This list describes several symbols that are commonly used within the body of the book.
Speed of light in a vacuum inertial frame: 2.99792458 × \(10^{8}\) m/s ≈ 3 x \(10^{8}\) m/s
Ε Efficiency; typically 0 ≤ & ≤ 1; unitless
g acceleration due to gravity: 9.8 m/s2 or ~10 m/s2
h Planck’s constant: 6.626 × \(10^{-34}\) J. S
KB Boltzmann’s constant: 1.38 x \(10^{-23}\) J/K
ΝΑ Avogadro’s number: 6.022 × \(10^{23}\) particles per mole
AQ Change in thermal energy, in Joules
Re Radius of Earth: 6,378 km
Ro Radius of Sun: 695,700 km
reo Earth-Sun distance (1 AU): 149.6 million km
σ Stefan-Boltzmann constant: 5.67 x \(10^{-8}\) W/K/m2
AS Change in entropy, in J/K
AT Change in temperature, typically in °C or Kelvin (K)
AW Change in energy-work performed, in Joules
Scale Factor Prefixes
Factor Letter Prefix Factor Letter Prefix
\(10^{-2}\) \(10^{-18}\) -21
Z zepto 1021
Z zetta
a atto
1018 E exa
\(10^{-15}\) femto 1015 P
\(10^{-12}\) peta P
pico 1012 T tera
\(10^{-9}\) n nano 109
G \(10^{-6}\) giga
μ micro 106
M \(10^{-3}\) mega
m milli
103 k kilo