Unit of Force

The Unit of Force helps us to understand how push and pull act on any object. It is a fundamental concept in physics that plays an important role in our everyday lives. Have you ever wondered how easily you push a door open, kick a football across the ground, or lift a heavy bag? All these actions happen because of force.

This article is a complete guide to know about the unit of force and explains in detail how it can be converted from one form to another.

Table of Contents

• What is Force?
• What is the SI Unit of Force?
• Other Units of Force
• Conversion Between the Units of Force

What is Force?

Force is nothing but a push or pull on an object that causes a change in its velocity.

Have you ever noticed how some objects move only when you push or pull them?

Let's understand with an example. Firstly, take a look at the picture below:

Here we can observe that one person is pushing the box forward, while the other is pulling it from the opposite side. This simple action shows what force really is!

Another example, you must have noticed how a door only opens when you push it, or how a football only moves when you kick it? Even pulling your school bag closer or sliding a chair involves an action. 

So, it can be concluded that whenever two objects interact with each other, they either push or pull each other. Interesting, isn’t it? A simple movement we do every day actually explains one of the most important concepts in physics.

Mathematically, it can be expressed as : 

F=m\times a, 

where F=Force, m= mass, and a= Acceleration

From the above equation, it can be concluded that the greater the mass or acceleration, the greater the force required. 

The dimensional formula of force is: MLT⁻²

Read More:Force

Now that we know how force is defined and how it can be calculated, the next step is understanding in which unit it is measured. 

What is the SI Unit of Force?

In science, we use standard units so that measurements stay clear and consistent everywhere. And the interesting part is, the same idea applies to force. 

To avoid confusion, force is measured using one universally accepted unit in the SI system, which is theNewton (N), named in honour of Sir Isaac Newton.

A force of 1 Newton is defined as the force required to accelerate a 1 kg mass by 1 m/s².

SI Unit of Force (F)

1N=1kg\times 1m/s^{2}

So whenever you see force measured in Newtons, it tells you how strongly an object is being pushed or pulled.

Other Units of Force

While the Newton is the most widely used unit today, different measurement systems around the world have their own ways of expressing force. 

Let’s take a look at what these other units are and where they are used.

1. Dyne (dyn) isused in the CGS system. It is a very small unit of force. 

2. Kilogram-force (kgf)is used in the metric gravitational system. It represents the force exerted by gravity on a 1 kg mass.

3. Pound-Force (lbf)isused in the FPS (Foot–Pound–Second) system. 1 lbf is the force exerted by gravity on a 1 lb mass.

4. Poundal (pdl)is another unit from the FPS system.
These units help us compare how force is measured in different scientific and engineering fields.

Read More: Unit of Pressure, Unit of Energy

Conversion Between the Units of Force

Over time, scientists and engineers have used different units to measure force. The table below lists some of these units along with their conversion factors.

Unit	Symbol	Equivalent SI Value in Newton
Dyne	Dyn	10.0 µN
Gram-force	gf	9.80665 mN
Poundal	pdl	138.255 0 mN
Pound-force	lbf	4.448 222 N
Kilogram-force	Kgf	9.806 65 N

Let's discuss by using this conversion table, how we can convert one unit into another.

For example, let's try to convert 250 gf into Newtons

When you want to convert any unit of force to Newtons, simply multiply the given value by its equivalent SI value from the table.

From the above table, 1 gf = 0.00980665 N

So,
250 gf = 250 × 0.00980665
= 2.4516 N

Here, 250 gf is approximately equal to 2.45 N. 

Here is an important note to keep in mind before converting, 

• When converting to Newtons, you multiply by the given factor.
• If you want to convert from Newtons to another unit, you divide by that factor.

Till now, we learned that force helps us to understand how pushes and pulls cause motion. Its SI unit is the Newton (N), while other units like dyne and kilogram-force are used in different systems. Knowing these units and their conversions makes measuring force easier.