maxwell

maxwell — noun

1. A maxwell is a scientific unit for measuring magnetic flux in the CGS system. On

1.nounC2
Definition

A maxwell is a scientific unit for measuring magnetic flux in the CGS system. One maxwell equals the magnetic force passing through a one-square-centimeter surface held at a right angle to a uniform field with a strength of one gauss.

Example

In the physics report, one maxwell was defined as the magnetic flux crossing a surface of one square centimeter.

definition context: one maxwell equals…

Naoko calculated that the small electromagnet produced a magnetic flux of roughly 250 maxwells.

collocation: flux of [number] maxwells

Common collocations
  • [number] maxwell(s)
  • flux of [number] maxwells
  • measured in maxwells
  • convert [from/to] maxwells
Synonyms
  • Mx

    Standard abbreviation; used in equations and tables instead of writing 'maxwell'

  • line of magnetic flux

    Historical equivalent; one maxwell was originally defined as one line of force per square centimetre

  • CGS unit of magnetic flux

    Descriptive label identifying its place in the measurement system

Grammar Patterns

[number] maxwell(s)

measured in maxwells

Usage Note

Rare outside of physics and engineering contexts. In the modern SI system the standard unit of magnetic flux is the weber (Wb); one maxwell equals 10⁻⁸ weber. The abbreviation is Mx.

Common Mistakes

The magnetic field strength was 100 maxwells.
The magnetic field strength was 100 gauss.
Maxwells measure magnetic flux, not field strength.
One maxwell equals one weber.
One maxwell equals 10⁻⁸ weber.
The maxwell is much smaller than the weber (1 Wb = 10⁸ Mx).
The magnet produced 50 maxwells of field intensity.
The magnet produced 50 maxwells of magnetic flux.
Intensity and flux are different physical quantities.

maxwell — idiom

Word family

  • Maxwellian
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

The maxwell, weber, gauss, and tesla all relate to magnetism but measure different things. The maxwell and the weber both measure magnetic flux — the total magnetic field passing through a surface. The weber is the SI unit (larger), while the maxwell is the CGS unit (smaller; 1 Wb = 10⁸ Mx). The gauss and tesla measure magnetic flux density — the strength of the field per unit area. The tesla is the SI unit (1 T = 10,000 G). So gauss and tesla describe how strong a field is, while maxwells and webers describe how much of that field passes through a given area. For example, you would say 'a magnetic field of 5 gauss' (field strength) but 'a flux of 30 maxwells' (total flux through a surface).

maxwell ↗webergausstesla

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • measured in maxwells
  • convert [unit] to maxwells

Prepositions

  • in maxwells
  • of ... maxwells
  • from maxwells to ...

Etymology

Scottish Gaelic (place name)ScotsEnglish (eponym)

The unit was named after James Clerk Maxwell (1831–1879), the Scottish physicist whose equations unified electricity, magnetism, and light into a single theory of electromagnetism. The name 'Maxwell' itself is a Scottish surname originally referring to a place near the River Tweed. The unit was adopted by the International Electrotechnical Commission in the early 20th century as part of the CGS system.