Newton to Kilogram-force Converter

A newton (N) is the SI base unit of force, defined as the force required to accelerate a mass of one kilogram at a rate of one meter per second squared. It represents the fundamental measure of force in the International System of Units.

The newton was named after Sir Isaac Newton in 1946 and adopted as the SI unit of force in 1960. It replaced various regional force units and provided a unified measure based on fundamental physical principles, directly relating force to mass and acceleration.

Newtons are universally used in scientific calculations, engineering applications, physics education, and force measurements. They're fundamental to all force calculations in science and engineering, from molecular forces to mechanical systems, and are the basis for all other force units.

A kilogram-force (kgf) is a unit of force equal to the gravitational force exerted by a mass of one kilogram under standard Earth gravity. It equals approximately 9.807 newtons and represents force in terms of familiar weight measurements.

The kilogram-force developed as a practical force unit based on the familiar concept of weight. It was widely used before the adoption of SI units, particularly in countries using the metric system, providing an intuitive way to express forces in terms of equivalent weights.

Kilogram-force is still used in some engineering applications, particularly in countries transitioning to SI units. It's found in some mechanical specifications, older engineering references, and applications where weight-equivalent forces are more intuitive than newtons.