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Weber to Maxwell

1 Weber (Wb) = 100,000,000Maxwell (Mx)

By KAMP Inc. / UnitOwl · Last reviewed:

Result
100,000,000 Mx
1 Wb = 100,000,000 Mx
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How Many Maxwells in a Weber?

To convert weber to maxwell, multiply the weber value by 100,000,000 (10⁸). The formula is Mx = Wb × 10⁸. For example, 1 weber equals 100,000,000 maxwell. This conversion bridges the SI and CGS units for magnetic flux — the total magnetic field passing through a given area. While the weber is the standard SI unit used in modern physics and engineering, the maxwell appears in older literature, some magnetic circuit calculations, and historical electromagnetic research. Engineers working with transformer cores, magnetic recording media, and electromagnetic relay design may encounter both units. The factor of 10⁸ is exact, arising from the systematic relationship between SI and CGS electromagnetic units. It becomes especially useful when translating older magnetic circuit examples or tape-recording specifications into modern SI notation. It also helps keep Faraday-law calculations consistent when legacy flux values appear alongside volts, seconds, and square meters. Without that cleanup step, copied flux values can look wildly inconsistent even when the underlying physics is sound. That is a frequent source of confusion in archived engineering notes and scanned handbooks.

How to Convert Weber to Maxwell

  1. Start with the magnetic flux value in weber (Wb).
  2. Multiply by 10⁸ (100,000,000) to get the value in maxwell (Mx).
  3. The result is the magnetic flux in maxwell.
  4. For typical engineering values in microweber (µWb), multiply by 100 to get maxwell (since 1 µWb = 100 Mx).
  5. Move the decimal point eight places to the right.

Real-World Examples

Transformer design — A core carrying 0.001 Wb of flux
0.001 × 10⁸ = 100,000 Mx. Magnetic circuit calculations in CGS units often use kilolines (1,000 maxwells) for convenience.
Small inductor — A component with 50 µWb of flux
50 × 10⁻⁶ × 10⁸ = 5,000 Mx. Small inductors and relay coils deal with flux levels that produce manageable numbers in maxwell.
Earth's field through a loop — A 1 m² loop captures about 50 µWb
50 × 10⁻⁶ × 10⁸ = 5,000 Mx. This is Earth's magnetic flux through a one-square-meter loop at mid-latitudes.
Magnetic recording — Historical tape spec in maxwell per unit length
If a tape standard specifies 320 Mx/cm, converting: 320 Mx = 320 × 10⁻⁸ Wb = 3.2 µWb. This helps when comparing vintage and modern recording specifications.

Quick Reference

Weber (Wb)Maxwell (Mx)
1100,000,000
2200,000,000
5500,000,000
101,000,000,000
252,500,000,000
505,000,000,000
10010,000,000,000
50050,000,000,000
1,000100,000,000,000

History of Weber and Maxwell

The maxwell was named after James Clerk Maxwell, the Scottish physicist whose equations unified electricity, magnetism, and light into a single theoretical framework in the 1860s. Maxwell's equations, originally expressed in CGS units, used the maxwell as the natural unit for magnetic flux. One maxwell equals the flux produced by a magnetic field of one gauss passing through one square centimeter. The weber was named after Wilhelm Eduard Weber, a German physicist who collaborated with Gauss on magnetic measurements and helped develop the CGS system. Ironically, the weber became the SI unit while Weber's own work was in CGS. One weber equals the flux that, when reduced to zero in one second, produces one volt of electromotive force in a single-turn coil — a definition that ties magnetic flux directly to electrical induction, the principle behind generators and transformers. The factor of 10⁸ between weber and maxwell arises from the systematic conversion between SI and CGS electromagnetic units: 1 Wb = 1 V·s = 1 kg·m²/(A·s²), while in CGS the corresponding units involve centimeters, grams, and statamperes, producing the 10⁸ ratio.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using 10,000 (the tesla-to-gauss factor) instead of 10⁸. Weber and maxwell measure flux (field times area), not flux density, so the conversion factor is different.
  • Confusing weber (flux) with tesla (flux density). Weber = tesla × area. They are related but distinct quantities with different conversion factors to CGS.
  • Getting the direction wrong. To convert weber to maxwell, multiply by 10⁸. To convert maxwell to weber, divide by 10⁸.
  • Confusing magnetic flux with flux linkage. A coil specification in weber-turns is not the same quantity as plain weber, so convert the underlying unit only after confirming whether turns are already included.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How many maxwells are in one weber?
One weber equals exactly 10⁸ (100,000,000) maxwell. This is an exact conversion factor from the definitions of the SI and CGS electromagnetic unit systems.
What is the difference between weber and tesla?
Weber measures magnetic flux (the total magnetic field passing through an area), while tesla measures magnetic flux density (the field strength per unit area). They are related by: flux (Wb) = flux density (T) × area (m²).
Is the maxwell still used in modern engineering?
The maxwell is rarely used in new publications but appears in some magnetic circuit design references, transformer engineering handbooks, and specifications for magnetic materials that originate from the CGS tradition. Most modern work uses weber, milliweber, or microweber.
Can I convert microweber directly to maxwell?
Yes. Since 1 µWb equals 10⁻⁶ weber, it equals 10² maxwell, or 100 maxwell. That shortcut is often easier than converting to whole weber first when you are working with small inductors, relays, or lab coils.
What does one weber represent physically?
One weber is a large amount of magnetic flux. It is the amount of flux that would induce 1 volt in a single-turn loop if it changed uniformly to zero in 1 second. In many practical devices, engineers work in milliweber or microweber because whole weber values are uncommon.
Quick Tip

When working with magnetic circuits (analogous to electric circuits), flux in maxwell is like current in ampere, magnetomotive force in gilbert is like voltage, and reluctance is like resistance. If your magnetic circuit textbook uses CGS units throughout, keep the maxwell and convert to weber only at the end. Mixing unit systems mid-calculation is a common source of errors in magnetic circuit analysis.

Sources & References