{"id":55896,"date":"2015-10-24T15:55:08","date_gmt":"2015-10-24T13:55:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wpcalc.com\/?p=55896"},"modified":"2026-09-28T09:38:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T06:38:16","slug":"surface-tension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/surface-tension\/","title":{"rendered":"Surface Tension Converter"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"not-prose calculator-box\" aria-labelledby=\"calculator-title\"><div class=\"flex items-baseline sm:items-center justify-between gap-2 sm:gap-3\"><div class=\"flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-center gap-2\"><span class=\"icon icon-calculator text-primary-700! text-base! dark:text-primary-300!\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2 id=\"calculator-title\" class=\"text-lg font-display font-bold\">Convert Surface Tension Between Units<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"calcdash-favorite group\">\n  <button type=\"button\" class=\"favorite\" id=\"favorite\" data-favorite-id=\"55896\" data-favorite-title=\"Surface Tension\" data-favorite-url=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/surface-tension\/\" data-favorite-excerpt=\"Convert surface tension between N\/m, dyne\/cm, mN\/m, and kg\/s\u00b2. Enter a value, then choose the units to convert from and to.\" aria-label=\"Add to Favorites\" data-favorite-icon=\"icon icon-physic\">\n    <span class=\"icon icon-shape-star-empty\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n  <\/button>\n  <div class=\"calcdash-favorite__tip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n   <span class=\"favorite-tooltip\" id=\"favorite-tooltip\"><\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <span class=\"sr-only\" role=\"status\" id=\"favorite-status\"><\/span>\n<\/div><\/div><form action=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/surface-tension\/\" method=\"POST\" class=\"calculator\" id=\"calculator-55896\" data-post=\"55896\"><fieldset class=\"fieldset-input\"><legend class=\"sr-only\">Input Fields<\/legend><div class=\"field is-single\" id=\"input-1\"><label for=\"field-1\">Surface tension value<\/label><input type=\"text\" name=\"surface_tension_value\" id=\"field-1\" aria-describedby=\"calc-unit-1 calc-info-1\" data-number inputmode=\"decimal\" autocomplete=\"off\" spellcheck=\"false\" min=\"0\" value=\"0.072\"\/><div class=\"unit\" id=\"calc-unit-1\"><\/div><small id=\"calc-info-1\">Enter the surface tension value to convert<\/small><\/div><div class=\"field\" id=\"input-2\"><label for=\"field-2\">From unit<\/label><div class=\"grid grid-cols-1\"><select id=\"field-2\" name=\"from_unit\"><option value=\"N\/m\">Newton per meter (N\/m)<\/option><option value=\"dyne\/cm\">Dyne per centimeter (dyne\/cm)<\/option><option value=\"mN\/m\">Millinewton per meter (mN\/m)<\/option><option value=\"kg\/s\u00b2\">Kilogram per second squared (kg\/s\u00b2)<\/option><\/select><svg class=\"pointer-events-none col-start-1 row-start-1 mr-2 size-5 self-center justify-self-end text-gray-500 sm:size-4\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\">\n              <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M4.22 6.22a.75.75 0 0 1 1.06 0L8 8.94l2.72-2.72a.75.75 0 1 1 1.06 1.06l-3.25 3.25a.75.75 0 0 1-1.06 0L4.22 7.28a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.06Z\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" \/>\n            <\/svg><\/div><\/div><div class=\"field\" id=\"input-3\"><label for=\"field-3\">To unit<\/label><div class=\"grid grid-cols-1\"><select id=\"field-3\" name=\"to_unit\"><option value=\"N\/m\">Newton per meter (N\/m)<\/option><option value=\"dyne\/cm\">Dyne per centimeter (dyne\/cm)<\/option><option value=\"mN\/m\">Millinewton per meter (mN\/m)<\/option><option value=\"kg\/s\u00b2\">Kilogram per second squared (kg\/s\u00b2)<\/option><\/select><svg class=\"pointer-events-none col-start-1 row-start-1 mr-2 size-5 self-center justify-self-end text-gray-500 sm:size-4\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\">\n              <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M4.22 6.22a.75.75 0 0 1 1.06 0L8 8.94l2.72-2.72a.75.75 0 1 1 1.06 1.06l-3.25 3.25a.75.75 0 0 1-1.06 0L4.22 7.28a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.06Z\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" \/>\n            <\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/fieldset><div class=\"buttons\"><button type=\"submit\" data-text=\"Re-Calculate\" id=\"calculate-button\" data-post=\"55896\">Calculate<\/button><button type=\"reset\">Reset<\/button><\/div><div class=\"field is-checkbox hidden!\" id=\"field-auto-calc\"><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"auto-calc\"><label for=\"auto-calc\">Calculate automatically<\/label><small>If enabled, the result will update automatically when you change any value.