Water is about 50 times more viscous than which of the following?

Viscosity is a physical property that measures a fluid’s resistance to flow. It indicates how easily a substance can move or deform under stress. For example, honey flows slowly because it is highly viscous, while water flows more easily because it has lower viscosity.

Water, a liquid commonly used in everyday life, has a viscosity much higher than gases such as air or oxygen. In fact, water is about 50 times more viscous than typical gases. This means that water resists flow and internal friction much more than gases, which have very weak intermolecular forces and flow almost freely under pressure.

Viscosity is affected by temperature, pressure, and the type of fluid. In liquids like water, strong hydrogen bonds between molecules contribute to higher viscosity compared to gases. In gases, the molecules are far apart and move freely, resulting in very low viscosity. Comparing water to oils or alcohol, the viscosity differences depend on the molecular structure. For example, some oils are more viscous than water, while alcohol is usually less viscous than water but more viscous than gases.

Understanding viscosity is important in physics, fluid mechanics, and everyday science. It explains how liquids and gases flow in pipelines, rivers, and the human body, and helps engineers design pumps, engines, and other fluid-based systems.

In summary, water is about 50 times more viscous than gases, making it much more resistant to flow. This knowledge is fundamental in studying fluid behavior, engineering applications, and natural phenomena, highlighting the importance of viscosity in both science and daily life.