Viscosity Converter

Convert between different units of dynamic (absolute) viscosity.

---

---

Common Viscosity Conversions

• 1 Pa·s = 10 P (Poise)
• 1 Pa·s = 1,000 cP (Centipoise)
• 1 P = 100 cP
• 1 cP = 0.001 Pa·s = 1 mPa·s
• 1 Pa·s = 1 N·s/m² = 1 kg/(m·s)
• 1 lbf·s/ft² ≈ 47.88 Pa·s

Common Fluid Viscosities (at 20°C)

---

About Dynamic Viscosity

Dynamic viscosity (also called absolute viscosity) measures a fluid's resistance to flow. It quantifies how much force is needed to move one layer of fluid past another. Higher viscosity means thicker, more resistant fluids.

Pascal-second (Pa·s)

The Pascal-second is the SI unit of dynamic viscosity. It equals 1 kg/(m·s) or 1 N·s/m². Water at 20°C has a viscosity of approximately 0.001 Pa·s (1 mPa·s or 1 cP).

Poise and Centipoise

The poise (P) is the CGS unit of dynamic viscosity, named after Jean Léonard Marie Poiseuille. The centipoise (cP) is more commonly used because water at 20°C has a viscosity of approximately 1 cP, making it a convenient reference. 1 P = 100 cP = 0.1 Pa·s.

Dynamic vs Kinematic Viscosity

Dynamic viscosity (μ): Absolute measure of flow resistance, measured in Pa·s or cP.
Kinematic viscosity (ν): Dynamic viscosity divided by density, measured in m²/s or Stokes.
Formula: ν = μ / ρ

Temperature Effects

Viscosity is highly temperature-dependent. For liquids, viscosity decreases as temperature increases (honey flows better when warm). For gases, viscosity increases with temperature. Always specify temperature when reporting viscosity values.

---

Feedback