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.
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 While the CGS system was widely used in physics throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, it has been largely superseded by the SI system and the newton.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.
Surface Tension: Measured in dynes/cm (equivalent to mN/m in SI).
Historical Scientific Papers: Many pre-1960s physics papers use CGS units.
Microscopic Forces: Useful scale for cellular mechanics and microfluidics.
Real-World Examples
Biological Forces:
- Spider silk thread tension: ~10,000 dynes
- Bacterial flagellum force: ~0.5 dynes
- Cell membrane tension: 100-1,000 dynes/cm
- Mosquito bite force: ~50,000 dynes
Microscale Physics:
- Surface tension of water: 72 dynes/cm
- Capillary force on small droplet: 1,000-10,000 dynes
- Electrostatic force between small charges: 0.1-1,000 dynes
- Magnetic force on iron filing: 100-10,000 dynes
Comparison Scale:
- 1 dyne = force to hold 1 milligram against gravity
- 1,000 dynes = approximate weight of small grain of sand
- 100,000 dynes = 1 newton (small apple weight)
- 1,000,000 dynes = strong finger push
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
Need to convert Dyne to other force units? Use our conversion tool.