Gauss (metric)

A Gauss is a unit of measure for magnetism.

• It is a standard Imperial metric.

Description (Specifications)

A gauss is a metric system used to measure magnetic flux density ("magnetic induction"), relating force, length and electric current. One gauss is defined as one maxwell per square centimeter. It is used to conveniently measure weak fields, such as a small permanent magnet.

• It is equivalent to 0.00001 tesla.
• The standard abbreviation is Ga.
• The maxwell is the centimeter-gram-second (cgs) unit of magnetic flux.

Examples of Gauss

• Terra's magnetic field: 0.5–0.6 Ga
• A galley refrigerator magnet: 100 Ga
• Junkyard electromagnet: 10,000 Ga
• Magnetic field of a large gas giant: 10,000 Ga
• Medical imaging scanner: 30,000 Ga
• Typical field observed on an ordinary star: 1,000,000 Ga (10⁶ Ga)
• Magnetic field of radio pulsars (neutron stars): 1,000,000,000,000 Ga (10¹² Ga)

Term Usage Example

A Gauss Rifle utilizes artificially induced electromagnetic fields to propel 4 gram needle bullets to velocities of around 1500 meters per second.

History & Background (Dossier)

The gauss was first defined as a unit of force on Terra prior to the foundation of the Terran Confederation: it is named for Carl Friedrich Gauss, a Terran mathematician and physicist born around -2743. Technologists found the gauss useful as the concept of the Technology Level and standardized ideas about sophont society development began to take form.

References & Contributors (Sources)

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Mongoose Publishing or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

• Marc Miller. T5 Core Rules (Far Future Enterprises, 2013), 615.
• Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science

The gauss, abbreviated as G or Gs, is the cgs unit of measurement of magnetic flux density (or "magnetic induction") (B). It is named after German mathematician and physicist Carl Friedrich Gauss.