Molecular theory of viscosity

Viscosity in gases is due to the transfer of momentum between neighbouring layers of gas. (In
liquids it is mainly due to the molecular attraction between adjacent layers. Energy is needed to
drag one layer over another against the force of attraction.) The viscosity of a gas is given by
= nmv/3
where n is the number of molecules per unit volume V is the average velocity of the gas
molecules, and is the mean free path of the molecules, given by

Mean free path = 1/[2n]1/2

where is the effective diameter of a molecule.
It can be seen that the viscosity of a gas is directly proportional to the average velocity of the
gas molecules. Since the average velocity of the molecules is related to the temperature of the
gas, the viscosity of a gas increases with increasing temperature. This is explained by the
greater rate of transfer of momentum between layers in the gas at higher temperatures.