General
CGS System of Units Calculator
Convert between CGS (Centimeter-Gram-Second) and other unit systems including SI (MKS). Perfect for physics and engineering calculations.
Enter a value and select units to see the conversion result
Related to CGS System of Units Calculator
The CGS (Centimeter-Gram-Second) System of Units Calculator is a specialized tool for converting between CGS units and their SI (International System of Units) counterparts. The CGS system was widely used in scientific work before the adoption of the SI system and remains important in certain fields of physics and engineering. This calculator handles conversions for fundamental physical quantities including length, mass, force, energy, and pressure.
Base Units
The CGS system is built on three fundamental units:
• Length: Centimeter (cm)
• Mass: Gram (g)
• Time: Second (s)
Derived Units
From these base units, several derived units are formed:
• Force: Dyne (1 dyne = 1 g⋅cm/s²)
• Energy: Erg (1 erg = 1 dyne⋅cm)
• Pressure: Barye (1 barye = 1 dyne/cm²)
The calculator provides precise conversions between CGS and SI units, displaying results with appropriate precision. For very large or very small numbers, scientific notation is used to maintain clarity. The conversion process uses exact conversion factors established by international standards.
Conversion Factors
• Length: 1 cm = 0.01 m
• Mass: 1 g = 0.001 kg
• Force: 1 dyne = 10⁻⁵ N
• Energy: 1 erg = 10⁻⁷ J
• Pressure: 1 barye = 0.1 Pa
When converting between systems, it's important to note that while the numerical values change, the physical quantity remains the same. For example, 100,000 dynes of force is exactly equal to 1 newton, representing the same amount of force expressed in different units.
1. Why use the CGS system when we have SI units?
The CGS system is still used in certain fields of physics, particularly in astrophysics and electromagnetic theory. Some phenomena are more conveniently expressed in CGS units, and many older scientific papers and references use CGS units. Understanding both systems and being able to convert between them remains important for scientists and engineers.
2. How accurate are the conversions?
The conversions are based on exact relationships between CGS and SI units. The calculator uses precise conversion factors and maintains accuracy to six decimal places. For very large or small numbers, scientific notation is used to preserve precision.
3. Which fields still commonly use CGS units?
CGS units are still commonly used in astrophysics, plasma physics, and some areas of electromagnetic theory. They are also found in older scientific literature and some specialized applications where the scale of CGS units is more convenient than SI units.
4. What are the advantages of CGS units?
CGS units can be advantageous when working with small-scale phenomena. The units are often more naturally scaled for certain physical processes, particularly in atomic and molecular physics. Additionally, some equations in electromagnetic theory take simpler forms in CGS units.
5. What is the scientific source for this calculator?
This calculator uses conversion factors established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM). The relationships between CGS and SI units are based on the fundamental definitions in the International System of Units (SI) and historical standards of the CGS system. The conversion factors are derived from exact relationships defined in physics textbooks and standards documents, including the CODATA internationally recommended values of fundamental physical constants.