Description
Convert between magnetic field units: Tesla (T), Gauss (G), microtesla (μT), millitesla (mT), kilogauss (kG), and megagauss (MG). Ideal for MRI, motor design, geophysics, electromagnetic research, and academic studies. Includes conversion formulas, real-world examples, and scientific notation support.
Key Conversion Formulas
| Conversion |
Formula |
| Tesla → Gauss |
1 T = 10⁴ G |
| Gauss → Tesla |
1 G = 10⁻⁴ T |
| mT → Gauss |
1 mT = 10 G |
| μT → Gauss |
1 μT = 0.01 G |
| kG → Tesla |
1 kG = 0.1 T |
| MG → Tesla |
1 MG = 100 T |
Example Calculations
Example 1: Earth's Magnetic Field
The Earth's magnetic field is about 0.5 Gauss.
- Tesla: 0.5 × 10⁻⁴ T = 5 × 10⁻⁵ T
- Microtesla: 5 × 10⁻⁵ T = 50 μT
Example 2: MRI Magnet Field
A typical MRI scanner uses a 1.5 Tesla magnet.
- Gauss: 1.5 × 10⁴ G = 15,000 G
- Kilogauss: 15,000 G ÷ 1,000 = 15 kG
Example 3: Neodymium Magnet
A strong neodymium magnet has a surface field of 12,000 Gauss.
- Tesla: 12,000 × 10⁻⁴ T = 1.2 T
- Millitesla: 1.2 T × 1,000 = 1,200 mT
Example 4: Lab Pulsed Magnetic Field
High-power pulsed magnets can reach 1 Megagauss.
- Gauss: 1 MG = 10⁶ G = 1,000,000 G
- Tesla: 1,000,000 G × 10⁻⁴ T/G = 100 T
Example 5: Sensor Reading
A magnetic sensor reads 800 microtesla.
- Tesla: 800 × 10⁻⁶ T = 8 × 10⁻⁴ T
- Gauss: 8 × 10⁻⁴ T ÷ 10⁻⁴ = 8 G
Use Cases
- Medical devices — MRI, NMR spectroscopy, and biomedical imaging systems
- Motor and generator design — calculating magnetic flux density in electric machines
- Magnetic material testing — evaluating performance of permanent magnets, soft magnets, and superconductors
- Geophysics and geology — measuring Earth's magnetic field and mineral exploration
- Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) — assessing interference from electromagnetic fields
- Research — high-field magnets in plasma physics, fusion energy, and particle accelerators
- Education and teaching — electromagnetism, physics, and engineering courses
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Tesla and Gauss?
Tesla (T) is the SI unit of magnetic flux density.
Gauss (G) is a CGS unit, commonly used in older literature and some industries.
1 T = 10,000 G — so 1 Gauss = 0.0001 Tesla.
How strong is a typical MRI magnet?
Most clinical MRI scanners use magnets with fields between 1.5 T and 3.0 T, which equals 15,000 to 30,000 Gauss.
Research MRI systems can go up to 7 T or higher.
Is 1 microtesla equal to 100 Gauss?
No! 1 μT = 0.01 G
So, 100 μT = 1 G.
Common mistake: people confuse μT and mT.
Can this calculator handle scientific notation?
Yes! You can input values like 1.5e-5 for 15 microtesla or 3e4 for 30,000 Gauss.
The tool supports real-time bidirectional calculation.
Why do some labs still use Gauss instead of Tesla?
Historical reasons: many older instruments and textbooks use Gauss.
Also, Gauss is more convenient for small fields (e.g., Earth’s field ≈ 0.5 G), while Tesla is better for large fields (e.g., MRI).
What is the strongest magnetic field ever created?
The strongest continuous magnetic field is around 45 T (450,000 G), achieved using hybrid magnets.
Pulsed fields can exceed 100 T (10 MG) for very short durations.
Reference Standards
- ISO 80000-3: Quantities and units — Space and time
- IEC 60050: International Electrotechnical Vocabulary
- NIST Special Publication 811: Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)
- Textbooks: "Introduction to Electrodynamics" by David J. Griffiths, "Electromagnetism" by John R. Reitz
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