Viscosity
Definition
Viscosity refers to a fluid's resistance to flow. Fluids with high viscosity, like honey, flow more slowly than low-viscosity fluids, like water.
Analogy
Think of a race between two people - one is running through air (like water flowing), and the other is trying to run through a pool of honey. The person in the honey will move slower because of the 'resistance' or 'drag' they experience. That's what we mean when we talk about viscosity!
Related terms
Newtonian Fluid: A fluid whose viscosity remains constant, regardless of the forces acting upon it.
Non-Newtonian Fluid: A fluid whose viscosity changes depending on the force applied. Examples include ketchup or quicksand.
Shear Rate: This refers to how quickly a liquid’s particles move relative to each other. It can affect a liquid's apparent viscosity.
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