Re: p for momentum?

[Bob Sciamanda <sciamanda@worldnet.att.net>]

> On Thu, 11 Dec 1997, Dewey Dykstra, Jr. wrote:
>
>  I have been asked to ask the list, what is the origin of the symbol "p" for
>  momentum.  I expect some know.  If I did, I have forgotten.
>
> Dewey,

This has jostled to the surface a vague memory of a mechanics prof
making a connection between the Hamiltonian H(p,q) and the admonition:
"Mind your p's and q's!" .  But I have no recollection of which usage
was supposed to have come first.  Perhaps this will jostle another
subconsciousness.
-- 


Bob Sciamanda			sciamanda@edinboro.edu
Dept of Physics			sciamanda@worldnet.att.net
Edinboro Univ of PA		http://www.edinboro.edu/~sciamanda/home.html
Edinboro, PA			(814)838-7185

I believe there are
15,747,724,136,275,002,577,605,653,961,181,555,468,044,717,914,527,116,709,366,231,
425,076,185,631,031,296 protons in the universe and the same number of
electrons.
- Eddington, Sir Arthur (1882-1944), The Philosophy of Physical Science.
Cambridge, 1939.