Convert Micronewtons to Poundal
Convert Micronewtons (µN) to Poundal (pdl) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
pdl = µN × 7.233013851e-6
About Micronewtons
A micronewton (µN) is 10⁻⁶ N - the force scale of satellite microthrusters and MEMS actuators. Ion FEEP microthrusters on CubeSats produce 1-1,000 µN to compensate atmospheric drag at sub-500 km altitudes. Newton's law gives F = Gm₁m₂/r² ≈ 6.674 µN between two 1 kg masses 10 cm apart. Comb-drive electrostatic actuators in lab-on-a-chip devices operate at micronewton forces for cell sorting. AFM cantilevers mapping cell stiffness apply 10-100 µN. Red blood cells deform measurably at ~10-20 µN - an optical tweezers assay used to detect malaria. 1 µN = 10⁻⁶ 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
| Micronewtons (µN) | Poundal (pdl) |
|---|---|
| 1 µN | 7.233 × 10-6 pdl |
| 2 µN | 1.447 × 10-5 pdl |
| 5 µN | 3.617 × 10-5 pdl |
| 10 µN | 7.233 × 10-5 pdl |
| 25 µN | 0.000180825 pdl |
| 50 µN | 0.000361651 pdl |
| 100 µN | 0.000723301 pdl |