A dyne is a unit of force in the centimeter-gram-second (CGS) system of units. It is defined as the force required to accelerate a mass of one gram at a rate of one centimeter per second squared. The dyne is a smaller unit compared to the newton, which is used in the International System of Units (SI). In practical terms, one dyne is equivalent to 10^-5 newtons. This means that while the dyne is useful for measuring small forces, the newton is more commonly used in scientific and engineering contexts. The concept of force is fundamental in physics, relating to the laws of motion established by Isaac Newton.