CGS System

CGS System, also centimeter-gram-second system (usually written “cgs system”), a metric system based on the centimeter (c) for length, the gram (g) for mass, and the second (s) for time. It is derived from the meter-kilogram-second (or mks) system but uses certain special designations such as the dyne (for force) and the erg (for energy). It has generally been employed where small quantities are encountered, as in physics and chemistry.