Newton’s Law of Viscosity

Newton’s law of viscosity tells us about the relationship between the shear stress and velocity gradient of

fluids. Shear stress refers to the amount of force acting per unit area on a particular fluid parallel to the

surface of the fluid. The velocity gradient is defined as the velocity difference between the layers of fluid

that are adjacent to each other.

Newton’s law of viscosity says that the shear stress is directly proportional to the velocity gradient.

The equation of newton’s law of viscosity is τ = μ du/dy

Where τ= shear stress, μ= viscosity, and du/dy= velocity gradient.

Newton’s Law of Viscosity Derivation

Shear stress (τ ) = Force(F)/ Area(A)

Velocity gradient = du/dy. Here, du is the velocity difference, and dy is the distance between the layers.

According to Newton’s law of viscosity, shear stress is proportional to velocity gradient.

τ ∝ du/dy

∴ τ= μ du/dy 

Here, μ is the constant of proportionality known as dynamic viscosity having units n.s /m 2

The image given below shows the diagram of Newton’s Law Of Viscosity equation:

Viscosity is divided into two types: dynamic viscosity and kinematic viscosity.
 Dynamic viscosity – A way to measure a fluid’s resistance to its flow under the influence of any external

force or stress. In other words, it is defined as the force needed by a fluid to overcome its internal

molecular friction so that it can flow. In simple words, it is a fluid’s viscosity that is referred to as dynamic

viscosity. The SI unit of dynamic viscosity (μ) is the Pascal-second. Its formula is similar to that of

viscosity.

The formula is τ= μ du/dy

Where τ = shear stress, μ = viscosity, and du/dy = velocity gradient.

 Kinematic viscosity – It is the measure of a fluid’s internal resistance to flow under gravity. In other

words, kinematic viscosity is the measure of any fluid’s internal resistance to the flow across the cross-

section area per unit of time.

The formula for kinematic viscosity is v=μ/ρ

Here, v = kinematic viscosity

μ = dynamic viscosity

ρ = density