Gauss - Definition and Overview

For a biography of the mathematician, see: Carl Friedrich Gauss

The gauss, abbreviated as G, is the cgs unit of magnetic flux density or magnetic induction (B), named after the German mathematician and physicist Carl Friedrich Gauss. One gauss is defined as one maxwell per square centimetre.

For many years prior to 1932 the term gauss was used to designate that unit of magnetic field intensity which is now known as the oersted. This change in terminology was introduced to distinguish between magnetic induction and magnetic intensity as physical magnitudes.

The SI unit of magnetic flux density is the tesla. One gauss is equal to 10^-4 tesla.

1 T = 10 000 G