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Appendix A: Useful Information

This appendix is broken into several tables.

Table A1 Important Constants
Symbol Meaning Best Value Approximate Value
c

cc 

 

Speed of light in vacuum 2.99792458×108m/s

2.99792458×108m/s2.99792458×108m/s 

 

3.00×108m/s

3.00×108m/s3.00×108m/s 

 

G

GG 

 

Gravitational constant 6.67408(31)×1011Nm2/kg2

6.67408(31)×1011Nm2/kg26.67408(31)×1011Nm2/kg2 

 

6.67×1011Nm2/kg2

6.67×1011Nm2/kg26.67×1011Nm2/kg2 

 

NA

NANA 

 

Avogadro’s number 6.02214076×1023

6.02214076×10236.02214076×1023 

 

6.02×1023

6.02×10236.02×1023 

 

k

kk 

 

Boltzmann’s constant 1.380649×1023J/K

1.380649×1023J/K1.380649×1023J/K 

 

1.38×1023J/K

1.38×1023J/K1.38×1023J/K 

 

R

RR 

 

Gas constant 8.3144621(75)J/molK

8.3144621(75)J/molK8.3144621(75)J/molK 

 

8.31J/molK=1.99cal/molK=0.0821atmL/molK

8.31J/molK=1.99cal/molK=0.0821atmL/molK8.31J/molK=1.99cal/molK=0.0821atmL/molK 

 

σ

σσ 

 

Stefan-Boltzmann constant 5.670373(21)×108W/m2K

5.670373(21)×108W/m2K5.670373(21)×108W/m2K 

 

5.67×108W/m2K

5.67×108W/m2K5.67×108W/m2K 

 

k

kk 

 

Coulomb force constant 8.987551788...×109Nm2/C2

8.987551788...×109Nm2/C28.987551788...×109Nm2/C2 

 

8.99×109Nm2/C2

8.99×109Nm2/C28.99×109Nm2/C2 

 

qe

qeqe 

 

Charge on electron 1.602176634×1019C

1.602176634×1019C1.602176634×1019C 

 

1.60×1019C

1.60×1019C1.60×1019C 

 

ε0

ε0ε0 

 

Permittivity of free space 8.854187817...×1012C2/Nm2

8.854187817...×1012C2/Nm28.854187817...×1012C2/Nm2 

 

8.85×1012C2/Nm2

8.85×1012C2/Nm28.85×1012C2/Nm2 

 

μ0

μ0μ0 

 

Permeability of free space 4π×107Tm/A

×107Tm/A×107Tm/A 

 

1.26×106Tm/A

1.26×106Tm/A1.26×106Tm/A 

 

h

hh 

 

Planck’s constant 6.62607015×1034Js

6.62607015×1034Js6.62607015×1034Js 

 

6.63×1034Js

6.63×1034Js6.63×1034Js 

 

Table A2 Submicroscopic Masses
Symbol Meaning Best Value Approximate Value

me

meme 

 

Electron mass

9.10938291(40)×1031kg

9.10938291(40)×1031kg9.10938291(40)×1031kg 

 

9.11×1031kg

9.11×1031kg9.11×1031kg 

 

mp

mpmp 

 

Proton mass

1.672621777(74)×1027kg

1.672621777(74)×1027kg1.672621777(74)×1027kg 

 

1.6726×1027kg

1.6726×1027kg1.6726×1027kg 

 

mn

mnmn 

 

Neutron mass

1.674927351(74)×1027kg

1.674927351(74)×1027kg1.674927351(74)×1027kg 

 

1.6749×1027kg

1.6749×1027kg1.6749×1027kg 

 

u

uu 

 

Atomic mass unit

1.660538921(73)×1027kg

1.660538921(73)×1027kg1.660538921(73)×1027kg 

 

1.6605×1027kg

1.6605×1027kg1.6605×1027kg 

 

 
Table A3 Solar System Data
Sun mass

1.99×1030kg

1.99×1030kg1.99×1030kg 

 

average radius

6.96×108m

6.96×108m6.96×108m 

 

Earth-sun distance (average)

1.496×1011m

1.496×1011m1.496×1011m 

 

Earth mass

5.9736×1024kg

5.9736×1024kg5.9736×1024kg 

 

average radius

6.376×106m

6.376×106m6.376×106m 

 

 

 

 

orbital period

3.16×107s

3.16×107s3.16×107s 

 

Moon mass

7.35×1022kg

7.35×1022kg7.35×1022kg 

 

average radius

1.74×106m

1.74×106m1.74×106m 

 

orbital period (average)

