CGS units
Pre-SI metric system
CGS units are a system of measurement based on the centimeter, gram, and second as fundamental units of length, mass, and time.
Developed in the 19th century and widely used in physics, this system preceded the modern SI (metric) system that uses meters, kilograms, and seconds instead.
CGS units persist in some scientific fields, particularly electromagnetism, where units like the gauss and erg remain common.
The textbook expressed magnetic field strength in CGS units rather than teslas.
- centimeterMetric length unit
- gramMetric mass unit
- secondUnit smaller than minute
- dyneCGS force measure
- ergCGS work unit
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