statcoulomb (statC)
The statcoulomb (abbreviated statC) is the unit of electric charge quantity in the cgs (centimeter/gram/second) system. It is approximately equal to the charge contained in 2.082 x 10 9 electron s. When two objects, carrying like electrical charges of 1 statC each, are placed so their charge centers are one centimeter (1 cm) apart, the objects repel each other with a force of one dyne (1 dyn).
The statcoulomb is the basis for the system of electrostatic units (esu). It is a comparatively small unit in practical terms, equivalent to approximately 3.3356 x 10 -10 coulomb (C). In most applications, the coulomb, which is the standard unit of charge quantity in the International System of Units ( SI ), is preferred.
Also see charge quantity , small-unit metric system or cgs system of units, and International System of Units ( SI ).