CGS Units Converter
Convert between CGS (centimeter-gram-second) and SI (International System) units
Converting between CGS and SI units is simple:
- Select the unit category (length, mass, force, etc.)
- Choose the specific units to convert between
- Select the conversion direction (SI to CGS or CGS to SI)
- Enter the value to convert
- Click the "Convert" button
- View the results in both unit systems
The calculator automatically handles the conversion factors and displays results in appropriate formats, including scientific notation for very large or small numbers.
The CGS (centimeter-gram-second) system is a variant of the metric system that uses:
- Centimeter (cm): The basic unit of length
- Gram (g): The basic unit of mass
- Second (s): The basic unit of time
From these base units, other CGS units are derived, including:
- Dyne: The CGS unit of force
- Erg: The CGS unit of energy
- Barye: The CGS unit of pressure
Key conversion factors between CGS and SI units:
- Length:
- 1 meter = 100 centimeters
- 1 kilometer = 100,000 centimeters
- 1 millimeter = 0.1 centimeters
- Mass:
- 1 kilogram = 1,000 grams
- 1 milligram = 0.001 grams
- Force:
- 1 newton = 100,000 dynes
- Energy:
- 1 joule = 10,000,000 ergs
- Pressure:
- 1 pascal = 10 baryes
Our calculator supports these unit categories:
- Length: Conversions between centimeters and meters/kilometers/millimeters
- Mass: Conversions between grams and kilograms/milligrams
- Force: Conversions between dynes and newtons
- Energy: Conversions between ergs and joules
- Pressure: Conversions between baryes and pascals
CGS to SI conversion is important in many fields:
- Physics: Working with older scientific literature and calculations
- Chemistry: Converting between different unit systems in experiments
- Engineering: Dealing with specifications in different unit systems
- Research: Comparing data from different sources and time periods
- Education: Learning about different measurement systems and their relationships
Why is the CGS system still used?
While SI units are now standard, the CGS system is still used in some scientific fields and appears in older literature. It's particularly common in electromagnetism and astrophysics, and some scientists prefer its simpler scaling factors.
Why do some conversions use scientific notation?
Scientific notation is used for very large or small numbers to make them more readable and manageable. For example, converting between ergs and joules often involves factors of millions, which are clearer in scientific notation.
How accurate are the conversions?
The conversions are exact for most units, as they are based on defined relationships. The calculator maintains high precision (6 decimal places) to ensure accuracy in scientific calculations.