Convert Piconewtons to Centinewtons
Convert Piconewtons (pN) to Centinewtons (cN) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
cN = pN × 1.000000000e-10
About Piconewtons
A piconewton (pN) is 10⁻¹² N - the force scale of molecular biology and nanotechnology. Optical and magnetic tweezers apply 0.1-100 pN forces to single DNA strands and protein complexes. Unzipping one DNA base pair requires ~10-15 pN; a kinesin motor protein stalls at ~7 pN. AFM cantilevers resolve piconewton van der Waals forces between single atoms and surfaces. The covalent C-C bond ruptures under ~4,000 pN in controlled AFM pulling experiments. These forces underpin mechanobiology, drug-target mechanics, and nanofabrication. 1 pN = 10⁻¹² N.
About Centinewtons
A centinewton (cN) is exactly 0.01 N - the standard force unit of the textile industry. ISO and ASTM specs give fibre tenacity in cN/tex (centinewtons per tex, where 1 tex = 1 g/km): high-tenacity polyester 70-80 cN/tex; Kevlar/Twaron para-aramid 200-250 cN/tex; Dyneema/Spectra UHMWPE >350 cN/tex. Sewing thread breaking strength is 200-800 cN. Packaging tensile testers, adhesive peel-force instruments, and fine spring calibrators all report in cN. 1 cN ≈ 1 pond (0.980665 cN). 100 cN = 1 N.
Quick Reference Table
| Piconewtons (pN) | Centinewtons (cN) |
|---|---|
| 1 pN | 1 × 10-10 cN |
| 2 pN | 2 × 10-10 cN |
| 5 pN | 5 × 10-10 cN |
| 10 pN | 1 × 10-9 cN |
| 25 pN | 2.5 × 10-9 cN |
| 50 pN | 5 × 10-9 cN |
| 100 pN | 1 × 10-8 cN |