List of physical quantities

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This article consists of tables outlining a number of physical quantities.

The first table lists the fundamental quantities used in the International System of Units to define the physical dimension of physical quantities for dimensional analysis. The second table lists the derived physical quantities. Derived quantities can be expressed in terms of the base quantities.

Note that neither the names nor the symbols used for the physical quantities are international standards. Some quantities are known as several different names such as the magnetic B-field which known as the magnetic flux density, the magnetic induction or simply as the magnetic field depending on the context. Similarly, surface tension can be denoted by either σ, γ or T. The table usually lists only one name and symbol that is most commonly used.

The final column lists some special properties that some of the quantities have, such as their scaling behavior (i.e. whether the quantity is intensive or extensive), their transformation properties (i.e. whether the quantity is a scalar, vector or tensor), and whether the quantity is conserved.

Base quantity  | Symbol  | Description  | SI base unit | Dimension | Comments

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Amount of substance | n | The quantity proportional to the number of particles in a sample, with the Avogadro constant as the proportionality constant  | mole (mol)  | N | extensive, scalar
Length | l | The one-dimensional extent of an object  | metre (m)  | L | extensive
Time | t | The duration of an event  | second (s)  | T | scalar
Mass | m | A measure of resistance to acceleration  | kilogram (kg)  | M | extensive, scalar
Temperature | T | Average kinetic energy per degree of freedom of a system  | kelvin (K)  | Θ | intensive, scalar
Electric Current  | I | Rate of flow of electrical charge per unit time  | ampere (A)  | I | extensive, scalar
Luminous intensity | Iv | Wavelength-weighted power of emitted light per unit solid angle  | candela (cd)  | J | scalar

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Derived quantity  | Symbol  | Description  | SI derived unit | Dimension | Comments

