Viscosity and Shear Stress: Summary
The answers to the ConcepTests are given below and will open in a separate window.
Key points from this module:
- Shear stress is caused by a tangential force on the surface of the fluid.
- Shear stress is equal to the viscosity of the fluid times its velocity gradient.
- The velocity profile of this fluid can be determined from the shear stress.
From studying this module, you should now be able to:
- Use the velocity profile to determine the shear stress.
- Distinguish between Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids.
- Calculate the viscosity of a fluid knowing the shear stress.
- Determine how changing tangential forces and viscosity affects velocity profiles.
Prepared by Janet deGrazia, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder