Is there a standard symbol set?
Is there a standard symbol set?
(OP)
In the study of Engineering I am constantly plagued by the haphazard use of symbols. The latest offence was this (from my textbook which shall remain unidentified to protect the guilty
)

My author has moved from using 'N' for Newtons to using it for rpm (arguably, for a Number of rpm) without pausing for breath.
Everyone will have seen this lack of consistency; everyone will have their favourite horror story. However, before we censure anyone for lack of discipline we have to establish whether the rules for such discipline exist. Therefore, my question is, "Is there an accepted standard set of individually distinctive symbols for engineering values? Since I haven't been able to find one, I am of the opinion that such does not exist (I would appreciate being corrected
) so I have to add the question, "Is such a thing possible?
)
My author has moved from using 'N' for Newtons to using it for rpm (arguably, for a Number of rpm) without pausing for breath.
Everyone will have seen this lack of consistency; everyone will have their favourite horror story. However, before we censure anyone for lack of discipline we have to establish whether the rules for such discipline exist. Therefore, my question is, "Is there an accepted standard set of individually distinctive symbols for engineering values? Since I haven't been able to find one, I am of the opinion that such does not exist (I would appreciate being corrected
) so I have to add the question, "Is such a thing possible?----------------------------------------
Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity





RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
So, there, m for mass, m for meter.
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RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
Nevertheless, you can look at http://physics.nist.gov/Pubs/SP330/sp330.pdf for standard accepted usage of units.
Or the CODATA Recommended values of physical constants: http://arxiv.org/pdf/1507.07956.pdf You can easily see conflicts, e for electron charge or for Euler's constant. F for the Faraday constant or for farad? R for the gas constant or for the Rankine?
Life used to be much simpler; there were fewer things that we knew, and most disciplines didn't interact with others. That's no longer the case.
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RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
Many people make problems for themselves by using unit names as variables. I often see "rpm" as a variable name (in computer programs and formulae). I've never seen "N" as a force variable though, and your author clearly doesn't use it either.
Steve
RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
It looked to me italicized N was used for rpm, and non-italicized N for Newtons.
My recollection is lower case N (n) appears for rpm from time to time in some industries.
like this -
http://www.chiaravalli.com/pol/pdf_motori/SIMBOLI....
Yes, a reference table up front would seem to be good manners.
I find the use of acronyms by various industries has always been confusing, but nowadays has become far worse. Seems like if I'm not " in the club " I am not welcome.
RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
Tunalover
RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
Somptinguy and tunalover both picked up a point I think lies an the base of the issue:
Many people make problems for themselves by using unit names as variables. I often see "rpm" as a variable name (in computer programs and formulae). I've never seen "N" as a force variable though, ...
Tmoose also makes the valid point: ... a reference table up front would seem to be good manners.
Perhaps we will make things easier on ourselves by sticking to these simple concepts.
----------------------------------------
Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity
RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
A similar problem happens in posts on this forum where someone answers a question with an equation without defining the symbols. We all have to remember that the purpose of writing is to communicate ideas, not to put squiggles onto a screen.
RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
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RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
Am I crazy or is that conflicting?
First and Second sentences: "Unit names are normally printed in roman (upright) type, and they are treated like ordinary nouns. In English, the names of units start with a lower-case letter"
Third sentence: "In keeping with this rule, the correct spelling of the name of the unit with the symbol °C is “degree Celsius” (the unit degree begins with a lower-case d and the modifier Celsius begins with an upper-case C because it is a proper name)."
The third sentence would have us spell it Hz and Hertz. Per the second sentence, hertz would be Hz for the symbol and "hertz" in full. In fact, this trends with Kilohertz, and other multipliers, rather than KiloHertz.
I'm confused as to why the third sentence insists upon a capitalized Celsius, when referring to the unit, rather than the astronomer, then.
Edit-to-add: I suppose because "degree Celsius" is not a unit. "Degree" is a unit. "Celsius" is a 'modifier' per NIST, apparently. Nevermind - I should have thought it out more.
RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
If only I had a copy of ANSI Y10.19/IEE-260 I might know.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
The degree-Celsius is unique in that it's the only SI unit that takes a proper name modifier, for apparently historical reasons, just like the base unit for mass is the kilogram, instead of the gram, for historical reasons.
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RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
Which is what I thought we were talking about but now realize you were more specifically responding to tbuelna.
http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/pdf/sp811.pdf
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
TTFN
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RE: Is there a standard symbol set?
I would prefer that in any given section of a work, that all variables are defined in that section. However, the concrete codes have tried to define variables that are valid for the entire code. This means that numerous variables are Greek letters with multi-letter subscripts, which make them a pain to type, and also irritating to have to flip back 200 pages to find the definition.