The esu or Gaussian system
|
Quantity |
Symbol |
Units in MKS system |
Units in CGS or Gaussian system |
|
Distance |
x |
meter |
102 cm |
|
Force |
F |
|
105 dynes |
|
Work, energy |
W |
Joule |
107 ergs |
|
Charge |
q |
Coulomb |
2.998 x l09 esu |
|
Current |
I |
ampere |
2.998 x esu/sec |
|
Electric Potential |
f |
volt |
(1/299.8) statvolts |
|
Electric field |
E |
volts/meter |
(1/29980) statvolts/cm |
|
Resistance |
R |
ohm |
1.139 x10-12 sec/cm |
|
Magnetic field |
B |
Tesla |
104 gauss |
|
Magnetic flux |
F |
Weber |
108 gauss-cm2 |
|
Auxiliary field |
H |
amperes/meter |
4p X 10-3 oersted |
Example
|
MKS |
CGS |
|
F = [1/4πe0] × q1q2/r2 |
F = q1q2/r2 |
If two charges of 1 C are separated by 1 mm then the force in CGS units is
F = 1 C × 1 C × [2.998 x l09 esu/C]2 / [0.1 cm]2 = 8.988 x l020 dyne