Dyne (dyn) - Unit Information & Conversion
🔄 Quick Convert Dyne
What is a Dyne?
The dyne is the CGS (centimeter-gram-second) unit of force. One dyne equals the force required to accelerate one gram of mass at one centimeter per second squared (1 g⋅cm/s²). Primarily used in physics and older scientific literature.
History of the Dyne
Introduced in the 1870s as part of the CGS system of units. Named from the Greek word "dynamis" meaning power. Largely replaced by the newton in modern SI usage but still appears in physics textbooks and historical scientific papers.
Quick Answer
What is a Dyne? A dyne (dyn) is the CGS unit of force equal to 1 g⋅cm/s². It represents the force needed to accelerate 1 gram at 1 cm/s². One dyne is extremely small: 1 N = 100,000 dynes. The dyne appears in older physics texts, surface tension measurements, and centimeter-gram-second system calculations. Use our force converter to convert dynes to newtons, pounds-force, and other units instantly.
Key Facts: Dyne
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | dyn |
| Quantity | Force |
| System | Metric/SI Derived |
| Derived from | Newton |
| Category | Force |
| Standard Body | NIST / ISO |
Quick Comparison Table
| Dynes | Newtons | Pounds-force | Context | Convert Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.00001 | 0.0000022 | Microscopic force | dyn to N → |
| 1,000 | 0.01 | 0.0022 | Small insect weight | dyn to N → |
| 10,000 | 0.1 | 0.022 | Ant carrying load | dyn to N → |
| 100,000 | 1 | 0.225 | 1 newton | dyn to N → |
| 1,000,000 | 10 | 2.25 | Strong finger push | dyn to N → |
| 10,000,000 | 100 | 22.5 | Firm hand push | dyn to N → |
Definition
The dyne (dyn) is the CGS unit of force. 1 dyne = force to accelerate 1 gram mass at 1 cm/s².
Formula: F = ma (Force = mass × acceleration in CGS units)
Conversions:
- 1 dyne = 0.00001 N (10⁻⁵ newtons)
- 1 dyne = 0.00000224809 lbf (pounds-force)
- 1 dyne = 0.00000102 kgf (kilogram-force)
- 100,000 dynes = 1 N
- 1 N = 10⁵ dynes
History
The dyne was introduced in the 1870s as part of the CGS (centimeter-gram-second) system developed by the British Association for the Advancement of Science. The name derives from the Greek word "dynamis" meaning power or force. While the CGS system was widely used in physics throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, it has been largely superseded by the SI system and the newton. However, dynes still appear in surface tension measurements, older scientific literature, and certain physics contexts where CGS units remain conventional.
Common Uses
Physics Education: Teaching fundamental force concepts and unit systems - how different systems work. Surface Tension: Measured in dynes/cm (equivalent to mN/m in SI) - standard in fluid mechanics. Historical Scientific Papers: Many pre-1960s physics papers use CGS units - understanding legacy research. Microscopic Forces: Useful scale for cellular mechanics and microfluidics - avoids decimal notation. Biophysics: Cell mechanics, protein interactions, biomolecule forces.
Real-World Examples
Biological Forces in Dynes
Microscopic living system forces:
| System | Force | In Dynes | In Newtons | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bacterial flagellum | Motor force | 0.5-2 | 0.000005-0.00002 | Propulsion mechanism |
| Muscle sarcomere | Single cross-bridge | 1-5 | 0.00001-0.00005 | Molecular contraction |
| DNA strand | Torsional rigidity | 10-100 | 0.0001-0.001 | Mechanical properties |
| Cell adhesion | Per adhesion molecule | 50-500 | 0.0005-0.005 | Cell-cell connection |
| Mosquito bite | Proboscis penetration | 50,000 | 0.5 | Skin piercing force |
| Spider silk | Tension per strand | 10,000 | 0.1 | Structural strength |
| Cell membrane | Rupture force | 100,000-1,000,000 | 1-10 | Breaking point |
Surface Tension (Traditional CGS Measurement)
Liquid surface properties commonly expressed in dynes/cm:
| Liquid | Surface Tension | dynes/cm | mN/m (SI) | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | Very high | 72-73 | 72-73 | 20°C |
| Ethanol | Moderate | 22 | 22 | 20°C |
| Mercury | Extremely high | 487 | 487 | 20°C |
| Olive oil | Moderate-low | 32 | 32 | 20°C |
| Milk | Moderate | 50-51 | 50-51 | 20°C |
| Blood plasma | Moderate | 72 | 72 | 37°C |
| Liquid nitrogen | Low | 9.8 | 9.8 | 77 K |
Note: dynes/cm is numerically equal to mN/m (SI conversion), so old literature is directly readable in SI context
Capillary Forces and Microfluidics
CGS units convenient for capillary scale phenomena:
| Phenomenon | Force Scale | In Dynes | In Newtons | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water droplet (1mm) | Capillary | 10,000-100,000 | 0.1-1 | Wetting behavior |
| Tiny bubble (0.1mm) | Surface tension | 1,000-10,000 | 0.01-0.1 | Foam physics |
| Capillary rise in glass | Per mm² | 1,000-5,000 | 0.01-0.05 | Tube wetting |
| Inkjet nozzle | Jet breakup | 100,000-1,000,000 | 1-10 | Printer mechanism |
| Lab-on-chip | Fluid handling | 100-10,000 | 0.001-0.1 | Microfluidics |
CGS vs SI: Force Unit Scaling
Comparison showing why dynes are convenient for tiny forces:
| Scale | CGS (dynes) | SI (newtons) | Representation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microscopic (protein) | 1-100 | 0.00001-0.001 | Dynes avoid decimals |
| Cellular (organelle) | 100-10,000 | 0.001-0.1 | SI decimals appear |
| Millimeter scale | 100,000-1,000,000 | 1-10 | SI becomes natural |
| Human scale | 1,000,000,000+ | 10,000+ | SI standard |
| Macroscopic (vehicle) | 10¹⁵ dynes | 10¹⁰ N | Both use exponents |
Insight: CGS avoids decimals at biological/microscopic scales; SI naturally dominates larger scales
Historical CGS Measurement Examples
How scientists historically expressed forces:
| Measurement | CGS Era Expression | Modern SI Expression | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | "1000 dynes/cm²" (1900s) | "0.1 MPa" | Material property |
| Atmospheric pressure | "1,000,000 dynes/cm²" (1900s) | "101 kPa" | Weather measurement |
| Blood pressure | "120 dynes × 100/s" (1920s) | "16 kPa" (systolic) | Medical measurement |
| Spring constant | "500 dynes/cm" (1950s) | "50 N/m" | Mechanical property |
| Electric force | "10⁻⁸ dynes" (1940s) | "10⁻¹³ N" | Electrostatic attraction |
Dyne Conversion Formulas
To Newton:
To Millinewton:
To Kilonewton:
To Meganewton:
To Pound-force:
To Kilogram-force:
To Gram-force:
To Metric Ton-force:
To US Ton-force:
To UK Ton-force:
To Poundal:
To Ounce-force:
To Kip:
Frequently Asked Questions
Formula: N = dynes × 0.00001 (or dynes ÷ 100,000) Examples:
- 1,000 dynes = 0.01 N
- 10,000 dynes = 0.1 N
- 100,000 dynes = 1 N
- 1,000,000 dynes = 10 N Dynes to Newtons converter →
Convert Dyne
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