Dyne to Newton Converter
Our free force pressure & torque converter handles dyne newton conversions. See tables, ratios, and examples for quick reference.
Reviewed by Manoj Kumar, Mathematics Educator
Formula
N = dyn x 0.00001 | 1 N = 100,000 dyn | 1 kgf = 9.80665 N
One dyne equals exactly 0.00001 newtons (10^-5 N). The dyne is the CGS unit of force while the newton is the SI unit. One newton is the force required to accelerate 1 kilogram by 1 meter per second squared. One kilogram-force equals 9.80665 N (standard gravity). One pound-force equals 4.44822 N.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Surface Tension Conversion
Problem:Water has a surface tension of 72.8 dynes/cm. Convert to newtons per meter.
Solution:72.8 dynes/cm = 72.8 x 10^-5 N / 10^-2 m\n= 72.8 x 10^-3 N/m\n= 0.0728 N/m\nThe force per unit length in SI units is 0.0728 N/m.
Result:72.8 dyn/cm = 0.0728 N/m
Example 2: Force Unit Comparison
Problem:Convert 50 newtons to dynes, kilogram-force, and pound-force.
Solution:Dynes: 50 x 100,000 = 5,000,000 dyn\nKilogram-force: 50 / 9.80665 = 5.0986 kgf\nPound-force: 50 / 4.44822 = 11.2404 lbf
Result:50 N = 5,000,000 dyn = 5.10 kgf = 11.24 lbf
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a dyne and where is it still used?
A dyne is the CGS unit of force equal to the force needed to accelerate a mass of one gram by one centimeter per second squared. While the SI system uses newtons, dynes are still encountered in older scientific literature, surface tension measurements (dynes per centimeter), and some specialized fields like rheology and fluid dynamics. Surface tension of water at room temperature is about 72 dynes/cm. Converting to SI, this is 0.072 N/m.
What is the difference between a newton and a kilogram-force?
A newton is the SI unit of force equal to the force needed to accelerate 1 kg by 1 m/s squared. A kilogram-force (kgf) is the force exerted by gravity on a 1 kg mass at standard gravity, equal to 9.80665 N. While kgf is intuitive because it relates to everyday weight, it depends on Earth gravity and is not an SI unit. Engineers sometimes use kgf for convenience, but newtons are required in scientific calculations.
References
Reviewed by Manoj Kumar, Mathematics Educator · Editorial policy