Kilonewtons to Ounces-force (kN to ozf)

1 kilonewton equals 3,596.94309 ounces-force (rounded).

How to convert kilonewtons to ounces-force

To convert kilonewtons to ounces-force, multiply the number of kilonewtons by 3,596.94309. The factor is rounded to 10 significant digits. To go the other way, multiply ounces-force by 0.000278013851 (rounded).

ounces-force = kilonewtons × 3,596.94309

Example: 10 kilonewtons = 35,969.4309 ounces-force.

About these units

Kilonewton (kN)

Metric (SI)Current unit

1,000 newtons. Used for structural loads, climbing gear ratings and engine thrust.

Kilonewtons exist because the newton is small. The prefix kilo- dates to the 1795 French decimal system and means one thousand, and attaching it to the newton, which the CGPM named in 1948, gives a unit sized for the loads that engineers actually handle. A kilonewton is 1,000 newtons.

One kilonewton is the weight of roughly 102 kilograms at standard gravity, or about 510 of the 200-gram apples that make a handy picture of a single newton. Structural engineers quote building and bridge loads this way, and rocket and jet engine makers quote thrust in kilonewtons and meganewtons. Each Space Shuttle solid rocket booster produced 3,300,000 pounds-force, or 14.7 meganewtons, which is 14,700 kilonewtons. Strengths of ropes, anchors and climbing hardware are also commonly given in the unit.

1 kilonewton = 1,000 newtons (exactly).

Sources: Wikipedia: Newton (unit); Wikipedia: Metric prefix; Wikipedia: Pound (force)

Ounce-force (ozf)

US & ImperialCurrent unit

One sixteenth of a pound-force (0.278 N).

Defined as a sixteenth of a pound-force, the ounce-force is a small US customary unit of force. The pound-force is 0.45359237 kg times standard gravity of 9.80665 m/s2, which gives 4.4482216 N, so the ounce-force comes to about 0.2780139 N. NIST lists the same factor, and it is the figure used here.

The name borrows from the avoirdupois ounce, so the unit measures the weight of that much mass under standard gravity rather than a separate invented quantity. Twelve ounces-force is three quarters of a pound-force, about 3.34 N, and sixteen make a pound-force. NIST advises against using such non-SI units in its own publications, and the metric equivalent for light forces is the millinewton, since one ounce-force is roughly 278 mN.

1 ounce-force = 0.278013851 newtons (approximately).

Sources: NIST SP 811, Appendix B.8; Wikipedia: Pound (force)

Related conversions

See all force units.