Understanding gauss to microteslas Conversion
The gauss (G) is the CGS unit of magnetic flux density, still widely used for permanent magnets, refrigerator magnets, and the Earth's field. The microtesla (uT) is one-millionth of the SI tesla and is the practical scale for ambient and biological magnetic fields — the Earth's surface field is roughly 25-65 uT. Converting gauss to microteslas is common when reconciling magnet datasheets (often in gauss) with SI-based instrument readings or exposure guidelines.
Conversion Formula
To convert gauss to microteslas, multiply by this factor:
Step-by-Step Example
Convert 25 gauss to microteslas.
How to Convert gauss to microteslas
Switch a CGS gauss reading to the SI microtesla scale with a single multiplication.
- Take the gauss value: Note the magnetic flux density measured in gauss.
- Multiply by 100: Each gauss equals 100 microteslas.
- Report in microteslas: The result is the field strength in uT.
- Worked result: 25 gauss × 100 = 2500 microteslas.
gauss to microteslas conversion table
| gauss (G) | microteslas (uT) |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 100 |
| 2 | 200 |
| 3 | 300 |
| 4 | 400 |
| 5 | 500 |
| 6 | 600 |
| 7 | 700 |
| 8 | 800 |
| 9 | 900 |
| 10 | 1000 |
| 15 | 1500 |
| 20 | 2000 |
| 25 | 2500 |
| 30 | 3000 |
| 40 | 4000 |
| 50 | 5000 |
| 60 | 6000 |
| 70 | 7000 |
| 80 | 8000 |
| 90 | 9000 |
| 100 | 10000 |
| 150 | 15000 |
| 200 | 20000 |
| 250 | 25000 |
| 300 | 30000 |
| 400 | 40000 |
| 500 | 50000 |
| 600 | 60000 |
| 700 | 70000 |
| 800 | 80000 |
| 900 | 90000 |
| 1000 | 100000 |
| 2000 | 200000 |
| 3000 | 300000 |
| 4000 | 400000 |
| 5000 | 500000 |
| 10000 | 1000000 |
| 25000 | 2500000 |
| 50000 | 5000000 |
| 100000 | 10000000 |
| 250000 | 25000000 |
| 500000 | 50000000 |
| 1000000 | 100000000 |
What is the Gauss?
The gauss is the CGS (centimetre-gram-second) unit of magnetic flux density, still widely used in physics, geomagnetism, and the magnet industry. It measures the strength of a magnetic B-field and is named after the mathematician and physicist Carl Friedrich Gauss.
Definition
One gauss equals one maxwell per square centimetre, and is defined in SI terms as exactly one ten-thousandth of a tesla.
Equivalently, , and . The gauss corresponds to a magnetic flux of one maxwell threading a one-square-centimetre area perpendicular to the field.
Origin and History
The unit honors Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777–1855), who with Wilhelm Weber pioneered absolute measurements of the geomagnetic field. The name "gauss" was assigned to this CGS-EMU unit of magnetic induction by the International Electrotechnical Commission around 1930, formalizing usage that had grown throughout 19th-century electromagnetism.
Law and Notable Facts
The gauss is not an SI unit; the SI equivalent is the tesla. However, it remains entrenched in practice, and manufacturers routinely rate permanent magnets in gauss or kilogauss. The residual field strength of magnetic materials (remanence) for strong neodymium magnets is around 12,000–14,000 gauss (1.2–1.4 T).
Real-World Examples and Conversions
- Earth's surface magnetic field is about 0.25–0.65 gauss (25–65 microtesla).
- A typical refrigerator magnet is roughly 50–100 gauss at its surface.
- A 1.5 T MRI scanner corresponds to 15,000 gauss.
- 1 gauss = 0.0001 T = 0.1 mT = 100 microtesla.
What is the Microtesla?
The microtesla is a decimal submultiple of the tesla, the SI unit of magnetic flux density. It is the natural scale for weak magnetic fields, most notably the Earth's geomagnetic field and stray fields from household wiring and appliances.
Definition
One microtesla is one millionth of a tesla.
In SI base units, . Since one gauss equals tesla, one microtesla equals exactly gauss (that is, 10 milligauss), a conversion frequently used in geomagnetism and EMF surveys.
Origin and History
The microtesla combines the tesla, named for Nikola Tesla and adopted into the SI in 1960, with the SI prefix "micro" (one millionth). It rose to prominence as scientists standardized geomagnetic and environmental field measurements on SI units, replacing the older gauss and gamma ().
Law and Notable Facts
The microtesla is a fully coherent SI submultiple. It is the customary unit for reporting the Earth's magnetic field and for public-exposure discussions: international guidelines (ICNIRP) set reference levels for power-frequency magnetic fields on the order of 100–200 microtesla for the general public.
Real-World Examples and Conversions
- Earth's magnetic field ranges from about 25 microtesla near the equator to 65 microtesla near the poles.
- Magnetic fields directly beneath high-voltage power lines can reach several microtesla.
- 1 microtesla = 10 milligauss = 0.01 gauss.
- 1 microtesla = 0.001 mT = 0.000001 T.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many microteslas equal one gauss?
Exactly 100 microteslas. Since 1 gauss = 10⁻⁴ tesla and 1 microtesla = 10⁻⁶ tesla, one gauss is 100 uT.
How do I convert microteslas back to gauss?
Multiply the microtesla value by 0.01. For instance, 50 uT equals 0.5 gauss.
What does 25 gauss give in microteslas?
25 gauss × 100 = 2500 microteslas.
Why do magnet specs use gauss while sensors read microteslas?
Magnet manufacturers historically use the CGS gauss, whereas modern magnetometers and phone sensors report in SI teslas or microteslas, so a conversion is needed to compare them.
How does this compare to Earth's magnetic field?
Earth's field is about 0.25-0.65 gauss, or 25-65 microteslas, so ordinary environmental fields sit in this same range.
People also convert
Complete gauss conversion table
| Unit | Result |
|---|---|
| teslas (T) | 0.0001 T |
| milliteslas (mT) | 0.1 mT |
| microteslas (uT) | 100 uT |
| milligauss (mG) | 1000 mG |