Convert Attonewtons to Poundal
Convert Attonewtons (aN) to Poundal (pdl) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
pdl = aN × 7.233013851e-18
About Attonewtons
An attonewton (aN) is 10⁻¹⁸ N - the force scale of individual photon recoil and quantum vacuum effects. The thermal noise floor of an AFM cantilever at room temperature is ~1-10 aN/√Hz. A 532 nm photon absorbed by a trapped ion imparts ~0.3 aN of recoil. Casimir forces between conducting surfaces 10-100 nm apart are 1-100 aN. NEMS resonators have demonstrated force sensitivity below 1 aN/√Hz, enabling single-molecule adsorption detection. Optomechanical cavities probe radiation pressure at the attonewton scale to test quantum measurement limits. 1 aN = 10⁻¹⁸ N.
About Poundal
The poundal (pdl) is the force unit of the foot-pound-second absolute system - the force to accelerate 1 pound at 1 ft/s² - approximately 0.1383 N. Introduced in 1877 by Thomson and Tait as the FPS analogue of the CGS dyne (1 dyn = 1 g·cm/s²; 1 pdl = 1 lb·ft/s²). The poundal is distinct from pound-force: since standard gravity = 32.174 ft/s², 1 lbf = 32.174 pdl. It survives in older British engineering texts and early 20th-century thermodynamics literature, but is otherwise obsolete. 1 pdl = 0.138254954376 N = 1/32.174 lbf.
Quick Reference Table
| Attonewtons (aN) | Poundal (pdl) |
|---|---|
| 1 aN | 7.233 × 10-18 pdl |
| 2 aN | 1.447 × 10-17 pdl |
| 5 aN | 3.617 × 10-17 pdl |
| 10 aN | 7.233 × 10-17 pdl |
| 25 aN | 1.808 × 10-16 pdl |
| 50 aN | 3.617 × 10-16 pdl |
| 100 aN | 7.233 × 10-16 pdl |