Home
Back
Kinematic Viscosity Formula:
| From: | To: |
Kinematic viscosity is a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow under gravity. It is defined as the ratio of dynamic viscosity to density and is typically measured in m²/s or Stokes.
The calculator uses the kinematic viscosity formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula calculates how easily a fluid flows under the influence of gravity, considering both its internal friction (dynamic viscosity) and mass per unit volume (density).
Details: Kinematic viscosity is crucial in fluid dynamics for analyzing flow patterns, predicting fluid behavior in pipes and channels, and designing hydraulic systems. It's particularly important in lubrication, petroleum engineering, and environmental fluid mechanics.
Tips: Enter dynamic viscosity in Pa·s and density in kg/m³. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.
Q1: What's the difference between dynamic and kinematic viscosity?
A: Dynamic viscosity measures internal resistance to flow, while kinematic viscosity relates this resistance to the fluid's density and indicates how easily fluid flows under gravity.
Q2: What are typical kinematic viscosity values for water?
A: At 20°C, water has a kinematic viscosity of approximately 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s (1.0 cSt).
Q3: How does temperature affect kinematic viscosity?
A: For most liquids, kinematic viscosity decreases as temperature increases due to reduced intermolecular forces and increased molecular mobility.
Q4: What units are used for kinematic viscosity?
A: SI units are m²/s, but Stokes (St) and centistokes (cSt) are commonly used, where 1 St = 10⁻⁴ m²/s and 1 cSt = 10⁻⁶ m²/s.
Q5: Why is kinematic viscosity important in engineering?
A: It's essential for designing fluid transport systems, predicting flow behavior in pipes, analyzing lubrication requirements, and understanding fluid motion in various engineering applications.