science

Maxwell (unit)

Maxwell (unit) is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Maxwell (unit) rather than just read about it. In short: The maxwell (symbol: Mx) is the CGS (centimetre–gram–second) unit of magnetic flux (Φ). History The unit name honours James Clerk Maxwell, who presented a unified theory of electromagnetism.

Key takeaways

Maxwell (unit) belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Maxwell (unit) to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Maxwell (unit) from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The maxwell (symbol: Mx) is the CGS (centimetre–gram–second) unit of magnetic flux (Φ).

History The unit name honours James Clerk Maxwell, who presented a unified theory of electromagnetism. The maxwell was recommended as a CGS unit at the International Electrical Congress held in 1900 at Paris. This practical unit was previously called a line, reflecting Faraday's conception of the magnetic field as curved lines of magnetic force, which he designated as line of magnetic induction. Kiloline (103 line) and megaline (106 line) were sometimes used because 1 line was very small relative to the phenomena that it was used to measure. The maxwell was affirmed again unanimously as the unit name for magnetic flux at the Plenary Meeting of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in July 1930 at Oslo. In 1933, the Electric and Magnetic Magnitudes and Units committee of the IEC recommended to adopt the metre–kilogram–second (MKS) system (Giorgi system), and the name weber was proposed for the practical unit of magnetic flux (Φ), subject to approval of various national committees, which was achieved in 1935. The weber was thus adopted as a practical unit of magnetic flux by the IEC.

Definition The maxwell is a non-SI unit.

1 maxwell = 1 gauss × (centimetre)2 That is, one maxwell is the total flux across a surface of one square centimetre perpendicular to a magnetic field of strength one gauss. The weber is the related SI unit of magnetic flux, which was defined in 1946.

1 maxwell ≘ 10−4 tesla × (10−2 metre)2 = 10−8 weber

See also Centimetre–gram–second system of units Gaussian units Maxwell's equations

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Maxwell (unit)

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Maxwell (unit) claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Maxwell (unit) before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Maxwell (unit) ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Maxwell (unit)

In research: Maxwell (unit) appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Maxwell (unit) in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Maxwell (unit) is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Centimetre–gram–second system of units, James Clerk Maxwell, Units of magnetic flux, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Maxwell (unit) outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Maxwell (unit) in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Maxwell (unit) means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Maxwell (unit) out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Maxwell (unit) in simple terms?

The maxwell (symbol: Mx) is the CGS (centimetre–gram–second) unit of magnetic flux (Φ). History The unit name honours James Clerk Maxwell, who presented a unified theory of electromagnetism.

Why does Maxwell (unit) matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Maxwell (unit)?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Maxwell (unit).