CGS Meaning and
Definition
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CGS refers to the centimeter-gram-second system, which is a system of units used in the field of physics and engineering. It is one of the metric systems of measurement, alongside the International System of Units (SI) and the MKS system. The CGS system was historically widely used prior to the widespread adoption of the SI system.
In the CGS system, three fundamental units are employed: the centimeter for length, the gram for mass, and the second for time. These basic units are utilized to define derived units for other physical quantities. For example, the unit of force is defined as the dyne, which is the force required to accelerate a mass of one gram at a rate of one centimeter per second squared. Similarly, the unit of energy is the erg, defined as the work done by a force of one dyne over a distance of one centimeter.
The advantage of the CGS system lies in its compatibility with equations in physics and the relative simplicity of numerical calculations. However, since the SI system is more widely used nowadays, the CGS system has become less common. Nonetheless, the CGS system still finds application in certain scientific disciplines, such as electrodynamics and plasma physics, where it simplifies equations and enhances conceptual clarity.
Common Misspellings for CGS
Etymology of CGS
The term "cgs" in the context of measurements stands for centimeter-gram-second, which refers to a system of units used to measure physical quantities. The acronym itself is derived from the primary units of length (centimeter), mass (gram), and time (second) that form the basis of this system. The cgs system was initially proposed by a committee of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1874, and it gained popularity due to its simplicity and ease of use in scientific calculations.
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