<\/small><\/div><div class=\"fieldset-result is-hidden\" aria-labelledby=\"result-title\" aria-live=\"polite\" role=\"region\"> <h3 class=\"result-title bg-gradient-to-r from-primary-50 to-gray-50 dark:from-primary-900 dark:to-gray-800\" id=\"result-title\"><span class=\"icon icon-s-pulse\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span> Your Results<\/h3><div class=\"result-box\"><div class=\"field-result\" id=\"output-1\"><span class=\"field-title\"><span>Converted Surface Tension<\/span><\/span><span class=\"field-value\" id=\"result-1\"><\/span><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-result\" data-tooltip=\"Copy Result\" aria-label=\"Copy Result\"><span class=\"copy-icon icon icon-document-copy\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><\/div><div class=\"result-actions\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-link\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M12.232 4.232a2.5 2.5 0 0 1 3.536 3.536l-1.225 1.224a.75.75 0 0 0 1.061 1.06l1.224-1.224a4 4 0 0 0-5.656-5.656l-3 3a4 4 0 0 0 .225 5.865.75.75 0 0 0 .977-1.138 2.5 2.5 0 0 1-.142-3.667l3-3Z\"\/><path d=\"M11.603 7.963a.75.75 0 0 0-.977 1.138 2.5 2.5 0 0 1 .142 3.667l-3 3a2.5 2.5 0 0 1-3.536-3.536l1.225-1.224a.75.75 0 0 0-1.061-1.06l-1.224 1.224a4 4 0 1 0 5.656 5.656l3-3a4 4 0 0 0-.225-5.865Z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"copy-link__text\">Copy link to this calculation<\/span><\/button><span class=\"sr-only\" role=\"status\" id=\"copy-link-status\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><a href=\"#respond\" class=\"hidden transition-opacity duration-300 opacity-0 w-50 text-sm justify-center items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 rounded bg-gray-200 text-gray-700 hover:bg-gray-300\" id=\"leave-comment\"><span class=\"icon icon-comments\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>Leave a Comment<\/a><\/form><\/section><section id=\"calc-reactions\" class=\"not-prose hidden my-12 bg-gradient-to-r from-primary-50 to-gray-50 border border-indigo-100 rounded-xl px-6 py-4 shadow-sm\" data-post=\"55896\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-labelledby=\"calc-reactions-title\"><p id=\"calc-reactions-title\" class=\"text-sm text-gray-500 text-center mb-2\">How did this result make you feel?<\/p><div role=\"group\" aria-labelledby=\"calc-reactions-title\" class=\"grid grid-cols-3 sm:flex sm:flex-row sm:justify-around gap-4 sm:items-center sm:flex-wrap\"><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"like\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"like\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude00 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Like <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"helpful\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"helpful\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\udca1 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Helpful <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"confused\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"confused\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude15 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Confused <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"disappointed\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"disappointed\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude1e <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Disappointed <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"inaccurate\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"inaccurate\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u274c <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Inaccurate <\/span><\/button><\/div><div id=\"reaction-message\" class=\"hidden mt-8 rounded-md border border-primary-100 bg-white\/50 backdrop-blur-sm px-4 py-2 text-sm text-center shadow-sm\"><\/div><\/section><div class=\"calcdash-ad not-prose calcdash-ad--calc_result calcdash-ad--in-article\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1721569815777345\" data-ad-slot=\"6317458308\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div>\n<style id=\"wpcoderpro-inline-1\">.formula-box {\r\n\tborder-bottom: none !important;\r\n}<\/style><section class=\"formula-box\" aria-labelledby=\"formula-title\">\r\n\t<div id=\"formula-title\" class=\"not-prose font-display mb-4\"><span class=\"icon icon-formula\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2>Surface Tension Formula<\/h2><\/div>\r\n\t<figure class=\"not-prose formula\">\r\n\t\t<figcaption class=\"formula-title\">Formula<\/figcaption>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"text-base text-gray-800\" id=\"formula\">\n\\[ \\gamma_{\\mathrm{to}}=\\gamma_{\\mathrm{from}}\\frac{f_{\\mathrm{from}}}{f_{\\mathrm{to}}} \\]\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/figure>\r\n\t<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\\(\\gamma_{\\mathrm{from}}\\) \u2014 the entered surface tension in the starting unit<\/li>\n<li>\\(\\gamma_{\\mathrm{to}}\\) \u2014 the converted surface tension in the target unit<\/li>\n<li>\\(f_{\\mathrm{from}}\\) and \\(f_{\\mathrm{to}}\\) \u2014 the number of N\/m in one starting unit and one target unit, respectively<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The converter first expresses the value in N\/m, then divides by the factor for the target unit. The factors are 1 for N\/m and kg\/s\u00b2, and 0.001 for dyne\/cm and mN\/m.