Abampere

In physics, the abampere, symbol abA, is the unit of electric current in the cgs-emu (centimeter-gram-second electromagnetic) system of units. One abampere is ten ampere (the SI unit of current). The abampere is not used much anymore, but is needed in the definition of the Gaussian system of units.

By definition, the abampere is the constant current which, if maintained in two straight parallel conductors of infinite length, of negligible circular cross-section, and placed 1 cm apart in vacuum, would produce between these conductors a force equal to 2 dyne (= 2⋅10⁻⁷ newton) per cm of length in each of the two wires.

This definition is based on ampere's equation in cgs-emu units:

${\frac {F}{l}}={\frac {2i^{2}}{r}},$

where F is the force (in dyne) per length l (in cm) between two infinite long wires in which a current i runs. The distance between the wires is r cm.

Comparing with the definition of ampere in meters, it follows that, for a constant current of one ampere, the centimeter definition gives a force between the wires that is 100 times smaller. Namely, the factor is 100×100⁻² = 1/100, with 100 because of the 100× shorter distance r and 100⁻² because of the 100× shorter length l. To achieve a force of 2 dyne (the force required in the present as well as in the SI definition), each current must be 10 times larger in the present definition than in the SI definition. Hence 1 abA = 1 A.