Erg

For other uses, see Erg (disambiguation). "Ergs" redirects here. For other uses, see Ergs (disambiguation). "Micro-erg" redirects here. Not to be confused with Micro ERG.

erg
Unit systemCGS units
Unit ofenergy
Symbolerg
Derivation1 erg = 1 dyn⋅cm
Conversions
1 erg in ...... is equal to ...
   CGS base units   1 cm2⋅g⋅s−2
   SI units   10−7 J
   British Gravitational System   7.375621×10−8 ft⋅lbf

The erg is a unit of energy equal to 10−7 joules (100 nJ). It originated in the Centimetre–gram–second system of units (CGS). It has the symbol erg. The erg is not an SI unit. Its name is derived from ergon (ἔργον), a Greek word meaning 'work' or 'task'.[1]

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 joules or 100 nanojoules (nJ) in SI units.

  • 1 erg = 10−7 J = 100 nJ
  • 1 erg = 10−10 sn⋅m = 100 psn⋅m = 100 picosthène-metres
  • 1 erg = 624.15 GeV = 6.2415×1011 eV
  • 1 erg = 1 dyn⋅cm = 1 g⋅cm2/s2
  • 1 erg = 2.77778×10−11 W⋅h
  1. ^ Goodell, Thomas Dwight (1889). The Greek in English (2nd ed.). Henry Holt and Company. p. 40.