CGS System of Units Converter

CGS units in mechanics

The CGS system, or centimeter-gram-second system, is a system of physical units that is based on the centimeter as the unit of length, the gram as the unit of mass, and the second as the unit of time. In this system, derived units are formed by combining these base units using multiplication and division.

For example, in the CGS system, the unit of force is the dyne, which is defined as the force required to accelerate a mass of one gram at a rate of one centimeter per second squared. This can be written as:

1 dyne = 1 g * 1 cm/s^2

Other units in the CGS system include the erg (a unit of energy), the poise (a unit of viscosity), and the barye (a unit of pressure).

The CGS system is not commonly used in modern physics and engineering, as the International System of Units (SI) is now the internationally recognized standard for scientific measurement. However, the CGS system is still used in some fields, such as in the study of small or low-energy phenomena, where the use of larger units would be inconvenient.

CGS units in electromagnetism

In the CGS system of units, the base units for electromagnetism are the centimeter (cm) for length, the gram (g) for mass, and the second (s) for time. Derived units in this system are formed by combining these base units using multiplication and division.

In the CGS system, the unit of electric charge is the statcoulomb (statC), which is defined as the charge that will impart a velocity of one centimeter per second to a mass of one gram when it is moved through a potential difference of one statvolt (statV). This can be written as:

1 statC = 1 g * 1 cm/s * 1 statV

Other units in the CGS system for electromagnetism include the statampere (statA) for electric current, the gauss (G) for magnetic field strength, and the maxwell (Mx) for magnetic flux.

Like in mechanics, the CGS system is not widely used in modern physics and engineering, as the International System of Units (SI) is now the internationally recognized standard for scientific measurement. However, the CGS system is still used in some fields, such as in the study of small or low-energy phenomena, where the use of larger units would be inconvenient.

Physical constants in CGS units and MKS units

Physical constants are fundamental values that describe the physical properties of the universe and are the same everywhere in the universe. These constants can be expressed in different systems of units, such as the CGS (centimeter-gram-second) system or the MKS (meter-kilogram-second) system.

Here are some examples of physical constants and their values in both CGS and MKS units:

Speed of light in a vacuum: c = 2.99792458 x 10^10 cm/s = 2.99792458 x 10^8 m/s
Gravitational constant: G = 6.674 x 10^-8 cm^3/gs^2 = 6.674 x 10^-11 m^3/kgs^2
Planck's constant: h = 6.62607015 x 10^-27 gcm^2/s = 6.62607015 x 10^-34 kgm^2/s
Electron mass: me = 9.1093837015 x 10^-28 g = 9.1093837015 x 10^-31 kg
Proton mass: mp = 1.67262192369 x 10^-24 g = 1.67262192369 x 10^-27 kg
Note that the values of physical constants may vary slightly depending on the sources, but these values are generally accepted as the most accurate and up-to-date values.