gaussn.
/ɡaʊs/, U.S. /ɡaʊs/ Physics.
The electromagnetic unit of magnetic induction (flux density) in the C.G.S. system, defined as the induction that exerts a force of one dyne on each centimetre of a straight wire carrying one e.m.u. (10 amp.) of current, when the induction is perpendicular to the wire. (In the International System of Units the gauss is replaced by the tesla, or weber per square metre, equal to 10,000 gauss.) The name has been suggested for various magnetic units. The original sense was the C.G.S. unit of magnetic field strength (later called an oersted), and, because in the C.G.S. system the electromagnetic units of field strength and of induction have the same dimensions and in vacuo are numerically the same, the word has frequently been used for both indiscriminately.
ΚΠ
1882 Nature 24 Aug. 391/2 Two other units may have to be added, the one expressing that of magnetic field..Sir W. Thomson suggested the former..and pointed out that it would be proper to attach to it the name of Gauss..A Gauss will then, be defined as the intensity of field produced by a Weber at a distance of one centimetre.
1891 L. Clark Dict. Metric Measures 38 Gauss, a unit [printed unity] of intensity of magnetic field, proposed by Prof. S. P. Thompson. =108 C.G.S. units. Other values have also been suggested.
1893 Electrician 29 Sept. 579/1 Some attempt was made to secure the adoption of the name of ‘gauss’ for the C.G.S. unit of magnetic field.
1895 Rep. Brit. Assoc. 196 The Committee [sc. the British Association Committee on Electrical Standards]..recommend for tentative adoption the following terminology... That the c.g.s. unit of magnetic potential or of magneto-motive force be called a gauss... Hence the number of gausses round any closed curve linked on an electric circuit is equal to 1·2566 the number of ampère-turns in this circuit.
1913 C. W. C. Barlow Electr. & Magn. xii. 241 The Gauss is the unit of Magnetic Induction and also of Field, the Gilbert of M.M.F... These names are not in common use.
1930 Nature 16 Aug. 252/2 The committee on nomenclature [of the International Electrotechnical Commission]..adopted the following names for the magnetic C.G.S. units. The unit of magnetic flux was called the ‘maxwell’ and the unit of flux density the ‘gauss’.
1947 Sci. News 4 116 The gauss is the unit of the magnetic field. It exerts unit force (1 dyne) on a unit magnetic pole placed in it.
1955 Sci. Amer. May 56/3 The earth's field near the poles is ·7 gauss.
1962 A. R. W. Hayes Revision Physics v. 170 In free space an applied field H oersted produces a flux density H gauss; in a magnetic medium the flux density is modified to a value B gauss which is the sum of the original flux and that due to magnetization of the medium.
1965 A. H. Morrish Physical Princ. Magn. i. 2 The cgs unit of magnetic field is the oersted, although the term gauss is still frequently used.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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