VISCOSITY

Most fluids offer some resistance to

motion, and we call this resistance
“viscosity.” Viscosity arises when
there is relative motion between layers
of the fluid.
Viscosity - Measure of fluid’s resistance to flow

WATER
Lower Viscosity
HONEY
Higher Vicosity

1 centipose 12,200 centipose

Consider a fluid enclosed b/w 2
plates.
Bottom fixed, top moves with
constant velocity v relative to
bottom.
Oil replaced by Honey,
More force
Honey is more Viscous
Honey more
viscous?
Honey has more strong intermolecular
attractive forces than water. Therefore the
particles are strongly bonded in honey than
water. Hence honey is more viscous than
water.
● The layer of the liquid in contact with top
surface moves with a velocity v

● The velocities of layers increase uniformly

from bottom (zero velocity) to the top layer

● Upper layer pulls it forward while lower

layer pulls it backward.

Results in force
between the layers.
This type of flow is
known as laminar
● ABCD shape to AEFD shape in ∆t
● During this time interval the liquid has
undergone a shear strain of ∆x/l

● The coefficient of viscosity (pronounced

‘eta’) for a fluid is defined as the ratio of
shearing stress to the strain rate.

η=F/A Fl
--------- = ---------
v/l vA
SI unit - poiseiulle (Pl)
N s m-2 or Pa s
[ML -1 T -1]

The viscosity of liquids

decreases with temperature,
while it increases in the case
of gases.

The viscosity of liquids

increases with increase in
pressure but the viscosity of
water decreases with increase
in pressure.