chris collister Mar 23, 2011:

This absurd, but widely used unit exists only because of the coincidence that the gravitational acceleration at the surface of the Earth is approximately 10, and a force of 1 daN is therefore approximately the same force as exerted by a mass of 1 kg. Engineers should either stick to proper SI units, or else use kgf, which at least gives an idea of what it is. Interestingly, the force exerted by an apple is about 1 Newton...

kashew Mar 23, 2011:

décanewton as Meirs says; daN

meirs Mar 23, 2011:

da N Is probably the abbreviation of "deca Newton" - approx. equivalent to 1 kgf (kilogram force)