The newton is the Standard International (SI) unit of force. In physics and engineering documentation, the term newton(s) is abbreviated N
One newton is the force required to cause a mass of one kilogram to accelerate at a rate of one meter per second squared in the absence of other force-producing effects. In general, force (F) in newtons, mass (m) in kilograms, and acceleration (a) in meters per second squared are related by a formula well known in physics:
F = ma
Examples
On Earth's surface, a mass of 1 kg exerts a force of approximately 9.81 N [down] (or 1 kgf). The approximation of 1 kg corresponding to 10 N is sometimes used as a rule of thumb in everyday life and in engineering.
The decanewton (daN) = 10 N is increasingly used when specifying load bearing capacity of items such as ropes and anti-vibration mounts, being approximately equivalent to the more familiar non-SI unit of force, the kgf.
The force of Earth's gravity on a human being with a mass of 70 kg is approximately 687 N.
A force of 1 newton acting over 1 metre does 1 joule of work.
A newton metre (N.m) is a unt of torque derived from the newton and the metre.
We are not defining joules here, or work, or energy
It is common to see forces expressed in kilonewtons or kN, where 1 kN = 1 000 N.
A tonne (metric ton)=(1 000 kg) exerts a force of 9.80665 m/s2 kN (or 1 000 kgf) under standard gravity conditions on Earth.
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