Dyne

The dyne (symbol: dyn; Template:Etymology) is a derived unit of force specified in the centimetre–gram–second (CGS) system of units, a predecessor of the modern SI.

History

The name dyne was first proposed as a CGS unit of force in 1873 by a Committee of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.

Definition

The dyne is defined as "the force required to accelerate a mass of one gram at a rate of one centimetre per second squared". An equivalent definition of the dyne is "that force which, acting for one second, will produce a change of velocity of one centimetre per second in a mass of one gram".

One dyne is equal to 10 micronewtons, 10⁻⁵ N or to 10 nsn (nanosthenes) in the old metre–tonne–second system of units.

• 1 dyn = 1 g⋅cm/s² = 10⁻⁵ kg⋅m/s² = 10⁻⁵ N
• 1 N = 1 kg⋅m/s² = 10⁵ g⋅cm/s² = 10⁵ dyn

Force units

	Newtons	Dynes	Kilograms-force kiloponds	Pounds	Poundals
1 N	≡ 1 kg⋅m⁄s2	= Template:Cvt	≈ Template:Cvt	≈ Template:Cvt	≈ Template:Cvt
1 dyn	= Template:Cvt	≡ 1 g⋅cm⁄s2	≈ Template:Cvt	≈ Template:Cvt	≈ Template:Cvt
1 kgf	= Template:Cvt	= Template:Cvt	≡ gn × 1 kg	≈ Template:Cvt	≈ Template:Cvt
1 lb	≈ Template:Cvt	≈ Template:Cvt	≈ Template:Cvt	≡ gn × 1 lbm / .3048 m⁄ft	≈ Template:Cvt
1 pdl	≈ Template:Cvt	≈ Template:Cvt	≈ Template:Cvt	≈ Template:Cvt	≡ 1 lbm⋅ft⁄s2

Use

The dyne per centimetre is a unit traditionally used to measure surface tension. For example, the surface tension of distilled water is 71.99 dyn/cm at 25 °C (77 °F). (In SI units this is or .)

See also

• Centimetre–gram–second system of units
• Erg