1. What is a Tesla (T) Unit?

Definition: The tesla (symbol: T) is the SI derived unit of magnetic field strength, specifically magnetic flux density.

Purpose: It quantifies the strength of a magnetic field at a given point in space.

2. Understanding Magnetic Field Units

The tesla can be expressed in fundamental units as:

Where:

• \( N \) — Newtons (force)
• \( A \) — Amperes (current)
• \( m \) — Meters (length)
• \( Wb \) — Weber (magnetic flux)

Explanation: One tesla equals one newton per ampere-meter, representing the field strength exerting one newton of force on a conductor carrying one ampere of current per meter of length.

3. Common Magnetic Field Strengths

Examples:

• Earth's magnetic field: ~30-60 µT (0.00003-0.00006 T)
• Refrigerator magnet: ~5 mT (0.005 T)
• Medical MRI: 1.5-3 T
• Strong lab magnet: ~10-20 T

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter a value in tesla to convert to other common magnetic field units. The converter handles gauss (G), millitesla (mT), and microtesla (µT).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between tesla and gauss?
A: 1 tesla = 10,000 gauss. Gauss is the CGS unit, while tesla is the SI unit for magnetic flux density.

Q2: Why is tesla the preferred unit?
A: Tesla is part of the International System of Units (SI), making it standard for scientific work worldwide.

Q3: How strong is 1 tesla?
A: Very strong - about 20,000 times Earth's magnetic field. Most everyday magnets are measured in millitesla.

Q4: What instruments measure in tesla?
A: Gaussmeters (teslameters), magnetometers, and MRI machines commonly use tesla units.

Q5: Are there larger units than tesla?
A: Rarely needed, but kilotesla (kT) is used for extremely strong fields like those in neutron stars.