Kinematic viscosity measures how rapidly momentum diffuses through a fluid.
Difficulty
Intermediate
Read time
4 min
Prerequisites
Consistent SI units, algebra, and the physical assumptions listed below
Source
Teng-Jui Lin — Equation SheetsAdapted from Teng-Jui Lin, Equation Sheets — Mechanical Engineering, under CC BY 4.0.
Adapted notation and added original explanations, variables, assumptions, applications, and a worked example.
Kinematic viscosity measures how rapidly momentum diffuses through a fluid. Dividing dynamic viscosity by density separates the resistance to shear from the amount of fluid mass being accelerated.
| Symbol | Meaning | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Kinematic viscosity | ||
| Dynamic viscosity | ||
| Fluid density |
Convert a dynamic-viscosity specification to a kinematic one.
Compare viscosity grades at the specified reference temperature.
An oil has dynamic viscosity 0.085 Pa·s and density 850 kg/m³. Find its kinematic viscosity.
Adapted from Teng-Jui Lin, Equation Sheets — Mechanical Engineering, under CC BY 4.0.
Adapted notation and added original explanations, variables, assumptions, applications, and a worked example.
Assumptions
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