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Absement | A | Measure of sustained displacement: the first integral with respect to time of displacement  | m⋅s  | L T | vector
Absorbed dose rate  | D | Absorbed dose received per unit of time  | Gy/s  | L2 T−3 |
Acceleration | a→ | Rate of change of velocity per unit time: the second time derivative of position  | m/s2 | L T−2 | vector
Action | S | Momentum of particle multiplied by distance travelled  | J/Hz  | L2 M T−1 | scalar
Angular acceleration | ωa | Change in angular velocity per unit time  | rad/s2 | T−2 |
Angular momentum | L | Measure of the extent and direction of an object rotates about a reference point  | kg⋅m2/s  | L2 M T−1 | conserved, bivector
Angular velocity | ω | The angle incremented in a plane by a segment connecting an object and a reference point per unit time  | rad/s  | T−1 | bivector
Area | A | Extent of a surface  | m2 | L2 | extensive, bivector or scalar
Area density | ρA | Mass per unit area  | kg⋅m−2 | L−2 M | intensive
Capacitance | C | Stored charge per unit electric potential  | farad (F = C/V)  | L−2 M−1 T4 I2 | scalar
Catalytic activity concentration  |  | Change in reaction rate due to presence of a catalyst per unit volume of the system  | kat⋅m−3 | L−3 T−1 N | intensive
Centrifugal force | Fc | Inertial force that appears to act on all objects when viewed in a rotating frame of reference  | N⋅rad = kg⋅m⋅rad⋅s−2 | L M T−2 | bivector
Chemical potential | μ | Energy per unit change in amount of substance  | J/mol  | L2 M T−2 N−1 | intensive
Crackle | c→ | Change of jounce per unit time: the fifth time derivative of position  | m/s5 | L T−5 | vector
Current density | J → | Electric current per unit cross-section area  | A/m2 | L−2 I | conserved, intensive, vector
Dose equivalent  | H | Received radiation adjusted for the effect on biological tissue  | sievert (Sv = m2/s2)  | L2 T−2 | intensive
Dynamic viscosity | v | Measure for the resistance of an incompressible fluid to stress  | Pa⋅s  | L−1 M T−1 | intensive
Electric charge | Q | The force per unit electric field strength  | coulomb (C = A⋅s)  | T I | extensive, conserved
Electric charge density  | ρQ | Electric charge per unit volume  | C/m3 | L−3 T I | intensive
Electric dipole moment | p | Measure of the separation of equal and opposite electric charges  | C⋅m  | L T I | vector
Electric displacement field | D→ | Strength of the electric displacement  | C/m2 | L−2 T I | vector field
Electric field strength | E→ | Strength of the electric field  | V/m, N/C  | L M T−3 I−1 | vector field
Electrical conductance | G | Measure for how easily current flows through a material  | siemens (S = Ω−1)  | L−2 M−1 T3 I2 | scalar
Electrical conductivity | σ | Measure of a material's ability to conduct an electric current  | S/m  | L−3 M−1 T3 I2 | scalar
Electric potential | φ | Energy required to move a unit charge through an electric field from a reference point  | volt (V = J/C)  | L2 M T−3 I−1 | extensive, scalar
Electrical resistance | R | Electric potential per unit electric current  | ohm (Ω = V/A)  | L2 M T−3 I−2 | extensive, scalar, assumes linearity
Electrical resistivity | ρe | Bulk property equivalent of electrical resistance  | ohm-metre (Ω⋅m)  | L3 M T−3 I−2 | extensive, scalar, conserved
Energy | E | Energy  | J  | L2 M T−2 |
Energy density | ρE | Energy per unit volume  | J⋅m−3 | L−1 M T−2 | intensive
Entropy | S | Logarithmic measure of the number of available states of a system  | J/K  | L2 M T−2 Θ−1 | extensive, scalar
Force | F→ | Transfer of momentum per unit time  | newton (N = kg⋅m⋅s−2)  | L M T−2 | extensive, vector
Frequency | f | Number of (periodic) occurrences per unit time  | hertz (Hz = s−1)  | T−1 | scalar
Half-life | t1/2 | Time for a quantity to decay to half its initial value  | s  | T |
Heat | Q | Thermal energy | joule (J)  | L2 M T−2 |
Heat capacity | Cp | Energy per unit temperature change  | J/K  | L2 M T−2 Θ−1 | extensive
Heat flux density | ϕQ | Heat flow per unit time per unit surface area  | W/m2 | M T−3 |
Illuminance | Ev | Wavelength-weighted luminous flux per unit surface area  | lux (lx = cd⋅sr/m2)  | L−2 J |
Impedance | Z | Resistance to an alternating current of a given frequency, including effect on phase  | ohm (Ω)  | L2 M T−3 I−2 | complex scalar
Impulse | J | Transferred momentum  | newton-second (N⋅s = kg⋅m/s)  | L M T−1 | vector
Inductance | L | Magnetic flux generated per unit current through a circuit  | henry (H)  | L2 M T−2 I−2 | scalar
Irradiance | E | Electromagnetic radiation power per unit surface area  | W/m2 | M T−3 | intensive
Intensity | I | Power per unit cross sectional area  | W/m2 | M T−3 | intensive
Jerk | j→ | Change of acceleration per unit time: the third time derivative of position  | m/s3 | L T−3 | vector
Jounce (or snap)  | s→ | Change of jerk per unit time: the fourth time derivative of position  | m/s4 | L T−4 | vector
Linear density | ρl | Mass per unit length  | kg⋅m−1 | L−1 M |
Luminous flux (or luminous power)  | F | Perceived power of a light source  | lumen (lm = cd⋅sr)  | J |
Mach number (or mach)  | M | Ratio of flow velocity to the local speed of sound  | unitless  | 1 |
Magnetic field strength  | H | Strength of a magnetic field  | A/m  | L−1 I | vector field
Magnetic flux | Φ | Measure of magnetism, taking account of the strength and the extent of a magnetic field | weber (Wb)  | L2 M T−2 I−1 | scalar
Magnetic flux density | B | Measure for the strength of the magnetic field  | tesla (T = Wb/m2)  | M T−2 I−1 | pseudovector field
