A Pedagogical MKS-based Electromagnetic Unit Convention with $ε_0 = μ_0 = 1/c$

Abstract

We propose a pedagogical, rationalized MKS-based convention for electromagnetic quantities designed to reduce cognitive load in undergraduate undergraduate electromagnetism. By setting vacuum constants to $\varepsilon_0 = μ_0 = 1/c$, we preserve the familiar structure of Maxwell's equations while making the role of the speed of light explicit. In this convention, electrical units are expressed directly in terms of mechanical units (e.g.\ $[\mathrm{nuA}] = \sqrt{\mathrm{J/s}}$), effectively reducing the number of independent base units. A striking pedagogical consequence is that electrical resistance becomes dimensionless, capacitance and inductance acquire units of time, and radiation pressure reduces to $|\mathbf{E}\times \mathbf{B}|$, greatly simplifying dimensional analysis for circuits and fields. We introduce corresponding non-SI units (\textit{nu}-units), provide conversion relations to SI, and demonstrate the potential utility of this system through comparative ``before/after'' derivations of the wave equation, electromagnetic energy density, radiation pressure, and the Bohr atom. Preliminary empirical support is provided by student attitude surveys administered to $N_1 = 46$ and $N_2 = 39$ students in an undergraduate physics course, which showed a statistically significant improvement in the perceived clarity of the wave equation derivation after exposure to the nu-system ($p = 0.005$, Mann--Whitney $U$ test), and a majority preference for the dimensionless-resistance feature.