millinewtons

The millinewton (symbol mN) is a unit of force in the International System of Units (SI). It equals one thousandth of a newton: 1 mN = 10^-3 N. Since 1 N is defined as kg·m/s^2, 1 mN equals 0.001 kg·m/s^2.

In other units, 1 mN = 100 dynes in CGS, and 1 mN = 1000 μN. There are 1000 mN in 1 N, and 1 kN = 1,000,000 mN.

Roughly the weight of about 0.1 gram under Earth gravity (since weight F = m g, m ≈ F/g ≈ 0.001 N / 9.81 m/s^2 ≈ 0.102 g).

Used for measuring small forces in micro-scale applications such as calibration of force sensors, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), tactile sensors, biomechanics, and microfluidics; in laboratory contexts where Newton-scale forces are too large.

The unit is part of SI; millinewton is less common in everyday language but widely used in technical fields requiring small-force measurements.