Surface Tension Converter
Convert surface tension between newtons per metre and dynes per centimetre.
Written by Rahman · Last reviewed
Quick answer
Surface tension is the energy needed to increase a liquid's surface area, expressed as force per unit length. The SI unit is newtons per metre, and one dyne per centimetre is 0.001 N/m, the same as one millinewton per metre. Water is about 72 mN/m at room temperature, high enough to support small insects.
| Newton per metre (N/m) | 1 |
| Millinewton per metre (mN/m) | 1000 |
| Dyne per centimetre (dyn/cm) | 1000 |
| Gram-force per centimetre (gf/cm) | 1.019716213 |
| Pound-force per foot (lbf/ft) | 0.06852176586 |
About the Surface Tension Converter
Surface tension is the force that makes a liquid surface behave like a stretched elastic film. The SI unit is the newton per metre.
It explains effects such as water droplets forming beads and small insects walking on water.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is surface tension?
⌄
It is the inward pull at a liquid’s surface caused by cohesive forces between molecules, which minimises the surface area.
What is the SI unit?
⌄
The SI unit is the newton per metre (N/m). Dynes per centimetre is also widely used.
Why does water bead up?
⌄
Surface tension pulls the water into the smallest possible shape (a sphere), which is why droplets form beads.