Kappa (Κ, κ)
Quick Info
- Pronunciation: cap-uh
- English: k
- Common Use: Thermal conductivity
Historical Background
Tenth letter of the Greek alphabet, derived from Phoenician letter "kaph". The name comes from the Phoenician word for palm of the hand, reflecting its original pictographic representation of a curved palm.
Scientific Applications
Physics
Thermal conductivity
Statistics
Cohen's kappa
Optics
Wave number
Fluid Dynamics
Von Kármán constant
Symbol Codes
Unicode
Uppercase
- Code: U+039A
- Hex: Κ
- Decimal: Κ
Lowercase
- Code: U+03BA
- Hex: κ
- Decimal: κ
HTML
Uppercase
Κ
HTML entity for uppercase Kappa
Lowercase
κ
HTML entity for lowercase kappa
LaTeX
Uppercase
\Kappa
LaTeX command for uppercase Kappa
Lowercase
\kappa
LaTeX command for lowercase kappa
Common Usage
Physics
Heat Transfer
Thermal conductivity coefficient
Wave Theory
Wave number in optics
Fluid Mechanics
Von Kármán constant
Statistics
Agreement Analysis
Cohen's kappa coefficient
Reliability Testing
Inter-rater reliability
Classification
Agreement measures
Engineering
Materials Science
Thermal properties
Heat Exchangers
Heat transfer coefficient
Optical Systems
Wave propagation
Common Applications
Heat Transfer
Fourier's law of heat conduction
Effective thermal conductivity
Heat conduction rate
Statistics
Cohen's kappa coefficient
Standard error of kappa
Confidence interval
Special Applications
Material Science
Thermal conductivity relation
Temperature dependence
Composite conductivity
Reliability Analysis
Weighted kappa
Maximum kappa
Fleiss' kappa
Physical Applications
Materials Science
- • Stress analysis
- • Material strength
- • Deformation studies
- • Failure criteria
Statistical Physics
- • Ensemble averages
- • Fluctuation theory
- • Distribution functions
- • Partition functions
Quantum Mechanics
- • Spin states
- • Orbital notation
- • Selection rules
- • Coupling schemes
Theoretical Applications
Series Theory
Riemann zeta function
Taylor series
Geometric series
Statistical Theory
Variance definition
Variance addition
Coefficient of variation
Writing Guidelines
Uppercase resembles the Latin K, lowercase has a distinctive curved shape with a descending leg. In handwriting, ensure the lowercase κ is clearly distinguished from the Latin k and the Greek chi (χ).
How to Type Kappa
Windows
Alt Code
- Hold Alt
- Type 954 for κ
- Release Alt
Character Map
- Open Character Map
- Select Greek
- Find and copy Kappa
Unicode
- Hold Alt + X
- Type 03BA
- Release Alt + X
macOS
Option Key
- Press Option + k for κ
Character Viewer
- Press Control + Command + Space
- Select Greek
- Click Kappa
Linux
Compose Key
- Press Compose + k + k for κ
Unicode
- Press Ctrl + Shift + U
- Type 03BA
- Press Enter
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Kappa (Κ) and Latin K?
While they look similar in uppercase form, Kappa and Latin K have different historical origins and uses. Kappa is primarily used in Greek text and scientific notation, particularly for thermal conductivity and statistical measures.
What is Cohen's kappa coefficient?
Cohen's kappa (κ) is a statistical measure that assesses inter-rater reliability between two raters who each classify items into mutually exclusive categories. It accounts for the possibility of agreement occurring by chance.
How is kappa used in thermal physics?
In thermal physics, κ (kappa) represents thermal conductivity, which measures a material's ability to conduct heat. It appears in Fourier's law of heat conduction and is crucial in heat transfer calculations.
What is the Von Kármán constant?
The Von Kármán constant (κ) is a dimensionless constant used in fluid dynamics, particularly in the description of turbulent flow near walls. It has an empirically determined value of approximately 0.41.