CalcKit
Dynamic Viscosity Converter
Dynamic viscosity (μ), or absolute viscosity, is a fluid's resistance to flowing: how thick it is. Its SI unit is the pascal-second (Pa·s). The CGS unit is the poise (P), and fluids are most often given in centipoise (cP), which equals the millipascal-second: 1 cP = 1 mPa·s = 0.001 Pa·s.
For a sense of scale: water at 20 °C is about 1 cP, olive oil about 80 cP, honey 2,000–10,000 cP, and air about 0.018 cP.
How to convert dynamic viscosity
Type a value into any field, and every other unit is calculated at once. Centipoise isn't a field of its own: 1 cP is 10 mP, so enter centipoise times 10 in the millipoise field, or divide by 1,000 for Pa·s. For example, olive oil at 80 cP:
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In Pa·s: divide by 1,000.
80 / 1,000 = 0.08 Pa·s -
In poise: divide by 100.
80 / 100 = 0.8 P
Dividing a dynamic viscosity by the density gives the kinematic viscosity, converted in the Kinematic Viscosity Converter. In those units, cSt = cP / density in g/cm³.
Common conversions
| Value | Equals |
|---|---|
| 1 Pa·s | 10 P |
| 1 P | 0.1 Pa·s |
| 1 Pa·s | 10,000 mP |
| 1 mP | 0.0001 Pa·s |
| 1 Pl | 1 Pa·s |
Dynamic viscosity units
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Pascal Second (Pa•s): The Pascal second is the SI unit for dynamic viscosity. It is equal to one Newton-second per square meter (N•s/m²).
Conversion Factor: 1 Pa•s = 1 N•s/m² -
Poise (P): The Poise is a unit of dynamic viscosity in the CGS (Centimeter-Gram-Second) system. One poise is equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter (dyne•s/cm²).
Conversion Factor: 1 P = 0.1 Pa•s -
Kilopoise (kP): The Kilopoise is a metric unit, representing one thousand poise. It is frequently utilized in scientific and industrial applications.
Conversion Factor: 1 kP = 1,000 P = 100 Pa•s -
Megapoise (MP): The Megapoise is a metric unit, equivalent to one million poise. It is commonly used in scientific and engineering contexts.
Conversion Factor: 1 MP = 1,000,000 P = 100,000 Pa•s -
Millipoise (mP): The Millipoise is a subunit of poise, representing one thousandth of a poise. It is often used for fluids with low viscosity.
Conversion Factor: 1 mP = 0.001 P = 0.0001 Pa•s -
Micropoise (µP): The Micropoise is a subunit of poise, equivalent to one millionth of a poise. It is suitable for measuring extremely low viscosities.
Conversion Factor: 1 µP = 0.000001 P = 0.0000001 Pa•s -
Poiseuille (Pl): The Poiseuille is named after the French physicist Jean Léonard Marie Poiseuille and is used to measure dynamic viscosity in the context of fluid flow in a cylindrical pipe. This unit is an equivalent to pascal second.
Conversion Factor: 1 Pl = 1 Pa•s