Gauss (unit) facts for kids

The gauss (symbol G) is a unit used to measure how strong a magnetic field is. Think of a magnetic field as the invisible area around a magnet where its force can be felt. The gauss is part of an older system of measurement called the CGS system. This system uses centimeters, grams, and seconds as its basic units.

One gauss is defined as one maxwell per square centimeter. A maxwell is another unit that measures magnetic "flow."

Another unit for measuring magnetic fields is the tesla (symbol T). The tesla is part of the newer, more common SI system of measurement. One tesla is much stronger than a gauss. In fact, 10,000 gauss are equal to just one tesla!

This unit is named after a brilliant German mathematician and physicist named Carl Friedrich Gauss.

Magnetic Field Strengths in Gauss

Magnetic fields are all around us, from tiny ones in our bodies to super-strong ones in space. Here are some examples of how strong different magnetic fields are, measured in gauss:

Everyday Magnetic Fields

• 0.31–0.58 gauss – This is the strength of the Earth's magnetic field right at its surface. It helps protect us from harmful particles from space.
• 25 gauss – Deep inside the Earth's core, where hot, liquid iron moves, the magnetic field is much stronger.
• 50 gauss – A typical refrigerator magnet has a field of about 50 gauss. That's enough to hold up your drawings!
• 100 gauss – A small iron magnet, like one you might use in a science experiment, can be around 100 gauss.

Medical and Biological Fields

• 10⁻⁹–10⁻⁸ gauss – Believe it or not, your own brain creates a very, very tiny magnetic field!
• 600-70,000 gauss – Medical MRI machines use very powerful magnets to create detailed pictures inside your body.

Extreme Magnetic Fields in Space

• 10¹²–10¹³ gauss – On the surface of a neutron star, which is a super-dense star, the magnetic fields are incredibly strong.
• 10¹⁵ gauss – Some newly formed magnetars, a special type of neutron star, have even stronger magnetic fields. These are the most powerful magnets known in the universe.
• 10¹⁷ gauss – Scientists believe this is the absolute upper limit for how strong a neutron star's magnetic field can be. No known object can create a stronger magnetic field than this.

See also

In Spanish: Gauss (unidad) para niños