Force Converter
Newton (N)
Definition: The newton (symbol: N) is the International System of Units (SI) derived unit of force. It is defined as the force needed to accelerate one kilogram of mass at the rate of one meter per second squared.
History/origin: The unit is named after Sir Isaac Newton in recognition of his groundbreaking work on classical mechanics, specifically his second law of motion. It was formally adopted by the General Conference on Weights and Measures in 1948.
Current use: The newton is the absolute global standard for measuring force in physics, mechanical engineering, and general science.
Kilogram-force (kgf)
Definition: The kilogram-force (symbol: kgf), or kilopond (kp), is a non-standard gravitational metric unit of force. It is equal to the magnitude of the force exerted on one kilogram of mass in a standard gravitational field.
History/origin: Widely used in early metric engineering systems before the adoption of the SI system. It provided a highly intuitive way to relate the weight of an object directly to its mass in kilograms.
Current use: Although officially deprecated in favor of the newton, kgf is still encountered in some older European and Asian engineering contexts, thrust ratings of rocket engines, and material testing.
Newton (N) to Kilogram-force (kgf) Conversion Table
| Newton (N) [n] | Kilogram-force (kgf) [kgf] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 n | 0.00101972 kgf |
| 0.1 n | 0.01019716 kgf |
| 1 n | 0.10197162 kgf |
| 2 n | 0.20394324 kgf |
| 3 n | 0.30591486 kgf |
| 5 n | 0.50985811 kgf |
| 10 n | 1.01971621 kgf |
| 20 n | 2.03943243 kgf |
| 50 n | 5.09858106 kgf |
| 100 n | 10.19716213 kgf |
| 1000 n | 101.9716213 kgf |
How to Convert Newton (N) to Kilogram-force (kgf)
1 n = 0.10197162 kgf
1 kgf = 9.80665 n
Example: convert 15 n to kgf:
15 n = 15 × 0.10197162 kgf = 1.52957432 kgf
Did You Know?
- Did you know? One Newton (1 N) is approximately the amount of force needed to hold a medium-sized apple (about 102 grams) against Earth's gravity!
- Kilogram-force (kgf), also known as a kilopond, was widely used to measure the thrust of early rocket engines and jet aircraft before the Newton became the global standard.