Dyne
Encyclopedia
In physics
, the dyne (symbol "dyn", from Greek δύναμις (dynamis) meaning power, force) is a unit
of force specified in the centimetre-gram-second
(CGS) system of units, a predecessor of the modern SI
. One dyne is equal to exactly 10 µN (micronewtons). Equivalently, the dyne is defined as "the force required to accelerate a mass
of one gram
at a rate of one centimetre
per second
squared":
1 dyn = 1 g·cm/s² = 10−5 kg·m/s² = 10−5 N
The dyne per centimetre is the unit traditionally associated with measuring surface tension
. For example, the surface tension of distilled water is 72 dyn/cm at 25 °C (77 °F); in SI units this would be 72 x 10−3 N/m or 72 mN/m.
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, the dyne (symbol "dyn", from Greek δύναμις (dynamis) meaning power, force) is a unit
Units of measurement
A unit of measurement is a definite magnitude of a physical quantity, defined and adopted by convention and/or by law, that is used as a standard for measurement of the same physical quantity. Any other value of the physical quantity can be expressed as a simple multiple of the unit of...
of force specified in the centimetre-gram-second
Centimetre gram second system of units
The centimetre–gram–second system is a metric system of physical units based on centimetre as the unit of length, gram as a unit of mass, and second as a unit of time...
(CGS) system of units, a predecessor of the modern SI
International System of Units
The International System of Units is the modern form of the metric system and is generally a system of units of measurement devised around seven base units and the convenience of the number ten. The older metric system included several groups of units...
. One dyne is equal to exactly 10 µN (micronewtons). Equivalently, the dyne is defined as "the force required to accelerate a mass
Mass
Mass can be defined as a quantitive measure of the resistance an object has to change in its velocity.In physics, mass commonly refers to any of the following three properties of matter, which have been shown experimentally to be equivalent:...
of one gram
Gram
The gram is a metric system unit of mass....
at a rate of one centimetre
Centimetre
A centimetre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one hundredth of a metre, which is the SI base unit of length. Centi is the SI prefix for a factor of . Hence a centimetre can be written as or — meaning or respectively...
per second
Second
The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock....
squared":
1 dyn = 1 g·cm/s² = 10−5 kg·m/s² = 10−5 N
The dyne per centimetre is the unit traditionally associated with measuring surface tension
Surface tension
Surface tension is a property of the surface of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force. It is revealed, for example, in floating of some objects on the surface of water, even though they are denser than water, and in the ability of some insects to run on the water surface...
. For example, the surface tension of distilled water is 72 dyn/cm at 25 °C (77 °F); in SI units this would be 72 x 10−3 N/m or 72 mN/m.