2.36×106s

2.36×106s2.36×106s 

 

Earth-moon distance (average)

3.84×108m

3.84×108m3.84×108m 

 

Table A4 Metric Prefixes for Powers of Ten and Their Symbols
Prefix Symbol Value Prefix Symbol Value
tera T 1012

10121012 

 

deci d 101

101101 

 

giga G 109

109109 

 

centi c 102

102102 

 

mega M 106

106106 

 

milli m 103

103103 

 

kilo k 103

103103 

 

micro

μ

μμ 

 

106

106106 

 

hecto h 102

102102 

 

nano n 109

109109 

 

deka da 101

101101 

 

pico p 1012

10121012 

 

100(=1)

100(=1)100(=1) 

 

femto f 1015

10151015 

 

Table A5 The Greek Alphabet
Alpha A

ΑΑ 

 

α

αα 

 

Eta H

ΗΗ 

 

η

ηη 

 

Nu N

ΝΝ 

 

ν

νν 

 

Tau T

ΤΤ 

 

τ

ττ 

 

Beta B

ΒΒ 

 

β

ββ 

 

Theta Θ

ΘΘ 

 

θ

θθ 

 

Xi Ξ

ΞΞ 

 

ξ

ξξ 

 

Upsilon Υ

ΥΥ 

 

υ

υυ 

 

Gamma Γ

ΓΓ 

 

γ

γγ 

 

Iota I

ΙΙ 

 

ι

ιι 

 

Omicron O

ΟΟ 

 

ο

οο 

 

Phi Φ

ΦΦ 

 

ϕ

ϕϕ 

 

Delta Δ

ΔΔ 

 

δ

δδ 

 

Kappa K

ΚΚ 

 

κ

κκ 

 

Pi Π

ΠΠ 

 

π

ππ 

 

Chi X

ΧΧ 

 

χ

χχ 

 

Epsilon E

ΕΕ 

 

ε

εε 

 

Lambda Λ

ΛΛ 

 

λ

λλ 

 

Rho P

ΡΡ 

 

ρ

ρρ 

 

Psi Ψ

ΨΨ 

 

ψ

ψψ 

 

Zeta Z

ΖΖ 

 

ζ

ζζ 

 

Mu M

ΜΜ 

 

μ

μμ 

 

Sigma Σ

ΣΣ 

 

σ

σσ 

 

Omega Ω

ΩΩ 

 

ω

ωω 

 

Table A6 SI Units
Entity Abbreviation Name
Fundamental units Length m meter
Mass kg kilogram
Time s second
Current A ampere
Supplementary unit Angle rad radian
Derived units Force

N=kgm/s2

N=kgm/s2N=kgm/s2 

 

newton
Energy

J=kgm2/s2

J=kgm2/s2J=kgm2/s2 

 

joule
Power

W=J/s

W=J/sW=J/s 

 

watt
Pressure

Pa=N/m2

Pa=N/m2Pa=N/m2 

 

pascal
Frequency

Hz=1/s

Hz=1/sHz=1/s 

 

hertz
Electronic potential

V=J/C

V=J/CV=J/C 

 

volt
Capacitance

F=C/V

F=C/VF=C/V 

 

farad
Charge

C=sA

C=sAC=sA 

 

coulomb
Resistance

Ω=V/A

Ω=V/AΩ=V/A 

 

ohm
Magnetic field

T=N/(Am)

T=N/AmT=N/Am 

 

tesla
Nuclear decay rate

Bq=1/s

Bq=1/sBq=1/s 

 

becquerel
Table A7 Selected British Units
Length 1inch(in.)=2.54cm(exactly)

1inch(in.)=2.54cm(exactly)1inch(in.)=2.54cm(exactly) 

 

1foot(ft)=0.3048m

1foot(ft)=0.3048m1foot(ft)=0.3048m 

 

1mile(mi)=1.609km

1mile(mi)=1.609km1mile(mi)=1.609km 

 

Force 1pound(lb)=4.448N

1pound(lb)=4.448N1pound(lb)=4.448N 

 

Energy 1British thermal unit(Btu)=1.055×103J

1British thermal unit(Btu)=1.055×103J1British thermal unit(Btu)=1.055×103J 

 

Power 1horsepower(hp)=746W

1horsepower(hp)=746W1horsepower(hp)=746W 

 

Pressure 1lb/in2=6.895×103Pa

1lb/in2=6.895×103Pa1lb/in2=6.895×103Pa 

 

