Definition

A unit of measurement for magnetic field strength in the centimeter-gram-second system, representing the intensity of a magnetic field one centimeter away from a unit magnetic pole.

Example

The strength of the magnetic field was measured in oersteds.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of the term oersted?

Yeah, I think it's related to magnetic fields or something like that.

Exactly! It's the unit for measuring magnetic intensity.

That makes sense; I always find physics terms a bit confusing.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Oersted is derived from the name of Hans Christian Ørsted, a Danish physicist and chemist, who is known for discovering that electric currents create magnetic fields. The term 'oersted' is used as a unit of measurement for magnetic field strength, named in his honor. Therefore, it does not have traditional Latin or Greek roots but is a proper noun that has been adopted into scientific terminology.

Memory Tip

Think of Hans Christian Ørsted, the scientist who discovered the relationship between electricity and magnetism, to remember that 'oersted' refers to a unit of magnetic field strength named after him.

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