Magnetic Flux Density Converter
Convert Tesla (T), Gauss (G), millitesla (mT), microtesla (µT), gamma (γ), and related units.
Result
0
Base Unit
Relative Value
*Diagram shows values relative to the selected base unit (Tesla).
Unit Information
What is a Tesla (T)?
The Tesla (symbol: T) is the SI derived unit of magnetic flux density. One Tesla is defined as the magnetic flux density that exerts a force of one newton per meter of conductor length on a wire carrying a current of one ampere, perpendicular to the magnetic field. The Tesla is a relatively large unit, often used for strong magnetic fields like those in MRI machines or particle accelerators.
What is a Gauss (G)?
The Gauss (symbol: G) is the CGS (centimeter-gram-second) unit of magnetic flux density. One Tesla is equal to 10,000 Gauss (1 T = 10⁴ G). The Gauss is a smaller unit and is often used for weaker magnetic fields, such as the Earth's magnetic field or the fields produced by small permanent magnets. It is named after the German mathematician and physicist Carl Friedrich Gauss.
What are Millitesla (mT), Microtesla (µT), and Nanotesla (nT)?
These are standard SI submultiples of the Tesla. Millitesla (mT) is 10⁻³ T. Microtesla (µT) is 10⁻⁶ T. Nanotesla (nT) is 10⁻⁹ T. These smaller units are essential for measuring weaker fields. For example, the Earth's magnetic field is measured in microteslas.
What is a Kilogauss (kG)?
A Kilogauss is one thousand Gauss (1 kG = 1,000 G). Since 1 T = 10,000 G, it follows that 1 T = 10 kG. It's used for strong magnetic fields when working within the Gauss unit system.
What is a Gamma (γ)?
A Gamma is a non-SI unit of magnetic flux density, commonly used in geophysics. One Gamma is defined as being equal to one nanotesla (1 γ = 1 nT). It is often used to measure small variations in the Earth's magnetic field.
Formulas
1 Tesla (T) = 10,000 Gauss (G)
This is the fundamental conversion between the SI unit (Tesla) and the CGS unit (Gauss).
1 millitesla (mT) = 10 Gauss (G)
One millitesla is equal to ten Gauss.
1 microtesla (µT) = 10 milligauss (mG)
One microtesla is equal to ten milligauss.
1 nanotesla (nT) = 1 Gamma (γ)
The nanotesla and gamma are equivalent units.
B = Φ / A
Magnetic Flux Density (B) equals total Magnetic Flux (Φ) divided by the perpendicular Area (A).
Key Reference Points
- Earth's magnetic field (surface): ~25-65 µT (0.25-0.65 G).
- Refrigerator magnet: ~5 mT (50 G).
- High-end neodymium magnet: ~1-1.4 T (10,000-14,000 G).
- Junk yard electromagnet: ~1-2 T.
- Human brain magnetic fields (measured by MEG): Femtoteslas (10⁻¹⁵ T).
- Typical medical MRI scanner: 1.5 - 3 T.
- High-field research MRI: 7 T or higher.
- Large Hadron Collider dipole magnets: ~8.3 T.
- Strongest man-made continuous magnetic field: ~45 T.
- Strongest man-made pulsed (non-destructive) field: ~100 T.
Did You Know?
The Earth's magnetic field strength varies over its surface, typically ranging from about 25 to 65 microteslas (µT), which is equivalent to 0.25 to 0.65 Gauss. This field protects the planet from harmful solar wind and is used by some animals for navigation.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines use very strong magnetic fields, typically 1.5 to 3 Teslas (15,000 to 30,000 Gauss), to create detailed images of the inside of the human body. Research MRIs can be even stronger.
Moving electric charges (currents) create magnetic fields, and changing magnetic fields can induce electric currents. This fundamental relationship is the basis of electromagnetism, described by Maxwell's equations.
The powerful electromagnets used in junk yards to lift cars can create magnetic fields of around 1-2 Tesla, strong enough to lift thousands of pounds of ferromagnetic metal.
Magnetars are a type of neutron star with an extremely powerful magnetic field, on the order of 10¹¹ Tesla. Their magnetic field is so strong it would be lethal to a human from thousands of kilometers away.
The Lorentz force is the force exerted on a moving charged particle in a magnetic field. This force is always perpendicular to both the particle's velocity and the magnetic field direction, causing the particle to move in a circular or helical path.
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the Sun's photosphere that appear as dark spots compared to surrounding regions. They are caused by intense magnetic activity, which inhibits convection and forms areas of reduced surface temperature. Their magnetic fields can be thousands of times stronger than Earth's.
A Hall effect sensor is a device that varies its output voltage in response to a magnetic field. They are widely used to measure magnetic field strength and to detect position, speed, and current in many electronic and mechanical systems.
The Earth's magnetic field has flipped its polarity many times throughout geologic history. This process is not fully understood, but it is a natural part of the geodynamo that generates the field.
Neodymium magnets are the strongest type of permanent magnet commercially available. They can have a remnant magnetic field of over 1.4 Tesla, making them useful in motors, hard drives, and high-performance speakers.
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN uses thousands of superconducting magnets to steer proton beams. These magnets operate at extremely cold temperatures and produce a field of about 8.3 Tesla.
When a conductor moves through a magnetic field, eddy currents are induced that create a drag force opposing the motion. This effect, called magnetic damping, is used in some braking systems and to stabilize sensitive equipment.
Some animals, like pigeons and sea turtles, are thought to navigate using the Earth's magnetic field. They have a 'magnetic sense' that helps them on long-distance migrations.
A 'maxwell' is the CGS unit of magnetic flux, a related quantity. One maxwell is equal to one gauss per square centimeter. A 'weber' is the SI unit for magnetic flux (1 Wb = 1 T·m²).
Superconductors can expel magnetic fields from their interior, a phenomenon known as the Meissner effect. This is what allows for magnetic levitation (maglev) trains and other applications.
Data on hard drives and magnetic tapes is stored by magnetizing tiny regions on the storage medium. A read/write head, which is a tiny electromagnet, detects or creates these magnetic patterns, representing bits of data.
In 1820, Hans Christian Ørsted discovered that an electric current in a wire could deflect a compass needle, demonstrating for the first time the link between electricity and magnetism.
In physics and engineering, there are two related quantities for magnetic fields: the B-field (magnetic flux density, in Tesla) and the H-field (magnetic field strength, in Amperes/meter). The B-field accounts for how the material itself responds to the external H-field.