Anthology of Ideas
Calculus Based Physics Formulas: Mechanics
Units in Physics (mechanical, electricity, magnetism, light and optics) including Si units.
This is a reference list with notes of all SI and derived units in physics. The notes provide a brief explanation of some of the more confusing elements, but be warned that the full explanation could take many pages, and may be explained elsewhere on this website.
Physics has only 5 base units. (Plus the SI units Mole and Candela, but these are rarely used in Physics.)
Name | Abbreviation (Symbol) | Standard Unit | Notes |
Name | Abbreviation (Symbol) | Standard Unit | Notes |
Length | l, x (for distances) | Meter (m) | A meter is defined as the distance light travels in a vacumm in of a second (in physics it is customary to use metric measurements although the basic principles apply if you to use feet instead of meters) |
Mass | m, M (when used with measurements in meters) | Kilogram (kg) | A kilogram is defined as the weight of a specific platinum-iridium cylinder |
Time | t | Second (s) | Seconds are defined as 9,192,631,770 vibrations of radiation from a cesium atom |
Temparature | T | Kelvin (K) | A degree kelvin is defined as of the distance between absolute 0 and the triple point of water |
Electric Current | I | Ampere (A) | An ampere is the amount of charge (C) passing through a surface per second, and is defined as the current which produces a force of newtons per meter of length between two infinitely long, perfectly straight and parallel conductors with an infinitely small cross section separated by one meter in a vacuum.. |
Each of these base units is defined on fundamental constants, and all other units are based on these five units. At times it useful to break longer equations down to their most basic units to determine if the equation makes sense. The most common combinations of these basic units are given their own symbols and names. These common units are as follows.
Aesopian Fable for Modern Times
**The First Law of Thermodynamics is: “Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it may be transformed form one form into another, but the total amount of energy never changes.” This law can be translated to say that because energy is finite then matter also is finite.
The Second Law of Thermodynamics is: “in all energy exchanges some energy must be used to transfer the energy from an object with less energy to one with more energy.” This law can also be taken to mean that energy is used as energy is transferred.**
Without most people even realizing it these two laws rule the world around us. The strive for energy and heat has caused wars between peoples of all technology levels. For without it few can survive. In our modern world oil is the energy producer of choice but oil will run out, energy trapped in its particles will be released back into the universe to serve as a different type of energy. For that is the fate of all things. Nothing ends and nothing begins; forms may change but everything is made out of pieces of the things that came before. Energy does not replenish itself, like water it can be used too quickly or too wastefully. What would happen if humankind achieved the ultimate goal, the harnessing of all energy, to have it at their command? Would it bring happiness or sorrow? Would it bring pleasure or pain? Could humans even be trusted with the possibility? There are no definitive answers, just dreams and fantasies.
Using the Rules of Physics to Find the Mass of the Planet Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Takes Place on.
Einstein’s Dreams by Alan Lightman
Water balloon not exploding in high-speed
Calculus Based Physics Formulas: Mechanics
Units in Physics (mechanical, electricity, magnetism, light and optics) including Si units.
This is a reference list with notes of all SI and derived units in physics. The notes provide a brief explanation of some of the more confusing elements, but be warned that the full explanation could take many pages, and may be explained elsewhere on this website.
Physics has only 5 base units. (Plus the SI units Mole and Candela, but these are rarely used in Physics.)
Name | Abbreviation (Symbol) | Standard Unit | Notes |
Name | Abbreviation (Symbol) | Standard Unit | Notes |
Length | l, x (for distances) | Meter (m) | A meter is defined as the distance light travels in a vacumm in of a second (in physics it is customary to use metric measurements although the basic principles apply if you to use feet instead of meters) |
Mass | m, M (when used with measurements in meters) | Kilogram (kg) | A kilogram is defined as the weight of a specific platinum-iridium cylinder |
Time | t | Second (s) | Seconds are defined as 9,192,631,770 vibrations of radiation from a cesium atom |
Temparature | T | Kelvin (K) | A degree kelvin is defined as of the distance between absolute 0 and the triple point of water |
Electric Current | I | Ampere (A) | An ampere is the amount of charge (C) passing through a surface per second, and is defined as the current which produces a force of newtons per meter of length between two infinitely long, perfectly straight and parallel conductors with an infinitely small cross section separated by one meter in a vacuum.. |
Each of these base units is defined on fundamental constants, and all other units are based on these five units. At times it useful to break longer equations down to their most basic units to determine if the equation makes sense. The most common combinations of these basic units are given their own symbols and names. These common units are as follows.
Aesopian Fable for Modern Times
**The First Law of Thermodynamics is: “Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it may be transformed form one form into another, but the total amount of energy never changes.” This law can be translated to say that because energy is finite then matter also is finite.
The Second Law of Thermodynamics is: “in all energy exchanges some energy must be used to transfer the energy from an object with less energy to one with more energy.” This law can also be taken to mean that energy is used as energy is transferred.**
Without most people even realizing it these two laws rule the world around us. The strive for energy and heat has caused wars between peoples of all technology levels. For without it few can survive. In our modern world oil is the energy producer of choice but oil will run out, energy trapped in its particles will be released back into the universe to serve as a different type of energy. For that is the fate of all things. Nothing ends and nothing begins; forms may change but everything is made out of pieces of the things that came before. Energy does not replenish itself, like water it can be used too quickly or too wastefully. What would happen if humankind achieved the ultimate goal, the harnessing of all energy, to have it at their command? Would it bring happiness or sorrow? Would it bring pleasure or pain? Could humans even be trusted with the possibility? There are no definitive answers, just dreams and fantasies.