General Data > Gaussian Units
Gaussian units are a system of physical units and are the most common of the several electromagnetic unit systems based on "cgs" (centimetre-gram-second) units.
This system may also be referred to as the Gaussian unit system, Gaussian-cgs units, or often just cgs units.
In modern science, the Gaussian system has largely been superseded by SI units and in schools in the UK, Gaussian units are virtually unused. However the cgs systems may be used in older textbooks or reference manuals, especially from the USA.
The tables below show the units of the Gaussian system.
Base Units of the Gaussian System
| Quantity |
Unit |
Symbol |
| length |
centimetre |
cm |
| mass |
gram |
g |
| time |
second |
s |
Derived Units of the Gaussian System with Special Names
| Quantity |
Name |
Symbol |
In terms of… |
| other units |
base units |
| acceleration |
galileo |
Gal |
dyn/g |
cm s −2 |
| force |
dyne |
dyn |
|
cm g s −2 |
| pressure, stress |
barye |
Ba |
dyn/cm 2 |
cm −1 g s −2 |
| energy, work, heat |
erg |
erg |
dyn cm |
cm 2 g s −2 |
| dynamic viscosity |
poise |
P |
Ba s |
cm −1 g s −1 |
| kinematic viscosity |
stokes |
St |
|
cm 2 s −1 |
| wave number |
kayser |
? |
|
cm −1 |
Electrostatic Units of the Gaussian System
| Quantity |
Name |
Symbol |
In terms of… |
| other units |
base units |
| electric charge |
statcoulomb* |
|
|
(cm 3 g s −2 ) ½ |
| electric field |
|
|
statvolt/cm |
|
| electric potential |
statvolt |
|
erg/statcoulomb |
|
| electric current |
statampere |
|
statcoulomb/s |
|
| resistance |
statohm |
|
statamp/statvolt |
cm −1 s |
| conductance |
statmho |
|
1/statohm |
cm s −1 |
| capacitance |
statfarad |
|
|
cm |
| magnetic field |
stattesla |
|
|
|
| magnetic flux |
statweber |
|
|
|
| inductance |
stathenry |
|
|
|
Electromagnetic Units of the Gaussian System
| Quantity |
Name |
Symbol |
In terms of… |
| other units |
base units |
| magnetic field (B) |
gauss |
G |
|
|
| magnetic field (H) |
oersted |
Oe |
|
|
| magnetic flux |
maxwell |
Mw |
|
|
| magnetomotive force |
gilbert |
Gb |
|
|
| inductance |
abhenry |
|
|
|
| electric charge |
abcoulomb |
|
|
|
| electric current |
abampere |
|
|
|
| electric potential |
abvolt |
|
|
|
| resistance |
abohm |
|
|
|
| conductance |
abmho |
|
|
|
| capacitance |
abfarad |
|
|
|
Related Links
SI Units