Cgs System Of Units Converter

What is the CGS System?

The Centimeter-Gram-Second (CGS) system of units is a metric system variant that was proposed in 1832 by German mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss. It was formally adopted by the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1873. As its name suggests, the CGS system is based on three fundamental units:

• Length: Centimeter (cm)
• Mass: Gram (g)
• Time: Second (s)

While the CGS system has largely been superseded by the MKS (Meter-Kilogram-Second) system, which evolved into the modern International System of Units (SI), it is still encountered in some fields of physics, particularly in older texts on electrodynamics and astrophysics.

CGS vs. SI: Key Differences

The primary difference lies in the base units for length and mass. This seemingly small change has significant ripple effects on derived units.

• Force: In SI, the unit of force is the Newton (N), defined as kg·m/s². In CGS, the unit is the dyne, defined as g·cm/s².

  1 Newton = 100,000 dynes

• Energy: In SI, the unit of energy is the Joule (J). In CGS, it is the erg.

  1 Joule = 10,000,000 ergs

• Pressure: In SI, the unit is the Pascal (Pa). In CGS, it is the barye (Ba).

  1 Pascal = 10 barye

• Electromagnetism: This is where the systems differ most significantly. CGS has several variations (Gaussian, ESU, EMU) where electromagnetic units are defined differently, often without a separate base unit for charge, leading to different forms of Maxwell's equations. SI uses the Ampere as a base unit, simplifying the equations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why was the CGS system created?

A: It was created to establish a coherent, metric-based system of units for scientific use, which was a significant improvement over the disparate and often poorly-defined units used before.

Q: Why is the SI system now preferred over CGS?

A: The SI system is generally considered more practical for engineering and everyday use because its base units (meter, kilogram) are more human-scale. Furthermore, the SI system's treatment of electromagnetism with the Ampere as a base unit is more straightforward and less ambiguous than the various CGS electromagnetic systems.

Q: Do scientists still use CGS units?

A: Yes, in some specific contexts. For example, Gaussian-CGS units are still common in theoretical physics and astrophysics because they can simplify certain equations related to electromagnetism and relativity in a vacuum.

Q: How do I use this converter?

A: Simply enter a value in one of the CGS units provided. The converter will automatically show the equivalent value in the corresponding SI unit, and vice-versa. This allows for quick translation between the two systems.