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The CGS definitions involve
\({\rm cm}^{1/2}\) and \({\rm g}^{1/2}\),
which is problematic because units does not normally support
fractional roots of base units. The --units (-u)
option allows selection of a CGS unit system and works around this
restriction by introducing base units for the square roots of length
and mass: ‘sqrt_cm’ and ‘sqrt_g’. The centimeter then
becomes ‘sqrt_cm^2’ and the gram, ‘sqrt_g^2’. This allows
working from equations using the units in the CGS system, and
enforcing dimensional conformity within that system. Recognized CGS
arguments to the --units option are ‘gauss[ian]’,
‘esu’, ‘emu’, ‘lhu’; the argument is case insensitive.
You can also give ‘si’ which just enforces the default SI mode
and displays ‘(SI)’ at the ‘You have:’ prompt to
emphasize the units mode. Some other types of units are also
supported as described below. Giving an unrecognized system generates
a warning, and units uses SI units.
The changes resulting from the --units option are actually
controlled by the UNITS_SYSTEM environment variable. If you
frequently work with one of the supported CGS units systems, you may set
this environment variable rather than giving the --units option
at each invocation. As usual, an option given on the command line
overrides the setting of the environment variable. For example, if you would
normally work with Gaussian units but might occasionally work with
SI, you could set UNITS_SYSTEM to ‘gaussian’ and specify
SI with the --units option.
Unlike the argument to the --units option, the value of
UNITS_SYSTEM is case sensitive, so setting a value of
‘EMU’ will have no effect other than to give an error message and
set SI units.
The CGS definitions appear as conditional settings in the standard units data file, which you can consult for more information on how these units are defined, or on how to define an alternate units system.
Next: CGS Units Systems, Up: CGS Units [Contents][Index]