Oersted

Definition

Oersted is a unit of magnetic field strength in the CGS (centimeter-gram-second) system of units. Named after the Danish physicist Hans Christian Ørsted, it measures the intensity of a magnetic field.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Hans Christian Ørsted discovered that electric currents create magnetic fields in 1820.
2. The Oersted (Oe) is defined as the magnetic field strength when a unit pole experiences a force of one dyne per unit pole.
3. 1 Oersted is equal to $79.57747154594 \ A/m$ in the SI (International System of Units).
4. Oersted's discovery was crucial for the development of electromagnetism and paved the way for future scientists like André-Marie Ampère and James Clerk Maxwell.
5. The Oersted is used primarily in older scientific literature and specific applications within physics, while modern contexts use Tesla or Ampere per meter.

Review Questions

• What did Hans Christian Ørsted discover about the relationship between electricity and magnetism?
• How is 1 Oersted related to units in the International System (SI)?
• In what context might you encounter the use of Oersted today?

Related terms

Tesla: The unit of magnetic flux density in the International System (SI), equal to one weber per square meter.

Magnetic Field: A vector field around a magnet, electric current, or changing electric field, where magnetic forces are observable.

Ampere's Law: A fundamental law stating that for any closed loop path, the sum of length elements times the magnetic field in the direction of those elements is proportional to the total electric current passing through the loop.