centipoises

Centipoise is a unit of dynamic viscosity in the centimeter-gram-second (CGS) system of units. It is equal to one-hundredth of a poise. The poise is the CGS unit of dynamic viscosity, defined as one dyne-second per square centimeter. Therefore, one centipoise is equivalent to 0.01 poise, or 0.001 Pascal-second (Pa·s) in the International System of Units (SI). Water at 20 degrees Celsius has a viscosity of approximately 1 centipoise, making it a convenient reference point. Many common liquids have viscosities measured in centipoises, such as honey, motor oil, and syrup. The viscosity of a fluid is a measure of its resistance to flow. Higher centipoise values indicate a thicker, more viscous fluid that flows more slowly. Conversely, lower centipoise values indicate a thinner, less viscous fluid that flows more readily. Understanding centipoises is important in various fields, including fluid mechanics, chemical engineering, and material science, where precise measurements of liquid behavior are crucial for design and analysis.