Understanding gauss to milliteslas Conversion
The gauss (G) is the CGS unit of magnetic flux density, favored on magnet datasheets and in geomagnetism. The millitesla (mT) is one-thousandth of the SI tesla and is the convenient unit for moderately strong fields, such as those near permanent magnets, loudspeaker gaps, and small electromagnets. Converting gauss to milliteslas lets you compare CGS-based magnet ratings with SI instrument readings.
Conversion Formula
To convert gauss to milliteslas, multiply by this factor:
Step-by-Step Example
Convert 25 gauss to milliteslas.
How to Convert gauss to milliteslas
Convert a CGS gauss value to the SI millitesla scale in one step.
- Record the gauss value: Note the flux density measured in gauss.
- Multiply by 0.1: Ten gauss make one millitesla, so each gauss is 0.1 mT.
- State it in milliteslas: The result is your field in mT.
- Worked result: 25 gauss × 0.1 = 2.5 milliteslas.
gauss to milliteslas conversion table
| gauss (G) | milliteslas (mT) |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 0.1 |
| 2 | 0.2 |
| 3 | 0.3 |
| 4 | 0.4 |
| 5 | 0.5 |
| 6 | 0.6 |
| 7 | 0.7 |
| 8 | 0.8 |
| 9 | 0.9 |
| 10 | 1 |
| 15 | 1.5 |
| 20 | 2 |
| 25 | 2.5 |
| 30 | 3 |
| 40 | 4 |
| 50 | 5 |
| 60 | 6 |
| 70 | 7 |
| 80 | 8 |
| 90 | 9 |
| 100 | 10 |
| 150 | 15 |
| 200 | 20 |
| 250 | 25 |
| 300 | 30 |
| 400 | 40 |
| 500 | 50 |
| 600 | 60 |
| 700 | 70 |
| 800 | 80 |
| 900 | 90 |
| 1000 | 100 |
| 2000 | 200 |
| 3000 | 300 |
| 4000 | 400 |
| 5000 | 500 |
| 10000 | 1000 |
| 25000 | 2500 |
| 50000 | 5000 |
| 100000 | 10000 |
| 250000 | 25000 |
| 500000 | 50000 |
| 1000000 | 100000 |
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 Millitesla?
The millitesla is a decimal submultiple of the tesla, the SI unit of magnetic flux density. It is a convenient scale for describing moderately strong magnetic fields such as those near permanent magnets and small electromagnets.
Definition
One millitesla is one thousandth of a tesla.
In SI base units, . Because one gauss equals tesla, one millitesla equals exactly 10 gauss, a relation that makes the millitesla especially handy when translating between SI and legacy CGS field measurements.
Origin and History
The millitesla inherits its name from Nikola Tesla via the tesla, adopted into the SI in 1960, combined with the standard SI prefix "milli" (one thousandth), introduced in the metric system's prefix scheme. It became a practical working unit as magnetic measurements standardized on SI in the later 20th century.
Law and Notable Facts
As a coherent SI submultiple, the millitesla is fully sanctioned for scientific and engineering use. Many benchtop laboratory magnets, magnetic separators, and material-testing fields fall naturally in the tens-to-hundreds of millitesla range, bridging the gap between weak ambient fields and the multi-tesla fields of MRI or research magnets.
Real-World Examples and Conversions
- A small solenoid or relay coil field is often a few millitesla.
- A typical hard-disk or speaker magnet produces a few hundred millitesla near its poles.
- Earth's field of about 50 microtesla equals 0.05 mT.
- 1 mT = 0.001 T = 10 gauss = 1000 microtesla.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many milliteslas equal one gauss?
One gauss equals 0.1 millitesla, since 1 gauss = 10⁻⁴ tesla = 0.1 mT.
How do I convert milliteslas back to gauss?
Multiply the millitesla value by 10. So 3 mT equals 30 gauss.
What is 25 gauss in milliteslas?
25 gauss × 0.1 = 2.5 milliteslas.
A fridge magnet is about 50 gauss — what is that in millitesla?
50 gauss equals 5 millitesla, a handy figure when comparing to sensor readings quoted in mT.
Why use millitesla instead of tesla for magnets?
Common permanent magnets produce surface fields of a few hundred gauss to a few thousand gauss, which are tens to hundreds of millitesla — far below one full tesla, so mT gives tidier numbers.
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 |