milligauss (mG) to microteslas (uT) conversion

1 mG = 0.1 uTuT → mG
Formula
1 mG = 0.1 uT

Understanding milligauss to microteslas Conversion

The milligauss (mG) is a CGS unit of magnetic flux density equal to 10⁻³ gauss, while the microtesla (µT) is an SI subunit equal to 10⁻⁶ tesla. Since one gauss equals 100 microteslas, one milligauss equals 0.1 microtesla. This conversion bridges the CGS units common in EMF-exposure reporting with the SI units used in physics and international health guidelines.

Conversion Formula

1 mG=0.1 uT1\ \text{mG} = 0.1\ \text{uT}

To convert milligauss to microteslas, multiply by this factor:

uT=mG×0.1\text{uT} = \text{mG} \times 0.1

Step-by-Step Example

Convert 25 milligauss to microteslas.

uT=25×0.1=2.5 uT\text{uT} = 25 \times 0.1 = 2.5\ \text{uT}

How to Convert milligauss to microteslas

Convert milligauss to microteslas with one quick multiplication.

  1. Note the field strength: Start with your value in milligauss, for example 25 mG.
  2. Multiply by the factor: Use 0.1 microtesla per milligauss.
  3. Compute: 25×0.1=2.525 \times 0.1 = 2.5 µT.
  4. State the result: 25 mG equals 2.5 microteslas.

milligauss to microteslas conversion table

milligauss (mG)microteslas (uT)
00
10.1
20.2
30.3
40.4
50.5
60.6
70.7
80.8
90.9
101
151.5
202
252.5
303
404
505
606
707
808
909
10010
15015
20020
25025
30030
40040
50050
60060
70070
80080
90090
1000100
2000200
3000300
4000400
5000500
100001000
250002500
500005000
10000010000
25000025000
50000050000
1000000100000

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:

1 mG=1.00000×10−7 T1\ \text{mG} = 1.00000\times10^{-7}\ \text{T}

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.

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.

1 μT=0.000001 T1\ \mu\text{T} = 0.000001\ \text{T}

In SI base units, 1 μT=10−6 kg⋅s−2⋅A−11\ \mu\text{T} = 10⁻⁶\ \text{kg}\cdot\text{s}^{-2}\cdot\text{A}^{-1}. Since one gauss equals 10−410⁻⁴ tesla, one microtesla equals exactly 10−210⁻² 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 (1 γ=1 nT1\ \gamma = 1\ \text{nT}).

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 are in a milligauss?

One milligauss equals 0.1 microtesla, because one gauss equals 100 microteslas (10⁻⁴ tesla).

How do I convert microteslas back to milligauss?

Multiply the microtesla value by 10. For example, 2.5 µT equals 25 mG.

Why does this conversion matter for EMF safety?

US surveys often report power-frequency fields in milligauss, while international guidelines (such as ICNIRP) use microteslas, so the two must be reconciled.

What is a common household field level?

Background magnetic fields near appliances are frequently a few milligauss, equal to a few tenths of a microtesla.

How does the microtesla relate to the tesla?

A microtesla is one-millionth of a tesla, the SI unit; strong MRI magnets, by contrast, produce fields of 1.5 to 3 tesla.

People also convert

mG to TmG to mTmG to G

Complete milligauss conversion table

mG
UnitResult
teslas (T)1e-7 T
milliteslas (mT)0.0001 mT
microteslas (uT)0.1 uT
gauss (G)0.001 G

Magnetic flux density conversions