Poundal to Gram-force Converter

A poundal (pdl) is a unit of force in the foot-pound-second (FPS) system, defined as the force required to accelerate a mass of one pound at a rate of one foot per second squared. It equals approximately 0.138 newtons.

The poundal was introduced in 1879 as part of the foot-pound-second system to provide a force unit based on fundamental physical principles rather than gravitational force. It was designed to be the imperial equivalent of the newton but never achieved widespread adoption.

Poundals are rarely used in modern applications, appearing mainly in historical engineering literature and some specialized physics contexts. They've been largely replaced by pound-force in practical applications and newtons in scientific work.

A gram-force (gf) is a unit of force equal to the gravitational force exerted by a mass of one gram under standard Earth gravity. It equals approximately 0.00981 newtons, providing small force measurements in weight-equivalent terms.

The gram-force developed as a subdivision of the kilogram-force for measuring smaller forces. It was particularly useful in precision applications and scientific instruments where forces needed to be expressed in familiar weight-equivalent terms.

Gram-force is occasionally used in precision applications, scientific instruments, and educational contexts where small forces are more easily understood in weight-equivalent terms. However, it's been largely replaced by millinewtons and other SI units in modern applications.