The abvolt (abV) is the unit of potential difference in the CGS-EMU system of units. It corresponds to 1/ statvolt ≈ in the CGS-ESU system.
Before the 2019 revision of the SI the Abvolt corresponded to exactly in the SI system. In 2019 the definition of the ampere was changed, and this relationship is very close to true, but no longer exact.
A potential difference of 1 abV will drive a current of one abampere through a resistance of one abohm.
In most practical applications, the volt and its multiples are preferred. The national standard in the United States IEEE/ASTM SI 10-2002. American National Standard for Use of the International System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System. New York: IEEE, 30 December 2002, Section 3.3.3. deprecates the use of the abvolt, suggesting the use of volts instead.
The name abvolt was introduced by Kennelly in 1903 as a short name for the long name (absolute) electromagnetic cgs unit of e.m.f. that was in use since the adoption of the cgs system in 1875.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 The abvolt was coherent with the CGS-EMU system, in contrast to the volt, the practical unit of e.m.f. that had been adopted too in 1875.
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