Common magnetic units:
- Tesla (T): magnetic flux density
- Gauss (G): CGS unit of flux density
- Weber (Wb): magnetic flux
- Maxwell (Mx): CGS unit of flux
- Ampere-turn (At): magnetomotive force
Field strength units:
- Ampere per meter (A/m): field strength
- Oersted (Oe): CGS field strength
- Henry per meter (H/m): permeability
- Ampere-square meter (A·m²): moment
Early Discoveries:
Magnetism has been known since ancient times, with the first magnetic compasses used in China around 200 BCE. William Gilbert published the first scientific study of magnetism in 1600, establishing the Earth as a giant magnet.
Electromagnetic Unification:
In 1820, Hans Christian Ørsted discovered that electric currents create magnetic fields. Shortly after, André-Marie Ampère developed the first quantitative theory of magnetism, with units of magnetomotive force now bearing his name.
Modern Units:
The CGS system originally used units like gauss and oersted, while the modern SI system adopted the tesla (named after Nikola Tesla) and weber (after Wilhelm Weber). The conversion between these systems remains important in modern physics and engineering.
Flux Density Units:
- Tesla: MRI machines, scientific research
- Gauss: Earth's magnetic field measurements
- Microtesla: environmental monitoring
Magnetic Flux:
- Weber: electrical engineering, transformers
- Maxwell: legacy scientific literature
- Volt-second: practical electronics
Specialized Units:
- Amp-turns: electromagnet design
- Bohr magnetons: quantum physics
- EMU: electromagnetic unit system
- Nuclear magneton: nuclear physics
Magnetism Unit Conversion Calculator
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What are Magnetic Measurement Units?
Magnetic measurement units quantify different aspects of magnetic fields and their effects. The International System of Units (SI) includes several fundamental magnetic units: the tesla (T) for magnetic flux density, the weber (Wb) for magnetic flux, and the ampere per meter (A/m) for magnetic field strength.
These units coexist with older CGS system units that are still widely used in various fields: gauss (G) for flux density, maxwell (Mx) for flux, and oersted (Oe) for field strength. Converting between these systems is essential for researchers and engineers working across different standards and disciplines.
Learn more from NIST or NIST Physics Measurement Units.
Common Magnetic Unit Conversions
| From | To | Conversion | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla (T) | Gauss (G) | Multiply by 10,000 | 1 T = 10,000 G |
| Gauss (G) | Tesla (T) | Divide by 10,000 | 10,000 G = 1 T |
| Weber (Wb) | Maxwell (Mx) | Multiply by 10⁸ | 1 Wb = 10⁸ Mx |
| Maxwell (Mx) | Weber (Wb) | Divide by 10⁸ | 10⁸ Mx = 1 Wb |
| Ampere per meter (A/m) | Oersted (Oe) | Divide by 79.577 | 79.577 A/m = 1 Oe |
| Oersted (Oe) | Ampere per meter (A/m) | Multiply by 79.577 | 1 Oe = 79.577 A/m |
| Ampere-turn (A) | Gilbert (Gi) | Multiply by 1.257 | 1 A = 1.257 Gi |
Common Magnetic Field Strengths
| Source | Tesla (T) | Gauss (G) |
|---|---|---|
| Earth's magnetic field | 25-65 μT | 0.25-0.65 G |
| Refrigerator magnet | 5-10 mT | 50-100 G |
| Neodymium magnet | 1-1.4 T | 10,000-14,000 G |
| MRI machine | 1.5-7 T | 15,000-70,000 G |
| Laboratory electromagnet | up to 45 T | up to 450,000 G |
| Neutron star (surface) | 10⁸-10¹¹ T | 10¹²-10¹⁵ G |
Practical Applications of Magnetic Measurements
Medical Technology
- MRI scanners (1.5-7 tesla) for detailed medical imaging
- Magnetically guided drug delivery systems
- Magnetic particle imaging for real-time visualization
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation for neurological treatment
Geophysics & Navigation
- Measuring Earth's magnetic field (0.25-0.65 gauss)
- Magnetometers for geological surveys and mineral exploration
- Magnetic anomaly detection for submarine tracking
- Magnetic compass calibration for navigation systems
Electrical Engineering
- Transformer design using weber and tesla measurements
- Electric motor efficiency optimization
- Magnetic field shielding calculations (using permeability units)
- Electromagnetic compatibility testing for electronic devices
Materials Science
- Characterizing magnetic materials using hysteresis measurements
- Developing new magnetic storage media with specific flux density
- Quality control for permanent magnets (using tesla or gauss)
- Research on superconducting materials and magnetic levitation
Educational Resource
This educational video from the University of Colorado PhET Interactive Simulations explains the fundamental magnetic units (tesla, gauss, weber, etc.) and demonstrates key conversion principles with clear, engaging visualizations. With over 3 million views, PhET is widely recognized for its authoritative physics educational content.
Magnetism Conversion Resources
Get our comprehensive magnetic unit conversion chart showing relationships between tesla, gauss, weber, maxwell, and other magnetic units for quick reference in your scientific and engineering calculations.
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