Mu (Μ, μ)
Quick Info
- Pronunciation: myoo
- English: m
- Common Use: Micro (10^-6)
Historical Background
Twelfth letter of the Greek alphabet, derived from Phoenician letter "mem". The name comes from the Phoenician word for water, reflecting its original pictographic representation of waves.
Scientific Applications
Physics
Coefficient of friction
Statistics
Population mean
Engineering
Micro prefix
Fluid Mechanics
Dynamic viscosity
Electromagnetics
Magnetic permeability
Symbol Codes
Unicode
Uppercase
- Code: U+039C
- Hex: Μ
- Decimal: Μ
Lowercase
- Code: U+03BC
- Hex: μ
- Decimal: μ
HTML
Uppercase
Μ
HTML entity for uppercase Mu
Lowercase
μ
HTML entity for lowercase mu
LaTeX
Uppercase
\Mu
LaTeX command for uppercase Mu
Lowercase
\mu
LaTeX command for lowercase mu
Common Usage
Engineering
Thermal Systems
Thermal efficiency in engines
Power Generation
Generator efficiency
Energy Conversion
System performance
Physics
Fluid Dynamics
Dynamic viscosity
Quantum Mechanics
Wave functions
Optics
Optical efficiency
Mathematics
Number Theory
Dedekind eta function
Complex Analysis
Modular forms
Special Functions
Series expansions
Common Applications
Statistics
Expected value
Hypothesis testing
Confidence interval
Mechanics
Friction force
Static vs kinetic friction
Angle of friction
Special Applications
Fluid Dynamics
Dynamic viscosity definition
Temperature dependence
Reynolds number
Electromagnetic Theory
Magnetic field relation
Vacuum permeability
Inductance formula
Metric Prefix Applications
Common Micro Units
Scientific Applications
Physical Applications
Tribology
- • Surface friction
- • Wear analysis
- • Lubrication
- • Contact mechanics
Fluid Mechanics
- • Viscous flow
- • Boundary layers
- • Flow resistance
- • Pipe flow
Materials Science
- • Magnetic properties
- • Material strength
- • Surface interactions
- • Microscale effects
Writing Guidelines
Uppercase resembles the Latin M, lowercase has a distinctive tail that curves down and back. In handwriting, ensure the lowercase μ is clearly distinguished from the Latin u and the Greek nu (ν). The tail should be prominent but not exaggerated.
How to Type Mu
Windows
Alt Code
- Hold Alt
- Type 956 for μ
- Release Alt
Character Map
- Open Character Map
- Select Greek
- Find and copy Mu
Unicode
- Hold Alt + X
- Type 03BC
- Release Alt + X
macOS
Option Key
- Press Option + m for μ
Character Viewer
- Press Control + Command + Space
- Select Greek
- Click Mu
Linux
Compose Key
- Press Compose + m + m for μ
Unicode
- Press Ctrl + Shift + U
- Type 03BC
- Press Enter
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Mu (Μ) and Latin M?
While they look identical in uppercase form, Mu and Latin M have different historical origins and uses. Mu is primarily used in Greek text and scientific notation, particularly for friction and viscosity.
How is mu used in engineering?
In engineering, μ (mu) commonly represents the coefficient of friction between surfaces. It's also used as the SI prefix "micro-" (10⁻⁶) in measurements.
What is dynamic viscosity?
Dynamic viscosity (μ) is a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow. It relates shear stress to the rate of strain in the fluid and is crucial in fluid mechanics.
Why is mu used for the population mean?
In statistics, μ represents the population mean, following a convention established by Karl Pearson. It's distinguished from x̄ (sample mean) in statistical analysis.