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Viscosity

Viscosity

Viscosity is a property of fluids that measures their resistance to flow. It is influenced by factors such as the surface area of contact, the gradient of flow speed, and the fluid's viscosity constant, called the coefficient of viscosity. The coefficient of viscosity, also known as dynamic viscosity, is denoted by the symbol η. It determines the proportionality between the viscous force and the gradient of flow speed.Newton's law of viscosity states that the viscous force on a faster-moving...

Viscosity

Viscosity

When water is poured into a glass, it falls freely and quickly, whereas if honey or maple syrup is poured over a pancake, it flows slowly and sticks to the surface of the container. This difference in the flow of different kinds of liquids arises due to the fluid friction between the liquid layers and the liquid and the surrounding material. This property of fluids is called fluid viscosity. In this example, water has a lower viscosity than honey and maple syrup.
The SI unit of viscosity is...

Viscosity of Fluid

Viscosity of Fluid

Viscosity measures the resistance a fluid offers to flow and deformation. It results from internal friction between layers of fluid moving relative to one another. Dynamic viscosity, denoted by the Greek letter mu (μ), quantifies the force needed to move one fluid layer over another. For Newtonian fluids like water and air, the relationship between the shearing stress and the rate of shearing strain is linear, meaning their viscosity remains constant regardless of the applied stress.

Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity

Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity

Surface Tension
The various IMFs between identical molecules of a substance are examples of cohesive forces. The molecules within a liquid are surrounded by other molecules and are attracted equally in all directions by the cohesive forces within the liquid. However, the molecules on the surface of a liquid are attracted only by about one-half as many molecules. Because of the unbalanced molecular attractions on the surface molecules, liquids contract to form a shape that minimizes the number...

Newtonian Fluid: Problem Solving

Newtonian Fluid: Problem Solving

Newtonian fluids exhibit a constant viscosity, meaning their shear stress and shear strain rate are directly proportional. This property ensures a predictable and stable response to applied forces, maintaining a linear relationship between force and flow. Examples include water, air, and light oils, consistently demonstrating this proportional behavior regardless of external conditions.
A velocity gradient forms within the fluid when a Newtonian fluid is placed between two parallel plates, with...

Stokes' Law

Stokes' Law

Viscous forces, like friction, are intermolecular forces that resist the relative motion of molecules over each other. When a solid body moves through a liquid, viscous forces drag it in the opposite direction. The force's magnitude depends on the solid's shape and size, as well as its speed and the liquid's coefficient of viscosity, density and temperature.
The expression for the force on a solid spherical object in a fluid is called Stokes' law. Stokes' law is valid only for low Reynolds...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Experimental Measurement of Settling Velocity of Spherical Particles in Unconfined and Confined Surfactant-based Shear Thinning Viscoelastic Fluids

Experimental Measurement of Settling Velocity of Spherical Particles in Unconfined and Confined Surfactant-based Shear Thinning Viscoelastic Fluids

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Bulk viscosity universality and scaling function near the binary liquid consolute point.

Jayanta K Bhattacharjee¹, Ireneusz Iwanowski, Udo Kaatze

¹S. N. Bose National Center for Basic Sciences, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700098, India.

The Journal of Chemical Physics

|November 10, 2009

Summary

This study derives bulk viscosity for binary liquids near critical points using hydrodynamical equations and complex specific heat. It reveals interrelations between theoretical models for critical sound attenuation.

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Area of Science:

Thermodynamics
Fluid Dynamics
Critical Phenomena

Background:

Understanding critical phenomena in binary liquids is crucial for fluid dynamics.
Existing models for critical sound attenuation often focus on specific heat or bulk viscosity separately.

Purpose of the Study:

To derive an expression for low-frequency bulk viscosity near the critical point of binary liquids.
To elucidate the relationships between different theoretical approaches to critical sound attenuation.

Main Methods:

Utilizing hydrodynamical equations.
Incorporating the concept of frequency-dependent complex specific heat near critical points.

Main Results:

An expression for low-frequency bulk viscosity was obtained.
Interrelations between specific heat and bulk viscosity approaches to critical sound attenuation were clarified.
The general structure of the bulk viscosity relation aligns with Onuki's work.

Conclusions:

A universal number for bulk viscosity emerges only after normalization to the critical point value.
The study provides a unified perspective on theoretical models for critical sound attenuation in binary liquids.