electrostatic unit

noun

, Electricity.

1. a unit, as a statampere, in the system of electric units derived from the force of repulsion between two static charges. : esu, ESU

electrostatic unit

noun

1. any unit that belongs to a system of electrical cgs units in which the electric constant is given the value of unity and is taken as a pure number AbbreviationESUe.s.u. Compare electromagnetic unit

Word History and Origins

Origin of electrostatic unit¹

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

If by adding a weight of one milligramme equilibrium is restored, each of the spheres contains in round numbers the electrostatic unit of electrical quantity.

From Project Gutenberg

From this Thomson deduced a value for the ratio of the electromagnetic unit of electricity to the electrostatic unit, and indicated methods of determining this ratio experimentally.

From Project Gutenberg

This is equivalent to an electric force of about 500 electrostatic units.

From Project Gutenberg

In the next place we must notice that electrification is a measurable magnitude and in electrostatics is estimated in terms of a unit called the electrostatic unit of electric quantity.

From Project Gutenberg

On Maxwell’s electromagnetic theory the velocity of propagation of electromagnetic disturbances should equal the velocity of light, and also the ratio of the electromagnetic unit of electricity to the electrostatic unit.

From Project Gutenberg