Erg

 ( Units Of Energy ) 

The erg is a unit of energy equal to 10⁻⁷ (100Nano-). It is not an SI unit, instead originating from the centimetre–gram–second system of units (CGS). Its name is derived from (ἔργον), a Greek language word meaning 'work' or 'task'.

An erg is the amount of work done by a force of one dyne exerted for a distance of one centimetre. In the CGS base units, it is equal to one gram centimetre-squared per second-squared (g⋅cm²/s²). It is thus equal to 10⁻⁷ or 100 nanojoules (nanojoule) in SI units.

• 1 erg = =
• 1 erg = = =
• 1 erg = =
• 1 erg = =
• 1 erg =

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History In 1864, Rudolf Clausius proposed the Greek word ἐργον () for the unit of energy, work and heat. In 1873, a committee of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, including British physicists James Clerk Maxwell and William Thomson recommended the general adoption of the centimetre, the gramme, and the second as fundamental units (C.G.S. System of Units). To distinguish derived units, they recommended using the prefix "C.G.S. unit of ..." and requested that the word erg or ergon be strictly limited to refer to the C.G.S. unit of energy.

In 1922, chemist William Draper Harkins proposed the name as a convenient unit to measure the surface energy of in surface chemistry. It would equate to 10⁻¹⁴ erg, the equivalent to 10⁻²¹ joule.

The erg is not a part of the International System of Units (SI), which has been recommended since 1 January 1978

(2012). 9781405192538, John Wiley & Sons. . ISBN 9781405192538

when the European Economic Community ratified a directive of 1971 that implemented SI as agreed by the General Conference of Weights and Measures. It is the unit of energy in Gaussian units, which are widely used in astrophysics, applications involving microscopic problems and relativistic electrodynamics,

(2025). 9780471309321, Wiley. ISBN 9780471309321

and sometimes in mechanics.

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See also

• Foe (unit), relative measure for energy released by a supernova
• Lumen second, for the lumerg and lumberg units
• Metre–tonne–second system of units

François Cardarelli (2025). 9781447111221, Springer-Verlag London Ltd.. . ISBN 9781447111221

(1993). 9780412467202, Chapman and Hall. ISBN 9780412467202

François Cardarelli (1999). 9781852330439, Springer-Verlag London Limited. . ISBN 9781852330439

Categories: Units Of Energy, Centimetre–gram–second System Of Units

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