electrostatic unit

American  

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

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electrostatic unit British  

noun

1. Abbreviation: ESU.   e.s.u..  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 Compare electromagnetic unit

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Etymology

Origin of electrostatic unit

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 Popular scientific lectures by Mach, Ernst

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 Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 2 "Ehud" to "Electroscope" by Various

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 Lord Kelvin An account of his scientific life and work by Gray, Andrew

The electromagnetic unit of current defined as above is 3 � 1010 times larger than the electrostatic unit.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 2 "Ehud" to "Electroscope" by Various

But carry, now, the positive electrostatic unit towards the conductor.

From Popular scientific lectures by Mach, Ernst