cgsEinheiten

The CGS (centimeter-gram-second) system is a system of units that is a precursor to the SI system. It is based on three fundamental units: the centimeter for length, the gram for mass, and the second for time. It was widely used in scientific and engineering contexts before the adoption of the SI system. The CGS system is a coherent system, meaning that derived units are formed by simple multiplication or division of the fundamental units without any numerical factors.

There are two main versions of the CGS system. The electrostatic CGS (cgs esu) system defines the fundamental units in terms of electrostatic phenomena, while the electromagnetic CGS (cgs emu) system defines them in terms of electromagnetic phenomena. These two systems differ in how electrical and magnetic quantities are incorporated. For example, in the electrostatic system, the unit of electric charge is defined such that Coulomb's law takes a simple form, whereas in the electromagnetic system, the unit of electric current is defined based on the force between current-carrying wires.

While the CGS system is no longer the standard in most scientific fields, it is still encountered in some specialized areas, particularly in older literature or in specific branches of physics like acoustics and electromagnetism where certain formulas are more conveniently expressed in CGS units. The transition to the SI (International System of Units) system was driven by the need for a more comprehensive and internationally standardized set of units that would simplify conversions and reduce confusion in global scientific and technical communication. The SI system, based on seven base units including the meter, kilogram, and second, has become the dominant standard.