Cgs System of Units

Physics Metrology & CGS vs SI Systems

The Centimetre–Gram–Second (CGS) system was proposed by the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1874 before being superseded by the modern International System of Units (SI) in

1960.

Primary CGS to SI Conversion Factors

• Force: 1 Dyne = 10^-5 N 1 N = 10^5 dynes

• Energy / Work: 1 Erg = 10^-7 J 1 J = 10^7 ergs

• Pressure: 1 Barye (Ba) = 0.1 Pa 1 Pa = 10 Ba

• Dynamic Viscosity: 1 Poise (P) = 0.1 Pa·s 1 Pa·s = 10 P

• Kinematic Viscosity: 1 Stokes (St) = 10^-4 m^2/s 1 m^2/s = 10^4 St

• Magnetic Flux Density: 1 Gauss (G) = 10^-4 Tesla (T) 1 T = 10^4 G

• Magnetic Flux: 1 Maxwell (Mx) = 10^-8 Weber (Wb) 1 Wb = 10^8 Mx

• Acceleration: 1 Gal = 1 cm/s^2 = 0.01 m/s^2

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your Physical Dimension & Unit Pair — choose from Force (Dyne [dyn] ↔ Newton [N]), Energy / Work (Erg [erg] ↔ Joule [J]), Pressure (Barye [Ba] ↔ Pascal [Pa]), Physical Quantity Value (e.g. 100000.0), and Conversion Direction — choose from CGS to SI (CGS → SI Metric), SI to CGS (SI → CGS Gaussian). Results update instantly as you type — adjust any value to compare scenarios.

The Formula

Factor map: SI_value = CGS_value * toSiFactor

Worked Example

A force of 100,000 dynes exerted on a laboratory specimen corresponds to exactly 1.0 Newton of force in SI engineering calculations.

Understanding Your Result

Unit conversions are exact by definition within a given measurement system (e.g., 1 km = exactly 1,000 m). Cross-system conversions (metric to imperial) use defined exchange factors: 1 inch = exactly 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Round your converted result to match the precision of your original measurement — expressing more decimal places than your input justifies implies false accuracy. For regulatory, legal, or safety-critical applications, verify which measurement system is required by the applicable standard.