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  • What is Viscosity?
  • What is the Unit of Viscosity?
  • Dynamic Viscosity Unit
    • SI Unit of Dynamic Viscosity
    • CGS Unit of Dynamic Viscosity
  • Kinematic Viscosity Unit
    • SI Unit of Kinematic Viscosity
    • CGS Unit of Kinematic Viscosity
  • Unit Conversion Table for Viscosity
  • Why Are There Different Units?
  • Difference Between Dynamic and Kinematic Viscosity Units
  • Practical Examples of Viscosity Units
  • How is Viscosity Measured?
  • Conclusion
  • FAQs on Unit of Viscosity
physics /
Unit of Viscosity
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Unit of Viscosity

By Swati Singh

|

Updated on 25 Apr 2025, 12:23 IST

Viscosity is an important property of fluids like water, oil, and air. It tells us how easily a fluid flows. Some fluids, like honey, flow slowly because they are more "sticky" or viscous. Others, like water, flow quickly because they have low viscosity. To study fluids in physics and engineering, we use a unit of viscosity to measure this property.

What is Viscosity?

Viscosity is the resistance of a fluid to flow. In simple words, it describes how "thick" or "sticky" a fluid is.

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  • Fluids with high viscosity (like honey) resist flow more.
  • Fluids with low viscosity (like water) flow easily.

This resistance comes from the internal friction between fluid particles.

What is the Unit of Viscosity?

There are two main types of viscosity:

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  1. Dynamic Viscosity
  2. Kinematic Viscosity

Each type has different units.

Dynamic Viscosity Unit

SI Unit of Dynamic Viscosity

The SI unit of dynamic viscosity is the Pascal-second (Pa·s).

Unit of Viscosity

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  • Symbol: Pa·s
  • 1 Pa·s = 1 Newton-second per square meter (N·s/m²)

So if you're working in the SI system, remember:

SI unit of viscosity = Pascal-second (Pa·s)

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CGS Unit of Dynamic Viscosity

In the CGS system, the unit is called poise (P).

  • 1 poise = 0.1 Pa·s
  • Centipoise (cP) is more common:
  • 1 poise = 100 centipoise

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  • Water at 20°C has a viscosity of 1 cP

  • This is why you'll often see viscosity of fluids given in centipoise.

    Kinematic Viscosity Unit

    SI Unit of Kinematic Viscosity

    The SI unit of kinematic viscosity is square meter per second (m²/s).

    CGS Unit of Kinematic Viscosity

    The CGS unit is called stokes (St).

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    • 1 stoke = 10⁻⁴ m²/s
    • Often used: centistokes (cSt)
    • 1 stoke = 100 centistokes

    Unit Conversion Table for Viscosity

    Here’s a handy table of viscosity units and conversions:

    TypeSI UnitCGS UnitCommon Usage Example
    Dynamic ViscosityPa·spoise (P), cPOil: 100 cP, Water: 1 cP
    Kinematic Viscositym²/sstokes (St), cStEngine oil: ~100 cSt

    Why Are There Different Units?

    There are different systems of measurement:

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    • SI system (International System of Units) is used globally in science and engineering.
    • CGS system (Centimeter-Gram-Second) is older but still used in some areas.

    Depending on the system, the unit of viscosity changes.

    Difference Between Dynamic and Kinematic Viscosity Units

    PropertyDynamic ViscosityKinematic Viscosity
    Depends on density?NoYes (uses fluid density)
    SI UnitPa·sm²/s
    CGS Unitpoisestoke

    Practical Examples of Viscosity Units

    Here are some real-world examples:

    1. Water at 20°C:
    • Dynamic Viscosity: 1 centipoise (cP)
    • Kinematic Viscosity: 1 centistoke (cSt)

    2. Honey:

    • Dynamic Viscosity: 2,000 to 10,000 cP

    3. Engine oil:

    • Varies from 100 to 400 cSt

    These examples help us understand the viscosity of different fluids in daily life.

    How is Viscosity Measured?

    Viscosity is measured using tools called viscometers or rheometers. These tools apply force and measure how fast the fluid flows.

    Conclusion

    Understanding the unit of viscosity is essential in physics, chemistry, and engineering. Whether you're studying fluid mechanics or just comparing how honey flows versus water, knowing about dynamic and kinematic viscosity units helps a lot.

    Always remember:

    • Dynamic Viscosity → Pa·s (SI), poise (CGS)
    • Kinematic Viscosity → m²/s (SI), stokes (CGS)

     

    FAQs on Unit of Viscosity

    Which unit is used to measure viscosity?

    Pascal-second (Pa·s) in SI system

    Poise (P) in CGS system

    Why is Pascal-second the SI unit of viscosity?

    Because 1 Pascal = 1 Newton/m²

    And viscosity involves force per area over time

    How to convert between viscosity units?

    1 Pa·s = 10 poise

    1 stoke = 10⁻⁴ m²/s

    Is viscosity a scalar or vector quantity?

    Viscosity is a scalar quantity. It has magnitude but no direction.

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