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Related Concept Videos

Viscosity01:17

Viscosity

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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...
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Viscosity01:27

Viscosity

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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...
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Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity02:57

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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...
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Viscosity of Fluid01:19

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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.
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Newtonian Fluid: Problem Solving01:18

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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.
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Navier–Stokes Equations01:28

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For incompressible Newtonian fluids, where density remains constant, stresses show a linear relationship with the deformation rate, defined by normal and shear stresses. Normal stresses depend on the pressure exerted on the fluid and the rate of deformation in specific directions, which determines how fluid flows under varying pressures. Shear stresses, on the other hand, act tangentially across fluid layers. They explain how adjacent fluid layers slide relative to one another, connecting...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 20, 2026

Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy as a Unique Probe for Lipid Membrane Dynamics and Membrane-Protein Interactions
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Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy as a Unique Probe for Lipid Membrane Dynamics and Membrane-Protein Interactions

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Free Volume in Membranes: Viscosity or Tension?

V S Markin1, F Sachs2

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA.

Open Journal of Biophysics
|May 31, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Fluorescent probe diffusion measures membrane free volume, not viscosity. Changes in probe mobility reflect membrane tension, offering insights into cell membrane domains and cytoskeleton interactions.

Keywords:
AnisotropyBilayerFluorescenceLipidPolarization

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Cell Biology
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Fluorescent probe diffusion is commonly used to estimate membrane viscosity.
  • This technique's interpretation may be limited in complex biological systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To re-evaluate the interpretation of fluorescent probe diffusion measurements in cell membranes.
  • To highlight the relationship between probe mobility, membrane free volume, and membrane tension.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of fluorescent probe diffusion dynamics.
  • Theoretical consideration of membrane properties.

Main Results:

  • Fluorescent probe diffusion directly assays membrane free volume, not viscosity.
  • Probe mobility changes correlate with alterations in membrane tension.
  • Membrane tension is a more suitable variable than viscosity for interpreting complex membrane structures.

Conclusions:

  • Interpreting probe mobility as a measure of free volume and tension provides a more accurate understanding of cell membranes.
  • This perspective is crucial for studying membrane domains and cytoskeleton interactions.