Ton-force to Poundal Converter

A ton-force (tf) is a unit of force equal to the gravitational force exerted by a mass of one ton (2,000 pounds) under standard Earth gravity. It equals approximately 8,896 newtons, representing very large forces in imperial systems.

The ton-force developed from traditional weight-based force measurements in English-speaking countries. It became important in heavy engineering, construction, and industrial applications where large forces needed to be expressed in familiar weight-equivalent terms.

Ton-force is used in heavy construction, large machinery specifications, structural engineering, and industrial applications in countries using imperial units. It's found in crane capacity ratings, heavy equipment specifications, and major structural load calculations.

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.