Micoteslas

Micoteslas are a unit of magnetic flux density, a measure of the strength of a magnetic field. The prefix "micro" signifies one millionth. Therefore, one micotesla (µT) is equal to 10⁻⁶ teslas (T). The tesla is the standard unit in the International System of Units (SI) for magnetic flux density, named after Nikola Tesla. Micoteslas are commonly used to express relatively weak magnetic fields. For context, the Earth's magnetic field at the surface is approximately 30 to 60 micoteslas. Many everyday electronic devices produce magnetic fields, and their strengths are often measured in micoteslas. For example, the magnetic field generated by a mobile phone might be in the range of tens to hundreds of micoteslas at close proximity. Similarly, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, which use strong magnetic fields, operate at fields measured in teslas, but weaker, stray fields might be discussed in micoteslas. Understanding micoteslas is important in fields like electromagnetism, geophysics, and biomedical engineering where magnetic field strengths are a critical parameter.