<\/p>\n<p>\r\n<\/section>\n<style id=\"wpcoderpro-inline-459\">.calculation-box {\r\n\tborder-bottom: none !important;\r\n}<\/style><section id=\"calculation\" class=\"calculation-box\" aria-labelledby=\"calculation-title\">\r\n\t<div id=\"calculation-title\" class=\"not-prose font-display\"><span class=\"icon icon-unordered-list\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2>Surface Tension \u2013 Calculation Example<\/h2><\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> convert the calculator\u2019s default value of 0.072 N\/m to dyne\/cm.<\/p>\n<p>\\[ 0.072\\,\\mathrm{N\/m}\\times\\frac{1}{0.001}=72\\,\\mathrm{dyne\/cm} \\]<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result:<\/strong> 0.072 N\/m equals 72 dyne\/cm.<\/p>\n<p>\n\r\n<\/section>\n<h2>How to use the calculator<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Enter a nonnegative number in <strong>Surface tension value<\/strong>. Include the number only; select its unit separately.<\/li>\n<li>Choose the unit of that number under <strong>From unit<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Choose the unit you need under <strong>To unit<\/strong>. You can select N\/m, dyne\/cm, mN\/m, or kg\/s\u00b2 in either menu.<\/li>\n<li>Read <strong>Converted Surface Tension<\/strong>. The result includes the selected target unit.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The default settings convert 0.072 N\/m to 72 dyne\/cm. To check a conversion in the opposite direction, swap the two unit selections and enter the result as the new starting value.<\/p>\n<h2>What surface tension means<\/h2>\n<p>Surface tension describes the force associated with a liquid surface per unit length along that surface. It is often written as \\(\\gamma\\). Molecules at a liquid\u2013air boundary experience a different balance of interactions from molecules within the liquid. As a result, creating more surface area requires energy, and a free liquid surface tends to reduce its area when other forces allow it.<\/p>\n<p>Surface tension helps explain why small droplets tend to become rounded and why some liquids wet a surface more readily than others. It matters in capillary action, coatings, inkjet printing, detergents, and droplet formation. A higher value means a greater tendency to resist an increase in surface area, but it does not, by itself, determine a liquid\u2019s behavior: gravity, viscosity, the surrounding fluid, and interactions with a solid surface can also matter.<\/p>\n<p>This calculator changes the numerical unit, not the physical surface tension. For example, 72 dyne\/cm and 72 mN\/m represent the same value. If you are also working with the forces acting on a liquid boundary, the <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/force\/\">force converter<\/a> can help keep those units consistent. For problems involving a curved liquid interface, you may also need to convert a separately calculated pressure using the <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/pressure\/\">pressure converter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Unit relationships and practical limits<\/h2>\n<p>All four choices express the same physical quantity. The table shows how much one unit is worth in N\/m, which is the base unit used by this calculator.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Unit<\/th>\n<th>Equivalent in N\/m<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>1 N\/m<\/td>\n<td>1 N\/m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 dyne\/cm<\/td>\n<td>0.001 N\/m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 mN\/m<\/td>\n<td>0.001 N\/m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 kg\/s\u00b2<\/td>\n<td>1 N\/m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Therefore, 1 N\/m = 1,000 dyne\/cm = 1,000 mN\/m = 1 kg\/s\u00b2. A dyne is \\(10^{-5}\\) newtons and a centimeter is \\(10^{-2}\\) meters, so 1 dyne\/cm equals \\(10^{-3}\\) N\/m. Also, because 1 newton equals 1 kg\u00b7m\/s\u00b2, dividing by a meter gives 1 N\/m = 1 kg\/s\u00b2. Unlike the earlier page text, erg\/cm\u00b2 is <em>not<\/em> a selectable unit here.<\/p>\n<p>Use a measured value appropriate to the liquid, its temperature, and the interface in question. Values reported for a liquid against air may differ from values at an interface between two liquids, often called interfacial tension. Adding a surfactant or contaminant can change a measured value as well. Unit conversion cannot account for these conditions or correct an uncertain measurement.<\/p>\n<p>The calculator accepts nonnegative inputs and displays the converted number rounded to eight decimal places. A very small nonzero result may therefore appear as zero; for high-precision work, retain the original measurement and apply the unit factors directly. Converting units also does not add significant figures to the underlying measurement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Convert surface tension between N\/m, dyne\/cm, mN\/m, and kg\/s\u00b2. Enter a value, then choose the units to convert from and to.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[34],"class_list":["post-55896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-converters","tag-physics-units"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/70"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55896"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55896\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65315,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55896\/revisions\/65315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}