Viscosity (kinematic ) Conversion Factors

Kinematic viscosity, is a measure of a fluid’s resistance to flow under the influence of gravity. It is defined as the ratio of dynamic viscosity to density of the fluid. In  simpler terms, it describes how easily a fluid flows when acted upon by a force, such as gravity.

The kinematic viscosity ν is typically denoted in units of square meters per second (m²/s) or centistokes (cSt). It’s calculated using the formula:

ν =   μ
          ρ

Where:

  • ν =kinematic viscosity
  • μ= dynamic viscosity (measured in units like N·s/m² or Pa·s)
  • ρ= density of the fluid (measured in units like kg/m³)

High kinematic viscosity means the fluid flows slowly (like honey), while low kinematic viscosity means the fluid flows quickly (like water). It’s a crucial property in various engineering applications, including fluid dynamics, lubrication, and material processing.

Scroll to Top