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arxiv: 1506.01951 · v1 · submitted 2015-06-03 · ⚛️ physics.hist-ph

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Babel of Units. The Evolution of Units Systems in Classical Electromagnetism

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classification ⚛️ physics.hist-ph
keywords unitssystemsarticlebabelclassicalconstructedderivedevelopment
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We recount the history of development of units systems in electrodynamics, and fully derive how each system is constructed. Done for Electromagnetic (emu), Electrostatic (esu), Gaussian, a variant-Gaussian, Heaviside-Lorentz, and SI systems. The article fills in large gaps in standard textbook treatments of units.

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Cited by 2 Pith papers

Reviewed papers in the Pith corpus that reference this work. Sorted by Pith novelty score.

  1. A Pedagogical MKS-based Electromagnetic Unit Convention with $\epsilon_0 = \mu_0 = 1/c$

    physics.ed-ph 2026-04 unverdicted novelty 5.0

    A pedagogical unit convention sets ε₀ = μ₀ = 1/c to make resistance dimensionless, capacitance and inductance have units of time, and several EM derivations simpler.

  2. A Pedagogical MKS-based Electromagnetic Unit Convention with $\epsilon_0 = \mu_0 = 1/c$

    physics.ed-ph 2026-04 conditional novelty 4.0

    A pedagogical unit convention sets ε₀ = μ₀ = 1/c to reduce base units and make resistance dimensionless, with student surveys showing improved perceived clarity in derivations.