See how viscosity changes flow
What changes when viscosity changes in the same pipe at the same pressure difference? Inspect a transparent pipe and its velocity profile.
Diagram and inputs ↓Choose another visualization (19 topics)
Start with a reference or example
Get a sense of the value, then inspect the diagram or motion.
| Reference / example | Value | What it means | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viscosity 1 example | 1 mPa·s | Mean velocity 31.25 mm/s | |
| Viscosity 100 example | 100 mPa·s | Mean velocity 0.3125 mm/s | |
| Viscosity 1000 example | 1000 mPa·s | Mean velocity 0.03125 mm/s |
Laminar examples: 10 mm diameter, 1 m length, 10 Pa pressure difference, density 1,000 kg/m³. These are not assigned to particular liquids.
Applies to condition A. Then press Play or Reveal.
Conditions
Temperature does not automatically correct viscosity or density. Supply properties at that temperature.
Visual preview
Ready2D · longitudinal pipe section
Newtonian, steady, fully developed laminar pipe model. This is not a CFD simulation of free surfaces or vortices.
How to read this view
Why does higher viscosity slow this flow?
At fixed pressure difference and geometry, mean velocity and volume flow are inversely proportional to dynamic viscosity. The profile is parabolic, with maximum velocity at the center and zero at the wall.
Dynamic versus kinematic viscosity
Kinematic viscosity ν = μ / ρ. mPa·s and cP describe dynamic viscosity; mm²/s and cSt describe kinematic viscosity. Density is used for the conversion.
Model range and equations
Mean velocity v = ΔP D² / (32 μ L), Q = πD²v / 4, Re = ρvD/μ. Drawing is limited here to Re≤1000 and L/D≥max(20, 0.05Re). Playback stops outside this tool-specific range; it is not an equipment compliance or safety assessment.