Magnetic moment (or magnetic dipole moment)  | m | The component of magnetic strength and orientation that can be represented by an equivalent magnetic dipole | N⋅m/T  | L2 I | vector
Magnetization | M | Amount of magnetic moment per unit volume  | A/m  | L−1 I | vector field
Mass fraction | x | Mass of a substance as a fraction of the total mass  | kg/kg  | 1 | intensive
(Mass) Density (or volume density)  | ρ | Mass per unit volume  | kg/m3 | L−3 M | intensive
Mean lifetime  | τ | Average time for a particle of a substance to decay  | s  | T | intensive
Molar concentration | C | Amount of substance per unit volume  | mol⋅m−3 | L−3 N | intensive
Molar energy  | J/mol  | Amount of energy present in a system per unit amount of substance  | J/mol  | L2 M T−2 N−1 | intensive
Molar entropy  | S°  | Entropy per unit amount of substance  | J/(K⋅mol)  | L2 M T−2 Θ−1 N−1 | intensive
Molar heat capacity | c | Heat capacity of a material per unit amount of substance  | J/(K⋅mol)  | L2 M T−2 Θ−1 N−1 | intensive
Moment of inertia | I | Inertia of an object with respect to angular acceleration  | kg⋅m2 | L2 M | extensive, tensor, scalar
Momentum | p→ | Product of an object's mass and velocity  | kg⋅m/s  | L M T−1 | vector, extensive
Optical power | P | Measure of the effective curvature of a lens or curved mirror; inverse of focal length | dioptre (dpt = m−1)  | L−1 |
Permeability | μs | Measure for how the magnetization of material is affected by the application of an external magnetic field  | H/m  | L M T−2 I−2 | intensive
Permittivity | εs | Measure for how the polarization of a material is affected by the application of an external electric field  | F/m  | L−3 M−1 T4 I2 | intensive
Plane angle  | θ | Ratio of circular arc length to radius  | radian (rad)  | 1 |
Power | P | Rate of transfer of energy per unit time  | watt (W)  | L2 M T−3 | extensive, scalar
Pressure | p | Force per unit area  | pascal (Pa = N/m2)  | L−1 M T−2 | intensive, scalar
Pop  | p→ | Rate of change of crackle per unit time: the sixth time derivative of position  | m/s6 | L T−6 | vector
(Radioactive) Activity  | A | Number of particles decaying per unit time  | becquerel (Bq = Hz)  | T−1 | extensive, scalar
(Radioactive) Dose | D | Ionizing radiation energy absorbed by biological tissue per unit mass  | gray (Gy = m2/s2)  | L2 T−2 |
Radiance | L | Power of emitted electromagnetic radiation per unit solid angle per emitting source area  | W/(m2⋅sr)  | M T−3 |
Radiant intensity | I | Power of emitted electromagnetic radiation per unit solid angle  | W/sr  | L2 M T−3 | scalar
Reaction rate | r | Rate of a chemical reaction for unit time  | mol/(m3⋅s)  | L−3 T−1 N | intensive, scalar
Refractive index | n | Factor by which the phase velocity of light is reduced in a medium  | unitless  | 1 | intensive, scalar
Reluctance | [math]\displaystyle{ \mathcal{R} }[/math] | resistance to the flow of magnetic flux  | H−1 | L−2 M−1 T2 I2 | scalar
Solid angle | Ω | Ratio of area on a sphere to its radius squared  | steradian (sr)  | 1 |
Specific energy |  | Energy density per unit mass  | J⋅kg−1 | L2 T−2 | intensive
Specific heat capacity | c | Heat capacity per unit mass  | J/(K⋅kg)  | L2 T−2 Θ−1 | intensive
Specific volume | v | Volume per unit mass (reciprocal of density)  | m3⋅kg−1 | L3 M−1 | intensive
Spin | S | Quantum-mechanically defined angular momentum of a particle  | kg⋅m2⋅s−1 | L2 M T−1 |
Strain | ε | Extension per unit length  | unitless  | 1 |
Stress | σ | Force per unit oriented surface area  | Pa  | L−1 M T−2 | order 2 tensor
Surface tension | γ | Energy change per unit change in surface area  | N/m or J/m2 | M T−2 |
Temperature gradient | [math]\displaystyle{ \nabla T }[/math] | steepest rate of temperature change at a particular location  | K/m  | L−1 Θ | vector
Thermal conductance  | κ (or) λ  | Measure for the ease with which an object conducts heat  | W/K  | L2 M T−3 Θ−1 | extensive
Thermal conductivity | λ | Measure for the ease with which a material conducts heat  | W/(m⋅K)  | L M T−3 Θ−1 | intensive
Thermal resistance  | R | Measure for the ease with which an object resists conduction of heat  | K/W  | L−2 M−1 T3 Θ | extensive
Thermal resistivity  | Rλ | Measure for the ease with which a material resists conduction of heat  | K⋅m/W  | L−1 M−1 T3 Θ | intensive
Torque | τ | Product of a force and the perpendicular distance of the force from the point about which it is exerted  | newton-metre (N⋅m)  | L2 M T−2 | bivector (or pseudovector in 3D)
Velocity | v→ | Moved distance per unit time: the first time derivative of position  | m/s  | L T−1 | vector
Volume | V | Three dimensional extent of an object  | m3 | L3 | extensive, scalar
Volumetric flow rate | Q | Rate of change of volume with respect to time  | m3⋅s−1 | L3 T−1 | extensive, scalar
Wavelength | λ | Perpendicular distance between repeating units of a wave  | m  | L |
Wavenumber | k | Repetency or spatial frequency: the number of cycles per unit distance  | m−1 | L−1 | scalar
Wavevector | k→ | Repetency or spatial frequency vector: the number of cycles per unit distance  | m−1 | L−1 | vector
Weight | w | Gravitational force on an object  | newton (N = kg⋅m/s2)  | L M T−2 | vector
Work  | W | Transferred energy  | joule (J)  | L2 M T−2 | scalar
Young's modulus | E | Ratio of stress to strain  | pascal (Pa = N/m2)  | L−1 M T−2 | scalar; assumes isotropic linear material

## See also

* List of photometric quantities
* List of radiometric quantities

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