The symbol v?

[Daniel Chang 3I]

Why is the same symbol used for velocity and frequency? Is there a correlation/connection between them?

[Ethan Yi 1K]

its actually not the same symbol. velocity is the actual letter 'v' but frequency is the Greek letter nu. It's like a curvy v.

[Millicent Navarro 1I]

Just to reiterate the comment above, there is a difference between the symbols of frequency and velocity. Furthermore, frequency is represented by the Greek letter nu (similar to v but has a curly/curvy edge to it) and velocity is represented by a lowercase v.

[Linh Vo 2J]

Hello! I was confused on this earlier too, but my UA clarified in my session that for this class, when you see v in terms of velocity, it will most likely be paired up with m (mass) in an equation or formula. Velocity is seen in the equations 1/2mv^2 and p=mv. While with the curly v, that would be considered frequency and is seen in c=(wavelength)v and E=hv.

[Xinyi Zeng 4C]

They do look similar when you are writing them in the answer! What I do to differentiate them is that, I will put what it represents right in front or next to it whenever I am using it or finding its value, like velocity, v=... or frequency, (curvy v)=...
Usually they will not appear in the same question, but it they do, just write down what it represents to avoid confusion.

[Joussie Camacho 4I]

Hi! Will we be marked down if our nu looks like a v in the E=h v equation? Because on the homework I just used v and if I'm rushing on the test, it'll probably be hard to distinguish my v from my nu. Also, nu represents frequency but in other light equations it showed up as v, so are they interchangeable at all in certain instances?

[Joussie Camacho 4I]

Hi! Will we be marked down if our nu looks like a v in the E=h v equation? Because on the homework I just used v and if I'm rushing on the test, it'll probably be hard to distinguish my v from my nu. Also, nu represents frequency but in other light equations it showed up as v, so are they interchangeable at all in certain instances?

[Rachel-Weisz3C]

I don't think they are ever interchangeable since v (nu) in E=hv for instance stands for frequency, but v represents velocity in an equation like KE=1/2mv^2. They are two different things and can't be looked at as interchangeable.

[AJ Manzano 3K]

Frequency is a curvy v (usually it’ll be italicized in print)
Velocity is a normal print v (warning: if you capitalize this one then it’ll mean volume)

[Brice McKeown 3D]

In response to Josie, I think on a test, TAs aren't looking to mark you down because your nu looks like "v." I'd say just try your best to make it curvy.

[Heidi Ibarra Castillo 1D]

Yeah exactly, frequency is usually italicized with a curve to it where as velocity is just a regular lower case v. It might be confusing at first to depict it from the equations, but they do have different appearances.

[Lauren Solouki 4E]

If you ever get confused about which v the question is referring to, just remember velocity v pretty much always has an m next to it (mass)

[Connie Chen 3D]

As everyone has said before. The letter v represents velocity while the curvy v represents frequency. The two are almost never in the same equation, and if you are doubtful about which one you are to use, try to cancel out the units to see if they match what you need to find. Velocity is almost always m/s while frequency is always in Hz (1/s).

[daniela3D]

In the lecture about "Wave Properties of Light" frequency and velocity are technically the same. However, their symbols differ from each other: frequency (s^-1)= velocity (m.s^-1)

[daniela3D]

In the lecture about "Wave Properties of Light" frequency and velocity are technically the same. However, their symbols differ from each other: frequency (s^-1)= velocity (m.s^-1)

[Chem_Mod]

Familiarize yourself with the equation sheet and how they denote velocity versus frequency. As long as you substitute the correct values into your equations, you will get credit. You are not graded on your ability to draw "v's," but do try to make them look different.

[Aleeque Marselian 1A]

Although they look similar, the symbols used for velocity and frequency are not the same. The symbol for frequency is the Greek letter nu, while velocity is denoted the the lowercase letter v.