I found a historical physics paper with surface tension data in dynes/cm. How do I convert it to modern SI units?

Divide dynes by 100,000 to get newtons. For example, 72 dynes/cm = 0.00072 N/cm, or 0.072 N/m (the modern standard for surface tension). Most reference sources now list values in N/m. For imperial equipment, see [lbf to dynes]({/force/lbf-to-dynes/}).

Should I bother learning CGS units, or can I just convert?

Just convert when needed. CGS is historical and rarely taught in new curricula. SI (newtons) is now universal. These conversions let you interpret legacy papers without memorizing an obsolete system.

Why is the dyne so much smaller than the newton?

CGS uses centimeters and grams (tiny units); SI uses meters and kilograms (larger). The dyne is 1 g·cm/s², while the newton is 1 kg·m/s². The 100,000x jump reflects the unit system differences.

Is there any field where dynes are still used in modern research?

Occasionally in physics and chemistry (surface tension, molecular forces). But even those fields now prefer SI units. If you're reading a paper with dynes, it's likely historical or translated from older work.

Newtons to Dynes Converter

Enter a value to instantly convert between force units.

From

Precision4 dp

1 Newton = 100000 Dyne

Key Formulas

Newton → Pound-Force

lbf = N × 0.224809

Pound-Force → Newton

N = lbf × 4.44822

Kilogram-Force → Newton

N = kgf × 9.80665

Newton → Kilogram-Force

kgf = N × 0.101972

Formula

dynes = newtons × 100000

The dyne is the CGS (centimeter-gram-second) unit of force, now obsolete in modern engineering but still found in physics literature and legacy lab equipment. When referencing historical research on surface tension, fluid mechanics, or materials properties, converting between SI newtons and CGS dynes lets you compare data without deciphering old notation.

Source: NIST SP 811, Table B.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Real-World Examples

Definition. 1 newton = 100,000 dynes by the CGS/SI conversion: 1 N = 1 kg·m/s², and 1 dyne = 1 g·cm/s² (a factor of 10⁵).

1 N = 100000 dyn

A thin-film adhesion experiment measures roughly 100 dynes (the pull of a microscopic coating). This equals 0.001 N—below the sensitivity of most mechanical scales.

0.001 N = 100 dyn

1 lbf = 4.448 N = 444,800 dynes. A 1950s materials testing paper might report tensile strength in dynes, now easier to interpret using SI equivalents.

4.448 N = 444800 dyn

Water's surface tension is roughly 72.8 dynes/cm (0.0728 N/m). Understanding both units bridges classic physics texts with modern hydrology data.

0.0728 N = 7280 dyn

newtons to lbf lbf to newtons kgf to newtons newtons to kgf kn to newtons newtons to kn

Newtons to Dynes Converter

Key Formulas

Formula

Frequently Asked Questions

Real-World Examples

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