N·m kg·m2/s2
Velocity v m/s m/s
Volume V m3 m3
Wavelength λ m m
Work W joule (J) =(N·m ) kg·m2/s2
Table A1 Units Used in Physics (Fundamental units in bold)
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