Convert Piconewtons to Poundal
Convert Piconewtons (pN) to Poundal (pdl) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
pdl = pN × 7.233013851e-12
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 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
| Piconewtons (pN) | Poundal (pdl) |
|---|---|
| 1 pN | 7.233 × 10-12 pdl |
| 2 pN | 1.447 × 10-11 pdl |
| 5 pN | 3.617 × 10-11 pdl |
| 10 pN | 7.233 × 10-11 pdl |
| 25 pN | 1.808 × 10-10 pdl |
| 50 pN | 3.617 × 10-10 pdl |
| 100 pN | 7.233 × 10-10 pdl |