Definition:CGS/Derived Units

Definition

The derived units of the CGS system include the following:

Dyne

The dyne is the CGS unit of force.

It is defined as being:

The amount of force required to accelerate a mass of one gram at a rate of one centimetre per second squared.

\(\ds \)

\(\)

\(\ds 1\)

dyne

\(\ds \)

\(=\)

\(\ds 10^{-5}\)

newtons

Erg

The erg is the CGS unit of energy:

It is defined as being:

the energy transferred to (or work done on) a body when a force of $1$ dyne acts on that body in the direction of the force's motion through a distance of $1$ centimetre.

Thus:

$1 \, \mathrm {erg} = 1 \, \mathrm {dyn} \, \mathrm {cm}$

\(\ds \)

\(\)

\(\ds 1\)

erg

\(\ds \)

\(=\)

\(\ds 10^{-7}\)

joules