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What is the Symbol cP in Viscosity?

Published in Viscosity Measurement 1 min read

The symbol cP in viscosity represents centipoise.

A centipoise (cP) is a unit of dynamic viscosity, which is a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow. It is a commonly used unit, particularly when dealing with liquids that have relatively low viscosity, such as water.

Here's a breakdown:

  • Poise (P): The poise is the CGS (centimeter-gram-second) unit of dynamic viscosity.

  • Centipoise (cP): The centipoise is one-hundredth of a poise (1 cP = 0.01 P). This makes it a more practical unit for many everyday fluids.

  • Relationship to SI Units: In the International System of Units (SI), dynamic viscosity is measured in pascal-seconds (Pa⋅s). The relationship between centipoise and pascal-seconds is: 1 cP = 1 mPa⋅s = 0.001 Pa⋅s.

In summary, cP is the CGS symbol for the centipoise, a unit of dynamic viscosity.

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