Question

Which of the following statements should be followed while using the symbol for a unit of a physical quantity?
(A) The symbol named after a scientist should begin with a capital letter.
(B) They can take plural forms.
(C) They can be written in full.
(D) They should be written only in the agreed symbols while using symbols.

Answer 1

This question is based on notation of unit that are associated with the name of some scientist (especially proper nouns), we are asked here to verify which of these given options associated with their notation as the name or as symbol is correct or not. We will analyse each and every option to check it out.

Complete answer:
Before we dive into the problem, we first need to understand some basic rules that we should remember while writing and using for a unit of any physical quantity
If the symbol is derived from the name of a scientist, then the symbol must be only used in capital letters. Like W for watt N for newton.
We can also write the full name but the full name should start from small letters not from capitals but they can’t take a plural form if they are more than one. For example the unit of force is newton, we apply 10 newton of force. The statement 10 watts or 10 joules is false as they are written in plural.
Now the final point is that they should be written in agreed standard symbols for a unit. Like we can only use N for newton not 'newt' for newton.

Thus, the correct answers are (A), (C) and (D).

Note:
Apart from the above statement if ever we encounter a name simply written with the beginning letter as a capital Like example Newton, then it is not referring to any units of a physical quantity it is referring to the name of the scientist. The other units that have received its symbols apart from any scientist name even follow the same notations in the world of physical units.