Table A8 Other Units
Length 1light year(ly)=9.46×1015m

1light year(ly)=9.46×1015m1light year(ly)=9.46×1015m 

 

1astronomical unit(au)=1.50×1011m

1astronomical unit(au)=1.50×1011m1astronomical unit(au)=1.50×1011m 

 

1nautical mile=1.852km

1nautical mile=1.852km1nautical mile=1.852km 

 

1angstrom(Å)=1010m

1angstrom(Å)=1010m1angstrom(Å)=1010m 

 

Area 1acre(ac)=4.05×103m2

1acre(ac)=4.05×103m21acre(ac)=4.05×103m2 

 

1square foot(ft2)=9.29×102m2

1square foot(ft2)=9.29×102m21square foot(ft2)=9.29×102m2 

 

1barn(b)=1028m2

1barn(b)=1028m21barn(b)=1028m2 

 

Volume 1liter(L)=103m3

1liter(L)=103m31liter(L)=103m3 

 

1U.S. gallon(gal)=3.785×103m3

1U.S. gallon(gal)=3.785×103m31U.S. gallon(gal)=3.785×103m3 

 

Mass 1solar mass=1.99×1030kg

1solar mass=1.99×1030kg1solar mass=1.99×1030kg 

 

1metric ton=103kg

1metric ton=103kg1metric ton=103kg 

 

1atomic mass unit(u)=1.6605×1027kg

1atomic mass unit(u)=1.6605×1027kg1atomic mass unit(u)=1.6605×1027kg 

 

Time 1year(y)=3.16×107s

1year(y)=3.16×107s1year(y)=3.16×107s 

 

1day(d)=86,400s

1day(d)=86,400s1day(d)=86,400s 

 

Speed 1mile per hour(mph)=1.609km/h

1mile per hour(mph)=1.609km/h1mile per hour(mph)=1.609km/h 

 

1nautical mile per hour(naut)=1.852km/h

1nautical mile per hour(naut)=1.852km/h1nautical mile per hour(naut)=1.852km/h 

 

Angle 1degree(°)=1.745×102rad

1degree(°)=1.745×102rad1degree(°)=1.745×102rad 

 

1minute of arc()=1/60degree

1minute of arc()=1/60degree1minute of arc()=1/60degree 

 

1second of arc()=1/60minute of arc

1second of arc()=1/60minute of arc1second of arc()=1/60minute of arc 

 

1grad=1.571×102rad

1grad=1.571×102rad1grad=1.571×102rad 

 

Energy 1kiloton TNT(kT)=4.2×1012J

1kiloton TNT(kT)=4.2×1012J1kiloton TNT(kT)=4.2×1012J 

 

1kilowatt hour(kWh)=3.60×106J

1kilowatt hour(kWh)=3.60×106J1kilowatt hour(kWh)=3.60×106J 

 

1food calorie(kcal)=4186J

1food calorie(kcal)=4186J1food calorie(kcal)=4186J 

 

1calorie(cal)=4.186J

1calorie(cal)=4.186J1calorie(cal)=4.186J 

 

1electron volt(eV)=1.60×1019J

1electron volt(eV)=1.60×1019J1electron volt(eV)=1.60×1019J 

 

Pressure 1atmosphere(atm)=1.013×105Pa

1atmosphere(atm)=1.013×105Pa1atmosphere(atm)=1.013×105Pa 

 

1millimeter of mercury(mmHg)=133.3Pa

1millimeter of mercury(mmHg)=133.3Pa1millimeter of mercury(mmHg)=133.3Pa 

 

1torricelli(torr)=1mmHg=133.3Pa

1torricelli(torr)=1mmHg=133.3Pa1torricelli(torr)=1mmHg=133.3Pa 

 

Nuclear decay rate 1curie(Ci)=3.70×1010Bq

1curie(Ci)=3.70×1010Bq1curie(Ci)=3.70×1010Bq 

 

Table A9 Useful Formulae
Circumference of a circle with radius r

rr or diameter d

dd 

C=2πr=πd

C=2πr=πdC=2πr=πd 

 

Area of a circle with radius r

rr or diameter d

dd 

A=πr2=πd2/4

A=πr2=πd2/4A=πr2=πd2/4 

 

Area of a sphere with radius r

rr 

A=4πr2

A=4πr2A=4πr2 

 

Volume of a sphere with radius r

rr 

V=(4/3)(πr3)

V=4/3πr3V=4/3πr3 

 

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College Physics Copyright © 2025 by Dr. Iftekhar Haque is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.