Dynamic vs. kinematic viscosity — and what cP and cSt actually mean
Dynamic vs. kinematic viscosity — and what cP and cSt actually mean
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Dynamic (absolute) viscosity measures a fluid’s internal resistance to flow, in centipoise (cP). Kinematic viscosity is dynamic viscosity divided by density, in centistokes (cSt). They describe the same fluid from different angles.
Which do you need?
Process and pumping calculations often want dynamic viscosity; many petroleum specs (e.g. ASTM D445) report kinematic viscosity. Because the two are linked by density, a measured dynamic viscosity plus density gives you both.
Measured directly
Our piston viscometer reports dynamic viscosity in cP across 0.1–20,000 cP, at every 0.1 °C — so you get the temperature dependence either way.
