noun
Uncommon
Maxwell
MAKS-wehl
Maxwell (noun) means a unit of magnetic flux in the old cgs system of measurement. Example: “Older physics textbooks still list field strength in maxwells rather than webers.”
noun
1
A unit of magnetic flux in the old cgs system of measurement.
"Older physics textbooks still list field strength in maxwells rather than webers."
"One maxwell equals a very small fraction of a modern weber."
How to use Maxwell
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA now largely historical unit for measuring magnetic flux, replaced in modern SI usage by the weber.
When to use it
Mostly seen in older scientific texts; current physics uses the weber instead.
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Word forms
- Plural
- maxwells
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Older physics textbooks still list field strength in _____ rather than webers.
Etymology
Named after the Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell, whose equations unified the description of electricity and magnetism.
Synonyms
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Mx
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “Maxwell” mean?
The word “Maxwell” means a unit of magnetic flux in the old cgs system of measurement. In plain terms, a now largely historical unit for measuring magnetic flux, replaced in modern SI usage by the weber.
How do you pronounce “Maxwell”?
“Maxwell” is pronounced MAKS-wehl (/ˈmækswɛl/ in IPA).
How do you use “Maxwell” in a sentence?
Here is “Maxwell” used in a sentence: “Older physics textbooks still list field strength in maxwells rather than webers.”
What part of speech is “Maxwell”?
“Maxwell” is a noun.
Is “Maxwell” a common word?
“Maxwell” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is a maxwell a unit of?
A maxwell is a unit of magnetic flux belonging to the old cgs (centimeter-gram-second) system of measurement. It was historically used to quantify the total magnetic field passing through a given area.
Is the maxwell still used today?
The maxwell has largely been replaced by the weber, the corresponding unit of magnetic flux in the modern SI system of measurement. It still appears in some older scientific literature and specialized fields that retain cgs units.
How does a maxwell compare to a weber?
The maxwell is a much smaller unit than the weber, since one weber equals 100 million (10^8) maxwells. This large conversion factor reflects the difference in scale between the older cgs system and the modern SI system.
