CGS Full Form

What is the full form of CGS?

The CGS (Centimetre-Gram-Second) or Gaussian system of units is a metric unit system that uses centimetres to measure length, uses grams to measure mass, and seconds to measure time. The base units are derived in this system from the mechanical study and its unit measures involve CGS or Gaussian measurement systems. This system is also used in electromagnetic fields and electrostatic fields.

This Story also Contains

1. What is the full form of CGS?
2. Evolution of SI and CGS system
3. The CGS unit
4. Advantages of the CGS system

CGS units or SI units can be used in measurement systems where mechanical units are required, such as mass, energy, pressure, force, etc. The units can be calculated by converting units from one system to another. For example, the unit of force dyne in CGS or Gaussian systems is 1 g cm/s2. Also, you can convert dyne into SI units. As we all know that 100cm = 1m, 1000g = 1kg, and the SI unit of force is Newton which is defined as 1 kg m/s2. Therefore, 1 Newton can be easily converted into a CGS unit as 100000 dynes.

Evolution of SI and CGS system

Until the mid of the nineteenth century, scientists discussed how to extend the metric system of units such as force, pressure, power and work. So in order to carry out this, a choice should be made as to what metric units the distance, mass, and time should be provided. Therefore, a group of scientists along with the mathematical physicist James Maxwell and the Scottish physicist William Thomson was successful to select the centimetre, gram, and second. Therefore, the CGS System was formulated. In 1874, the CGS system was accepted formally and introduced by the British Association. It favours the work of scientists and has been followed in scientific work for many years. But many engineers preferred a system which is based on larger units because the CGS units are relatively small in size. After a few years, the MKS system which was based on the metre, kilogram, and second became a competing choice for a coherent system of units.

The CGS unit

The CGS unit system is the system where the fundamental or base quantities like length, mass, and time are measured in the terms of centimetres, grams, and second. The abbreviation of the Centimeter, Gram, and Second is CGS. They are small-scale units which are used to measure small distances. The CGS system consists of the gram, second, erg, dyne etc.

Advantages of the CGS system

• CGS units and SI unit questions are very common in the physics examinations.

• These units and explanations can help us to get into the depth of various topics.

• These units are provided in a very interactive manner to help us understand easily.

Disadvantage of the CGS system

• The units of CGS might sometimes be difficult to define through experiment, which is a drawback.