Convert Femtonewtons to Newtons
Convert Femtonewtons (fN) to Newtons (N) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
N = fN × 1.000000000e-15
About Femtonewtons
A femtonewton (fN) is 10⁻¹⁵ N - the force scale of single-molecule biology. RNA polymerase exerts a stall force of ~14-25 fN while transiting DNA at 10-50 bp/s. Myosin V motor proteins step 37 nm with ~1-3 fN per head. The viscous drag on a 100 nm nanoparticle moving at 1 µm/s through cytoplasm is ~0.2-0.5 fN. Optical tweezers with back-focal-plane detection resolve sub-femtonewton forces, enabling measurement of single-enzyme output. AFM receptor-ligand unbinding (e.g., biotin-streptavidin) gives adhesion forces of 100-300 fN. 1 fN = 10⁻¹⁵ N.
About Newtons
The newton (N) is the SI unit of force - the force to accelerate 1 kg at 1 m/s², defined as 1 N = 1 kg·m/s². Named after Sir Isaac Newton and adopted in 1960. One newton is the weight of a ~102 g apple. Everyday forces: gentle finger press ~1 N; handshake 150-200 N; human bite 500-700 N; car emergency braking 5,000-15,000 N; turbofan engine thrust ~300 kN; Boeing 747 lift at cruise ~2,800 kN. The newton is universally used in science and engineering worldwide. 1 N = 1 kg·m/s² = 0.22481 lbf.
Quick Reference Table
| Femtonewtons (fN) | Newtons (N) |
|---|---|
| 1 fN | 1 × 10-15 N |
| 2 fN | 2 × 10-15 N |
| 5 fN | 5 × 10-15 N |
| 10 fN | 1 × 10-14 N |
| 25 fN | 2.5 × 10-14 N |
| 50 fN | 5 × 10-14 N |
| 100 fN | 1 × 10-13 N |