The abohm is the derived unit of electrical resistance in the emu-cgs (centimeter-gram-second) system of units (emu stands for "electromagnetic units"). One abohm is equal to 10−9 ohms in the SI system of units; one abohm is a nanoohm.
The emu-cgs (or "electromagnetic cgs") units are one of several systems of electromagnetic units within the centimetre gram second system of units; others include esu-cgs, Gaussian units, and Lorentz–Heaviside units. In these other systems, the abohm is not one of the units.
When a current of one abampere (1 abA) flows through a resistance of 1 abohm, the resulting potential difference across the component is one abvolt (1 abV).
The name abohm was introduced by Kennelly in 1903 as a short name for the long name (absolute) electromagnetic cgs unit of resistance that was in use since the adoption of the cgs system in 1875.[1] The abohm was coherent with the emu-cgs system, in contrast to the ohm, the practical unit of resistance that had been adopted too in 1875.
References
- The McGraw Hill Dictionary Of Scientific and Technical Terms, ISBN 0-07-045257-1.
- ^ A.E. Kennelly (1903) "Magnetic units and other subjects that might occupy attention at the next international electrical congress" 20th Annual Convention of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, 1903