The colder it is, the more sludge-like it becomes and has a higher viscosity. Generally speaking, the warmer a liquid is, the lower its viscosity is and the easier it flows. Temperature also plays a critical role in the viscousness of a liquid. Material such as honey or glue tend to be thicker and are described as having a higher viscosity, whereas water and glycol are less viscous and flow faster. Fluids resist the relative motion of immersed objects through them as well as to the motion of layers with differing velocities within them.” Knowing how thick your material is can have huge impact on your ability to get work done. The definition of viscosity is “the quantity that describes a fluid’s resistance to flow. But you can’t calculate viscosity unless you know what it is and why it’s important.

The velocity of the ball, combined with the relative densities of the ball and the liquid, can be used to calculate the viscosity of liquids. If you want determine viscosity in a liquid, try a simple science experiment by measuring the speed of a metal ball dropped in a container of liquid. There are several formulas and equations to calculate viscosity, the most common of which is Viscosity = (2 x (ball density – liquid density) x g x a^2) ÷ (9 x v), where g = acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s^2, a = radius of ball bearing, and v = velocity of ball bearing through liquid. Viscosity is the measure of a material’s resistance to motion under an applied force.

Viscosity of water at 20 c