Maxwell (unit)

In physics, the maxwell (symbol Mx) is the unit of magnetic flux in the Gaussian system of units, which is a cgs (centimeter-gram-sec) system of units. The name of the unit honors James Clerk Maxwell, who formulated a unified theory of electromagnetism.

The definition is based on Faraday's law for magnetic induction. This law connects electromotive force $\scriptstyle {\mathcal {E}}$, (in abvolt = 10⁻⁸ V), to a rate of change of magnetic flux Φ (in Mx/s).

${\mathcal {E}}=-{\frac {d\Phi }{dt}}.$

If Φ is linear in time—then Φ changes with a uniform rate in time—and if Φ = 0 at t = 0, then

$\Phi (t)=-t\,{\mathcal {E}}$

This equation forms the basis of the definition, wich reads: One maxwell is the magnetic flux which, linking a circuit of one turn (flux through one loop), would produce in it an electromotive force of one abvolt if it were reduced to zero at a uniform rate in one second.

Clearly, the dimension of Mx is abV⋅s = 10⁻⁸ V⋅s. The definition of the SI unit of flux, weber, is almost the same as that of maxwell, with volt replacing abvolt. Hence one maxwell corresponds to 10⁻⁸ weber.

The maxwell was adopted by the Fifth International Electrical Congress held in Paris in 1900. It was reconfirmed when the Advisory Committee on Nomenclature of the International Electrotechnical Commission adopted the name maxwell for the unit of magnetic flux at its meeting in Stockholm in 1930.

External link

maxwell at sizes.com