# Viscosity

Written by Jerry Ratzlaff on . Posted in Fluid Mechanics

Viscosity is the measure of the internal friction/resistance to the flow of a liquid. Lower viscosity fluids flow easily in pipes where high viscosity fluids have a have a higher pressure drop.  Viscosity of fluids is typically temperature dependent and is not affected as dramatically by pressure as gas viscosity. In fact, typically as a liquid temperature increases, the velocity decreases. When a gas temperature increases, the viscosity increases!

There are two different types of viscosity, dynamic viscosity and kinematic viscosity. Higher the viscosity the more resistance to flow. Lower the viscosity the less resistance to flow. Temperature also plays a part, lower the temperature, higher the resistance. Higher the temperature, lower the resistance. A Viscometer meter can be used to measure viscosity.

## formula

$$\nu = \nu_i \; + \; at$$

Where:

$$\nu$$ (Greek symbol nu) = viscosity

$$\nu_i$$ (Greek symbol nu) = initial viscosity

$$a$$ = acceleration

$$t$$ = time

Solve for:

$$a = \frac { \nu_i } { t }$$

$$t = \frac { \nu_i } { a }$$