Understanding gauss to milligauss Conversion
The gauss (G) is the CGS unit of magnetic flux density, used for magnets and geomagnetic fields. The milligauss (mG) is one-thousandth of a gauss and is the everyday unit for weak fields, such as those from household wiring, appliances, and power lines that appear in EMF surveys. Converting gauss to milligauss is routine when field-meter readings and exposure limits are quoted at the milligauss scale.
Conversion Formula
To convert gauss to milligauss, multiply by this factor:
Step-by-Step Example
Convert 25 gauss to milligauss.
How to Convert gauss to milligauss
Scale a gauss reading down to milligauss for weak-field work with one step.
- Note the gauss value: Record the flux density in gauss.
- Multiply by 1000: Each gauss contains 1000 milligauss.
- Express in milligauss: The product is your reading in mG.
- Worked result: 25 gauss × 1000 = 25000 milligauss.
gauss to milligauss conversion table
| gauss (G) | milligauss (mG) |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 1000 |
| 2 | 2000 |
| 3 | 3000 |
| 4 | 4000 |
| 5 | 5000 |
| 6 | 6000 |
| 7 | 7000 |
| 8 | 8000 |
| 9 | 9000 |
| 10 | 10000 |
| 15 | 15000 |
| 20 | 20000 |
| 25 | 25000 |
| 30 | 30000 |
| 40 | 40000 |
| 50 | 50000 |
| 60 | 60000 |
| 70 | 70000 |
| 80 | 80000 |
| 90 | 90000 |
| 100 | 100000 |
| 150 | 150000 |
| 200 | 200000 |
| 250 | 250000 |
| 300 | 300000 |
| 400 | 400000 |
| 500 | 500000 |
| 600 | 600000 |
| 700 | 700000 |
| 800 | 800000 |
| 900 | 900000 |
| 1000 | 1000000 |
| 2000 | 2000000 |
| 3000 | 3000000 |
| 4000 | 4000000 |
| 5000 | 5000000 |
| 10000 | 10000000 |
| 25000 | 25000000 |
| 50000 | 50000000 |
| 100000 | 100000000 |
| 250000 | 250000000 |
| 500000 | 500000000 |
| 1000000 | 1000000000 |
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 milligauss?
The milligauss is a small unit of magnetic flux density (magnetic field strength) equal to one-thousandth of a gauss. It is widely used in geomagnetism, environmental EMF measurements, and consumer magnetometer readings.
Definition
One milligauss is 10⁻³ gauss, and since the gauss is defined as 10⁻⁴ tesla, the milligauss equals 10⁻⁷ tesla in SI units:
The gauss is the CGS-Gaussian unit of magnetic flux density, defined as one maxwell per square centimetre. The SI coherent unit is the tesla (1 T = 1 Wb/m²), so 1 G = 100 µT and 1 mG = 100 nT = 0.1 µT.
Origin and History
The gauss is named after the German mathematician and physicist Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777–1855), a pioneer of geomagnetic measurement who, with Wilhelm Weber, established absolute magnetic units. The milligauss arose naturally as a convenient submultiple for the weak fields encountered in everyday and geophysical work.
Law and Notable Facts
The gauss and milligauss are not SI units; the SI officially uses the tesla. Nonetheless the milligauss remains standard in the EMF-measurement and geomagnetism communities. The Earth's magnetic field is a familiar reference: it ranges from roughly 250 to 650 mG over the surface.
Real-World Examples and Conversions
- Earth's surface magnetic field: about 250–650 mG (25–65 µT).
- A typical household appliance at 30 cm distance: a few mG to tens of mG.
- 1000 mG = 1 gauss = 100 µT = 0.0001 T.
- A refrigerator magnet at its surface: roughly 100–500 G, i.e. 100,000–500,000 mG.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many milligauss are in one gauss?
There are 1000 milligauss in one gauss, since "milli" means one-thousandth.
How do I convert milligauss back to gauss?
Divide by 1000, or multiply by 0.001. So 500 mG equals 0.5 gauss.
What is 25 gauss in milligauss?
25 gauss × 1000 = 25000 milligauss.
Why are EMF readings given in milligauss?
Fields from home wiring and appliances are very weak — often just a few milligauss — so the milligauss scale gives readable whole numbers instead of tiny fractions of a gauss.
Is a milligauss the same as a microtesla?
No, but they are close: 1 milligauss = 0.1 microtesla, because 1 gauss = 100 microteslas.
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 |