A Newtonian fluid is a fluid whose viscosity remains constant regardless of the stress applied to it or the rate of flow. This behavior is described by Newton's law of viscosity, which states that the shear stress between adjacent fluid layers is proportional to the velocity gradients between the two layers.

Newtonian Fluid

Newtonian fluid

Viscosity is a measure of a fluid's resistance to deformation or flow, often perceived as 'thickness' or internal friction. It is a crucial property in fluid dynamics, affecting how substances move and interact under various forces and conditions.

viscosity

stress applied

The rate of flow refers to the volume of a fluid that passes through a given surface per unit time, a fundamental concept in fluid dynamics that helps in understanding and designing systems involving fluid movement. It is crucial for applications ranging from plumbing and HVAC systems to the study of blood flow in the human body and environmental water flow.

rate of flow

Newton's Law of Viscosity states that the shear stress between adjacent fluid layers is proportional to the velocity gradient perpendicular to the direction of flow. This relationship characterizes fluids as Newtonian when the viscosity remains constant regardless of the applied stress or shear rate.

Newton's law of viscosity

Shear stress is a measure of how a force is distributed parallel to a surface, causing layers of a material to slide against each other. It plays a crucial role in determining the structural integrity and deformation behavior of materials under load, influencing fields such as fluid dynamics, material science, and civil engineering.

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