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.
Poundal (pdl)
Definition: The poundal (symbol: pdl) is a unit of force in the foot-pound-second (FPS) system. It is defined as the force required to accelerate one pound-mass at one foot per second squared.
History/origin: Introduced in 1877 by James Thomson, the poundal was created to establish a coherent, absolute system of English units that did not depend on the local gravity of Earth, unlike the pound-force.
Current use: The poundal is very rarely used today, mostly appearing in historical physics textbooks or highly specific, legacy engineering calculations.
Newton (N) to Poundal (pdl) Conversion Table
| Newton (N) [n] | Poundal (pdl) [pdl] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 n | 0.07233014 pdl |
| 0.1 n | 0.72330139 pdl |
| 1 n | 7.23301387 pdl |
| 2 n | 14.46602774 pdl |
| 3 n | 21.69904161 pdl |
| 5 n | 36.16506935 pdl |
| 10 n | 72.33013871 pdl |
| 20 n | 144.66027742 pdl |
| 50 n | 361.65069354 pdl |
| 100 n | 723.30138709 pdl |
| 1000 n | 7233.01387088 pdl |
How to Convert Newton (N) to Poundal (pdl)
1 n = 7.23301387 pdl
1 pdl = 0.13825495 n
Example: convert 15 n to pdl:
15 n = 15 × 7.23301387 pdl = 108.49520806 pdl
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!