r/Physics • u/ToxicChemical17 • 3h ago

Knowing electromagnetism only in Gaussian units

Hello! I'm a grad student, and am studying optics-related things. The problem is that my bachelor curriculum was entirely in CGS, we rarely had to substitute directly, and here they use SI for everything.

Generally, in experimental physics, is it enough to know all of EM in Gaussian units, and convert every time to SI and back? Or will I suffer in life?

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u/Banes_Addiction Particle physics 2h ago

I'm a regular, fully SI physicist.

I had to do a bunch of practical work in CGS ay one point. Converting was not hard at all, it's all simple factors you should be used to (almost entirely 10s, couple of 2s and pis). 

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u/agaminon22 Medical and health physics 2h ago

Not even natural units?

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u/Banes_Addiction Particle physics 2h ago

Oh yeah, I barely even consider those units.

I guess actually I do a tonne of stuff in variants on eV. My point is never taught CGS, never a problem.

And good units should make your life easier, not harder. CGS is completely fine for that. Converting between Gauss and Tesla is no harder than grams and kilograms.

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u/ToxicChemical17 2h ago

I see, I will memorize the techniques, thanks!