What do the symbols in Physics Formulas mean? Help needed!

[TDS]

What I am looking for is a link or "cheat sheet" that will give me an explanation of the symbols that are used in Physics Formulas. I have a basic understanding of some of the symbols but there are some that I do not understand. I have read several of Prof. Hawking and Prof. Einsteins papers and I am wanting to get a better understanding of what I have read. Could I get some help in this matter?

Thanks to all that respond!

 

[masudr]

If you look up the topic in Wikipedia, you should get the commonly used symbols and what they stand for, ideally with links to the pages that describe/explain each term in more detail.

Alternatively, you could ask here for explanation of a particular formula/relation. Additionally, in the papers that you read, they should comment on non-standard symbols, or at least refer to the more introductory papers on the topic, which would probably describe the symbols used. And finally, if you look inside the front cover/in an appendix of many physics textbooks, you will find what you are looking for.

 

[jtbell]

Also, if you're reading Einstein's original papers on relativity from 1905 etc., you should be aware that his notation is sometimes different from what modern textbooks use.

 

[FredGarvin]

Ugh...I am soo not a fan of Einstein's notation. Granted, it is nice and compact, but what a pain it was to get used to.

 

[TDS]

@masudr - Thanks for your guidance! I shall put it to use.

@jtbell - Here I am trying to understand what Einstein is saying only to find out that once I understand his writings I will have to translate them into modern notations. Are Prof. Hawking's and Dr. K.S. Thorne's notations the same?