Pound-force to Newton Converter

A pound-force (lbf) is a unit of force equal to the gravitational force exerted by a mass of one pound under standard Earth gravity. It equals approximately 4.448 newtons and is one of the most common force units in imperial systems.

The pound-force developed from the traditional English pound weight and became standardized for force measurements in countries using imperial units. It provided a practical force unit based on familiar weight measurements, becoming essential in American engineering and industry.

Pound-force is extensively used in the United States for engineering calculations, mechanical specifications, and force measurements. It's standard for bolt torque specifications, mechanical system ratings, material testing, and general engineering applications in imperial systems.

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.