Understanding teslas to gauss Conversion
The tesla (T) is the SI derived unit of magnetic flux density, defined as one weber per square metre; a single tesla is an intensely strong field, roughly the strength found at the pole faces of an MRI scanner. The gauss (G) is the corresponding CGS unit and is far smaller, which is why field strengths in older physics literature, loudspeaker magnets, and Earth-field geomagnetism are often quoted in gauss. This conversion is essential when reading legacy datasheets, magnet catalogs, or geophysics papers that still report values in gauss.
Conversion Formula
To convert teslas to gauss, multiply by this factor:
Step-by-Step Example
Convert 25 teslas to gauss.
How to Convert teslas to gauss
Converting a magnetic flux density from teslas to gauss takes a single multiplication.
- Identify the tesla value: Note the field strength you want to convert, for example a 2 T laboratory magnet.
- Apply the factor: Multiply the tesla figure by 10,000, since 1 T equals 10,000 G.
- Read the result: The product is your value in gauss, expressed in the smaller CGS unit.
- Worked result: 25 T becomes 25 × 10,000 = 250,000 G.
teslas to gauss conversion table
| teslas (T) | gauss (G) |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 10000 |
| 2 | 20000 |
| 3 | 30000 |
| 4 | 40000 |
| 5 | 50000 |
| 6 | 60000 |
| 7 | 70000 |
| 8 | 80000 |
| 9 | 90000 |
| 10 | 100000 |
| 15 | 150000 |
| 20 | 200000 |
| 25 | 250000 |
| 30 | 300000 |
| 40 | 400000 |
| 50 | 500000 |
| 60 | 600000 |
| 70 | 700000 |
| 80 | 800000 |
| 90 | 900000 |
| 100 | 1000000 |
| 150 | 1500000 |
| 200 | 2000000 |
| 250 | 2500000 |
| 300 | 3000000 |
| 400 | 4000000 |
| 500 | 5000000 |
| 600 | 6000000 |
| 700 | 7000000 |
| 800 | 8000000 |
| 900 | 9000000 |
| 1000 | 10000000 |
| 2000 | 20000000 |
| 3000 | 30000000 |
| 4000 | 40000000 |
| 5000 | 50000000 |
| 10000 | 100000000 |
| 25000 | 250000000 |
| 50000 | 500000000 |
| 100000 | 1000000000 |
| 250000 | 2500000000 |
| 500000 | 5000000000 |
| 1000000 | 10000000000 |
What is the Tesla?
The tesla is the SI derived unit of magnetic flux density (also called magnetic B-field or magnetic induction). It quantifies the strength of a magnetic field and is used throughout physics, electrical engineering, and medical imaging.
Definition
One tesla is the magnetic flux density of a uniform field that produces a flux of one weber through an area of one square metre perpendicular to the field.
In SI base units, . Equivalently, one tesla is the field in which a charge of one coulomb moving at one metre per second perpendicular to the field feels a force of one newton: .
Origin and History
The unit is named after Nikola Tesla (1856–1943), the inventor and electrical engineer whose work on alternating current and induction motors shaped modern power systems. The name was adopted by the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) in 1960, when the tesla was formally added to the SI.
Law and Notable Facts
The tesla is a large unit; most everyday magnetic fields are far weaker. Its non-SI counterpart, the gauss, equals exactly tesla and is still common in some fields. The strongest continuous magnetic fields produced in laboratories reach around 45 T, while pulsed magnets briefly exceed 1000 T.
Real-World Examples and Conversions
- Earth's surface magnetic field is roughly 25–65 microteslas (0.25–0.65 gauss).
- A typical clinical MRI scanner operates at 1.5 T or 3 T.
- A strong neodymium refrigerator-type magnet produces around 0.1–1 T at its surface.
- 1 T = 10,000 gauss = 1000 millitesla = 1,000,000 microtesla.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many gauss are in one tesla?
Exactly 10,000 gauss equal one tesla, because the tesla is the larger SI unit and the gauss is the smaller CGS unit.
Why do magnet suppliers still quote gauss instead of teslas?
The gauss remains common in the permanent-magnet and audio industries, where surface field values (a few thousand gauss) are more convenient than small tesla fractions like 0.3 T.
How do I convert a 1.5 T MRI field into gauss?
Multiply 1.5 by 10,000 to get 15,000 G, showing how a clinical MRI field dwarfs everyday magnets.
Is the conversion between tesla and gauss exact?
Yes. Both units are defined so that 1 T equals precisely 10,000 G, with no rounding involved.
What everyday field strength does one gauss represent?
Earth's magnetic field at the surface is roughly 0.25 to 0.65 G, so one gauss is close to a typical geomagnetic value.
People also convert
Complete teslas conversion table
| Unit | Result |
|---|---|
| milliteslas (mT) | 1000 mT |
| microteslas (uT) | 1000000 uT |
| gauss (G) | 10000 G |
| milligauss (mG) | 10000000 mG |